The bill known as "Ellie's Law" seeks to strengthen the legal protections for dependent children, particularly in situations where parents or legal custodians are incapacitated. It introduces a definition for "incapacitated parent or legal custodian," highlighting those unable to care for their children due to physical or mental incapacity. The legislation revises existing findings to classify parricide as a form of abuse and establishes new circumstances that create a rebuttable presumption of detriment to a child, such as when a parent is arrested for violent offenses against another parent. Additionally, it mandates specialized training for guardians ad litem and attorneys ad litem in parricide cases and requires that supervised visitations be conducted by trained professionals.

The bill also outlines new protocols for taking children into custody and placing them in shelters, emphasizing the need for hearings prior to such actions, especially in cases involving violent offenses. It requires that if a rebuttable presumption of detriment is established, the court must refer the child to trauma-informed therapeutic services. Furthermore, it mandates child protective investigations for reports of institutional child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, particularly involving department employees, and specifies prompt initiation of investigations with necessary notifications. The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to update definitions and eligibility criteria related to child abuse and exploitation, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 499 Filed: 39.401, 39.302, 394.495, 934.255, 960.065, 984.03