summary
Introduced
09/08/2025
09/08/2025
In Committee
10/06/2025
10/06/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to specific medical diagnoses in child protective investigations; amending s. 39.301, F.S.; providing an exception to the requirement that the Department of Children and Families immediately forward certain allegations to a law enforcement agency; requiring that such allegations be immediately forwarded to a law enforcement agency upon completion of the department’s investigation under certain circumstances; requiring a child protective investigator to inform the subject of an investigation of a certain duty; requiring the department to request relevant medical records from a licensed health care professional for certain children who are the subject of a central abuse hotline report; conforming a cross reference; amending s. 39.303, F.S.; requiring Child Protection Teams to consult with a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse with specified experience when evaluating certain reports; amending s. 39.304, F.S.; authorizing a parent or legal custodian of a child who is the subject of certain orders to request specified medical examinations of the child within a specified timeframe; requiring that such medical examinations be paid for by the parent or legal custodian making the request or as otherwise covered by insurance; requiring the physician or advanced practice registered nurse who performed certain medical examinations to submit a written report to the department and certain persons within a specified timeframe; requiring the department to immediately convene a case staffing with specified persons under certain circumstances; amending s. 456.057, F.S.; requiring that certain patient records be furnished to the Department of Children and Families within a specified timeframe; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill modifies procedures for child protective investigations, particularly when specific medical diagnoses are involved. It allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to delay reporting allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement if a parent claims the child has a pre-existing medical diagnosis or is seeking a medical examination, but requires immediate reporting once the DCF investigation is complete if criminal conduct is still alleged. Investigators must now inform parents of their duty to report any such pre-existing medical diagnoses and provide contact information for the treating healthcare professional within 10 days. The bill also mandates that DCF request relevant medical records from healthcare providers for children with these specified diagnoses, such as rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, or vitamin D deficiency, and requires Child Protection Teams to consult with physicians or advanced practice registered nurses experienced with these conditions when evaluating related reports. Parents or legal custodians can request additional medical examinations for their child within a specific timeframe, with the costs covered by the parent or insurance, and if these examinations yield differing conclusions, DCF must convene a case staffing with relevant parties to reach a consensus. Finally, healthcare providers must furnish requested patient records to DCF within 14 days for investigations related to child abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (5)
Other Sponsors (2)
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Senate), Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Last Action
Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 47 (on 03/05/2026)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
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bill summary
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