This bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to child protective investigations, specifically addressing the handling of allegations involving children with certain medical diagnoses. It introduces an exception to the requirement for the Department of Children and Families to immediately forward allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement if the parent or legal custodian has reported a preexisting diagnosis or requested an examination for the child. Additionally, it mandates that child protective investigators inform subjects of investigations about their rights and responsibilities, including the duty to report any preexisting diagnoses and provide supporting medical records.

The bill also requires Child Protection Teams to consult with licensed physicians or advanced practice registered nurses when evaluating reports of medical neglect or assessing the needs of medically complex children. Furthermore, it allows parents or legal custodians from whom a child was removed to request specific examinations, which must be paid for by them or covered by insurance or Medicaid. Notably, the bill prohibits requesting examinations for the purpose of obtaining a second opinion on sexual abuse allegations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.