The proposed bill, titled the "Child Protection at Time of Parental Arrest Act," establishes new responsibilities for booking officers regarding the minor children of arrested individuals. It creates a new section, 901.45, in the Florida Statutes, which defines key terms such as "guardian" and "minor child." The bill mandates that during the booking process, booking officers must inquire whether the arrested person has a minor child and, if so, ask specific questions to assess the child's safety and current care arrangements.

Additionally, if the arrested individual indicates they do have a minor child, the booking officer is required to verify the child's safety and may need to notify the central abuse hotline if the child is deemed at risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. The bill also allows booking officers to act on information from previous arrest records if the arrested person claims not to have a minor child. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.