LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The family of 22-year-old Gabby Petito is pushing Florida lawmakers to pass a bill that would strengthen how police respond to domestic violence calls.

Back in 2021, the North Port resident was killed by her fiancé on a cross-country van trip.

“This is not a political left or right issue, it really isn’t,” Joseph Petito, Gabby’s dad, said. “It’s simply trying to save lives and make a difference… We’re trying to make her proud.”

The proposed bill is called the Gabby Petito Act.

Talking about the legislation, Petito said his daughter probably wouldn’t like the fact it was named after her. However, he said it’s the meaning more than the name of the bill that’s important to the family. 

“So many people have helped us. And now we have to repay that favor,” Petito explained. “This is how we’re going to do that by making sure people of our state know if you’re in a bad situation, you need to know where to go so you can get out of every situation.”

Senator Lauren Book is the one who filed the bill Thursday. 

“This is a family and a man who wants to make sure something like this never ever happens again, losing his beautiful daughter and using a very horrific story to make a difference,” Book said.

If passed, the act would require law enforcement to complete a lethality assessment when responding to domestic violence calls.

Cape Coral Police already have a version of this questionnaire. The goal is to identify a threat before it’s too late. 

“The different questions focus on: Have they threatened you with a weapon? Did they stalk your daily activities? Have they ever tried to kill themselves? Hurt you or kill you, choke you?” Officer Mercedes Phillips explained. 

“Maryland, where they’re using it as a best practice, it’s reduced domestic violence homicides by 30%, so we know it’s working,” Florida representative Robin Bartleman stated. She filed the sister legislation in the state house.

Bartleman and Book both believe the legislation will pass. They said this is not a partisan issue but rather a human safety concern. 

“Cause you always want to make sure the situation is handled in the best way to make sure the outcome doesn’t end up like Gabby’s story,” Petito added. “We’re not going to stop until we help as many people as we can.”