Gov. Rick Scott signs new death penalty bill

Governor Scott has signed the bill that requires a unanimous jury recommendation for a convict to be sentenced to death.

The bill allows for executions, which have been on hold since January 2016, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Florida’s process as unconstitutional.

Florida's law allowed for judges, not juries final authority to issue death sentences.

State lawmakers had passed a bill in October, 2016, that required a majority of jurors, 10 out of 12 to recommend the death penalty. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that law as  unconstitutional, also saying death recommendations must be unanimous.

Governor Rick Scott who has signed more death warrants than any Governor since 1976, made no comment after signing the bill SB 280.

Because of the new ruling and changes, post 2002 convictions are now eligible for new sentencing trials.