Florida HB 533: Unfair Insurance Trade Practices

Bill Text

HB 533 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb533-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the communication rights of 2
individuals with disabilities; creating s. 393.0665, 3
F.S.; defining terms; providing that individuals with 4
a disability have the right to communicate in their 5
preferred manner; prohibiting state agencies, schools, 6
and health care providers from restricting or denying 7
such individuals access to their preferred alternative 8
communication method; specifying alternative 9
communication methods recognized under the act; 10
specifying rights that individuals with disabilities 11
have with respect to their communication needs; 12
requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to 13
adopt rules and develop certain training; providing 14
requirements for the training; establishing the 15
Communication Rights Advisory Board within the agency 16
for a specified purpose; providing for membership and 17
duties of the board; providing for future repeal of 18
the board; requiring the agency to adopt procedures 19
for reporting violations of specified provisions; 20
providing for administrative penalties; providing an 21
effective date. 22
23
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 24
25

HB 533 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb533-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

Section 1. Section 393.0665, Florida Statutes, is created 26
to read: 27
393.0665 Communication Bill of Rights for Individuals with 28
Disabilities.— 29
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 30
(a) "Alternative communication method" means a 31
communication technique or device that is evidence-based or 32
recognized by relevant professional organizations, including, 33
but not limited to, the American Speech-Language-Hearing 34
Association, and that allows an individual with a disability to 35
communicate independently without improper influence. 36
(b) "Health care provider" means any facility licensed 37
under this chapter or a provider as defined in s. 408.803. 38
(c) "Individual with a disability" means a person with a 39
developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063; a physical or 40
mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major 41
life activities; or any other disability as defined under state 42
or federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. 43
(d) "School" means any child care, early education, 44
elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational setting. 45
(e) "State agency" means a separate agency or unit of 46
state government created or established by law and any entity 47
under the control of or established for the benefit of a state 48
agency. 49
(2) COMMUNICATION RIGHTS.— 50

HB 533 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(a) An individual with a disability has the right to 51
communicate in his or her preferred manner. A state agency, a 52
school, or a health care provider in this state may not restrict 53
or deny an individual with a disability access to his or her 54
preferred alternative communication method. 55
(b) Alternative communication methods recognized under 56
this section include, but are not limited to, all of the 57
following: 58
1. Augmentative and alternative communication devices. 59
2. Letterboards and typing-based communication. 60
3. Sign language and nonverbal gestural systems. 61
4. Speech-generating devices or other assistive 62
technologies. 63
(c) Individuals with disabilities have the right to: 64
1. Have their preferred alternative communication method 65
recognized and supported in educational, health, and public 66
settings. 67
2. Access needed speech-language therapy and communication 68
support from licensed professionals without arbitrary 69
restrictions. 70
3. Have reasonable access to trained staff in public 71
facilities or programs to support their specialized 72
communication needs. 73
4. Receive communication support from trained staff, 74
including agency staff, direct-support professionals, educators, 75

HB 533 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

and health care providers. 76
5. Be free from bans or restrictions on their preferred 77
alternative communication methods. 78
(3) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.— 79
(a) The agency shall adopt rules to implement this 80
section, including a statement of rights and the obligations of 81
staff and providers required to observe the communication rights 82
of individuals with disabilities under this section. 83
(b) The agency shall develop training programs for direct-84
support professionals, educators, and health care staff. The 85
training