Bill Text: FL S0864 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Death with Dignity

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Health Policy [S0864 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S0864-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 864
       
       
        
       By Senator Book
       
       
       
       
       
       35-01037-23                                            2023864__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to death with dignity; creating ch.
    3         764, F.S., to be entitled “Personal Autonomy”;
    4         creating s. 764.101, F.S.; providing a short title;
    5         creating s. 764.102, F.S.; defining terms; creating s.
    6         764.103, F.S.; providing legislative findings and
    7         intent; creating s. 764.104, F.S.; providing criteria
    8         for individuals to request certain medication as
    9         qualified patients; providing criteria to demonstrate
   10         residency; requiring qualified patients to make both
   11         verbal and written requests for medication; providing
   12         requirements and waiting periods for such requests;
   13         providing requirements for a form for written
   14         requests; specifying requirements for the valid
   15         execution of the form; authorizing a qualified patient
   16         to rescind a request at any time and in any manner;
   17         creating s. 764.105, F.S.; specifying requirements for
   18         attending physicians; authorizing an attending
   19         physician to sign a qualified patient’s death
   20         certificate; specifying requirements for consulting
   21         physicians; specifying recordkeeping requirements;
   22         requiring certain health care providers to report
   23         certain information to the Department of Health;
   24         requiring the department to annually review certain
   25         records for compliance and publish a report on
   26         activities and compliance; requiring the department to
   27         adopt rules for a specified purpose; creating s.
   28         764.106, F.S.; making certain provisions of certain
   29         legal instruments void and unenforceable under certain
   30         circumstances; prohibiting an individual’s decisions
   31         or actions under certain provisions from affecting the
   32         sale, procurement, or issuance of certain insurance
   33         policies or the rates charged for such policies;
   34         creating s. 764.107, F.S.; providing criminal
   35         penalties, liabilities, and immunities; defining the
   36         terms “notify” and “participation in this chapter”;
   37         authorizing employing health care providers to
   38         prohibit health care providers from participating
   39         under the act while on the premises of facilities that
   40         they own or operate if they have provided prior notice
   41         of their policy; authorizing employing health care
   42         providers to impose specified sanctions against its
   43         facilities, operators, and other employees for
   44         violating such policies; providing construction;
   45         requiring the sanctioning health care providers to use
   46         due process procedures when imposing such sanctions;
   47         providing that certain sanctions may not be the sole
   48         basis for certain disciplinary action against a health
   49         care provider’s license; providing construction;
   50         creating s. 764.108, F.S.; authorizing claims for
   51         costs and attorney fees in certain circumstances;
   52         creating s. 764.109, F.S.; providing construction and
   53         severability; providing an effective date.
   54          
   55  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   56  
   57         Section 1. Chapter 764, Florida Statutes, consisting of
   58  sections 764.101-764.109, Florida Statutes, entitled “Personal
   59  Autonomy,” is created.
   60         Section 2. Section 764.101, Florida Statutes, is created to
   61  read:
   62         764.101 Short title.—Sections 764.101-764.109 may be cited
   63  as the “Death with Dignity Act.
   64         Section 3. Section 764.102, Florida Statutes, is created to
   65  read:
   66         764.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   67         (1) “Attending physician” means a physician who has primary
   68  responsibility for the care and treatment of a patient with a
   69  terminal condition.
   70         (2) “Competent” means that in the opinion of a court or in
   71  the opinion of a patient’s attending physician, consulting
   72  physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, the patient has the
   73  ability to make and communicate health care decisions to health
   74  care providers, including communication through individuals
   75  familiar with the patient’s manner of communicating if such
   76  individuals are available.
   77         (3) “Consulting physician” means a physician who is
   78  qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional
   79  diagnosis and prognosis regarding the patient’s medical
   80  condition.
   81         (4)“Counseling” means one or more consultations as
   82  necessary between a psychiatrist or psychologist and a patient
   83  for the purpose of determining whether the patient is competent
   84  and whether the patient is suffering from a psychiatric or
   85  psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.
   86         (5)“Department” means the Department of Health.
   87         (6)“Health care provider” means a health care
   88  practitioner, a health care facility, or an entity licensed or
   89  certified to provide health services in this state.
   90         (7)“Informed decision” means a decision voluntarily made
   91  by a qualified patient to request and obtain a prescription to
   92  end his or her life after a sufficient explanation and
   93  disclosure of information on the subject has been given by his
   94  or her attending physician to enable the qualified patient to
   95  appreciate the relevant facts, including the qualified patient’s
   96  medical diagnosis and prognosis, the potential risks associated
   97  with taking the medication to be prescribed, the probable
   98  results of taking such medication, and any feasible alternatives
   99  to taking the medication, and to make an informed health care
  100  decision without coercion or undue influence.
  101         (8)“Medically confirmed” means the medical opinion of an
  102  attending physician has been confirmed by a consulting physician
  103  who has examined the patient and the patient’s relevant medical
  104  records.
  105         (9)“Medication” means a drug as defined in s. 465.003(15)
  106  which an attending physician prescribes to a qualified patient
  107  under this chapter to end his or her life in a humane and
  108  dignified manner.
  109         (10)“Physician” means a person licensed to practice
  110  medicine under chapter 458 or osteopathic medicine under chapter
  111  459.
  112         (11)“Psychiatrist” means a physician who has primarily
  113  diagnosed and treated nervous and mental disorders for a period
  114  of at least 3 years, including a psychiatric residency.
  115         (12)“Psychologist” means a person licensed to practice
  116  psychology under chapter 490.
  117         (13)“Qualified patient” means an individual who has
  118  satisfied the requirements of this chapter to obtain a
  119  prescription for medication to end his or her life in a humane
  120  and dignified manner.
  121         (14)“Terminal condition” means a medically confirmed
  122  condition caused by an injury, illness, or disease which is
  123  incurable and irreversible and which will, within reasonable
  124  medical judgment, cause the patient’s death within 6 months.
  125         Section 4. Section 764.103, Florida Statutes, is created to
  126  read:
  127         764.103 Legislative findings and intent.—The Legislature
  128  finds that every competent adult has the fundamental right of
  129  self-determination regarding decisions pertaining to his or her
  130  own health and recognizes that for some faced with a terminal
  131  condition, prolonging life may result in a painful or burdensome
  132  existence. It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
  133  procedure to allow a competent individual who has a terminal
  134  condition, and who makes a fully informed decision that he or
  135  she no longer wants to live, to obtain medication to end his or
  136  her life in a humane and dignified manner.
  137         Section 5. Section 764.104, Florida Statutes, is created to
  138  read:
  139         764.104 Qualified patients; residency requirements; written
  140  and verbal requests for medication; waiting periods; form
  141  requirements; right to rescind requests.—
  142         (1)(a)An individual may request medication as a qualified
  143  patient under this chapter for the purpose of ending his or her
  144  life in a humane and dignified manner if the individual:
  145         1.Is 18 years of age or older;
  146         2.Is a resident of Florida;
  147         3.Has been clinically diagnosed with a terminal condition
  148  by his or her attending physician which has been medically
  149  confirmed by a consulting physician;
  150         4.Is competent;
  151         5.Is making an informed decision; and
  152         6.Has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die.
  153         (b)An individual may not qualify for medication under this
  154  chapter solely because of age or disability.
  155         (c)An individual imprisoned or incarcerated in this state
  156  who otherwise meets the requirements of this section qualifies
  157  for medication under this chapter.
  158         (2)Criteria demonstrating an individual’s Florida
  159  residency include, but are not limited to:
  160         (a)Possession of a valid Florida driver license or Florida
  161  identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety
  162  and Motor Vehicles;
  163         (b)Proof of registration to vote in Florida;
  164         (c)Evidence that the individual owns or leases property in
  165  Florida; or
  166         (d)If an individual is unable to otherwise demonstrate
  167  residency due to his or her imprisonment or incarceration,
  168  evidence that the individual has been imprisoned or incarcerated
  169  in this state for the 6 months immediately preceding the request
  170  for medication under this chapter.
  171         (3)To obtain medication under this chapter, a qualified
  172  patient must first make two verbal requests and then one written
  173  request for the medication to his or her attending physician.
  174         (a)A qualified patient may not make the second verbal
  175  request to his or her attending physician for at least 15 days
  176  after making the first verbal request. However, if the qualified
  177  patient’s attending physician has medically confirmed that the
  178  qualified patient will, within reasonable medical judgment, die
  179  within 15 days after making the first verbal request, the
  180  qualified patient may make the second verbal request to his or
  181  her attending physician at any time after making the first
  182  verbal request.
  183         (b)After a qualified patient makes a second verbal
  184  request, the attending physician must give the qualified patient
  185  an opportunity to rescind the request.
  186         (c)A qualified patient may make a written request for
  187  medication under this chapter after he or she has made a second
  188  verbal request for the medication and has been offered the
  189  opportunity to rescind the request.
  190         (d)An attending physician may not prescribe medication to
  191  a qualified patient under this chapter for at least 48 hours
  192  after the qualified patient makes a written request for the
  193  medication.
  194         (4)(a)A written request for medication under this chapter
  195  must be made using a form substantially similar to the
  196  following:
  197  
  198                       REQUEST FOR MEDICATION                      
  199                     TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE                    
  200                        AND DIGNIFIED MANNER                       
  201         I, ...(name of qualified patient)..., am an adult of sound
  202  mind.
  203  
  204         I have been diagnosed with ...(medical condition)..., which
  205  my attending physician has determined is a terminal condition
  206  and which has been medically confirmed by a consulting
  207  physician.
  208  
  209         I have been fully informed of my diagnosis, prognosis, the
  210  nature of the medication to be prescribed pursuant to this
  211  request and potential associated risks of taking such
  212  medication, the expected result of taking such medication, and
  213  any feasible alternatives, including comfort care, hospice care,
  214  and pain control.
  215  
  216         Pursuant to chapter 764, Florida Statutes, I request that
  217  my attending physician prescribe medication that will end my
  218  life in a humane and dignified manner.
  219  
  220         INITIAL ONE:
  221         [....] I have informed my family members of my decision and
  222  taken their opinions into consideration.
  223         [....] I have decided not to inform my family members of my
  224  decision.
  225         [....] I have no family members to inform of my decision.
  226  
  227         PURSUANT TO SECTION 764.104, FLORIDA STATUTES, I UNDERSTAND
  228  THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESCIND THIS REQUEST AT ANY TIME AND IN
  229  ANY MANNER, REGARDLESS OF MY MENTAL STATE.
  230  
  231         I understand the full import of this request, and I expect
  232  to die when I take the medication to be prescribed. I further
  233  understand that although most deaths occur within 3 hours of
  234  taking such medication, my death may take longer, and my
  235  physician has counseled me about this possibility.
  236  
  237         I make this request voluntarily and without reservation,
  238  and I accept full moral responsibility for my actions.
  239  
  240         Signed: ...( signature of qualified patient)...
  241         Dated: ...( date)...
  242  
  243                      DECLARATION OF WITNESSES                     
  244         We declare that the person signing this request:
  245         1.Is personally known to us or has provided proof of
  246  identity;
  247         2.Signed this request in our presence;
  248         3.Appears to be of sound mind and not under duress, fraud,
  249  or undue influence; and
  250         4.Is not a patient for whom either of us is the attending
  251  physician.
  252  
  253         First witness			Second witness
  254         ...(print name)...		...(print name)...
  255         ...(signature)...		...(signature)...
  256         ...(date)...			...(date)...
  257  
  258         NOTE: At least one witness must not be a relative (by
  259  blood, marriage, or adoption) of the person signing this
  260  request, must not be entitled to any portion of the person’s
  261  estate upon death, and must not be an owner, operator, or
  262  employee of a health care facility where the person is a patient
  263  or resident.
  264         (b)To be valid, the written request must be signed by the
  265  qualified patient and witnessed by at least two individuals who,
  266  in the presence of the qualified patient, attest that, to the
  267  best of their knowledge and belief, the qualified patient is
  268  competent, is acting voluntarily, and is not being coerced to
  269  sign the request. At least one of the witnesses must be a person
  270  who is not:
  271         1.A relative of the patient by blood, marriage, or
  272  adoption;
  273         2.Entitled, at the time the request is signed, to any
  274  portion of the estate of the qualified patient upon death under
  275  any will or by operation of law; or
  276         3.An owner, operator, or employee of a health care
  277  facility where the qualified patient is receiving medical
  278  treatment or is a resident.
  279         (c)The qualified patient’s attending physician at the time
  280  the request is signed may not serve as a witness.
  281         (5)A qualified patient may rescind his or her request at
  282  any time and in any manner without regard to his or her mental
  283  state.
  284         Section 6. Section 764.105, Florida Statutes, is created to
  285  read:
  286         764.105 Attending physician responsibilities; consulting
  287  physician responsibilities; reporting requirements.—
  288         (1)An attending physician shall do all of the following:
  289         (a)Make the initial determination of whether a patient has
  290  a terminal condition, is competent, and has voluntarily made the
  291  request for medication to end his or her life.
  292         (b)Refer the patient to a consulting physician for medical
  293  confirmation of the diagnosis and for a determination that the
  294  patient is competent and acting voluntarily.
  295         (c)Ensure that the patient is making an informed decision
  296  by fully informing the patient of the facts relevant to all of
  297  the following:
  298         1.The patient’s medical diagnosis.
  299         2.The patient’s prognosis.
  300         3.The potential risks associated with taking the requested
  301  medication.
  302         4.The probable result of taking the requested medication.
  303         5.Any feasible alternatives, including, but not limited
  304  to, comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.
  305         (d)Verify the patient’s Florida residency.
  306         (e)Refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist for
  307  counseling if the physician believes the patient may be
  308  suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or
  309  depression causing impaired judgment. A physician may not
  310  prescribe medication under this chapter until the psychiatrist
  311  or psychologist counseling the patient determines that the
  312  patient is not suffering from a psychiatric or psychological
  313  disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.
  314         (f)Recommend that the qualified patient notify next of kin
  315  of his or her decision. A physician may not refuse to prescribe
  316  medication to a qualified patient because he or she declines or
  317  is unable to notify next of kin.
  318         (g)Inform the qualified patient that he or she has an
  319  opportunity to rescind the request at any time and in any
  320  manner, and offer the qualified patient an opportunity to
  321  rescind the request after his or her second verbal request at
  322  the end of the 15-day waiting period pursuant to s. 764.104.
  323         (h)Immediately before writing a prescription for
  324  medication under this chapter, verify that the qualified patient
  325  is making an informed decision.
  326         (i)Counsel the qualified patient about the importance of
  327  having another person present when taking the medication
  328  prescribed under this chapter and of not taking the medication
  329  in a public place.
  330         (j)Comply with the medical record documentation
  331  requirements of this section.
  332         (k)Ensure that all appropriate steps are carried out in
  333  accordance with this chapter before writing a prescription for
  334  medication to enable a qualified patient to end his or her life
  335  in a humane and dignified manner.
  336         (l)1.Dispense medication directly, including ancillary
  337  medications intended to minimize the qualified patient’s
  338  discomfort, provided the attending physician is registered as a
  339  dispensing practitioner under s. 465.0276, has a current Drug
  340  Enforcement Administration number, and complies with applicable
  341  laws and rules; or
  342         2.With the qualified patient’s written consent:
  343         a.Contact a pharmacist and inform the pharmacist of the
  344  prescription; and
  345         b.Deliver the written prescription personally or by mail
  346  to the pharmacist, who will dispense the medication to either
  347  the qualified patient, the attending physician, the qualified
  348  patient’s legal representative, or an individual whom the
  349  qualified patient designates in writing.
  350         (2)Notwithstanding any other law, an attending physician
  351  may sign a qualified patient’s death certificate.
  352         (3)A consulting physician shall examine the patient and
  353  his or her relevant medical records to confirm, in writing,
  354  whether the consulting physician agrees with the attending
  355  physician’s diagnosis of the patient’s terminal condition, and
  356  verify whether the patient is competent, is acting voluntarily,
  357  and has made an informed decision. A consulting physician must
  358  refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist for
  359  counseling if the physician believes the patient may be
  360  suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or
  361  depression causing impaired judgment.
  362         (4)An attending physician is responsible for ensuring that
  363  all of the following are documented or filed in the patient’s
  364  medical record:
  365         (a)All written and verbal requests by a patient for
  366  medication under this chapter.
  367         (b)The attending physician’s diagnosis, prognosis, and
  368  determination that the patient is competent, is acting
  369  voluntarily, and has made an informed decision.
  370         (c)The consulting physician’s diagnosis, prognosis, and
  371  verification that the patient is competent, is acting
  372  voluntarily, and has made an informed decision.
  373         (d)A report of the outcome and determinations made during
  374  counseling, if applicable.
  375         (e)The attending physician’s offer to the patient to
  376  rescind his or her request at the time of the patient’s second
  377  verbal request.
  378         (f)A note by the attending physician indicating that all
  379  requirements under this chapter have been met and detailing the
  380  steps taken to carry out the request, including a notation of
  381  the medication prescribed.
  382         (5)A health care provider who dispenses medication
  383  prescribed under this chapter must file a copy of the dispensing
  384  record with the department.
  385         (6)The department shall annually review a sample of
  386  records maintained under this chapter for compliance and
  387  annually publish a statistical report on activities and
  388  compliance pursuant to this chapter. The department shall adopt
  389  rules to collect information for this purpose.
  390         Section 7. Section 764.106, Florida Statutes, is created to
  391  read:
  392         764.106 Effect on construction of wills, contracts, and
  393  statutes; insurance or annuity policies.—
  394         (1)A provision in a contract, will, or other agreement,
  395  whether written or verbal, to the extent the provision would
  396  affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for
  397  medication under this chapter, is void and unenforceable.
  398         (2)An obligation owed under any existing contract may not
  399  be conditioned or affected by a person making or rescinding a
  400  request for medication under this chapter.
  401         (3)The sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, health,
  402  or accident insurance or annuity policy, or the rate charged for
  403  any policy, may not be conditioned upon or affected by a person
  404  making or rescinding a request for medication under this
  405  chapter. A qualified patient’s act of ingesting medication
  406  prescribed under this chapter may not affect a life, health, or
  407  accident insurance or annuity policy.
  408         Section 8. Section 764.107, Florida Statutes, is created to
  409  read:
  410         764.107Penalties; liabilities; immunities; grounds for
  411  prohibiting health care provider participation; notification;
  412  permissible sanctions.—
  413         (1)A person who:
  414         (a)Without authorization of the patient, willfully alters
  415  or forges a request for medication under this chapter or
  416  conceals or destroys a rescission of that request with the
  417  intent or effect of causing the patient’s death commits a felony
  418  of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
  419  775.083, or s. 775.084.
  420         (b)Coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to
  421  request medication under this chapter for the purpose of ending
  422  the patient’s life or to destroy a rescission of a medication
  423  request commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as
  424  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  425         (2)This chapter does not limit further liability for civil
  426  damages resulting from other negligent conduct or intentional
  427  misconduct by any person.
  428         (3)The penalties in this chapter do not preclude criminal
  429  penalties applicable under any other law for conduct that is
  430  inconsistent with this chapter.
  431         (4)Except as provided in subsections (1) and (5):
  432         (a)A person is not subject to civil or criminal liability
  433  or professional disciplinary action for participating in good
  434  faith compliance with this chapter. This includes being present
  435  when a qualified patient takes the medication prescribed under
  436  this chapter.
  437         (b)A professional organization or association or a health
  438  care provider may not subject a person to censure, discipline,
  439  suspension, loss of license, loss of privileges, loss of
  440  membership, or other penalty solely for refusing to participate
  441  in this chapter or for participating in good faith compliance
  442  with this chapter.
  443         (c)A request by a patient for, or provision by an
  444  attending physician of, medication in good faith compliance with
  445  this chapter does not constitute neglect for any purpose of law
  446  or provide the sole basis for the appointment of a guardian or
  447  conservator.
  448         (d)A health care provider is not under any duty, whether
  449  by contract, by statute, or by any other legal requirement, to
  450  participate in the provision of medication prescribed under this
  451  chapter to a qualified patient. If a health care provider is
  452  unable or unwilling to carry out a patient’s request under this
  453  chapter, and the patient transfers his or her care to a new
  454  health care provider, the prior health care provider must
  455  transfer, upon request, a copy of the patient’s relevant medical
  456  records to the new health care provider.
  457         (5)(a)As used in this subsection, the term:
  458         1.“Notify” means a written statement specifically
  459  informing employees, before their participation in this chapter,
  460  of the employing health care providers policy prohibiting
  461  participation in activities covered by this chapter.
  462         2.“Participation in this chapter” means performing the
  463  duties of an attending physician, the function of a consulting
  464  physician, or the function of counseling pursuant to s. 764.105.
  465  The term does not include:
  466         a.Making an initial determination that a patient has a
  467  terminal disease and informing the patient of the medical
  468  prognosis;
  469         b.Providing information about the Death with Dignity Act
  470  to a patient upon the request of the patient;
  471         c.Providing a patient, upon the request of the patient,
  472  with a referral to another physician; or
  473         d.A patient contracting with his or her attending
  474  physician and consulting physician to act outside of the course
  475  and scope of the provider’s capacity as an employee or
  476  independent contractor of an employing health care provider that
  477  prohibits participation in this chapter.
  478         (b)Notwithstanding any other law, an employing health care
  479  provider may prohibit participation in this chapter on the
  480  premises of facilities that it owns or operates if it has
  481  notified the health care providers practicing in its facilities
  482  of its policy. This paragraph does not prevent a health care
  483  provider from otherwise providing health care services to a
  484  patient which do not constitute participation in this chapter.
  485         (c)Notwithstanding subsection (4), if an employing health
  486  care provider has a policy prohibiting its facilities,
  487  operators, or employees from participation in this chapter and
  488  has notified them of the policy, the employing health care
  489  provider may subject its facilities, operators, or employees to
  490  any of the following sanctions for participating in this chapter
  491  in violation of that policy:
  492         1.Loss of privileges, loss of membership, or other
  493  sanctions provided under the medical staff bylaws, policies, and
  494  procedures of the employing health care provider if the
  495  sanctioned health care provider is a member of the employing
  496  health care provider’s medical staff and participates in this
  497  chapter while on the facility premises of the employing health
  498  care provider, not including the private medical office of a
  499  physician or other provider;
  500         2.Termination of lease or other property contract or other
  501  nonmonetary remedies provided by lease contract, not including
  502  loss or restriction of medical staff privileges or exclusion
  503  from a provider panel, if the sanctioned provider participates
  504  in this chapter while on the premises of the sanctioning health
  505  care provider or on property that is owned by or under the
  506  direct control of the sanctioning health care provider; or
  507         3.Termination of contract or other nonmonetary remedies
  508  provided by contract if the sanctioned provider participates in
  509  this chapter while acting in the course and scope of the
  510  sanctioned health care provider’s capacity as an employee or
  511  independent contractor of the sanctioning health care provider.
  512  This subparagraph may not be construed to prevent:
  513         a.A health care provider from participating in carrying
  514  out the provisions of this chapter while acting outside the
  515  course and scope of the provider’s capacity as an employee or
  516  independent contractor; or
  517         b.A patient from contracting with his or her attending
  518  physician and consulting physician to act outside the course and
  519  scope of the provider’s capacity as an employee or independent
  520  contractor of the sanctioning health care provider.
  521         (d)A health care provider that imposes sanctions under
  522  paragraph (c) must follow all due process and other procedures
  523  the sanctioning health care provider may have which are related
  524  to the imposition of sanctions on another health care provider.
  525         (6)Suspension or termination of staff membership or
  526  privileges under subsection (5) may not be the sole basis for a
  527  disciplinary complaint or investigation against a health care
  528  provider’s license.
  529         (7)This chapter may not be construed to allow a lower
  530  standard of care for patients.
  531         Section 9. Section 764.108, Florida Statutes, is created to
  532  read:
  533         764.108 Claims by governmental entity for costs incurred.
  534  Any governmental entity that incurs costs resulting from a
  535  person terminating his or her life pursuant to this chapter in a
  536  public place shall have a claim against the estate of the person
  537  to recover the costs and reasonable attorney fees related to
  538  enforcing the claim.
  539         Section 10. Section 764.109, Florida Statutes, is created
  540  to read:
  541         764.109 Construction; severability.—
  542         (1)This chapter may not be construed to authorize a
  543  physician or any other person to end a patient’s life by lethal
  544  injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. Actions taken in
  545  accordance with this chapter do not constitute suicide, assisted
  546  suicide, mercy killing, or homicide for any purpose under the
  547  law.
  548         (2)Any section of this chapter being held invalid as to
  549  any person or circumstance does not affect the application of
  550  any other section of this chapter which can be given full effect
  551  without the invalid section or application, and to this end the
  552  provisions of this chapter are severable.
  553         Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

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