HB 1007 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1007-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to children removed from caregivers; 2
amending s. 409.988, F.S.; requiring community -based 3
care lead agencies to provide a trauma -focused 4
assessment to children removed from caregivers by a 5
specified time; providing requirements for such 6
assessment; requiring such agencies to offer voluntary 7
trauma services to children and their families; 8
amending s. 409.996, F.S.; requiring the Department o f 9
Children and Families to require in its contracts with 10
lead agencies that such agencies and managing entities 11
provide a trauma-focused assessment to children 12
removed from caregivers by a specified time; 13
conforming a cross-reference; providing an effectiv e 14
date. 15
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
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Section 1. Paragraphs (b) through (n) of subsection (1) of 19
section 409.988, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 20
paragraphs (c) through (o), respectively, and a new paragraph 21
(b) is added to that subsection, to read: 22
409.988 Community-based care lead agency duties; general 23
provisions.— 24
(1) DUTIES.—A lead agency: 25
HB 1007 2023
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hb1007-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(b)1. Shall, in coordination with the local managing 26
entity, provide a trauma -focused assessment to a child removed 27
from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to ensure 28
that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma 29
services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if 30
needed. The trauma-focused assessment must occur as soon as 31
practicable subsequent to the child's removal but no later than 32
14 days after the shelter hearing. The assessment and therapy, 33
if recommended, must evaluate and address the impact of the 34
removal to the child. 35
2. Shall offer voluntary trauma services to a child and 36
his or her family in the event that a shelter petition is denied 37
and the child is returned to his or her parent, legal custodian, 38
or caregiver. 39
Section 2. Paragraphs (b) through (f) of subsection (1) of 40
section 409.996, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 41
paragraphs (c) through (g), respectively, paragraph (b) of 42
subsection (4) is amended, and a new paragraph (b) is added to 43
subsection (1) of that section, to read: 44
409.996 Duties of the Department of Children and 45
Families.—The department shall contrac t for the delivery, 46
administration, or management of care for children in the child 47
protection and child welfare system. In doing so, the department 48
retains responsibility for the quality of contracted services 49
and programs and shall ensure that, at a mini mum, services are 50
HB 1007 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1007-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
delivered in accordance with applicable federal and state 51
statutes and regulations and the performance standards and 52
metrics specified in the strategic plan created under s. 53
20.19(1). 54
(1) The department shall enter into contracts with l ead 55
agencies for the performance of the duties by the lead agencies 56
established in s. 409.988. At a minimum, the contracts must do 57
all of the following: 58
(b) Require lead agencies and managing entities to 59
coordinate to provide a trauma -focused assessment to a child 60
removed from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to 61
ensure that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma 62
services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if 63
needed, as required by s. 409.988(1)(b). 64
(4) 65
(b) The department shall collect and publish on its 66
website, and update monthly, the information required under s. 67
409.988(1)(l) s. 409.988(1)(k). 68
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 69