The bill amends sections 39.01 and 827.03 of the Florida Statutes to revise the definitions of "harm" and "neglect of a child" in relation to child protection and criminal child abuse and neglect provisions. Key changes include the introduction of specific criteria for determining harm, such as the child's age, prior injury history, and the nature of the injury. The bill clarifies that leaving a child without appropriate supervision is considered harmful only if the child is subjected to obvious danger that the caregiver knew or should have known about. Additionally, it specifies that caregivers are not restricted from allowing children of sufficient maturity to engage in independent activities, provided these do not endanger the child's health or safety.

Furthermore, the definition of "neglect" is updated to indicate that it does not include allowing children to participate in independent activities unless such conduct is willful and endangers the child. The bill also reenacts certain sections to incorporate these amendments, ensuring consistency across related statutes. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1191 Filed: 827.03
H 1191 c1: 827.03