Florida Statute 384.34 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

384.34 Penalties.—

(1) Any person who violates the provisions of s. 384.24(1) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Any person who violates the provisions of s. 384.26 or s. 384.29 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3) Any person who maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmissible disease commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082, 775.083, and 775.084.

(4) Any person who violates the provisions of the department’s rules pertaining to sexually transmissible diseases may be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 for each violation. Any penalties enforced under this subsection shall be in addition to other penalties provided by this chapter. The department may enforce this section and adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

(5) Any person who violates s. 384.24(2) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Any person who commits multiple violations of s. 384.24(2) commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(6) Any person who obtains information that identifies an individual who has a sexually transmissible disease, who knew or should have known the nature of the information and maliciously, or for monetary gain, disseminates this information or otherwise makes this information known to any other person, except by providing it either to a physician or nurse employed by the Department of Health or to a law enforcement agency, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.—s. 90, ch. 86-220; s. 38, ch. 88-380; s. 63, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 96-179; s. 2, ch. 97-37; s. 18, ch. 98-151; s. 21, ch. 98-191; s. 1, ch. 2010-64; s. 3, ch. 2010-113.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 384.34
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§384.34(3)CRIMES AGAINST PERSONFALSE REPORT EXISTENCE OF SEXUAL DISEASEF · 3rd
§384.34(5)CRIMES AGAINST PERSONRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 4123F · 3rd
§384.34(5)CRIMES AGAINST PERSONRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 4124F · 1st
§384.34(6)CRIMES AGAINST PERSONID INDIV WHO HAS STD FOR MONEYF · 3rd
Cases Citing F.S. 384.34

Fla. Stat. § 384.34 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
4 resultsSort: Relevance · Newest · Treatment
Copy
·DeMayo v. Chames, 934 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006).
Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2006 WL 1627451
...Firestone, 500 So.2d 740, 741-42 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987) (noting that § 496, Fla. Stat. (1985) was "designed to protect a charitably minded public from being improperly solicited, abused and even defrauded."); Gabriel v. Tripp, 576 So.2d 404 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991) (holding that § 384.34, Fla....
0 red0 yellow3 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2024)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityIn Re Kent (2009)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityChames (2007)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·Gabriel v. Tripp, 576 So. 2d 404 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991).
Cited 8 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1991 WL 35029
...We affirm the trial court's order with respect to all of the counts alleged, except the negligence count. Gabriel contends that this court should find that a cause of action sounding in tort is cognizable in Florida based on the transmission of genital herpes simplex, because section 384.34, Florida Statutes (1989), which makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to transmit a sexually transmissible disease, is a statute designed to protect a particular class of persons and violation of that statute therefore constitutes negligence per se. DeJesus v. Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, 281 So.2d 198 (Fla. 1973). We agree such a negligence cause of action is cognizable in Florida, but we disagree that the violation of section 384.34 constitutes negligence per se....
...om their inability to protect themselves constitute negligence per se. DeJesus, 281 So.2d at 201. Violations of all other statutes, i.e., statutes designed to protect the public in general, are only considered prima facie evidence of negligence. Id. Section 384.34(1) provides that violation of section 384.24 constitutes a first-degree misdemeanor....
1 red0 yellow2 green0 procedural
Abrogated(citing case) (2014)
phrase: "abrogated by"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2015)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2014)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·Gary G. Debaun v. State of Florida, 213 So. 3d 747 (Fla. 2017).
Cited 1 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 42 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 322, 2017 Fla. LEXIS 583
...male’s vagina, and encompasses the oral and anal sexual activity” in which Debaun engaged with the victim. Id. at 1095. The court reversed the order dismissing the charge against Debaun and certified conflict with L.A.P. Id. 1. See § 384.34(5), Fla....
0 red0 yellow15 green0 procedural
Cited as authorityEstes (2026)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2026)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2024)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·State v. Debaun, 129 So. 3d 1089 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013).
Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2013 WL 5814005, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 17224
...At the same time, the legislature amended the penalties for violating section 384.24, upping the uniformed, unconsented transmission of HIV to a third degree felony and leaving the penalty for said transmission of the other diseases as a first degree misdemeanor. See Ch. 97-37, § 2, at 222, Laws of Fla; § 384.34(1), (5) Fla....
0 red0 yellow1 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2017)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.

Florida/Georgia Personal Injury & Workers Compensation

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 384.34

Cases Citing F.S. 384.34

·DeMayo v. Chames, 934 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006).

·Gabriel v. Tripp, 576 So. 2d 404 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991).

·Gary G. Debaun v. State of Florida, 213 So. 3d 747 (Fla. 2017).

·State v. Debaun, 129 So. 3d 1089 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013).