The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
BILL: SB 436
INTRODUCER: Senator Grall
SUBJECT: Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Website
DATE: February 7, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Looke Brown HP Favorable
2. Gerbrandt McKnight AHS Pre-meeting
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 436 creates s. 383.0131, F.S., to require the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation
with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Agency for Health Care
Administration (AHCA), to maintain a website, distinct from its own website, to provide
information and links for public and private resources for expectant families and new parents.
The DOH must contract for the creation of the website and it must be operational by January 1,
2025. The bill specifies categories of resources that must be available on the website but does not
limit the website to those categories. Additionally, the bill requires the DCF and the AHCA to
include clear and conspicuous links to the website on their websites.
The bill has a significant, negative fiscal impact on state expenditures. See Section V., Fiscal
Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
DOH Pregnancy Support and New Parent Support Web Resources
Currently, the Department of Health (DOH) provides separate websites for pregnancy and new
parent resources. The DOH’s pregnancy website
1
includes numerous links to resources for
pregnant women. These include information on what to do after pregnancy, available community
resources, still-birth prevention, emergency preparedness, birth defects, the effect of various
conditions and illness on pregnancy, tobacco use, and the Healthy Start program, among others.
1
The Florida Department of Health, Pregnancy, available at https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/womens-
health/pregnancy/index.html, (last visited Jan. 19, 2024).
REVISED: BILL: SB 436 Page 2
The parenting support webpage
2
has similar links to multiple resources for new parents including
information on newborn screening, immunizations, and other programs such as Early Steps,
Healthy Start, Florida Prepaid, and Bright Expectations.
Online Portals
State agencies in Florida operate statutorily mandated online portals on various topics. For
example:
The Department of Education is required in s. 1001.10, F.S., to develop an online portal for
parents to choose the best education options for their students. The statute requires that the
portal must:
o Recommend educational options based on questions about the student, including the
needs and interests of the student.
o Advise parents on the recommended educational options for their student.
o Enable schools to develop a school profile and connect directly with families who
express interest in the school.
o Allow parents to complete the school enrollment process.
The Department of Children and Families is required by s. 409.1464, F.S., to operate a
website as part of the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative that will allow a father to obtain
information about effective parenting, identify areas in which support would enable him to
enhance his ability to be an effective father, and be connected to such support, including, but
not limited to, support provided by organizations receiving specified grants.
The Agency for Health Care Administration is required by s. 408.05, F.S., to contract with a
vendor to provide a consumer-friendly, Internet-based platform that allows a consumer to
research the cost of health care services and procedures and allows for price comparison. The
AHCA is required to actively oversee the platform and the platform must allow a consumer
to search by condition or service bundles that are comprehensible to a layperson and may not
require registration, a security password, or user identification. The vendor is also required to
establish and maintain a Florida-specific data set of health care claims information available
to the public and any interested party.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 383.0131, F.S., to establish a pregnancy and parenting resources website. The
bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to contract for the creation of the website which is
required to be a stand-alone website that must be operational by January 1, 2025. The DOH, in
consultation with the Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care
Administration, is required to maintain the website, and each of these agencies must post a clear
and conspicuous link to the website on their respective webpages. The website must have
information and links to public and private resources for expectant families which include, but
are not limited to:
Educational materials on pregnancy and parenting;
Maternal health services;
Prenatal and postnatal services;
2
The Florida Department of Health, New Parents, available at https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/vital-
statistics/index.html. (last visited Jan. 19, 2024). BILL: SB 436 Page 3
Educational and mentorship programs for fathers;
Social services;
Financial assistance; and
Adoption services.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill has a significant, negative fiscal impact on the Department of Health (DOH). The
DOH estimates a cost of $466,200 to implement the bill, of which $97,600 is recurring
and $368,600 is nonrecurring.
3
3
Department of Health, 2024 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis: SB 436, pp. 3-4, Nov. 17, 2023 (on file with the Senate
Committee on Health Policy). BILL: SB 436 Page 4
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 383.0131 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.