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Florida Statute 39.203 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
F.S. 39.203 Case Law from Google Scholar
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Link to State of Florida Official Statute Google Search for Amendments to 39.203

The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title V
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Chapter 39
PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO CHILDREN
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 39.203
39.203 Immunity from liability in cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
(1)(a) Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by this chapter, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action.
(b) Except as provided in this chapter, nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity, civil or criminal, to any person suspected of having abused, abandoned, or neglected a child, or committed any illegal act upon or against a child.
(2)(a) No resident or employee of a facility serving children may be subjected to reprisal or discharge because of his or her actions in reporting abuse, abandonment, or neglect pursuant to the requirements of this section.
(b) Any person making a report under this section shall have a civil cause of action for appropriate compensatory and punitive damages against any person who causes detrimental changes in the employment status of such reporting party by reason of his or her making such report. Any detrimental change made in the residency or employment status of such person, including, but not limited to, discharge, termination, demotion, transfer, or reduction in pay or benefits or work privileges, or negative evaluations within a prescribed period of time shall establish a rebuttable presumption that such action was retaliatory.
History.ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ch. 63-24; s. 941, ch. 71-136; ss. 1, 1A, ch. 71-97; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 65, ch. 74-383; s. 1, ch. 75-101; s. 1, ch. 75-185; s. 4, ch. 76-237; s. 1, ch. 77-77; s. 3, ch. 77-429; ss. 1, 2, ch. 78-322; s. 3, ch. 78-326; s. 22, ch. 78-361; s. 1, ch. 78-379; s. 181, ch. 79-164; s. 1, ch. 79-203; s. 27, ch. 88-337; s. 55, ch. 90-306; s. 63, ch. 94-164; s. 73, ch. 97-103; s. 33, ch. 98-403; s. 12, ch. 99-193.
Note.Former ss. 828.041, 827.07(7); s. 415.511.

F.S. 39.203 on Google Scholar

F.S. 39.203 on Casetext

Amendments to 39.203


Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 39.203
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 39.203.



Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, v. VALLADARES,, 141 So. 3d 714 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014)

. . . See § 39.203, Fla. Stat. (2013) (reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect); § 397.482, Fla. . . .

S. ROSS, v. Dr. BLANK,, 958 So. 2d 437 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2007)

. . . and that statements made in compliance therewith are immune from civil liability pursuant to section 39.203 . . . Section 39.203(l)(a), Florida Statutes (2002), provides immunity from liability in connection with such . . . requirement of section 39.201 and the grant of immunity provided to those who make a report by section 39.203 . . .

L. URQUHART T. v. S. HELMICH,, 947 So. 2d 539 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2006)

. . . Section 39.203, Florida Statutes affords a general grant of immunity to a person who makes a report of . . . The good faith immunity afforded by section 39.203 applies broadly to any person who makes a report of . . .

A. FLOYD, Jr. v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES,, 855 So. 2d 204 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

. . . claims that summary judgment was appropriate because it had statutory immunity pursuant to section 39.203 . . . However, the cause of action accrued in 1996, and section 39.203 did not come into being until 1998, . . .

JOHNSON, v. SACKETT, n k a St. L. A., 793 So. 2d 20 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2001)

. . . Sackett for "any act authorized or -required” by chapter 39, § 39.203(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (2000). . . .