The bill, titled "Patterson's Law," amends Florida Statutes regarding child abuse investigations. It requires child protective investigators to inform subjects of their investigations about their rights, specifically the right to request examinations of the alleged victim. This addition is made to section 39.301, where a new point is inserted to clarify this right. Furthermore, the bill modifies section 39.304 to allow alleged perpetrators of child abuse to request specific medical examinations of the alleged victim under certain conditions, such as obtaining a second opinion or ruling out differential diagnoses for certain medical conditions.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the alleged perpetrator is responsible for the costs of these examinations, which may be covered by insurance or Medicaid. However, it explicitly prohibits the use of these examinations to obtain a second opinion regarding whether the alleged victim has been sexually abused. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 511 Filed: 39.301