| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to permanency for children; amending 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | s. 39.01, F.S.; defining the term "visitor"; amending 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | s. 39.0138, F.S.; renaming the "State Automated Child 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Welfare Information System" as the "Comprehensive 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Child Welfare Information System"; requiring the 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | Department of Children and Families to conduct a 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | criminal history records check of certain visitors to 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | a home in which a child is placed; defining the term 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | "emergency placement"; requiring the department to 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | conduct a name-based check of criminal histor y records 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | of certain persons in specified circumstances; 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | requiring certain persons to submit their fingerprints 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | to the department or other specified entities; 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | requiring the department or such entities to submit 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | such fingerprints to the Department of Law En forcement 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | for state processing within a specified timeframe; 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to forward 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | such fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | Investigation within a specified timeframe; requiring 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | a child to be immediately removed from a ho me if 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | certain persons fail to provide their fingerprints and 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | are not exempt from a criminal history records check; 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | creating s. 39.5035, F.S.; providing procedures and 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | requirements relating to deceased parents of a 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 38 |
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| 47 | 47 | | 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 |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | dependent child; amending s. 39.522, F.S.; authorizing 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | certain persons to remove a child from a court -ordered 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | placement under certain circumstances; requiring the 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | Department of Children and Families to file a 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | specified motion, and the court to set a hearing, 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | within specified timeframes under certa in 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | circumstances; requiring a certain determination by 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | the court to support immediate removal of a child; 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | authorizing the court to base its determination on 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | certain evidence; requiring the court to enter certain 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | orders and conduct certain hearings under ce rtain 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | circumstances; amending s. 39.6221, F.S.; revising a 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | requisite condition for placing a child in a permanent 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | guardianship; amending s. 39.6225, F.S.; revising 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | eligibility for payments under the Guardianship 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | Assistance Program; amending s. 39.801, F.S. ; 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | providing that service of process is not necessary 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | under certain circumstances; amending s. 39.812, F.S.; 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | authorizing the court to review the Department of 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | Children and Families' denial of an application to 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | adopt a child; requiring the department to file 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | written notification of its denial with the court and 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | provide copies to certain persons within a specified 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | timeframe; authorizing a denied applicant to file a 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | motion to review such denial within a specified 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 38 |
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| 84 | 84 | | 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 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | timeframe; requiring the court to hold a hearing 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | within a specified timeframe; providing standing to 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | certain persons; authorizing certain persons to 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | participate in the hearing under certain 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | circumstances; requiring the court to enter an order 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | within a specified timeframe; providing an exception 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | to authorize the department to remove a child from his 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | or her foster home or custodian; amending s. 63.062, 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | act; amending s. 63.093, F.S.; requiring an adoptive 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | home study to be updated every 12 months after the 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | date on which the first study was approved; requiring 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | the department to adopt certain rules; amending s. 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | 63.097, F.S.; requiring the court to issue a specified 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | order under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | fees; requiring an adoption entity, beginn ing on a 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | specified date, to quarterly report certain 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | information to the department; requiring certain 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | information to be itemized by certain categories; 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | providing that confidentiality provisions do not apply 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | to certain information; requiring an adoption ent ity 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | to redact certain confidential identifying 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | information; requiring the department to quarterly 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | report certain information on its website; requiring 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | the department to adopt rules; amending s. 63.132, 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 38 |
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| 121 | 121 | | 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 |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | F.S.; requiring certain orders to contain a written 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | determination of reasonableness; conforming a 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | 63.212, F.S.; providing applicability; requiring a 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | specified statement to be included in certain 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | advertisements; amending s. 409.1451, F.S.; revising 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | the age requirements for receiving postsecondary 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | education services and support; amending s. 409.166, 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | F.S.; revising the age requirements for receiving 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | adoption assistance; amending s. 409.1664, F.S.; 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | providing definitions; providing certain adoption 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | benefits to health care practitioners and tax 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | collector employees; specifying methods for such 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | persons to apply for such benefits; increasing the 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | amount of monetary adoption benefits certain persons 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | are eligible to receive; amending s. 409.167, F.S.; 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | providing requirements for the statewide adoption 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | exchange and its photo listing component and 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | description of children placed on such exchange; 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | authorizing only certain persons to access the 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | statewide adoption exchange; authorizing certain 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | children to make certain requests and requiring them 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | to be consulted on certain decisions; conforming 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | provisions to changes made by the act; providing an 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | effective date. 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 38 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 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 |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | Section 1. Subsection (88) is added to section 39.01, 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | 39.01 Definitions.—When used in this chapter, unless the 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | context otherwise requires: 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | (88) "Visitor" means a person who: 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | (a) Provides care or supervision to a child in the home; 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | or 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | (b) Is 12 years of age or older, other than a child in 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | care, and who will be in the child's home at least: 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | 1. Five consecutive days; or 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | 2. Seven days or more in 1 month. 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | Section 2. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 39.0138, 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | 39.0138 Criminal history and other records checks; limit 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | on placement of a child. — 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | (1) The department shall conduct a records check through 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | the Comprehensive State Automated Child Welfare Information 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | System (SACWIS) and a local and statewide criminal history 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | records check on all persons, including parents, being 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | considered by the department for placement of a child under this 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | chapter, including all nonrelative placement decisions, and all 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | members of the household, 12 years of age and older, of the 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 38 |
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| 195 | 195 | | 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 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | person being considered. For pur poses of this section, a 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | criminal history records check may include, but is not limited 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | to, submission of fingerprints to the Department of Law 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | Enforcement for processing and forwarding to the Federal Bureau 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | of Investigation for state and national criminal history 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | information, and local criminal records checks through local law 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | enforcement agencies of all household members 18 years of age 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | and older and other visitors 18 years of age and older to the 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | home. An out-of-state criminal history records check must be 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | initiated for any person 18 years of age or older who resided in 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | another state if that state allows the release of such records. 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | The department must complete the records check within 14 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | business days after receiving a person's criminal history 138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | results, unless additional information is required to complete 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | the processing. The department shall establish by rule standards 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | for evaluating any information contained in the automated system 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | relating to a person who must be screened for purposes of making 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | a placement decision. 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | (5)(a) If a child has been sheltered pursuant to s. 39.402 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | and the department must arrange an emergency placement in out -145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | of-home care for the child, the department must conduct a name -146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | based check of criminal history records to ascertain if the 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | person with whom placement of the child is being considered and 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | any other adult household members of such person are 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | disqualified. For purposes of this paragraph, the term 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 38 |
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| 232 | 232 | | 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 |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | "emergency placement" means the department is placing a child in 151 |
|---|
| 237 | 237 | | the home of a private individual, including a neighbor, friend, 152 |
|---|
| 238 | 238 | | or relative, as a result of an immediate removal pursuant to s. 153 |
|---|
| 239 | 239 | | 39.402. 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | (b) The department may place a child in the a home if the 155 |
|---|
| 241 | 241 | | person with whom placement of the child is being considered and 156 |
|---|
| 242 | 242 | | any other adult household members or visitors of the home are 157 |
|---|
| 243 | 243 | | not disqualified by the name -based check, but, unless exempt, 158 |
|---|
| 244 | 244 | | such persons must submit a full set of fingerprints to the 159 |
|---|
| 245 | 245 | | department or to a vendor, an entity, or an agency authorized 160 |
|---|
| 246 | 246 | | under s. 943.053(13). Unless exempt, within 7 calendar days 161 |
|---|
| 247 | 247 | | after the name-based check, the department, vendor, entity, or 162 |
|---|
| 248 | 248 | | agency must submit the fingerprints to the Department of Law 163 |
|---|
| 249 | 249 | | Enforcement for state processing. Within 15 calendar days after 164 |
|---|
| 250 | 250 | | the name-based check was cond ucted, the Department of Law 165 |
|---|
| 251 | 251 | | Enforcement must forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau 166 |
|---|
| 252 | 252 | | of Investigation for national processing that otherwise meets 167 |
|---|
| 253 | 253 | | placement requirements if a name check of state and local 168 |
|---|
| 254 | 254 | | criminal history records systems does not d isqualify the 169 |
|---|
| 255 | 255 | | applicant and if the department submits fingerprints to the 170 |
|---|
| 256 | 256 | | Department of Law Enforcement for forwarding to the Federal 171 |
|---|
| 257 | 257 | | Bureau of Investigation and is awaiting the results of the state 172 |
|---|
| 258 | 258 | | and national criminal history records check . 173 |
|---|
| 259 | 259 | | (c) The department shall seek a court order to immediately 174 |
|---|
| 260 | 260 | | remove the child from the home if the person with whom the child 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 38 |
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| 269 | 269 | | 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 |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | was placed or any other adult household members or visitors of 176 |
|---|
| 274 | 274 | | the home fail to provide their fingerprints within 15 calendar 177 |
|---|
| 275 | 275 | | days after the name-based check is conducted and such persons 178 |
|---|
| 276 | 276 | | are not exempt from a criminal history records check. 179 |
|---|
| 277 | 277 | | Section 3. Section 39.5035, Florida Statutes, is created 180 |
|---|
| 278 | 278 | | to read: 181 |
|---|
| 279 | 279 | | 39.5035 Deceased parents; special procedures. — 182 |
|---|
| 280 | 280 | | (1)(a)1. If both parents of a chi ld are deceased or the 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | last known living parent of a child is deceased and a legal 184 |
|---|
| 282 | 282 | | custodian has not been appointed for the child through a probate 185 |
|---|
| 283 | 283 | | or guardianship proceeding, then an attorney for the department 186 |
|---|
| 284 | 284 | | or any other person who has knowledge of the facts alleged or is 187 |
|---|
| 285 | 285 | | informed of the alleged facts, and believes them to be true, may 188 |
|---|
| 286 | 286 | | initiate a proceeding by filing a petition for adjudication and 189 |
|---|
| 287 | 287 | | permanent commitment. 190 |
|---|
| 288 | 288 | | 2. If a child has been placed in shelter status by order 191 |
|---|
| 289 | 289 | | of the court but has not yet been adjudicated, a petition for 192 |
|---|
| 290 | 290 | | adjudication and permanent commitment must be filed within 21 193 |
|---|
| 291 | 291 | | days after the shelter hearing. In all other cases, the petition 194 |
|---|
| 292 | 292 | | must be filed within a reasonable time after the date the 195 |
|---|
| 293 | 293 | | petitioner first becomes aware of the facts that support the 196 |
|---|
| 294 | 294 | | petition for adjudication and permanent commitment. 197 |
|---|
| 295 | 295 | | (b) If both parents die or the last known living parent 198 |
|---|
| 296 | 296 | | dies after a child has already been adjudicated dependent, an 199 |
|---|
| 297 | 297 | | attorney for the department or any other person who has 200 |
|---|
| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 38 |
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| 306 | 306 | | 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 |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | knowledge of the facts alleged or is informed of the alleged 201 |
|---|
| 311 | 311 | | facts, and believes them to be true, may file a petition for 202 |
|---|
| 312 | 312 | | permanent commitment. The petition must be filed within a 203 |
|---|
| 313 | 313 | | reasonable time after the petitioner first becomes aware of the 204 |
|---|
| 314 | 314 | | facts that support the petition for permanent commitment. 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | (2) The petition must be: 206 |
|---|
| 316 | 316 | | (a) In writing, identify the alleged deceased parents, and 207 |
|---|
| 317 | 317 | | provide facts that establish that both parents of the child are 208 |
|---|
| 318 | 318 | | deceased or the last known living parent is deceased and t hat a 209 |
|---|
| 319 | 319 | | legal custodian has not been appointed for the child through a 210 |
|---|
| 320 | 320 | | probate or guardianship proceeding. 211 |
|---|
| 321 | 321 | | (b) Signed by the petitioner under oath stating the 212 |
|---|
| 322 | 322 | | petitioner's good faith in filing the petition. 213 |
|---|
| 323 | 323 | | (3) When a petition for adjudication and perman ent 214 |
|---|
| 324 | 324 | | commitment or a petition for permanent commitment has been 215 |
|---|
| 325 | 325 | | filed, the clerk of court must set the case before the court for 216 |
|---|
| 326 | 326 | | an adjudicatory hearing. The adjudicatory hearing must be held 217 |
|---|
| 327 | 327 | | as soon as practicable after the petition is filed, but no later 218 |
|---|
| 328 | 328 | | than 30 days after the filing date. 219 |
|---|
| 329 | 329 | | (4) Notice of the date, time, and place of the 220 |
|---|
| 330 | 330 | | adjudicatory hearing and a copy of the petition must be served 221 |
|---|
| 331 | 331 | | on the following persons: 222 |
|---|
| 332 | 332 | | (a) Any person who has physical custody of the child. 223 |
|---|
| 333 | 333 | | (b) A living relative of each parent of the child, unless 224 |
|---|
| 334 | 334 | | a living relative cannot be found after a diligent search or 225 |
|---|
| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 38 |
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| 343 | 343 | | 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 |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
|---|
| 345 | 345 | | |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | inquiry. 226 |
|---|
| 348 | 348 | | (c) The guardian ad litem for the child or the 227 |
|---|
| 349 | 349 | | representative of the guardian ad litem program, if the program 228 |
|---|
| 350 | 350 | | has been appointed. 229 |
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| 351 | 351 | | (5) The court shall conduct adjudicatory hearings without 230 |
|---|
| 352 | 352 | | a jury and apply the rules of evidence in use in civil cases, 231 |
|---|
| 353 | 353 | | adjourning the hearings as necessary. The court must determine 232 |
|---|
| 354 | 354 | | whether the petitioner has established by clear and convincing 233 |
|---|
| 355 | 355 | | evidence that both parents of the child are deceased, or that 234 |
|---|
| 356 | 356 | | the last known living parent is deceased and the other parent 235 |
|---|
| 357 | 357 | | cannot be found after a diligent search or inquiry, and that a 236 |
|---|
| 358 | 358 | | legal custodian has not been appointed for the child through a 237 |
|---|
| 359 | 359 | | probate or guardianship proceedin g. A certified copy of the 238 |
|---|
| 360 | 360 | | death certificate for each parent is sufficient evidence of the 239 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | parents' deaths. 240 |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | (6) Within 30 days after an adjudicatory hearing on a 241 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | petition for adjudication and permanent commitment: 242 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | (a) If the court finds that the petiti oner has met the 243 |
|---|
| 365 | 365 | | clear and convincing standard, the court must enter a written 244 |
|---|
| 366 | 366 | | order adjudicating the child dependent and permanently 245 |
|---|
| 367 | 367 | | committing the child to the custody of the department for the 246 |
|---|
| 368 | 368 | | purpose of adoption. A disposition hearing must be scheduled no 247 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | later than 30 days after the entry of the order, in which the 248 |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | department must provide a case plan that identifies the 249 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | permanency goal for the child to the court. Reasonable efforts 250 |
|---|
| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 38 |
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| 380 | 380 | | 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 |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | must be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance 251 |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | with the permanency plan and to complete all steps necessary to 252 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | finalize the permanent placement of the child. Thereafter, until 253 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | the adoption of the child is finalized or the child reaches the 254 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | age of 18 years, whichever occurs first, the court must hold 255 |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | hearings every 6 months to review the progress being made toward 256 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | permanency for the child. 257 |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | (b) If the court finds that clear and convincing evidence 258 |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | does not establish that both parents of a child are deceased, or 259 |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | that the last known living parent is deceased an d the other 260 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | parent cannot be found after a diligent search or inquiry, and 261 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | that a legal custodian has not been appointed for the child 262 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | through a probate or guardianship proceeding, but that a 263 |
|---|
| 397 | 397 | | preponderance of the evidence establishes that the child does 264 |
|---|
| 398 | 398 | | not have a parent or legal custodian capable of providing 265 |
|---|
| 399 | 399 | | supervision or care, the court must enter a written order 266 |
|---|
| 400 | 400 | | adjudicating the child dependent. A disposition hearing must be 267 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | scheduled no later than 30 days after the entry of the order as 268 |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | provided in s. 39.521. 269 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | (c) If the court finds that the petitioner has not met the 270 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | clear and convincing standard and that a preponderance of the 271 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | evidence does not establish that the child does not have a 272 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | parent or legal custodian capable of providing supervision or 273 |
|---|
| 407 | 407 | | care, the court must enter a written order so finding and 274 |
|---|
| 408 | 408 | | dismiss the petition. 275 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 38 |
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| 417 | 417 | | 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 |
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| 418 | 418 | | |
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| 419 | 419 | | |
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| 420 | 420 | | |
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| 421 | 421 | | (7) Within 30 days after an adjudicatory hearing on a 276 |
|---|
| 422 | 422 | | petition for permanent commitment: 277 |
|---|
| 423 | 423 | | (a) If the court finds that the petitioner has met the 278 |
|---|
| 424 | 424 | | clear and convincing standard, the court must enter a written 279 |
|---|
| 425 | 425 | | order permanently committing the child to the custody of the 280 |
|---|
| 426 | 426 | | department for purposes of adoption. A disposition hearing must 281 |
|---|
| 427 | 427 | | be scheduled no later than 30 days after the entry of the order, 282 |
|---|
| 428 | 428 | | in which the department must provid e an amended case plan that 283 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | identifies the permanency goal for the child to the court. 284 |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | Reasonable efforts must be made to place the child in a timely 285 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | manner in accordance with the permanency plan and to complete 286 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | all steps necessary to finalize the permanen t placement of the 287 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | child. Thereafter, until the adoption of the child is finalized 288 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | or the child reaches the age of 18 years, whichever occurs 289 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | first, the court must hold hearings every 6 months to review the 290 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | progress being made toward permanency for the chi ld. 291 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | (b) If the court finds that clear and convincing evidence 292 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | does not establish that both parents of a child are deceased or 293 |
|---|
| 439 | 439 | | that the last known living parent is deceased and the other 294 |
|---|
| 440 | 440 | | parent cannot be found after a diligent search or inquiry, the 295 |
|---|
| 441 | 441 | | court must enter a written order denying the petition. The order 296 |
|---|
| 442 | 442 | | has no effect on the child's prior adjudication. The order does 297 |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | not bar the petitioner from filing a subsequent petition for 298 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | permanent commitment based on newly discovered evidence that 299 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | establishes that both parents of a child are deceased, or that 300 |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | Page 13 of 38 |
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| 454 | 454 | | 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 |
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| 455 | 455 | | |
|---|
| 456 | 456 | | |
|---|
| 457 | 457 | | |
|---|
| 458 | 458 | | the last known living parent is deceased, and that a legal 301 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | custodian has not been appointed for the child through a probate 302 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | or guardianship proceeding. 303 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | Section 4. Subsection (7) is added to section 3 9.522, 304 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 305 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | 39.522 Postdisposition change of custody. — 306 |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a 307 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | child's case manager, an authorized agent of the department, or 308 |
|---|
| 466 | 466 | | a law enforcement officer may, at any time, remove a child from 309 |
|---|
| 467 | 467 | | a court-ordered placement and take the child into custody if the 310 |
|---|
| 468 | 468 | | court-ordered caregiver of the child requests immediate removal 311 |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | of the child from the home. Additionally, an authorized agent of 312 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | the department or a law enforcement officer may, a t any time, 313 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | remove a child from a court -ordered placement and take the child 314 |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | into custody if there is probable cause as required under s. 315 |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | 39.401(1)(b). 316 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | (a) If, at the time of the removal, the child was not 317 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | placed in licensed care in the department's cust ody, the 318 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | department must file a motion to modify placement within 1 319 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | business day after the child is taken into custody. The court 320 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | must then set a hearing within 24 hours after the motion is 321 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | filed unless all of the parties and the current caregiver agree 322 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | to the change of placement. At the hearing, the court must 323 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | determine if the department has established probable cause to 324 |
|---|
| 482 | 482 | | support the immediate removal of the child from his or her 325 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | Page 14 of 38 |
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| 491 | 491 | | 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 |
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| 492 | 492 | | |
|---|
| 493 | 493 | | |
|---|
| 494 | 494 | | |
|---|
| 495 | 495 | | current placement. The court may base its determination on a 326 |
|---|
| 496 | 496 | | sworn petition or affidavit or on testimony and may hear all 327 |
|---|
| 497 | 497 | | relevant and material evidence, including oral or written 328 |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | reports, to the extent of their probative value, even if such 329 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | evidence would not be competent evidence at an adjudicatory 330 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | hearing. 331 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | (b) If the court find s that the department did not 332 |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | establish probable cause to support the removal of the child 333 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | from his or her current placement, the court must enter an order 334 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | that the child be returned to such placement. An order by the 335 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | court to return the child to his or he r current placement does 336 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | not preclude a party from filing a subsequent motion pursuant to 337 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | subsection (2). 338 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | (c) If the current caregiver admits that a change of 339 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | placement is needed or the department establishes probable cause 340 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | to support removal of the chil d, the court must enter an order 341 |
|---|
| 511 | 511 | | changing the placement of the child. The new placement for the 342 |
|---|
| 512 | 512 | | child must meet the home study criteria in this chapter if the 343 |
|---|
| 513 | 513 | | child is not placed in foster care. 344 |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | (d) If the court finds probable cause and modifies the 345 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | child's placement, the court must conduct a hearing pursuant to 346 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | subsection (2) or subsection (3), unless such hearing is waived 347 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | by all parties and the caregiver. 348 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 349 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | 39.6221, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 350 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | Page 15 of 38 |
|---|
| 528 | 528 | | 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 |
|---|
| 529 | 529 | | |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | 39.6221 Permanent guardianship of a dependent child. — 351 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | (1) If a court determines that reunification or adoption 352 |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | is not in the best interest of the child, the court may place 353 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | the child in a permanent guardianship with a relative or other 354 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | adult approved by the court if all of the following conditions 355 |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | are met: 356 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | (a) The child has been in the placement for not less than 357 |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | the preceding 6 months , or the preceding 3 months if the 358 |
|---|
| 540 | 540 | | caregiver is already known by the child and such caregiver has 359 |
|---|
| 541 | 541 | | been named as the successor guardian on the child's guardianship 360 |
|---|
| 542 | 542 | | assistance agreement . 361 |
|---|
| 543 | 543 | | Section 6. Subsection (9) of section 39.6225, Florida 362 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 363 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | 39.6225 Guardianship Assistance Program. — 364 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | (9) Guardianship assistance payments may not shall only be 365 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | made for a young adult unless the young adult's whose permanent 366 |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | guardian entered into a guardianship assistance agreement after 367 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | the child attained 14 16 years of age but before the child 368 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | attained 18 years of age and if the child is: 369 |
|---|
| 551 | 551 | | (a) Completing secondary education or a program leading to 370 |
|---|
| 552 | 552 | | an equivalent credential; 371 |
|---|
| 553 | 553 | | (b) Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary 372 |
|---|
| 554 | 554 | | or vocational education; 373 |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | (c) Participating in a program or activity designed to 374 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | promote or eliminate barriers to emplo yment; 375 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | Page 16 of 38 |
|---|
| 565 | 565 | | 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 |
|---|
| 566 | 566 | | |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | (d) Employed for at least 80 hours per month; or 376 |
|---|
| 570 | 570 | | (e) Unable to participate in programs or activities listed 377 |
|---|
| 571 | 571 | | in paragraphs (a)-(d) full time due to a physical, intellectual, 378 |
|---|
| 572 | 572 | | emotional, or psychiatric condition that limits participation. 379 |
|---|
| 573 | 573 | | Any such barrier to participation must be supported by 380 |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | documentation in the child's case file or school or medical 381 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | records of a physical, intellectual, emotional, or psychiatric 382 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | condition that impairs the child's ability to perform one or 383 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | more life activities. 384 |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | Section 7. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 385 |
|---|
| 579 | 579 | | 39.801, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (e), and 386 |
|---|
| 580 | 580 | | a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection to read: 387 |
|---|
| 581 | 581 | | 39.801 Procedures and jurisdiction; notice; service of 388 |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | process.— 389 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | (3) Before the court may terminate parental rights, in 390 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | addition to the other requirements set forth in this part, the 391 |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | following requirements must be met: 392 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | (d) Personal appearance of a person at the advisory 393 |
|---|
| 587 | 587 | | hearing as provided in s. 39.013(13) obviates the necessity of 394 |
|---|
| 588 | 588 | | serving process on that person and the court may proceed with 395 |
|---|
| 589 | 589 | | the advisory hearing and any subsequently noticed hearing. 396 |
|---|
| 590 | 590 | | Section 8. Subsections (4), (5), and (6) of section 397 |
|---|
| 591 | 591 | | 39.812, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 398 |
|---|
| 592 | 592 | | 39.812 Postdisposition reli ef; petition for adoption. — 399 |
|---|
| 593 | 593 | | (4) The court shall retain jurisdiction over any child 400 |
|---|
| 601 | 601 | | Page 17 of 38 |
|---|
| 602 | 602 | | 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 |
|---|
| 603 | 603 | | |
|---|
| 604 | 604 | | |
|---|
| 605 | 605 | | |
|---|
| 606 | 606 | | placed in the custody of the department until the child is 401 |
|---|
| 607 | 607 | | adopted. After custody of a child for subsequent adoption has 402 |
|---|
| 608 | 608 | | been given to the department, the court has jurisd iction for the 403 |
|---|
| 609 | 609 | | purpose of reviewing the status of the child and the progress 404 |
|---|
| 610 | 610 | | being made toward permanent adoptive placement. As part of this 405 |
|---|
| 611 | 611 | | continuing jurisdiction, for good cause shown by the guardian ad 406 |
|---|
| 612 | 612 | | litem for the child, the court may: 407 |
|---|
| 613 | 613 | | (a) Review the appropriateness of the adoptive placement 408 |
|---|
| 614 | 614 | | of the child if good cause is shown by the guardian ad litem for 409 |
|---|
| 615 | 615 | | the child. 410 |
|---|
| 616 | 616 | | (b) Review the department's denial of an application to 411 |
|---|
| 617 | 617 | | adopt a child. The department's decision to deny an application 412 |
|---|
| 618 | 618 | | to adopt a child is only reviewable under this section and is 413 |
|---|
| 619 | 619 | | not subject to chapter 120. 414 |
|---|
| 620 | 620 | | 1. If the department denies an application to adopt a 415 |
|---|
| 621 | 621 | | child, the department must file written notification of the 416 |
|---|
| 622 | 622 | | denial with the court and provide copies to all parties within 417 |
|---|
| 623 | 623 | | 10 business days after the department's decision. 418 |
|---|
| 624 | 624 | | 2. A denied applicant may file a motion to have the court 419 |
|---|
| 625 | 625 | | review the department's denial within 30 business days after the 420 |
|---|
| 626 | 626 | | issuance of the department's written notification of its 421 |
|---|
| 627 | 627 | | decision to deny the app lication to adopt a child. The motion to 422 |
|---|
| 628 | 628 | | review must allege that the department unreasonably denied the 423 |
|---|
| 629 | 629 | | application to adopt and request that the court allow the denied 424 |
|---|
| 630 | 630 | | applicant to file a petition to adopt the child under chapter 63 425 |
|---|
| 638 | 638 | | Page 18 of 38 |
|---|
| 639 | 639 | | 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 |
|---|
| 640 | 640 | | |
|---|
| 641 | 641 | | |
|---|
| 642 | 642 | | |
|---|
| 643 | 643 | | without the department 's consent. 426 |
|---|
| 644 | 644 | | 3. A denied applicant only has standing under this chapter 427 |
|---|
| 645 | 645 | | to file a motion to review the department's denial and to 428 |
|---|
| 646 | 646 | | present evidence in support of such motion. Such standing is 429 |
|---|
| 647 | 647 | | terminated upon the entry of the court's order. 430 |
|---|
| 648 | 648 | | 4. The court shall hold a hearing within 30 business days 431 |
|---|
| 649 | 649 | | after the denied applicant files the motion to review. The court 432 |
|---|
| 650 | 650 | | may only consider whether the department's denial of the 433 |
|---|
| 651 | 651 | | application is consistent with its policies and if the 434 |
|---|
| 652 | 652 | | department made such decision in an expeditious manner. The 435 |
|---|
| 653 | 653 | | standard of review is whether the department's denial of the 436 |
|---|
| 654 | 654 | | application is an abuse of discretion. 437 |
|---|
| 655 | 655 | | 5. If the department selected a different applicant to 438 |
|---|
| 656 | 656 | | adopt the child, the selected applicant may participate in the 439 |
|---|
| 657 | 657 | | hearing as a participant, as defined in s. 39.01, and may be 440 |
|---|
| 658 | 658 | | granted leave by the court to be heard without the need to file 441 |
|---|
| 659 | 659 | | a motion to intervene. 442 |
|---|
| 660 | 660 | | 6. Within 15 business days after the conclusion of the 443 |
|---|
| 661 | 661 | | hearing, the court must enter a written order denying the moti on 444 |
|---|
| 662 | 662 | | to review or finding that the department unreasonably denied the 445 |
|---|
| 663 | 663 | | application to adopt and authorizing the denied applicant to 446 |
|---|
| 664 | 664 | | file a petition to adopt the child under chapter 63 without the 447 |
|---|
| 665 | 665 | | department's consent. 448 |
|---|
| 666 | 666 | | (5) When a licensed foster parent or co urt-ordered 449 |
|---|
| 667 | 667 | | custodian has applied to adopt a child who has resided with the 450 |
|---|
| 675 | 675 | | Page 19 of 38 |
|---|
| 676 | 676 | | 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 |
|---|
| 677 | 677 | | |
|---|
| 678 | 678 | | |
|---|
| 679 | 679 | | |
|---|
| 680 | 680 | | foster parent or custodian for at least 6 months and who has 451 |
|---|
| 681 | 681 | | previously been permanently committed to the legal custody of 452 |
|---|
| 682 | 682 | | the department and the department does not grant the appl ication 453 |
|---|
| 683 | 683 | | to adopt, the department may not, in the absence of a prior 454 |
|---|
| 684 | 684 | | court order authorizing it to do so, remove the child from the 455 |
|---|
| 685 | 685 | | foster home or custodian, except when: 456 |
|---|
| 686 | 686 | | (a) There is probable cause to believe that the child is 457 |
|---|
| 687 | 687 | | at imminent risk of abuse o r neglect; 458 |
|---|
| 688 | 688 | | (b) Thirty business days have expired following written 459 |
|---|
| 689 | 689 | | notice to the foster parent or custodian of the denial of the 460 |
|---|
| 690 | 690 | | application to adopt, within which period no formal challenge of 461 |
|---|
| 691 | 691 | | the department's decision has been filed; 462 |
|---|
| 692 | 692 | | (c) A motion to review the department's denial of an 463 |
|---|
| 693 | 693 | | application to adopt a child under paragraph (4)(b) has been 464 |
|---|
| 694 | 694 | | denied; or 465 |
|---|
| 695 | 695 | | (d)(c) The foster parent or custodian agrees to the 466 |
|---|
| 696 | 696 | | child's removal. 467 |
|---|
| 697 | 697 | | (6)(5) The petition for adoption must be filed in the 468 |
|---|
| 698 | 698 | | division of the circuit court which entered the judgment 469 |
|---|
| 699 | 699 | | terminating parental rights, unless a motion for change of venue 470 |
|---|
| 700 | 700 | | is granted pursuant to s. 47.122. A copy of the consent to 471 |
|---|
| 701 | 701 | | adoption executed by the department must be attached to the 472 |
|---|
| 702 | 702 | | petition, unless such consent is waived under pursuant to s. 473 |
|---|
| 703 | 703 | | 63.062(7). The petition must be accompanied by a statement, 474 |
|---|
| 704 | 704 | | signed by the prospective adoptive parents, acknowledging 475 |
|---|
| 712 | 712 | | Page 20 of 38 |
|---|
| 713 | 713 | | 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 |
|---|
| 714 | 714 | | |
|---|
| 715 | 715 | | |
|---|
| 716 | 716 | | |
|---|
| 717 | 717 | | receipt of all information required to be disclosed under s. 476 |
|---|
| 718 | 718 | | 63.085 and a form provided by the department which details the 477 |
|---|
| 719 | 719 | | social and medical history of the child and each parent and 478 |
|---|
| 720 | 720 | | includes the social security number and date of birth for each 479 |
|---|
| 721 | 721 | | parent, if such information is available or readily obtainable. 480 |
|---|
| 722 | 722 | | The prospective adoptive parents may not file a petition for 481 |
|---|
| 723 | 723 | | adoption until the judgment terminating parental rights becomes 482 |
|---|
| 724 | 724 | | final. An adoption proceeding under this subsection is governed 483 |
|---|
| 725 | 725 | | by chapter 63. 484 |
|---|
| 726 | 726 | | (7)(a)(6)(a) Once a child's adoption is finalized, the 485 |
|---|
| 727 | 727 | | community-based care lead agency must make a reasonable effort 486 |
|---|
| 728 | 728 | | to contact the adoptive family by telephone 1 year after the 487 |
|---|
| 729 | 729 | | date of finalization of the adoption as a postadoption service. 488 |
|---|
| 730 | 730 | | For purposes of this sub section, the term "reasonable effort" 489 |
|---|
| 731 | 731 | | means the exercise of reasonable diligence and care by the 490 |
|---|
| 732 | 732 | | community-based care lead agency to make contact with the 491 |
|---|
| 733 | 733 | | adoptive family. At a minimum, the agency must document all of 492 |
|---|
| 734 | 734 | | the following: 493 |
|---|
| 735 | 735 | | 1. The number of atte mpts made by the community -based care 494 |
|---|
| 736 | 736 | | lead agency to contact the adoptive family and whether those 495 |
|---|
| 737 | 737 | | attempts were successful .; 496 |
|---|
| 738 | 738 | | 2. The types of postadoption services that were requested 497 |
|---|
| 739 | 739 | | by the adoptive family and whether those services were provided 498 |
|---|
| 740 | 740 | | by the community-based care lead agency .; and 499 |
|---|
| 741 | 741 | | 3. Any feedback received by the community -based care lead 500 |
|---|
| 749 | 749 | | Page 21 of 38 |
|---|
| 750 | 750 | | 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 |
|---|
| 751 | 751 | | |
|---|
| 752 | 752 | | |
|---|
| 753 | 753 | | |
|---|
| 754 | 754 | | agency from the adoptive family relating to the quality or 501 |
|---|
| 755 | 755 | | effectiveness of the services provided. 502 |
|---|
| 756 | 756 | | (b) The community-based care lead agency must report 503 |
|---|
| 757 | 757 | | annually to the department on the outcomes achieved and 504 |
|---|
| 758 | 758 | | recommendations for improvement under this subsection. 505 |
|---|
| 759 | 759 | | Section 9. Subsection (7) of section 63.062, Florida 506 |
|---|
| 760 | 760 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 507 |
|---|
| 761 | 761 | | 63.062 Persons required to consent to adoption; affidavit 508 |
|---|
| 762 | 762 | | of nonpaternity; waiver of venue. — 509 |
|---|
| 763 | 763 | | (7) If parental rights to the minor have previously been 510 |
|---|
| 764 | 764 | | terminated, the adoption entity with which the minor has been 511 |
|---|
| 765 | 765 | | placed for subsequent adoption may provide consent to the 512 |
|---|
| 766 | 766 | | adoption. In such case, no other consent i s required. If the 513 |
|---|
| 767 | 767 | | minor has been permanently committed to the department for 514 |
|---|
| 768 | 768 | | subsequent adoption, the department must consent to the adoption 515 |
|---|
| 769 | 769 | | or the court order finding that the department unreasonably 516 |
|---|
| 770 | 770 | | denied the application to adopt entered under s. 39.8 12(4) must 517 |
|---|
| 771 | 771 | | be attached to the petition to adopt, and The consent of the 518 |
|---|
| 772 | 772 | | department shall be waived upon a determination by the court 519 |
|---|
| 773 | 773 | | that such consent is being unreasonably withheld and if the 520 |
|---|
| 774 | 774 | | petitioner must file has filed with the court a favorable 521 |
|---|
| 775 | 775 | | preliminary adoptive home study as required under s. 63.092. 522 |
|---|
| 776 | 776 | | Section 10. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 63.093, 523 |
|---|
| 777 | 777 | | Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to 524 |
|---|
| 778 | 778 | | that section, to read: 525 |
|---|
| 786 | 786 | | Page 22 of 38 |
|---|
| 787 | 787 | | 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 |
|---|
| 788 | 788 | | |
|---|
| 789 | 789 | | |
|---|
| 790 | 790 | | |
|---|
| 791 | 791 | | 63.093 Adoption of children from the child welfare 526 |
|---|
| 792 | 792 | | system.— 527 |
|---|
| 793 | 793 | | (4) Before a child is placed in an adoptive home, the 528 |
|---|
| 794 | 794 | | community-based care lead agency or its subcontracted agency 529 |
|---|
| 795 | 795 | | must complete an adoptive home study of a prospective adoptive 530 |
|---|
| 796 | 796 | | parent that includes observation, screening, and evaluation of 531 |
|---|
| 797 | 797 | | the child and the prospective adoptive parent. An adoptive home 532 |
|---|
| 798 | 798 | | study must be updated every is valid for 12 months after the 533 |
|---|
| 799 | 799 | | date on which the first study was approved. If the child was 534 |
|---|
| 800 | 800 | | placed before the termination of parental rights, the updated 535 |
|---|
| 801 | 801 | | placement or licensing home study may serve as the adoption home 536 |
|---|
| 802 | 802 | | study. In addition, the community -based care lead agency or its 537 |
|---|
| 803 | 803 | | subcontracted agency must complete a preparation process, as 538 |
|---|
| 804 | 804 | | established by department rule, with the prospective adoptive 539 |
|---|
| 805 | 805 | | parent. 540 |
|---|
| 806 | 806 | | (5) At the conclusion of the adoptive home study and 541 |
|---|
| 807 | 807 | | preparation process, a decision must shall be made about the 542 |
|---|
| 808 | 808 | | prospective adoptive parent's appropriateness to adopt. This 543 |
|---|
| 809 | 809 | | decision must shall be reflected in the final recommendation 544 |
|---|
| 810 | 810 | | included in the adoptive home study. If the recommendation is 545 |
|---|
| 811 | 811 | | for approval, the adoptive parent application file must be 546 |
|---|
| 812 | 812 | | submitted to the community -based care lead agency or its 547 |
|---|
| 813 | 813 | | subcontracted agency for approval. The community -based care lead 548 |
|---|
| 814 | 814 | | agency or its subcontracted agency must ap prove or deny the home 549 |
|---|
| 815 | 815 | | study within 14 business days after receipt of the 550 |
|---|
| 823 | 823 | | Page 23 of 38 |
|---|
| 824 | 824 | | 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 |
|---|
| 825 | 825 | | |
|---|
| 826 | 826 | | |
|---|
| 827 | 827 | | |
|---|
| 828 | 828 | | recommendation. 551 |
|---|
| 829 | 829 | | (6) The department shall adopt rules to eliminate 552 |
|---|
| 830 | 830 | | duplicative practices and delays in the adoption home study 553 |
|---|
| 831 | 831 | | process for a member of a uniformed service on active duty 554 |
|---|
| 832 | 832 | | seeking to adopt in the state, including, but not limited to, 555 |
|---|
| 833 | 833 | | providing a credit for adoption classes that have been taken in 556 |
|---|
| 834 | 834 | | another state which substantially cover the preservice training 557 |
|---|
| 835 | 835 | | required under s. 409.175(14)(b). 558 |
|---|
| 836 | 836 | | 559 |
|---|
| 837 | 837 | | Notwithstanding subsection s (1) and (2), this section does not 560 |
|---|
| 838 | 838 | | apply to a child adopted through the process provided in s. 561 |
|---|
| 839 | 839 | | 63.082(6). 562 |
|---|
| 840 | 840 | | Section 11. Subsections (1), (3), and (4) and paragraph 563 |
|---|
| 841 | 841 | | (c) of subsection (5) of section 63.097, Florida Statutes, are 564 |
|---|
| 842 | 842 | | amended, and subsection ( 7) is added to that section, to read: 565 |
|---|
| 843 | 843 | | 63.097 Fees.— 566 |
|---|
| 844 | 844 | | (1) When the adoption entity is an agency, fees may be 567 |
|---|
| 845 | 845 | | assessed if such fees they are approved by the department within 568 |
|---|
| 846 | 846 | | the process of licensing the agency and if such fees they are 569 |
|---|
| 847 | 847 | | for: 570 |
|---|
| 848 | 848 | | (a) Foster care expenses.; 571 |
|---|
| 849 | 849 | | (b) Preplacement and postplacement social services .; and 572 |
|---|
| 850 | 850 | | (c) Agency facility and administrative costs. 573 |
|---|
| 851 | 851 | | (3) The court must issue an order pursuant to s. 63.132(3) 574 |
|---|
| 852 | 852 | | if Approval of the court is not required until the total of 575 |
|---|
| 860 | 860 | | Page 24 of 38 |
|---|
| 861 | 861 | | 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 |
|---|
| 862 | 862 | | |
|---|
| 863 | 863 | | |
|---|
| 864 | 864 | | |
|---|
| 865 | 865 | | amounts permitted under subsection (2) exceeds: 576 |
|---|
| 866 | 866 | | (a) $5,000 in legal or other professional fees; 577 |
|---|
| 867 | 867 | | (b) $800 in court costs; or 578 |
|---|
| 868 | 868 | | (c) $5,000 in reasonable and necessary living and medical 579 |
|---|
| 869 | 869 | | expenses. 580 |
|---|
| 870 | 870 | | (4) Any fees, costs, or expenses not included in 581 |
|---|
| 871 | 871 | | subsection (2) or prohibited under subsection (5) require court 582 |
|---|
| 872 | 872 | | approval and entry of an order pursuant to s. 63.132(3) before 583 |
|---|
| 873 | 873 | | prior to payment and must be based on a finding of extraordinary 584 |
|---|
| 874 | 874 | | circumstances. 585 |
|---|
| 875 | 875 | | (5) The following fees, costs, and expenses are 586 |
|---|
| 876 | 876 | | prohibited: 587 |
|---|
| 877 | 877 | | (c) Any fee on the affidavit which is not a fee of the 588 |
|---|
| 878 | 878 | | adoption entity, is not supported by a receipt, does not specify 589 |
|---|
| 879 | 879 | | the service that was provided and for which the fee is being 590 |
|---|
| 880 | 880 | | charged, such as a fee for facilitation, acquisition, or other 591 |
|---|
| 881 | 881 | | similar service, or which does not identify the date the service 592 |
|---|
| 882 | 882 | | was provided, the time required to provide the service, the 593 |
|---|
| 883 | 883 | | person or entity providing the service, and the hourly fee 594 |
|---|
| 884 | 884 | | charged. 595 |
|---|
| 885 | 885 | | (7) Beginning January 1, 2025, an adoption entity shall 596 |
|---|
| 886 | 886 | | report quarterly to the department information related to the 597 |
|---|
| 887 | 887 | | age, race, ethnicity, sex, and county of birth of the adopted 598 |
|---|
| 888 | 888 | | child and the county of residence of the adoptive family for 599 |
|---|
| 889 | 889 | | each finalized adoption. The adoption entity shall also report 600 |
|---|
| 897 | 897 | | Page 25 of 38 |
|---|
| 898 | 898 | | 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 |
|---|
| 899 | 899 | | |
|---|
| 900 | 900 | | |
|---|
| 901 | 901 | | |
|---|
| 902 | 902 | | for each finalized adoption the fees, costs, and expenses that 601 |
|---|
| 903 | 903 | | were assessed by the adoption entity or paid by the adoption 602 |
|---|
| 904 | 904 | | entity on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents, itemized 603 |
|---|
| 905 | 905 | | by the categories enumerated in subsection (2), and any fees, 604 |
|---|
| 906 | 906 | | costs, and expenses approved by the court under subsection (4). 605 |
|---|
| 907 | 907 | | The confidentiality provisions of this chapter do not apply to 606 |
|---|
| 908 | 908 | | the fees, costs, and expenses assessed or paid in connection 607 |
|---|
| 909 | 909 | | with an adoption. In reporting the information required by this 608 |
|---|
| 910 | 910 | | subsection to the department, the adopt ion entity shall redact 609 |
|---|
| 911 | 911 | | any confidential identifying information concerning the child, 610 |
|---|
| 912 | 912 | | the child's biological parents, and the child's adoptive 611 |
|---|
| 913 | 913 | | parents. The department shall report quarterly on its website 612 |
|---|
| 914 | 914 | | information for each adoption entity including the actual fees, 613 |
|---|
| 915 | 915 | | costs, and expenses of finalized adoptions. The department shall 614 |
|---|
| 916 | 916 | | adopt rules to implement this subsection. 615 |
|---|
| 917 | 917 | | Section 12. Subsection (3) of section 63.132, Florida 616 |
|---|
| 918 | 918 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 617 |
|---|
| 919 | 919 | | 63.132 Affidavit of expenses and receipts. — 618 |
|---|
| 920 | 920 | | (3) The court must issue a separate order approving or 619 |
|---|
| 921 | 921 | | disapproving the fees, costs, and expenses itemized in the 620 |
|---|
| 922 | 922 | | affidavit. The court may approve only fees, costs, and 621 |
|---|
| 923 | 923 | | expenditures allowed under s. 63.097. An order approving fees, 622 |
|---|
| 924 | 924 | | costs, and expenses tha t exceed the limits set forth in s. 623 |
|---|
| 925 | 925 | | 63.097 must include a written determination of reasonableness. 624 |
|---|
| 926 | 926 | | The court may reject in whole or in part any fee, cost, or 625 |
|---|
| 934 | 934 | | Page 26 of 38 |
|---|
| 935 | 935 | | 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 |
|---|
| 936 | 936 | | |
|---|
| 937 | 937 | | |
|---|
| 938 | 938 | | |
|---|
| 939 | 939 | | expenditure listed if the court finds that the expense is any of 626 |
|---|
| 940 | 940 | | the following: 627 |
|---|
| 941 | 941 | | (a) Contrary to this chapter. 628 |
|---|
| 942 | 942 | | (b) Not supported by a receipt , if requested, if the 629 |
|---|
| 943 | 943 | | expense is not a fee of the adoption entity. 630 |
|---|
| 944 | 944 | | (c) Not a reasonable fee or expense, considering the 631 |
|---|
| 945 | 945 | | requirements of this chapter and the totality of the 632 |
|---|
| 946 | 946 | | circumstances. 633 |
|---|
| 947 | 947 | | Section 13. Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section 634 |
|---|
| 948 | 948 | | 63.212, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 635 |
|---|
| 949 | 949 | | 63.212 Prohibited acts; penalties for violation. — 636 |
|---|
| 950 | 950 | | (1) It is unlawful for any person: 637 |
|---|
| 951 | 951 | | (g) Except an adoption entity, to place an advertisement 638 |
|---|
| 952 | 952 | | or offer to the public , in any way, by any medium whatever that 639 |
|---|
| 953 | 953 | | a minor is available for adoption or that a minor is sought for 640 |
|---|
| 954 | 954 | | adoption; and, further, it is unlawful for any person purchasing 641 |
|---|
| 955 | 955 | | advertising space or purchasing broadcast time to advertise 642 |
|---|
| 956 | 956 | | adoption services to fail to include in any publication or fail 643 |
|---|
| 957 | 957 | | to include in the broadcast for such advertisement the Florida 644 |
|---|
| 958 | 958 | | license number of the adoption entity or The Florida Bar number 645 |
|---|
| 959 | 959 | | of the attorney placing the advertisement. This prohibition 646 |
|---|
| 960 | 960 | | applies, but is not limited, t o a paid advertisement, an 647 |
|---|
| 961 | 961 | | article, a notice, or any other paid communication published in 648 |
|---|
| 962 | 962 | | any newspaper or magazine, or on the Internet, on a billboard, 649 |
|---|
| 963 | 963 | | over radio or television, or other similar media. 650 |
|---|
| 971 | 971 | | Page 27 of 38 |
|---|
| 972 | 972 | | 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 |
|---|
| 973 | 973 | | |
|---|
| 974 | 974 | | |
|---|
| 975 | 975 | | |
|---|
| 976 | 976 | | 1. Only a person who is an attorney licensed to pr actice 651 |
|---|
| 977 | 977 | | law in this state or an adoption entity licensed under the laws 652 |
|---|
| 978 | 978 | | of this state may place an a paid advertisement in this state or 653 |
|---|
| 979 | 979 | | paid listing of the person's telephone number, on the person's 654 |
|---|
| 980 | 980 | | own behalf, in a telephone directory that: 655 |
|---|
| 981 | 981 | | a. A child is offered or wanted for adoption; or 656 |
|---|
| 982 | 982 | | b. The person is able to place, locate, or receive a child 657 |
|---|
| 983 | 983 | | for adoption. 658 |
|---|
| 984 | 984 | | 2. A person who publishes a telephone directory , 659 |
|---|
| 985 | 985 | | newspaper, magazine, billboard, or any other written 660 |
|---|
| 986 | 986 | | advertisement that is distributed in th is state must shall 661 |
|---|
| 987 | 987 | | include, at the beginning of any classified heading for adoption 662 |
|---|
| 988 | 988 | | and adoption services, a statement that informs directory users 663 |
|---|
| 989 | 989 | | that only attorneys licensed to practice law in this state and 664 |
|---|
| 990 | 990 | | licensed adoption entities licensed under the laws of this state 665 |
|---|
| 991 | 991 | | may legally provide adoption services under state law. 666 |
|---|
| 992 | 992 | | 3. A person who places an advertisement described in 667 |
|---|
| 993 | 993 | | subparagraph 1. in a telephone directory must include the 668 |
|---|
| 994 | 994 | | following information: 669 |
|---|
| 995 | 995 | | a. For an attorney licensed to practice la w in this state, 670 |
|---|
| 996 | 996 | | the person's Florida Bar number. 671 |
|---|
| 997 | 997 | | b. For a child-placing agency licensed under the laws of 672 |
|---|
| 998 | 998 | | this state, the number on the person's adoption entity license. 673 |
|---|
| 999 | 999 | | Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 674 |
|---|
| 1000 | 1000 | | 409.1451, Florida Statut es, is amended to read: 675 |
|---|
| 1008 | 1008 | | Page 28 of 38 |
|---|
| 1009 | 1009 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1010 | 1010 | | |
|---|
| 1011 | 1011 | | |
|---|
| 1012 | 1012 | | |
|---|
| 1013 | 1013 | | 409.1451 The Road-to-Independence Program. — 676 |
|---|
| 1014 | 1014 | | (2) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT. — 677 |
|---|
| 1015 | 1015 | | (a) A young adult is eligible for services and support 678 |
|---|
| 1016 | 1016 | | under this subsection if he or she: 679 |
|---|
| 1017 | 1017 | | 1. Was living in licensed care on his or her 18th birthday 680 |
|---|
| 1018 | 1018 | | or is currently living in licensed care; or was at least 14 16 681 |
|---|
| 1019 | 1019 | | years of age and was adopted from foster care or placed with a 682 |
|---|
| 1020 | 1020 | | court-approved dependency guardian after spending at least 6 683 |
|---|
| 1021 | 1021 | | months in licensed care within the 12 months imm ediately 684 |
|---|
| 1022 | 1022 | | preceding such placement or adoption; 685 |
|---|
| 1023 | 1023 | | 2. Spent at least 6 months in licensed care before 686 |
|---|
| 1024 | 1024 | | reaching his or her 18th birthday; 687 |
|---|
| 1025 | 1025 | | 3. Earned a standard high school diploma pursuant to s. 688 |
|---|
| 1026 | 1026 | | 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282, or its equivalent 689 |
|---|
| 1027 | 1027 | | pursuant to s. 1003.435; 690 |
|---|
| 1028 | 1028 | | 4. Has been admitted for enrollment as a full -time student 691 |
|---|
| 1029 | 1029 | | or its equivalent in an eligible postsecondary educational 692 |
|---|
| 1030 | 1030 | | institution as provided in s. 1009.533. For purposes of this 693 |
|---|
| 1031 | 1031 | | section, the term "full -time" means 9 credit hours or the 694 |
|---|
| 1032 | 1032 | | vocational school equivalent. A student may enroll part -time if 695 |
|---|
| 1033 | 1033 | | he or she has a recognized disability or is faced with another 696 |
|---|
| 1034 | 1034 | | challenge or circumstance that would prevent full -time 697 |
|---|
| 1035 | 1035 | | attendance. A student needing to enroll part -time for any reason 698 |
|---|
| 1036 | 1036 | | other than having a recognized disability must get approval from 699 |
|---|
| 1037 | 1037 | | his or her academic advisor; 700 |
|---|
| 1045 | 1045 | | Page 29 of 38 |
|---|
| 1046 | 1046 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1047 | 1047 | | |
|---|
| 1048 | 1048 | | |
|---|
| 1049 | 1049 | | |
|---|
| 1050 | 1050 | | 5. Has reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of 701 |
|---|
| 1051 | 1051 | | age; 702 |
|---|
| 1052 | 1052 | | 6. Has applied, with assistance from the young adult's 703 |
|---|
| 1053 | 1053 | | caregiver and the community -based lead agency, for any other 704 |
|---|
| 1054 | 1054 | | grants and scholarships for which he or she may qualify; 705 |
|---|
| 1055 | 1055 | | 7. Submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid 706 |
|---|
| 1056 | 1056 | | which is complete and error free; and 707 |
|---|
| 1057 | 1057 | | 8. Signed an agreement to allow the department and the 708 |
|---|
| 1058 | 1058 | | community-based care lead agency access to school records. 709 |
|---|
| 1059 | 1059 | | Section 15. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 710 |
|---|
| 1060 | 1060 | | 409.166, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 711 |
|---|
| 1061 | 1061 | | 409.166 Children within the child welfare system; adoption 712 |
|---|
| 1062 | 1062 | | assistance program.— 713 |
|---|
| 1063 | 1063 | | (4) ADOPTION ASSISTANCE. — 714 |
|---|
| 1064 | 1064 | | (d) Effective January 1, 2019, adoption assistance 715 |
|---|
| 1065 | 1065 | | payments may be made for a child whose adoptive parent entered 716 |
|---|
| 1066 | 1066 | | into an initial adoption assistance agreement after the child 717 |
|---|
| 1067 | 1067 | | reached 14 16 years of age but before the child reached 18 years 718 |
|---|
| 1068 | 1068 | | of age. Such payments may be made until the child reaches age 21 719 |
|---|
| 1069 | 1069 | | if the child is: 720 |
|---|
| 1070 | 1070 | | 1. Completing secondary education or a program leading to 721 |
|---|
| 1071 | 1071 | | an equivalent credential; 722 |
|---|
| 1072 | 1072 | | 2. Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary 723 |
|---|
| 1073 | 1073 | | or vocational education; 724 |
|---|
| 1074 | 1074 | | 3. Participating in a program or activity designed to 725 |
|---|
| 1082 | 1082 | | Page 30 of 38 |
|---|
| 1083 | 1083 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1084 | 1084 | | |
|---|
| 1085 | 1085 | | |
|---|
| 1086 | 1086 | | |
|---|
| 1087 | 1087 | | promote or eliminate barriers to employment; 726 |
|---|
| 1088 | 1088 | | 4. Employed for at least 80 hours per month; or 727 |
|---|
| 1089 | 1089 | | 5. Unable to participate in programs or activities listed 728 |
|---|
| 1090 | 1090 | | in subparagraphs 1.-4. full time due to a physical, an 729 |
|---|
| 1091 | 1091 | | intellectual, an emotional, or a psychiatric condition that 730 |
|---|
| 1092 | 1092 | | limits participation. Any such barrier to participation must be 731 |
|---|
| 1093 | 1093 | | supported by documentation in the child's case file or school or 732 |
|---|
| 1094 | 1094 | | medical records of a physical, an intellectual, an emotional, or 733 |
|---|
| 1095 | 1095 | | a psychiatric condition that impairs the child's ability to 734 |
|---|
| 1096 | 1096 | | perform one or more life activities. 735 |
|---|
| 1097 | 1097 | | Section 16. Section 409.1664, Florida Statutes, is amended 736 |
|---|
| 1098 | 1098 | | to read: 737 |
|---|
| 1099 | 1099 | | 409.1664 Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive 738 |
|---|
| 1100 | 1100 | | employees of state agencies, veterans, servicem embers, and law 739 |
|---|
| 1101 | 1101 | | enforcement officers , health care practitioners, and tax 740 |
|---|
| 1102 | 1102 | | collector employees.— 741 |
|---|
| 1103 | 1103 | | (1) As used in this section, the term: 742 |
|---|
| 1104 | 1104 | | (a) "Child within the child welfare system" has the same 743 |
|---|
| 1105 | 1105 | | meaning as provided in s. 409.166(2). 744 |
|---|
| 1106 | 1106 | | (b) "Health care prac titioner" means a person listed in s. 745 |
|---|
| 1107 | 1107 | | 456.001(4) who holds an active license from the Department of 746 |
|---|
| 1108 | 1108 | | Health and whose gross income does not exceed $150,000 per year. 747 |
|---|
| 1109 | 1109 | | (c)(b) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 748 |
|---|
| 1110 | 1110 | | provided in s. 943.10(1). 749 |
|---|
| 1111 | 1111 | | (d)(c) "Qualifying adoptive employee" means a full -time or 750 |
|---|
| 1119 | 1119 | | Page 31 of 38 |
|---|
| 1120 | 1120 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1121 | 1121 | | |
|---|
| 1122 | 1122 | | |
|---|
| 1123 | 1123 | | |
|---|
| 1124 | 1124 | | part-time employee of a state agency, a charter school 751 |
|---|
| 1125 | 1125 | | established under s. 1002.33, or the Florida Virtual School 752 |
|---|
| 1126 | 1126 | | established under s. 1002.37, who is not an independent 753 |
|---|
| 1127 | 1127 | | contractor and who adopts a ch ild within the child welfare 754 |
|---|
| 1128 | 1128 | | system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. The term 755 |
|---|
| 1129 | 1129 | | includes instructional personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01, who 756 |
|---|
| 1130 | 1130 | | are employed by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, 757 |
|---|
| 1131 | 1131 | | and includes other-personal-services employees who have been 758 |
|---|
| 1132 | 1132 | | continuously employed full time or part time by a state agency 759 |
|---|
| 1133 | 1133 | | for at least 1 year. 760 |
|---|
| 1134 | 1134 | | (e)(d) "Servicemember" has the same meaning as in s. 761 |
|---|
| 1135 | 1135 | | 250.01(19). 762 |
|---|
| 1136 | 1136 | | (f)(e) "State agency" means a branch, department, or 763 |
|---|
| 1137 | 1137 | | agency of state governme nt for which the Chief Financial Officer 764 |
|---|
| 1138 | 1138 | | processes payroll requisitions, a state university or Florida 765 |
|---|
| 1139 | 1139 | | College System institution as defined in s. 1000.21, a school 766 |
|---|
| 1140 | 1140 | | district unit as defined in s. 1001.30, or a water management 767 |
|---|
| 1141 | 1141 | | district as defined in s. 373 .019. 768 |
|---|
| 1142 | 1142 | | (g) "Tax collector employee" means an employee of an 769 |
|---|
| 1143 | 1143 | | office of county tax collector in the state. 770 |
|---|
| 1144 | 1144 | | (h)(f) "Veteran" has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14). 771 |
|---|
| 1145 | 1145 | | (2) A qualifying adoptive employee, veteran, law 772 |
|---|
| 1146 | 1146 | | enforcement officer, health care practit ioner, tax collector 773 |
|---|
| 1147 | 1147 | | employee, or servicemember who adopts a child within the child 774 |
|---|
| 1148 | 1148 | | welfare system who is difficult to place as described in s. 775 |
|---|
| 1156 | 1156 | | Page 32 of 38 |
|---|
| 1157 | 1157 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1158 | 1158 | | |
|---|
| 1159 | 1159 | | |
|---|
| 1160 | 1160 | | |
|---|
| 1161 | 1161 | | 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary 776 |
|---|
| 1162 | 1162 | | benefit in the amount of $25,000 $10,000 per such child, subject 777 |
|---|
| 1163 | 1163 | | to applicable taxes. A law enforcement officer who adopts a 778 |
|---|
| 1164 | 1164 | | child within the child welfare system who is difficult to place 779 |
|---|
| 1165 | 1165 | | as described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a 780 |
|---|
| 1166 | 1166 | | lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of $25,000 per such 781 |
|---|
| 1167 | 1167 | | child, subject to applicable taxes. A qualifying adoptive 782 |
|---|
| 1168 | 1168 | | employee, veteran, law enforcement officer, health care 783 |
|---|
| 1169 | 1169 | | practitioner, tax collector employee, or servicemember who 784 |
|---|
| 1170 | 1170 | | adopts a child within the child welfare system who is not 785 |
|---|
| 1171 | 1171 | | difficult to place as des cribed in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is 786 |
|---|
| 1172 | 1172 | | eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary benefit in the amount of 787 |
|---|
| 1173 | 1173 | | $10,000 $5,000 per such child, subject to applicable taxes. A 788 |
|---|
| 1174 | 1174 | | law enforcement officer who adopts a child within the child 789 |
|---|
| 1175 | 1175 | | welfare system who is not difficult t o place as described in s. 790 |
|---|
| 1176 | 1176 | | 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary 791 |
|---|
| 1177 | 1177 | | benefit in the amount of $10,000 per each such child, subject to 792 |
|---|
| 1178 | 1178 | | applicable taxes. A qualifying adoptive employee of a charter 793 |
|---|
| 1179 | 1179 | | school or the Florida Virtual School may re troactively apply for 794 |
|---|
| 1180 | 1180 | | the monetary benefit provided in this subsection if such 795 |
|---|
| 1181 | 1181 | | employee was employed by a charter school or the Florida Virtual 796 |
|---|
| 1182 | 1182 | | School when he or she adopted a child within the child welfare 797 |
|---|
| 1183 | 1183 | | system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. A 798 |
|---|
| 1184 | 1184 | | veteran or servicemember may apply for the monetary benefit 799 |
|---|
| 1185 | 1185 | | provided in this subsection if he or she is domiciled in this 800 |
|---|
| 1193 | 1193 | | Page 33 of 38 |
|---|
| 1194 | 1194 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1195 | 1195 | | |
|---|
| 1196 | 1196 | | |
|---|
| 1197 | 1197 | | |
|---|
| 1198 | 1198 | | state and adopts a child within the child welfare system 801 |
|---|
| 1199 | 1199 | | pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2020. A law 802 |
|---|
| 1200 | 1200 | | enforcement officer may apply for the monetary benefit provided 803 |
|---|
| 1201 | 1201 | | in this subsection if he or she is domiciled in this state and 804 |
|---|
| 1202 | 1202 | | adopts a child within the child welfare system pursuant to 805 |
|---|
| 1203 | 1203 | | chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2022. A health care practitioner 806 |
|---|
| 1204 | 1204 | | or tax collector employee may apply for the monetary benefit 807 |
|---|
| 1205 | 1205 | | provided in this subsection if he or she is domiciled in this 808 |
|---|
| 1206 | 1206 | | state and adopts a child within the child welfare system 809 |
|---|
| 1207 | 1207 | | pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2024. 810 |
|---|
| 1208 | 1208 | | (a) Benefits paid to a qualifying adoptive e mployee who is 811 |
|---|
| 1209 | 1209 | | a part-time employee must be prorated based on the qualifying 812 |
|---|
| 1210 | 1210 | | adoptive employee's full -time equivalency at the time of 813 |
|---|
| 1211 | 1211 | | applying for the benefits. 814 |
|---|
| 1212 | 1212 | | (b) Monetary benefits awarded under this subsection are 815 |
|---|
| 1213 | 1213 | | limited to one award per adopted chil d within the child welfare 816 |
|---|
| 1214 | 1214 | | system. 817 |
|---|
| 1215 | 1215 | | (c) The payment of a lump -sum monetary benefit for 818 |
|---|
| 1216 | 1216 | | adopting a child within the child welfare system under this 819 |
|---|
| 1217 | 1217 | | section is subject to a specific appropriation to the department 820 |
|---|
| 1218 | 1218 | | for such purpose. 821 |
|---|
| 1219 | 1219 | | (3) A qualifying adopti ve employee must apply to his or 822 |
|---|
| 1220 | 1220 | | her agency head, or to his or her school director in the case of 823 |
|---|
| 1221 | 1221 | | a qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the 824 |
|---|
| 1222 | 1222 | | Florida Virtual School, to obtain the monetary benefit provided 825 |
|---|
| 1230 | 1230 | | Page 34 of 38 |
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| 1231 | 1231 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1232 | 1232 | | |
|---|
| 1233 | 1233 | | |
|---|
| 1234 | 1234 | | |
|---|
| 1235 | 1235 | | in subsection (2). A veteran , or servicemember, or tax collector 826 |
|---|
| 1236 | 1236 | | employee must apply to the department to obtain the benefit. A 827 |
|---|
| 1237 | 1237 | | law enforcement officer must apply to the Department of Law 828 |
|---|
| 1238 | 1238 | | Enforcement to obtain the benefit. A health care practitioner 829 |
|---|
| 1239 | 1239 | | must apply to the Department of Health to obtain the benefit. 830 |
|---|
| 1240 | 1240 | | Applications must be on forms approved by the department and 831 |
|---|
| 1241 | 1241 | | must include a certified copy of the final order of adoption 832 |
|---|
| 1242 | 1242 | | naming the applicant as the adoptive parent. Monetary benefits 833 |
|---|
| 1243 | 1243 | | shall be approved on a first -come, first-served basis based upon 834 |
|---|
| 1244 | 1244 | | the date that each fully completed application is received by 835 |
|---|
| 1245 | 1245 | | the department. 836 |
|---|
| 1246 | 1246 | | (4) This section does not preclude a qualifying adoptive 837 |
|---|
| 1247 | 1247 | | employee, veteran, servicemember, health care practitioner, tax 838 |
|---|
| 1248 | 1248 | | collector employee, or law enforcement officer from receiving 839 |
|---|
| 1249 | 1249 | | adoption assistance for which he or she may qualify under s. 840 |
|---|
| 1250 | 1250 | | 409.166 or any other statute that provides financial incentives 841 |
|---|
| 1251 | 1251 | | for the adoption of children. 842 |
|---|
| 1252 | 1252 | | (5) Parental leave for a qualifying adoptive employee mu st 843 |
|---|
| 1253 | 1253 | | be provided in accordance with the personnel policies and 844 |
|---|
| 1254 | 1254 | | procedures of his or her employer. 845 |
|---|
| 1255 | 1255 | | (6) The department may adopt rules to administer this 846 |
|---|
| 1256 | 1256 | | section. The rules may provide for an application process such 847 |
|---|
| 1257 | 1257 | | as, but not limited to, an open enrollmen t period during which 848 |
|---|
| 1258 | 1258 | | qualifying adoptive employees, veterans, servicemembers, health 849 |
|---|
| 1259 | 1259 | | care practitioners, tax collector employees, or law enforcement 850 |
|---|
| 1267 | 1267 | | Page 35 of 38 |
|---|
| 1268 | 1268 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1269 | 1269 | | |
|---|
| 1270 | 1270 | | |
|---|
| 1271 | 1271 | | |
|---|
| 1272 | 1272 | | officers may apply for monetary benefits under this section. 851 |
|---|
| 1273 | 1273 | | (7) The Chief Financial Officer shall disbu rse a monetary 852 |
|---|
| 1274 | 1274 | | benefit to a qualifying adoptive employee upon the department's 853 |
|---|
| 1275 | 1275 | | submission of a payroll requisition. The Chief Financial Officer 854 |
|---|
| 1276 | 1276 | | shall transfer funds from the department to a state university, 855 |
|---|
| 1277 | 1277 | | a Florida College System institution, a school d istrict unit, a 856 |
|---|
| 1278 | 1278 | | charter school, the Florida Virtual School, or a water 857 |
|---|
| 1279 | 1279 | | management district, as appropriate, to enable payment to the 858 |
|---|
| 1280 | 1280 | | qualifying adoptive employee through the payroll systems as long 859 |
|---|
| 1281 | 1281 | | as funds are available for such purpose. 860 |
|---|
| 1282 | 1282 | | (8) To receive an approved monetary benefit under this 861 |
|---|
| 1283 | 1283 | | section, a veteran or servicemember must be registered as a 862 |
|---|
| 1284 | 1284 | | vendor with the state. 863 |
|---|
| 1285 | 1285 | | (9) Each state agency shall develop a uniform procedure 864 |
|---|
| 1286 | 1286 | | for informing employees about this benefit and for assisting the 865 |
|---|
| 1287 | 1287 | | department in making eligibility determinations and processing 866 |
|---|
| 1288 | 1288 | | applications. Any procedure adopted by a state agency is valid 867 |
|---|
| 1289 | 1289 | | and enforceable if the procedure does not conflict with the 868 |
|---|
| 1290 | 1290 | | express terms of this section. 869 |
|---|
| 1291 | 1291 | | Section 17. Subsections (1) through (4) of se ction 870 |
|---|
| 1292 | 1292 | | 409.167, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 871 |
|---|
| 1293 | 1293 | | 409.167 Statewide adoption exchange; establishment; 872 |
|---|
| 1294 | 1294 | | responsibilities; registration requirements; rules. — 873 |
|---|
| 1295 | 1295 | | (1) The Department of Children and Families shall 874 |
|---|
| 1296 | 1296 | | establish, either directly or through purch ase, a statewide 875 |
|---|
| 1304 | 1304 | | Page 36 of 38 |
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| 1305 | 1305 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1306 | 1306 | | |
|---|
| 1307 | 1307 | | |
|---|
| 1308 | 1308 | | |
|---|
| 1309 | 1309 | | adoption exchange, with a photo listing component, which serves 876 |
|---|
| 1310 | 1310 | | shall serve all authorized licensed child -placing agencies in 877 |
|---|
| 1311 | 1311 | | the state as a means of recruiting adoptive families for 878 |
|---|
| 1312 | 1312 | | children who have been legally freed for adoption and wh o have 879 |
|---|
| 1313 | 1313 | | been permanently placed with the department or a licensed child -880 |
|---|
| 1314 | 1314 | | placing agency. The statewide adoption exchange must shall 881 |
|---|
| 1315 | 1315 | | provide, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, a 882 |
|---|
| 1316 | 1316 | | description and photo listing component of each child 883 |
|---|
| 1317 | 1317 | | descriptions and photographs of such children , as well as any 884 |
|---|
| 1318 | 1318 | | other information deemed useful in the recruitment of adoptive 885 |
|---|
| 1319 | 1319 | | families for each child. The photo listing component of the 886 |
|---|
| 1320 | 1320 | | statewide adoption exchange must be updated monthly and may not 887 |
|---|
| 1321 | 1321 | | be accessible to the public, except to persons who have 888 |
|---|
| 1322 | 1322 | | completed or are in the process of completing an adoption home 889 |
|---|
| 1323 | 1323 | | study. 890 |
|---|
| 1324 | 1324 | | (2)(a) Each district of the department shall refer each 891 |
|---|
| 1325 | 1325 | | child in its care who has been legally freed for adoption to the 892 |
|---|
| 1326 | 1326 | | statewide adoption exchange no later than 30 days after the date 893 |
|---|
| 1327 | 1327 | | of acceptance by the department for permanent placement. The 894 |
|---|
| 1328 | 1328 | | referral must be accompanied by a photo listing component 895 |
|---|
| 1329 | 1329 | | photograph and description of the child. Any child who is 12 896 |
|---|
| 1330 | 1330 | | years of age or older may request that a specific photo be used 897 |
|---|
| 1331 | 1331 | | for that child's photo listing component and such child must be 898 |
|---|
| 1332 | 1332 | | consulted during the development of his or her description. 899 |
|---|
| 1333 | 1333 | | (b) The department shall establish criteria by which a 900 |
|---|
| 1341 | 1341 | | Page 37 of 38 |
|---|
| 1342 | 1342 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1343 | 1343 | | |
|---|
| 1344 | 1344 | | |
|---|
| 1345 | 1345 | | |
|---|
| 1346 | 1346 | | district may determine that a child need not be registered with 901 |
|---|
| 1347 | 1347 | | the statewide adoption exchange. Within 30 days after the date 902 |
|---|
| 1348 | 1348 | | of acceptance by the department for permanent placement, the 903 |
|---|
| 1349 | 1349 | | name of the child accepted for permanent placement must be 904 |
|---|
| 1350 | 1350 | | forwarded to the statewide adoption exchange by the di strict 905 |
|---|
| 1351 | 1351 | | together with reference to the specific reason why the child 906 |
|---|
| 1352 | 1352 | | should not be placed on the statewide adoption exchange. If the 907 |
|---|
| 1353 | 1353 | | child has not been placed for adoption within 3 months after the 908 |
|---|
| 1354 | 1354 | | date of acceptance by the department for permanent placemen t, 909 |
|---|
| 1355 | 1355 | | the district must shall provide the statewide adoption exchange 910 |
|---|
| 1356 | 1356 | | with the necessary photograph and information for registration 911 |
|---|
| 1357 | 1357 | | of the child with the statewide adoption exchange and the child 912 |
|---|
| 1358 | 1358 | | must shall be placed on the statewide adoption exchange. The 913 |
|---|
| 1359 | 1359 | | department shall establish procedures for monitoring the status 914 |
|---|
| 1360 | 1360 | | of children who are not placed on the statewide adoption 915 |
|---|
| 1361 | 1361 | | exchange within 30 days after the date of acceptance by the 916 |
|---|
| 1362 | 1362 | | department for permanent placement. 917 |
|---|
| 1363 | 1363 | | (3) In accordance with rules establish ed by the 918 |
|---|
| 1364 | 1364 | | department, the statewide adoption exchange may accept, from 919 |
|---|
| 1365 | 1365 | | licensed child-placing agencies, information pertaining to 920 |
|---|
| 1366 | 1366 | | children meeting the criteria of this section, and to 921 |
|---|
| 1367 | 1367 | | prospective adoptive families, for registration with the 922 |
|---|
| 1368 | 1368 | | statewide adoption exchange. 923 |
|---|
| 1369 | 1369 | | (4) For purposes of facilitating family -matching between 924 |
|---|
| 1370 | 1370 | | children and prospective adoptive parents, the statewide 925 |
|---|
| 1378 | 1378 | | Page 38 of 38 |
|---|
| 1379 | 1379 | | 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 |
|---|
| 1380 | 1380 | | |
|---|
| 1381 | 1381 | | |
|---|
| 1382 | 1382 | | |
|---|
| 1383 | 1383 | | adoption exchange must shall provide the photo listing component 926 |
|---|
| 1384 | 1384 | | service to all licensed child -placing agencies and, in 927 |
|---|
| 1385 | 1385 | | accordance with rules adopted established by the department, to 928 |
|---|
| 1386 | 1386 | | all appropriate citizen groups and other organizations and 929 |
|---|
| 1387 | 1387 | | associations interested in children's services. The photo 930 |
|---|
| 1388 | 1388 | | listing component of the statewide adoption exchange may not be 931 |
|---|
| 1389 | 1389 | | accessible to the public, except to persons who have completed 932 |
|---|
| 1390 | 1390 | | or are in the process of completing an adoption home study. 933 |
|---|
| 1391 | 1391 | | Section 18. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 934 |
|---|