Statute of Limitations Period for Violations Involving Required Reports Concerning Children

Plain English Breakdown

The source does not define what specific actions constitute being 'made aware' of a violation.

Changing When Time Limits Start for Child Report Violations

This law changes when the time limit starts to charge people who fail to report certain issues involving children.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new rule to Florida Statute section 775.15 about time limits for crimes.
• States that the clock does not start until a government agency knows about the violation, excluding any institution where the event happened.
• Applies specifically to violations of section 39.201 regarding required reports on children.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who are legally required to report issues concerning children

Terms To Know

Statute of Limitations

The maximum time allowed to file a criminal charge after an offense happens.

Section 39.201

The Florida law that requires certain people to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children.

Limits and Unknowns

• This rule only applies if the violation is under section 39.201.
• The time limit does not start until a government agency knows about it, but this excludes any institution where the event happened.
• The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

Statute of Limitations Period for Violations Involving Required Reports Concerning Children; Provides that limitations period for offenses concerning specified required reports concerning children does not begin to run until law enforcement agency is made aware of violation.

Current Bill Text

HB 373 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb373-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the statute of limitations period 2
for violations involving required reports concerning 3
children; amending s. 775.15, F.S.; providing that the 4
limitations period for offenses concerning specified 5
required reports about children does not begin to run 6
until a law enforcement agency is made aware of the 7
violation; providing an effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
11
Section 1. Subsection (23) is added to section 775.15, 12
Florida Statutes, to read: 13
775.15 Time limitations; general time limitations; 14
exceptions.— 15
(23) If the offense is a violation of s. 39.201, the 16
applicable period of limitation does not begin to run until a 17
law enforcement agency or other governmental agency, excluding 18
any institution where the violation occurs, is made aware of the 19
violation. 20
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 21