Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1046
       
       
        
       By Senator Calatayud
       
       
       
       
       
       38-01352A-26                                          20261046__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the detection of developmental
    3         delays and autism spectrum disorder; creating s.
    4         381.993, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health, in
    5         collaboration with school districts throughout this
    6         state, to develop informational materials for the
    7         detection of developmental delays and autism spectrum
    8         disorder for parents and guardians of certain
    9         students; specifying requirements for such
   10         informational materials; amending s. 1002.53, F.S.;
   11         requiring early learning coalitions to notify parents
   12         and guardians of the availability of such
   13         informational materials; providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 381.993, Florida Statutes, is created to
   18  read:
   19         381.993 Developmental delays; autism spectrum disorder;
   20  detection.—
   21         (1) The Department of Health, in collaboration with school
   22  districts throughout this state, shall develop informational
   23  materials for the detection of developmental delays and autism
   24  spectrum disorder for parents and guardians of students. The
   25  informational materials must be made available to each learning
   26  coalition, prekindergarten provider, school district, and
   27  charter school through the department’s website.
   28         (2) Within 90 days after July 1, 2026, the department shall
   29  develop the materials related to the detection of developmental
   30  delays and autism spectrum disorder and post the information on
   31  its website. The department shall develop a standardized
   32  methodology for each learning coalition, prekindergarten
   33  provider, school district, and charter school for the
   34  notification of the parents or guardians of voluntary
   35  prekindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade
   36  students by September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, of the
   37  availability of the developmental delay and autism spectrum
   38  disorder detection materials.
   39         (3) Information provided to parents and guardians must
   40  include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
   41         (a) A description of developmental delays and a description
   42  of autism spectrum disorder.
   43         (b) A description of the signs associated with
   44  developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder.
   45         (c) A recommendation for a developmental screening for
   46  students displaying signs associated with developmental delays
   47  and autism spectrum disorder.
   48         (d) Existing state resources for students identified as at
   49  risk for developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder,
   50  including, but not limited to, regional sites of the Center for
   51  Autism and Related Disabilities and the Early Head Start
   52  program.
   53         Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 1002.53, Florida
   54  Statutes, is amended to read:
   55         1002.53 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
   56  eligibility and enrollment.—
   57         (5) The early learning coalition shall provide each parent
   58  enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
   59  Program with a profile of every private prekindergarten provider
   60  and public school delivering the program within the county where
   61  the child is being enrolled. The profiles must shall be provided
   62  to parents in a format prescribed by the department in
   63  accordance with s. 1002.92(3). The early learning coalition
   64  shall must also annually notify parents and guardians of the
   65  availability of informational materials for the early detection
   66  of Type 1 diabetes pursuant to s. 381.992 and for the detection
   67  of developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder pursuant to
   68  s. 381.993.
   69         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.