THE BILL ITSELF
HB 969
Detection of Developmental Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to the detection of developmental
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delays and autism spectrum disorder; creating s.
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381.993, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health, in
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collaboration with school districts throughout this
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state, to develop informational materials for the
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detection of developmental delays and autism spectrum
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disorder for parents and guardians of certain
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students; providing requirements for such
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informational materials; amending s. 1002.53, F.S.;
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requiring early learning coalitions to notify parents
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and guardians of the availability of such
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informational materials; 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 381.993, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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381.993 Developmental delays; autism spectrum disorder;
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detection.—
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(1) The Department of Health, in collaboration with school
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districts throughout this state, shall develop informational
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materials for the detection of developmental delays and autism
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spectrum disorder for parents and guardians of students. The
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informational materials shall be made available to each learning
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coalition, prekindergarten provider, school district, and
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charter school through the department's website.
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(2) Within 90 days after July 1, 2026, the department
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shall develop the materials related to the detection of
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developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder and post the
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information on its website. The department shall develop a
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standardized methodology for each learning coalition,
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prekindergarten provider, school district, and charter school
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for the notification of the parents or guardians of voluntary
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prekindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade
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students by September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, of the
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availability of the developmental delay and autism spectrum
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disorder detection materials.
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(3) Information provided to parents and guardians shall
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include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
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(a) A description of developmental delays and a
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description of autism spectrum disorder.
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(b) A description of the signs associated with
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developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder.
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(c) A recommendation for a developmental screening for
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students displaying signs associated with developmental delays
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and autism spectrum disorder.
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(d) Existing state resources for students identified as
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at-risk for developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder,
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including, but not limited to, regional sites of the Center for
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Autism and Related Disabilities and the Early Head Start
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program.
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Section 2. Subsection (5) 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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(5) The early learning coalition shall provide each parent
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enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
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Program with a profile of every private prekindergarten provider
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and public school delivering the program within the county where
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the child is being enrolled. The profiles shall be provided to
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parents in a format prescribed by the department in accordance
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with s. 1002.92(3). The early learning coalition must also
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annually notify parents and guardians of the availability of
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informational materials for the early detection of Type 1
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diabetes pursuant to s. 381.992 and for the detection of
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developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder pursuant to s.
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381.993.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.