Florida HB 763: Care for Retired Law Enforcement Dogs

Bill Text

CS/HB 763 2026

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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to child welfare; amending s. 39.407, 2
F.S.; providing that a new medical report relating to 3
the provision of psychotropic medication to a child in 4
the legal custody of the Department of Children and 5
Families may be required only under certain 6
circumstances; amending s. 39.4085, F.S.; requiring 7
the department and each community-based care lead 8
agency to coordinate with certain organizations and 9
meet quarterly for a specified purpose; authorizing 10
such meetings to be in person or via teleconference or 11
other electronic means; requiring such meetings to 12
have a formal agenda; requiring the department and 13
each community-based care lead agency to make certain 14
information available on their respective websites; 15
requiring, beginning in a specified year, the 16
department and each community-based care lead agency 17
to publish on their respective websites a biannual 18
report containing specified information; amending s. 19
409.145, F.S.; providing legislative findings; 20
requiring a caregiver to provide a weekly cash 21
allowance to each child in his or her care beginning 22
when the child attains a certain age; prohibiting a 23
caregiver from withholding a child's allowance as 24
punishment; providing that a child may not be required 25

CS/HB 763 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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to use his or her allowance for certain items; 26
encouraging caregivers to offer certain opportunities 27
to children in their care; authorizing the department 28
to adopt rules; amending s. 409.175, F.S.; revising 29
the definitions of the terms "personnel" and 30
"household member"; amending s. 409.912, F.S.; 31
requiring a physician to provide to a pharmacy a copy 32
of certain documentation, rather than a signed 33
attestation, with certain prescriptions; providing an 34
effective date. 35
36
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 37
38
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 39
39.407, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 40
39.407 Medical, psychiatric, and psychological examination 41
and treatment of child; physical, mental, or substance abuse 42
examination of person with or requesting child custody.— 43
(3) 44
(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (e), the 45
department must file a motion seeking the court's authorization 46
to initially provide or continue to provide psychotropic 47
medication to a child in its legal custody. The motion must be 48
supported by a written report prepared by the department which 49
describes the efforts made to enable the prescribing physician 50

CS/HB 763 2026

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or psychiatric nurse, as defined in s. 394.455, to obtain 51
express and informed consent for providing the medication to the 52
child and other treatments considered or recommended for the 53
child. In addition, the motion must be supported by the 54
prescribing physician's or psychiatric nurse's signed medical 55
report providing: 56
1. The name of the child, the name and range of the dosage 57
of the psychotropic medication, and that there is a need to 58
prescribe psychotropic medication to the child based upon a 59
diagnosed condition for which such medication is being 60
prescribed. 61
2. A statement indicating that the physician or 62
psychiatric nurse, as defined in s. 394.455, has reviewed all 63
medical information concerning the child which has been 64
provided. 65
3. A statement indicating that the psychotropic 66
medication, at its prescribed dosage, is appropriate for 67
treating the child's diagnosed medical condition, as well as the 68
behaviors and symptoms the medication, at its prescribed dosage, 69
is expected to address. 70
4. An explanation of the nature and purpose of the 71
treatment; the recognized side effects, risks, and 72
contraindications of the medication; drug-interaction 73
precautions; the possible effects of stopping the medication; 74
and how the treatment will be monitored, followed by a statement 75

CS/HB 763 2026

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indicating that this explanation was provided to the child if 76
age appropriate and to the child's caregiver. 77
5. Documentation addressing whether the psychotropic 78
medication will replace or supplement any other currently 79
prescribed medications or treatments; the length of time the 80
child is expected to be taking the medication; and any 81
additional medical, mental health,