Bill > S0064

This bill creates new legal provisions for electronic monitoring devices in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Florida, allowing residents or their legal representatives to install surveillance equipment in their rooms under specific conditions. The bill defines an electronic monitoring device as a fixed-position camera or audio recording device that captures movement or sounds, and defines a "representative" as someone with legal authority to make healthcare decisions, such as a person with power of attorney or a court-appointed guardian. Residents can install these devices if they complete a facility-provided consent form, pay for the device and its installation, and obtain consent from roommates if applicable. The bill protects residents by prohibiting facilities from denying admission or retaliating against residents who choose to use electronic monitoring, and establishes strict privacy guidelines about who can view or listen to the recordings, limiting access primarily to the resident, their representative, law enforcement, or specifically authorized individuals. The bill also creates criminal penalties for anyone who intentionally obstructs, tampers with, or destroys these monitoring devices, with violations punishable as a first-degree misdemeanor. Facilities are required to make reasonable accommodation if roommates disagree about device installation, such as potentially moving one resident to another room. The provisions apply to both nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with the law set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/64