Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida S362: Reports of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriff's office or local law enforcement agency; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated; prohibiting the department from returning a child to the custody of the child's parent unless certain actions are taken and determinations are made by the court, etc.
What the bill says
An act relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; amending s. 39.201, F.S.; requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriffâs office or local law enforcement agency; requiring certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated…
From the introduced text, November 4, 2025:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; amending s. 39.201, F.S.; requiring the central abuse hotline to electronically transfer certain reports to the appropriate county sheriffâs office or local law enforcement agency; requiring certain persons to report certain knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline; requiring the central abuse hotline to accept certain reports and immediately notify the Department of Children and Families to ensure that an onsite protective investigation is promptly initiated; creating a rebuttable presumption; providing methods to rebut such presumption; requiring the department to maintain a specified record under certain circumstances; prohibiting the department from returning a child to the custody of the childâs parent unless certain actions are taken and determinations are made by the court; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.âParagraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 39.201, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection (3) of that section, to read: 39.201âRequired reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, sexual abuse of a child, and juvenile sexual abuse; required reports of death; reports involving a child who has exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior.â (1)âMANDATORY REPORTING.â (a)1.âA person is required to report immediately to the central abuse hotline established in s. 39.101, …