The bill amends section 61.122 of the Florida Statutes, establishing new requirements for parties seeking to disqualify a court-appointed psychologist involved in parenting plan recommendations. It mandates that a party must first file a motion to disqualify the psychologist before they can submit an administrative complaint against them. Additionally, any administrative complaint must include the complainant's personal information and cannot be filed anonymously.
The bill also revises the provisions regarding the award of costs and attorney fees in supplemental actions against court-appointed psychologists. If a supplemental legal action is filed against a psychologist and the psychologist is found not liable, the claimant is responsible for all reasonable costs and attorney fees for both parties. Conversely, if the psychologist is found liable in civil court, they must cover the claimant's reasonable costs and attorney fees. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.