THE BILL ITSELF
SB 1508
Maternal Health and Early Learning
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1508 By Senator Davis 5-01089A-26 20261508__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to maternal health and early learning;
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providing a short title; creating s. 383.012, F.S.;
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requiring the Department of Health to establish a
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certain home visit program for expectant mothers;
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providing program requirements; requiring health
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insurance providers and Medicaid to provide coverage
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for the program, as applicable; amending s. 383.305,
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F.S.; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
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Administration to authorize reduced fees for an
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applicant or a licensee for certain birthing centers;
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amending s. 383.31, F.S.; deleting acceptance criteria
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for birthing centers; creating s. 383.55, F.S.;
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defining the term “blood pressure monitor and cuff”;
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requiring the department to provide a blood pressure
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monitor and cuff to an expectant mother for certain
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purposes and to repair the device and provide
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replacement parts as necessary; requiring the
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department to create certain educational materials;
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creating ss. 395.3043 and 395.6071, F.S.; defining the
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terms “doula” and “midwife”; authorizing a doula or
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midwife to be present with his or her client during
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childbirth at a hospital; creating s. 402.822, F.S.;
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requiring the Department of Children and Families to
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provide incentives for early learning centers to
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remain open 24 hours; specifying the incentives;
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creating ss. 458.355 and 459.075, F.S.; revising
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continuing education requirements for physicians to
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include education on certain Medicaid payments for
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pregnant women; amending s. 1002.83, F.S.; requiring
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that certain child care facilities be called early
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learning centers; requiring the Department of
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Education to ensure certain instruction and curriculum
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for early learning centers; amending s. 1003.21, F.S.;
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lowering the age at which children are required to
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attend school regularly; amending ss. 1002.53,
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1002.61, and 1002.87, F.S.; conforming cross
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references; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. This act may be cited as “The Motherhood
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Initiative.”
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Section 2. Section 383.012, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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383.012 Home visit program for expectant mothers.—
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(1) The Department of Health shall expand the current home
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visit program to include a home visit program for expectant
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mothers within the Healthy Start program, which shall include
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Healthy Start Care Coordination Programs.
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(2) The program shall:
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(a)1. Conduct screenings for expectant mothers for
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depression and substance abuse disorders provided by a
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registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed under part
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I of chapter 464.
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2. Refer at-risk expectant mothers for mental health
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treatment.
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(b) Ensure that an expectant mother is monitoring her blood
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pressure and that the educational materials created under s.
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383.55(3) are provided and reviewed with her.
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(c) Include a 3-hour course on the care of a newborn
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including, but not limited to, bathing, dressing, and feeding;
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cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and setting up sleep routines for
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the newborn and the mother which hospitals and birth centers
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shall offer to a mother before going home with her newborn.
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(3) Health insurance providers and Medicaid shall provide
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coverage for the program, as applicable.
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Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 383.305, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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383.305 Licensure; fees.—
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(1) In accordance with s. 408.805, an applicant or a
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licensee shall pay a fee for each license application submitted
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under ss. 383.30-383.332 and part II of chapter 408. The amount
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of the fee shall be established by rule. The Agency for Health
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Care Administration may reduce the fees for an applicant or a
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licensee under this section for birthing centers in rural and
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other medically underserved areas.
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Section 4. Section 383.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to
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read:
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383.31 Selection of clients; Informed consent.—
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(1) (a) A birth center may accept only those patients who
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are expected to have normal pregnancies, labors, and deliveries.
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(b) The criteria for the selection of birth center clients
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and the establishment of risk status shall be defined by rule of
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the agency.
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(2)(a) A patient may not be accepted for care at a birth
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center until the patient has signed a client informed-consent
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form.
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(b) The agency shall develop a client informed-consent form
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to be used by the center to inform the client of the benefits
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and risks related to childbirth outside a hospital.
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Section 5. Section 383.55, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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383.55 Coverage of blood pressure monitors and cuffs.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term “blood pressure
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monitor and cuff” means a device designed for the purpose of
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aiding in the treatment of hypertension by measuring blood
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pressure levels through a validated blood pressure measurement
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device at home or elsewhere outside of the clinic setting.
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(2) The Department of Health shall provide a blood pressure
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monitor and cuff for an expectant mother to monitor for
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preeclampsia and shall provide all necessary repairs or
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replacement parts for the blood pressure monitor and cuff.
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(3) The department shall create educational materials on
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the use of the blood pressure monitor and cuff, including, but
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not limited to, the proper use of the blood pressure monitor and
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cuff and the urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms provided
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by the Hear Her campaign established by the United States
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Section 6. Section 395.3043, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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395.3043 Doula and midwife services.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Doula” means a nonmedical professional who provides
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physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals
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and families before, during, and after childbirth.
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(b) “Midwife” has the same definition as in s. 467.003.
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(2) A doula or midwife may be present with his or her
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client during childbirth at a hospital.
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Section 7. Section 395.6071, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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395.6071 Doula and midwife services.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Doula” means a nonmedical professional who provides
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physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals
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and families before, during, and after childbirth.
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(b) “Midwife” has the same definition as in s. 467.003.
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(2) A doula or midwife may be present with his or her
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client during childbirth at a rural hospital.
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Section 8. Section 402.822, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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402.822 Twenty-four hour early learning centers.—The
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Department of Children and Families shall provide incentives for
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early learning centers to remain open 24 hours for the children
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of first responders, health care practitioners, and people
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employed in other industries who work nontraditional hours.
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Incentives for child care facilities may include, but need not
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be limited to:
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(1) Raising subsidy rates for child care outside of
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traditional hours.
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(2) Authorizing local agencies to restructure their subsidy
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systems.
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(3) Authorizing counties to create contract nontraditional
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hours slots for child care providers or to create shared service
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agreements.
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Section 9. Section 458.355, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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458.355 Continuing education; Medicaid payment
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information.—The continuing education requirements prescribed by
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the board for a physician under this chapter or chapter 459 must
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include education on the mandatory Medicaid payments for a
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pregnant woman for the duration of her pregnancy and the
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postpartum period, consisting of the 12-month period beginning
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on the last day of her pregnancy.
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Section 10. Section 459.075, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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459.075 Continuing education; Medicaid payment
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information.—The continuing education requirements prescribed by
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the board for a physician under this chapter or chapter 458 must
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include education on the mandatory Medicaid payments for a
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pregnant woman for the duration of her pregnancy and the
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postpartum period, consisting of the 12-month period beginning
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on the last day of her pregnancy.
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Section 11. Subsection (15) of section 1002.83, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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1002.83 Early learning coalitions.—
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(15) (a) Each school district shall, upon request of the
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coalition, make a list of all individuals currently eligible to
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act as a substitute teacher within the school district, pursuant
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to rules adopted by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.35,
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available to an early learning coalition serving students within
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the school district.
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(b) Child care facilities as defined in s. 402.302 may
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employ individuals listed as substitute instructors for the
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purpose of offering the school readiness program, the Voluntary
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Prekindergarten Education Program, and all other legally
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operating child care programs.
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1. Child care facilities that receive support from early
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learning coalitions shall be called early learning centers.
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2. The Department of Education shall ensure appropriate
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instruction and pacing of an approved curriculum for each early
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learning center.
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Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
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(4) of section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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1003.21 School attendance.—
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(1)(a) 1. All children who have attained the age of 5 6
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years or who will have attained the age of 5 6 years by February
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1 of any school year or who are older than 5 6 years of age but
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who have not attained the age of 16 years, except as otherwise
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provided, are required to attend school regularly during the
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entire school term.
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2. Children who will have attained the age of 5 years on or
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before September 1 of the school year are eligible for admission
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to public kindergartens during that school year under rules
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adopted by the district school board.
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(4) Before admitting a child to kindergarten, the principal
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shall require evidence that the child has attained the age at
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which he or she should be admitted in accordance with the
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provisions of paragraph (1)(a) subparagraph (1)(a)2 . The
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district school superintendent may require evidence of the age
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of any child who is being enrolled in public school and who the
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district school superintendent believes to be within the limits
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of compulsory attendance as provided for by law; however, the
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district school superintendent may not require evidence from any
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child who meets regular attendance requirements by attending a
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school or program listed in s. 1003.01(16)(b)-(e). If the first
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prescribed evidence is not available, the next evidence
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obtainable in the order set forth below shall be accepted:
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(a) A duly attested transcript of the child’s birth record
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filed according to law with a public officer charged with the
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duty of recording births;
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(b) A duly attested transcript of a certificate of baptism
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showing the date of birth and place of baptism of the child,
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accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the parent;
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(c) An insurance policy on the child’s life that has been
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in force for at least 2 years;
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(d) A bona fide contemporary religious record of the
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child’s birth accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the
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parent;
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(e) A passport or certificate of arrival in the United
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States showing the age of the child;
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(f) A transcript of record of age shown in the child’s
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school record of at least 4 years prior to application, stating
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date of birth; or
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(g) If none of these evidences can be produced, an
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affidavit of age sworn to by the parent, accompanied by a
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certificate of age signed by a public health officer or by a
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public school physician, or, if these are not available in the
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county, by a licensed practicing physician designated by the
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district school board, which states that the health officer or
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physician has examined the child and believes that the age as
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stated in the affidavit is substantially correct. Children and
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youths who are experiencing homelessness and children who are
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known to the department, as defined in s. 39.0016, shall be
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given temporary exemption from this section for 30 school days.
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Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1002.53, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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1002.53 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
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eligibility and enrollment.—
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(2) Each child who resides in this state who will have
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attained the age of 4 years on or before September 1 of the
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school year is eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
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Education Program during either that school year or the
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following school year. The child remains eligible until the
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child is admitted to kindergarten, or unless he or she will have
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attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year
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under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)1 .
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Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 1002.61, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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1002.61 Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public
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schools and private prekindergarten providers.—
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(2) Each summer prekindergarten program delivered by a
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public school or private prekindergarten provider must:
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(a) Comprise at least 300 instructional hours;
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(b) Not begin earlier than May 1 of the school year; and
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(c) Not deliver the program for a child earlier than the
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summer immediately before the school year for which the child is
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eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under
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s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2 .
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Section 15. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
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1002.87, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1002.87 School readiness program; eligibility and
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enrollment.—
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(1) Each early learning coalition shall give priority for
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participation in the school readiness program as follows:
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(c) Subsequent priority shall be given, based on the early
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learning coalition’s local priorities identified under s.
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1002.85(2)(i), to children who meet the following criteria:
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1. A child from birth to the beginning of the school year
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for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in
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a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. who is
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from a working family that is economically disadvantaged, and
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may include such child’s eligible siblings, beginning with the
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school year in which the sibling is eligible for admission to
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kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a) s.
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1003.21(1)(a)2. until the beginning of the school year in which
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the sibling is eligible to begin 6th grade, provided that the
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first priority for funding an eligible sibling is local revenues
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available to the coalition for funding direct services.
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2. A child of a parent who transitions from the work
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program into employment as described in s. 445.032 from birth to
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the beginning of the school year for which the child is eligible
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for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s.
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1003.21(1)(a) s. 1003.21(1)(a)2 .
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3. An at-risk child who is at least 9 years of age but
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younger than 13 years of age. An at-risk child whose sibling is
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enrolled in the school readiness program within an eligibility
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priority category listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) and
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subparagraph 1. shall be given priority over other children who
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are eligible under this paragraph.
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4. A child who is younger than 13 years of age from a
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working family that is economically disadvantaged.
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5. A child of a parent who transitions from the work
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program into employment as described in s. 445.032 who is
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younger than 13 years of age.
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6. A child who has special needs and has been determined
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eligible as a student who requires additional accommodations
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beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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The child’s special needs and associated accommodations must be
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validated by a licensed health care professional, a licensed
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mental health professional, or an educational psychologist. Such
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person may not be the child’s parent or relative or a person
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employed by a child care provider. The following documentation
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must be used to determine the child’s eligibility for such
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accommodations:
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a. A current individual education plan with a Florida
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school district;
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b. A current individualized family support plan;
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c. A diagnosed special need; or
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d. A written determination of required accommodations by a
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licensed health care professional, a licensed mental health
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professional, or an educational psychologist.
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7. A child who otherwise meets one of the eligibility
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criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b) and subparagraphs 1. and 2.
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but who is also enrolled concurrently in the federal Head Start
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Program and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
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Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.