| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to surrendered infants; amending s. 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | 383.50, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | "infant"; defining the term "infant safety device"; 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | authorizing certain hospitals, emergency medical 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | services stations, and fire stations to use infant 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | safety devices to accept surrendered infants if the 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | device meets specified criteria; requiring such 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | hospitals, emergency medical services stations, and 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | fire stations to monitor the inside of the device 24 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | hours per day and physically check and test the 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | devices at specified intervals; providing additional 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | requirements for certain fire stations using such 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | devices; amending ss. 63.0423, 63.167, 383.51, and 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | 827.035, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | by the act; providing an effective date. 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | Section 1. Section 383.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | read: 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | 383.50 Treatment of surrendered infant.— 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) As used in this section, the term : 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (a) "Infant" means a child who a licensed physician 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | reasonably believes is approximately 30 days old or younger at 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 12 |
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| 47 | 47 | | 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 |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | the time the child is surrendered under this section left at a 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | hospital, an emergency med ical services station, or a fire 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | station. 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | (b) "Infant safety device" means a device that is 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | installed in a supporting wall of a hospital, an emergency 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | medical services station, or a fire station and that has an 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | exterior point of access allowing an indivi dual to place an 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | infant inside and an interior point of access allowing 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | individuals inside the building to safely retrieve the infant. 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | (2) There is a presumption that the parent who surrenders 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | leaves the infant in accordance with this section intended to 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | surrender leave the infant and consented to termination of 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | parental rights. 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | (3)(a) A hospital, an emergency medical services station, 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | or a fire station that is staffed 24 hours per day may use an 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | infant safety device to accept surrendered infants under this 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | section if the device is: 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | 1. Physically part of the hospital, emergency medical 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | services station, or fire station. 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | 2. Temperature controlled and ventilated for the safety of 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | infants. 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | 3. Equipped with a dual alarm system connected to the 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | physical location of the device which automatically triggers an 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | alarm inside the building when an infant is placed in the 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | device. 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 12 |
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| 84 | 84 | | 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 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | 4. Equipped with a surveillance system that allows 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | employees of the hospital, emergency medical services station, 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | or fire station to monitor the inside of the device 24 hours per 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | day. 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | 5. Located such that the interior point of access is in an 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | area that is conspicuous and visible to the employees of the 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | hospital, emergency medical services station, or fire station. 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | (b) A hospital, an emergency medical services station, or 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | a fire station that uses an infant safety device to accept 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | surrendered infants shall use the device's surveillance system 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | to monitor the inside of the infant safety device 24 hours per 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | day and shall physically chec k the device at least twice daily 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | and test the device at least weekly to ensure that the alarm 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | system is in working order. A fire station that is staffed 24 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | hours per day, except when all firefighter first responders are 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | dispatched from the fire station fo r an emergency, must use the 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | dual alarm system of the infant safety device to immediately 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | dispatch the nearest first responder to retrieve any infant left 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | in the infant safety device. 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | (4)(3) Each emergency medical services station or fire 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | station that is staffed with full-time firefighters, emergency 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | medical technicians, or paramedics shall accept any infant 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | surrendered to left with a firefighter, an emergency medical 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | technician, or a paramedic , or surrendered in an infant safety 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | device. The firefighter, emergency medical technician, or 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 12 |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | paramedic shall consider these actions as implied consent to and 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | shall: 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | (a) Provide emergency medical services to the infant to 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | the extent that he or she is trained to provide those services; 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | and 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | (b) Arrange for the imm ediate transportation of the infant 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | to the nearest hospital having emergency services. 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | A licensee as defined in s. 401.23, a fire department, or an 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | employee or agent of a licensee or fire department may treat and 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | transport an infant pursuant to this secti on. If an infant is 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | placed in the physical custody of an employee or agent of a 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | licensee or fire department or is placed in an infant safety 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | device, such placement is considered implied consent for 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | treatment and transport. A licensee, a fire department, or an 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | employee or agent of a licensee or fire department is immune 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | from criminal or civil liability for acting in good faith 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | pursuant to this section. This subsection does not limit 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | liability for negligence. 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | (5)(a)(4)(a) An infant may be left with medical staff or a 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | licensed health care professional after the delivery of the an 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | infant in a hospital , a parent of the infant may leave the 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | infant with medical staff or a licensed health care professional 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | at the hospital if the parent of the infant notifies such 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | medical staff or licensed health care professional that the 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 12 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 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 |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | parent is voluntarily surrendering the infant and does not 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | intend to return. 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | (b) Each hospital of this state subject to s. 395.1041 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | shall, and any other hospital may, admit and provide all 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | necessary emergency services and care, as defined in s. 395.002 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | s. 395.002(9), to any infant left with the hospital in 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | accordance with this section. The hospital or any of its medical 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | staff or licensed health care professionals shall consider these 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | actions as implied consent for treatment, and a hospital 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | accepting physical custody of an infant has implied consent to 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | perform all necessary emergency services and care. The hospital 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | or any of its medical staff or licensed health care 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | professionals are immune from cr iminal or civil liability for 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | acting in good faith in accordance with this section. This 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | subsection does not limit liability for negligence. 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | (6)(5) Except when there is actual or suspected child 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | abuse or neglect, any parent who surrenders leaves an infant in 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | accordance with this section with a firefighter, an emergency 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | medical technician, or a paramedic at a fire station or an 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | emergency medical services station, or brings an infant to an 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | emergency room of a hospital and expresses an intent to 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | surrender leave the infant and not return , has the absolute 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | right to remain anonymous and to leave at any time and may not 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | be pursued or followed unless the parent seeks to reclaim the 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | infant. When an infant is born in a hospital and the mother 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 12 |
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| 195 | 195 | | 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 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | expresses intent to surrender leave the infant and not return, 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | upon the mother's request, the hospital or registrar must shall 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | complete the infant's birth certificate without naming the 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | mother thereon. 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | (7)(6) A parent of an infant surrendered left at a 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | hospital, an emergency medical services station, or a fire 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | station under this section may claim his or her infant up until 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | the court enters a judgment terminating his or her parental 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | rights. A claim to the infant must be made to the entity having 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | physical or legal custody of th e infant or to the circuit court 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | before whom proceedings involving the infant are pending. 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | (8)(7) Upon admitting an infant under this section, the 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | hospital shall immediately contact a local licensed child -138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | placing agency or alternatively contact the state wide central 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | abuse hotline for the name of a licensed child -placing agency 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | for purposes of transferring physical custody of the infant. The 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | hospital shall notify the licensed child -placing agency that an 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | infant has been left with the hospital and approxima tely when 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | the licensed child-placing agency can take physical custody of 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | the infant. In cases where there is actual or suspected child 145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | abuse or neglect, the hospital or any of its medical staff or 146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | licensed health care professionals shall report the actual or 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with ss. 39.201 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | and 395.1023 in lieu of contacting a licensed child -placing 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | agency. 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 12 |
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| 232 | 232 | | 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 |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | (9)(8) An infant admitted to a hospital in accordance with 151 |
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| 237 | 237 | | this section is presumed eligible for coverage under Medicaid , 152 |
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| 238 | 238 | | subject to federal rules. 153 |
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| 239 | 239 | | (10)(9) An infant surrendered left at a hospital, an 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | emergency medical services station, or a fire station in 155 |
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| 241 | 241 | | accordance with this section is may not be deemed abandoned or 156 |
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| 242 | 242 | | and subject to reporting and investigation requiremen ts under s. 157 |
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| 243 | 243 | | 39.201 unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or until 158 |
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| 244 | 244 | | the Department of Children and Families takes physical custody 159 |
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| 245 | 245 | | of the infant. 160 |
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| 246 | 246 | | (11)(10) If the parent of an infant is otherwise unable to 161 |
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| 247 | 247 | | surrender the infant in accordance with t his section, the parent 162 |
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| 248 | 248 | | may dial call 911 to request that an emergency medical services 163 |
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| 249 | 249 | | provider meet the surrendering parent at a specified location. 164 |
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| 250 | 250 | | The surrendering parent must stay with the infant until the 165 |
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| 251 | 251 | | emergency medical services provider arrives t o take custody of 166 |
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| 252 | 252 | | the infant. 167 |
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| 253 | 253 | | (12)(11) A criminal investigation may not be initiated 168 |
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| 254 | 254 | | solely because an infant is surrendered under in accordance with 169 |
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| 255 | 255 | | this section unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or 170 |
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| 256 | 256 | | neglect. 171 |
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| 257 | 257 | | Section 2. Subsections (1) and (4), paragraphs (b) and (c) 172 |
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| 258 | 258 | | of subsection (7), and subsections (9) and (10) of section 173 |
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| 259 | 259 | | 63.0423, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 174 |
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| 260 | 260 | | 63.0423 Procedures with respect to surrendered infants. — 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 12 |
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| 269 | 269 | | 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 |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | (1) Upon entry of final judgment terminating parental 176 |
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| 274 | 274 | | rights, a licensed child -placing agency that takes physical 177 |
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| 275 | 275 | | custody of an infant surrendered at a hospital, emergency 178 |
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| 276 | 276 | | medical services station, or fire station pursuant to s. 383.50 179 |
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| 277 | 277 | | assumes responsibility for the medical and other costs 180 |
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| 278 | 278 | | associated with the e mergency services and care of the 181 |
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| 279 | 279 | | surrendered infant from the time the licensed child -placing 182 |
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| 280 | 280 | | agency takes physical custody of the surrendered infant. 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | (4) The parent who surrenders the infant in accordance 184 |
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| 282 | 282 | | with s. 383.50 is presumed to have consented to termination of 185 |
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| 283 | 283 | | parental rights, and express consent is not required. Except 186 |
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| 284 | 284 | | when there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, the 187 |
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| 285 | 285 | | licensed child-placing agency may not attempt to pursue, search 188 |
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| 286 | 286 | | for, or notify that parent as provided in s. 63.088 an d chapter 189 |
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| 287 | 287 | | 49. For purposes of s. 383.50 and this section, an infant who 190 |
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| 288 | 288 | | tests positive for illegal drugs, narcotic prescription drugs, 191 |
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| 289 | 289 | | alcohol, or other substances, but shows no other signs of child 192 |
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| 290 | 290 | | abuse or neglect, shall be placed in the custody of a lic ensed 193 |
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| 291 | 291 | | child-placing agency. Such a placement does not eliminate the 194 |
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| 292 | 292 | | reporting requirement under s. 383.50(8) s. 383.50(7). When the 195 |
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| 293 | 293 | | department is contacted regarding an infant properly surrendered 196 |
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| 294 | 294 | | under this section and s. 383.50, the department shall provide 197 |
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| 295 | 295 | | instruction to contact a licensed child -placing agency and may 198 |
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| 296 | 296 | | not take custody of the infant unless reasonable effor ts to 199 |
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| 297 | 297 | | contact a licensed child -placing agency to accept the infant 200 |
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| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 12 |
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| 306 | 306 | | 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 |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | have not been successful. 201 |
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| 311 | 311 | | (7) If a claim of parental rights of a surrendered infant 202 |
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| 312 | 312 | | is made before the judgment to terminate parental rights is 203 |
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| 313 | 313 | | entered, the circuit court may hold the act ion for termination 204 |
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| 314 | 314 | | of parental rights in abeyance for a period of time not to 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | exceed 60 days. 206 |
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| 316 | 316 | | (b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the 207 |
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| 317 | 317 | | surrendered infant and order any whatever investigation, home 208 |
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| 318 | 318 | | evaluation, or and psychological evaluati on are necessary to 209 |
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| 319 | 319 | | determine what is in the best interests of the surrendered 210 |
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| 320 | 320 | | infant. 211 |
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| 321 | 321 | | (c) The court may not terminate parental rights solely on 212 |
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| 322 | 322 | | the basis that the parent surrendered left the infant at a 213 |
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| 323 | 323 | | hospital, emergency medical services station, or f ire station in 214 |
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| 324 | 324 | | accordance with s. 383.50. 215 |
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| 325 | 325 | | (9)(a) A judgment terminating parental rights to a 216 |
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| 326 | 326 | | surrendered infant pending adoption is voidable, and any later 217 |
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| 327 | 327 | | judgment of adoption of that child minor is voidable, if, upon 218 |
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| 328 | 328 | | the motion of a parent, the court f inds that a person knowingly 219 |
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| 329 | 329 | | gave false information that prevented the parent from timely 220 |
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| 330 | 330 | | making known his or her desire to assume parental 221 |
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| 331 | 331 | | responsibilities toward the child minor or from exercising his 222 |
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| 332 | 332 | | or her parental rights. A motion under this subsectio n must be 223 |
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| 333 | 333 | | filed with the court originally entering the judgment. The 224 |
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| 334 | 334 | | motion must be filed within a reasonable time but not later than 225 |
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| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 12 |
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| 343 | 343 | | 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 |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
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| 345 | 345 | | |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | 1 year after the entry of the judgment terminating parental 226 |
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| 348 | 348 | | rights. 227 |
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| 349 | 349 | | (b) No later than 30 days after the filing of a moti on 228 |
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| 350 | 350 | | under this subsection, the court shall conduct a preliminary 229 |
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| 351 | 351 | | hearing to determine what contact, if any, will be allowed 230 |
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| 352 | 352 | | permitted between a parent and the child pending resolution of 231 |
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| 353 | 353 | | the motion. Such contact may be allowed only if it is requested 232 |
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| 354 | 354 | | by a parent who has appeared at the hearing and the court 233 |
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| 355 | 355 | | determines that it is in the best interests of the child. If the 234 |
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| 356 | 356 | | court orders contact between a parent and the child, the order 235 |
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| 357 | 357 | | must be issued in writing as expeditiously as possible and must 236 |
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| 358 | 358 | | state with specificity any provisions regarding contact with 237 |
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| 359 | 359 | | persons other than those with whom the child resides. 238 |
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| 360 | 360 | | (c) The court may not order scientific testing to 239 |
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| 361 | 361 | | determine the paternity or maternity of the child minor until 240 |
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| 362 | 362 | | such time as the court determines that a previously entered 241 |
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| 363 | 363 | | judgment terminating the parental rights of that parent is 242 |
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| 364 | 364 | | voidable pursuant to paragraph (a), unless all parties agree 243 |
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| 365 | 365 | | that such testing is in the best interests of the child. Upon 244 |
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| 366 | 366 | | the filing of test results establishing that person's maternity 245 |
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| 367 | 367 | | or paternity of the surrendered infant, the court may order 246 |
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| 368 | 368 | | visitation only if it appears to be in the best interests of the 247 |
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| 369 | 369 | | child. 248 |
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| 370 | 370 | | (d) Within 45 days after the preliminary hearing, the 249 |
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| 371 | 371 | | court shall conduct a final hearing on the motion to set aside 250 |
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| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 12 |
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| 380 | 380 | | 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 |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
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| 383 | 383 | | |
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| 384 | 384 | | the judgment and shall enter its written order as expeditiously 251 |
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| 385 | 385 | | as possible thereafter. 252 |
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| 386 | 386 | | (10) Except to the extent expressly provided in this 253 |
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| 387 | 387 | | section, proceedings initiated by a licensed child -placing 254 |
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| 388 | 388 | | agency for the termination of parental rights an d subsequent 255 |
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| 389 | 389 | | adoption of an infant surrendered an infant left at a hospital, 256 |
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| 390 | 390 | | emergency medical services station, or fire station in 257 |
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| 391 | 391 | | accordance with s. 383.50 shall be conducted pursuant to this 258 |
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| 392 | 392 | | chapter. 259 |
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| 393 | 393 | | Section 3. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of sec tion 260 |
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| 394 | 394 | | 63.167, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 261 |
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| 395 | 395 | | 63.167 State adoption information center. — 262 |
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| 396 | 396 | | (2) The functions of the state adoption information center 263 |
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| 397 | 397 | | shall include: 264 |
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| 398 | 398 | | (f) Maintaining a list of licensed child -placing agencies 265 |
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| 399 | 399 | | eligible and willing to take custody of and place infants 266 |
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| 400 | 400 | | surrendered left at a hospital, pursuant to s. 383.50. The names 267 |
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| 401 | 401 | | and contact information for the licensed child -placing agencies 268 |
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| 402 | 402 | | on the list shall be provided on a rotating basis to the 269 |
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| 403 | 403 | | statewide central abuse hotline. 270 |
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| 404 | 404 | | Section 4. Section 383.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to 271 |
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| 405 | 405 | | read: 272 |
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| 406 | 406 | | 383.51 Confidentiality; identification of parent leaving 273 |
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| 407 | 407 | | infant at hospital, emergency medical services s tation, or fire 274 |
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| 408 | 408 | | station.—The identity of a parent who surrenders leaves an 275 |
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| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 12 |
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| 417 | 417 | | 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 |
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| 418 | 418 | | |
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| 419 | 419 | | |
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| 420 | 420 | | |
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| 421 | 421 | | infant at a hospital, an emergency medical services station, or 276 |
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| 422 | 422 | | a fire station in accordance with s. 383.50 is confidential and 277 |
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| 423 | 423 | | exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 278 |
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| 424 | 424 | | Constitution. The identity of a parent leaving a child shall be 279 |
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| 425 | 425 | | disclosed to a person claiming to be a parent of the infant. 280 |
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| 426 | 426 | | Section 5. Section 827.035, Florida Statutes, is amended 281 |
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| 427 | 427 | | to read: 282 |
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| 428 | 428 | | 827.035 Infants.—It does not constitute neglect of a child 283 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | pursuant to s. 827.03 or contributing to the dependency of a 284 |
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| 430 | 430 | | child pursuant to s. 827.04 if a parent surrenders leaves an 285 |
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| 431 | 431 | | infant at a hospital, emergency medical services station, or 286 |
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| 432 | 432 | | fire station or brings an infant to an emergency room and 287 |
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| 433 | 433 | | expresses an intent to surrender leave the infant and not 288 |
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| 434 | 434 | | return, in compliance with s. 383.50. 289 |
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| 435 | 435 | | Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 290 |
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