Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 5 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 304 — Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations

Last action — Died in Messages

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations; Providing an exception to the requirement that the Department of Children and Families immediately forward certain allegations to a law enforcement agency; requiring Child Protection Teams to consult with a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse when evaluating certain reports; authorizing, under a certain circumstance, a parent or legal custodian from whom a child was removed to request specified examinations of the child, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

302 added · 290 removed

302 line(s) added, 290 removed.

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Latest
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 By the Committees on Judiciary;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs;
and Children, Families, and Elder Affairs;
and Senators Sharief and Garcia 586-02326-25 2025304c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to specific medical diagnoses in child protective investigations;
and Senators Sharief, Garcia, Rouson, Gaetz, and Collins 590-02859-25 2025304c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to specific medical diagnoses in child protective investigations;
39.201, F.S.;
requiring that reports made by certain persons contain a summary of a specified analysis;
amending s.
Paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraph (c) of subsection (14) of section 39.301, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (1) of section 39.201, Florida Statutes, to read:
39.301 Initiation of protective investigations.— (2)(a) The department shall immediately forward allegations Page 1 of 10 CODING:
39.201 Required reports of child abuse, abandonment, or Page 1 of 10 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 of criminal conduct to the municipal or county law enforcement agency of the municipality or county in which the alleged conduct has occurred, unless the parent or legal custodian:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 neglect, sexual abuse of a child, and juvenile sexual abuse;
required reports of death;
reports involving a child who has exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior.— (1) MANDATORY REPORTING.— (d) Any report made by a person whose occupation is listed in sub-subparagraph (b)2.a.
must contain a summary of the analysis used to rule out a differential diagnosis of the conditions specified in s.
39.303(4)(b).
Section 2.
Paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraph (c) of subsection (14) of section 39.301, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
39.301 Initiation of protective investigations.— (2)(a) The department shall immediately forward allegations of criminal conduct to the municipal or county law enforcement agency of the municipality or county in which the alleged conduct has occurred, unless the parent or legal custodian:
1.
Page 2 of 10 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 1.
The duty of the parent or legal custodian to report any change in the residence or location of the child to the Page 2 of 10 CODING:
The duty of the parent or legal custodian to report any change in the residence or location of the child to the investigator and that the duty to report continues until the investigation is closed.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 investigator and that the duty to report continues until the investigation is closed.
Such factors must include, but are not limited to, noncompliance with a safety plan or the case plan developed by the department, and the family under this chapter, and prior abuse reports with findings that involve the child, the child’s sibling, or the child’s caregiver.
Such factors must include, but are not limited to, noncompliance with a safety plan or the case plan developed by the department, and the family under this chapter, and prior Page 3 of 10 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 abuse reports with findings that involve the child, the child’s sibling, or the child’s caregiver.
39.303(4) and (5), the file must include written Page 3 of 10 CODING:
39.303(4) and (5), the file must include written documentation that the administrative review included the results of the team’s evaluation.
Words stricken are deletions;
Section 3.
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 documentation that the administrative review included the results of the team’s evaluation.
Section 2.
This section does not remove or reduce the duty and responsibility of any person to report pursuant to this chapter all suspected or actual cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect or sexual abuse of a child.
This section does not remove or reduce the duty and responsibility of any person to report pursuant to this chapter all suspected or actual cases of child abuse, abandonment, or Page 4 of 10 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 neglect or sexual abuse of a child.
(b) Telephone consultation services in emergencies and in Page 4 of 10 CODING:
(b) Telephone consultation services in emergencies and in other situations.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Show all 79 changed rows (39 more)
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Latest
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 other situations.
A Child Protection Team may provide consultation with respect to a child who is alleged or is shown to be abused, abandoned, or neglected, which consultation shall be provided at the request of a representative of the family safety and preservation program or at the request of any other professional involved with a child or the child’s parent or parents, legal custodian or custodians, or other caregivers.
A Child Protection Team may provide consultation with respect to a child who is alleged or is shown to be abused, abandoned, or neglected, which consultation shall be provided at the request of a Page 5 of 10 CODING:
In every such Child Protection Team case staffing, consultation, or staff activity involving a child, a family safety and preservation program representative shall attend and participate.
(g) Case service coordination and assistance, including the location of services available from other public and private agencies in the community.
(h) Such training services for program and other employees of the Department of Children and Families, employees of the Department of Health, and other medical professionals as is Page 5 of 10 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 deemed appropriate to enable them to develop and maintain their professional skills and abilities in handling child abuse, abandonment, and neglect cases.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 representative of the family safety and preservation program or at the request of any other professional involved with a child or the child’s parent or parents, legal custodian or custodians, or other caregivers.
In every such Child Protection Team case staffing, consultation, or staff activity involving a child, a family safety and preservation program representative shall attend and participate.
(g) Case service coordination and assistance, including the location of services available from other public and private agencies in the community.
(h) Such training services for program and other employees of the Department of Children and Families, employees of the Department of Health, and other medical professionals as is deemed appropriate to enable them to develop and maintain their professional skills and abilities in handling child abuse, abandonment, and neglect cases.
A Child Protection Team that is evaluating a report of medical neglect and assessing the health care needs of a medically complex child shall consult with a physician who has experience in treating children with the same condition.
A Child Protection Team that is evaluating a report of medical Page 6 of 10 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 neglect and assessing the health care needs of a medically complex child shall consult with a physician who has experience in treating children with the same condition.
Page 6 of 10 CODING:
2.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 2.
(b) A physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who holds board certification in a specialty other than pediatrics, who may complete the review only when working under the direction of the Child Protection Team medical director or a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who holds board certification in pediatrics and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
(b) A physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 Page 7 of 10 CODING:
(c) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 464 who has a specialty in pediatrics or family medicine and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
(d) A physician assistant licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, who may complete the review only when working under the supervision of the Child Protection Team medical director or a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who holds Page 7 of 10 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 board certification in pediatrics and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 who holds board certification in a specialty other than pediatrics, who may complete the review only when working under the direction of the Child Protection Team medical director or a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who holds board certification in pediatrics and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
(c) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 464 who has a specialty in pediatrics or family medicine and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
(d) A physician assistant licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, who may complete the review only when working under the supervision of the Child Protection Team medical director or a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who holds board certification in pediatrics and is a member of a Child Protection Team;
(a) The child was examined for the alleged abuse or neglect by a physician who is not a member of the Child Protection Team, and a consultation between the Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant working under the supervision of a Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, or registered nurse working under the direct supervision of a Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, and the examining physician concludes that a further medical evaluation is unnecessary;
(a) The child was examined for the alleged abuse or neglect by a physician who is not a member of the Child Protection Team, and a consultation between the Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant working under the supervision of a Child Protection Page 8 of 10 CODING:
(b) The child protective investigator, with supervisory approval, has determined, after conducting a child safety assessment, that there are no indications of injuries as described in paragraphs (5)(a)-(h) (4)(a)-(h) as reported;
or (c) The Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, as authorized in subsection (6) (5), determines that a medical evaluation is not Page 8 of 10 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 required.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, or registered nurse working under the direct supervision of a Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, and the examining physician concludes that a further medical evaluation is unnecessary;
(b) The child protective investigator, with supervisory approval, has determined, after conducting a child safety assessment, that there are no indications of injuries as described in paragraphs (5)(a)-(h) (4)(a)-(h) as reported;
or (c) The Child Protection Team medical director or a Child Protection Team board-certified pediatrician, as authorized in subsection (6) (5), determines that a medical evaluation is not required.
Section 3.
Section 4.
If the initial examination was not performed by the Child Protection Team, request that the child be examined by the Child Protection Team as soon as practicable;
If the initial examination was not performed by the Child Protection Team, request that the child be examined by the Page 9 of 10 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 304 586-02326-25 2025304c1 Child Protection Team as soon as practicable;
For the purpose of ruling out a differential diagnosis, request that the child be examined by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 464 who routinely provides diagnosis of and medical care to pediatric patients for the Page 9 of 10 CODING:
For the purpose of ruling out a differential diagnosis, request that the child be examined by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 464 who routinely provides diagnosis of and medical care to pediatric patients for the conditions specified in s.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 304 590-02859-25 2025304c2 conditions specified in s.
Section 4.
Section 5.
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies the procedures for child protective investigations and the role of Child Protection Teams in evaluating medical diagnoses related to child welfare.

  • 39.301

    The department shall immediately forward allegations of criminal conduct to the municipal or county law enforcement agency of the municipality or county in which the alleged conduct has occurred. → However, the department need not immediately forward allegations of criminal conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agency if the parent or legal custodian: 1. Has alleged that the child has a preexisting diagnosis specified in s. 39.303(4)(b); or 2. Is requesting that the child have an examination under s. 39.304(1)(c).

    This change allows the Department of Children and Families to postpone forwarding certain criminal allegations to law enforcement if specific conditions regarding the child's medical diagnosis are met.

  • 39.301

    the duty of the parent or legal custodian to report any change in the residence or location of the child to the investigator and that the duty to report continues until the investigation is closed. → the duty of the parent or legal custodian to report any preexisting diagnosis for the child which is specified in s. 39.303(4)(b) and provide any medical records that support that diagnosis in a timely manner.

    This amendment expands the reporting obligations of the parent or legal custodian to include preexisting medical diagnoses of the child.

  • 39.303

    This section does not remove or reduce the duty and responsibility of any person to report pursuant to this chapter all suspected or actual cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect or sexual abuse of a child. → A Child Protection Team shall consult with a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 464 who has experience in and routinely provides medical care to pediatric patients when evaluating a report of: (a) Medical neglect and assessing the needs of a medically complex child; or (b) A child with a reported preexisting diagnosis of any of the following: 1. Rickets. 2. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. 3. Osteogenesis imperfecta. 4. Vitamin D deficiency. 5. Any other medical condition known to appear to be caused by, or known to be misdiagnosed as, abuse.

    This addition requires Child Protection Teams to consult with qualified medical professionals when evaluating specific medical cases related to child welfare.

Action History

  1. Died in Messages

  2. Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration

  3. In Messages

  4. Immediately certified

  5. CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Amendment(s) adopted (118860)

  8. Read 2nd time

  9. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/09/25

  10. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  11. Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 25 NAYS 0

  12. On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/01/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  13. CS/CS by Judiciary read 1st time

  14. Now in Rules

  15. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  16. CS/CS by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

  17. On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 03/25/25, 4:00 pm, 110 Senate Building

  18. CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs read 1st time

  19. Now in Judiciary

  20. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  21. CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; YEAS 5 NAYS 0

  22. On Committee agenda-- Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, 03/12/25, 8:30 am, 301 Senate Building

  23. Introduced

  24. Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Judiciary; Rules

  25. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 154 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (154)

154 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 154 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 10000
Republican 24001
Unaffiliated 2000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 37001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Collins — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Albritton, Ben Republican Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Not Voting
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable

Passed 25 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 25000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (25)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 3000
Republican 8000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 304 do?
Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations; Providing an exception to the requirement that the Department of Children and Families immediately forward certain allegations to a law enforcement agency; requiring Child Protection Teams to consult with a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse when evaluating certain reports; authorizing, under a certain circumstance, a parent or legal custodian from whom a child was removed to request specified examinations of the child, etc.
Who sponsors SB 304?
SB 304 is sponsored by Davis, Tracie (Democrat), Bernard, Mack (Democrat), Collins, Gaetz, Don (Republican), Rouson, Darryl Ervin (Democrat), Garcia, Ileana (Republican), Sharief, Barbara (Democrat), Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, Judiciary, and Smith, Carlos Guillermo (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 304?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 304?
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