Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1301 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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3	3	HB 1301 2025
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6	6
7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1301-00
9	9	Page 1 of 37
10	10	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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12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to child welfare; amending s. 16.56, 2
16	16	F.S.; authorizing the Office of Statewide Prosecution 3
17	17	in the Department of Legal Affairs to investigate and 4
18	18	prosecute specified violations; amending s. 39.01, 5
19	19	F.S.; revising the definition of the term "c hild who 6
20	20	is found to be dependent"; defining the term "legal 7
21	21	custodian"; amending s. 39.206, F.S.; authorizing 8
22	22	certain persons to petition the court to release a 9
23	23	reporter's identity in order to file a lawsuit for 10
24	24	civil damages; authorizing the court to iss ue an order 11
25	25	for an in-camera inspection of certain records; 12
26	26	prohibiting the Department of Children and Families 13
27	27	from being made a party to such action; creating s. 14
28	28	39.3011, F.S.; defining the term "Family Advocacy 15
29	29	Program"; requiring the department to ente r into 16
30	30	agreements with certain military installations for 17
31	31	child protective investigations involving military 18
32	32	families; providing requirements for such agreements; 19
33	33	amending s. 39.401, F.S.; authorizing a law 20
34	34	enforcement officer or an authorized agent of the 21
35	35	department to take a child into custody who is the 22
36	36	subject of a specified court order; amending s. 23
37	37	39.5075, F.S.; authorizing, rather than requiring, the 24
38	38	department or a community -based care provider to 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1301 2025
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42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb1301-00
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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
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	petition the court for a specified order; providing 26
52	52	that a certain order may only be issued if a certain 27
53	53	petition is filed by specified entities; creating s. 28
54	54	39.5077, F.S.; defining the term "unaccompanied alien 29
55	55	child"; requiring any natural person who meets certain 30
56	56	criteria to submit a specified report wit h the 31
57	57	department; requiring such report be submitted within 32
58	58	a specified time period; requiring any natural person 33
59	59	who meets certain criteria to verify his or her 34
60	60	relationship with an unaccompanied alien child in 35
61	61	certain ways; requiring the person verifying his or 36
62	62	her relationship with such child to pay for DNA 37
63	63	testing; requiring such person to verify his or her 38
64	64	relationship within a specified time period; requiring 39
65	65	certain entities to submit a specified report to the 40
66	66	department within a specified time perio d; requiring a 41
67	67	specified attestation; providing criminal penalties 42
68	68	and civil fines; requiring the department to notify 43
69	69	certain persons or entities of certain requirements; 44
70	70	requiring the department to notify the Department of 45
71	71	Law Enforcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 46
72	72	and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement under 47
73	73	certain circumstances; authorizing the department to 48
74	74	adopt certain rules; requiring certain persons or 49
75	75	entities to submit a report to the central abuse 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1301 2025
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79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb1301-00
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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
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	hotline under certain circumstan ces; amending s. 51
89	89	39.905, F.S.; authorizing the department to waive a 52
90	90	specified requirement if there is an emergency need 53
91	91	for a new domestic violence center, to issue a 54
92	92	provisional certification to such center under certain 55
93	93	circumstances, and to adopt rules relating to 56
94	94	provisional certifications; amending s. 125.901, F.S.; 57
95	95	revising membership requirements for certain 58
96	96	independent special districts; amending s. 402.305, 59
97	97	F.S.; authorizing the department to grant certain 60
98	98	exemptions from disqualification for cert ain persons; 61
99	99	amending s. 409.145, F.S.; requiring the department to 62
100	100	establish a fee schedule for daily room and board 63
101	101	rates for certain children by a date certain, which 64
102	102	may include different rates based on a child's acuity 65
103	103	level or the geographic location of the residential 66
104	104	child-caring agency; requiring the department to adopt 67
105	105	rules; amending s. 409.175, F.S.; authorizing the 68
106	106	department to grant certain exemptions from 69
107	107	disqualification for certain persons; authorizing the 70
108	108	department to extend the expirati on date of a license 71
109	109	by a specified amount of time for a certain purpose; 72
110	110	amending s. 419.001, F.S.; providing that certain 73
111	111	residential child-caring agencies are not subject to 74
112	112	certain proximity requirements; requiring a local 75
113	113
114	114	HB 1301 2025
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116	116
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118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	government to exclude certain residential child-caring 76
126	126	agencies from proximity limitations; amending s. 77
127	127	553.73, F.S.; prohibiting the Florida Building 78
128	128	Commission from mandating the installation of fire 79
129	129	sprinklers or a fire suppression system in certain 80
130	130	agencies licensed by the departm ent; amending s. 81
131	131	633.208, F.S.; providing that certain residential 82
132	132	child-caring agencies are not required to install fire 83
133	133	sprinklers or a fire suppression system under certain 84
134	134	circumstances; amending s. 937.0201, F.S.; revising 85
135	135	the definition of "missing c hild"; amending s. 86
136	136	937.021, F.S.; specifying the entity with jurisdiction 87
137	137	for accepting missing child reports under certain 88
138	138	circumstances; authorizing law enforcement agencies to 89
139	139	use reasonable force to take certain children into 90
140	140	custody; amending ss. 402. 30501, 1002.57, and 1002.59, 91
141	141	F.S.; conforming cross -references; providing effective 92
142	142	dates. 93
143	143	94
144	144	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 95
145	145	96
146	146	Section 1. Effective January 1, 2026, paragraph (a) of 97
147	147	subsection (1) of section 16.56, Florida S tatutes, is amended to 98
148	148	read: 99
149	149	16.56 Office of Statewide Prosecution. — 100
150	150
151	151	HB 1301 2025
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153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb1301-00
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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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160	160
161	161
162	162	(1) There is created in the Department of Legal Affairs an 101
163	163	Office of Statewide Prosecution. The office shall be a separate 102
164	164	"budget entity" as that term is defined in chapter 216. The 103
165	165	office may: 104
166	166	(a) Investigate and prosecute the offenses of: 105
167	167	1. Bribery, burglary, criminal usury, extortion, gambling, 106
168	168	kidnapping, larceny, murder, prostitution, perjury, robbery, 107
169	169	carjacking, home-invasion robbery, and patient brokering; 108
170	170	2. Any crime involving narcotic or other dangerous drugs; 109
171	171	3. Any violation of the Florida RICO (Racketeer Influenced 110
172	172	and Corrupt Organization) Act, including any offense listed in 111
173	173	the definition of racketeering activity in s. 895.02(8)(a), 112
174	174	providing such listed offen se is investigated in connection with 113
175	175	a violation of s. 895.03 and is charged in a separate count of 114
176	176	an information or indictment containing a count charging a 115
177	177	violation of s. 895.03, the prosecution of which listed offense 116
178	178	may continue independently if th e prosecution of the violation 117
179	179	of s. 895.03 is terminated for any reason; 118
180	180	4. Any violation of the Florida Anti -Fencing Act; 119
181	181	5. Any violation of the Florida Antitrust Act of 1980, as 120
182	182	amended; 121
183	183	6. Any crime involving, or resulting in, fraud or deceit 122
184	184	upon any person; 123
185	185	7. Any violation of s. 847.0135, relating to computer 124
186	186	pornography and child exploitation prevention, or any offense 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1301 2025
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb1301-00
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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
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	related to a violation of s. 847.0135 or any violation of 126
200	200	chapter 827 where the crime is facilitated by or connected to 127
201	201	the use of the Internet or any device capable of electronic data 128
202	202	storage or transmission; 129
203	203	8. Any violation of chapter 815; 130
204	204	9. Any violation of chapter 825; 131
205	205	10. Any criminal violation of part I of chapter 499; 132
206	206	11. Any violation of the Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief Act 133
207	207	of 2004; 134
208	208	12. Any criminal violation of s. 409.920 or s. 409.9201; 135
209	209	13. Any criminal violation of the Florida Money Laundering 136
210	210	Act; 137
211	211	14. Any criminal violation of the Florida Securities and 138
212	212	Investor Protection Act; 139
213	213	15. Any violation of chapter 787, as well as any and all 140
214	214	offenses related to a violation of chapter 787; or 141
215	215	16. Any criminal violation of chapter 24, part II of 142
216	216	chapter 285, chapter 546, chapter 550, chapter 551, or chapter 143
217	217	849; or 144
218	218	17. Any violation of s. 39.5077; 145
219	219	146
220	220	or any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the 147
221	221	crimes specifically enumerated above. The office shall have such 148
222	222	power only when any such offense is occurring, or has occurred, 149
223	223	in two or more judicial circuits as part of a related 150
224	224
225	225	HB 1301 2025
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228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb1301-00
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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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234	234
235	235
236	236	transaction, or when any such offense is connected with an 151
237	237	organized criminal conspiracy affecting two or more judicial 152
238	238	circuits. Informations or indictments charging such offenses 153
239	239	shall contain general allegations stating the judicial circuits 154
240	240	and counties in which crimes are alleged to have occurred or the 155
241	241	judicial circuits and counties in which crimes affecting such 156
242	242	circuits or counties are alleged to have been connected with an 157
243	243	organized criminal conspiracy. 158
244	244	Section 2. Subsection (15) of section 39.01, Florid a 159
245	245	Statutes, is amended to read: 160
246	246	39.01 Definitions.—When used in this chapter, unless the 161
247	247	context otherwise requires: 162
248	248	(15) "Child who is found to be dependent" means a child 163
249	249	who, pursuant to this chapter, is found by the court: 164
250	250	(a) To have been abando ned, abused, or neglected by the 165
251	251	child's parent or parents or legal custodians; 166
252	252	(b) To have been surrendered to the department, the former 167
253	253	Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, or a licensed 168
254	254	child-placing agency for purpose of adoption; 169
255	255	(c) To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child -170
256	256	caring agency, a licensed child -placing agency, an adult 171
257	257	relative, the department, or the former Department of Health and 172
258	258	Rehabilitative Services, after which placement, under the 173
259	259	requirements of this chapter, a case plan has expired and the 174
260	260	parent or parents or legal custodians have failed to 175
261	261
262	262	HB 1301 2025
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266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	substantially comply with the requirements of the plan; 176
274	274	(d) To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child -177
275	275	placing agency for the purposes of subsequent adoption, and a 178
276	276	parent or parents have signed a consent pursuant to the Florida 179
277	277	Rules of Juvenile Procedure; 180
278	278	(e) To have no parent or legal custodians capable of 181
279	279	providing supervision and care; 182
280	280	(f) To be at substantial risk of imminent abuse, 183
281	281	abandonment, or neglect by the parent or parents or legal 184
282	282	custodians; or 185
283	283	(g) To have been sexually exploited and to have no parent, 186
284	284	legal custodian, or responsible adult relative currently known 187
285	285	and capable of providing the necessary and appropriate 188
286	286	supervision and care. 189
287	287	190
288	288	For purposes of this subsection, the term "legal custodian" 191
289	289	includes a sponsor to whom an unaccompanied alien child, as 192
290	290	defined in s. 39.5077(1), has been released by the Office of 193
291	291	Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human 194
292	292	Services. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 195
293	293	unaccompanied alien child may not be found to have been 196
294	294	abandoned, abused, or neglected based solely on allegations of 197
295	295	abandonment, abuse, or neglect that occurred before placement in 198
296	296	this state or by a pa rent who is not in the United States. 199
297	297	Section 3. Subsection (10) of section 39.206, Florida 200
298	298
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301	301
302	302
303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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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308	308
309	309
310	310	Statutes, is amended to read: 201
311	311	39.206 Administrative fines for false report of abuse, 202
312	312	abandonment, or neglect of a child; civil damages. — 203
313	313	(10) A person who k nowingly and willfully makes a false 204
314	314	report of abuse, abandonment, or neglect of a child, or a person 205
315	315	who counsels another to make a false report may be civilly 206
316	316	liable for damages suffered, including reasonable attorney fees 207
317	317	and costs, as a result of the f iling of the false report. If 208
318	318	there has not been a prior determination by the department that 209
319	319	a person has filed a false report and the name of the person who 210
320	320	filed the false report or counseled another to do so has not 211
321	321	been disclosed under subsection (9), the person who alleges he 212
322	322	or she is the subject of a false report may petition the court 213
323	323	in the circuit in which the petitioner resides for a 214
324	324	determination that the reporter's identity be released for the 215
325	325	purpose of proceeding with a lawsuit for civil dam ages. Upon 216
326	326	filing a legally sufficient petition by the petitioner that he 217
327	327	or she is the subject of a false report, the court may issue a 218
328	328	written order to the department to produce the report and 219
329	329	records relating to such false report for an in -camera 220
330	330	inspection. If department as custodian of the records may be 221
331	331	named as a party in the suit until the dependency court 222
332	332	determines in a written order upon an in-camera in camera 223
333	333	inspection of the records and report the court finds that there 224
334	334	is a reasonable basis f or believing that the report was false , 225
335	335
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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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345	345
346	346
347	347	and that the identity of the reporter may be disclosed for the 226
348	348	purpose of proceeding with a lawsuit for civil damages resulting 227
349	349	from the filing of the false report. The person who was the 228
350	350	subject of the alleged false report alleged perpetrator may 229
351	351	submit witness affidavits to assist the court in making this 230
352	352	initial determination. The department may not be made a party to 231
353	353	such action. 232
354	354	Section 4. Section 39.3011, Florida Statutes, is created 233
355	355	to read: 234
356	356	39.3011 Protective investigations involving military 235
357	357	families.— 236
358	358	(1) For purposes of this section, the term "Family 237
359	359	Advocacy Program" means the program established by the United 238
360	360	States Department of Defense to address child abuse, neglect, 239
361	361	and domestic abuse in milita ry families. 240
362	362	(2) The department shall enter into an agreement for child 241
363	363	protective investigations involving military families with the 242
364	364	Family Advocacy Program, or any successor program, of each 243
365	365	United States military installation located in this state. Such 244
366	366	agreement must include procedures for all of the following: 245
367	367	(a) Identifying the military personnel alleged to have 246
368	368	committed the child abuse, neglect, or domestic abuse. 247
369	369	(b) Notifying and sharing information with the military 248
370	370	installation when a c hild protective investigation implicating 249
371	371	military personnel has been initiated. 250
372	372
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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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383	383
384	384	(c) Maintaining confidentiality as required under state 251
385	385	and federal law. 252
386	386	Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 253
387	387	39.401, Florida Statutes, is amended to re ad: 254
388	388	39.401 Taking a child alleged to be dependent into 255
389	389	custody; law enforcement officers and authorized agents of the 256
390	390	department.— 257
391	391	(1) A child may only be taken into custody: 258
392	392	(b) By a law enforcement officer, or an authorized agent 259
393	393	of the department, if the officer or authorized agent has 260
394	394	probable cause to support a finding that the: 261
395	395	1. That the Child has been abused, neglected, or 262
396	396	abandoned, or is suffering from or is in imminent danger of 263
397	397	illness or injury as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandon ment; 264
398	398	2. Child is the subject of a court order to take the child 265
399	399	into the custody of the department; 266
400	400	3.2. That the Parent or legal custodian of the child has 267
401	401	materially violated a condition of placement imposed by the 268
402	402	court; or 269
403	403	4.3. That the Child has no parent, legal custodian, or 270
404	404	responsible adult relative immediately known and available to 271
405	405	provide supervision and care. 272
406	406	Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 39.5075, Florida 273
407	407	Statutes, is amended to read: 274
408	408	39.5075 Citizenship or residency status for immigrant 275
409	409
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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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419	419
420	420
421	421	children who are dependents. — 276
422	422	(4) If the child may be eligible for special immigrant 277
423	423	juvenile status, the department or community -based care provider 278
424	424	may shall petition the court for an order finding that the child 279
425	425	meets the criteria for special immigrant juvenile status. The 280
426	426	ruling of the court on this petition must include findings as to 281
427	427	the express wishes of the child, if the child is able to express 282
428	428	such wishes, and any other circumstances that wo uld affect 283
429	429	whether the best interests of the child would be served by 284
430	430	applying for special immigrant juvenile status. An order finding 285
431	431	that a child meets the criteria for special immigrant juvenile 286
432	432	status may be issued only upon a petition filed by the 287
433	433	department or a community -based care provider under this 288
434	434	section. 289
435	435	Section 7. Effective January 1, 2026, section 39.5077, 290
436	436	Florida Statutes, is created to read: 291
437	437	39.5077 Unaccompanied alien children. — 292
438	438	(1) For purposes of this section, the term "unaccompa nied 293
439	439	alien child" means a child who has no lawful immigration status 294
440	440	in the United States, has not attained 18 years of age, and with 295
441	441	respect to whom: 296
442	442	(a) There is no parent or legal guardian in the United 297
443	443	States; or 298
444	444	(b) No parent or legal guardian in the United States is 299
445	445	available to provide care and physical custody. 300
446	446
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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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457	457
458	458	(2)(a) Any natural person who obtains or has obtained 301
459	459	physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child through a 302
460	460	corporation, public or private agency other than the department, 303
461	461	or person other than the child's biological or adoptive parent, 304
462	462	legal guardian, or court -appointed custodian; who retains such 305
463	463	physical custody of the child for 10 or more consecutive days; 306
464	464	and who is not the biological or adoptive parent, legal 307
465	465	guardian, or court-appointed custodian of the child, must report 308
466	466	such physical custody to the department and initiate proceedings 309
467	467	under chapter 63, chapter 744, or chapter 751 to determine legal 310
468	468	custody of the child. 311
469	469	(b)1. A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied 312
470	470	alien child on or after January 1, 2026, must comply with this 313
471	471	subsection within 30 days after obtaining physical custody of 314
472	472	such child. 315
473	473	2. A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied alien 316
474	474	child before January 1, 2026, must comply with this subsec tion 317
475	475	within 90 days after January 1, 2026. 318
476	476	(3)(a) Any natural person who obtains or has obtained 319
477	477	physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child through a 320
478	478	corporation, a public or private agency other than the 321
479	479	department, or any other person and who is the biological or 322
480	480	adoptive parent, legal guardian, or court -appointed custodian of 323
481	481	the child must verify his or her relationship to the child by 324
482	482	submitting to the department a DNA test or other adequate 325
483	483
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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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493	493
494	494
495	495	documentation as determined by the department. The co st of DNA 326
496	496	testing is borne by the person verifying his or her relationship 327
497	497	to the child. 328
498	498	(b)1. A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied 329
499	499	alien child on or after January 1, 2026, must comply with this 330
500	500	subsection within 30 days after obtaining physi cal custody of 331
501	501	such child. 332
502	502	2. A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied alien 333
503	503	child before January 1, 2026, must comply with this subsection 334
504	504	within 90 days after January 1, 2026. 335
505	505	(4) An entity that takes placement of or transfers, or 336
506	506	assists in the transfer of, physical custody of an unaccompanied 337
507	507	alien child to any natural person or entity must report to the 338
508	508	department within 30 days after such placement or transfer all 339
509	509	identifying information of the unaccompanied alien child and the 340
510	510	natural person or entity that received such placement or 341
511	511	transfer of physical custody of the child. An entity that takes 342
512	512	placement of or transfers, or assists in the transfer of, 343
513	513	physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child must attest to 344
514	514	notifying the natural pe rson or entity obtaining physical 345
515	515	custody of the child of all applicable requirements of this 346
516	516	section. 347
517	517	(5) A natural person or an entity that willfully violates 348
518	518	subsections (2) and (3) commits a felony of the third degree, 349
519	519	punishable as provided in s. 77 5.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 350
520	520
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526	526	hb1301-00
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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	If the natural person or entity is convicted, the court shall 351
533	533	impose a fine of $1,000 on the natural person or a fine of 352
534	534	$10,000 on an entity. 353
535	535	(6) If the department believes that a natural person or an 354
536	536	entity has failed to report as required by this section, the 355
537	537	department must notify in writing such person or entity of the 356
538	538	obligation to report and the requirements of this section. 357
539	539	(7) The department shall notify the Department of Law 358
540	540	Enforcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the 359
541	541	Immigration and Customs Enforcement if a natural person or an 360
542	542	entity fails to report information required under this section 361
543	543	within 30 days after receipt of the written notification 362
544	544	required in subsection (6). 363
545	545	(8) The department may adopt rules to implement this 364
546	546	section, including rules relating to: 365
547	547	(a) The specific information that must be reported to the 366
548	548	department. 367
549	549	(b) Verifying biological or adoptive parentage, legal 368
550	550	guardianship, or court -appointed custody as required under 369
551	551	subsections (2) and (3). 370
552	552	(c) The creation of forms for all reports required under 371
553	553	this section. 372
554	554	(9) A natural person or an entity that is involved with or 373
555	555	interacts with an unaccompanied alien child and suspects abuse, 374
556	556	abandonment, or neglect of such c hild must immediately submit a 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1301 2025
559	559
560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb1301-00
564	564	Page 16 of 37
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	report to the central abuse hotline. 376
570	570	Section 8. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section 377
571	571	39.905, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 378
572	572	39.905 Domestic violence centers. — 379
573	573	(1) Domestic violence centers certified under this part 380
574	574	must: 381
575	575	(h) Demonstrate local need and ability to sustain 382
576	576	operations through a history of 18 consecutive months' operation 383
577	577	as a domestic violence center, including 12 months' operation of 384
578	578	an emergency shelter as provided in paragraph (c), and a 385
579	579	business plan which addresses future operations and funding of 386
580	580	future operations. The department may waive this requirement if 387
581	581	there is an emergency need for a new domestic violence center to 388
582	582	provide services in an area, and no other viable options exist 389
583	583	to ensure continuity of services. If there is an emergency need, 390
584	584	the department may issue a provisional certification to the 391
585	585	domestic violence center as long as the center meets all other 392
586	586	criteria in this subsection. The department may adopt rules to 393
587	587	provide minimum standards for a provisional certificate, 394
588	588	including increased monitoring and site visits and the time 395
589	589	period such certificate is valid. 396
590	590	Section 9. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of 397
591	591	section 125.901, Florida Statutes, are amended to re ad: 398
592	592	125.901 Children's services; independent special district; 399
593	593	council; powers, duties, and functions; public records 400
594	594
595	595	HB 1301 2025
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
600	600	hb1301-00
601	601	Page 17 of 37
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	exemption.— 401
607	607	(1) Each county may by ordinance create an independent 402
608	608	special district, as defined in ss. 189.012 and 200.001(8)(e), 403
609	609	to provide funding for children's services throughout the county 404
610	610	in accordance with this section. The boundaries of such district 405
611	611	shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the county. The 406
612	612	county governing body shall obtain approval at a general 407
613	613	election, as defined in s. 97.021, by a majority vote of those 408
614	614	electors voting on the question, to annually levy ad valorem 409
615	615	taxes which shall not exceed the maximum millage rate authorized 410
616	616	by this section. Any district created pursuant to the provisions 411
617	617	of this subsection shall be required to levy and fix millage 412
618	618	subject to the provisions of s. 200.065. Once such millage is 413
619	619	approved by the electorate, the district shall not be required 414
620	620	to seek approval of the electorate in future years to levy the 415
621	621	previously approved mi llage. However, a referendum to increase 416
622	622	the millage rate previously approved by the electors must be 417
623	623	held at a general election, and the referendum may be held only 418
624	624	once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of 419
625	625	the increased millage. 420
626	626	(a) The governing body of the district shall be a council 421
627	627	on children's services, which may also be known as a juvenile 422
628	628	welfare board or similar name as established in the ordinance by 423
629	629	the county governing body. Such council shall consist of 10 424
630	630	members, including the superintendent of schools; a local school 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1301 2025
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb1301-00
638	638	Page 18 of 37
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	board member; the district administrator from the appropriate 426
644	644	district of the Department of Children and Families, or his or 427
645	645	her designee who is a member of the Senior Management Service or 428
646	646	of the Selected Exempt Service; one member of the county 429
647	647	governing body; and the judge assigned to juvenile cases who 430
648	648	shall sit as a voting member of the board, except that said 431
649	649	judge shall not vote or participate in the setting of ad valorem 432
650	650	taxes under this section. If there is more than one judge 433
651	651	assigned to juvenile cases in a county, the chief judge shall 434
652	652	designate one of said juvenile judges to serve on the board. The 435
653	653	remaining five members shall be appointed by the Governor ., and 436
654	654	shall, to the extent possible, re present the demographic 437
655	655	diversity of the population of the county. After soliciting 438
656	656	recommendations from the public, The county governing body may 439
657	657	shall submit to the Governor recommendations the names of at 440
658	658	least three persons for each vacancy and the Governor must make 441
659	659	a selection within 45 days after receipt of the recommendations 442
660	660	from the county governing body occurring among the five members 443
661	661	appointed by the Governor, and the Governor shall appoint 444
662	662	members to the council from the candidates nominated b y the 445
663	663	county governing body. The Governor shall make a selection 446
664	664	within a 45-day period or request a new list of candidates . All 447
665	665	members appointed by the Governor must shall have been residents 448
666	666	of the county for the previous 24 -month period. Such members 449
667	667	shall be appointed for 4 -year terms, except that the length of 450
668	668
669	669	HB 1301 2025
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb1301-00
675	675	Page 19 of 37
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	the terms of the initial appointees shall be adjusted to stagger 451
681	681	the terms. The Governor may remove a member for cause or upon 452
682	682	the written petition of the county governing body. If any of the 453
683	683	members of the council required to be appointed by the Governor 454
684	684	under the provisions of this subsection resigns, dies, or is 455
685	685	removed from office shall resign, die, or be removed from 456
686	686	office, the vacancy thereby created shall, as soon as 457
687	687	practicable, be fille d by appointment by the Governor, using the 458
688	688	same method as the original appointment, and such appointment to 459
689	689	fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of the person who 460
690	690	resigns, dies, or is removed from office. 461
691	691	(b) However, any county as defined in s. 125.011(1) may 462
692	692	instead have a governing body consisting of 33 members, 463
693	693	including the superintendent of schools, or his or her designee; 464
694	694	two representatives of public postsecondary education 465
695	695	institutions located in the county; the county manager or the 466
696	696	equivalent county officer; the district administrator from the 467
697	697	appropriate district of the Department of Children and Families, 468
698	698	or the administrator's designee who is a member of the Senior 469
699	699	Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service; the director 470
700	700	of the county health department or the director's designee; the 471
701	701	state attorney for the county or the state attorney's designee; 472
702	702	the chief judge assigned to juvenile cases, or another juvenile 473
703	703	judge who is the chief judge's designee and who shall sit as a 474
704	704	voting member of the board, except that the judge may not vote 475
705	705
706	706	HB 1301 2025
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
711	711	hb1301-00
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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	or participate in setting ad valorem taxes under this section; 476
718	718	an individual who is selected by the board of the local United 477
719	719	Way or its equivalent; a member of a locally recognized faith -478
720	720	based coalition, selected by that coalition; a member of the 479
721	721	local chamber of commerce, selected by that chamber or, if more 480
722	722	than one chamber exists within the county, a person selected by 481
723	723	a coalition of the local chambers; a member of the early 482
724	724	learning coalition, selected by that coalition; a representative 483
725	725	of a labor organization or union active in the county; a member 484
726	726	of a local alliance or coalition engaged in cross -system 485
727	727	planning for health and social service delivery in the county, 486
728	728	selected by that alliance or coalition; a member of the local 487
729	729	Parent-Teachers Association/Parent -Teacher-Student Association, 488
730	730	selected by that association; a youth representative selected by 489
731	731	the local school system's student government; a local school 490
732	732	board member appointed by the chair of the school board; the 491
733	733	mayor of the county or the mayor's designee; one member of the 492
734	734	county governing body, appointed by the chair of that body; a 493
735	735	member of the state Legislature who represents residents of the 494
736	736	county, selected by the chair of the local legislative 495
737	737	delegation; an elected official representing the residents of a 496
738	738	municipality in the county, selected by the county municipal 497
739	739	league; and 4 members -at-large, appointed to the council by the 498
740	740	majority of sitting council members. The remaini ng seven members 499
741	741	shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with procedures 500
742	742
743	743	HB 1301 2025
744	744
745	745
746	746
747	747	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
748	748	hb1301-00
749	749	Page 21 of 37
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	set forth in paragraph (a), except that the Governor may remove 501
755	755	a member for cause or upon the written petition of the council. 502
756	756	Appointments by the Governor must, to the exte nt reasonably 503
757	757	possible, represent the geographic and demographic diversity of 504
758	758	the population of the county. Members who are appointed to the 505
759	759	council by reason of their position are not subject to the 506
760	760	length of terms and limits on consecutive terms as provi ded in 507
761	761	this section. The remaining appointed members of the governing 508
762	762	body shall be appointed to serve 2 -year terms, except that those 509
763	763	members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to serve 4 -510
764	764	year terms, and the youth representative and the legislat ive 511
765	765	delegate shall be appointed to serve 1 -year terms. A member may 512
766	766	be reappointed; however, a member may not serve for more than 513
767	767	three consecutive terms. A member is eligible to be appointed 514
768	768	again after a 2-year hiatus from the council. 515
769	769	Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 402.305, Florida 516
770	770	Statutes, is amended to read: 517
771	771	402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities. — 518
772	772	(2) PERSONNEL.—Minimum standards for child care personnel 519
773	773	shall include minimum requirements as to: 520
774	774	(a) Good moral character based upon screening as defined 521
775	775	in s. 402.302(15). This screening shall be conducted as provided 522
776	776	in chapter 435, using the level 2 standards for screening set 523
777	777	forth in that chapter, and include employment history checks, a 524
778	778	search of criminal history recor ds, sexual predator and sexual 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1301 2025
781	781
782	782
783	783
784	784	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
785	785	hb1301-00
786	786	Page 22 of 37
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	offender registries, and child abuse and neglect registry of any 526
792	792	state in which the current or prospective child care personnel 527
793	793	resided during the preceding 5 years. 528
794	794	(b) Fingerprint submission for child care personnel, whic h 529
795	795	shall comply with s. 435.12. 530
796	796	(c) The department may grant exemptions from 531
797	797	disqualification from working with children or the 532
798	798	developmentally disabled as provided in s. 435.07. 533
799	799	(c)(d) Minimum age requirements. Such minimum standards 534
800	800	shall prohibit a person under the age of 21 from being the 535
801	801	operator of a child care facility and a person under the age of 536
802	802	16 from being employed at such facility unless such person is 537
803	803	under direct supervision and is not counted for the purposes of 538
804	804	computing the personnel -to-child ratio. 539
805	805	(d)(e) Minimum training requirements for child care 540
806	806	personnel. 541
807	807	1. Such minimum standards for training shall ensure that 542
808	808	all child care personnel take an approved 40 -clock-hour 543
809	809	introductory course in child care, which course covers at lea st 544
810	810	the following topic areas: 545
811	811	a. State and local rules and regulations which govern 546
812	812	child care. 547
813	813	b. Health, safety, and nutrition. 548
814	814	c. Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect. 549
815	815	d. Child development, including typical and atypical 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1301 2025
818	818
819	819
820	820
821	821	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
822	822	hb1301-00
823	823	Page 23 of 37
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	language, cognitive, motor, social, and self -help skills 551
829	829	development. 552
830	830	e. Observation of developmental behaviors, including using 553
831	831	a checklist or other similar observation tools and techniques to 554
832	832	determine the child's developmental age level. 555
833	833	f. Specialized areas, including computer technology for 556
834	834	professional and classroom use and early literacy and language 557
835	835	development of children from birth to 5 years of age, as 558
836	836	determined by the department, for owner -operators and child care 559
837	837	personnel of a child care facility. 560
838	838	g. Developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum 561
839	839	disorder and Down syndrome, and early identification, use of 562
840	840	available state and local resources, classroom integration, and 563
841	841	positive behavioral supports for children with developmental 564
842	842	disabilities. 565
843	843	566
844	844	Within 90 days after employment, child care personnel shall 567
845	845	begin training to meet the training requirements. Child care 568
846	846	personnel shall successfully complete such training within 1 569
847	847	year after the date on which the training began, as evidenced by 570
848	848	passage of a competency examination. Successful completion of 571
849	849	the 40-clock-hour introductory course shall articulate into 572
850	850	community college credit in early childhood education, pursuant 573
851	851	to ss. 1007.24 and 1007.25. Exemption from all or a portion of 574
852	852	the required training shall be granted to child care personnel 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1301 2025
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
859	859	hb1301-00
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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	based upon educational credentials or passage of competency 576
866	866	examinations. Child care personnel possessing a 2 -year degree or 577
867	867	higher that includes 6 college credit hours in early childhood 578
868	868	development or child growth and development, or a child 579
869	869	development associate credential or an equivalent state -approved 580
870	870	child development associate credential, or a child development 581
871	871	associate waiver certificate shall be automatically exempted 582
872	872	from the training requirement s in sub-subparagraphs b., d., and 583
873	873	e. 584
874	874	2. The introductory course in child care shall stress, to 585
875	875	the extent possible, an interdisciplinary approach to the study 586
876	876	of children. 587
877	877	3. The introductory course shall cover recognition and 588
878	878	prevention of shaken bab y syndrome; prevention of sudden infant 589
879	879	death syndrome; recognition and care of infants and toddlers 590
880	880	with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum 591
881	881	disorder and Down syndrome; and early childhood brain 592
882	882	development within the topic areas identif ied in this paragraph. 593
883	883	4. On an annual basis in order to further their child care 594
884	884	skills and, if appropriate, administrative skills, child care 595
885	885	personnel who have fulfilled the requirements for the child care 596
886	886	training shall be required to take an additio nal 1 continuing 597
887	887	education unit of approved inservice training, or 10 clock hours 598
888	888	of equivalent training, as determined by the department. 599
889	889	5. Child care personnel shall be required to complete 0.5 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1301 2025
892	892
893	893
894	894
895	895	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
896	896	hb1301-00
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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	continuing education unit of approved training or 5 clock hours 601
903	903	of equivalent training, as determined by the department, in 602
904	904	early literacy and language development of children from birth 603
905	905	to 5 years of age one time. The year that this training is 604
906	906	completed, it shall fulfill the 0.5 continuing education unit or 605
907	907	5 clock hours of the annual training required in subparagraph 4. 606
908	908	6. Procedures for ensuring the training of qualified child 607
909	909	care professionals to provide training of child care personnel, 608
910	910	including onsite training, shall be included in the minimum 609
911	911	standards. It is recommended that the state community child care 610
912	912	coordination agencies (central agencies) be contracted by the 611
913	913	department to coordinate such training when possible. Other 612
914	914	district educational resources, such as community colleges and 613
915	915	career programs, can be designated in such areas where central 614
916	916	agencies may not exist or are determined not to have the 615
917	917	capability to meet the coordination requirements set forth by 616
918	918	the department. 617
919	919	7. Training requirements shall not apply to certain 618
920	920	occasional or part-time support staff, including, but not 619
921	921	limited to, swimming instructors, piano teachers, dance 620
922	922	instructors, and gymnastics instructors. 621
923	923	8. The child care operator shall be required to take basic 622
924	924	training in serving children with disabilities within 5 ye ars 623
925	925	after employment, either as a part of the introductory training 624
926	926	or the annual 8 hours of inservice training. 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1301 2025
929	929
930	930
931	931
932	932	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
933	933	hb1301-00
934	934	Page 26 of 37
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	(e)(f) Periodic health examinations. 626
940	940	(f)(g) A credential for child care facility directors. The 627
941	941	credential shall be a required minimum stan dard for licensing. 628
942	942	629
943	943	The department may grant limited exemptions authorizing a person 630
944	944	to work in a specified role or with a specified population. 631
945	945	Section 11. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of 632
946	946	section 409.145, Florida Statutes, to read: 633
947	947	409.145 Care of children; "reasonable and prudent parent" 634
948	948	standard.—The child welfare system of the department shall 635
949	949	operate as a coordinated community -based system of care which 636
950	950	empowers all caregivers for children in foster care to provide 637
951	951	quality parenting, including approving or disapproving a child's 638
952	952	participation in activities based on the caregiver's assessment 639
953	953	using the "reasonable and prudent parent" standard. 640
954	954	(3) ROOM AND BOARD RATES. — 641
955	955	(e) By July 1, 2026, the department shall, in coordination 642
956	956	with its providers, establish a fee schedule for daily room and 643
957	957	board rates for children in out -of-home care who are placed in a 644
958	958	residential child-caring agency as defined in s. 409.175(2)(l). 645
959	959	The fee schedule may include different payment rates based on 646
960	960	factors including, but not limited to, the acuity level of the 647
961	961	child being placed and the geographic location of the 648
962	962	residential child-caring agency. The department shall adopt 649
963	963	rules to implement this paragraph. 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1301 2025
966	966
967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
970	970	hb1301-00
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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	Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5), subsection 651
977	977	(7), and paragraph (e) of subsection (14) of section 409.175, 652
978	978	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 653
979	979	409.175 Licensure of family foster homes, residential 654
980	980	child-caring agencies, and child -placing agencies; public 655
981	981	records exemption.— 656
982	982	(5) The department shall adopt and amend rules for the 657
983	983	levels of licensed care associated with the licensure of family 658
984	984	foster homes, residential child -caring agencies, and child -659
985	985	placing agencies. The rules may include criteria to approve 660
986	986	waivers to licensing requ irements when applying for a child -661
987	987	specific license. 662
988	988	(b) The requirements for licensure and operation of family 663
989	989	foster homes, residential child -caring agencies, and child -664
990	990	placing agencies shall include: 665
991	991	1. The operation, conduct, and maintenance of the se homes 666
992	992	and agencies and the responsibility which they assume for 667
993	993	children served and the evidence of need for that service. 668
994	994	2. The provision of food, clothing, educational 669
995	995	opportunities, services, equipment, and individual supplies to 670
996	996	assure the healthy physical, emotional, and mental development 671
997	997	of the children served. 672
998	998	3. The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and general 673
999	999	adequacy of the premises, including fire prevention and health 674
1000	1000	standards, to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well -675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1301 2025
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	being of the children served. 676
1014	1014	4. The ratio of staff to children required to provide 677
1015	1015	adequate care and supervision of the children served and, in the 678
1016	1016	case of family foster homes, the maximum number of children in 679
1017	1017	the home. 680
1018	1018	5. The good moral character bas ed upon screening, 681
1019	1019	education, training, and experience requirements for personnel 682
1020	1020	and family foster homes. 683
1021	1021	6. The department may grant exemptions from 684
1022	1022	disqualification from working with children or the 685
1023	1023	developmentally disabled as provided in s. 435.07. 686
1024	1024	6.7. The provision of preservice and inservice training 687
1025	1025	for all foster parents and agency staff. 688
1026	1026	7.8. Satisfactory evidence of financial ability to provide 689
1027	1027	care for the children in compliance with licensing requirements. 690
1028	1028	8.9. The maintenance by the ag ency of records pertaining 691
1029	1029	to admission, progress, health, and discharge of children 692
1030	1030	served, including written case plans and reports to the 693
1031	1031	department. 694
1032	1032	9.10. The provision for parental involvement to encourage 695
1033	1033	preservation and strengthening of a child's relationship with 696
1034	1034	the family. 697
1035	1035	10.11. The transportation safety of children served. 698
1036	1036	11.12. The provisions for safeguarding the cultural, 699
1037	1037	religious, and ethnic values of a child. 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1301 2025
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1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	12.13. Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of 701
1051	1051	children served. 702
1052	1052	13.14. Requiring signs to be conspicuously placed on the 703
1053	1053	premises of facilities maintained by child -caring agencies to 704
1054	1054	warn children of the dangers of human trafficking and to 705
1055	1055	encourage the reporting of individuals observed attempting to 706
1056	1056	engage in human traf ficking activity. The signs must advise 707
1057	1057	children to report concerns to the local law enforcement agency 708
1058	1058	or the Department of Law Enforcement, specifying the appropriate 709
1059	1059	telephone numbers used for such reports. The department shall 710
1060	1060	specify, at a minimum, th e content of the signs by rule. 711
1061	1061	712
1062	1062	The department may grant limited exemptions authorizing a person 713
1063	1063	to work in a specified role or with a specified population. 714
1064	1064	(7) The department may extend a license expiration date 715
1065	1065	once for a period of up to 90 30 days to allow for the 716
1066	1066	implementation of corrective measures . However, the department 717
1067	1067	may not extend a license expiration date more than once during a 718
1068	1068	licensure period. 719
1069	1069	(14) 720
1070	1070	(e)1. In addition to any other preservice training 721
1071	1071	required by law, foster parents, as a condition of licensure, 722
1072	1072	and agency staff must successfully complete preservice training 723
1073	1073	related to human trafficking which must be uniform statewide and 724
1074	1074	must include, but need not be limited to , all of the following : 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1301 2025
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1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	a. Basic information on human traff icking, such as an 726
1088	1088	understanding of relevant terminology, and the differences 727
1089	1089	between sex trafficking and labor trafficking .; 728
1090	1090	b. Factors and knowledge on identifying children at risk 729
1091	1091	of human trafficking .; and 730
1092	1092	c. Steps that should be taken to prevent a t-risk youths 731
1093	1093	from becoming victims of human trafficking. 732
1094	1094	2. Foster parents, before licensure renewal, and agency 733
1095	1095	staff, during each full year of employment, must complete 734
1096	1096	inservice training related to human trafficking to satisfy the 735
1097	1097	training requirement under subparagraph (5)(b)6 (5)(b)7. 736
1098	1098	Section 13. Subsection (2), paragraph (c) of subsection 737
1099	1099	(3), and subsection (4) of section 419.001, Florida Statutes, 738
1100	1100	are amended to read: 739
1101	1101	419.001 Site selection of community residential homes. — 740
1102	1102	(2) Homes of six or fewer residents which otherwise meet 741
1103	1103	the definition of a community residential home are considered 742
1104	1104	shall be deemed a single-family unit and a noncommercial, 743
1105	1105	residential use for the purpose of local laws and ordinances. 744
1106	1106	Homes of six or fewer residents which otherwise meet the 745
1107	1107	definition of a community residential home must shall be allowed 746
1108	1108	in single-family or multifamily zoning without approval by the 747
1109	1109	local government, provided that such homes are not located 748
1110	1110	within a radius of 1,000 feet of another exi sting such home with 749
1111	1111	six or fewer residents or within a radius of 1,200 feet of 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1301 2025
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1115	1115
1116	1116
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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	another existing community residential home. Such homes with six 751
1125	1125	or fewer residents are not required to comply with the 752
1126	1126	notification provisions of this section; provided that, before 753
1127	1127	licensure, the sponsoring agency provides the local government 754
1128	1128	with the most recently published data compiled from the 755
1129	1129	licensing entities that identifies all community residential 756
1130	1130	homes within the jurisdictional limits of the local government 757
1131	1131	in which the proposed site is to be located in order to show 758
1132	1132	that there is not a home of six or fewer residents which 759
1133	1133	otherwise meets the definition of a community residential home 760
1134	1134	within a radius of 1,000 feet and not a community residential 761
1135	1135	home within a radius of 1,200 feet of the proposed home. At the 762
1136	1136	time of home occupancy, the sponsoring agency must notify the 763
1137	1137	local government that the home is licensed by the licensing 764
1138	1138	entity. For purposes of local land use and zoning 765
1139	1139	determinations, this subsection does no t affect the legal 766
1140	1140	nonconforming use status of any community residential home 767
1141	1141	lawfully permitted and operating as of July 1, 2016. 768
1142	1142	(3) 769
1143	1143	(c) The local government may shall not deny the siting of 770
1144	1144	a community residential home unless the local government 771
1145	1145	establishes that the siting of the home at the site selected: 772
1146	1146	1. Does not otherwise conform to existing zoning 773
1147	1147	regulations applicable to other multifamily uses in the area. 774
1148	1148	2. Does not meet applicable licensing criteria established 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 1301 2025
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1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	and determined by the licensing entity, including requirements 776
1162	1162	that the home be located to assure the safe care and supervision 777
1163	1163	of all clients in the home. 778
1164	1164	3. Would result in such a concentrati on of community 779
1165	1165	residential homes in the area in proximity to the site selected, 780
1166	1166	or would result in a combination of such homes with other 781
1167	1167	residences in the community, such that the nature and character 782
1168	1168	of the area would be substantially altered. A home th at is 783
1169	1169	located within a radius of 1,200 feet of another existing 784
1170	1170	community residential home in a multifamily zone shall be an 785
1171	1171	overconcentration of such homes that substantially alters the 786
1172	1172	nature and character of the area. A home that is located within 787
1173	1173	a radius of 500 feet of an area of single -family zoning 788
1174	1174	substantially alters the nature and character of the area. 789
1175	1175	(4) Community residential homes, including homes of six or 790
1176	1176	fewer residents which would otherwise meet the definition of a 791
1177	1177	community residential home, which are licensed by the Department 792
1178	1178	of Children and Families as a residential child -caring agency as 793
1179	1179	defined in s. 409.175(2)(l) or located within a planned 794
1180	1180	residential community are not subject to the proximity 795
1181	1181	requirements of this section and may be contiguous to each 796
1182	1182	other. A planned residential community must comply with the 797
1183	1183	applicable local government's land development code and other 798
1184	1184	local ordinances. A local government may not impose proximity 799
1185	1185	limitations between homes within a planned residen tial community 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1301 2025
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	if such limitations are based solely on the types of residents 801
1199	1199	anticipated to be living in the community. A local government 802
1200	1200	shall exclude a home that has six or fewer residents licensed by 803
1201	1201	the Department of Children and Families as a reside ntial child-804
1202	1202	caring agency, as defined in s. 409.175(2)(l), when imposing 805
1203	1203	proximity limitations on community residential homes licensed by 806
1204	1204	another licensing entity. 807
1205	1205	Section 14. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (20) of 808
1206	1206	section 553.73, Florida Statute s, to read: 809
1207	1207	553.73 Florida Building Code. — 810
1208	1208	(20) The Florida Building Commission may not: 811
1209	1209	(c) Mandate the installation of fire sprinklers or a fire 812
1210	1210	suppression system in a residential child -caring agency licensed 813
1211	1211	by the Department of Children and Families under s. 409.175 814
1212	1212	which operates in a single -family residential property that is 815
1213	1213	licensed for a capacity of five or fewer children who are 816
1214	1214	unrelated to the licensee. 817
1215	1215	Section 15. Subsection (12) is added to section 633.208, 818
1216	1216	Florida Statutes, to read: 819
1217	1217	633.208 Minimum firesafety standards. — 820
1218	1218	(12) Notwithstanding subsection (8), a residential child -821
1219	1219	caring agency licensed by the Department of Children and 822
1220	1220	Families under s. 409.175 which operates in a single -family 823
1221	1221	residential property that is lice nsed for a capacity of five or 824
1222	1222	fewer children who are unrelated to the licensee is not required 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1301 2025
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1226	1226
1227	1227
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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	to install fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system as long 826
1236	1236	as the licensee meets the requirements for portable fire 827
1237	1237	extinguishers, fire alarms, and smoke d etectors under this 828
1238	1238	chapter. 829
1239	1239	Section 16. Subsection (3) of section 937.0201, Florida 830
1240	1240	Statutes, is amended to read: 831
1241	1241	937.0201 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 832
1242	1242	(3) "Missing child" means a person younger than 18 years 833
1243	1243	of age whose temporary or permanent residence is in, or is 834
1244	1244	believed to be in, this state, whose location has not been 835
1245	1245	determined, and who has been reported as missing to a law 836
1246	1246	enforcement agency. The term includes a child who is the subject 837
1247	1247	of a court order to take the child into the custody of the 838
1248	1248	Department of Children and Families. 839
1249	1249	Section 17. Subsection (3) of section 937.021, Florida 840
1250	1250	Statutes, is amended, and subsection (9) is added to that 841
1251	1251	section, to read: 842
1252	1252	937.021 Missing child and missing adult reports. — 843
1253	1253	(3) A report that a child or adult is missing must be 844
1254	1254	accepted by and filed with the law enforcement agency having 845
1255	1255	jurisdiction in the county or municipality in which the child or 846
1256	1256	adult was last seen. The filing and acceptance of the report 847
1257	1257	imposes the duties s pecified in this section upon the law 848
1258	1258	enforcement agency receiving the report. This subsection does 849
1259	1259	not preclude a law enforcement agency from accepting a missing 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1301 2025
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1263	1263
1264	1264
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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	child or missing adult report when agency jurisdiction cannot be 851
1273	1273	determined. If agency jurisdiction cannot be determined for 852
1274	1274	cases in which there is a child who is the subject of a court 853
1275	1275	order to take the child into the custody of the Department of 854
1276	1276	Children and Families, the sheriff's office of the county in 855
1277	1277	which the court order was entered must take jurisdiction. 856
1278	1278	(9) A law enforcement officer or agency may use reasonable 857
1279	1279	force as necessary to take a missing child who is already in the 858
1280	1280	custody of the Department of Children and Families or who is the 859
1281	1281	subject of a court order to take the child int o the custody of 860
1282	1282	the Department of Children and Families. 861
1283	1283	Section 18. Section 402.30501, Florida Statutes, is 862
1284	1284	amended to read: 863
1285	1285	402.30501 Modification of introductory child care course 864
1286	1286	for community college credit authorized. —The Department of 865
1287	1287	Children and Families may modify the 40 -clock-hour introductory 866
1288	1288	course in child care under s. 402.305 or s. 402.3131 to meet the 867
1289	1289	requirements of articulating the course to community college 868
1290	1290	credit. Any modification must continue to provide that the 869
1291	1291	course satisfies the requirements of s. 402.305(2)(d) s. 870
1292	1292	402.305(2)(e). 871
1293	1293	Section 19. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1002.57, 872
1294	1294	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 873
1295	1295	1002.57 Prekindergarten director credential. — 874
1296	1296	(3) The prekindergarten director credential must meet or 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1301 2025
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
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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	exceed the requirements of the Department of Children and 876
1310	1310	Families for the child care facility director credential under 877
1311	1311	s. 402.305(2)(f) s. 402.305(2)(g), and successful completion of 878
1312	1312	the prekindergarten director credential satisfies these 879
1313	1313	requirements for the child care facility director credential. 880
1314	1314	(4) The department shall, to the maximum extent 881
1315	1315	practicable, award credit to a person who successfully completes 882
1316	1316	the child care facility director credential under s. 883
1317	1317	402.305(2)(f) s. 402.305(2)(g) for those requirements of the 884
1318	1318	prekindergarten director credential which are duplicative of 885
1319	1319	requirements for the child care facility director credential. 886
1320	1320	Section 20. Subsection (1) of section 1002.59, Florida 887
1321	1321	Statutes, is amended to read: 888
1322	1322	1002.59 Emergent literacy and performance standards 889
1323	1323	training courses.— 890
1324	1324	(1) The department, in collaboration with the Just Read, 891
1325	1325	Florida! Office, shall adopt minimum standards for courses in 892
1326	1326	emergent literacy for prekindergarten instructors. Each course 893
1327	1327	must consist of 5 clock hours and provide instruction in 894
1328	1328	strategies and techniques to address the age -appropriate 895
1329	1329	progress of prekindergarten students in developing emergent 896
1330	1330	literacy skills, including oral communication, knowledge of 897
1331	1331	print and letters, phonological and p honemic awareness, 898
1332	1332	vocabulary and comprehension development, and foundational 899
1333	1333	background knowledge designed to correlate with the content that 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1301 2025
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1337	1337
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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	students will encounter in grades K -12, consistent with the 901
1347	1347	evidence-based content and strategies grounded in the science of 902
1348	1348	reading identified pursuant to s. 1001.215(7). The course 903
1349	1349	standards must be reviewed as part of any review of subject 904
1350	1350	coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary, reading, 905
1351	1351	and exceptional student educational areas conducted pursuant to 906
1352	1352	s. 1012.586. Each course must also provide resources containing 907
1353	1353	strategies that allow students with disabilities and other 908
1354	1354	special needs to derive maximum benefit from the Voluntary 909
1355	1355	Prekindergarten Education Program. Successful completion of an 910
1356	1356	emergent literacy training course approved under this section 911
1357	1357	satisfies requirements for approved training in early literacy 912
1358	1358	and language development under ss. 402.305(2)(d)5. ss. 913
1359	1359	402.305(2)(e)5., 402.313(6), and 402.3131(5). 914
1360	1360	Section 21. Except as otherwise ex pressly provided in this 915
1361	1361	act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 916