FL H0533

Amends Florida Statute 784.081 to include persons licensed, registered, certified, or regulated under chapters 490 or 491 (psychological and clinical counseling and psychotherapy services) as protected victims for enhanced assault and battery charges.

Assault or battery against these mental health professionals while practicing their profession is reclassified upward when the perpetrator knows or has reason to know the victim's identity or profession.

Reclassification increases penalties: aggravated battery elevated from second-degree to first-degree felony; aggravated assault from third-degree to second-degree felony; battery from first-degree misdemeanor to third-degree felony; assault from second-degree to first-degree misdemeanor.

Effective date is July 1, 2011.