The bill amends section 381.96 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the contract requirements for the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, Inc. It specifies that the Department of Health must conduct annual unannounced visits to each organization within the network to ensure compliance with contractual obligations. The bill introduces new requirements for the contracts, including the necessity for the network to provide accurate and medically sound informational materials to clients, ensure background screenings for staff and volunteers, and perform annual financial audits of each organization within the network. Additionally, the bill mandates that the contract must include penalties for noncompliance and requires organizations to make information about local rape crisis centers and sexual assault treatment centers readily available to clients.
Key changes in the bill include the replacement of "shall" with "must" in several contract requirements, emphasizing the mandatory nature of these obligations. The bill also adds a new subsection that outlines the Department's responsibility to conduct annual visits and specifies that these visits should be unannounced. Furthermore, it establishes a requirement for the network to submit an annual audit report to legislative leaders by February 1 each year. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.