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CS/SB 1934 — Health Care Practitioner Discipline
by Rules Committee and Senators Book and Taddeo
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill creates s. 456.074(5), F.S., to specify offenses that require the Department of Health (DOH) to issue an Emergency Suspension Order (ESO) against any health care practitioner who is arrested for such offenses. The bill requires the DOH to issue an ESO if a health care practitioner is arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit any one of the listed criminal offenses involving a child, an individual with mental or physical disabilities, or the elderly, or a similar offense in another jurisdiction.
The bill also amends s. 456.072, F.S., to expand the list of offenses that are grounds for disciplinary action against the license of a health care practitioner regulated by the DOH, to include:
- Being convicted, found guilty, pleading guilty, or pleading nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to any of the crimes listed in s. 456.074(5), F.S.; or
- Attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit an act that would constitute a crime listed in s. 456.074(5), F.S., or similar crime in another jurisdiction.
The bill amends s. 456.074(1), F.S., to add homicide to list of offenses that require the DOH to issue an ESO and broadens the application to any health care practitioner, instead of those currently listed in statute, if he or she pleads guilty to, is convicted or found guilty of, or who pleas nolo contendere regardless of adjudication.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2021.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 116-0