This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0817z1.PPH.DOCX
DATE: 4/8/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 817 Emergency Medical Care and Treatment to Minors Without Parental Consent
SPONSOR(S): Massullo
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1114
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 107 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
HB 817 passed the House on February 25, 2022, and subsequently passed the Senate on March 2, 2022.
Current Florida law requires a health care practitioner to obtain written parental consent before performing
health care services on a minor child. However, physicians licensed under chapters 458 and 459, F.S., may
provide emergency medical care or treatment to a minor without parental consent when a child has been
injured in an accident or is suffering from an acute illness, disease, or condition and delaying treatment would
endanger the health or physical well-being of the minor. This is limited to care or treatment that is administered
in either a hospital or college health service. Paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other
emergency medical services personnel may provide emergency care or treatment in a non-hospital setting,
such as an ambulance or roadside.
Health care practitioners and health care facilities that violate parental consent requirements are subject to
disciplinary action under their respective practice acts and may be subject to criminal penalties.
The bill authorizes physicians licensed under chapters 458 or 459, F.S., to provide emergency medical care or
treatment to a minor without parental consent. This allows physicians to provide such care in non-hospital
settings, similar to EMTs and paramedics, or in hospital settings.
The bill does not have a fiscal impact on state or local governments.
The bill was approved by the Governor on April 6, 2022, ch. 2022-53, L.O.F., and will become effective on July
1, 2022.
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DATE: 4/8/2022
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Present Situation
Parental Authority
The interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children is perhaps the oldest of the
recognized fundamental liberty interests protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution.
1
This fundamental liberty interest is rooted in the
fundamental right of privacy from interference in making important decisions relating to marriage, family
relationships, and child rearing and education.
2
The United States Supreme Court has explained the
fundamental nature of this right is rooted in history and tradition:
3
The history and culture of Western civilization reflect a strong tradition of parental
concern for the nurture and upbringing of their children. This primary role of the
parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an
enduring American tradition.
The Florida Supreme Court has likewise recognized that parents have a fundamental liberty interest in
determining the care and upbringing of their children.
4
These rights may not be intruded upon absent a
compelling state interest.
5
According to the Florida Supreme Court, when analyzing a statute that
infringes on the fundamental right of privacy, the applicable standard of review requires that the statute
survive the highest level of scrutiny:
6
The right of privacy is a fundamental right which we believe demands the compelling state
interest standard. This test shifts the burden of proof to the state to justify an intrusion on
privacy. The burden can be met by demonstrating that the challenged regulation serves a
compelling state interest and accomplishes its goal through the use of the least intrusive
means.
Health Care Decisions
Parental Consent for Medical Treatment
Parents generally have the right to be informed about, and give consent for, proposed medical
procedures on their children. However, the state also has an obligation to ensure that children receive
1
Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 748 and 753 (1982) (holding the fundamental liberty interest of natural parents in the care custody,
and management of their child is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, and termination of any parental rights requires due process
proceedings); Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000) (holding there is a fundamental right under the Fourteenth Amendment for
parents to oversee the care, custody, and control of their children).
2
Carey v. Population Svcs. Int’l, 431 US 678, 684-685 (1977) (recognizing the right of privacy in personal decisions relating to
marriage, family relationships, child rearing, and education); See Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406, U.S. 205, 232-33 (1972) (holding a state law
requiring that children attend school past eight grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their
children); See Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584, 602 (1979) (recognizing the presumption that parents act in their children’s best interest);
Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 400-01 (1923) (affirming that the Constitution protects the preferences of the parent in education
over those of the state); Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510, 534-35 (1925) (recognizing the right of parents to direct the
upbringing of and education of their children).
3
Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406, U.S. 205, 232 (1972).
4
Beagle v. Beagle, 678 So. 2d 1271, 1272 (Fla. 1996) (holding a state law violated a parent’s constitutional right to privacy by imposing
grandparent visitation rights over objection of the parent without evidence of harm to the child or other compelling state interest).
5
Id. See, e.g., Shevin v. Byron, Harless, Schaffer, Reid & Assocs., Inc., 379 So. 2d 633, 637 (Fla. 1980) and Belair v. Drew, 776 So. 2d
1105, 1107 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001).
6
Winfield v. Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Dept. of Bus. Regulation, 477 So. 2d 544, 547 (Fla. 1985).
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reasonable medical treatment that is necessary for the preservation of life.
7
The state's interest
diminishes as the severity of an affliction and the likelihood of death increase:
8
There is a substantial distinction in the State's insistence that human life be saved where
the affliction is curable, as opposed to the State interest where . . . the issue is not whether,
but when, for how long and at what cost to the individual . . . life may be briefly extended.
Current law establishes parental consent requirements for health care services. Specifically, unless
otherwise permitted by law, without written, parental consent:
9
A health care practitioner,
10
or an individual employed by such health care practitioner, may not
provide or solicit or arrange to provide health care services or prescribe medicinal drugs to a
minor.
A provider, as defined in s. 408.803, F.S.,
11
may not allow a medical procedure to be performed
on a minor child in its facility.
A parent may reject medical treatment for a child and the state may not interfere with such decision if
the evidence is not sufficiently compelling to establish the primacy of the state's interest, or that the
child's own welfare would be best served by such treatment.
12
Medical Treatment without Parental Consent
Current Florida law provides exceptions for circumstances in which someone other than a parent may
consent for medical care of a minor or provide medical care without parental consent.
Section 743.064, F.S., allows allopathic
13
and osteopathic
14
physicians to provide emergency medical
care or treatment to a minor without parental consent when a child has been injured in an accident or is
suffering from an acute illness, disease, or condition and delaying treatment would endanger the health
or physical well-being of the minor. This is limited to care or treatment is administered in either a
hospital or college health service. Paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other
emergency medical services personnel may provide emergency care or treatment in a prehospital
setting, such as an ambulance or roadside.
15
Even in emergency situations, medical treatment can only be provided without parental consent if:
16
The child’s condition has rendered him or her unable to reveal the identity of his or her parents,
guardian, or legal custodian, and such information is unknown to any person who accompanied
the child to the hospital.
The parents, guardian, or legal custodian cannot be immediately located by telephone at their
place of residence or business.
The hospital must notify the parent or legal guardian as soon as possible after the emergency medical
care or treatment is administered and document in the hospital records the reason parental consent
was not initially obtained. This must include a statement from the attending physician that immediate
emergency medical care or treatment was necessary for the child’s health or physical well-being.
17
7
Von Eiff v. Azicri, 720 So. 2d 510, 515 (Fla. 1998).
8
M.N. v. S. Baptist Hosp., 648 So. 2d 769, 771 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994).
9
S. 1014.06, F.S.
10
S. 456.001, F.S.
11
“Provider” means any activity, service, agency, or facility regulated by the agency and listed in s. 408.802, F.S.
12
Id.
13
Physicians licensed under ch. 458, F.S.
14
Physicians licensed under ch. 459, F.S.
15
For example, an ambulance or roadside.
16
S. 743.064(2), F.S.
17
S. 743.064(3), F.S.
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DATE: 4/8/2022
Section 743.0645, F.S., establishes a list of people, by priority, who may consent to the medical care or
treatment of a minor in instances where the treatment provider is unable to contact the parent or legal
guardian and the provider has not been given contrary instructions. Specifically, the following people
may consent, in this order:
A health care surrogate or a person with power of attorney to provide medical consent for the
minor;
18
The stepparent;
The grandparent of the minor;
An adult brother or sister of the minor; or
An adult aunt or uncle of the minor.
Health care practitioners that violate parental consent requirements are subject to disciplinary action
19
under their respective practice acts and may be subject to criminal penalties.
20
Physician Licensure
Chapter 458, F.S., governs licensure and regulation of allopathic physicians (medical doctors) by the
Florida Board of Medicine in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH). Chapter 459, F.S.,
governs licensure and regulation of osteopathic physicians by the Florida Board of Osteopathic
Medicine, in conjunction with DOH. These chapters govern licensure qualifications, scope of practice,
disciplinary actions, and obligations for parental consent.
Effect of the Bill
The bill authorizes medical doctors and osteopathic doctors licensed under chapters 458 and 459, F.S.,
to provide emergency medical care or treatment to a minor without parental consent. This allows
physicians to provide such care in non-hospital settings, similar to EMTs and paramedics, in addition to
the hospital settings authorized by current law.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
18
A health care surrogate designation under s. 765.2035, F.S., executed after September 30, 2015, or a power of attorney executed
after July 1, 2001, to provide medical consent for a minor includes the power to consent to medically necessary surgical and general
anesthesia services for the minor unless such services are excluded by the individual who executes the health care surrogate for a
minor or power of attorney, s. 743.0645(2)(a), F.S.
19
S. 456.072(1), F.S., provides grounds for disciplinary action against health care practitioners.
20
Violators commit a first-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of up to one year S.
1014(5), F.S.
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DATE: 4/8/2022
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.