H 969

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    HB 969  2026
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the detection of developmental
3delays and autism spectrum disorder; creating s.
4381.993, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health, in
5collaboration with school districts throughout this
6state, to develop informational materials for the
7detection of developmental delays and autism spectrum
8disorder for parents and guardians of certain
9students; providing requirements for such
10informational materials; amending s. 1002.53, F.S.;
11requiring early learning coalitions to notify parents
12and guardians of the availability of such
13informational materials; providing an effective date.
14
15Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17Section 1.        Section 381.993, Florida Statutes, is created
18to read:
19381.993      Developmental delays; autism spectrum disorder;
20detection.—
21(1)     The Department of Health, in collaboration with school
22districts throughout this state, shall develop informational
23materials for the detection of developmental delays and autism
24spectrum disorder for parents and guardians of students. The
25informational materials shall be made available to each learning
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 HB 969  2026
26    coalition, prekindergarten provider, school district, and
27    charter school through the department's website.
28(2)     Within 90 days after July 1, 2026, the department
29    shall develop the materials related to the detection of
30    developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder and post the
31    information on its website. The department shall develop a
32    standardized methodology for each learning coalition,
33    prekindergarten provider, school district, and charter school
34    for the notification of the parents or guardians of voluntary
35    prekindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade
36    students by September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, of the
37    availability of the developmental delay and autism spectrum
38    disorder detection materials.
39(3)     Information provided to parents and guardians shall
40    include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
41(a)     A description of developmental delays and a
42    description of autism spectrum disorder.
43(b)     A description of the signs associated with
44    developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder.
45(c)     A recommendation for a developmental screening for
46    students displaying signs associated with developmental delays
47    and autism spectrum disorder.
48(d)     Existing state resources for students identified as
49    at-risk for developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder,
50    including, but not limited to, regional sites of the Center for
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 HB 969  2026
51    Autism and Related Disabilities and the Early Head Start
52    program.
53Section 2.        Subsection (5) of section 1002.53, Florida
54    Statutes, is amended to read:
551002.53      Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
56    eligibility and enrollment.—
57(5)     The early learning coalition shall provide each parent
58    enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
59    Program with a profile of every private prekindergarten provider
60    and public school delivering the program within the county where
61    the child is being enrolled. The profiles shall be provided to
62    parents in a format prescribed by the department in accordance
63    with s. 1002.92(3). The early learning coalition must also
64    annually notify parents and guardians of the availability of
65    informational materials for the early detection of Type 1
66    diabetes pursuant to s. 381.992 and for the detection of
67    developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder pursuant to s.
68    381.993.
69Section 3.        This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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