TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine more bills on Wednesday.
The laws pertain to issues such as dental services, surrendering infants, flood disclosures and occupational licensing.
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HB 775 – Surrendered Infants
House Bill 775 increases the age at which an infant may be surrendered.
Florida’s “Safe Haven Law” allows parents who are either unwilling or unable to care for their newborn infants — up to 7 days old — to surrender them at hospitals, fire stations and EMS stations.
However, HB 775 would up the age limit from 7 days old to 30 days old.
In addition, the bill would let parents leave their infant with hospital medical staff after the child has been delivered. To do so, parents would have to notify staff that they are voluntarily surrendering the child.
HB 775 would also let a parent call 911 and request to meet with an EMS provider so that the parent can surrender the infant.
The bill goes into effect on July 1.
HB 855 – Dental Services
House Bill 855 revises dentistry standards in Florida.
Specifically, the bill establishes requirements for dentists to provide patients with the following information:
- Dentist’s name
- Contact telephone number
- After-hour contact information for emergencies
- License information
In addition, the bill requires dentists to perform an in-person examination on a patient (or review records from an in-person exam from the last 12 months) before making an initial diagnosis and correction for malpositioned teeth or the use of an orthodontic appliance. This requirement only affects dentists who provide services via telehealth.
The bill goes into effect on July 1.
HB 1049 – Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property
House Bill 1049 aims to require residential property sellers to provide a flood disclosure to a buyer.
This disclosure would have to be provided by the time the sales contract is executed, and it would need to have the following details:
- The form’s title must be labeled “FLOOD DISCLOSURE.”
- A flood insurance policy disclaimer must be provided stating, “Flood Insurance: Homeowners’ insurance policies do not include coverage for damage resulting from floods. Buyer is encouraged to discuss the need to purchase separate flood insurance coverage with Buyer’s insurance agent.”
- The seller must state whether he or she has filed a claim with an insurance provider relating to flood damage on the property.
- The seller must state whether he or she has received federal assistance for flood damage to the property.
The bill goes into effect on Oct. 1.
HB 1093 – Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act
House Bill 1093 aims to codify the Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (FUFIPA) into law.
The act would replace the Florida Uniform Principal and Income Act (FUPIA), which governs the allocation of trust and estate receipts and disbursement between principal and interest when a Florida trust doesn’t provide its own terms for such allocation.
According to Legislative analysts, the changes would modernize the state’s trust law, allowing for total-return investing under the modern portfolio theory.
In addition, FUFIPA would allow an existing trust to be converted into a unitrust, and provide flexibility for more individualized estate planning.
The bill would goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
HB 1161 – Verification of Eligibility for Homestead Exemption
House Bill 1161 would require the Florida Department of Revenue to provide a form for county property appraisers to use to verify the eligibility of a veteran or surviving spouse who believes they qualify for an exemption under state statutes when purchasing a homestead property.
This form would only be allowed to be issued if the person involved provides the documentation necessary to qualify for the exemption.
The bill goes into effect on July 1.
SB 808 – Treatment by a Medical Specialist
Senate Bill 808 aims to amend state statutes regarding first responders.
The bill would allow firefighters, law enforcement officers, correctional officers and probation officers to receive medical treatment for a compensable presumptive condition by his or her selected medical specialist.
Treatment by a medical specialist under this bill would be reimbursed at no more than 200% of the Medicare rate for a selected medical specialist.
The bill goes into effect on Oct. 1.
SB 812 – Expedited Approval of Residential Building Permits
Senate Bill 812 would require certain local governments to create a process to expedite building permits based on a preliminary plat under specific circumstances by Oct. 1.
In addition, local governments would have to update their expedited building permit program with certain increased percentages by Dec. 31, 2027.
The bill goes into effect upon becoming law.
SB 1142 – Occupational Licensing
Senate Bill 1142 aims to amend state statutes regarding the registration of specialty contractors.
The bill would allow contractors in good standing who have been registered with a local jurisdiction in 2021, 2022, or 2023 to qualify for a registration when the jurisdiction has determined not to continue issuing local licenses or exercising disciplinary oversight of such licensees.
The bill would goes into effect on July 1.
SB 938 – Dentistry
Senate Bill 938 aims to remove the state’s Board of Dentistry (BOD) and Department of Health from the dental examination administration process.
Specifically, the bill would revise the dental licensure requirements by:
- Deleting language that requires dental students who have completed the necessary coursework to prepare for the ADEX to wait until their final year of dental school to apply for licensure
- Deleting the National Board of Dental Examiners’ dental exam as obsolete, and replacing it with the exam administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
- Deleting an alternate pathway to dental licensure by having an active Florida health access dental license and meeting certain practice requirements
- Allowing anyone who fails the licensure examination as a dentist or dental hygienist to retake the examination.
The bill goes into effect on July 1.