Florida Senate - 2024 SB 254



By Senator Book





35-00368-24 2024254__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to picketing or protesting in or near
3 health care facilities; creating s. 810.16, F.S.;
4 defining the term “health care facility”; prohibiting
5 a person from picketing or protesting inside of or
6 within a specified distance of a health care facility
7 with specified intent; providing criminal penalties;
8 requiring a specified warning before an arrest for a
9 violation; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Section 810.16, Florida Statutes, is created to
14 read:
15 810.16 Picketing or protesting in or near health care
16 facility.—
17 (1) As used in this section, the term “health care
18 facility” has the same meaning as health care provider or health
19 care facility as defined in s. 817.505(2).
20 (2) It is unlawful for a person to picket or protest inside
21 of or within 150 feet of a health care facility with the intent
22 to harass or disturb an individual in or about such facility or
23 to disturb or disrupt the operations of the facility.
24 (3) A person who violates this section commits a
25 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
26 775.082 or s. 775.083.
27 (4) Before a person may be arrested for a violation of this
28 section, a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1) or
29 a local, state, federal, or military law enforcement agency must
30 go as near to the person as may be done with safety and must
31 command any person picketing or protesting inside of or within
32 150 feet of the health care facility to immediately and
33 peaceably disperse. If any such person does not thereupon
34 immediately and peaceably disperse, he or she may be arrested
35 for a violation of this section.
36 Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024.