Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H7061 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 04/14/2023

                    This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives. 
STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS  
 
BILL #: HB 7061          PCB HHS 23-01    Sheriffs Providing Child Protective Investigative Services 
SPONSOR(S): Health & Human Services Committee, Koster 
TIED BILLS:   IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 7056 
 
REFERENCE 	ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or 
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF 
Orig. Comm.: Health & Human Services 
Committee 
16 Y, 0 N Brazzell Calamas 
1) Appropriations Committee  	Fontaine Pridgeon 
SUMMARY ANALYSIS 
Florida’s dependency system identifies children and families in need of services through reports to the central 
abuse hotline and child protective investigations. Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) conduct such 
investigations and carry out other important responsibilities to maintain child safety. Currently, the Department 
of Children and Families (DCF) performs child protective investigations in 60 counties and sheriffs’ offices do 
so in the other seven, comprising nearly 25% of the child protective investigations in the state at a cost of $59 
million. Four sheriff’s office are required by statute to perform child protective investigations, while three others 
have voluntary agreements with DCF to do so. 
 
HB 7061 requires the transfer of child protective investigation services by sheriffs back to DCF, making DCF 
the sole entity performing child protective investigations in Florida.  The bill specifies the timeframe and 
framework for the transfer, including employees’ ability to transition to DCF and the handling of records, use of 
facilities, final grant accounting, and disposition of assets. The bill also makes conforming changes to statutes 
to remove references to sheriff’s offices conducting child protective investigations.   
 
The bill has a significant, negative fiscal impact on DCF and an indeterminate impact on local governments.  
See Fiscal Comments. 
 
The bill provides an effective date of January 1, 2024, except as otherwise expressly provided in the bill.   
   STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 2 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
FULL ANALYSIS 
I.  SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS 
 
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES: 
Florida’s Dependency System 
 
Chapter 39, F.S., creates the dependency system charged with protecting child welfare. Florida’s 
dependency system identifies children and families in need of services through reports to the central 
abuse hotline and child protective investigations. DCF and the 19 community-based care lead agencies 
(CBCs) throughout Florida
1
 work with those families to address the problems endangering children, if 
possible. If the problems are not addressed, DCF and the CBC’s find safe out-of-home placements for 
these children.  
 
DCF’s practice model is based on the safety of the child within the home by using in-home services, 
such as parenting coaching and counseling, to maintain and strengthen that child’s natural supports in 
his or her environment.  
 
DCF contracts with CBCs for case management, out-of-home services, and related services. The 
outsourced provision of child welfare services is intended to increase local community ownership of 
service delivery and design. CBCs contract with a number of subcontractors for case management and 
direct care services to children and their families.  
 
DCF remains responsible for a number of child welfare functions, including operating the central abuse 
hotline, performing child protective investigations, and providing children’s legal services.
2
 Ultimately, 
DCF is responsible for program oversight and the overall performance of the child welfare system.
3
 
 
 Dependency Process 
 
Current law requires any person who knows or suspects that a child has been abused, abandoned, or 
neglected to report such knowledge or suspicion to the central abuse hotline (hotline).
4
 The hotline
5
 
receives more than 350,000 child-related calls annually.
6
 Calls received are screened to determine if 
the criteria are met to initiate a protective investigation.
7
 
Steps in the dependency process may include: 
 
 A report to the hotline. 
 A child protective investigation to determine the safety of the child.  
 The court finding the child dependent. 
 Case planning for the parents to address the problems resulting in their child’s dependency. 
 Placement in out-of-home care, if necessary. 
 Reunification with the child’s parent or another option to establish permanency, such as 
adoption.
8
  
 
The graphic below presents key statistics regarding children and families having contact with the child 
welfare system in FY 2021-22.
9
   
 
                                                
1
 These 19 CBCs together serve the state’s 20 judicial circuits.  
2
 Ch. 39, F.S. 
3
 Id.  
4
 Section 39.201(1), F.S. 
5
 Department of Children and Families, Florida Abuse Hotline, Overview, https://www2.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-
hotline/overview.shtml, (last visited March 11, 2023). 
6
 Department of Children and Families, Child Welfare Key Indicators Monthly Report, Feb. 2023, System Overview, p. 8,   (last visited 
March 23, 2023). 
7
 Supra note 5. 
8
 The state has a compelling interest in providing stable and permanent homes for adoptive children in a prompt manner, in preventing 
the disruption of adoptive placements, and in holding parents accountable for meeting the needs of children. S. 63.022, F.S. 
9
 Supra note 6, p. 9.  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 3 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
 
 
Child Protective Investigations 
 
Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) initially must determine “whether there is any indication that any 
child in the family or household has been abused, abandoned, or neglected,” and, if so, to identify the 
individual responsible for the maltreatment. A CPI must respond to a hotline report either immediately, 
or within 24 hours after the report is received, depending on the nature of the allegation. Next, a CPI 
conducts a Family Functioning Assessment to identify the source of all danger threats in the home and 
assess the protective capacity of the caregivers for the child. If a child has been determined to have 
likely been maltreated, CPIs must consider the implementation of an in-home safety plan and the 
initiation of in-home services to protect the child and stabilize the family. If necessary to protect the 
child, CPIs remove the child from the home and place the child with another parent, relative, non- 
relative, or in licensed substitute care.
10
  
 
Specific CPI responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 
 
 Conducting investigations relating to allegations of abuse, abandonment, and/or special 
conditions for children; 
 Working closely with law enforcement; 
 Collecting information through observation and interviews with certain persons, including the 
children and parents; 
 Engaging families to understand the family dynamics; 
 Assessing danger threats, child vulnerabilities and caregiver protective capacities; 
 Managing and modifying safety plans as necessary during the investigation; 
 Arranging emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home; 
 Notifying the state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required 
individuals as appropriate; 
 Providing written present and impending danger assessments; 
 Completing a risk assessment for families investigated and explaining risk to the family; 
 Conducting staffings required for families with high risk; 
 Providing families with services linkages to agency and community resources; 
                                                
10
 Department of Children and Families, Child Protective Investigator and Child Protective Investigator Supervisor Educational 
Qualifications, Turnover, Professional Advancement, and Working Conditions Status Report, Oct. 1, 2022, p. 3, 
https://www.myflfamilies.com/sites/default/files/2023-02/CPI_Workforce_Report_2021-22.pdf (accessed April 5, 2023).  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 4 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
 Conducting initial/ongoing child present and impending danger assessments; and 
 Developing with the family a Present Danger Plan and a safety plan.
11
 
 
CPIs must work nights and weekends as required to perform their responsibilities.
12
 
 
During FY 2021-2022, a total of 175,314 child protective investigations were conducted in Florida and 
99.22% of these investigations were commenced within 24 hours of receiving the abuse report.
13
 In the 
investigations closed within the same period, over 91.63% of victims were seen within 24 hours of the 
hotline intake decision date and time.
14
 
 
Sheriffs’ Performance of Child Protective Investigations 
 
 Overview and History 
 
Currently, DCF performs child protective investigations in 60 counties, and the General Appropriations 
Act funds seven sheriffs’ offices to do so. Current law expressly requires DCF to contract with four 
sheriffs’ offices to perform child protective investigations:  Broward, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas 
counties.
15
 The General Appropriations Act (GAA) requires DCF to contract with three more: those in 
Hillsborough, Seminole and Walton counties. Of the 175,314 child protective investigations conducted 
in Florida during FY 2021-2022, the sheriff’s offices conducted 24.55% (43,039).
16
   
 
The history of such contracts is as follows: 
 
 FY 1997-98: DCF begins to transfer investigations to high-risk cases to the Manatee County 
Sheriff’s Office, as authorized by statute.
17
 
 FY 1998-99: Statute authorized DCF to enter into contracts with the Manatee, Pinellas, 
Broward, and Pasco county sheriffs to handle child protective investigations.  
 FY 2000-01: DCF was given full authority to contract with any county sheriff’s office that 
wishes to assume responsibility for conducting child protective investigations.  
 2000: Seminole County Sheriff’s Office was given authority through the General 
Appropriations Act to handle child protective investigations.  
 2005: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was given authority through the General 
Appropriations Act to handle child protective investigations. 
 2007: Citrus County Sheriff’s Office was given authority through the General Appropriations 
Act to handle child protective investigations. 
 2012: Authority over child protective investigations was assumed back to DCF from the Citrus 
County Sheriff’s Office.
18
  
 2018: Walton County Sheriff’s Office was given authority through the General Appropriations 
Act to handle child protective investigations. 
 
This transfer of child protective investigations to sheriff’s offices was a new approach.  Researchers 
studying the effects wrote in their evaluation in 2005, “While many jurisdictions have experimented with 
multidisciplinary teams and expanded roles for police, Florida has gone further than any other state in 
                                                
11
 Department of Children and Families, Agency Analysis of 2023 Proposed Committee Bill Sheriffs Provision of Child Protective 
Investigations, p. 3, March 19, 2023. 
12
 Id. 
13
 Department of Children and Families, Florida Sheriffs Performing Child Protective Investigations: Annual Program Performance 
Report, FY 2021-22, pp. 1 and 14, https://www.myflfamilies.com/sites/default/files/2023-
02/Sheriff_Offices_Annual_Peer_Review_Report_2021-22.pdf (accessed April 5, 2023). 
14
 Id. 
15
 S. 39.3065, F.S.  
16
 Supra note 13. 
17
 Susan Kinnevy, et al, The Transfer of Responsibility for Child Protective Investigations to Law Enforcement in Florida: A 
Supplemental Study Final Report, Center for Research on Youth and Social Policy, School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania; 
Feb. 2005, p. 5.  https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/transfer-responsibility-child-protective-investigations-law (accessed 
April 5, 2023). 
18
 It is not clear why authority over child protective investigations was assumed back to DCF from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office; 
however, it has been reported it was based on funding issues and was not performance related.  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 5 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
the country in turning complete control of child maltreatment investigations over to a law enforcement 
agency.”
19
  Examples of other models for law enforcement involvement in child protective investigations 
include formal or informal agreements to share information, or joint collaborative child abuse and 
neglect investigations.
20
   
 
 Statutory Requirements 
 
The requirements in law for sheriffs conducting child protective investigations vary based on whether 
the statute requires the sheriff to perform investigations or the sheriff does so voluntarily.   
 
All sheriffs performing child protective investigations must: 
 
 Operate in compliance with federal performance standards and metrics that are imposed by 
federal law, regulation, or funding requirements;
 21 
and 
 Ensure that each sheriff CPI completes the same mandatory training that is required of CPIs 
who are employed by the Department.
22
 
 
Additionally, the sheriffs of counties voluntarily conducting investigations must: 
 
 Adopt the child welfare practice model that is used by CPIs who are employed by the 
Department;
23
 and 
 Operate in accordance with the same child welfare practice model principles used by, and the 
same state performance standards and metrics that are imposed on, child protective 
investigators employed by the Department.
24
 
 
Sheriffs’ Program Performance 
 
Sheriffs and DCF are to collaborate on federal and state quality assurance and quality improvement 
initiatives. For example, DCF and all contracted sheriffs, or their designees, must meet at least 
quarterly to work together on federal and state quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.
25
  
 
DCF must conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of all sheriffs providing child protective 
investigation services.  This evaluation is based on the same federal and selected state performance 
standards imposed on DCF staff.  Those sheriffs not specified in statute are subject to additional 
performance standards based on the Florida child welfare practice model.
26
  
 
The grant agreements with the sheriffs’ offices contain two process measures: 
 
 Percent of investigations commenced within 24 hours. During FY 2021-22, sheriffs’ offices 
performance on average was 99.36%, ranging from 98.31% to 99.94%.  DCF CPIs’ 
performance was 99.22%. 
                                                
19
 Supra, note 17.  It is unknown whether any other states have followed in transferring full responsibilities for child protective 
investigations to law enforcement. 
20
 Casey Family Programs, Information Packet-Supportive Communities: Are there good examples of how child welfare agencies are 
collaborating with law enforcement? Jan. 2018, https://www.casey.org/media/SComm_Models_Law_Enforcement_fnl.pdf (accessed 
April 4, 2023). 
21
 S. 39.3065(3)(b)1., F.S. DCF is required to comply with child protection and child welfare outcomes, such as children are first and 
foremost protected from abuse and neglect; commencing the investigation and seeing the alleged victim within 24 hours; children are 
safely maintained in their homes, if possible and appropriate; services are provided to protect children and prevent removal from their 
home; and children have permanency and stability in their living arrangements. 
22
 S. 39.3065(3)(b), F.S. 
23
 S. 39.3065(3)(a), F.S. 
24
 S. 39.3065(3)(b)2., F.S. 
25
 S. 39.3065(3)(e), F.S. 
26
 Id.  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 6 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
 Percent of victims seen within 24 hours. During FY 2021-22, sheriffs’ offices performance on 
average was 91.93%, ranging from 90.13% to 95.65%.  DCF CPIs’ performance was 91.53%.
27
 
 
DCF publishes a monthly report with statistics regarding the performance of entities in the child 
welfare system, including the sheriffs conducting child protective investigation.  This report indicates 
varied performance by both DCF and sheriff’s offices regarding child protective investigations.  For 
example, while most sheriff’s offices’ removal rates are above the statewide average, the Seminole 
County Sheriff’s Office has the lowest removal rate.
28
 
 
 
 
Regarding the standard of Children with No Recurrence of Verified Maltreatment within 12 months, all 
of the sheriff’s offices were above the 90.9% target in February 2023 while 4 of the DCF circuits fell 
below.  However, during the 2021-22 fiscal year, the only two offices that fell below the national 
standard for that measure were sheriff’s offices, while all DCF offices were above the standard.   
 
Funding and Costs for Sheriffs’ Offices Child Protective Investigations Function 
 
All seven sheriffs conducting child protective investigations receive funding through the General 
Appropriations Act (GAA) for that purpose. Such funds are identified by sheriff’s office in the annual 
appropriations to DCF, which must award grants for the full amount of the appropriations to the sheriffs’ 
offices. The Department may make advance payments to the sheriffs for conducting child protective 
investigations. Any funds provided to sheriff’s offices for investigations may not be integrated into the 
sheriffs’ regular budgets but must be maintained separately from all other records.  Budget data must 
be reported to DCF as set out in the grant agreement.
29
 
 
The total contract amount for sheriffs’ offices for child protective investigative services is $59.1 million.
30
 
 
Sheriff Office 
FY 2022-2023 
Appropriations 
Broward County $15,270,728 
Hillsborough County  $13,807,564 
Manatee County $4,924,225 
Pasco County  $7,035,690 
                                                
27
 Supra note 16, pp. 13-14. 
28
 Department of Children and Families, Child Welfare Key Indicators Monthly Report, Feb. 2023, p. 28. 
29
 Section 39.3065(3)(c), F.S. 
30
 Chapter 2022-156, Laws of Fla. (HB 5001), Specific Appropriation 316.  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 7 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
Pinellas County  $12,484,719 
Seminole County $4,702,668 
Walton County  $929,472 
 
On average, the Legislature pays sheriffs more than DCF for performing the same investigation 
functions. The following tables provide information on expenditures and costs per report received for 
FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-2022. The first table provides information on the expenditures and costs per 
report for each sheriff’s office conducting child protective investigations, while the second table 
provides information for DCF. 
 
 	Sheriff Cost and Expenditures Per Report 
 	Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Fiscal Year 2021-2022 
County Total Cost Reports 
Average 
Cost Per 
Report 
Total Cost Reports 
Average 
Cost Per 
Report 
Broward $14,264,123 9,359 $1,524 $14,317,561 9,662 $1,482 
Hillsborough $13,738,636 9,571 $1,435 $14,411,533 9,976 $1,445 
Manatee $4,855,360 3,133 $1,550 $5,114,966 2,883 $1,774 
Pasco $6,445,087 4,781 $1,348 $6,466,013 4,587 $1,410 
Pinellas $11,915,854 6,833 $1,744 $11,915,854 6,059 $1,967 
Seminole $4,633,803 3,247 $1,427 $4,633,803 3,346 $1,385 
Walton $860,607 870 $989 $860,607 792 $1,087 
All Sheriffs $56,713,470 37,794 $1,501  $57,720,337 37,305 $1,547  
 
 	DCF Cost and Expenditures Per Report 
 	Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Fiscal Year 2021-2022 
Region Total Cost Reports 
Average 
Cost Per 
Report 
Total Cost Reports 
Average 
Cost Per 
Report 
Northwest $20,983,838 14,705 $1,427 $19,954,007 14,460 $1,380 
Northeast $35,568,139 28,262 $1,259 $31,971,896 26,448 $1,209 
Suncoast $15,754,991 13,799 $1,142 $13,628,095 12,913 $1,055 
Central $55,032,102 39,166 $1,405 $52,675,913 38,624 $1,364 
Southeast $18,507,820 12,657 $1,462 $17,096,066 12,642 $1,352 
Southern $15,834,931 10,155 $1,559 $14,286,744 10,305 $1,386 
DCF $161,681,821 118,744 $1,362  $149,612,721 115,392 $1,297  
 
During FY 2021-22, the range of costs per report for sheriffs’ offices was from $1,087 to $1,967. The 
average cost per report for sheriffs was $1,547. Comparably, DCF costs ranged from $1,055 to $1,386. 
DCF spends an average of $1,297 per report. 
 
Changes in the Child Welfare System 
 
The responsibility for child protective investigative services transitioned over 20 years ago to the 
sheriff’s offices in seven of Florida’s 67 counties. In the two decades since, Florida’s child welfare 
system has evolved. Today, there is a renewed commitment on prevention-focused programming, and 
integrating this function within existing crisis-oriented systems to provide better outcomes for families. 
There have also been several changes to state and federal laws that require new approaches and 
adaptation.  
 
DCF and the local sheriff’s offices jointly decided to recommend to transition all responsibilities for child 
protective investigative services back to the Department.  
 
 
Effect of Proposed Changes 
  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 8 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
HB 7061 requires the sheriffs providing child protective investigations to transfer all responsibility for 
such services back to DCF by December 31, 2023. To facilitate transition planning, DCF and each 
sheriff are to agree upon the date for when that sheriff’s responsibilities will transfer. The bill addresses 
specific elements of the transfer as follows: 
 
Transfer of Records: Upon the date the transfer is finalized with each respective sheriff, DCF shall 
become the custodian of all files and documents previously maintained by the sheriffs related to the 
provision of child protective services. 
 
Assets and Finances: DCF and each respective sheriff providing child protective services will conduct 
an inventory of grant-related assets, and all appropriate assets will be transferred to the Department. A 
financial close-out of each grant must be completed by March 31, 2024.  
 
Facilities: DCF may extend the private leases of facilities currently used by sheriffs for child protective 
services for up to a year without undergoing a procurement process. Additionally, with the written 
agreement of all parties, DCF may be assigned the private leases of facilities currently used by each 
respective sheriff for child protective services for the remaining term of the lease. DCF and each 
respective sheriff may enter an agreement to allow the child protective services staff now employed by 
DCF to remain in sheriff-owned office spaces up to six months after the date the transfer is finalized. 
 
Transfer of Employees: The bill allows all sheriff child protective services staff employed before July 1, 
2023, and in good standing to be able to transfer their employment to DCF. The bill allows these 
employees to: 
 
 be appointed to positions comparable to the duties and responsibilities which they perform for 
the sheriff’s office at the time of transfer without being subject to an open competitive process 
or a probationary period, under most circumstances.   
 avoid initial criminal background screenings as a condition of their transition as long as the 
employees are in compliance with screening conditions of their employing sheriff’s office at the 
time of transfer. 
 maintain their current rate of pay.  
 continue in the Florida Retirement System with no break in service. 
 remain on Family and Medical Leave or an approved extended leave status, contingent upon 
DCF receiving supporting documentation. 
 be eligible for all benefits afforded to state employees as applicable to the positions which they 
will occupy. 
 
 
The bill also makes conforming changes to statutes to remove references to sheriffs’ offices performing 
child protective investigations. 
 
B. SECTION DIRECTORY: 
 
Section 1: Repealing s. 39.3065, F.S., relating to sheriffs of certain counties to provide child protective 
investigative services; procedures; funding. 
Section 2: Amending s. 39.013, F.S., relating to procedures and jurisdiction; right to counsel. 
Section 3: Amending s. 39.0141, F.S., relating to missing children; report required. 
Section 4: Amending s. 39.301, F.S., relating to initiation of protective investigations. 
Section 5: Amending s. 39.3068, F.S., relating to reports of medical neglect. 
Section 6: Amending s. 39.307, F.S., relating to reports of child-on-child sexual abuse.  
Section 7: Amending s. 39.308, F.S., relating to guidelines for onsite child protective investigation. 
Section 8: Amending s. 39.4015, F.S., relating to family finding. 
Section 9: Amending s. 39.523, F.S., relating to placement in out-of-home care. 
Section 10: Amending s. 39.524, F.S., relating to safe-harbor placement. 
Section 11: Amending s. 402.40, F.S., relating to child welfare training and certification.  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 9 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
Section 12: Amending s. 402.402, F.S., relating to Child protection and child welfare personnel; 
attorneys employed by the department. 
Section 13: Amending s. 409.1754, F.S., relating to commercial sexual exploitation of children; 
screening and assessment; training; multidisciplinary staffings; service plans. 
Section 14: Amending s. 937.021, F.S., relating to missing child and missing adult reports. 
Section 16: Amending s. 1004.615, F.S., relating to Florida Institute for Child Welfare. 
Section 17: Creating an unnumbered section of law regarding the transfer of child protective 
investigative services functions to DCF. 
Section 18: Providing an effective date of January 1, 2024, except as otherwise provided in the bill. 
 
II.  FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT 
 
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT: 
 
1. Revenues: 
None. 
 
 
2. Expenditures: 
The total additional funding required for the implementation of the bill is $1,381,682 (for personnel 
resources), but will also require the transfer of $59,155,066 that’s currently appropriated to DCF in a 
specified budget category for sheriffs’ offices child protective investigations to other budget 
categories within DCF.  
For DCF to assume child protective investigative services from the sheriffs, the following categories 
would receive the transferred funding (including the additional funding of $1,381,682):   
 Salaries and Benefits: $53,009,059, which is based upon the assumption that the 535 filled 
positions among the sheriffs’ offices will elect to transfer employment to DCF, along with 
additional funding for 55 positions that are currently authorized within DCF but lack salary 
and benefit funds. The total FTE need is 674 positions, which will be covered by the 
transferred funds except for the new 55 FTE. 
 Expenses: $5,480,653 for fixed costs (e.g., leases, utilities, phones, etc.), travel 
reimbursement, and supplies. 
 
 Contracted Services: $527,660 for services such as court reporting, interpreter services, 
mail delivery, and records management.  
 Motor Vehicles: $1,250,966 for vehicles that are currently in the possession of the sheriffs’ 
that will be transferred to DCF. 
 Department of Management Services (DMS) annual workforce assessment: $268,409.  
 
The total cost required for DCF to assume child protective investigative services from the sheriffs is 
$60,536,747 ($59,155,066 currently available to be transferred plus $1,381,681 of new funding). A 
review of budget reversions during the last three fiscal years shows an average of $10,443,552 of 
unexpended salary budget.  This amount is not specific to FTE providing child protective investigative 
services, however, the budget amendment process allows departments to transfer certain budget 
authority among categories if needed.  Additionally, a review of vacant positions shows that 212.00 
Child Protective Investigator, Senior Child Protective Investigator, and Child Protective Investigator 
Supervisor positions were vacant as of February 2023.  The longest vacant position dates to August 
2021.  
 
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 
 
1. Revenues:  STORAGE NAME: h7061.APC 	PAGE: 10 
DATE: 4/14/2023 
  
The bill will reduce the funding received by those sheriffs’ offices providing child protective 
investigatory services from DCF.  The amount varies by sheriff’s office.  See Substantive Analysis, 
Effect of Proposed Changes. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
The bill will reduce the expenditures made by those sheriffs’ offices providing child protective 
investigatory services as they will no longer be responsible for providing those services. To the 
degree that sheriff’s offices are using county funds to supplement the funding received from DCF to 
provide child protective investigatory services, such counties may experience a positive fiscal 
impact from the bill.   
 
 
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR: 
None. 
 
 
D. FISCAL COMMENTS: 
DCF will purchase equipment for transitioning sheriff’s office staff using base budget from the current 
fiscal year.  
 
During the first year of the transition, the sheriffs would need funding to provide services until the date 
that responsibility for services transitioned to DCF, with the remaining appropriation (outside of the 
sheriffs’ line item) transferred to the Department to provide services for the rest of the fiscal year. 
 
III.  COMMENTS 
 
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: 
 
 1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision: 
Not Applicable.  This bill does not appear to require counties or municipalities to spend funds or take 
action requiring the expenditures of funds; reduce the authority that counties or municipalities have 
to raise revenues in the aggregate; or reduce the percentage of state tax shared with counties or 
municipalities. 
 
 2. Other: 
None. 
 
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY: 
DCF has sufficient rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of the bill. 
 
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS: 
None. 
 
IV.  AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES