Florida SB 562: Communication Rights of Individuals with Disabilities

Bill Text

562 
Communication Rights of Individuals with Disabilities 
2025-11-18T09:07:18Z 
Providing that individuals with a disability have the right to communicate in their preferred manner; prohibiting state agencies, schools, and health care providers from restricting or denying such individuals access to their preferred alternative communication method; specifying rights that individuals with disabilities have with respect to their communication needs; establishing the Communication Rights Advisory Board within the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for a specified purpose, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 562 

 By Senator Garcia 

 36-00599-26 2026562__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to the communication rights of 
 3 individuals with disabilities; creating s. 393.0665, 
 4 F.S.; defining terms; providing that individuals with 
 5 a disability have the right to communicate in their 
 6 preferred manner; prohibiting state agencies, schools, 
 7 and health care providers from restricting or denying 
 8 such individuals access to their preferred alternative 
 9 communication method; specifying alternative 
 10 communication methods recognized under the act; 
 11 specifying rights that individuals with disabilities 
 12 have with respect to their communication needs; 
 13 requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to 
 14 adopt rules and develop certain training; providing 
 15 requirements for the training; establishing the 
 16 Communication Rights Advisory Board within the agency 
 17 for a specified purpose; providing for membership and 
 18 duties of the board; providing for future repeal of 
 19 the board; requiring the agency to adopt procedures 
 20 for reporting violations of specified provisions; 
 21 providing for administrative penalties; providing an 
 22 effective date. 
 23 
 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 25 
 26 Section 1. Section 393.0665, Florida Statutes, is created 
 27 to read: 
 28 393.0665 Communication Bill of Rights for Individuals with 
 29 Disabilities.— 
 30 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 
 31 (a) “Alternative communication method” means a 
 32 communication technique or device that is evidence-based or 
 33 recognized by relevant professional organizations, including, 
 34 but not limited to, the American Speech-Language-Hearing 
 35 Association, and that allows an individual with a disability to 
 36 communicate independently without improper influence. 
 37 (b) “Health care provider” means any facility licensed 
 38 under this chapter or a provider as defined in s. 408.803. 
 39 (c) “Individual with a disability” means a person with a 
 40 developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063; a physical or 
 41 mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major 
 42 life activities; or any other disability as defined under state 
 43 or federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
 44 (d) “School” means any child care, early education, 
 45 elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational setting. 
 46 (e) “State agency” means a separate agency or unit of state 
 47 government created or established by law and any entity under 
 48 the control of or established for the benefit of a state agency. 
 49 (2) COMMUNICATION RIGHTS.— 
 50 (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 this 
 56 section include, but are not limited to, all of the following: 
 57 1. Augmentative and alternative communication devices. 
 58 2. Letterboards and typing-based communication. 
 59 3. Sign language and nonverbal gestural systems. 
 60 4. Speech-generating devices or other assistive 
 61 technologies. 
 62 (c) Individuals with disabilities have the right to: 
 63 1. Have their preferred alternative communication method 
 64 recognized and supported in educational, health, and public 
 65 settings. 
 66 2. Access needed speech-language therapy and communication 
 67 support from licensed professionals without arbitrary 
 68 restrictions. 
 69 3. Have reasonable access to trained staff in public 
 70 facilities or programs to support their specialized 
 71 communication needs. 
 72 4. Receive communication support from trained staff, 
 73 including agency staff, direct-support professionals, educators, 
 74 and health care providers. 
 75 5. Be free from bans or restrictions on their preferred 
 76 alternative communication methods. 
 77 (3) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
 78 (a) The agency shall adopt rules to implement this section, 
 79 including a statement of rights and the obligations of staff and 
 80 provid