This bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to the temporary custody of minor children. It requires protective investigators to inform relatives of a child about their option to petition for temporary or concurrent custody during a protective investigation and to provide guidance on how to file such a petition. Additionally, it expands the eligibility for individuals who can petition for custody to include grandparents, regardless of whether the child is currently living with them. The bill also specifies that petitions for custody must include evidence of specific parental behaviors, such as extensive substance abuse, that could compromise the child's safety.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that courts must find it is in the child's best interests to grant custody and that there is a substantial threat of harm if custody is not granted. It clarifies that evidence of a parent's chronic substance abuse can be sufficient for the court to determine a substantial threat to the child. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1002 Filed: 39.301, 751.02, 751.03, 751.05