The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to child protective investigations, specifically addressing the handling of allegations involving children with certain medical diagnoses. It introduces an exception allowing the Department of Children and Families to delay forwarding allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement if the parent or legal custodian claims the child has a preexisting diagnosis or requests an examination. Additionally, child protective investigators are now required to inform subjects of investigations about their rights and responsibilities, including the duty to report any preexisting diagnoses and provide supporting medical records.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that Child Protection Teams consult with licensed physicians or advanced practice registered nurses when evaluating reports of medical neglect or children with specific preexisting diagnoses. It also allows parents or legal custodians to request examinations of the child under certain conditions, with the stipulation that they bear the costs unless covered by insurance or Medicaid. The bill aims to ensure that investigations are thorough while also considering the medical complexities of cases involving children with specific health conditions. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 511 Filed: 39.301