HB 269 — CS/HB 269: Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence

(a)(c) "Dating"Next violence"Generation 911" has the same meaning as in s.

784.046(1)(d).365.172(3), Florida Statutes.

(b)(d) "Domestic"Public violence"safety agency" has the same meaning as in s.

741.28.365.172(3), Florida Statutes.

(c)(e) "Dynamic"Public website"safety meansanswering apoint" websiteor that"PSAP" generateshas webpagesthe insame realmeaning time and can change its content and layout depending on various parameters, such as userin preferences,s. time of day, and location.

(4)365.172(3), MEMBERSHIP;Florida Statutes.

MEETINGS.—(2) (a) The HAVENdivision Coordinatingshall Councilconsult iswith composedenhanced of911 theand followingNext members:Generation 911 service providers;

1.state, county, and municipal PSAPs;

Aand representativestate fromand local public safety agencies to conduct a feasibility study regarding the Departmentcreation of Lawa Enforcement,web-based appointed911 byalert thesystem executivefor directoruse by victims of thedomestic Departmentviolence ofand Lawdating Enforcement.violence which is capable of:

2.(a) Ensuring real-time data-sharing between PSAPs and law enforcement agencies.

A(b) representativeCreating from a localunique lawtelephone enforcementnumber agency,for appointedeach byuser thewhich sheriffwill ofconnect the countyuser into whicha thePSAP. law enforcement agency is located.

3.(c) Creating a user-generated numerical code or phrase that can be used by the user after contacting a PSAP and that indicates the user's need for immediate law enforcement assistance.

A(d) representativeTransmitting fromspecified data to law enforcement agencies when a victimuser servicescalls program,from appointedhis byor theher secretaryunique oftelephone thePage Department2 of Children7 andCODING: Families.

4.

A representative from a domestic violence advocacy Page 3 of 13 CODING:

hb269-00hb269-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 269 2026 group,number appointedand byenters thehis secretaryor ofher thenumerical Departmentcode ofor Childrenphrase. and Families.

5.(3) By January 31, 2027, the division shall report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the results of the feasibility study.

An expert in technology matters, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

6.

An attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and who is a member of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, appointed by the president of The Florida Bar.

7.

Any other representative as determined by the HAVEN Coordinating Council, appointed by the chair of the council.

(b) Appointments to the coordinating council must be made by September 1, 2026.

Each member serves at the pleasure of the official who appointed the member.

A vacancy on the coordinating council must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(c) The coordinating council shall elect a chair from among its members.

(d) The first meeting of the coordinating council must be held no later than October 1, 2026.

The coordinating council may hold its meetings through teleconference or other electronic means.

(5) DUTIES.—The HAVEN Coordinating Council shall:

(a) Develop a dynamic website that has the ability to do all of the following:

1.

Synchronize with law enforcement databases to ensure Page 4 of 13 CODING:

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hb269-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 269 2026 real-time data sharing and updates.

2.

Allow a user to generate a unique telephone number from which the user can call a 911 emergency telephone number when he or she is in need of assistance from law enforcement.

3.

Allow a user to choose a personalized numerical code or phrase that discreetly alerts a law enforcement agency or sheriff's office when the user calls his or her uniquely generated telephone number.

4.

Automatically transmit specified data to a law enforcement agency or sheriff's office when a user calls his or her generated telephone number and uses his or her personalized numerical code or phrase, which then triggers the immediate dispatch of a law enforcement officer or sheriff's deputy to the user's location.

(b) Establish a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the dynamic website and its features.

(c) Coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and sheriff's offices to develop and implement a training program to ensure law enforcement officers are equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to alerts that are generated through the dynamic website.

(d) Meet at least quarterly to review relevant data, identify trends, and determine alternative or additional avenues of support for victims of domestic violence or dating violence.

(6) COUNTY-LEVEL HAVEN COUNCILS.— Page 5 of 13 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

hb269-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 269 2026 (a) Each county may establish a county-level HAVEN council.

County-level councils shall operate in coordination with the HAVEN Coordinating Council and may collaborate with local domestic violence fatality review teams established pursuant to s.

741.316.

(b) A county-level HAVEN council may do all of the following:

1.

Review cases involving domestic violence and dating violence, including fatalities and near-fatalities, in coordination with local domestic violence fatality review teams.

2.

Contribute to the development and maintenance of the dynamic website by providing localized data, resources, and impact metrics.

(7) REPORTS.— (a) The HAVEN Coordinating Council shall do all of the following:

1.

Provide quarterly reports to local law enforcement agencies and sheriff's offices.

2.

Beginning in 2027, annually by November 1 submit to the Governor, the Attorney General, the executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report that compiles the progress and cost breakdowns relating to the establishment of the dynamic website and, once the dynamic website is functioning, statistics relating to the usage and Page 6 of 13 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

hb269-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 269 2026 effectiveness of the website and the effectiveness of the coordinating council.

(b) Beginning in 2027, a county-level HAVEN council shall annually by November 1 submit to the Department of Law Enforcement and the HAVEN Coordinating Council a report summarizing the activities, findings, and recommendations of the county-level council.

(8) FUNDING.— (a) The Legislature may appropriate funds annually to the Department of Law Enforcement to be used to implement this act.

(b) The HAVEN Coordinating Council may apply for and receive grants and accept donations to support the development and maintenance of the dynamic website.

(9) PREEMPTION.—This section supersedes any local government regulations on matters covered under this section.

A local government or political subdivision may not administer, implement, or enforce any law, rule, regulation, standard, or provision that conflicts with this section.

(10) REPEAL.—In accordance with s.

20.052(8), this section is repealed October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

purpose.—The Legislature finds that persons attempting to escape from actual or Pagethreatened 7domestic ofviolence 13or CODING:dating violence frequently establish new addresses in order to prevent their assailants or probable assailants from finding them.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb269-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 269 2026 threatened domestic violence or dating violence frequently establish new addresses in order to prevent their assailants or probable assailants from finding them.

741.401-741.409 is to enable state and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence or dating violence, to enable interagency cooperation with the Attorney General in providing address confidentiality for victims of domestic violence orand dating violence, and to enable state and local agencies to accept a program participant's use of an address designated by the Attorney General as a substitute mailing address.

Section 741.402, Florida Statutes, is reordered and amended to read:

(1) "Address" means a residential street address, school address,Page or3 work address of an7 individual,CODING: as specified on the individual's application to be a program participant under ss.

741.401-741.409.

(4)(2) "Program participant" means a person certified as a program participant under s.

741.403.

(2) "Dating violence" means an act of violence as defined in s.

784.046(1)(a), including a threat of such an act, committed against an individual in a continuing and significant Page 8 of 13 CODING:

hb269-00hb269-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 269 2026 relationshipaddress, or work address of an individual, as determinedspecified byon the factorsindividual's listedapplication into s.be a program participant under ss.

784.046(1)(d),741.401-741.409. regardless of whether the act or threat has been reported to law enforcement.

(2) "Dating violence" means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death, or the threat of any such act, committed by an individual who has or has had a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature as determined by the factors listed in s.

784.046(1)(d) with the victim, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(4)(2) "Program participant" means a person certified as a program participant under s.

741.403.

certification.— (1) An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of a person adjudicatedPage incapacitated4 under chapter 744 may apply to the Attorney General to have an address designated by the Attorney General serve as the person's address or the address of the7 minorCODING: or incapacitated person.

To the extent possible within funds appropriated for this purpose, the Attorney General shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Attorney General and if it contains all of the following:

(a) A sworn statement by the applicant that the applicant has good reason to believe that the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence or dating violence, and that the Page 9 of 13 CODING:

hb269-00hb269-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 269 2026 applicantadjudicated fearsincapacitated forunder hischapter or744 hermay safetyapply orto histhe orAttorney herGeneral children'sto safetyhave oran theaddress safetydesignated ofby the minorAttorney orGeneral incapacitatedserve personas onthe whoseperson's behalfaddress or the applicationaddress isof made.the minor or incapacitated person.

To the extent possible within funds appropriated for this purpose, the Attorney General shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Attorney General and if it contains all of the following:

(a) A sworn statement by the applicant that the applicant has good reason to believe that the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence or dating violence, and that the applicant fears for his or her safety or his or her children's safety or the safety of the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made.

741.408 Assistance for program applicants.—The Attorney General shall designate state and local agencies and nonprofit agencies that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of domestic violence orand dating violence to assist persons applyingPage to5 beof program7 participants.CODING:

Assistance and counseling rendered by the Office of the Attorney General or its designees to applicants does not constitute legal advice.

Section 6.

Section 741.465, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

741.465 Public records exemption for the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence.— (1) For purposes of this section, the term "address" means a residential street address, school address, or work address, as specified on the individual's application to be a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Violence.

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hb269-00hb269-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 269 2026 (2)applying Theto addresses,be corresponding telephone numbers, and social security numbers of program participantsparticipants. in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence held by the Office of the Attorney General are exempt from s.

119.07(1)Assistance and s.counseling rendered by the Office of the Attorney General or its designees to applicants does not constitute legal advice.

24(a),Section Art.6.

I of the State Constitution, except the information may be disclosed under the following circumstances:

to a law enforcement agency for purposes of assisting in the execution of a valid arrest warrant;

if directed by a court order, to a person identified in the order;

or if the certification has been canceled.

For purposes of this section, the term "address" means a residential street address, school address, or work address, as specified on the individual's application to be a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence.

(3)(2) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of participants in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence contained in voter registration and voting records held by the supervisor of elections and the Department of State are exempt from s.

119.07(1) and s.

24(a), Art.

I of the State Constitution, except the information may be disclosed under the following circumstances:

to a law enforcement agency for purposes of assisting in the execution of an arrest warrant or, if directed by a court order, to a person identified in the order.

This exemption applies to information made exempt by this subsection before, on, or after the effective date of the Page 11 of 13 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

hb269-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 269 2026 exemption.

Section 7.

I of the State Constitution in the same manner that the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of participants in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic and Dating Violence which are held by the Attorney General under s.

Section 8.7.

960.001 Guidelines for fair treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems.— (1) The Department of Legal Affairs, the state attorneys, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Florida Commission on Offender Review, the State Courts Administrator and circuit court administrators, the Department of Law Enforcement, and every sheriff's department, policePage department,6 orof other7 lawCODING: enforcement agency as defined in s.

943.10(4) shall develop and implement guidelines for the use Page 12 of 13 CODING:

hb269-00hb269-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 269 2026 ofpolice theirdepartment, respectiveor agencies,other whichlaw guidelinesenforcement areagency consistentas withdefined thein purposes of this act and s.

943.10(4) shall develop and implement guidelines for the use of their respective agencies, which guidelines are consistent with the purposes of this act and s.

Victims of domestic violence orand dating violence shall also be given information about the address confidentiality program provided under s.

Section 9.8.

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