Senate Bill 732 (2026) — Education on abusive head trauma
SB 732
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2026 SB By Senator Osgood 32-01076-26 2026732__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled
An act relating to education on abusive head trauma; 2 amending s. 411.2035, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to adopt evidence-based parent education materials that describe the dangers of abusive head trauma, including shaken baby syndrome; specifying requirements for the parent education materials; 7 specifying requirements for the distribution of the parent education materials, including a statewide public education campaign; requiring the department to implement a multi-year phase-in plan for the distribution of the parent education materials; 12 conforming provisions related to construction and immunity from civil liability to changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 15
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
Section
Section 411.2035, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 20 411.2035 Dangers of abusive head trauma shaking infants and young children; requirements for distributing parent education materials brochures.— 23
(1) Every hospital, birthing facility, and provider of home birth which has maternity and newborn services shall provide to the parents of a newborn, before they take their newborn home from the hospital or birthing facility, written information with an explanation concerning the dangers of shaking infants and young children. 29 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 732 32-01076-26 2026732__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (1)
(2) The Department of Health shall adopt evidence-based parent education materials prepare a brochure that describe describes the dangers of abusive head trauma, including shaken baby syndrome shaking infants and young children. The parent education materials may be provided using written, visual, or electronic applications. The materials description must include, 35 but need not be limited to, information concerning all of the following: 37
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a) The grave effects of shaking infants and young children., information concerning 39
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b) Appropriate ways to manage the causes that can lead a person to shake or harm infants and young children, including normal infant crying, fussing, and other causes. 42
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c) a discussion of Ways to reduce the risks that can lead a person to shake or harm infants and young children. 44
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d) Evidence-based practices for safe infant sleep and avoiding the dangers associated with unsafe sleep environments for infants. 47
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e) Information on the importance of carefully selecting a trusted and responsible caregiver, including warning signs of potential risk factors. 50 (2)(
a) The evidence-based parent education materials adopted by the department under subsection (1) must be distributed as follows: 53 1. Each hospital, birth center, and home birth provider providing maternity, prenatal, and newborn services shall provide the parent education materials to the parents or caregivers of a newborn within the first weeks after the birth of the infant. 58 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 732 32-01076-26 2026732__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 2.
Childbirth educators, pediatric physician practices, 59 home visiting programs, and obstetrician practices shall provide the parent education materials to the expectant parents or caregivers receiving education or health care services or, if parents or caregivers have already received the parent education materials, reiterate or reinforce the information covered by such materials. 65 3.
The department shall adopt a statewide multimedia public education campaign to prevent instances of abusive head trauma, 67 including shaken baby syndrome, using the parent education materials developed under subsection (1) or the information covered by such materials. 70
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b) The department shall implement a multi-year phase-in plan for the distribution of the parent education materials, 72 beginning with the counties with the six highest birth rates. 73
(3) This
section does not preclude a hospital, a birth center birthing facility, or a home birth provider, a childbirth educator, a pediatric physician practice, a home visiting program, or an obstetrician practice from providing the parent education materials notice required under this
section as an addendum to, or in connection with, any other required information. 80
(4) A cause of action does not accrue against the state or any subdivision or agency thereof or any hospital, birth center, 82 home birth birthing facility or home-birth provider, childbirth educator, pediatric physician practice, home visiting program, 84 or obstetrician practice for failure to give or receive the information required under this section. 86