Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1337 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 1337 2025
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1337-00
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10	10	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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12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to emergencies; amending s. 215.559, 2
16	16	F.S.; revising the units of government given certain 3
17	17	funding priority; amending s. 250.375, F.S.; 4
18	18	authorizing certain servicemembers to provide medical 5
19	19	care in specified circumstances; amending s. 252.32 , 6
20	20	F.S.; authorizing the Division of Emergency Management 7
21	21	to create certain local organizations in 8
22	22	constitutional offices; providing that constitutional 9
23	23	offices have specified emergency powers; s. 252.34, 10
24	24	F.S.; revising the definition of "political 11
25	25	subdivision"; amending s. 252.35, F.S.; providing that 12
26	26	the division has command and control of specified 13
27	27	efforts; providing requirements for such efforts; 14
28	28	revising duties of the division; authorizing the 15
29	29	division to create new debris management sites in 16
30	30	certain circumstances; creating s. 252.352, F.S.; 17
31	31	requiring certain political subdivisions to publish 18
32	32	specified information on publicly available websites; 19
33	33	requiring such websites be available for a specified 20
34	34	period of time; requiring certain county governments 21
35	35	to provide to the county's legislative delegation 22
36	36	specified office space, information, and contact; 23
37	37	amending s. 252.355, F.S.; revising the name of the 24
38	38	registry of persons with special needs and special 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1337 2025
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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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49	49
50	50
51	51	needs shelters; requiring special needs shelters to 26
52	52	include individuals with functional needs; authorizing 27
53	53	the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide certain 28
54	54	information to specified clients; amending s. 252.357, 29
55	55	F.S.; requiring a specified plan to authorize a 30
56	56	certain agency to contact senior living faciliti es in 31
57	57	a disaster area; amending s. 252.359, F.S.; revising 32
58	58	the manner in which the Division of Emergency 33
59	59	Management facilitates transportation of essentials 34
60	60	before and after an emergency; requiring local law 35
61	61	enforcement to cooperate with the division to en sure 36
62	62	the availability of essentials; specifying the 37
63	63	entities that determine state roadways; amending s. 38
64	64	252.365, F.S.; revising the responsibilities of the 39
65	65	emergency coordination officer; requiring the head of 40
66	66	each agency to make specified notifications an nually; 41
67	67	amending s. 252.373, F.S.; authorizing the division to 42
68	68	use certain funds for administration; amending s. 43
69	69	252.385, F.S.; revising reporting requirements for the 44
70	70	division; revising requirements for a specified list; 45
71	71	amending s. 282.201, F.S.; revisin g the division's 46
72	72	temporary exemption from required use of the state 47
73	73	data center; amending s. 403.7071, F.S.; revising the 48
74	74	time period during which specified providers are not 49
75	75	required to collect certain trash; requiring specified 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1337 2025
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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
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	entities to take certain a ctions regarding the 51
89	89	creation, authorization, preauthorization, and 52
90	90	management of debris management sites; providing that 53
91	91	such sites do not need to be inspected if certain 54
92	92	conditions are met; amending s. 526.141, F.S.; 55
93	93	requiring certain gasoline stations b e equipped with 56
94	94	an alternate power source; amending ss. 252.356, 57
95	95	381.0011, 381.0303, 400.492, 400.506, 400.610, 58
96	96	400.934, and 401.273, F.S.; conforming provisions to 59
97	97	changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 60
98	98	61
99	99	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 62
100	100	63
101	101	Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 64
102	102	215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 65
103	103	215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program. —A Hurricane 66
104	104	Loss Mitigation Program is established in the Division of 67
105	105	Emergency Management. 68
106	106	(1) The Legislature shall annually appropriate $10 million 69
107	107	of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s. 70
108	108	215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the 71
109	109	division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the 72
110	110	amount: 73
111	111	(b) Three million dollars in funds shall be used to 74
112	112	construct or retrofit facilities used as public hurricane 75
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114	114	HB 1337 2025
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121	121	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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125	125	shelters. Each year the division shall prioritize the use of 76
126	126	these funds for projects included in the annual report of the 77
127	127	Shelter Development Report prepared in accordance with s. 78
128	128	252.385(3). The division must give funding priority to projects 79
129	129	in counties regional planning council regions that have shelter 80
130	130	deficits and to projects that maximize the use of state funds. 81
131	131	Section 2. Section 25 0.375, Florida Statutes, is amended 82
132	132	to read: 83
133	133	250.375 Medical officer authorization. —A servicemember 84
134	134	trained to provide medical care who is assigned to a military 85
135	135	duty position and authorized by the Florida National Guard to 86
136	136	provide medical care by virtue of such duty position may provide 87
137	137	such medical care to military personnel and civilians within the 88
138	138	state physician who holds an active license to practice medicine 89
139	139	in any state, a United States territory, or the District of 90
140	140	Columbia, while serving as a medical officer with or in support 91
141	141	of the Florida National Guard, pursuant to federal or state 92
142	142	orders, may practice medicine on military personnel or civilians 93
143	143	during an emergency or declared disaster or during federal 94
144	144	military training. 95
145	145	Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of 96
146	146	section 252.32, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 97
147	147	252.32 Policy and purpose. — 98
148	148	(1) Because of the existing and continuing possibility of 99
149	149	the occurrence of emergencies and disasters resulting from 100
150	150
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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
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	natural, technological, or manmade causes; in order to ensure 101
163	163	that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with, 102
164	164	reduce vulnerability to, and recover from such emergencies and 103
165	165	disasters; to provide for the common defense and to protect the 104
166	166	public peace, health, and safety; and to preserve the lives and 105
167	167	property of the people of the state, it is hereby found and 106
168	168	declared to be necessary: 107
169	169	(a) To create a state emergency management agency to be 108
170	170	known as the "Division of Emergency Management," to authorize 109
171	171	the creation of local organizations for emergency management in 110
172	172	the political subdivisions and county constitutional offices of 111
173	173	the state, and to authorize cooperation with the Federal 112
174	174	Government and the governments of other states. 113
175	175	(b) To confer upon the G overnor, the Division of Emergency 114
176	176	Management, and the governing body of each political subdivision 115
177	177	and county constitutional office of the state the emergency 116
178	178	powers provided herein. 117
179	179	Section 4. Subsection (10) of section 252.34, Florida 118
180	180	Statutes, is amended to read: 119
181	181	252.34 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 120
182	182	(10) "Political subdivision" means a separate agency or 121
183	183	unit of local government created or established by law or 122
184	184	ordinance and the officers thereof. The term includes, but is 123
185	185	not limited to, a county, municipality, department, commission, 124
186	186	authority, school district, taxing district, water management 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1337 2025
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191	191
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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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197	197
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199	199	district, board, public corporation, institution of higher 126
200	200	education, and any other public agency or body thereof any 127
201	201	county or municipality created pursuant to law . 128
202	202	Section 5. Paragraphs (y) through (dd) of subsection (2) 129
203	203	of section 252.35, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 130
204	204	paragraphs (x) through (cc), respectively, subsection (1) and 131
205	205	paragraphs (a), (c), (i), (k), (n), and (s) and present 132
206	206	paragraph (x) of subsection (2) are amended, and a new paragraph 133
207	207	(dd) is added to subsection (2) o f that section, to read: 134
208	208	252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency 135
209	209	Management.— 136
210	210	(1) The division is responsible for maintaining a 137
211	211	comprehensive statewide program of emergency management. The 138
212	212	division is responsible for coordination with and command and 139
213	213	control of with efforts of the Federal Government and with other 140
214	214	departments and cabinet agencies, and agencies of state 141
215	215	government, with county and municipal governments and school 142
216	216	boards, and with private agencies that have a role in eme rgency 143
217	217	management. 144
218	218	(2) The division is responsible for carrying out the 145
219	219	provisions of ss. 252.31 -252.90. In performing its duties, the 146
220	220	division shall: 147
221	221	(a) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management 148
222	222	plan, which shall be integrated into and coord inated with the 149
223	223	emergency management plans and programs of the Federal 150
224	224
225	225	HB 1337 2025
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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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236	236	Government. The division shall adopt the plan as a rule in 151
237	237	accordance with chapter 120. The plan must be implemented by a 152
238	238	continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management 153
239	239	program. The plan must contain provisions to ensure that the 154
240	240	state is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and 155
241	241	catastrophic disasters, and the division shall work closely with 156
242	242	local governments and agencies and organizations with emergency 157
243	243	management responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the 158
244	244	plan. The state comprehensive emergency management plan must be 159
245	245	operations oriented and: 160
246	246	1. Include an evacuation component that includes specific 161
247	247	regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 162
248	248	intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This 163
249	249	component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting 164
250	250	tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to 165
251	251	evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for 166
252	252	directing people caught on evacuation routes to safe shelter; 167
253	253	establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced 168
254	254	fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish 169
255	255	policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 170
256	256	2. Include a shelter component that includes specific 171
257	257	regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 172
258	258	coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, 173
259	259	and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: 174
260	260	contain strategies to ensure the availability of a dequate public 175
261	261
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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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271	271
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273	273	shelter space in each county region of the state; establish 176
274	274	strategies for refuge -of-last-resort programs; provide 177
275	275	strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to 178
276	276	ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, 179
277	277	including medical and security personnel; provide for a 180
278	278	postdisaster communications system for public shelters; 181
279	279	establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, 182
280	280	inventory, power generation capability, information management, 183
281	281	and staffing; and set forth policy guidance for sheltering 184
282	282	people with special and functional needs. 185
283	283	3. Include a postdisaster response and recovery component 186
284	284	that includes specific regional and interregional planning 187
285	285	provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of 188
286	286	postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component 189
287	287	must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies 190
288	288	according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or 191
289	289	catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component 192
290	290	must, at a minimum: establish the structure of the state's 193
291	291	postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish 194
292	292	procedures for activating the state's plan; set forth policies 195
293	293	used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; 196
294	294	describe the chain of command during the postdisaster response 197
295	295	and recovery period; describe initial and continuous 198
296	296	postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles 199
297	297	and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; 200
298	298
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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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308	308
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310	310	provide for a comprehensive communications p lan; establish 201
311	311	procedures for monitoring and coordinating mutual aid 202
312	312	agreements; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure 203
313	313	the availability of an effective statewide urban search and 204
314	314	rescue program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the 205
315	315	existence of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief 206
316	316	plan administered by the Department of Health; and establish 207
317	317	systems for coordinating volunteers and accepting and 208
318	318	distributing donated funds and goods. 209
319	319	4. Include additional provisions addressi ng aspects of 210
320	320	preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined 211
321	321	necessary by the division. 212
322	322	5. Address the need for coordinated and expeditious 213
323	323	deployment of state resources, including the Florida State Guard 214
324	324	and Florida National Guard. In th e case of an imminent major 215
325	325	disaster, procedures should address predeployment of the Florida 216
326	326	National Guard, and, in the case of an imminent catastrophic 217
327	327	disaster, procedures should address predeployment of the Florida 218
328	328	National Guard and the United States Armed Forces. Such 219
329	329	procedures must include the facilitation of annual training 220
330	330	initiatives supporting the education of emergency management 221
331	331	officials, elected and appointed officials, and stakeholders. 222
332	332	6. Establish a system of communications and warning to 223
333	333	ensure that the state's population and emergency management 224
334	334	agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, 225
335	335
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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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347	347	including public health emergencies, and can communicate 226
348	348	emergency response decisions. 227
349	349	7. Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises 228
350	350	that evaluate the ability of the state and its political 229
351	351	subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic 230
352	352	disasters and support local emergency management agencies. Such 231
353	353	exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to 232
354	354	the extent possible, the Federal Government. 233
355	355	8. Assign lead and support responsibilities to state 234
356	356	agencies and personnel for emergency support functions and other 235
357	357	support activities. 236
358	358	9. Include the public health emergency plan developed by 237
359	359	the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 238
360	360	10. Include an update on the status of the emergency 239
361	361	management capabilities of the state and its political 240
362	362	subdivisions. 241
363	363	242
364	364	The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must 243
365	365	be submitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the 244
366	366	House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of 245
367	367	every even-numbered year. 246
368	368	(c) Assist political subdivisions in preparing and 247
369	369	maintaining emergency management plans by developing a template 248
370	370	for comprehensive eme rgency management plans, including natural 249
371	371	disasters and cyberattacks . 250
372	372
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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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384	384	(i) Institute statewide public awareness programs, 251
385	385	including an intensive public educational campaign on emergency 252
386	386	preparedness issues. Such programs must include, but need not be 253
387	387	limited to, the personal responsibility of individual residents 254
388	388	to be self-sufficient for up to 120 72 hours following a natural 255
389	389	or manmade disaster or a public health emergency. The public 256
390	390	educational campaign must include relevant information on public 257
391	391	health emergency mitigation, statewide disaster plans, 258
392	392	evacuation routes, fuel suppliers, and shelters. All educational 259
393	393	materials must be available in alternative formats and mediums 260
394	394	to ensure that they are available to persons with disabilities. 261
395	395	(k)1. Prepare and distribute to appropriate state and 262
396	396	local officials catalogs of federal, state, and private 263
397	397	assistance programs. 264
398	398	2. In order to expedite and maximize the amount of federal 265
399	399	assistance available, the division shall standardize and 266
400	400	streamline the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public 267
401	401	Assistance Program application process. This includes ass isting 268
402	402	applicants in identifying risks in their organizations and 269
403	403	developing a clear action plan to abate those risks. 270
404	404	(n) Subject to available funding, implement annual 271
405	405	training programs to maintain Florida's status as a national 272
406	406	leader in emergency man agement, improve the ability of state and 273
407	407	local emergency management personnel to prepare and implement 274
408	408	emergency management plans and programs , and facilitate 275
409	409
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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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421	421	coordination between all emergency management stakeholders . This 276
422	422	shall include a continuous trai ning program for agencies and 277
423	423	individuals that will be called on to perform key roles in state 278
424	424	and local postdisaster response and recovery efforts and for 279
425	425	local government personnel on federal and state postdisaster 280
426	426	response and recovery strategies and pr ocedures. 281
427	427	(s) Complete an inventory of disaster response equipment, 282
428	428	including portable generators owned by the state and local 283
429	429	governments which are capable of operating during a major 284
430	430	disaster. The inventory must identify, at a minimum, the 285
431	431	location of each generator, the number of generators stored at 286
432	432	each specific location, the agency to which each generator 287
433	433	belongs, the primary use of the generator by the owner agency, 288
434	434	and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons 289
435	435	having the authority to loan the stored generators as authorized 290
436	436	by the division during a declared emergency. 291
437	437	(x) Report biennially to the President of the Senate, the 292
438	438	Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of 293
439	439	the Supreme Court, and the Governor, no later th an February 1 of 294
440	440	every odd-numbered year, the status of the emergency management 295
441	441	capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. This 296
442	442	report must include the emergency management capabilities 297
443	443	related to public health emergencies, as determined in 298
444	444	collaboration with the Department of Health. 299
445	445	(dd) During a natural disaster for which an emergency has 300
446	446
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454	454	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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458	458	been declared by the Governor or the President of the United 301
459	459	States, authorize new debris management sites. Such sites must 302
460	460	meet all practices in acco rdance with debris management sites 303
461	461	authorized under s. 403.7071. 304
462	462	Section 6. Section 252.352, Florida Statutes, is created 305
463	463	to read: 306
464	464	252.352 Postdisaster duties of political subdivisions. —307
465	465	Following the declaration of a state of emergency issued by the 308
466	466	Governor for a natural emergency: 309
467	467	(1) A political subdivision that has been impacted by a 310
468	468	natural emergency must publish on a publicly available website 311
469	469	all applicable local, state, and federal laws related to 312
470	470	building and housing codes, including all l imitations, 313
471	471	definitions, guidelines, and statutory emergency management 314
472	472	expectations. This information must be available within 5 days 315
473	473	after the declaration of a state of emergency and must remain 316
474	474	available for at least 3 years after such declaration, unle ss 317
475	475	recovery from the natural disaster is completed earlier. 318
476	476	(2) A county that has experienced a direct impact from a 319
477	477	natural disaster must provide the county's legislative 320
478	478	delegation with: 321
479	479	(a) Emergency office space. 322
480	480	(b) Information on the county's emergency response. 323
481	481	(c) A direct point of contact trained in disaster recovery 324
482	482	who will answer questions and listen to concerns related to 325
483	483
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491	491	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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495	495	county emergency management. A member of the delegation may 326
496	496	direct residents to this point of contact. 327
497	497	Section 7. Section 252.355, Florida Statutes, is amended 328
498	498	to read: 329
499	499	252.355 Registry of persons with special needs and 330
500	500	functional limitations ; notice; registration program. — 331
501	501	(1) In order to meet the special and functional needs of 332
502	502	persons who would need assistan ce during evacuations and 333
503	503	sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or 334
504	504	sensory disabilities, the division, in coordination with each 335
505	505	local emergency management agency in the state, shall maintain a 336
506	506	registry of persons with special needs or functional limitations 337
507	507	located within the jurisdiction of the local agency. The 338
508	508	registration shall identify those persons in need of assistance 339
509	509	and plan for resource allocation to meet those identified needs. 340
510	510	(2) In order to ensure that all persons w ith special needs 341
511	511	or functional limitations may register, the division shall 342
512	512	develop and maintain a special needs and functional limitations 343
513	513	shelter registration program. During a public health emergency 344
514	514	in which physical distancing is necessary, as determ ined by the 345
515	515	State Health Officer, the division must maintain information on 346
516	516	special needs and functional limitations shelter options that 347
517	517	mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. 348
518	518	(a) The registration program shall include, at a minimum, 349
519	519	a uniform electronic registration form and a database for 350
520	520
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528	528	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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532	532	uploading and storing submitted registration forms that may be 351
533	533	accessed by the appropriate local emergency management agency. 352
534	534	The link to the registration form shall be easily accessible on 353
535	535	each local emergency management agency's website. Upon receipt 354
536	536	of a paper registration form, the local emergency management 355
537	537	agency shall enter the person's registration information into 356
538	538	the database. 357
539	539	(b) To assist in identifying persons with special needs or 358
540	540	functional limitations, home health agencies, hospices, nurse 359
541	541	registries, home medical equipment providers, the Department of 360
542	542	Children and Families, the Department of Health, the Agency for 361
543	543	Health Care Administration, the Department of Education, the 362
544	544	Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Elderly 363
545	545	Affairs, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and memory 364
546	546	disorder clinics shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 365
547	547	458 or chapter 459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 366
548	548	may, annually provide registration information to all of their 367
549	549	clients with special needs or functional limitations clients or 368
550	550	their caregivers. The division shall develop a brochure that 369
551	551	provides information regarding special needs and functional 370
552	552	limitations shelter registration procedures. The brochure must 371
553	553	be easily accessible on the division's website. All appropriate 372
554	554	agencies and community -based service providers, including aging 373
555	555	and disability resource centers, memory disorder clinics, home 374
556	556	health care providers, ho spices, nurse registries, and home 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1337 2025
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560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb1337-00
564	564	Page 16 of 47
565	565	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
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician licensed 376
570	570	under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency 377
571	571	management agencies by annually registering persons with special 378
572	572	needs or functional limitations for special needs and functional 379
573	573	limitations shelters, collecting registration information for 380
574	574	persons with special needs or functional limitations as part of 381
575	575	the program intake process, and establishing programs to educate 382
576	576	clients about the registration process and disaster preparedness 383
577	577	safety procedures. A client of a state -funded or federally 384
578	578	funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive 385
579	579	impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in 386
580	580	evacuating, or when in a shelter, must regist er as a person with 387
581	581	special needs or functional limitations . The registration 388
582	582	program shall give persons with special needs or functional 389
583	583	limitations the option of preauthorizing emergency response 390
584	584	personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue 391
585	585	operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare 392
586	586	following disasters. 393
587	587	(c) The division shall be the designated lead agency 394
588	588	responsible for community education and outreach to the public, 395
589	589	including clients with special needs and functional limitat ions 396
590	590	clients, regarding registration and special needs and functional 397
591	591	limitations shelters and general information regarding shelter 398
592	592	stays. 399
593	593	(d) On or before May 31 of each year, each electric 400
594	594
595	595	HB 1337 2025
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597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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602	602	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
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	utility in the state shall annually notify residential custome rs 401
607	607	in its service area of the availability of the registration 402
608	608	program available through their local emergency management 403
609	609	agency by: 404
610	610	1. An initial notification upon the activation of new 405
611	611	residential service with the electric utility, followed by one 406
612	612	annual notification between January 1 and May 31; or 407
613	613	2. Two separate annual notifications between January 1 and 408
614	614	May 31. 409
615	615	410
616	616	The notification may be made by any available means, including, 411
617	617	but not limited to, written, electronic, or verbal notification, 412
618	618	and may be made concurrently with any other notification to 413
619	619	residential customers required by law or rule. 414
620	620	(3) A person with special needs or functional limitations 415
621	621	must be allowed to bring his or her service animal into a 416
622	622	special needs and functional limitation s shelter in accordance 417
623	623	with s. 413.08. 418
624	624	(4) All records, data, information, correspondence, and 419
625	625	communications relating to the registration of persons with 420
626	626	special needs or functional limitations as provided in 421
627	627	subsection (1) are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), 422
628	628	except that such information shall be available to other 423
629	629	emergency response agencies, as determined by the local 424
630	630	emergency management director. Local law enforcement agencies 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1337 2025
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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639	639	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
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	shall be given complete shelter roster information upon reques t. 426
644	644	Section 8. Section 252.357, Florida Statutes, is amended 427
645	645	to read: 428
646	646	252.357 Monitoring of nursing homes and assisted living 429
647	647	facilities during disaster. —The Florida Comprehensive Emergency 430
648	648	Management Plan shall permit the Agency for Health Care 431
649	649	Administration, working from the agency's offices or in the 432
650	650	Emergency Operations Center, ESF -8, to make initial contact with 433
651	651	each nursing home, independent living facility, and assisted 434
652	652	living facility in the disaster area. The agency, by July 15, 435
653	653	annually, shall publish on the Internet an emergency telephone 436
654	654	number that may be used by nursing homes and assisted living 437
655	655	facilities to contact the agency on a schedule established by 438
656	656	the agency to report requests for assistance. The agency may 439
657	657	also provide the telephone number to each facility when it makes 440
658	658	the initial facility call. 441
659	659	Section 9. Section 252.359, Florida Statutes, is amended 442
660	660	to read: 443
661	661	252.359 Ensuring availability of emergency supplies. — 444
662	662	(1) In order to meet the needs of residents affected 445
663	663	during a declared emergency and to ensure the continuing 446
664	664	economic resilience of communities impacted by disaster, the 447
665	665	division shall establish a statewide system to facilitate the 448
666	666	transport and distribution of essentials in commerce. 449
667	667	(2) As used in this section, the term "essentials" means 450
668	668
669	669	HB 1337 2025
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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676	676	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
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	goods that are consumed or used as a direct result of a declared 451
681	681	emergency, or that are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or 452
682	682	sustain life, health, safety, or economic well -being. The term 453
683	683	includes, but is not limit ed to, personal protective equipment 454
684	684	used in the event of a public health emergency. 455
685	685	(3) The division, as a function of emergency preparation, 456
686	686	response, and recovery, may facilitate shall develop a system to 457
687	687	certify each person who facilitates the transport or 458
688	688	distribution of essentials in commerce. The division may not 459
689	689	certify a person other than a person who routinely transports or 460
690	690	distributes essentials. In developing the system, the division : 461
691	691	(a) May provide for a preemergency or postemergency 462
692	692	transportation of essentials declaration certification . 463
693	693	(b) Shall allow the certification of an employer, if 464
694	694	requested by the employer, to constitute a certification of the 465
695	695	employer's employees. 466
696	696	(c) Shall create an easily recognizable indicium of 467
697	697	certification to assist local officials' efforts in determining 468
698	698	which persons have been certified under this subsection. 469
699	699	(d) Shall limit the duration of each certificate to no 470
700	700	more than 1 year. Each certificate may be renewed so long as the 471
701	701	criteria for certificat ion are met. 472
702	702	(4) A person authorized to transport essentials or 473
703	703	employer certified under subsection (3) is not required to 474
704	704	obtain any additional certification or fulfill any additional 475
705	705
706	706	HB 1337 2025
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708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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713	713	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
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	requirement to transport or distribute essentials. 476
718	718	(5) Notwithstanding any curfew, restriction, road block, 477
719	719	quarantine, or other limitation on access to an area, a person 478
720	720	authorized or employer certified under subsection (3) to deliver 479
721	721	essentials may enter or remain in the restricted curfew area for 480
722	722	the limited purpose of facilitating the transport or 481
723	723	distribution of essentials and may provide service that exceeds 482
724	724	otherwise applicable hours of service maximums to the extent 483
725	725	authorized by a duly executed declaration of a state of 484
726	726	emergency. Local law enforcement shall cooperate with the 485
727	727	division to ensure the availability of essentials under this 486
728	728	section. 487
729	729	(6) This section does not prohibit a law enforcement 488
730	730	officer from specifying the permissible route of ingress or 489
731	731	egress for a person authorized certified under subsection (3). 490
732	732	Notwithstanding this section, all state roadways are determined 491
733	733	by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with the 492
734	734	Department of Transportation. 493
735	735	Section 10. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 252.365, 494
736	736	Florida Statutes, are am ended to read: 495
737	737	252.365 Emergency coordination officers; disaster -496
738	738	preparedness plans.— 497
739	739	(2) The emergency coordination officer is responsible for 498
740	740	coordinating with the division on emergency preparedness issues 499
741	741	and long-term recovery priorities , preparing and maintaining 500
742	742
743	743	HB 1337 2025
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745	745
746	746
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750	750	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
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	emergency preparedness and postdisaster response and recovery 501
755	755	plans for such agency, maintaining rosters of personnel to 502
756	756	assist in disaster response and recovery operations, and 503
757	757	coordinating appropriate training for agency personnel. 504
758	758	(4) On or before May 1 of each year, the head of each 505
759	759	agency shall notify the Governor and the division in writing of 506
760	760	the person initially designated as the emergency coordination 507
761	761	officer for such agency and her or his alternate and of any 508
762	762	changes in persons so designated thereafter. 509
763	763	Section 11. Subsection (4) is added to section 252.373, 510
764	764	Florida Statutes, to read: 511
765	765	252.373 Allocation of funds; rules. — 512
766	766	(4) The division may use up to 1 percent of the total 513
767	767	amount within the fund to administer this sectio n. 514
768	768	Section 12. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 252.385, 515
769	769	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 516
770	770	252.385 Public shelter space; public records exemption. — 517
771	771	(2)(a) The division shall administer a program to survey 518
772	772	existing schools, universities, comm unity colleges, and other 519
773	773	state-owned, municipally owned, and county -owned public 520
774	774	buildings and any private facility that the owner, in writing, 521
775	775	agrees to provide for use as a public hurricane evacuation 522
776	776	shelter to identify those that are appropriately des igned and 523
777	777	located to serve as such shelters. The owners of the facilities 524
778	778	must be given the opportunity to participate in the surveys. The 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1337 2025
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782	782
783	783
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787	787	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
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	state university boards of trustees, district school boards, 526
792	792	community college boards of trustees, and the Department of 527
793	793	Education are responsible for coordinating and implementing the 528
794	794	survey of public schools, universities, and community colleges 529
795	795	with the division or the local emergency management agency. 530
796	796	(b) By January 31 of each even -numbered year, the division 531
797	797	shall prepare and submit a statewide emergency shelter plan to 532
798	798	the Governor and Cabinet for approval, subject to the 533
799	799	requirements for approval in s. 1013.37(2). The emergency 534
800	800	shelter plan must project, for each of the next 5 years, the 535
801	801	hurricane shelter needs of the state, including periods of time 536
802	802	during which a concurrent public health emergency may 537
803	803	necessitate more space for each individual to accommodate 538
804	804	physical distancing. In addition to information on the general 539
805	805	shelter needs throughout this state, the plan must identify the 540
806	806	general location and square footage of special needs shelters, 541
807	807	by regional planning council region. The plan must also include 542
808	808	information on the availability of shelters that accept pets. 543
809	809	The Department of Health shall assist the di vision in 544
810	810	determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space 545
811	811	and the adequacy of facilities to meet the needs of persons with 546
812	812	special needs based on information from the registries of 547
813	813	persons with special needs and other information. 548
814	814	(3)(a) The division shall annually provide to the 549
815	815	President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1337 2025
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819	819
820	820
821	821	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
822	822	hb1337-00
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824	824	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
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	Representatives, and the Governor a list of facilities 551
829	829	recommended to be retrofitted using state funds. State funds 552
830	830	should be maximized and targeted to counties regional planning 553
831	831	council regions with hurricane evacuation shelter deficits. The 554
832	832	owner or lessee of a public hurricane evacuation shelter that is 555
833	833	included on the list of facilities recommended for retrofitting 556
834	834	is not required to perform any recommended im provements. 557
835	835	(b) The list required in paragraph (a) must include a 558
836	836	statewide emergency shelter plan that must project, for each of 559
837	837	the next 5 years, the hurricane shelter needs of the state. In 560
838	838	addition to information on the general shelter needs througho ut 561
839	839	this state, the plan must identify, by county, the general 562
840	840	location and square footage of special needs and functional 563
841	841	limitations shelters. The plan must also include information on 564
842	842	the availability of shelters that accept pets. The Department of 565
843	843	Health shall assist the division in determining the estimated 566
844	844	need for special needs and functional limitations shelter space 567
845	845	and the adequacy of facilities to meet the needs of persons with 568
846	846	special needs and functional limitations based on information 569
847	847	from the registries of persons with special needs and functional 570
848	848	limitations and other information. 571
849	849	Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 282.201, Florida 572
850	850	Statutes, is amended to read: 573
851	851	282.201 State data center. —The state data center is 574
852	852	established within the department. The provision of data center 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1337 2025
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
859	859	hb1337-00
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861	861	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
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	services must comply with applicable state and federal laws, 576
866	866	regulations, and policies, including all applicable security, 577
867	867	privacy, and auditing requirements. The department shall appoint 578
868	868	a director of the state data center who has experience in 579
869	869	leading data center facilities and has expertise in cloud -580
870	870	computing management. 581
871	871	(2) USE OF THE STATE DATA CENTER. — 582
872	872	(a) The following are exempt f rom the use of the state 583
873	873	data center: the Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida 584
874	874	Division of Emergency Management, the Department of the 585
875	875	Lottery's Gaming System, Systems Design and Development in the 586
876	876	Office of Policy and Budget, the regional traffic ma nagement 587
877	877	centers as described in s. 335.14(2) and the Office of Toll 588
878	878	Operations of the Department of Transportation, the State Board 589
879	879	of Administration, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal 590
880	880	conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regi onal 591
881	881	counsel, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. 592
882	882	(b) The Division of Emergency Management is exempt from 593
883	883	the use of the state data center. This paragraph expires July 1, 594
884	884	2025. 595
885	885	Section 14. Subsection (7) of section 403.7071, Florida 596
886	886	Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that 597
887	887	section, to read: 598
888	888	403.7071 Management of storm -generated debris.—Solid waste 599
889	889	generated as a result of a storm event that is the subject of an 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1337 2025
892	892
893	893
894	894
895	895	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
896	896	hb1337-00
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898	898	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
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	emergency order issued by the department may be managed as 601
903	903	follows: 602
904	904	(7) Unless otherwise specified in a contract or franchise 603
905	905	agreement between a local government and a private solid waste 604
906	906	or debris management service provider, a private solid waste or 605
907	907	debris management service provider is not required to collect 606
908	908	storm-generated yard trash during the first 90 days after an 607
909	909	emergency order is issued by the department. Local governments 608
910	910	are authorized and encouraged to add an addendum to existing 609
911	911	contracts or franchise agreements to perform collection of 610
912	912	storm-generated debris. 611
913	913	(8)(a) Each county, municipality, community development 612
914	914	district, and political subdivision must authorize at least one 613
915	915	debris management site and annually complete preauthorization 614
916	916	for previously approved debris management sites through the 615
917	917	department. For the purposes of this paragraph, a debris site 616
918	918	designated by the Division of Emergency Management pursuant to 617
919	919	s. 252.35(2)(dd), is considered a previously approved debris 618
920	920	management site. 619
921	921	(b) A municipality, community development district, or 620
922	922	political subdivision with a population of less than 5,000 may 621
923	923	jointly preauthorize at least one debris management site with at 622
924	924	least one adjacent municipality, if the parties develop and 623
925	925	approve a memorandum of understanding. Such memorandum must 624
926	926	clearly outline the capacity of the debris management site and 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1337 2025
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930	930
931	931
932	932	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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935	935	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
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	location of the site relative to each party. The memorandum of 626
940	940	understanding must be developed and approved annually as part of 627
941	941	the preauthorization process described in paragraph (a). 628
942	942	(c) A preauthorized debris management site shall not 629
943	943	require additional inspection or review by the department before 630
944	944	being used during a natural disaster if the approval process has 631
945	945	been fully completed and all practices are allowed under 632
946	946	department rules. 633
947	947	634
948	948	Section 15. Subsection (8) of section 526.141, Florida 635
949	949	Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (9), and a new subsection 636
950	950	(8) is added to that section, to read: 637
951	951	526.141 Self-service gasoline stations; attendants; 638
952	952	regulations.— 639
953	953	(8) A self-service gasoline station must be equipped with 640
954	954	an alternate power source, such as a generator. 641
955	955	Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 252.356, Florida 642
956	956	Statutes, is amended to read: 643
957	957	252.356 Emergency and disaster planning provisions to 644
958	958	assist persons with disabilities or limitations.—State agencies 645
959	959	that contract with providers for the care of persons with 646
960	960	disabilities or limitations that make such persons dependent 647
961	961	upon the care of others shall include emergency and disaster 648
962	962	planning provisions in such contracts at the time the contracts 649
963	963	are initiated or upon renewal. These provisions shall include, 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1337 2025
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967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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972	972	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
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	but shall not be limited to: 651
977	977	(4) A procedure to dispatch the emergency coordinating 652
978	978	officer or other staff members to special needs and functional 653
979	979	limitations shelters to assist clients with special needs and 654
980	980	functional limitations , if necessary. 655
981	981	Section 17. Subsection (7) of section 381.0011, Florida 656
982	982	Statutes, is amended to read: 657
983	983	381.0011 Duties and powers of the Department of Health. —It 658
984	984	is the duty of the Department of Health to: 659
985	985	(7) Manage and coordinate emergency preparedness and 660
986	986	disaster response functions to: investigate and control the 661
987	987	spread of disease; coordinate the availability and staffing of 662
988	988	special needs and functional limitations shelters; support 663
989	989	patient evacuation; ensure the safety of food and drugs; provide 664
990	990	critical incident stress debriefing; and provide surveillance 665
991	991	and control of radiological, chemical, biological, and other 666
992	992	environmental hazards. 667
993	993	Section 18. Section 381.0303, Florida Statutes , is amended 668
994	994	to read: 669
995	995	381.0303 Special needs and functional limitations 670
996	996	shelters.— 671
997	997	(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to provide for 672
998	998	the operation and closure of special needs and functional 673
999	999	limitations shelters and to designate the Department of Health, 674
1000	1000	through its county health departments, as the lead agency for 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1337 2025
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1004	1004
1005	1005
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1009	1009	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
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	coordination of the recruitment of health care practitioners, as 676
1014	1014	defined in s. 456.001(4), to staff special needs and functional 677
1015	1015	limitations shelters in times of emergency or disaste r and to 678
1016	1016	provide resources to the department to carry out this 679
1017	1017	responsibility. However, nothing in this section prohibits a 680
1018	1018	county health department from entering into an agreement with a 681
1019	1019	local emergency management agency to assume the lead 682
1020	1020	responsibility for recruiting health care practitioners. 683
1021	1021	(2) SPECIAL NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS SHELTER PLAN; 684
1022	1022	STAFFING; STATE AGENCY ASSISTANCE. —If funds have been 685
1023	1023	appropriated to support disaster coordinator positions in county 686
1024	1024	health departments: 687
1025	1025	(a) The department shall assume lead responsibility for 688
1026	1026	the coordination of local medical and health care providers, the 689
1027	1027	American Red Cross, and other interested parties in developing a 690
1028	1028	plan for the staffing and medical management of special needs 691
1029	1029	and functional limit ations shelters and pediatric special needs 692
1030	1030	and functional limitations shelters. Plans must conform to the 693
1031	1031	local comprehensive emergency management plan. 694
1032	1032	(b) County health departments shall, in conjunction with 695
1033	1033	the local emergency management agencies, ha ve the lead 696
1034	1034	responsibility for coordination of the recruitment of health 697
1035	1035	care practitioners to staff local special needs and functional 698
1036	1036	limitations shelters. County health departments shall assign 699
1037	1037	their employees to work in special needs and functional 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1337 2025
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1041	1041
1042	1042
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1046	1046	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
1047	1047
1048	1048
1049	1049
1050	1050	limitations shelters when those employees are needed to protect 701
1051	1051	the health and safety of persons with special needs and 702
1052	1052	functional limitations . County governments shall assist the 703
1053	1053	department with nonmedical staffing and the operation of special 704
1054	1054	needs and functional limitations shelters. The local health 705
1055	1055	department and emergency management agency shall coordinate 706
1056	1056	these efforts to ensure appropriate staffing in special needs 707
1057	1057	and functional limitations shelters, including a staff member 708
1058	1058	who is familiar with the n eeds of persons with Alzheimer's 709
1059	1059	disease. 710
1060	1060	(c) The appropriate county health department and local 711
1061	1061	emergency management agency shall jointly decide who has 712
1062	1062	responsibility for medical supervision in each special needs and 713
1063	1063	functional limitations shelter. 714
1064	1064	(d) Local emergency management agencies shall be 715
1065	1065	responsible for the designation and operation of special needs 716
1066	1066	and functional limitations shelters during times of emergency or 717
1067	1067	disaster and the closure of the facilities following an 718
1068	1068	emergency or disaster. T he local health department and emergency 719
1069	1069	management agency shall coordinate these efforts to ensure the 720
1070	1070	appropriate designation and operation of special needs and 721
1071	1071	functional limitations shelters. County health departments shall 722
1072	1072	assist the local emergency m anagement agency with regard to the 723
1073	1073	management of medical services in special needs and functional 724
1074	1074	limitations shelters. 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1337 2025
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1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1083	1083	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
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	(e) The Secretary of Elderly Affairs, or his or her 726
1088	1088	designee, shall convene, at any time that he or she deems 727
1089	1089	appropriate and necessa ry, a multiagency special needs and 728
1090	1090	functional limitations shelter discharge planning team to assist 729
1091	1091	local areas that are severely impacted by a natural or manmade 730
1092	1092	disaster that requires the use of special needs and functional 731
1093	1093	limitations shelters. Multiagency special needs and functional 732
1094	1094	limitations shelter discharge planning teams shall provide 733
1095	1095	assistance to local emergency management agencies with the 734
1096	1096	continued operation or closure of the shelters, as well as with 735
1097	1097	the discharge of clients with special needs or functional 736
1098	1098	limitations clients to alternate facilities if necessary. Local 737
1099	1099	emergency management agencies may request the assistance of a 738
1100	1100	multiagency special needs and functional limitations shelter 739
1101	1101	discharge planning team by alerting statewide emerg ency 740
1102	1102	management officials of the necessity for additional assistance 741
1103	1103	in their area. The Secretary of Elderly Affairs is encouraged to 742
1104	1104	proactively work with other state agencies prior to any natural 743
1105	1105	disasters for which warnings are provided to ensure that 744
1106	1106	multiagency special needs and functional limitations shelter 745
1107	1107	discharge planning teams are ready to assemble and deploy 746
1108	1108	rapidly upon a determination by state emergency management 747
1109	1109	officials that a disaster area requires additional assistance. 748
1110	1110	The Secretary of Elderly Affairs may call upon any state agency 749
1111	1111	or office to provide staff to assist a multiagency special needs 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1337 2025
1114	1114
1115	1115
1116	1116
1117	1117	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1120	1120	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
1121	1121
1122	1122
1123	1123
1124	1124	and functional limitations shelter discharge planning team. 751
1125	1125	Unless the secretary determines that the nature or circumstances 752
1126	1126	surrounding the disaster do not warrant participation from a 753
1127	1127	particular agency's staff, each multiagency special needs and 754
1128	1128	functional limitations shelter discharge planning team shall 755
1129	1129	include at least one representative from each of the following 756
1130	1130	state agencies: 757
1131	1131	1. Department of Elderly Affairs. 758
1132	1132	2. Department of Health. 759
1133	1133	3. Department of Children and Families. 760
1134	1134	4. Department of Veterans' Affairs. 761
1135	1135	5. Division of Emergency Management. 762
1136	1136	6. Agency for Health Care Administration. 763
1137	1137	7. Agency for Persons with Disabilities. 764
1138	1138	(3) SPECIAL CARE FOR PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S D ISEASE OR 765
1139	1139	RELATED FORMS OF DEMENTIA. —All special needs and functional 766
1140	1140	limitations shelters must establish designated shelter areas for 767
1141	1141	persons with Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia to 768
1142	1142	enable those persons to maintain their normal habits and 769
1143	1143	routines to the greatest extent possible. 770
1144	1144	(4) REIMBURSEMENT TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND 771
1145	1145	FACILITIES.— 772
1146	1146	(a) The department shall, upon request, reimburse in 773
1147	1147	accordance with paragraph (b): 774
1148	1148	1. Health care practitioners, as defined in s. 456.001, 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 1337 2025
1151	1151
1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1157	1157	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
1158	1158
1159	1159
1160	1160
1161	1161	provided the practitioner is not providing care to a patient 776
1162	1162	under an existing contract, and emergency medical technicians 777
1163	1163	and paramedics licensed under chapter 401 for medical care 778
1164	1164	provided at the request of the department in special needs and 779
1165	1165	functional limitations shelters or at other locations during 780
1166	1166	times of emergency or a declared disaster. Reimbursement for 781
1167	1167	health care practitioners, except for physicians licensed under 782
1168	1168	chapter 458 or chapter 459, shall be based on the average hourly 783
1169	1169	rate that such practitioners were paid according to the most 784
1170	1170	recent survey of Florida hospitals conducted by the Florida 785
1171	1171	Hospital Association or other nationally recognized or state -786
1172	1172	recognized data source. 787
1173	1173	2. Health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing 788
1174	1174	homes, assisted living facilities, and community residential 789
1175	1175	homes, if, upon closure of a special needs and functional 790
1176	1176	limitations shelter, a multiagency special needs and functional 791
1177	1177	limitations shelter discharge planning team determines that it 792
1178	1178	is necessary to dischar ge persons with special needs or 793
1179	1179	functional limitations to other health care facilities. The 794
1180	1180	receiving facilities are eligible for reimbursement for services 795
1181	1181	provided to the individuals for up to 90 days. A facility must 796
1182	1182	show proof of a written request fro m a representative of an 797
1183	1183	agency serving on the multiagency special needs and functional 798
1184	1184	limitations shelter discharge planning team that the individual 799
1185	1185	for whom the facility is seeking reimbursement for services 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1337 2025
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1192	1192	hb1337-00
1193	1193	Page 33 of 47
1194	1194	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
1195	1195
1196	1196
1197	1197
1198	1198	rendered was referred to that facility from a special needs and 801
1199	1199	functional limitations shelter. The department shall specify by 802
1200	1200	rule which expenses are reimbursable and the rate of 803
1201	1201	reimbursement for each service. 804
1202	1202	(b) Reimbursement is subject to the availability of 805
1203	1203	federal funds and shall be requested on forms prepared by the 806
1204	1204	department. If a Presidential Disaster Declaration has been 807
1205	1205	issued, the department shall request federal reimbursement of 808
1206	1206	eligible expenditures. The department may not provide 809
1207	1207	reimbursement to facilities under this subsection for services 810
1208	1208	provided to a person with special needs or functional 811
1209	1209	limitations if, during the period of time in which the services 812
1210	1210	were provided, the individual was enroll ed in another state-813
1211	1211	funded program, such as Medicaid or another similar program, was 814
1212	1212	covered under a policy of health insurance as defined in s. 815
1213	1213	624.603, or was a member of a health maintenance organization or 816
1214	1214	prepaid health clinic as defined in chapter 64 1, which would 817
1215	1215	otherwise pay for the same services. Travel expense and per diem 818
1216	1216	costs shall be reimbursed pursuant to s. 112.061. 819
1217	1217	(5) HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER REGISTRY. —The department may 820
1218	1218	use the registries established in ss. 401.273 and 456.38 when 821
1219	1219	health care practitioners are needed to staff special needs and 822
1220	1220	functional limitations shelters or to assist with other 823
1221	1221	disaster-related activities. 824
1222	1222	(6) SPECIAL NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS SHELTER 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1337 2025
1225	1225
1226	1226
1227	1227
1228	1228	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1229	1229	hb1337-00
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1231	1231	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
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234
1235	1235	INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE. —The State Surgeon General may est ablish a 826
1236	1236	special needs and functional limitations shelter interagency 827
1237	1237	committee and serve as, or appoint a designee to serve as, the 828
1238	1238	committee's chair. The department shall provide any necessary 829
1239	1239	staff and resources to support the committee in the performan ce 830
1240	1240	of its duties. The committee shall address and resolve problems 831
1241	1241	related to special needs and functional limitations shelters not 832
1242	1242	addressed in the state comprehensive emergency medical plan and 833
1243	1243	shall consult on the planning and operation of special needs and 834
1244	1244	functional limitations shelters. 835
1245	1245	(a) The committee shall develop, negotiate, and regularly 836
1246	1246	review any necessary interagency agreements, and undertake other 837
1247	1247	such activities as the department deems necessary to facilitate 838
1248	1248	the implementation of this se ction. 839
1249	1249	(b) The special needs and functional limitations shelter 840
1250	1250	interagency committee shall be composed of representatives of 841
1251	1251	emergency management, health, medical, and social services 842
1252	1252	organizations. Membership shall include, but shall not be 843
1253	1253	limited to, representatives of the Departments of Health, 844
1254	1254	Children and Families, Elderly Affairs, and Education; the 845
1255	1255	Agency for Health Care Administration; the Division of Emergency 846
1256	1256	Management; the Florida Medical Association; the Florida 847
1257	1257	Osteopathic Medical Associat ion; Associated Home Health 848
1258	1258	Industries of Florida, Inc.; the Florida Nurses Association; the 849
1259	1259	Florida Health Care Association; the Florida Assisted Living 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1337 2025
1262	1262
1263	1263
1264	1264
1265	1265	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1266	1266	hb1337-00
1267	1267	Page 35 of 47
1268	1268	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
1269	1269
1270	1270
1271	1271
1272	1272	Affiliation; the Florida Hospital Association; the Florida 851
1273	1273	Statutory Teaching Hospital Council; the Fl orida Association of 852
1274	1274	Homes for the Aging; the Florida Emergency Preparedness 853
1275	1275	Association; the American Red Cross; Florida Hospices and 854
1276	1276	Palliative Care, Inc.; the Association of Community Hospitals 855
1277	1277	and Health Systems; the Florida Association of Health 856
1278	1278	Maintenance Organizations; the Florida League of Health Systems; 857
1279	1279	the Private Care Association; the Salvation Army; the Florida 858
1280	1280	Association of Aging Services Providers; the AARP; and the 859
1281	1281	Florida Renal Coalition. 860
1282	1282	(c) Meetings of the committee shall be held in 861
1283	1283	Tallahassee, and members of the committee shall serve at the 862
1284	1284	expense of the agencies or organizations they represent. The 863
1285	1285	committee shall make every effort to use teleconference or video 864
1286	1286	conference capabilities in order to ensure statewide input and 865
1287	1287	participation. 866
1288	1288	(7) RULES.—The department, in coordination with the 867
1289	1289	Division of Emergency Management, has the authority to adopt 868
1290	1290	rules necessary to implement this section. Rules shall include: 869
1291	1291	(a) The definition of a "person with special needs or 870
1292	1292	functional limitations," including eligibility criteria for 871
1293	1293	individuals with physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or 872
1294	1294	sensory disabilities and the services a person with special 873
1295	1295	needs or functional limitations can expect to receive in a 874
1296	1296	special needs and functional limitations shelter. 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1337 2025
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
1302	1302	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1303	1303	hb1337-00
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1305	1305	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
1306	1306
1307	1307
1308	1308
1309	1309	(b) The process for special needs and functional 876
1310	1310	limitations shelter health care practitioners and facility 877
1311	1311	reimbursement for services provided in a disaster. 878
1312	1312	(c) Guidelines for special needs and functional 879
1313	1313	limitations shelter staffing levels to provide services. 880
1314	1314	(d) The definition of and standards for special needs and 881
1315	1315	functional limitations shelter supplies and equipment, including 882
1316	1316	durable medical equipment. 883
1317	1317	(e) Standards for the special needs and functional 884
1318	1318	limitations shelter registration program, including all 885
1319	1319	necessary forms and guidelines for addressing the needs of 886
1320	1320	unregistered persons in need of a special needs and functional 887
1321	1321	limitations shelter. 888
1322	1322	(f) Standards for addressing the needs of families where 889
1323	1323	only one dependent is eligible for admission to a special needs 890
1324	1324	and functional limitations shelter and the needs of adults with 891
1325	1325	special needs and functional limitations who are caregivers for 892
1326	1326	individuals without special needs or functional limitations . 893
1327	1327	(g) The requirement of the county health departments to 894
1328	1328	seek the participation of hospitals, nursing homes, assisted 895
1329	1329	living facilities, home health agencies, hospice providers, 896
1330	1330	nurse registries, home medical equipment providers, dialysis 897
1331	1331	centers, and other health and medica l emergency preparedness 898
1332	1332	stakeholders in pre-event planning activities. 899
1333	1333	(8) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS. —The submission of 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1337 2025
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338
1339	1339	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1340	1340	hb1337-00
1341	1341	Page 37 of 47
1342	1342	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
1343	1343
1344	1344
1345	1345
1346	1346	emergency management plans to county health departments by home 901
1347	1347	health agencies, nurse registries, hospice programs, and home 902
1348	1348	medical equipment providers is conditional upon receipt of an 903
1349	1349	appropriation by the department to establish disaster 904
1350	1350	coordinator positions in county health departments unless the 905
1351	1351	State Surgeon General and a local county commission jointly 906
1352	1352	determine to require tha t such plans be submitted based on a 907
1353	1353	determination that there is a special need to protect public 908
1354	1354	health in the local area during an emergency. 909
1355	1355	Section 19. Section 400.492, Florida Statutes, is amended 910
1356	1356	to read: 911
1357	1357	400.492 Provision of services during an emergency.—Each 912
1358	1358	home health agency shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive 913
1359	1359	emergency management plan that is consistent with the standards 914
1360	1360	adopted by national or state accreditation organizations and 915
1361	1361	consistent with the local special needs plan. The pl an shall be 916
1362	1362	updated annually and shall provide for continuing home health 917
1363	1363	services during an emergency that interrupts patient care or 918
1364	1364	services in the patient's home. The plan shall include the means 919
1365	1365	by which the home health agency will continue to provide staff 920
1366	1366	to perform the same type and quantity of services to their 921
1367	1367	patients who evacuate to special needs and functional 922
1368	1368	limitations shelters that were being provided to those patients 923
1369	1369	prior to evacuation. The plan shall describe how the home health 924
1370	1370	agency establishes and maintains an effective response to 925
1371	1371
1372	1372	HB 1337 2025
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
1376	1376	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1377	1377	hb1337-00
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1379	1379	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
1380	1380
1381	1381
1382	1382
1383	1383	emergencies and disasters, including: notifying staff when 926
1384	1384	emergency response measures are initiated; providing for 927
1385	1385	communication between staff members, county health departments, 928
1386	1386	and local emergency manag ement agencies, including a backup 929
1387	1387	system; identifying resources necessary to continue essential 930
1388	1388	care or services or referrals to other health care providers 931
1389	1389	subject to written agreement; and prioritizing and contacting 932
1390	1390	patients who need continued care or services. 933
1391	1391	(1) Each patient record for patients who are listed in the 934
1392	1392	registry established pursuant to s. 252.355 shall include a 935
1393	1393	description of how care or services will be continued in the 936
1394	1394	event of an emergency or disaster. The home health agency shall 937
1395	1395	discuss the emergency provisions with the patient and the 938
1396	1396	patient's caregivers, including where and how the patient is to 939
1397	1397	evacuate, procedures for notifying the home health agency in the 940
1398	1398	event that the patient evacuates to a location other than the 941
1399	1399	shelter identified in the patient record, and a list of 942
1400	1400	medications and equipment which must either accompany the 943
1401	1401	patient or will be needed by the patient in the event of an 944
1402	1402	evacuation. 945
1403	1403	(2) Each home health agency shall maintain a current 946
1404	1404	prioritized list of pa tients who need continued services during 947
1405	1405	an emergency. The list shall indicate how services shall be 948
1406	1406	continued in the event of an emergency or disaster for each 949
1407	1407	patient and if the patient is to be transported to a special 950
1408	1408
1409	1409	HB 1337 2025
1410	1410
1411	1411
1412	1412
1413	1413	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1414	1414	hb1337-00
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1416	1416	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
1417	1417
1418	1418
1419	1419
1420	1420	needs and functional limitations shelter, and shall indicate if 951
1421	1421	the patient is receiving skilled nursing services and the 952
1422	1422	patient's medication and equipment needs. The list shall be 953
1423	1423	furnished to county health departments and to local emergency 954
1424	1424	management agencies, upon request. 955
1425	1425	(3) Home health agencies shall not be required to continue 956
1426	1426	to provide care to patients in emergency situations that are 957
1427	1427	beyond their control and that make it impossible to provide 958
1428	1428	services, such as when roads are impassable or when patients do 959
1429	1429	not go to the locati on specified in their patient records. Home 960
1430	1430	health agencies may establish links to local emergency 961
1431	1431	operations centers to determine a mechanism by which to approach 962
1432	1432	specific areas within a disaster area in order for the agency to 963
1433	1433	reach its clients. Home hea lth agencies shall demonstrate a good 964
1434	1434	faith effort to comply with the requirements of this subsection 965
1435	1435	by documenting attempts of staff to follow procedures outlined 966
1436	1436	in the home health agency's comprehensive emergency management 967
1437	1437	plan, and by the patient's r ecord, which support a finding that 968
1438	1438	the provision of continuing care has been attempted for those 969
1439	1439	patients who have been identified as needing care by the home 970
1440	1440	health agency and registered under s. 252.355, in the event of 971
1441	1441	an emergency or disaster under su bsection (1). 972
1442	1442	(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 400.464(2) or any 973
1443	1443	other provision of law to the contrary, a home health agency may 974
1444	1444	provide services in a special needs and functional limitations 975
1445	1445
1446	1446	HB 1337 2025
1447	1447
1448	1448
1449	1449
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1453	1453	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
1454	1454
1455	1455
1456	1456
1457	1457	shelter located in any county. 976
1458	1458	Section 20. Subsection (12) of section 400.506, Florida 977
1459	1459	Statutes, is amended to read: 978
1460	1460	400.506 Licensure of nurse registries; requirements; 979
1461	1461	penalties.— 980
1462	1462	(12) Each nurse registry shall prepare and maintain a 981
1463	1463	comprehensive emergency management plan that is consistent with 982
1464	1464	the criteria in this subsection and with the local special needs 983
1465	1465	plan. The plan shall be updated annually. The plan shall include 984
1466	1466	the means by which the nurse registry will continue to provide 985
1467	1467	the same type and quantity of services to its patients who 986
1468	1468	evacuate to special needs and functional limitations shelters 987
1469	1469	which were being provided to those patients prior to evacuation. 988
1470	1470	The plan shall specify how the nurse registry shall facilitate 989
1471	1471	the provision of continuous care by persons referred for 990
1472	1472	contract to persons who are registered pursuant to s. 252.355 991
1473	1473	during an emergency that interrupts the provision of care or 992
1474	1474	services in private residences. Nurse registries may establish 993
1475	1475	links to local emergency operations centers to determine a 994
1476	1476	mechanism by which to app roach specific areas within a disaster 995
1477	1477	area in order for a provider to reach its clients. Nurse 996
1478	1478	registries shall demonstrate a good faith effort to comply with 997
1479	1479	the requirements of this subsection by documenting attempts of 998
1480	1480	staff to follow procedures outlin ed in the nurse registry's 999
1481	1481	comprehensive emergency management plan which support a finding 1000
1482	1482
1483	1483	HB 1337 2025
1484	1484
1485	1485
1486	1486
1487	1487	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1490	1490	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
1491	1491
1492	1492
1493	1493
1494	1494	that the provision of continuing care has been attempted for 1001
1495	1495	patients identified as needing care by the nurse registry and 1002
1496	1496	registered under s. 252.355 in the event o f an emergency under 1003
1497	1497	this subsection. 1004
1498	1498	(a) All persons referred for contract who care for persons 1005
1499	1499	registered pursuant to s. 252.355 must include in the patient 1006
1500	1500	record a description of how care will be continued during a 1007
1501	1501	disaster or emergency that interrup ts the provision of care in 1008
1502	1502	the patient's home. It shall be the responsibility of the person 1009
1503	1503	referred for contract to ensure that continuous care is 1010
1504	1504	provided. 1011
1505	1505	(b) Each nurse registry shall maintain a current 1012
1506	1506	prioritized list of patients in private reside nces who are 1013
1507	1507	registered pursuant to s. 252.355 and are under the care of 1014
1508	1508	persons referred for contract and who need continued services 1015
1509	1509	during an emergency. This list shall indicate, for each patient, 1016
1510	1510	if the client is to be transported to a special needs and 1017
1511	1511	functional limitations shelter and if the patient is receiving 1018
1512	1512	skilled nursing services. Nurse registries shall make this list 1019
1513	1513	available to county health departments and to local emergency 1020
1514	1514	management agencies upon request. 1021
1515	1515	(c) Each person referred for contract who is caring for a 1022
1516	1516	patient who is registered pursuant to s. 252.355 shall provide a 1023
1517	1517	list of the patient's medication and equipment needs to the 1024
1518	1518	nurse registry. Each person referred for contract shall make 1025
1519	1519
1520	1520	HB 1337 2025
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1527	1527	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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1529	1529
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1531	1531	this information available to county heal th departments and to 1026
1532	1532	local emergency management agencies upon request. 1027
1533	1533	(d) Each person referred for contract shall not be 1028
1534	1534	required to continue to provide care to patients in emergency 1029
1535	1535	situations that are beyond the person's control and that make it 1030
1536	1536	impossible to provide services, such as when roads are 1031
1537	1537	impassable or when patients do not go to the location specified 1032
1538	1538	in their patient records. 1033
1539	1539	(e) The comprehensive emergency management plan required 1034
1540	1540	by this subsection is subject to review and approval by the 1035
1541	1541	county health department. During its review, the county health 1036
1542	1542	department shall contact state and local health and medical 1037
1543	1543	stakeholders when necessary. The county health department shall 1038
1544	1544	complete its review to ensure that the plan complies with the 1039
1545	1545	criteria in the Agency for Health Care Administration rules 1040
1546	1546	within 90 days after receipt of the plan and shall either 1041
1547	1547	approve the plan or advise the nurse registry of necessary 1042
1548	1548	revisions. If a nurse registry fails to submit a plan or fails 1043
1549	1549	to submit requested information or revisions to the county 1044
1550	1550	health department within 30 days after written notification from 1045
1551	1551	the county health department, the county health department shall 1046
1552	1552	notify the Agency for Health Care Administration. The agency 1047
1553	1553	shall notify the nurse re gistry that its failure constitutes a 1048
1554	1554	deficiency, subject to a fine of $5,000 per occurrence. If the 1049
1555	1555	plan is not submitted, information is not provided, or revisions 1050
1556	1556
1557	1557	HB 1337 2025
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1564	1564	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
1565	1565
1566	1566
1567	1567
1568	1568	are not made as requested, the agency may impose the fine. 1051
1569	1569	(f) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall adopt 1052
1570	1570	rules establishing minimum criteria for the comprehensive 1053
1571	1571	emergency management plan and plan updates required by this 1054
1572	1572	subsection, with the concurrence of the Department of Health and 1055
1573	1573	in consultation with the Division of Emer gency Management. 1056
1574	1574	Section 21. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 1057
1575	1575	400.610, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1058
1576	1576	400.610 Administration and management of a hospice. — 1059
1577	1577	(1) A hospice shall have a clearly defined organized 1060
1578	1578	governing body, consis ting of a minimum of seven persons who are 1061
1579	1579	representative of the general population of the community 1062
1580	1580	served. The governing body shall have autonomous authority and 1063
1581	1581	responsibility for the operation of the hospice and shall meet 1064
1582	1582	at least quarterly. The gover ning body shall: 1065
1583	1583	(b)1. Prepare and maintain a comprehensive emergency 1066
1584	1584	management plan that provides for continuing hospice services in 1067
1585	1585	the event of an emergency that is consistent with local special 1068
1586	1586	needs plans. The plan shall include provisions for ensu ring 1069
1587	1587	continuing care to hospice patients who go to special needs and 1070
1588	1588	functional limitations shelters. The plan shall include the 1071
1589	1589	means by which the hospice provider will continue to provide 1072
1590	1590	staff to provide the same type and quantity of services to their 1073
1591	1591	patients who evacuate to special needs and functional 1074
1592	1592	limitations shelters which were being provided to those patients 1075
1593	1593
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1601	1601	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
1602	1602
1603	1603
1604	1604
1605	1605	prior to evacuation. The plan is subject to review and approval 1076
1606	1606	by the county health department, except as provided in 1077
1607	1607	subparagraph 2. During its review, the county health department 1078
1608	1608	shall contact state and local health and medical stakeholders 1079
1609	1609	when necessary. The county health department shall complete its 1080
1610	1610	review to ensure that the plan complies with criteria in rules 1081
1611	1611	of the agency within 9 0 days after receipt of the plan and shall 1082
1612	1612	either approve the plan or advise the hospice of necessary 1083
1613	1613	revisions. Hospice providers may establish links to local 1084
1614	1614	emergency operations centers to determine a mechanism by which 1085
1615	1615	to approach specific areas within a disaster area in order for 1086
1616	1616	the provider to reach its clients. A hospice shall demonstrate a 1087
1617	1617	good faith effort to comply with the requirements of this 1088
1618	1618	paragraph by documenting attempts of staff to follow procedures 1089
1619	1619	as outlined in the hospice's comprehens ive emergency management 1090
1620	1620	plan and to provide continuing care for those hospice clients 1091
1621	1621	who have been identified as needing alternative caregiver 1092
1622	1622	services in the event of an emergency. 1093
1623	1623	2. For any hospice that operates in more than one county, 1094
1624	1624	the Department of Health during its review shall contact state 1095
1625	1625	and local health and medical stakeholders when necessary. The 1096
1626	1626	Department of Health shall complete its review to ensure that 1097
1627	1627	the plan complies with criteria in rules of the agency within 90 1098
1628	1628	days after receipt of the plan and shall approve the plan or 1099
1629	1629	advise the hospice of necessary revisions. The Department of 1100
1630	1630
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1638	1638	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
1639	1639
1640	1640
1641	1641
1642	1642	Health shall make every effort to avoid imposing differing 1101
1643	1643	requirements on a hospice that operates in more than one county 1102
1644	1644	as a result of differing or conflicting comprehensive plan 1103
1645	1645	requirements of the counties in which the hospice operates. 1104
1646	1646	Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (20) and 1105
1647	1647	subsection (21) of section 400.934, Florida Statutes, is amended 1106
1648	1648	to read: 1107
1649	1649	400.934 Minimum standards. —As a requirement of licensure, 1108
1650	1650	home medical equipment providers shall: 1109
1651	1651	(20)(a) Prepare and maintain a comprehensive emergency 1110
1652	1652	management plan that meets minimum criteria established by 1111
1653	1653	agency rule under s. 400.935. The plan shall be updated annually 1112
1654	1654	and shall provide for continuing home medical equipment services 1113
1655	1655	for life-supporting or life-sustaining equipment, as defined in 1114
1656	1656	s. 400.925, during an emergency that interrupts home medical 1115
1657	1657	equipment services in a patient's home. The plan shall include: 1116
1658	1658	1. The means by which the home medical equipment provider 1117
1659	1659	will continue to provide equipment to perform the same type and 1118
1660	1660	quantity of services to its patients who evacuate to special 1119
1661	1661	needs and functional limitations shelters which were being 1120
1662	1662	provided to those patients prior to evacuation. 1121
1663	1663	2. The means by which the home medical equipment provider 1122
1664	1664	establishes and maintains an effective response to emergencies 1123
1665	1665	and disasters, including plans for: 1124
1666	1666	a. Notification of staff when emergency response measures 1125
1667	1667
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1677	1677
1678	1678
1679	1679	are initiated. 1126
1680	1680	b. Communication between staff members, county health 1127
1681	1681	departments, and local emergency management agencies, which 1128
1682	1682	includes provisions for a backup communications system. 1129
1683	1683	c. Identification of resources necessary to continue 1130
1684	1684	essential care or services or referrals to other organizations 1131
1685	1685	subject to written agreement. 1132
1686	1686	d. Contacting and prioritizing patients in need of 1133
1687	1687	continued medical equipment services and supplies. 1134
1688	1688	(21) Each home medical equipment provider shall maintain a 1135
1689	1689	current prioritized list of patients who need continued services 1136
1690	1690	during an emergency. The list shall indicate the means by which 1137
1691	1691	services shall be continued for each patient in the event of an 1138
1692	1692	emergency or disaster, whether the patient is to be transported 1139
1693	1693	to a special needs and functional limitations shelter, and 1140
1694	1694	whether the patient has life -supporting or life-sustaining 1141
1695	1695	equipment, including the specific type of equipment and related 1142
1696	1696	supplies. The list shall be furnished to county health 1143
1697	1697	departments and local emergency management agencies upon 1144
1698	1698	request. 1145
1699	1699	Section 23. Subsection (2) of section 401.273, Florida 1146
1700	1700	Statutes, is amended to read: 1147
1701	1701	401.273 Emergency medical technician and paramedic 1148
1702	1702	registry for disasters and emergencies. — 1149
1703	1703	(2) A certificateholder may perform the functions of an 1150
1704	1704
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1712	1712	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
1713	1713
1714	1714
1715	1715
1716	1716	emergency medical technician or paramedic in a special needs and 1151
1717	1717	functional limitations shelter or as a member of a disaster 1152
1718	1718	medical assistance team, provided that such functions are 1153
1719	1719	performed only under the medical direction of a physician who is 1154
1720	1720	licensed under chapte r 458 or chapter 459 and who has complied 1155
1721	1721	with the formal supervision requirements of s. 458.348. 1156
1722	1722	Section 24. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 1157