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HB 1121 Child Welfare
Child Welfare
Effective Date: July 1, 2017
HB 1121 (full text)
HB 1121 permits hospitals licensed under Ch. 395, F.S. and physicians’ offices to release patient records to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) for investigative purposes. DCF agents or representatives can now obtain records without written permission from the patient, but only when the information will be used to investigate cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation that impact children and/or vulnerable adults.
The bill also requires mental health receiving facilities to initiate an involuntary examination of a minor admitted under the Baker Act; this examination must take place within 12 hours of arrival at the facility.
If you’d like to view all 2017 bills impacting health care professions, please go to https://www.flhealthsource.gov/2017-bills
