FL H0507

Amends Florida Statute 92.55 to allow courts to require pro se (self-represented) defendants to question certain protected individuals through standby counsel rather than directly

Protected individuals include victims and witnesses under age 18, persons with intellectual disabilities, and sexual offense victims or witnesses

Motions for this protection may be filed by any party, a parent, guardian, attorney, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed advocate, or initiated by the court itself

Courts must make specific findings on the record that the requirement is necessary to protect the individual from emotional or mental harm resulting from direct communication with the defendant

Effective date: July 1, 2026