According to the Connecticut Post, state representatives have advanced House Bill 5349 to the full legislature, which would require police who respond to or come across “a deceased person or the remains of a person” to notify the person’s next of kin within 24 hours of their discovery. If unable, the law will require officers to “document the reason for the failure or delay of notification and any attempts made to make such notification.”

The legislation was inspired by Rawls’ and Smith-Fields’ cases.

Democratic State Rep. Antonio Felipe expressed his disappointment in the need for the new bill.

“It’s deeply upsetting that this legislation is even necessary,” he said in a statement, according to the Post. “This is a wrong being righted.”

Rep. Steve Stafstrom, who said he wrote the bill after meeting Smith-Fields’ family, echoed Felipe’s sentiments about needing the legislation.

“I wish a bill like this wasn’t necessary,” he said, according to the Post. “Frankly the Bridgeport Police Department could have and should have done a little better outreach from the get-go and this should be standard procedure by a police department. Clearly there was a gap and that’s why we thought the legislation was necessary to make the expectation abundantly clear.”

Rawls was found unresponsive and was declared dead on Dec. 12. The 53-year-old’s body was taken to a medical examiner for an autopsy, NBC Connecticut reports. Her family was not informed for days and said they learned of her death by acquaintances, Girls United reports.

Smith-Fields was found the same day as Rawls in her Bridgeport apartment. The 23-year-old was on a Bumble date with an older man before her passing, The New York Times reports. Police found her body, which was transported to a medical examiner for an autopsy.

Smith-Fields’ family’s lawyer said they begged for detectives to conduct a proper investigation and collect evidence from her apartment. They believe the police’s negligence was racially motivated.