The bill creating Cody’s Law was originally introduced in November of 2019 as House Bill 2056. Now reintroduced by Struzzi as House Bill 185, it would charge any person who intentionally causes bodily injury to a person with a physical or intellectual disability with second-degree felony aggravated assault. Current state classifies such crimes as misdemeanor simple assault unless “serious bodily injury” occurs.
The legislation was inspired by what happened to Cody Overdorff. Overdorff, who has William’s Syndrome, was lured to the Hoodlebug Trail near Floodway Park on August 20th, 2019 and was attacked by four individuals.
Struzzi said yesterday that he felt the four defendants in the Overdorff case “got off with a virtual slap on the wrist”.
The new bill now moves to the full House for a vote. It passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate.
Representative Jim Struzzi announces the introduction of the original Cody’s Law legislation at the Bolivar American Legion in 2019, with Cody Overdorff and his mother by his side.
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