THE FLORIDA SENATE

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 COMMITTEES:

Health Policy, Vice Chair
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture,
Environment, and General Government
Education
Environment and Natural Resources

SENATOR LORI BERMAN

31st District

April 23, 2020

The Honorable Dr. Scott Rivkees

State Surgeon General, Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Via E-mail

Dear Surgeon General Rivkees:

We appreciate your answering our telephone call regarding Child Protection Teams of Palm Beach
County.

As we discussed, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay brought to our attention
that Child Protection Team of Palm Beach, Inc. is conducting medical consultations in lieu of
medical examinations that take place when a child may be the victim of abuse, neglect or
abandonment. While we understand we are in unique and challenging circumstances, it is unclear
why this change occurred and pursuant to what authority.

Emergency Order 20-91 enumerates the essential services list, and in that list is included “public
agency workers responding to abuse and neglect of children, elders and dependent adults.” Further,
the Department of Emergency Management later expanded the list of essential services and
employees in EO 20-91 to include “employees at services and programs addressing mental health,
substance abuse, domestic violence and other urgent counseling…” Under these Emergency
Orders, it does not appear that there is any basis for discontinuing medical examinations in abuse
situations. Furthermore, since these doctors are under DOH purview, DOH should be providing
them with the necessary personal protective equipment. We therefore request that you direct the
DOH’s contracted doctors to continue to perform medical evaluations face-to-face.

April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month and we should be doing everything in our
power to protect our most vulnerable, especially during this heightened climate of crisis situations.
These children are already subject to potential high-risk and dangerous situations. Appropriate and
responsive medical diagnoses should be the minimum expectation. Once again, we are asking you
please require in-person exams of children in these circumstances

REPLY TO:
 2300 High Ridge Road, Suite 161, Boynton Beach, Florida 33426 (561) 292-6014 FAX: (888) 284-6491
 311 Senate Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5031

Senate’s Website: www.flsenate.gov

BILL GALVANO DAVID SIMMONS

President of the Senate President Pro Tempore
April 23, 2020
Page 2

Should you have any questions or concerns about our inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Lori Berman
State Senator, District 31

Tina Polsky
State Representative, District 81

CC: The Honorable Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida

The Honorable Chad Poppell, Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families