The bill amends section 381.00315 of the Florida Statutes, which governs the declaration of public health emergencies by the State Health Officer. Key changes include the removal of the requirement for the State Health Officer to consult with the Governor "to the extent possible" before declaring a public health emergency. The duration of such declarations has been revised from a maximum of 60 days to 30 days, with stipulations that each renewal extends the declaration for an additional 30 days. Furthermore, a declaration will automatically terminate if not renewed in a timely manner, and an expired declaration cannot be renewed.

Additionally, the bill allows the Legislature to terminate a public health emergency or any related emergency order through a concurrent resolution. If the Legislature terminates the emergency, the State Health Officer is prohibited from declaring a substantially similar emergency thereafter. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1399 c1: 381.00315
H 1399 c2: 381.00315