Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 670
       
       
        
       By Senator Yarborough
       
       
       
       
       
       4-00820-26                                             2026670__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the right of medical conscience of
    3         health care providers and health care payors; amending
    4         s. 381.00321, F.S.; authorizing a health care provider
    5         or health care payor to commence certain civil actions
    6         if the Attorney General does not commence a civil
    7         action within a specified timeframe for an alleged
    8         violation of the provider’s or payor’s right of
    9         medical conscience; authorizing such a provider or
   10         payor to assert the alleged violation as a defense in
   11         judicial or administrative proceedings; providing an
   12         effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 381.00321, Florida
   17  Statutes, is amended to read:
   18         381.00321 The right of medical conscience of health care
   19  providers and health care payors.—
   20         (4) ENFORCEMENT.—A health care provider or health care
   21  payor may file a complaint with the Attorney General alleging
   22  any violation of this section.
   23         (a) If the Attorney General determines there has been a
   24  violation of this section, the Attorney General may commence a
   25  civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or any other
   26  appropriate relief, including attorney fees. For the purpose of
   27  conducting an investigation, the Attorney General may administer
   28  oaths; take depositions; make inspections when authorized by
   29  law; issue subpoenas supported by affidavit; serve subpoenas and
   30  other process; and compel the attendance of witnesses and the
   31  production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence. The
   32  Department of Legal Affairs may adopt rules to implement this
   33  subsection.
   34         (b) If the Attorney General does not commence a civil
   35  action within 180 days after the filing of the complaint, a
   36  health care provider or health care payor may commence a civil
   37  action for damages, injunctive relief, or any other appropriate
   38  relief, including attorney fees, or assert a violation of this
   39  section as a defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding.
   40         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.