TAMPA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 18 bills this week covering various topics.
From laws related to surrendered infants, dental health, occupational licensing and building permits, almost all of them were voted unanimously by the legislature.
Here’s a breakdown of a few notable ones:
This bill increases the age at which a baby can be surrendered under the state’s “Safe Haven Law.”
Current law allows parents who are unwilling or unable to take care of their newborn to surrender them at hospitals, fire stations and EMS stations up to seven days after the child is born.
The new law would raise the age to 30 days old and would let parents leave their infant with hospital medical staff after the baby is born. Parents can also call 911 and request to meet with EMS providers to surrender the baby.
It will go into effect on July 1.
DeSantis signed a pair of dental bills that create new standards in dentistry and changes requirements for the Board of Dentistry.
The House bill requires telehealth dentists to complete an in-person examination, and "a dentist of record to remain primarily responsible for all dental treatments." It requires telehealth dentists to perform the in-person examination or obtain records from an in-person examination before an initial diagnosis and correction of malpositioned teeth.
The Senate bill removes a law requiring dental students to wait until their final year of dental school to apply for licensure. It also eliminates wording that made an applicant's dental examination scores valid for only one year.
It also removes the requirement that out-of-state licensed dentists have to practice full-time within Florida for a year after they receive their Florida license.
They were both voted on unanimously by the legislature and go into effect on July 1.
Another unanimous bill voted on by the House and Senate will require the seller of any residential real property to disclose flood risks to the buyer before he or she buys the property.
The disclosure has to include:
- A statement making it clear that homeowners' insurance policies don't include coverage for damage from floods
- The seller must state if he or she has filed a claim with an insurance provider relating to flood damage
- The seller must state if he or she received federal assistance for flood damage
This bill goes into effect on Oct. 1.
Firefighters, law enforcement officers, correctional officers and probation officers will be able to receive medical treatment for compensable presumptive conditions including tuberculosis, heart disease or hypertension by his or her medical specialist.
It amends state law and these professionals will be reimbursed at no more than 200% of the Medicare rate for the specialist and will go into effect Oct. 1.
Under this new law, homeowners' associations must adopt hurricane protection specifications for the structures governed by the HOA.
This can include things like roof systems, storm shutters and impact-resistant windows and doors, among other features. Associations also can't deny applications of owners to install, enhance or replace hurricane protections as long as they conform with the specifications from the association.
This bill went into effect immediately.
This bill provides protections for adults 65 years and older and vulnerable adults who might be victims of financial exploitation.
It gives financial institutions the power to delay disbursements or transactions of funds from an account of a specified adult if there's reason to believe exploitation is occurring.
The institution has to provide written notice to parties authorized to use the account within three days after the delay. They also must start an internal review of the facts that caused the employee to believe financial exploitation was occurring.
The deal expires after 15 business days but can be extended for an additional 30.
Vulnerable adults include people 18 or older whose ability to perform normal activities of daily living is impaired due to a mental, emotional, sensory, physical or developmental disability.
It will go into effect Jan. 1.
