The bill amends section 61.122 of the Florida Statutes, focusing on the procedures surrounding court-appointed psychologists in parenting plan recommendations. It establishes that a party must seek to disqualify a court-appointed psychologist before filing an administrative complaint against them. The bill mandates that any administrative complaint must include the complainant's personal information and cannot be filed anonymously. Additionally, it allows parents to petition the presiding judge to appoint an alternative psychologist if they wish to disqualify the current one, provided they show good cause.
Furthermore, the bill revises the provisions regarding the award of costs and attorney fees in supplemental actions against court-appointed psychologists. If a legal action is filed against a psychologist based on their participation in a parenting-related matter, the claimant is responsible for all reasonable costs and attorney fees if the psychologist is found not liable. Conversely, if the psychologist is held liable in civil court, they must cover the reasonable costs and attorney fees for the claimant. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.