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 to the requirement for the Department of Children and Families to immediately forward allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement if the parent or legal custodian has reported a preexisting diagnosis or requested an examination for the child. 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 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 also includes provisions for documentation and administrative reviews in cases where children are not taken into custody. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 511 Filed: 39.301