House Bill hb0475

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                 HB 475

        By Representative Hogan






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to public health; amending ss.

  3         39.201, 63.0423, 383.50, and 827.035, F.S.;

  4         expanding the type of personnel and facilities

  5         that can accept abandoned newborns; amending s.

  6         232.465, F.S.; expanding the type of personnel

  7         that can supervise nonmedical school district

  8         personnel; providing technical corrections;

  9         amending s. 381.0059, F.S.; revising background

10         screening requirements for school health

11         service personnel; amending ss. 382.003,

12         382.004, 382.013, 382.016, and 382.0255, F.S.;

13         modifying provisions relating to vital records;

14         amending s. 383.402, F.S.; modifying the annual

15         report date for child abuse death reviews;

16         amending s. 385.206, F.S., relating to the

17         hematology-encology care center program;

18         deleting data review by the Florida Association

19         of Pediatric Tumor Programs, Inc.; amending s.

20         392.52, F.S.; providing additional definitions

21         relating to tuberculosis control; creating s.

22         392.566, F.S.; providing for appointment of a

23         guardian advocate for tuberculosis patients;

24         specifying qualifications, training, and

25         responsibilities of the guardian advocate;

26         amending s. 401.113, F.S.; providing for use of

27         funds in the Emergency Medical Services Trust

28         Fund for injury prevention programs; amending

29         s. 401.27, F.S.; exempting emergency medical

30         services examination questions and answers from

31         discovery; providing conditions for

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  1         introduction in administrative proceedings;

  2         repealing s. 404.056(2), F.S., relating to the

  3         Florida Coordinating Council on Radon

  4         Protection; amending s. 404.056, F.S.; deleting

  5         an obsolete environmental radiation soil

  6         testing requirement; clarifying rulemaking

  7         authority; amending s. 742.10, F.S.; conforming

  8         terminology; correcting a cross reference;

  9         amending s. 3 of ch. 87-450, Laws of Florida;

10         requiring school health programs of the Health

11         Care District of Palm Beach County to be

12         supplementary to and consistent with specified

13         provisions of state law; repealing s. 385.205,

14         F.S.; relating to kidney disease control

15         programs; providing an effective date.

16

17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

18

19         Section 1.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section

20  39.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

21         39.201  Mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment,

22  or neglect; mandatory reports of death; central abuse

23  hotline.--

24         (2)

25         (f)  Reports involving abandoned newborn infants as

26  described in s. 383.50 shall be made and received by the

27  department.

28         1.  If the report is of an abandoned newborn infant as

29  described in s. 383.50 and there is no indication of abuse,

30  neglect, or abandonment of the infant other than that

31  necessarily entailed in the infant having been left at a fire

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  1  station or hospital, emergency medical services station, or

  2  fire station, the department shall provide to the caller the

  3  name of a licensed child-placing agency on a rotating basis

  4  from a list of licensed child-placing agencies eligible and

  5  required to accept physical custody of and to place newborn

  6  infants left at a hospital, emergency medical services

  7  station, or a fire station. The report shall not be considered

  8  a report of abuse, neglect, or abandonment solely because the

  9  infant has been left at a hospital, emergency medical services

10  station, or fire station pursuant to s. 383.50.

11         2.  If the caller reports indications of abuse or

12  neglect beyond that necessarily entailed in the infant having

13  been left at a fire station or hospital, emergency medical

14  services station, or fire station, the report shall be

15  considered as a report of abuse, neglect, or abandonment and

16  shall be subject to the requirements of s. 39.395 and all

17  other relevant provisions of this chapter, notwithstanding any

18  provisions of chapter 383.

19         Section 2.  Subsections (1) and (4), paragraph (c) of

20  subsection (7), and subsection (10) of section 63.0423,

21  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

22         63.0423  Procedures with respect to abandoned

23  newborns.--

24         (1)  A licensed child-placing agency that takes

25  physical custody of a newborn infant left at a hospital,

26  emergency medical services station, or a fire station pursuant

27  to s. 383.50, shall assume responsibility for all medical

28  costs and all other costs associated with the emergency

29  services and care of the newborn infant from the time the

30  licensed child-placing agency takes physical custody of the

31  newborn infant.

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  1         (4)  Within 7 days after accepting physical custody of

  2  the newborn infant, the licensed child-placing agency shall

  3  initiate a diligent search to notify and to obtain consent

  4  from a parent whose identity or location is unknown, other

  5  than the parent who has left a newborn infant at a fire

  6  station or a hospital, emergency medical services station, or

  7  fire station in accordance with s. 383.50. The diligent search

  8  must include, at a minimum, inquiries of all known relatives

  9  of the parent, inquiries of all offices or program areas of

10  the department likely to have information about the parent,

11  inquiries of other state and federal agencies likely to have

12  information about the parent, inquiries of appropriate utility

13  and postal providers and inquiries of appropriate law

14  enforcement agencies. Constructive notice must also be

15  provided pursuant to chapter 49 in the county where the

16  newborn infant was left and in the county where the petition

17  to terminate parental rights will be filed. The constructive

18  notice must include at a minimum, available identifying

19  information, and information on whom a parent must contact in

20  order to assert a claim of parental rights of the newborn

21  infant and how to assert that claim. If a parent is identified

22  and located, notice of the adjudicatory hearing shall be

23  provided. If a parent can not be identified or located

24  subsequent to the diligent search and constructive notice, the

25  licensed child-placing agency shall file an affidavit of

26  diligent search at the same time that the petition to

27  terminate parental rights is filed.

28         (7)  If a claim of parental rights of a newborn infant

29  is made before the judgment to terminate parental rights is

30  entered, the circuit court shall hold the action for

31

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  1  termination of parental rights pending subsequent adoption in

  2  abeyance for a period of time not to exceed 60 days.

  3         (c)  The court may not terminate parental rights solely

  4  on the basis that the parent left a newborn infant at a

  5  hospital, emergency medical services station, or fire station

  6  in accordance with s. 383.50.

  7         (10)  Except to the extent expressly provided in this

  8  section, proceedings initiated by a licensed child-placing

  9  agency for the termination of parental rights and subsequent

10  adoption of a newborn left at a hospital, emergency medical

11  services station, or a fire station in accordance with s.

12  383.50 shall be conducted pursuant to this chapter 63.

13         Section 3.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 232.465,

14  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         232.465  Provision of medical services; restrictions.--

16         (2)  Nonmedical assistive personnel shall be allowed to

17  perform health-related services upon successful completion of

18  child-specific training by a registered nurse or advanced

19  registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 464, a

20  licensed practical nurse, a physician licensed pursuant to

21  chapter 458 or chapter 459, or a physician assistant licensed

22  pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459.  All procedures shall

23  be monitored periodically by a the nurse, advanced registered

24  nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physician.  Those

25  procedures include, but are not limited to:

26         (a)  Cleaning Intermittent clean catheterization.

27         (b)  Gastrostomy tube feeding.

28         (c)  Monitoring blood glucose.

29         (d)  Administering emergency injectable medication.

30         (3)  For all other invasive medical services not listed

31  in this section subsection (1) or subsection (2), a registered

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  1  nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under

  2  chapter 464, a licensed practical nurse, a physician licensed

  3  pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459, or a physician

  4  assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459

  5  shall determine if nonmedical school district personnel shall

  6  be allowed to perform such service.

  7         Section 4.  Section 381.0059, Florida Statutes, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         381.0059  Background screening requirements for school

10  health services personnel.--

11         (1)(a)  Pursuant to the provisions of chapter 435, any

12  person who provides services under a school health services

13  plan pursuant to s. 381.0056 must meet complete level 2

14  screening requirements as described in s. 435.04 as provided

15  in chapter 435. A person may satisfy the requirements of this

16  subsection by submitting proof of compliance with the

17  requirements of level 2 screening under s. 435.04, conducted

18  within 12 months before the date that person initially

19  provides services under a school health services plan pursuant

20  to s. 381.0056.

21         (2)  A person may provide Any person who provides

22  services under a school health services plan pursuant to s.

23  381.0056 prior to the completion of level 2 screening.

24  However, shall be on probationary status pending the results

25  of the level 2 screening, such person may not be alone with a

26  minor.

27         (b)  In order to conduct level 2 screening, any person

28  who provides services under a school health services plan

29  pursuant to s. 381.0056 must furnish to the Department of

30  Health a full set of fingerprints to enable the department to

31  conduct a criminal background investigation. Each person who

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  1  provides services under a school health services plan pursuant

  2  to s. 381.0056 must file a complete set of fingerprints taken

  3  by an authorized law enforcement officer and must provide

  4  sufficient information for a statewide criminal records

  5  correspondence check through the Florida Department of Law

  6  Enforcement. The Department of Health shall submit the

  7  fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for

  8  a statewide criminal history check, and the Florida Department

  9  of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to the

10  Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal

11  history check.

12         (c)  The person subject to the required background

13  screening or his or her employer must pay the fees required to

14  obtain the background screening. Payment for the screening

15  must be submitted to the Department of Health. The Florida

16  Department of Law Enforcement shall charge the Department of

17  Health for a level 2 screening at a rate sufficient to cover

18  the costs of such screening pursuant to s. 943.053(3). The

19  Department of Health shall establish a schedule of fees to

20  cover the costs of the level 2 screening. The applicant or his

21  or her employer who pays for the required screening may be

22  reimbursed by the Department of Health from funds designated

23  for this purpose.

24         (2)(a)  When the Department of Health has reasonable

25  cause to believe that grounds exist for the disqualification

26  of any person providing services under a school health

27  services plan pursuant to s. 381.0056, as a result of

28  background screening, it shall notify the person in writing,

29  stating the specific record that indicates noncompliance with

30  the level 2 screening standards. The Department of Health must

31  disqualify any person from providing services under a school

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  1  health services plan pursuant to s. 381.0056 if the department

  2  finds that the person is not in compliance with the level 2

  3  screening standards. A person who provides services under a

  4  school health plan pursuant to s. 381.0056 on a probationary

  5  status and who is disqualified because of the results of his

  6  or her background screening may contest that disqualification.

  7         (3)(b)  As provided in s. 435.07, the Department of

  8  Health may grant an exemption from disqualification to provide

  9  a person providing services under a school health services

10  plan pursuant to s. 381.0056 who has not received a

11  professional license or certification from the Department of

12  Health.

13         (c)  As provided in s. 435.07, the Department of Health

14  may grant an exemption from disqualification to a person

15  providing services under a school health services plan

16  pursuant to s. 381.0056 who has received a professional

17  license or certification from the Department of Health.

18         (3)  Any person who is required to undergo the

19  background screening to provide services under a school health

20  plan pursuant to s. 381.0056 who refuses to cooperate in such

21  screening or refuses to submit the information necessary to

22  complete the screening, including fingerprints, shall be

23  disqualified for employment or volunteering in such position

24  or, if employed, shall be dismissed.

25         (4)  Under penalty of perjury, each person who provides

26  services under a school health plan pursuant to s. 381.0056

27  must attest to meeting the level 2 screening requirements for

28  participation under the plan and agree to inform his or her

29  employer the Department of Health immediately if convicted of

30  any disqualifying offense while providing services under a

31  school health services plan pursuant to s. 381.0056.

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  1         (5)  As used in this section, the term "person who

  2  provides services under a school health services plan"

  3  includes unpaid volunteers, except for does not include an

  4  unpaid volunteer who lectures students in group settings on

  5  health education topics.

  6         Section 5.  Subsections (6) and (10) of section

  7  382.003, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  8         382.003  Powers and duties of the department.--The

  9  department may:

10         (6)  Investigate cases of irregularity or violation of

11  law, and all local registrars of vital statistics shall aid

12  the department in such investigations.  When necessary, the

13  department shall report cases of violations of any of the

14  provisions of this chapter to the state attorney having charge

15  of the prosecution of misdemeanors in the registration

16  district in which the violation occurs.

17         (10)  Accept, use, and produce all records, reports,

18  and documents necessary for carrying out the provisions of

19  this chapter, in paper or electronic form, and adopt,

20  promulgate, and enforce all rules necessary for the

21  acceptance, use, production creation, issuance, recording,

22  maintenance, and processing of such vital records, reports,

23  and documents, and for carrying out the provisions of ss.

24  382.004-382.0135 and ss. 382.016-382.019.

25         Section 6.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 382.004,

26  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

27         382.004  Reproduction and destruction of records.--

28         (1)  The department is authorized to photograph,

29  microphotograph, reproduce on film, or reproduce by electronic

30  means vital records in such a manner that the data on each

31  page are in exact conformity with the original record.

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  1         (2)  The department is authorized to destroy any of the

  2  original vital records after they have been photographed or

  3  reproduced in exact conformity with the original record and

  4  after approval for destruction in accordance with chapter 257.

  5         Section 7.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

  6  382.013, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         382.013  Birth registration.--A certificate for each

  8  live birth that occurs in this state shall be filed within 5

  9  days after such birth with the local registrar of the district

10  in which the birth occurred and shall be registered by the

11  local registrar if the certificate has been completed and

12  filed in accordance with this chapter and adopted rules. The

13  information regarding registered births shall be used for

14  comparison with information in the state case registry, as

15  defined in chapter 61.

16         (2)  PATERNITY.--

17         (c)  If the mother is not married at the time of birth,

18  the name of the father may not be entered on the birth

19  certificate without the execution of an a consenting affidavit

20  or voluntary acknowledgement of paternity signed by both the

21  mother and the person to be named as the father.  The facility

22  shall give After giving notice orally or through the use of

23  video or audio equipment, and in writing, of the alternatives

24  to, the legal consequences of, and the rights, including, if

25  one parent is a minor, any rights afforded due to minority

26  status, and responsibilities that arise from signing an

27  acknowledgment of paternity, the facility shall provide the

28  mother and the person to be named as the father with the

29  affidavit, as well as information provided by the Title IV-D

30  agency established pursuant to s. 409.2557, regarding the

31  benefits of voluntary establishment of paternity. Upon request

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  1  of the mother and the person to be named as the father, the

  2  facility shall assist in the execution of the affidavit or

  3  voluntary acknowledgement of paternity.

  4         Section 8.  Section 382.016, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         382.016  Amendment of records.--

  7         (1)  The department, upon receipt of the fee prescribed

  8  in s. 382.0255;, documentary evidence, as specified by rule,

  9  of any misstatement, error, or omission occurring in any

10  birth, death, or fetal death record; as may be required by

11  department rule, and an affidavit setting forth the changes to

12  be made, shall amend or replace the original certificate as

13  necessary. However, except for a misspelling or an omission on

14  a death certificate with regard to the name of the surviving

15  spouse, the department may not change the name of the

16  surviving spouse on the certificate except by order of a court

17  of competent jurisdiction.

18         (1)(2)  CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH AMENDMENT.--

19         (a)  Until a child's first birthday, the child's given

20  name or surname may be amended on a certificate of live birth

21  without requiring documentary evidence, upon receipt of the

22  fees prescribed in s. 382.0255 and an affidavit signed by each

23  parent named on the original birth certificate or by the

24  registrant's guardian. After the child's first birthday,

25  documentary evidence is required. If both parents are named on

26  the certificate but both are not willing or available to sign

27  the affidavit, the registrant's name may only be amended by

28  court order.

29         (b)(3)  Upon written request and receipt of an

30  affidavit or voluntary acknowledgement of paternity signed by

31  the mother and father acknowledging the paternity of a

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  1  registrant born out of wedlock, together with sufficient

  2  information to identify the original certificate of live

  3  birth, the department shall prepare a new birth certificate,

  4  which shall bear the same file number as the original birth

  5  certificate. The names and identifying information of the

  6  parents shall be entered as of the date of the registrant's

  7  birth. The surname of the registrant may be changed from that

  8  shown on the original birth certificate at the request of the

  9  mother and father of the registrant, or the registrant if of

10  legal age. If the mother and father marry each other at any

11  time after the registrant's birth, the department shall, upon

12  the request of the mother and father or registrant if of legal

13  age and proof of the marriage, amend the certificate with

14  regard to the parents' marital status as though the parents

15  were married at the time of birth.

16         (4)  When a new certificate of birth is prepared

17  pursuant to subsection (3), the department shall substitute

18  the new certificate of birth for the original certificate on

19  file. All copies of the original certificate of live birth in

20  the custody of a local registrar or other state custodian of

21  vital records shall be forwarded to the State Registrar.

22  Thereafter, when a certified copy of the certificate of birth

23  or portion thereof is issued, it shall be a copy of the new

24  certificate of birth or portion thereof, except when a court

25  order requires issuance of a certified copy of the original

26  certificate of birth. The department shall place the original

27  certificate of birth and all papers pertaining thereto under

28  seal, not to be broken except by order of a court of competent

29  jurisdiction or as otherwise provided by law.

30         (c)(5)  If a father's name is listed on the birth

31  certificate, the birth certificate may only be amended to

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  1  remove the father's name or to add a different father's name

  2  upon court order. If a change in the registrant's surname is

  3  also desired, such change must be included in the court order

  4  or the name must be changed pursuant to s. 68.07.

  5         (2)  CERTIFICATE OF DEATH AMENDMENTS.--Except for a

  6  misspelling or an omission on a death certificate with regard

  7  to the name of the surviving spouse, the department may not

  8  change the name of a surviving spouse on the certificate

  9  except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

10         Section 9.  Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section

11  382.0255, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

12         382.0255  Fees.--

13         (1)  The department is entitled to fees, as follows:

14         (h)  Not less than 5 cents or more than 10 cents for

15  each data vital record listed on electronic media plus a

16  reasonable charge for the cost of preparation, as established

17  defined by department rule.

18         Section 10.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

19  383.402, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

20         383.402  Child abuse death review; State Child Abuse

21  Death Review Committee; local child abuse death review

22  committees.--

23         (3)  The State Child Abuse Death Review Committee

24  shall:

25         (c)  Prepare an annual statistical report on the

26  incidence and causes of death resulting from child abuse in

27  the state during the prior calendar year. The state committee

28  shall submit a copy of the report by December 31 September 30

29  of each year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

30  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the first

31  annual report due on September 30, 2000. The report must

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  1  include recommendations for state and local action, including

  2  specific policy, procedural, regulatory, or statutory changes,

  3  and any other recommended preventive action.

  4         Section 11.  Subsections (1), (3), (5), (6), and (9) of

  5  section 383.50, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  6         383.50  Treatment of abandoned newborn infant.--

  7         (1)  As used in this section, the term "newborn infant"

  8  means a child that a licensed physician reasonably believes to

  9  be approximately 3 days old or younger at the time the child

10  is left at a hospital, emergency medical services station, or

11  a fire station.

12         (3)  Each emergency medical services station or fire

13  station staffed with full-time firefighters, or emergency

14  medical technicians, or paramedics shall accept any newborn

15  infant left with a firefighter, or emergency medical

16  technician, or paramedic. The firefighter, emergency medical

17  technician, or paramedic fire station shall consider these

18  actions as implied consent to and shall:

19         (a)  Provide emergency medical services to the newborn

20  infant to the extent he or she is trained to provide those

21  services, and

22         (b)  Arrange for the immediate transportation of the

23  newborn infant to the nearest hospital with emergency

24  services.

25

26  Any firefighter, or emergency medical technician, or paramedic

27  accepting or providing emergency medical services to a newborn

28  infant pursuant to this subsection is immune from criminal or

29  civil liability for having performed the act. Nothing in this

30  subsection limits liability for negligence.

31

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  1         (5)  Except where there is actual or suspected child

  2  abuse or neglect, any parent who leaves a newborn infant with

  3  a firefighter, or emergency medical technician, or paramedic

  4  at a fire station or emergency medical services station, or

  5  brings a newborn infant to an emergency room of a hospital and

  6  expresses an intent to leave the newborn infant and not

  7  return, has the absolute right to remain anonymous and to

  8  leave at any time and may not be pursued or followed unless

  9  the parent seeks to reclaim the newborn infant.

10         (6)  A parent of a newborn infant left at a hospital,

11  emergency medical services station, or a fire station under

12  this section may claim his or her newborn infant up until the

13  court enters a judgment terminating his or her parental

14  rights. A claim to of parental rights of the newborn infant

15  must be made to the entity having physical or legal custody of

16  the newborn infant or to the circuit court before whom

17  proceedings involving the newborn infant are pending.

18         (9)  A newborn infant left at a fire station or a

19  hospital, emergency medical services station, or fire station

20  in accordance with this section shall not be deemed abandoned

21  and subject to reporting and investigation requirements under

22  s. 39.201 unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or

23  until the department takes physical custody of the child.

24         Section 12.  Subsection (5) of section 385.206, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         385.206  Hematology-oncology care center program.--

27         (5)  PROGRAM AND PEER REVIEW.--The department shall

28  evaluate at least annually during the grant period the

29  services rendered by the centers and the districts of the

30  department.  Data from the centers and other sources relating

31  to pediatric cancer shall be reviewed annually by the Florida

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  1  Association of Pediatric Tumor Programs, Inc.; and a written

  2  report with recommendations shall be made to the department.

  3  This database will be available to the department for

  4  formulation of its annual program and financial evaluation

  5  report.  A portion of the funds appropriated for this section

  6  may be used to provide statewide consultation, supervision,

  7  and evaluation of the programs of the centers, as well as

  8  program office support personnel.

  9         Section 13.  Subsections (6) and (7) of section 392.52,

10  Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (9) and (10),

11  respectively, and new subsections (6), (7), and (8) are added

12  to said section to read:

13         392.52  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the

14  term:

15         (6)  "Guardian advocate" means a person appointed by a

16  court to make decisions regarding medical treatment on behalf

17  of a patient who has been found incompetent to consent to

18  treatment pursuant to this chapter. The guardian advocate may

19  be granted specific additional powers by written order of the

20  court, as provided in this chapter.

21         (7)  "Incompetent to consent to treatment" means that a

22  person lacks the mental capacity to make a well-reasoned,

23  willful, and knowing decision concerning his or her medical

24  treatment.

25         (8)  "Psychiatrist" means a physician licensed under

26  chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has primarily diagnosed and

27  treated mental and nervous disorders for a period of not less

28  than 3 years, inclusive of psychiatric residency.

29         Section 14.  Section 392.566, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31         392.566  Guardian advocate.--

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  1         (1)  Subsequent to hospitalization under s. 392.56, the

  2  department may petition the court for appointment of a

  3  guardian advocate based upon the opinion of a psychiatrist

  4  that the person is incompetent to consent to medical

  5  treatment.  If the court finds that a person is incompetent to

  6  consent to medical treatment but has not been adjudicated

  7  incapacitated under part V of chapter 744 and a guardian

  8  appointed, the court shall appoint a guardian advocate.  In

  9  any such proceeding:

10         (a)  The person shall have a right to be represented by

11  counsel.  If the person is determined to be indigent pursuant

12  to s. 27.52, the court shall appoint legal counsel to

13  represent him or her at the hearing.

14         (b)  The person shall have the right to attend the

15  hearing, to testify, cross-examine witnesses, and present

16  witnesses.  After review and consultation by the court,

17  counsel for the person may waive the client's presence.

18         (c)  The proceedings shall be recorded either

19  electronically or stenographically, and testimony shall be

20  provided under oath.

21         (d)  A psychiatrist rendering an opinion in support of

22  the petition for a guardian advocate must testify.

23         (2)  The guardian advocate must meet the qualifications

24  of a guardian contained in part IV of chapter 744, except that

25  the psychiatrist rendering the opinion that the person is

26  incompetent, an employee of the department, or a member of the

27  advocacy council shall not be appointed.  A person appointed

28  as a guardian advocate must agree to the appointment.

29         (3)  In selecting a guardian advocate, the court shall

30  give preference to a health care surrogate, if one has been

31  designated by the person.  If a person has not previously

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  1  selected a surrogate, except for good cause documented in the

  2  court record, the selection shall be made from the following

  3  list in the order of listing:

  4         (a)  The person's spouse;

  5         (b)  An adult child of the person;

  6         (c)  A parent of the person;

  7         (d)  The adult next of kin of the person; or

  8         (e)  An adult trained and willing to serve as guardian

  9  advocate for the person.

10         (4)  Prior to the appointment of a guardian advocate,

11  the department must provide the prospective guardian advocate

12  with information about the duties and responsibilities of a

13  guardian advocate.

14         (5)  Prior to a guardian advocate exercising his or her

15  authority, the advocate shall have successfully completed a

16  training course which must include, at a minimum, information

17  about the person's rights, diagnosis and treatment of

18  tuberculosis and other illnesses, the ethics of medical

19  decisionmaking, and the duties of guardian advocates.

20         (a)  The training course must be developed by the

21  department and approved by the chief judge of the circuit

22  court.

23         (b)  The training course shall take the place of

24  training required for guardians pursuant to chapter 744.

25         (c)  The court may, on a case-by-case basis, waive some

26  or all of the training requirements or impose additional

27  requirements after considering the experience, training, and

28  education of the guardian advocate, the duties assigned to the

29  advocate, and the needs of the person.

30         (6)  Before asking a guardian advocate to give consent

31  to medical treatment, the department shall provide sufficient

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  1  information to enable the guardian advocate to provide express

  2  and informed consent to treatment.  Sufficient information

  3  shall include indications that the treatment is essential to

  4  treat the person with tuberculosis or other medical condition,

  5  and that the treatment does not present an unreasonable risk

  6  of serious, hazardous, or irreversible side effects.  Before

  7  giving consent to treatment, the guardian advocate must meet

  8  face-to-face and talk with the person and the person's

  9  physician, if possible, and by telephone if not.  The

10  decisions of the guardian advocate may be reviewed by the

11  court, upon petition by the person's attorney, person's

12  family, or the department.

13         (7)  The guardian advocate shall be discharged when the

14  department files notice with the court that the person has

15  been discharged from the hospital or upon sufficient evidence

16  that the person is no longer incompetent to consent to medical

17  treatment, which may be documented by a notarized statement or

18  affidavit signed by a psychiatrist.

19         Section 15.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

20  401.113, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

21         401.113  Department; powers and duties.--

22         (2)  The department shall annually dispense funds

23  contained in the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund as

24  follows:

25         (b)  Forty percent of such moneys must be used by the

26  department for making matching grants to local agencies,

27  municipalities, and emergency medical services organizations

28  for the purpose of conducting research, increasing existing

29  levels of emergency medical services, evaluation, community

30  education, injury prevention programs, and training in

31

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  1  cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving and first

  2  aid techniques.

  3         1.  At least 90 percent of these moneys must be made

  4  available on a cash matching basis.  A grant made under this

  5  subparagraph must be contingent upon the recipient providing a

  6  cash sum equal to 25 percent of the total department-approved

  7  grant amount.

  8         2.  No more than 10 percent of these moneys must be

  9  made available to rural emergency medical services, and

10  notwithstanding the restrictions specified in subsection (1),

11  these moneys may be used for improvement, expansion, or

12  continuation of services provided.  A grant made under this

13  subparagraph must be contingent upon the recipient providing a

14  cash sum equal to no more than 10 percent of the total

15  department-approved grant amount.

16

17  The department shall develop procedures and standards for

18  grant disbursement under this paragraph based on the need for

19  emergency medical services, the requirements of the population

20  to be served, and the objectives of the state emergency

21  medical services plan.

22         Section 16.  Subsection (5) of section 401.27, Florida

23  Statutes, is amended to read:

24         401.27  Personnel; standards and certification.--

25         (5)  The certification examination must be offered

26  monthly.  The department shall issue an examination admission

27  notice to the applicant advising him or her of the time and

28  place of the examination for which he or she is scheduled.

29  Individuals achieving a passing score on the certification

30  examination may be issued a temporary certificate with their

31  examination grade report.  The department must issue an

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  1  original certification within 45 days after the examination.

  2  Examination questions and answers are not subject to discovery

  3  but may be introduced into evidence and considered only in

  4  camera in any administrative proceeding under chapter 120. If

  5  an administrative hearing is held, the department shall

  6  provide challenged examination questions and answers to the

  7  administrative law judge.

  8         Section 17.  Subsection (2) of section 404.056, Florida

  9  Statutes, is repealed, and present subsections (5) and (7) of

10  said section are renumbered as subsections (4) and (6),

11  respectively, and amended to read:

12         404.056  Environmental radiation standards and

13  programs; radon protection.--

14         (4)(5)  MANDATORY TESTING.--All public and private

15  school buildings or school sites housing students in

16  kindergarten through grade 12; all state-owned,

17  state-operated, state-regulated, or state-licensed 24-hour

18  care facilities; and all state-licensed day care centers for

19  children or minors which are located in counties designated

20  within the Department of Community Affairs' Florida Radon

21  Protection Map Categories as "Intermediate" or "Elevated Radon

22  Potential" shall be measured to determine the level of indoor

23  radon, using measurement procedures established by the

24  department. Testing shall be completed within the first year

25  of construction in 20 percent of the habitable first floor

26  spaces within any of the regulated buildings. Initial

27  measurements shall be completed and reported to the department

28  by July 1 of the year the building is opened for occupancy.

29  Followup testing must be completed in 5 percent of the

30  habitable first floor spaces within any of the regulated

31  buildings after the building has been occupied for 5 years,

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  1  and results must be reported to the department by July 1 of

  2  the 5th year of occupancy. After radon measurements have been

  3  made twice, regulated buildings need not undergo further

  4  testing unless significant structural changes occur. Where

  5  fill soil is required for the construction of a regulated

  6  building, initial testing of fill soil must be performed using

  7  measurement procedures established by the department, and the

  8  results must be reported to the department prior to

  9  construction. No funds collected pursuant to s. 553.721 shall

10  be used to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

11         (6)(7)  RULES.--The department shall have the authority

12  to promulgate rules necessary to carry out the provisions of

13  this section, including the definition of terms.

14         Section 18.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section 742.10,

15  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

16         742.10  Establishment of paternity for children born

17  out of wedlock.--

18         (1)  This chapter provides the primary jurisdiction and

19  procedures for the determination of paternity for children

20  born out of wedlock. When the establishment of paternity has

21  been raised and determined within an adjudicatory hearing

22  brought under the statutes governing inheritance, or

23  dependency under workers' compensation or similar compensation

24  programs, or when an affidavit acknowledging paternity or a

25  stipulation of paternity is executed by both parties and filed

26  with the clerk of the court, or when an a consenting affidavit

27  or voluntary acknowledgement of paternity as provided for in

28  s. 382.013 or s. 382.016 is executed by both parties, it shall

29  constitute the establishment of paternity for purposes of this

30  chapter. If no adjudicatory proceeding was held, a voluntary

31  acknowledgment of paternity shall create a rebuttable

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  1  presumption, as defined by s. 90.304, of paternity and is

  2  subject to the right of any signatory to rescind the

  3  acknowledgment within 60 days of the date the acknowledgment

  4  was signed or the date of an administrative or judicial

  5  proceeding relating to the child, including a proceeding to

  6  establish a support order, in which the signatory is a party,

  7  whichever is earlier.  Both parents are required to provide

  8  their social security numbers on any acknowledgment of

  9  paternity, consent affidavit, or stipulation of paternity.

10  Except for consenting affidavits under seal pursuant to s. ss.

11  382.015 and 382.016, the Office of Vital Statistics shall

12  provide certified copies of affidavits to the Title IV-D

13  agency upon request.

14         (3)  The department shall adopt rules which establish

15  the information which must be provided to an individual prior

16  to execution of an a consenting affidavit or voluntary

17  acknowledgment of paternity. The information shall explain the

18  alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights,

19  including, if one parent is a minor, any rights afforded due

20  to minority status, and responsibilities that arise from

21  acknowledging paternity.

22         Section 19.  Section 827.035, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         827.035  Newborn infants.--It shall not constitute

25  neglect of a child pursuant to s. 827.03 or contributing to

26  the dependency of a child pursuant to s. 827.04, if a parent

27  leaves a newborn infant, as defined in s. 383.50, at a

28  hospital, emergency medical services station, or fire station

29  or brings a newborn infant to an emergency room and expresses

30  an intent to leave the infant and not return, in compliance

31  with s. 383.50.

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  1         Section 20.  Subsection (31) of section 3 of chapter

  2  87-450, Laws of Florida, as amended by chapters 91-344,

  3  96-509, and 2000-489, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

  4         Section 3.  Palm Beach County Health Care District of

  5  Palm Beach County; district board; powers.--The District Board

  6  of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County is vested

  7  with the authority and responsibility to provide for the

  8  comprehensive planning and delivery of adequate health care

  9  facilities (including, but not limited to, hospitals) and

10  services for the citizens of Palm Beach County, particularly

11  medically needy citizens.  For those purposes, the district

12  board shall have and may utilize the following powers:

13         (31)  The Health Care District of Palm Beach County is

14  authorized to plan, coordinate, supervise, manage, and take

15  such other action as appropriate to implement the school

16  health programs as established by the district, provided that

17  such school health programs are supplementary to and

18  consistent with the provisions of ss. 381.0056-381.0059,

19  Florida Statutes.

20         Section 21.  Section 385.205, Florida Statutes, is

21  repealed.

22         Section 22.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.

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  1            *****************************************

  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      Revises various provisions relating to public health.
  4    Authorizes acceptance of abandoned newborn infants at
      emergency medical services stations. Authorizes
  5    supervision of nonmedical school district personnel by a
      licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner. Revises
  6    background screening requirements for school health
      services personnel. Modifies provisions relating to vital
  7    records. Changes from September 30 to December 31 the
      annual report date for child abuse death reviews. Removes
  8    requirement for data review under the hematology-oncology
      care center program by the Florida Association of
  9    Pediatric Tumor Programs, Inc. Provides for appointment
      of a guardian advocate for tuberculosis patients, and
10    specifies qualifications, training, and responsibilities.
      Provides for use of funds in the Emergency Medical
11    Services Trust Fund for injury prevention programs.
      Exempts emergency medical services examination questions
12    and answers from discovery, and provides conditions for
      introduction in an administrative proceeding. Repeals
13    provisions which establish and provide duties of the
      Florida Coordinating Council on Radon Protection. Removes
14    a requirement for soil testing for environmental
      radiation prior to certain construction. Repeals
15    provision which requires establishment of programs in
      kidney disease control.
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