State lawmakers weaken proposed law’s tenant protections

Florida House committee clears weaker version of Miya’s Law

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Members of the Florida House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee unanimously approved a weaker version of the Miya Marcano Law.

The new version would force apartment complex employees to notify a tenant they need access to their apartment 24 hours in advance.

The current state law requires 12-hour notice. Florida Rep. Robin Bartleman, of Weston, sponsored HB 577 and Florida Sen. Linda Stewart sponsored SB 898.

The version that cleared does not require landlords to make sure employees undergo criminal background screenings or to place controls over master keys, as Bartleman originally proposed.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives believe a maintenance worker with a criminal record used a master key to access Marcano’s apartment on Sept. 24 at the Arden Villas in Orlando.

Detectives said the killer abandoned Marcano’s body at the Tymber Skan Apartments and killed himself in Seminole County. Officers found him dead on Sept. 27 and her dead on Oct. 2. She was 19 years old.


About the Authors

Eden Checkol co-anchors Local 10's 10 p.m. weeknight newscast on WSFL and also reports on WPLG newscasts. She’s a Minnesota native who is thrilled to leave the snow behind and call South Florida home.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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