Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1414
By Senator Polsky
30-01532B-26 20261414__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education on congenital
3 cytomegalovirus; creating s. 383.142, F.S.; requiring
4 the Department of Health, in consultation with medical
5 experts identified by the department, to develop
6 educational materials on congenital cytomegalovirus
7 for distribution to expectant and new parents or
8 caregivers; providing requirements for such
9 educational materials; requiring certain hospitals,
10 birth centers, and obstetrics and gynecology physician
11 practices to provide the educational materials to such
12 parents and caregivers; requiring the department to
13 provide the educational materials to child care
14 facilities; creating s. 456.0302, F.S.; requiring the
15 licensing boards of certain health care practitioners,
16 beginning on a specified date, to require such
17 practitioners to complete a board-approved course on
18 congenital cytomegalovirus as a part of initial
19 licensure and every other licensure renewal;
20 specifying requirements for the course; requiring such
21 health care practitioners to submit confirmation of
22 having completed the course in a specified manner;
23 requiring the boards to include the hour required for
24 completion of the course in the total hours of
25 continuing education required for such profession,
26 with an exception; authorizing a person holding two or
27 more licenses subject to the continuing education
28 requirement to show proof of completion of the course
29 for purposes of relicensure for additional licenses;
30 providing for disciplinary action; authorizing the
31 applicable boards to adopt rules; providing an
32 effective date.
33
34 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
35
36 Section 1. Section 383.142, Florida Statutes, is created to
37 read:
38 383.142 Education on congenital cytomegalovirus.—The
39 Department of Health, in consultation with medical experts
40 identified by the department, shall develop educational
41 materials on congenital cytomegalovirus to be distributed to
42 expectant and new parents or caregivers as part of any
43 maternity, prenatal, or newborn services or education provided
44 by hospitals, birth centers, or obstetrics and gynecology
45 physician practices in this state.
46 (1) The educational materials must include, but need not be
47 limited to, an explanation of all of the following:
48 (a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus
49 infection and the ways it can be prevented. The materials must
50 emphasize the fact that the virus can spread from person to
51 person without detection and can be particularly dangerous if
52 transmitted from a pregnant woman to her child as congenital
53 cytomegalovirus.
54 (b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if
55 contracted, can lead to neurological issues, such as seizures,
56 cerebral palsy, and developmental delays; sensory loss, such as
57 hearing and vision loss; physical problems, such as low birth
58 weight, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen; and, in severe
59 cases, pregnancy loss. The materials must emphasize the
60 importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in
61 newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent
62 lifelong health complications.
63 (c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145.
64 (2) Each hospital, birth center, and obstetrics and
65 gynecology physician practice in this state providing maternity,
66 prenatal, or newborn services or education shall provide the
67 educational materials developed by the department under this
68 section to expectant or new parents or caregivers receiving such
69 services or education. The department shall provide the
70 educational materials to child care facilities and any other
71 entity deemed relevant by the department.
72 Section 2. Section 456.0302, Florida Statutes, is created
73 to read:
74 456.0302 Requirement for instruction on congenital
75 cytomegalovirus.—
76 (1) Beginning July 1, 2026, the applicable board shall
77 require each person licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459,
78 part I of chapter 464, or chapter 467 to complete a 1-hour
79 continuing education course, approved by the board, on
80 congenital cytomegalovirus as part of initial licensure and
81 every other biennial licensure renewal. The approved course must
82 include instruction on all of the following:
83 (a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus
84 infection and the ways it can be prevented.
85 (b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if
86 contracted, can lead to neurological issues, sensory loss,
87 physical problems, and, in severe cases, pregnancy loss.
88 (c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145 and the
89 importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in
90 newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent
91 lifelong health complications.
92 (2) Each such licensee must submit confirmation of having
93 completed such course, on a form provided by the board, when
94 submitting fees for every other biennial licensure renewal.
95 (3) Each board that requires a licensee to complete
96 continuing education under this section shall include the hour
97 required for completion of the course in the total hours of
98 continuing education required by law for such profession unless
99 the continuing education requirements for such profession
100 consist of fewer than 30 hours biennially.
101 (4) A person holding two or more licenses subject to this
102 section may show proof of having completed one board-approved
103 course on congenital cytomegalovirus for purposes of relicensure
104 for additional licenses.
105 (5) Failure to comply with the requirements of this section
106 constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under each
107 respective practice act and under s. 456.072(1)(k). In addition
108 to discipline by the board, the licensee must be required to
109 complete such course.
110 (6) Each board may adopt rules to implement this section.
111 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.