Florida Administrative Code
64 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
64B4 - Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Chapter 64B4-9 - CLIENT RECORDS
Section 64B4-9.001 - Requirements for Client Records

(1) A licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor, including any registered intern or provisional licensee, shall maintain responsibility for all records relating to his clients as provided in Section 456.057, F.S. All such records shall remain confidential except as provided by law or as allowed pursuant to a written and signed authorization by the client specifically requesting or authorizing release or disclosure of records in his office or possession.

(2) A full record of services shall be maintained for 7 years after the date of the last contact with the client or user.

(3) When a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor terminates practice or relocates and is no longer available to clients or users, the clients or users shall be notified of such termination or relocation and unavailability by the licensee's causing to be published in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county in which the licensee practices or practiced, a notice which shall contain the date of termination or relocation and an address at which the licensee's client or user records are available to the client, user, or to a licensed mental health professional designated by the client or user. The notice shall appear at least once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The records shall be retained for 2 years after the termination or relocation of the practice.

(4) If the termination was due to the death of a licensee, records shall be maintained at least two years after the licensee's death. At the conclusion of a 22 month period from the date of the licensee's death, the executor, administrator, personal representative, or survivor shall cause to be published once during each week for 4 consecutive weeks, in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in each county in which the licensee practiced, a notice indicating to the clients or users of the deceased licensee that the licensee's records will be disposed of or destroyed 4 weeks or later from the last day of the final week of publication of the notice.