Communication Rights of Individuals with Disabilities

HB 533 2026

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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 communication rights of 2
individuals with disabilities; creating s. 393.0665, 3
F.S.; defining terms; providing that individuals with 4
a disability have the right to communicate in their 5
preferred manner; prohibiting state agencies, schools, 6
and health care providers from restricting or denying 7
such individuals access to their preferred alternative 8
communication method; specifying alternative 9
communication methods recognized under the act; 10
specifying rights that individuals with disabilities 11
have with respect to their communication needs; 12
requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to 13
adopt rules and develop certain training; providing 14
requirements for the training; establishing the 15
Communication Rights Advisory Board within the agency 16
for a specified purpose; providing for membership and 17
duties of the board; providing for future repeal of 18
the board; requiring the agency to adopt procedures 19
for reporting violations of specified provisions; 20
providing for administrative penalties; providing an 21
effective date. 22
23
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 24
25

HB 533 2026

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Section 1. Section 393.0665, Florida Statutes, is created 26
to read: 27
393.0665 Communication Bill of Rights for Individuals with 28
Disabilities.— 29
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 30
(a) "Alternative communication method" means a 31
communication technique or device that is evidence-based or 32
recognized by relevant professional organizations, including, 33
but not limited to, the American Speech-Language-Hearing 34
Association, and that allows an individual with a disability to 35
communicate independently without improper influence. 36
(b) "Health care provider" means any facility licensed 37
under this chapter or a provider as defined in s. 408.803. 38
(c) "Individual with a disability" means a person with a 39
developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063; a physical or 40
mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major 41
life activities; or any other disability as defined under state 42
or federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. 43
(d) "School" means any child care, early education, 44
elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational setting. 45
(e) "State agency" means a separate agency or unit of 46
state government created or established by law and any entity 47
under the control of or established for the benefit of a state 48
agency. 49
(2) COMMUNICATION RIGHTS.— 50

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(a) An individual with a disability has the right to 51
communicate in his or her preferred manner. A state agency, a 52
school, or a health care provider in this state may not restrict 53
or deny an individual with a disability access to his or her 54
preferred alternative communication method. 55
(b) Alternative communication methods recognized under 56
this section include, but are not limited to, all of the 57
following: 58
1. Augmentative and alternative communication devices. 59
2. Letterboards and typing-based communication. 60
3. Sign language and nonverbal gestural systems. 61
4. Speech-generating devices or other assistive 62
technologies. 63
(c) Individuals with disabilities have the right to: 64
1. Have their preferred alternative communication method 65
recognized and supported in educational, health, and public 66
settings. 67
2. Access needed speech-language therapy and communication 68
support from licensed professionals without arbitrary 69
restrictions. 70
3. Have reasonable access to trained staff in public 71
facilities or programs to support their specialized 72
communication needs. 73
4. Receive communication support from trained staff, 74
including agency staff, direct-support professionals, educators, 75

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and health care providers. 76
5. Be free from bans or restrictions on their preferred 77
alternative communication methods. 78
(3) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.— 79
(a) The agency shall adopt rules to implement this 80
section, including a statement of rights and the obligations of 81
staff and providers required to observe the communication rights 82
of individuals with disabilities under this section. 83
(b) The agency shall develop training programs for direct-84
support professionals, educators, and health care staff. The 85
training must include, but need not be limited to, instruction 86
on all of the following: 87
1. Communication accommodations and alternative 88
communication methods. 89
2. The requirements of this section, including supporting 90
an individual's preferred alternative communication method 91
unless another method is agreed upon by the individual or his or 92
her legal guardian. 93
(4) COMMUNICATION RIGHTS ADVISORY BOARD.—The Communication 94
Rights Advisory Board is created within the agency to advise the 95
agency on matters relating to individuals with disabilities. 96
(a) The board shall be composed of 15 members, at least 7 97
of whom must be individuals with disabilities or family members 98
or guardians of individuals with disabilities and the remainder 99
of whom must be either professionals who, in the course of their 100

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respective professions, treat or serve individuals with 101
disabilities or representatives of disability advocacy 102
organizations. Board members shall be appointed as follows: 103
1. Three members appointed by the Governor. 104
2. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate. 105
3. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 106
Representatives. 107
4. Three members appointed by the Minority Leader of the 108
Senate. 109
5. Three members appointed by the Minority Leader of the 110
House of Representatives. 111
(b) The board shall do all of the following: 112
1. Advise the agency on the implementation of this 113
section. 114
2. Review policies and practices to ensure compliance with 115
communication rights enumerated under this section. 116
3. Submit an annual report to the Governor, the President 117
of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 118
(c) In accordance with s. 20.052(8), this subsection is 119
repealed October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved from repeal 120
through reenactment by the Legislature. 121
(5) ENFORCEMENT.— 122
(a) The agency shall establish procedures for individuals 123
with disabilities or their representatives to report violations 124
of this section. 125

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(b) Violations of this section are subject to a civil 126
penalty of $500 per violation in addition to any other 127
administrative action imposed in accordance with s. 393.0673 or 128
s. 408.813, as applicable, for such violation. 129
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 130