FL H0305

Increases the maximum age for the child victim hearsay exception (s. 90.803) from 16 to 17, allowing out-of-court statements by child victims with a physical, mental, emotional, or developmental age of 17 or less to be admissible in civil or criminal proceedings involving child abuse, neglect, or sexual offenses.

Adds sex trafficking offenses involving minors (s. 787.06(3)(f) and (g)) to the list of capital, life, or first degree felonies that require mandatory designation as a "sexual predator" upon a first conviction, eliminating the need for a prior qualifying offense for those charges.

Reenacts numerous cross-referenced statutes to incorporate the amended sexual predator criteria, including provisions related to child visitation restrictions, termination of parental rights, adoption home studies, grandparents' rights, name change procedures, driver license markings, recovery residence requirements, and professional licensing.

Effective date is July 1, 2024.