What it means
Subsection (1) makes it unlawful for a person who has chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, genital herpes simplex, chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease/acute salpingitis, or syphilis to have sexual intercourse with another person when the person knows he or she is infected and has been informed that he or she may communicate the disease through sexual intercourse, unless the other person has been informed of the presence of the disease and has consented to the intercourse.
Subsection (2) states the same rule for a person who has human immunodeficiency virus infection. The section defines the unlawful act; it does not state a penalty.
- Subsection (1) lists nine diseases, from chancroid and gonorrhea to syphilis (§ 384.24(1)).
- Elements: the person knows of the infection and has been informed it may be communicated through sexual intercourse (§ 384.24(1)-(2)).
- The exception requires that the other person was informed of the disease and consented (§ 384.24(1)-(2)).
- Subsection (2) applies the same rule to human immunodeficiency virus infection (§ 384.24(2)).
- The section states the unlawful act and no penalty (§ 384.24).
Text of the statute (2026)
(1) It is unlawful for any person who has chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, genital herpes simplex, chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)/acute salpingitis, or syphilis, when such person knows he or she is infected with one or more of these diseases and when such person has been informed that he or she may communicate this disease to another person through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.
(2) It is unlawful for any person who has human immunodeficiency virus infection, when such person knows he or she is infected with this disease and when such person has been informed that he or she may communicate this disease to another person through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 384.24.
History. s. 90, ch. 86-220; s. 27, ch. 88-380; s. 674, ch. 95-148; s. 1, ch. 97-37.
How it applies
Section 384.24 addresses the conduct of a living person who knows of an infection. It does not itself state a penalty or create a claim against an estate. A claim against a decedent's estate that arises from the decedent's conduct, including a claim for damages founded on a wrongful act or omission of the decedent, must be filed in the probate proceeding within the period in § 733.702(1), generally the later of 3 months after first publication of the notice to creditors or 30 days after service on a creditor required to be served.
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 384.24 (“unless such other person has been informed of the presence of the sexually transmissible disease and has consented to the sexual intercourse.”)
- Fla. Stat. § 733.702 (Claims founded on a wrongful act or omission of the decedent must be filed in the probate proceeding within the claim period.)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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