CS/CS/HB 1007 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1007-02-c2
Page 1 of 3
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. 39.523, F.S.; providing legislative 3
findings; requiring the Department of Children and 4
Families to adopt rules; requiring the department and 5
community-based care lead agencies to administer a 6
trauma screening within a specified timeframe to 7
certain children and provide certain followup actions 8
under certain circumstances; providing an effective 9
date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 14
39.523, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (d), 15
paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection 16
(2) are amended, and a new paragraph (c) is added to subsection 17
(1) of that section, to read: 18
39.523 Placement in out -of-home care.— 19
(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. — 20
(b) The Legislature also finds that there is an 21
association between placements that do n ot meet the needs of the 22
child and adverse outcomes for the child, that mismatching 23
placements to children's needs has been identified as a factor 24
that negatively impacts placement stability, and that 25
CS/CS/HB 1007 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1007-02-c2
Page 2 of 3
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
identifying the right placement for each child requires 26
effective assessment. 27
(c) The Legislature also finds that the timely 28
identification of and therapeutic response to acute presentation 29
of symptoms indicative of trauma can reduce adverse outcomes for 30
the child, aid in the identification of services to en hance 31
initial placement stability and of supports to caregivers, and 32
reduce placement disruption. 33
(2) ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT. —When any child is removed 34
from a home and placed in out -of-home care, a comprehensive 35
placement assessment process shall be co mpleted in accordance 36
with s. 39.4022 to determine the level of care needed by the 37
child and match the child with the most appropriate placement. 38
(a) In accordance with rules adopted by the department, 39
the department or community-based care lead agency or 40
subcontracted agency with the responsibility for assessment and 41
placement must: 42
1. Coordinate a multidisciplinary team staffing as 43
established in s. 39.4022 with the necessary participants for 44
the stated purpose of the staffing. 45
2. Conduct a trauma s creening as soon as practicable after 46
the child's removal but no later than 21 days after the shelter 47
hearing. If indicated as appropriate or necessary by the 48
screening, the department or community -based care lead agency 49
must, at a minimum: 50
CS/CS/HB 1007 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1007-02-c2
Page 3 of 3
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. Promptly refer the child to appropriate trauma 51
assessment, which must be completed within 30 days, and, if 52
appropriate, services and intervention as needed. To the extent 53
possible, the trauma screening, assessment, and services and 54
intervention shall be integrated i nto the child's overall 55
behavioral health treatment planning and services. 56
b. In accordance with s. 409.1415(2)(b)3.f., provide 57
information and support, which may include but need not be 58
limited to, consultation, coaching, training, and referrals to 59
services, to the caregiver of the child to help the caregiver 60
respond to and care for the child in a trauma -informed and 61
therapeutic manner. 62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 63