The Child Safety and Custody Compliance Act seeks to enhance child welfare in Florida by amending various statutes related to child protection and custody arrangements. Key provisions include revised definitions for "abuse" and "false report," emphasizing the nature of acts rather than their outcomes. The bill mandates specific duties for Child Protection Team investigators and establishes criminal penalties for non-compliance. It also requires the Department of Children and Families to verify and enforce parenting plans during investigations, while introducing stricter scrutiny for anonymous reports of child abuse and expanding the circumstances under which fines can be imposed for false reports. Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions related to domestic violence and child abuse, emphasizes school responsibilities in custody arrangements, and mandates law enforcement involvement in cases of custody interference.

The legislation further reclassifies interference with custody as a criminal offense, establishing penalties for individuals who willfully disregard custody rights. It mandates law enforcement agencies to develop policies for handling custody interference cases and requires schools to enforce parenting plans and maintain accurate custody records. The bill also includes provisions for emergency hearings in custody disputes, enhances the role of the Children and Youth Cabinet, and emphasizes shared parental responsibility while considering evidence of domestic violence and child abuse in custody determinations. Additionally, it regulates the handling of student health information and parental involvement in educational settings, prohibits certain classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for younger students, and establishes a process for resolving disputes between parents and school districts. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 60 Filed: 39.201, 39.206, 39.301, 61.046, 402.57, 683.23, 741.28, 787.01, 787.03, 827.03, 61.45, 921.0022