S 866

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 866
By Senator Sharief
35-01559-26  2026866__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to health care practitioner maternal
3mental health continuing education requirements;
4creating s. 456.63, F.S.; providing curriculum
5requirements relating to maternal mental health for
6the required continuing education hours for licensure
7renewal; requiring a board, or the Department of
8Health if there is no board, to periodically update
9specified curriculum and accept the successful
10completion of such curriculum as credit toward
11continuing education requirements; providing an
12effective date.
13
14Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16Section 1. Section 456.63, Florida Statutes, is created to
17read:
18456.63Continuing education on maternal mental health.—
19(1)Continuing education hours required for licensure
20renewal for health care practitioners must include all of the
21following:
22(a)The best practices in screening for maternal mental
23health disorders.
24(b)The range of maternal mental health disorders.
25(c)The range of evidence-based treatment options,
26including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in
27developing a treatment plan.
28(d)When an obstetrician or a primary care physician should
29consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.
30(2)A board, or the department if there is no board, shall:
31(a)Periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant
32to subsection (1) to account for new research.
33(b)Accept the successful completion of the curriculum
34under subsection (1) as credit toward the continuing education
35requirements for renewal of a license by a health care
36practitioner who practices in the specialty of:
371.Pediatrics;
382.Obstetrics and gynecology;
393.Psychiatry; or
404.Clinical psychology.
41Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.