THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1203
Education on Congenital Cytomegalovirus
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to education on congenital
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cytomegalovirus; creating s. 383.142, F.S.; requiring
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the Department of Health, in consultation with medical
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experts identified by the department, to develop
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educational materials on congenital cytomegalovirus
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for distribution to expectant and new parents or
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caregivers; providing requirements for such
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educational materials; requiring certain hospitals,
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birth centers, and obstetrics and gynecology physician
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practices to provide the educational materials to such
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parents and caregivers; requiring the department to
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provide the educational materials to child care
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facilities; creating s. 456.0302, F.S.; requiring the
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licensing boards of certain health care practitioners,
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beginning on a specified date, to require such
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practitioners to complete a board-approved course on
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congenital cytomegalovirus as a part of initial
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licensure and every other licensure renewal;
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specifying requirements for the course; requiring such
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health care practitioners to submit confirmation of
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having completed the course in a specified manner;
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requiring the boards to include the hour required for
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completion of the course in the total hours of
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continuing education required for such profession,
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with an exception; authorizing a person holding two or
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more licenses subject to the continuing education
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requirement to show proof of completion of the course
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for purposes of relicensure for additional licenses;
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providing for disciplinary action; authorizing the
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applicable boards to adopt rules; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 383.142, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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383.142 Education on congenital cytomegalovirus.—The
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Department of Health, in consultation with medical experts
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identified by the department, shall develop educational
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materials on congenital cytomegalovirus to be distributed to
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expectant and new parents or caregivers as part of any
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maternity, prenatal, or newborn services or education provided
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by hospitals, birth centers, or obstetrics and gynecology
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physician practices in this state.
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(1) The educational materials must include, but need not
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be limited to, an explanation of all of the following:
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(a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus
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infection and the ways it can be prevented. The materials must
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emphasize the fact that the virus can spread from person to
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person without detection and can be particularly dangerous if
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transmitted from a pregnant woman to her child as congenital
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cytomegalovirus.
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(b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if
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contracted, can lead to neurological issues, such as seizures,
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cerebral palsy, and developmental delays; sensory loss, such as
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hearing and vision loss; physical problems, such as low birth
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weight, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen; and, in severe
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cases, pregnancy loss. The materials must emphasize the
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importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in
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newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent
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lifelong health complications.
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(c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145.
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(2) Each hospital, birth center, and obstetrics and
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gynecology physician practice in this state providing maternity,
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prenatal, or newborn services or education shall provide the
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educational materials developed by the department under this
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section to expectant or new parents or caregivers receiving such
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services or education. The department shall provide the
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educational materials to child care facilities and any other
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entity deemed relevant by the department.
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Section 2. Section 456.0302, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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456.0302 Requirement for instruction on congenital
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cytomegalovirus.—
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(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, the applicable board shall
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require each person licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459,
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part I of chapter 464, or chapter 467 to complete a 1-hour
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continuing education course, approved by the board, on
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congenital cytomegalovirus as part of initial licensure and
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every other biennial licensure renewal. The approved course must
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include instruction on all of the following:
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(a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus
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infection and the ways it can be prevented.
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(b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if
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contracted, can lead to neurological issues, sensory loss,
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physical problems, and, in severe cases, pregnancy loss.
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(c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145 and the
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importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in
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newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent
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lifelong health complications.
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(2) Each such licensee must submit confirmation of having
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completed such course, on a form provided by the board, when
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submitting fees for every other biennial licensure renewal.
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(3) Each board that requires a licensee to complete
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continuing education under this section shall include the hour
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required for completion of the course in the total hours of
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continuing education required by law for such profession unless
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the continuing education requirements for such profession
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consist of fewer than 30 hours biennially.
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(4) A person holding two or more licenses subject to this
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section may show proof of having completed one board-approved
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course on congenital cytomegalovirus for purposes of relicensure
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for additional licenses.
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(5) Failure to comply with the requirements of this
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section constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under each
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respective practice act and under s. 456.072(1)(k). In addition
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to discipline by the board, the licensee must be required to
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complete such course.
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(6) Each board may adopt rules to implement this section.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.