Children's Home Society of Florida

Sponsored by Rep. Porth (District 96) and Sen. Rich (District 34)
HB 77 establishes the “Keeping Children Safe Act” to protect children when visitation is requested by a parent or caregiver who is the subject of a hotline allegation of sexual abuse, has been found guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to certain specified crimes, or has been determined by a court to be a sexual predator as defined in statute. The bill creates a hearing process for visitation or other contact determinations and provides for court orders; if visitation is ordered, it must be supervised either by an individual with special training in the dynamics of children who have been sexually abused or be conducted in supervised visitation programs that meet specified criteria. Also provides additional factors to be taken into consideration related to visitation and other contact. Any shelter hearing or arraignment of disposition hearing must follow these new requirements, including hearings with grandparents and step-grandparents. Requires the Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation in the School of Social Work at Florida State University to develop standards for supervised visitation programs and interim standards. The bill states that these requirements must be met before a supervised visitation program can accept referrals of cases involving child sexual abuse.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on June 12, 2007.

Sponsored by: Rep. Ausley (District 9) and Sen. Rich (District 34)
HB 509 creates the Children & Youth Cabinet within the Executive Office of the Governor and directs the public policy leaders to collaborate on services and programs for children. The 15-member Cabinet includes the DCF Secretary, DJJ Secretary, APD Director, AWI Director, DOH Secretary, AHCA Secretary, DOE Commissioner, Guardian ad Litem Statewide Director, Office of Child Abuse Prevention Director, and five members representing children and youth advocacy organizations who are not service providers and are appointed by the Governor. Ex-officio members of the Cabinet include the House Speaker, Senate President, Supreme Court Justice, Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer. Cabinet Chair is the Governor or Governor’s designee. Governor may establish Advisory Board to the Cabinet. Annual Report of the Cabinet is required by February 1 of every year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on June 15, 2007.

Sponsored by: Rep. Cusack (District 27) and Sen. Wilson (District 33)
HB 803 creates section 409.1663, F.S., which creates adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive employees of state agencies. A qualifying adoptive employee means “a full-time or part-time employee of a state agency who is paid from regular salary appropriations or who otherwise meets the employer’s definition of a regular rather than a temporary employee and who adopts a child pursuant to Chapter 63.” HB 803 adds community college, university and county school district employees to the list of eligible employees. The bill states that any qualifying adoptive employee who adopts a child with special needs will receive a lump sum bonus of $10,000, subject to taxes, and an employee who adopts a child who does not have special needs will receive a lump sum benefit of $5,000, subject to taxes. Monetary benefits are limited to one award per child.

Sponsored by: Sen. Peaden (District 2)
SB 1124 directs the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) to seek federal approval to implement a 4-Tier Waiver System for persons with developmental disabilities who are on the Home and Community Based Services and Family and Supported Living Waivers.

Sponsored by: Sen. Peaden (District 2)
SB 1126 creates s. 381.84, F.S., to implement s. 27, Art. X of the Florida Constitution, requiring funding of a Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Education and Prevention Program. The bill has a number of components including:

1. Requires the state to create a comprehensive, statewide program based on the 1999 Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs created by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Creates the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council, which will contain 23 members including the Secretary of Health; one County Health Director; two members appointed by the Commissioner of Education; the Chief Executive Officers of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and the Leacy Foundation; the six deans of the Florida medical schools; four members appointed by the Governor; two members appointed by the President of the Senate; and two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
3. Requires the Secretary of Health, who will consult with the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council, to award contracts/grants for the program. Requires the department to award contracts and grants no later than October 1 of each fiscal year.

Sponsored by: Rep. Galvano (District 68) and Sen. Storms (District 10)
The 2006 Legislature created the Office of Child Abuse Prevention to examine, oversee and implement child abuse prevention programs and services located within the Executive Office of the Governor. From the beginning of Governor Crist’s campaign, one of his priority issues has been increasing adoptions. HB 1309 renames the Office to the Office of Child Protection and Adoption. The purpose and role of this Office is to promote adoptions and support adoptive families. The Governor will appoint the Director, whose title is Chief Child Advocate. The bill modifies the financial assistance and subsidy to qualifying adoptive parents to enable them to adopt children from foster care. The annual subsidy was increased from approximately $3,000 to $5,000. Total appropriation for adoption subsidy increase is $5.6 million.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on June 12, 2007.

Sponsored by: Sen. Storms (District 10)
SB 1394 authorizes DCF to begin the process of reorganizing the department’s structure. Requires DCF to integrate substance abuse and mental health programs into its structure and priorities. Districts and Zones will be replaced with five Regions in accordance with the judicial circuits. The department may also establish community partnerships to assist with delivery of community services. The community partnership or groups may be eligible for per diem expenses only. All meetings will be open to the public. The bill also amends the statute to add that specific instances of falsifying records are punishable by law. DCF shall submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2008, on the progress and implementation of the reorganization plan.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on June 19, 2007.

Sponsored by: Rep. Glorioso (District 62) and Sen. Rich (District 34)
SB 2114 amends and creates law pertaining to Independent Living Services for children in Florida’s child welfare program. Specifically, the bill permits a caseworker at an agency at which a minor has been placed in foster care to sign the minor’s application for a learner’s driver’s license without assuming liability for damages caused by the minor driver. This specific exemption is already in place for foster parents and group home representatives. The bills also permit a caseworker at an agency at which a minor has been placed in foster care to sign and verify the minor’s application for a driver’s license pursuant to a court-approved transition plan without assuming personal liability for damages caused by the minor driver. Also states that foster parents or caregivers who develop a written plan of goals for a transitioning child will not be held responsible under administrative rules or laws pertaining to state licensure as a result of any actions of the child pursuant to the plan. Other major components of this bill include the changes made to eligibility for the Road to Independence Program and Medicaid eligibility. Students who finish high school before they age out of foster care can still be eligible for the Road to Independence Program, and Medicaid eligibility has been extended from age 20 to age 21. Young adults placed with a court-approved dependency guardian or adopted from foster care after turning 16 will be eligible for independent living transition services, specifically the Road to Independence Program. The bill also mandates that young people between ages 16-18 be formally evaluated for subsidized independent living services under certain circumstances and allows certain foster children to contract for financial services despite being minors. Total appropriations for the provisions in this bill are $1.6 million.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on June 15, 2007.

Sponsored by: Senate Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee
SB 2802 is the implementing bill for the state’s FY 07-08 appropriations. The bill contains specific provisions related to the implementation of FSFN. DCF must ensure that all parties participating are entering information into FSFN. It also declares that FSFN is the intended automated child welfare case management system. DCF shall coordinate with Office of State Courts Administrator and the Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office for any judge, magistrate and guardian ad litem assigned to a dependency court case to access information in FSFN. DCF shall report to the Governor, Senate President and House Speaker on providing access by February 1, 2008. This provision expires on July 1, 2008.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007. Signed by the Governor on May 24, 2007.