House Bill 173 amends several sections of Florida Statutes to strengthen parental rights concerning the health care decisions of minors. Key provisions include the requirement for parental or guardian consent for minors seeking treatment for sexually transmissible diseases, mental health services from mobile response teams, and certain substance abuse services. The bill repeals a previous provision that allowed minors to access outpatient crisis intervention services without parental consent. Additionally, it mandates that school districts provide parents with information about health-related questionnaires or forms before administering them, ensuring parents can opt their children out of participation.

The legislation also introduces new rights for parents, such as the ability to review and consent to surveys or questionnaires before they are given to their minor children, and to receive results from any biofeedback devices used on their children. It emphasizes parental involvement in health-related decisions while maintaining confidentiality in the treatment of minors. Furthermore, the bill requires school districts to appoint a special magistrate to resolve disputes related to school procedures and mandates the adoption of policies to inform parents of their rights. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 173 Filed: 381.0051, 384.30, 394.459, 394.495, 397.501, 397.601, 1001.42