CS/HB 1101 2023
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hb1101-01-c1
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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 education for children and young 2
adults in out-of-home care; amending s. 39.4085, F.S.; 3
requiring a case manager or other staff member to 4
provide a child with verbal and written information 5
about certain topics; removing limitations on the type 6
of questions a child may ask; establishing the Office 7
of the Children's Ombudsman within the Department of 8
Children and Families; specifying responsi bilities of 9
the office; requiring the department to consult with 10
specified children and young adults when creating or 11
revising certain print or digital written information; 12
conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 13
providing an effective date. 14
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16
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Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 18
39.4085, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections (4) and 19
(5) are added to that section, to read: 20
39.4085 Goals for dependent chi ldren; responsibilities; 21
education; Office of the Children's Ombudsman .— 22
(3)(a) The case manager or other staff shall provide , at a 23
minimum, verbal and written: 24
1. Instructions to a child entering shelter or foster care 25
CS/HB 1101 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1101-01-c1
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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
to educate the child on identify ing and reporting abuse, 26
abandonment, or neglect. 27
2. Information to a child about laws and requirements 28
relating to the topic of normalcy and what that means for a 29
child in out-of-home care; education; participation in court 30
proceedings; participation in permanency planning, transition 31
planning, and other case planning; placement, visitation, and 32
contact with siblings, family, and other individuals who are 33
important to the child; and access to food, clothing, shelter, 34
and health care. 35
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The verbal and written instructions and information must use 37
words and phrasing that each child can understand and must occur 38
in a manner that is most effective for each child. The written 39
instructions and information are only required if the child is 40
of a sufficient age and understanding to receive such 41
instructions and information. The case manager or other staff 42
must give each child the opportunity to ask questions about his 43
or her rights and how to identify and report abuse, abandonment, 44
or neglect. The case manager or ot her staff shall document in 45
court reports and case notes the date the instructions and 46
information were was provided to the child. The case manager or 47
other staff must review the instructions and information with 48
the child every 6 months and upon every pla cement change until 49
the child leaves shelter or foster care. 50
CS/HB 1101 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
(4) The Office of the Children's Ombudsman is established 51
within the department. To the extent permitted by available 52
resources, the office shall, at a minimum: 53
(a) Receive complaints from ch ildren and young adults 54
about placement, care, and services and assist in mediating such 55
concerns. 56
(b) Be a resource to identify and explain relevant polices 57
or procedures to children, young adults, and their caregivers. 58
(c) Provide recommendations to the department to address 59
systemic problems that are leading to complaints from children 60
and young adults. 61
(5) The department shall consult with children and young 62
adults who are currently or have formerly been in out -of-home 63
care when creating or revisi ng any print or digital written 64
information used in implementing this section and use any 65
responses or feedback to ensure that such print or digital 66
written information is understandable by and appropriate and 67
useful for the children and young adults of th e ages for which 68
such print or digital written information is intended. 69
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 70