HB 953 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0953-00
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to parenting plan recommendations by 2
court-appointed psychologists; amending s. 61.122, 3
F.S.; revising the requirements a parent must follow 4
before filing a legal action against a court -appointed 5
psychologist who developed a parenting plan 6
recommendation in certain cases; making technical 7
changes; providing an effective date. 8
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
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Section 1. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 61.122, 12
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 13
61.122 Parenting plan recommendation; presumption of 14
psychologist's good faith; prerequisite to parent's filing suit; 15
award of fees, costs, reimbursement. — 16
(3) A parent who desires to file a legal action against a 17
court-appointed psychologist who developed has acted in good 18
faith in developing a parenting plan recommendation in a must 19
petition the judge who presided over the dissolution of 20
marriage, case of domes tic violence, or paternity matter 21
involving the relationship of a child and a parent, including 22
time-sharing of children, must conduct a reasonable 23
investigation and follow the procedures required under s. 24
766.104 to appoint another psychologist . Upon the parent's 25
HB 953 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0953-00
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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
showing of good cause, the court shall appoint another 26
psychologist. The court shall determine who is responsible for 27
all court costs and attorney's fees associated with making such 28
an appointment. 29
(4) If a legal action, whether it be a civil ac tion, a 30
criminal action, or an administrative proceeding, is filed 31
against a court-appointed psychologist in a dissolution of 32
marriage, case of domestic violence, or paternity matter 33
involving the relationship of a child and a parent, including 34
time-sharing of children, the claimant is responsible for all 35
reasonable costs and reasonable attorney attorney's fees 36
associated with the action for both parties if the psychologist 37
is held not liable. If the psychologist is held liable in civil 38
court, the psycholog ist must pay all reasonable costs and 39
reasonable attorney attorney's fees for the claimant. 40
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 41