TAMPA, Fla — Around 75 local crime survivors and families of homicide victims are expected to rally in Tallahassee on Tuesday morning in hopes the legislature will pass policies that support crime victims and their loved ones.

Survivors Speak Florida is organized by the group Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Hundreds of advocates are expected at the capitol, with about a quarter of the group coming from the Tampa, St. Pete and Dade City areas.

Group leaders plan to address lawmakers during a public speech that’s scheduled for 11 a.m.

They’re supporting 3 pieces of proposed legislation:

  • HB 233/ SB 490: This would expand job accommodations for crime victims' families and require that basic information be provided to families of homicide victims. Otherwise known as ‘Curtis’ Law’

  • HB 593/ SB 376: This would require that criminal history records for people who were never convicted of a crime be sealed at county level

  • HB 1263/ SB 1478: This would implement changes to the state’s probation system

Elliot Saunders, who had made the trip to Tallahassee during legislative session a number of times, lost his stepson to violence in 2004. He said he hopes the amount of people attending Tuesday, speaks volumes to lawmakers.

“I do think it’s very powerful, because we come from all walks of life and even some of the lawmakers are in our shoes, so its not a fraternity that we want to get anybody in, but it’s a fraternity that needs to be heard….we want just to be heard,” he said.

The Tampa area crime survivors and advocates plan to make this a one-day trip and will return home late Tuesday evening.