Florida Senate - 2025 SB 954 By Senator Gruters 22-00993-25 2025954__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to recovery residences; amending s. 3 397.403, F.S.; revising requirements for applicants 4 for certified recovery residence licenses; amending s. 5 397.407, F.S.; providing that interim licenses may be 6 issued by the Department of Children and Families to a 7 new owner of a recovery residence; revising the 8 definition of the term transfer; requiring the 9 department to issue an interim license within a 10 specified timeframe; providing that the department has 11 a specified timeframe after receiving an application 12 to review it for completeness; prohibiting the 13 department from issuing an interim license when doing 14 so would place the health, safety, or welfare of 15 individuals at risk; prohibiting the expiration of an 16 interim license; requiring that an interim license be 17 converted to a regular license with a specified 18 timeframe; authorizing the department to issue a 19 probationary license to an existing licensed service 20 provider if the department makes specified findings; 21 providing applicability; providing that a probationary 22 license, rather than an interim license, expires 90 23 days after it is issued; amending s. 397.415, F.S.; 24 revising conditions under which the department may 25 deny, suspend, or revoke the license of a service 26 provider or the operation of any service component or 27 location identified on the license; amending s. 28 397.487, F.S.; requiring that Level IV certified 29 recovery residence providers undergo a recertification 30 audit at a certain interval, subject to annual dues 31 payments being made; providing that only the 32 department may suspend or revoke a Level IV certified 33 recovery residence providers license; deleting a 34 requirement that a certified recovery residence must 35 immediately remove a person who is arrested for or 36 convicted of a certain criminal offense; providing 37 that a recovery residence is deemed a nontransient 38 residential use of land for a specified purpose; 39 prohibiting a local law, ordinance, or regulation from 40 prohibiting or regulating a recovery residence in a 41 multifamily structure; requiring a county or a 42 municipality to allow certain certified recovery 43 residences in specific zoned districts, without the 44 need to obtain changes in certain zoning or land use; 45 providing that certified recovery residences in 46 multifamily structures are administratively approved 47 and no further action by the governing body of the 48 municipality or county is required under certain 49 circumstances; authorizing a municipality or a county 50 to deny the establishment of a certified Level IV 51 recovery residence if the proposed use is adjacent to, 52 or on two or more sides of, a parcel zoned for a 53 specified use and within a certain single-family 54 residential development; defining the term adjacent 55 to; requiring that a municipality or a county reduce 56 any local parking requirements for a proposed 57 certified recovery residence by a specified percentage 58 under certain circumstances; providing applicability; 59 providing that certified recovery residences that 60 provide housing to patients must maintain such 61 patients confidential records; amending s. 397.4871, 62 F.S.; providing that the personnel-to-resident ratio 63 for a certified recovery residence must be met only 64 when the residents are at the residence; providing 65 that a certified recovery residence administrator for 66 Level IV certified recovery residences which maintains 67 a specified personnel-to-patient ratio has no 68 limitation on the number of residents it may manage; 69 amending s. 397.501, F.S.; prohibiting an agency or a 70 division from transmitting certain records to any 71 other agency, division, or third party; providing an 72 exception; revising liability for licensed service 73 providers; amending s. 509.032, F.S.; providing 74 construction; creating the Substance Abuse and 75 Recovery Residence Efficiency Committee within the 76 Department of Children and Families; requiring the 77 department to provide the committee with 78 administrative and staff support services; providing 79 the purpose of the committee; providing the membership 80 of the committee; requiring that appointments to the 81 committee be made by a specified date; providing that 82 each member serves at the pleasure of the person or 83 body that appointed the member; requiring the 84 committee to select a chair; requiring the committee 85 to convene by a specified date and to meet monthly or 86 upon the call of the chair; providing the duties of 87 the committee; requiring the committee to submit a 88 report to the Governor and the Legislature by a 89 specified date; providing for future legislative 90 review and repeal; reenacting s. 397.4104(2), F.S., 91 relating to record of recovery residences used by 92 service providers, to incorporate the amendment made 93 to s. 397.415, F.S., in a reference thereto; 94 reenacting s. 397.4873(1) and (7), F.S., relating to 95 referrals to or from recovery residences, 96 prohibitions, and penalties, to incorporate the 97 amendments made to ss. 397.415, 397.487, and 397.4871, 98 F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss. 99 397.47891(12)(c), 394.47892(8)(c), 395.3025(3), 100 397.334(10)(c), 397.752, and 400.494(1), F.S., 101 relating to veterans treatment court programs; mental 102 health court programs; patient and personnel records, 103 copies, examination; treatment-based drug court 104 programs; scope of part; and information about 105 patients confidential, respectively, to incorporate 106 the amendment made to s. 397.501, F.S., in references 107 thereto; providing an effective date. 108 109 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 110 111 Section 1.Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section 112 397.403, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 113 397.403License application. 114 (1)Applicants for a license under this chapter must apply 115 to the department on forms provided by the department and in 116 accordance with rules adopted by the department. Applications 117 must include at a minimum: 118 (f)Proof of satisfactory fire, safety, and health 119 inspections, and compliance with local zoning ordinances. 120 Service providers operating under a regular annual license shall 121 have 18 months from the expiration date of their regular license 122 within which to meet local zoning requirements. Applicants for a 123 new license must demonstrate proof of compliance with zoning 124 requirements prior to the department issuing a probationary 125 license. 126 Section 2.Subsections (6), (7), and (9) of section 127 397.407, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 128 397.407Licensure process; fees. 129 (6)The department may issue probationary, regular, and 130 interim licenses. The department may issue one license for all 131 service components operated by a service provider and defined 132 pursuant to s. 397.311(27). The license is valid only for the 133 specific service components listed for each specific location 134 identified on the license. The licensed service provider shall 135 apply for the addition of any service components and obtain 136 approval before initiating additional services. The licensed 137 service provider must notify the department and provide any 138 required documentation at least 30 days before the relocation of 139 any of its service sites. Provision of service components or 140 delivery of services at a location not identified on the license 141 may be considered an unlicensed operation that authorizes the 142 department to seek an injunction against operation as provided 143 in s. 397.401, in addition to other sanctions authorized by s. 144 397.415. Probationary, interim, and regular licenses may be 145 issued only after all required information has been submitted. A 146 license may not be transferred to a new owner consistent with 147 the procedures set forth in s. 408.807. As used in this 148 subsection, the term transfer means: includes, but is not 149 limited to, the transfer of a majority of the ownership interest 150 in the licensed entity or transfer of responsibilities under the 151 license to another entity by contractual arrangement. 152 (a)An event in which a privately held licensee sells or 153 otherwise transfers its ownership to a different individual or 154 entity, as evidenced by a change in federal employer 155 identification number or taxpayer identification number; or 156 (b)An event in which 51 percent or more of the ownership, 157 shares, membership, or controlling interest of a licensee is in 158 any manner transferred or otherwise assigned. A change solely in 159 the management company or board of directors is not a change of 160 ownership. 161 (7)Upon receipt of a complete application, payment of 162 applicable fees, and a demonstration of substantial compliance 163 with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, the 164 department may issue a probationary license to a new service 165 provider applicant with services that are not yet fully 166 operational. The department shall may not issue an interim 167 license within 30 calendar days after receipt of a complete 168 application from an existing licensed service provider seeking 169 to add services or one or more additional levels of care at an 170 existing licensed location or at a new location. The department 171 has 15 calendar days after receiving an application to review it 172 for completeness. The department may not issue a probationary or 173 an interim license when doing so would place the health, safety, 174 or welfare of individuals at risk. A probationary license 175 expires 90 days after issuance and may not be reissued. An 176 interim license issued pursuant to this part may not expire and 177 must be converted to a regular license within 80 days after 178 issuance. During the probationary period of time a licensee is 179 providing services under a probationary license, the department 180 shall monitor the delivery of services. Notwithstanding s. 181 120.60(5), the department may order a probationary licensee to 182 cease and desist operations at any time it is found to be 183 substantially out of compliance with licensure standards. This 184 cease-and-desist order is exempt from the requirements of s. 185 120.60(6). 186 (9)The department may issue a probationary an interim 187 license to an existing licensed a service provider for a period 188 established by the department which does not exceed 90 days if 189 the department finds that: 190 (a)A service component of the provider is in substantial 191 noncompliance with licensure standards; 192 (b)The service provider has failed to provide satisfactory 193 proof of conformance to fire, safety, or health requirements; or 194 (c)The service provider is involved in license suspension 195 or revocation proceedings. 196 197 A probationary An interim license applies only to the licensable 198 service component of the providers services which is in 199 substantial noncompliance with statutory or regulatory 200 requirements. A probationary An interim license expires 90 days 201 after it is issued; however, it may be reissued once for an 202 additional 90-day period in a case of extreme hardship in which 203 the noncompliance is not attributable to the licensed service 204 provider. If the service provider is appealing the final 205 disposition of license suspension or revocation proceedings, the 206 court before which the appeal is taken may order the extension 207 of the probationary interim license for a period specified in 208 the order. 209 Section 3.Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 210 397.415, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 211 397.415Denial, suspension, and revocation; other 212 remedies. 213 (1)If the department determines that an applicant or 214 licensed service provider or licensed service component thereof 215 is not in compliance with all statutory and regulatory 216 requirements, the department may deny, suspend, revoke, or 217 impose reasonable restrictions or penalties on the license or 218 any portion of the license. In such case: 219 (d)The department may deny, suspend, or revoke the license 220 of a service provider or may suspend or revoke the license as to 221 the operation of any service component or location identified on 222 the license for: 223 1.False representation of a material fact in the license 224 application or omission of any material fact from the 225 application. 226 2.An intentional or negligent act materially affecting the 227 health or safety of an individual receiving services from the 228 provider. 229 3.A violation of this chapter or applicable rules. 230 4.A demonstrated pattern of deficient performance. 231 5.Failure to timely notify the department of immediately 232 remove service provider personnel subject to background 233 screening pursuant to s. 397.4073 who no longer meet the Level 2 234 screening standards set forth in s. 435.04 are arrested or found 235 guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or have entered a plea of 236 nolo contendere or guilty to any offense prohibited under the 237 screening standard and notify the department within 2 days after 238 an event or circumstance that causes such personnel to fail to 239 meet such standards such removal, excluding weekends and 240 holidays. 241 Section 4.Subsection (7) and paragraphs (a) and (d) of 242 subsection (8) of section 397.487, Florida Statutes, are 243 amended, and subsections (15) and (16) are added to that 244 section, to read: 245 397.487Voluntary certification of recovery residences. 246 (7)A credentialing entity shall issue a certificate of 247 compliance upon approval of the recovery residences application 248 and inspection. The certification shall automatically terminate 249 1 year after issuance if not renewed. A Level IV certified 250 recovery residence provider must undergo a recertification audit 251 once every 3 years, subject to annual dues to the Florida 252 Association of Recovery Residences. 253 (8)Onsite followup monitoring of a certified recovery 254 residence may be conducted by the credentialing entity to 255 determine continuing compliance with certification requirements. 256 The credentialing entity shall inspect each certified recovery 257 residence at least annually to ensure compliance. 258 (a)A credentialing entity may suspend or revoke a 259 certification if the recovery residence is not in compliance 260 with any provision of this section or has failed to remedy any 261 deficiency identified by the credentialing entity within the 262 time period specified, except for a Level IV certified recovery 263 residence provider, for which only the department is authorized 264 to suspend or revoke a certification following the licensure 265 procedures pursuant to chapter 120. 266 (d)If any owner, director, or chief financial officer of a 267 certified recovery residence is arrested and awaiting 268 disposition for or found guilty of, or enters a plea of guilty 269 or nolo contendere to, regardless of whether adjudication is 270 withheld, any offense listed in s. 435.04(2) while acting in 271 that capacity, the certified recovery residence must immediately 272 remove the person from that position and notify the 273 credentialing entity within 3 business days after such event or 274 circumstance removal. The credentialing entity must revoke the 275 certificate of compliance of a certified recovery residence that 276 fails to meet these requirements. 277 (15)(a)A certified recovery residence is deemed a 278 nontransient residential use of land for purposes of all local 279 zoning ordinances. A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not 280 prohibit certified recovery residences or regulate the duration 281 or frequency of use of a certified recovery residence in a 282 multifamily structure. 283 (b)Notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance or 284 regulation to the contrary, a municipality or county must allow 285 the establishment of a certified recovery residence in all 286 districts zoned multifamily residential as an allowable use and 287 must allow a structure originally constructed and permitted for 288 multifamily purposes to be used as a certified recovery 289 residence, allowing up to two residents per bedroom, without the 290 need to obtain a zoning or a land use change, a special 291 exception, a conditional use approval, a variance, or a 292 comprehensive plan amendment for the zoning and densities 293 authorized under this subsection. 294 (c)All certified recovery residences in multifamily 295 structures are administratively approved and no further action 296 by the governing body of the municipality or county is required 297 if the use satisfies this section. 298 (d)A municipality or a county may deny the establishment 299 of a Level IV certified recovery residence if the proposed use 300 is adjacent to, or on two or more sides of, a parcel zoned for 301 single-family residential use and is within a single-family 302 residential development with at least 25 contiguous single 303 family homes. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term 304 adjacent to means those properties sharing more than one point 305 of a property line, but the term does not include properties 306 separated by a public road. 307 (e)A municipality or a county must reduce any local 308 parking requirements for a proposed certified recovery residence 309 by 50 percent if the property is located within one-quarter mile 310 of a transit stop and the transit stop is accessible from the 311 residence. 312 (f)This section does not apply to any certified recovery 313 residence provider that was not voluntarily certified by the 314 certifying entity in s. 397.487 on or before July 1, 2025. 315 (16)Certified recovery residences that provide housing to 316 patients undergoing treatment must comply with and be subject to 317 s. 397.501(7) regarding confidential information pertaining to 318 such patients. 319 Section 5.Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 320 397.4871, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 321 397.4871Recovery residence administrator certification. 322 (8) 323 (c)Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a Level IV certified 324 recovery residence operating as community housing as defined in 325 s. 397.311(9), which residence is actively managed by a 326 certified recovery residence administrator approved for 100 327 residents under this section and is wholly owned or controlled 328 by a licensed service provider, may actively manage up to 150 329 residents so long as the licensed service provider maintains a 330 service provider personnel-to-patient ratio of 1 to 8 and 331 maintains onsite supervision at the residence 24 hours a day, 7 332 days a week, during times when residents are at the residence 333 and with a personnel-to-resident ratio of 1 to 10. A certified 334 recovery residence administrator for Level IV certified recovery 335 residences which maintains a personnel-to-resident ratio of 1 to 336 6, pursuant to this section, has no limitation on the number of 337 residents it may manage. A certified recovery residence 338 administrator who has been removed by a certified recovery 339 residence due to termination, resignation, or any other reason 340 may not continue to actively manage more than 50 residents for 341 another service provider or certified recovery residence without 342 being approved by the credentialing entity. 343 Section 6.Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and subsection 344 (10) of section 397.501, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 345 397.501Rights of individuals.Individuals receiving 346 substance abuse services from any service provider are 347 guaranteed protection of the rights specified in this section, 348 unless otherwise expressly provided, and service providers must 349 ensure the protection of such rights. 350 (7)RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF INDIVIDUAL RECORDS. 351 (a)The records of service providers which pertain to the 352 identity, diagnosis, and prognosis of and service provision to 353 any individual are confidential in accordance with this chapter 354 and with applicable federal confidentiality regulations and are 355 exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 356 Constitution. Such records may not be disclosed without the 357 written consent of the individual to whom they pertain except 358 that appropriate disclosure may be made without such consent: 359 1.To medical personnel in a medical emergency. 360 2.To service provider personnel if such personnel need to 361 know the information in order to carry out duties relating to 362 the provision of services to an individual. 363 3.To the secretary of the department or the secretarys 364 designee, for purposes of scientific research, in accordance 365 with federal confidentiality regulations, but only upon 366 agreement in writing that the individuals name and other 367 identifying information will not be disclosed. 368 4.In the course of review of service provider records by 369 persons who are performing an audit or evaluation on behalf of 370 any federal, state, or local government agency, or third-party 371 payor providing financial assistance or reimbursement to the 372 service provider; however, reports produced as a result of such 373 audit or evaluation may not disclose names or other identifying 374 information and must be in accordance with federal 375 confidentiality regulations. When an agency or a division of the 376 state comes into possession of such records under its regulatory 377 authority, such records may not be transmitted to any other 378 government agency or third party for any purpose except for the 379 purpose of the agency or division collecting such records. 380 5.Upon court order based on application showing good cause 381 for disclosure. In determining whether there is good cause for 382 disclosure, the court shall examine whether the public interest 383 and the need for disclosure outweigh the potential injury to the 384 individual, to the service provider and the individual, and to 385 the service provider itself. 386 (10)LIABILITY AND IMMUNITY. 387 (a)A licensed service provider or a service provider 388 personnel who violate or abuse any right or privilege of an 389 individual under this chapter are liable for damages as 390 determined by law. 391 (b)All persons acting in good faith, reasonably, and 392 without negligence in connection with the preparation or 393 execution of petitions, applications, certificates, or other 394 documents or the apprehension, detention, discharge, 395 examination, transportation, or treatment of a person under the 396 provisions of this chapter shall be free from all liability, 397 civil or criminal, by reason of such acts, except for the 398 illegal use or disclosure of trade secrets as defined in s. 399 812.081 and chapter 688. 400 Section 7.Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (7) of 401 section 509.032, Florida Statutes, to read: 402 509.032Duties. 403 (7)PREEMPTION AUTHORITY. 404 (d)This chapter may not be construed to authorize the 405 department to regulate certified recovery residences pursuant to 406 ss. 397.311 and 397.487. A recovery residence is deemed a 407 nontransient residential use of land for purposes of all local 408 zoning ordinances. 409 Section 8.Substance Abuse and Recovery Residence 410 Efficiency Committee. 411 (1)CREATION.The Substance Abuse and Recovery Residence 412 Efficiency Committee, a committee as defined in s. 20.03(5), 413 Florida Statutes, is created within the Department of Children 414 and Families. The department shall provide administrative and 415 staff support services relating to the functions of the 416 committee. 417 (2)PURPOSE.The purpose of the committee is to quickly 418 identify and remedy issues related to the treatment, 419 reimbursement, certification, and licensure of substance abuse 420 treatment facilities licensed under chapter 397, Florida 421 Statutes, and operating in this state. 422 (3)MEMBERSHIP; MEETINGS. 423 (a)The committee is composed of the following members: 424 1.A member of the Senate, appointed by the President of 425 the Senate. 426 2.A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by 427 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 428 3.A member appointed by the secretary of the Department of 429 Children and Families. 430 4.A member appointed by the secretary of the Agency for 431 Health Care Administration. 432 5.The deputy secretary of the Agency for Health Care 433 Administration or other member of the agency tasked with 434 oversight of the Division of Medicaid, or his or her designee. 435 6.A member appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance 436 Regulation. 437 7.A representative of a Level IV certified recovery 438 residence, as defined in s. 397.311, Florida Statutes, appointed 439 by the Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. 440 8.The President of the Florida Association of Recovery 441 Residences, upon approval by the association board. 442 (b)Appointments to the committee must be made by August 1, 443 2025. Each member serves at the pleasure of the official or body 444 that appointed the member. A vacancy on the committee must be 445 filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 446 (c)The committee shall select a member as chair at its 447 first meeting. 448 (d)The committee shall convene no later than August 15, 449 2025. The committee shall meet monthly or upon the call of the 450 chair. The committee may hold its meetings through 451 teleconference or other electronic means. 452 (4)DUTIES.The duties of the committee include all of the 453 following: 454 (a)Analyzing the current regulatory framework to determine 455 areas of inefficiency. 456 (b)Identifying issues that impede the effective treatment 457 of individuals who have a substance use disorder. 458 (c)Assessing the relationship between substance abuse 459 treatment providers and public and private payors. 460 (d)Assessing the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of 461 existing policies and procedures for oversight of licensed 462 substance abuse treatment providers. 463 (e)Evaluating the states approaches to agency 464 jurisdiction over substance abuse treatment and its 465 reimbursement, and specifically whether it is appropriate for 466 the Department of Children and Families to maintain jurisdiction 467 over substance abuse programs or treatment and recovery 468 residence providers. 469 (f)Determining actions that can be taken under the 470 respective agencies existing rulemaking authority to alleviate 471 any issues that the committee has identified. 472 (g)Determining legislative action that must be taken to 473 alleviate issues that the committee has identified for which the 474 respective agencies do not have the necessary rulemaking 475 authority. 476 (h)Determining legislative action that would transfer 477 licensure and regulation of substance abuse treatment to the 478 Agency for Health Care Administration. 479 (5)REPORT.By October 1, 2025, the committee shall submit 480 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 481 the House of Representatives a report that compiles the findings 482 and recommendations of the committee. 483 (6)REPEAL.This section is repealed December 31, 2025, 484 unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the 485 Legislature. 486 Section 9.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 487 made by this act to section 397.415, Florida Statutes, in a 488 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 397.4104, Florida 489 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 490 397.4104Record of recovery residences used by service 491 providers. 492 (2)Beginning July 1, 2022, a licensed service provider 493 that violates this section is subject to an administrative fine 494 of $1,000 per occurrence. The department may suspend or revoke a 495 service providers license pursuant to s. 397.415 for repeat 496 violations of this section. 497 Section 10.For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 498 made by this act to sections 397.415, 397.487, and 397.4871, 499 Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1) and (7) 500 of section 397.4873, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: 501 397.4873Referrals to or from recovery residences; 502 prohibitions; penalties. 503 (1)A service provider licensed under this part may not 504 make a referral of a prospective, current, or discharged patient 505 to, or accept a referral of such a patient from, a recovery 506 residence unless the recovery residence holds a valid 507 certificate of compliance as provided in s. 397.487 and is 508 actively managed by a certified recovery residence administrator 509 as provided in s. 397.4871. 510 (7)A licensed service provider that violates this section 511 is subject to an administrative fine of $1,000 per occurrence. 512 If such fine is imposed by final order of the department and is 513 not subject to further appeal, the service provider shall pay 514 the fine plus interest at the rate specified in s. 55.03 for 515 each day beyond the date set by the department for payment of 516 the fine. If the service provider does not pay the fine plus any 517 applicable interest within 60 days after the date set by the 518 department, the department shall immediately suspend the service 519 providers license. Repeat violations of this section may 520 subject a provider to license suspension or revocation pursuant 521 to s. 397.415. The department shall establish a mechanism no 522 later than January 1, 2024, for the imposition and collection of 523 fines for violations under this section. 524 Section 11.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 525 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 526 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (12) of section 527 394.47891, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 528 394.47891Veterans treatment court programs. 529 (12)PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION. 530 (c)If such confidential and exempt information is a 531 substance abuse record of a service provider that pertains to 532 the identity, diagnosis, or prognosis of or provision of 533 services to a person, such information may be disclosed pursuant 534 to s. 397.501(7). 535 Section 12.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 536 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 537 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 538 394.47892, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 539 394.47892Mental health court programs. 540 (8) 541 (c)If such confidential and exempt information is a 542 substance abuse record of a service provider that pertains to 543 the identity, diagnosis, and prognosis of or provision of 544 services to a person, such information may be disclosed pursuant 545 to s. 397.501(7). 546 Section 13.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 547 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 548 reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 395.3025, Florida 549 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 550 395.3025Patient and personnel records; copies; 551 examination. 552 (3)This section does not apply to records of substance 553 abuse impaired persons, which are governed by s. 397.501. 554 Section 14.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 555 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 556 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of section 557 397.334, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 558 397.334Treatment-based drug court programs. 559 (10) 560 (c)Records of a service provider which pertain to the 561 identity, diagnosis, and prognosis of or provision of service to 562 any person shall be disclosed pursuant to s. 397.501(7). 563 Section 15.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 564 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 565 reference thereto, section 397.752, Florida Statutes, is 566 reenacted to read: 567 397.752Scope of part.An inmates substance abuse service 568 records are confidential in accordance with s. 397.501(7). No 569 other provision of parts I-VII of this chapter applies to 570 inmates except as indicated by the context or specified. 571 Section 16.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 572 made by this act to section 397.501, Florida Statutes, in a 573 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 400.494, Florida 574 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 575 400.494Information about patients confidential. 576 (1)Information about patients received by persons employed 577 by, or providing services to, a home health agency or received 578 by the licensing agency through reports or inspection shall be 579 confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and 580 shall only be disclosed to any person, other than the patient, 581 as permitted under the provisions of 45 C.F.R. ss. 160.102, 582 160.103, and 164, subpart A, commonly referred to as the HIPAA 583 Privacy Regulation; except that clinical records described in 584 ss. 381.004, 384.29, 385.202, 392.65, 394.4615, 395.404, 585 397.501, and 760.40 shall be disclosed as authorized in those 586 sections. 587 Section 17.This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.