Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1010
       
       
        
       By Senator Yarborough
       
       
       
       
       
       4-01353B-26                                           20261010__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to enforcement of protections for
    3         minors; amending s. 456.52, F.S.; providing criminal
    4         penalties for health care practitioners who willfully
    5         or actively aid or abet another in a violation of
    6         specified provisions; amending s. 766.318, F.S.;
    7         authorizing the Attorney General to conduct
    8         investigations of alleged violations of a specified
    9         provision and commence a civil action for damages,
   10         injunctive relief, and civil penalties upon
   11         determining a violation has occurred; providing that
   12         damages recovered pursuant to certain civil actions
   13         accrue to the benefit of the injured minor; creating
   14         s. 1014.07, F.S.; creating a cause of action to
   15         recover damages against certain public employees and
   16         health care practitioners for violations of specified
   17         provisions; authorizing the Attorney General to
   18         conduct investigations of alleged violations of
   19         specified provisions and commence a civil action for
   20         damages, injunctive relief, and civil penalties upon
   21         determining a violation has occurred; providing that
   22         damages recovered pursuant to certain civil actions
   23         accrue to the benefit of the injured minor; providing
   24         that certain limitations on punitive damages do not
   25         apply to such actions; specifying the timeframe within
   26         which such actions may be commenced; providing
   27         construction; reenacting s. 456.074(5)(c), F.S.,
   28         relating to the immediate suspension of license of
   29         certain health care practitioners, to incorporate the
   30         amendment made to s. 456.52, F.S., in a reference
   31         thereto; providing an effective date.
   32          
   33  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   34  
   35         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
   36  456.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   37         456.52 Sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures;
   38  prohibitions; informed consent.—
   39         (5)
   40         (b) Any health care practitioner who willfully or actively
   41  participates, or aids or abets another, in a violation of
   42  subsection (1) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable
   43  as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
   44         Section 2. Section 766.318, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   45  read:
   46         766.318 Civil liability for provision of sex-reassignment
   47  prescriptions or procedures to minors.—
   48         (1) A cause of action exists to recover damages for
   49  personal injury or death resulting from the provision of sex
   50  reassignment prescriptions or procedures, as defined in s.
   51  456.001, to a person younger than 18 years of age which are
   52  prohibited by s. 456.52(1).
   53         (2) The Attorney General may conduct investigations of
   54  alleged violations of s. 456.52(1) and, if the Attorney General
   55  determines that such a violation has occurred, may commence a
   56  civil action under this section for damages, injunctive relief,
   57  and civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each violation.
   58         (3)Any damages recovered pursuant to a civil action
   59  brought under this section will accrue to the benefit of the
   60  injured minor.
   61         (4)(2) The limitations on punitive damages in s. 768.73(1)
   62  do not apply to actions brought under this section.
   63         (5)(3) An action brought under this section:
   64         (a) May be commenced within 20 years after the cessation or
   65  completion of the sex-reassignment prescription or procedure.
   66         (b) Is in addition to any other remedy authorized by law.
   67         (6)(4) The cause of action created by this section does not
   68  apply to:
   69         (a) Treatment with sex-reassignment prescriptions if such
   70  treatment is consistent with s. 456.001(9)(a)1. or 2. and was
   71  commenced on or before, and is still active on, May 17, 2023.
   72         (b) Sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures that were
   73  ceased or completed on or before May 17, 2023.
   74         Section 3. Section 1014.07, Florida Statutes, is created to
   75  read:
   76         1014.07 Civil liability.—
   77         (1) A cause of action exists against an employee of the
   78  state, any of its political subdivisions, or any other
   79  governmental entity who violates any of the parental rights
   80  specified in s. 1014.04 or against a health care practitioner
   81  who provides, or solicits or arranges to provide, health care
   82  services or prescribes medicinal drugs to a minor child without
   83  parental consent in violation of s. 1014.06.
   84         (2) The Attorney General may conduct investigations of
   85  alleged violations of s. 1014.04 or s. 1014.06 and, if the
   86  Attorney General determines that such a violation has occurred,
   87  may commence a civil action under this section for damages,
   88  injunctive relief, and civil penalties of up to $100,000 for
   89  each violation.
   90         (3)Any damages recovered pursuant to a civil action
   91  brought under this section will accrue to the benefit of the
   92  affected minor.
   93         (4) The limitations on punitive damages in s. 768.73(1) do
   94  not apply to actions brought under this section.
   95         (5) An action brought under this section:
   96         (a) May be commenced within 2 years after the violation
   97  occurs.
   98         (b) Is in addition to any other remedy authorized by law.
   99         Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  100  made by this act to section 456.52, Florida Statutes, in a
  101  reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
  102  456.074, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  103         456.074 Certain health care practitioners; immediate
  104  suspension of license.—
  105         (5) The department shall issue an emergency order
  106  suspending the license of any health care practitioner who is
  107  arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring
  108  to commit any act that would constitute a violation of any of
  109  the following criminal offenses in this state or similar
  110  offenses in another jurisdiction:
  111         (c) Section 456.52(5)(b), relating to prescribing,
  112  administering, or performing sex-reassignment prescriptions or
  113  procedures for a patient younger than 18 years of age.
  114         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.