HB 0035E 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the authority for the Governor to issue
3	a one-time stay to prevent the withholding of nutrition
4	and hydration from a patient; authorizing the Governor to
5	issue a one-time stay to prevent the withholding of
6	nutrition and hydration under certain circumstances;
7	providing for expiration of the stay; authorizing the
8	Governor to lift the stay under certain circumstances;
9	providing that a person is not civilly liable and is not
10	subject to regulatory or disciplinary sanctions for taking
11	action in compliance with any such stay; providing an
12	effective date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1. (1) The Governor may issue a one-time stay to
17	prevent the withholding of nutrition and hydration from a
18	patient if, as of October 15, 2003:
19	(a) The patient has no written advance directive;
20	(b) The court has found the patient to be in a persistent
21	vegetative state;
22	(c) The patient has had nutrition and hydration withheld;
23	and
24	(d) A member of the patient's family has challenged the
25	withholding of nutrition and hydration.
26	(2) The Governor's authority to issue the stay expires 15
27	days after the effective date of this act, and the expiration of
28	that authority does not impact the validity or the effect of any
29	stay issued pursuant to this act. The Governor may revoke the
30	stay upon a finding that a change in the condition of the
31	patient warrants revocation. A person may not be held civilly
32	liable and is not subject to regulatory or disciplinary
33	sanctions for taking any action to comply with a stay issued by
34	the Governor pursuant to this act.
35	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.