THE BILL ITSELF
SB 732
Education on Abusive Head Trauma
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 732 By Senator Osgood 32-01076-26 2026732__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to education on abusive head trauma;
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amending s. 411.2035, F.S.; requiring the Department
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of Health to adopt evidence-based parent education
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materials that describe the dangers of abusive head
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trauma, including shaken baby syndrome; specifying
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requirements for the parent education materials;
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specifying requirements for the distribution of the
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parent education materials, including a statewide
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public education campaign; requiring the department to
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implement a multi-year phase-in plan for the
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distribution of the parent education materials;
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conforming provisions related to construction and
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immunity from civil liability to changes made by the
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act; 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. Section 411.2035, Florida Statutes, is amended
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to read:
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411.2035 Dangers of abusive head trauma shaking infants and
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young children ; requirements for distributing parent education
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materials brochures .—
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(1) Every hospital, birthing facility, and provider of home
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birth which has maternity and newborn services shall provide to
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the parents of a newborn, before they take their newborn home
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from the hospital or birthing facility, written information with
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an explanation concerning the dangers of shaking infants and
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young children.
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(1) (2) The Department of Health shall adopt evidence-based
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parent education materials prepare a brochure that describe
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describes the dangers of abusive head trauma, including shaken
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baby syndrome shaking infants and young children . The parent
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education materials may be provided using written, visual, or
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electronic applications. The materials description must include ,
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but need not be limited to, information concerning all of the
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following:
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(a) The grave effects of shaking infants and young
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children . , information concerning
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(b) Appropriate ways to manage the causes that can lead a
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person to shake or harm infants and young children, including
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normal infant crying, fussing, and other causes.
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(c) a discussion of Ways to reduce the risks that can lead
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a person to shake or harm infants and young children.
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(d) Evidence-based practices for safe infant sleep and
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avoiding the dangers associated with unsafe sleep environments
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for infants.
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(e) Information on the importance of carefully selecting a
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trusted and responsible caregiver, including warning signs of
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potential risk factors.
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(2)(a) The evidence-based parent education materials
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adopted by the department under subsection (1) must be
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distributed as follows:
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1. Each hospital, birth center, and home birth provider
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providing maternity, prenatal, and newborn services shall
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provide the parent education materials to the parents or
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caregivers of a newborn within the first 2 weeks after the birth
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of the infant.
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2. Childbirth educators, pediatric physician practices,
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home visiting programs, and obstetrician practices shall provide
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the parent education materials to the expectant parents or
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caregivers receiving education or health care services or, if
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parents or caregivers have already received the parent education
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materials, reiterate or reinforce the information covered by
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such materials.
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3. The department shall adopt a statewide multimedia public
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education campaign to prevent instances of abusive head trauma,
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including shaken baby syndrome, using the parent education
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materials developed under subsection (1) or the information
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covered by such materials.
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(b) The department shall implement a multi-year phase-in
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plan for the distribution of the parent education materials,
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beginning with the counties with the six highest birth rates.
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(3) This section does not preclude a hospital, a birth
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center birthing facility , or a home birth provider , a childbirth
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educator, a pediatric physician practice, a home visiting
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program, or an obstetrician practice from providing the parent
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education materials notice required under this section as an
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addendum to, or in connection with, any other required
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information.
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(4) A cause of action does not accrue against the state or
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any subdivision or agency thereof or any hospital , birth center,
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home birth birthing facility or home-birth provider , childbirth
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educator, pediatric physician practice, home visiting program,
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or obstetrician practice for failure to give or receive the
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information required under this section.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.