This bill amends Section 411.2035 of the Florida Statutes to enhance education on the dangers of abusive head trauma, including shaken baby syndrome. The Department of Health is required to adopt evidence-based parent education materials that describe these dangers and provide guidelines for their distribution. The materials must cover various topics, including the grave effects of shaking infants, appropriate management of stressors that may lead to such actions, safe infant sleep practices, and the importance of selecting responsible caregivers. The bill also mandates a multi-year phase-in plan for distributing these materials, starting with counties that have the highest birth rates.

Additionally, the bill specifies that hospitals, birth centers, and home birth providers must provide these educational materials to parents within the first two weeks after birth. Childbirth educators and pediatric practices are also required to distribute or reinforce this information to expectant parents. Importantly, the bill includes provisions that protect these entities from civil liability for failing to provide the required information. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1482 Filed: 411.2035