Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1480 By Senator Burton 12-01198B-26 20261480__ Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to temporary certificates for practice 2 in areas of critical need; amending ss. 458.315, 3 459.0076, and 464.0121, F.S.; authorizing certain 4 health care practitioners practicing under a temporary 5 certificate to practice in areas of critical need to 6 continue to practice after such areas lose such 7 designation if certain conditions are met; providing 8 an effective date. 9 10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11 12

Section 1. Paragraph (

c) of subsection (3) of

section 13 458.315, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 14 458.315 Temporary certificate for practice in areas of 15 critical need.— 16

(3) The board may issue a temporary certificate under this 17

section subject to the following restrictions: 18 (c)1. Any certificate issued under this

section is valid 19 only so long as one of the following conditions applies: 20 a. The State Surgeon General determines that the reason for 21 which it was issued remains a critical need to the state. 22 b. The certificateholder has an active primary care 23 treatment relationship, established no later than January 1, 24 2026, with one or more patients in an area that was determined 25 to be an area of critical need under paragraph (

a) when the 26 certificate was issued but that subsequently lost such 27 designation. In such case, at the discretion of the board, a 28 certificateholder may continue treating such patients in that 29 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1480 12-01198B-26 20261480__ Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. area under the certificate if all other requirements of this 30

section are satisfied. 31 2. The board shall review each temporary certificateholder 32 at least annually to ascertain that the certificateholder is 33 complying with the minimum requirements of the Medical Practice 34 Act and its adopted rules, as applicable to the 35 certificateholder. If it is determined that the 36 certificateholder is not meeting such minimum requirements, the 37 board must revoke such certificate or impose restrictions or 38 conditions, or both, as a condition of continued practice under 39 the certificate. 40

Section 2. Paragraph (

c) of subsection (3) of

section 41 459.0076, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 42 459.0076 Temporary certificate for practice in areas of 43 critical need.— 44

(3) The board may issue this temporary certificate subject 45 to the following restrictions: 46 (c)1. Any certificate issued under this

section is valid 47 only so long as one of the following conditions applies: 48 a. The State Surgeon General determines that the reason for 49 which it was issued remains a critical need to the state. 50 b. The certificateholder has an active primary care 51 treatment relationship, established no later than January 1, 52 2026, with one or more patients in an area that was determined 53 to be an area of critical need under paragraph (

a) when the 54 certificate was issued but that subsequently lost such 55 designation. In such case, at the discretion of the board, a 56 certificateholder may continue treating such patients in that 57 area under the certificate if all other requirements of this 58 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1480 12-01198B-26 20261480__ Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

section are satisfied. 59 2. The board shall review each temporary certificateholder 60 at least annually to ascertain that the certificateholder is 61 complying with the minimum requirements of the Osteopathic 62 Medical Practice Act and its adopted rules, as applicable to the 63 certificateholder. If it is determined that the 64 certificateholder is not meeting such minimum requirements, the 65 board must revoke such certificate or impose restrictions or 66 conditions, or both, as a condition of continued practice under 67 the certificate. 68

Section 3. Paragraph (

c) of subsection (3) of

section 69 464.0121, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 70 464.0121 Temporary certificate for practice in areas of 71 critical need.— 72

(3) The board may issue a temporary certificate under this 73

section subject to the following restrictions: 74 (c)1. Any certificate issued under this

section is valid 75 only so long as one of the following conditions applies: 76 a. The State Surgeon General maintains the determination 77 that the critical need that supported the issuance of the 78 temporary certificate remains a critical need to the state. 79 b. The certificateholder has an active primary care 80 treatment relationship, established no later than January 1, 81 2026, with one or more patients in an area that was determined 82 to be an area of critical need under paragraph (

a) when the 83 certificate was issued but that subsequently lost such 84 designation. In such case, at the discretion of the board, a 85 certificateholder may continue treating such patients in that 86 area under the certificate if all other requirements of this 87 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1480 12-01198B-26 20261480__ Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

section are satisfied. 88 2. The board shall review each temporary certificateholder 89 at least annually to ascertain that the certificateholder is 90 complying with the minimum requirements of the Nurse Practice 91 Act and its adopted rules, as applicable to the 92 certificateholder. If it is determined that the 93 certificateholder is not meeting such minimum requirements, the 94 board must revoke such certificate or impose restrictions or 95 conditions, or both, as a condition of continued practice under 96 the certificate. 97

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 98