Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1626 By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Senator Grall 586-02322-25 20251626c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to child welfare; amending s. 16.56, 3 F.S.; authorizing the Office of Statewide Prosecution 4 in the Department of Legal Affairs to investigate and 5 prosecute specified violations; amending s. 39.01, 6 F.S.; revising the definition of the term child who 7 is found to be dependent; defining the term legal 8 custodian; creating s. 39.3011, F.S.; defining the 9 term Family Advocacy Program; requiring the 10 Department of Children and Families to enter into 11 agreements with certain military installations for 12 child protective investigations involving military 13 families; providing requirements for such agreements; 14 amending s. 39.401, F.S.; authorizing a law 15 enforcement officer or an authorized agent of the 16 department to take a child into custody who is the 17 subject of a specified court order; amending s. 18 39.5075, F.S.; authorizing, rather than requiring, the 19 department or a community-based care provider to 20 petition the court for a specified order; providing 21 that a certain order may be issued only if a certain 22 petition is filed by specified entities; creating s. 23 39.5077, F.S.; defining the term unaccompanied alien 24 child; requiring any natural person who meets certain 25 criteria to report certain information to the 26 department; requiring that such report be submitted 27 within a specified time period; requiring any natural 28 person who meets certain criteria to verify his or her 29 relationship with an unaccompanied alien child in 30 certain ways; requiring the person verifying his or 31 her relationship with such child to pay for DNA 32 testing; requiring such person to verify his or her 33 relationship within a specified time period; requiring 34 certain entities to submit a specified report to the 35 department within a specified time period; requiring a 36 specified attestation; providing criminal penalties 37 and civil fines; requiring the department to notify 38 certain persons or entities of certain requirements; 39 requiring the department to notify local law 40 enforcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and 41 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 42 under certain circumstances; authorizing the 43 department to adopt certain rules; requiring certain 44 persons or entities to submit a report to the central 45 abuse hotline under certain circumstances; amending s. 46 39.905, F.S.; authorizing the department to waive a 47 specified requirement if there is an emergency need 48 for a new domestic violence center, to issue a 49 provisional certification to such center under certain 50 circumstances, and to adopt rules relating to 51 provisional certifications; amending s. 125.901, F.S.; 52 revising membership requirements for certain 53 independent special districts; authorizing the county 54 governing board to select an interim appointment for a 55 vacancy under certain circumstances; amending s. 56 402.305, F.S.; authorizing the department to grant 57 certain exemptions from disqualification for certain 58 persons; amending s. 409.145, F.S.; requiring the 59 department to establish a fee schedule for daily room 60 and board rates for certain children by a date 61 certain, which may include different rates based on a 62 childs acuity level or the geographic location of the 63 residential child-caring agency; requiring the 64 department to adopt rules; amending s. 409.175, F.S.; 65 authorizing the department to grant certain exemptions 66 from disqualification for certain persons; authorizing 67 the department to extend the expiration date of a 68 license by a specified amount of time for a certain 69 purpose; amending s. 409.993, F.S.; specifying that 70 subcontractors of lead agencies that are direct 71 providers of foster care and related services are not 72 liable for certain acts or omissions; providing that 73 certain contract provisions are void and 74 unenforceable; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; prohibiting 75 the Florida Building Commission from mandating the 76 installation of fire sprinklers or a fire suppression 77 system in certain agencies licensed by the department; 78 amending s. 633.208, F.S.; providing that certain 79 residential child-caring agencies are not required to 80 install fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system 81 under certain circumstances; amending s. 937.0201, 82 F.S.; revising the definition of the term missing 83 child; amending s. 937.021, F.S.; specifying the 84 entity with jurisdiction for accepting missing child 85 reports under certain circumstances; amending ss. 86 402.30501, 1002.57, and 1002.59, F.S.; conforming 87 cross-references; providing effective dates. 88 89 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 90 91 Section 1.Effective January 1, 2026, paragraph (a) of 92 subsection (1) of section 16.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to 93 read: 94 16.56Office of Statewide Prosecution. 95 (1)There is created in the Department of Legal Affairs an 96 Office of Statewide Prosecution. The office shall be a separate 97 budget entity as that term is defined in chapter 216. The 98 office may: 99 (a)Investigate and prosecute the offenses of: 100 1.Bribery, burglary, criminal usury, extortion, gambling, 101 kidnapping, larceny, murder, prostitution, perjury, robbery, 102 carjacking, home-invasion robbery, and patient brokering; 103 2.Any crime involving narcotic or other dangerous drugs; 104 3.Any violation of the Florida RICO (Racketeer Influenced 105 and Corrupt Organization) Act, including any offense listed in 106 the definition of racketeering activity in s. 895.02(8)(a), 107 providing such listed offense is investigated in connection with 108 a violation of s. 895.03 and is charged in a separate count of 109 an information or indictment containing a count charging a 110 violation of s. 895.03, the prosecution of which listed offense 111 may continue independently if the prosecution of the violation 112 of s. 895.03 is terminated for any reason; 113 4.Any violation of the Florida Anti-Fencing Act; 114 5.Any violation of the Florida Antitrust Act of 1980, as 115 amended; 116 6.Any crime involving, or resulting in, fraud or deceit 117 upon any person; 118 7.Any violation of s. 847.0135, relating to computer 119 pornography and child exploitation prevention, or any offense 120 related to a violation of s. 847.0135 or any violation of 121 chapter 827 where the crime is facilitated by or connected to 122 the use of the Internet or any device capable of electronic data 123 storage or transmission; 124 8.Any violation of chapter 815; 125 9.Any violation of chapter 825; 126 10.Any criminal violation of part I of chapter 499; 127 11.Any violation of the Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief Act 128 of 2004; 129 12.Any criminal violation of s. 409.920 or s. 409.9201; 130 13.Any criminal violation of the Florida Money Laundering 131 Act; 132 14.Any criminal violation of the Florida Securities and 133 Investor Protection Act; 134 15.Any violation of chapter 787, as well as any and all 135 offenses related to a violation of chapter 787; or 136 16.Any criminal violation of chapter 24, part II of 137 chapter 285, chapter 546, chapter 550, chapter 551, or chapter 138 849; or 139 17.Any violation of s. 39.5077; 140 141 or any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the 142 crimes specifically enumerated above. The office shall have such 143 power only when any such offense is occurring, or has occurred, 144 in two or more judicial circuits as part of a related 145 transaction, or when any such offense is connected with an 146 organized criminal conspiracy affecting two or more judicial 147 circuits. Informations or indictments charging such offenses 148 shall contain general allegations stating the judicial circuits 149 and counties in which crimes are alleged to have occurred or the 150 judicial circuits and counties in which crimes affecting such 151 circuits or counties are alleged to have been connected with an 152 organized criminal conspiracy. 153 Section 2.Subsection (15) of section 39.01, Florida 154 Statutes, is amended to read: 155 39.01Definitions.When used in this chapter, unless the 156 context otherwise requires: 157 (15)Child who is found to be dependent means a child 158 who, pursuant to this chapter, is found by the court: 159 (a)To have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by the 160 childs parent or parents or legal custodians; 161 (b)To have been surrendered to the department, the former 162 Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, or a licensed 163 child-placing agency for purpose of adoption; 164 (c)To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child 165 caring agency, a licensed child-placing agency, an adult 166 relative, the department, or the former Department of Health and 167 Rehabilitative Services, after which placement, under the 168 requirements of this chapter, a case plan has expired and the 169 parent or parents or legal custodians have failed to 170 substantially comply with the requirements of the plan; 171 (d)To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child 172 placing agency for the purposes of subsequent adoption, and a 173 parent or parents have signed a consent pursuant to the Florida 174 Rules of Juvenile Procedure; 175 (e)To have no parent or legal custodians capable of 176 providing supervision and care; 177 (f)To be at substantial risk of imminent abuse, 178 abandonment, or neglect by the parent or parents or legal 179 custodians; or 180 (g)To have been sexually exploited and to have no parent, 181 legal custodian, or responsible adult relative currently known 182 and capable of providing the necessary and appropriate 183 supervision and care. 184 185 For purposes of this subsection, the term legal custodian 186 includes a sponsor to whom an unaccompanied alien child, as 187 defined in s. 39.5077(1), has been released by the Office of 188 Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human 189 Services. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 190 unaccompanied alien child may not be found to have been 191 abandoned, abused, or neglected based solely on allegations of 192 abandonment, abuse, or neglect that occurred before placement in 193 this state or by a parent who is not in the United States. 194 Section 3.Section 39.3011, Florida Statutes, is created to 195 read: 196 39.3011Protective investigations involving military 197 families. 198 (1)For purposes of this section, the term Family Advocacy 199 Program means the program established by the United States 200 Department of Defense to address child abuse, abandonment, and 201 neglect in military families. 202 (2)The department shall enter into an agreement for child 203 protective investigations involving military families with the 204 Family Advocacy Program, or any successor program, of each 205 United States military installation located in this state. Such 206 agreement must include procedures for all of the following: 207 (a)Identifying the military personnel alleged to have 208 committed the child abuse, neglect, or domestic abuse. 209 (b)Notifying and sharing information with the military 210 installation when a child protective investigation implicating 211 military personnel has been initiated. 212 (c)Maintaining confidentiality as required under state and 213 federal law. 214 Section 4.Subsection (1) of section 39.401, Florida 215 Statutes, is amended to read: 216 39.401Taking a child alleged to be dependent into custody; 217 law enforcement officers and authorized agents of the 218 department. 219 (1)A child may only be taken into custody: 220 (a)Pursuant to the provisions of this part, based upon 221 sworn testimony, either before or after a petition is filed; or 222 (b)By a law enforcement officer, or an authorized agent of 223 the department, if the officer or authorized agent has probable 224 cause to support a finding that the: 225 1.That the Child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned, 226 or is suffering from or is in imminent danger of illness or 227 injury as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment; 228 2.Child is the subject of a court order to take the child 229 into the custody of the department; 230 3.2.That the Parent or legal custodian of the child has 231 materially violated a condition of placement imposed by the 232 court; or 233 4.3.That the Child has no parent, legal custodian, or 234 responsible adult relative immediately known and available to 235 provide supervision and care. 236 Section 5.Subsection (4) of section 39.5075, Florida 237 Statutes, is amended to read: 238 39.5075Citizenship or residency status for immigrant 239 children who are dependents. 240 (4)If the child may be eligible for special immigrant 241 juvenile status, the department or community-based care provider 242 may shall petition the court for an order finding that the child 243 meets the criteria for special immigrant juvenile status. The 244 ruling of the court on this petition must include findings as to 245 the express wishes of the child, if the child is able to express 246 such wishes, and any other circumstances that would affect 247 whether the best interests of the child would be served by 248 applying for special immigrant juvenile status. An order finding 249 that a child meets the criteria for special immigrant juvenile 250 status may be issued only upon a petition filed by the 251 department or a community-based care provider under this 252 section. 253 Section 6.Effective January 1, 2026, section 39.5077, 254 Florida Statutes, is created to read: 255 39.5077Unaccompanied alien children. 256 (1)For purposes of this section, the term unaccompanied 257 alien child means a child who has no lawful immigration status 258 in the United States, who has not attained 18 years of age, and 259 with respect to whom: 260 (a)There is no parent or legal guardian in the United 261 States; or 262 (b)No parent or legal guardian in the United States is 263 available to provide care and physical custody. 264 (2)(a)Any natural person who obtains or has obtained 265 physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child through a 266 corporation, public or private agency other than the department, 267 or person other than the childs biological or adoptive parent, 268 legal guardian, or court-appointed custodian; who retains such 269 physical custody of the child for 10 or more consecutive days; 270 and who is not the biological or adoptive parent, legal 271 guardian, or court-appointed custodian of the child, must report 272 such physical custody to the department and initiate proceedings 273 under chapter 63, chapter 744, or chapter 751 to determine legal 274 custody of the child. 275 (b)1.A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied 276 alien child on or after January 1, 2026, must comply with this 277 subsection within 30 days after obtaining physical custody of 278 such child. 279 2.A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied alien 280 child before January 1, 2026, must comply with this subsection 281 within 90 days after January 1, 2026. 282 (3)(a)Any natural person who obtains or has obtained 283 physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child through a 284 corporation, a public or private agency other than the 285 department, or any other person and who is the biological or 286 adoptive parent, legal guardian, or court-appointed custodian of 287 the child must verify his or her relationship to the child by 288 submitting to the department a DNA test or other adequate 289 documentation as determined by the department. The cost of DNA 290 testing is borne by the person verifying his or her relationship 291 to the child. 292 (b)1.A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied 293 alien child on or after January 1, 2026, must comply with this 294 subsection within 30 days after obtaining physical custody of 295 such child. 296 2.A person who obtains custody of an unaccompanied alien 297 child before January 1, 2026, must comply with this subsection 298 within 90 days after January 1, 2026. 299 (4)An entity that takes placement of or transfers, or 300 assists in the transfer of, physical custody of an unaccompanied 301 alien child to any natural person or entity must report to the 302 department within 30 days after such placement or transfer all 303 identifying information of the unaccompanied alien child and the 304 natural person or entity that received such placement or 305 transfer of physical custody of the child. An entity that takes 306 placement of or transfers, or assists in the transfer of, 307 physical custody of an unaccompanied alien child must attest to 308 notifying the natural person or entity obtaining physical 309 custody of the child of all applicable requirements of this 310 section. 311 (5)A natural person or an entity that willfully violates 312 subsections (2) and (3) commits a felony of the third degree, 313 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 314 If the natural person or entity is convicted, the court shall 315 impose a fine of $1,000 on the natural person or a fine of 316 $10,000 on the entity. 317 (6)If the department believes that a natural person or an 318 entity has failed to report as required by this section, the 319 department must notify in writing such person or entity of the 320 obligation to report and the requirements of this section. 321 (7)The department shall notify local law enforcement, the 322 Office of Refugee Resettlement, and United States Immigration 323 and Customs Enforcement if a natural person or an entity fails 324 to report information required under this section within 30 days 325 after receipt of the written notification required in subsection 326 (6). 327 (8)The department may adopt rules to implement this 328 section, including rules relating to: 329 (a)The specific information that must be reported to the 330 department. 331 (b)Verifying biological or adoptive parentage, legal 332 guardianship, or court-appointed custody as required under 333 subsections (2) and (3). 334 (c)The creation of forms for all reports required under 335 this section. 336 (9)A natural person or an entity that is involved with or 337 interacts with an unaccompanied alien child and suspects abuse, 338 abandonment, or neglect of such child must immediately submit a 339 report to the central abuse hotline. 340 Section 7.Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section 341 39.905, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 342 39.905Domestic violence centers. 343 (1)Domestic violence centers certified under this part 344 must: 345 (h)Demonstrate local need and ability to sustain 346 operations through a history of 18 consecutive months operation 347 as a domestic violence center, including 12 months operation of 348 an emergency shelter as provided in paragraph (c), and a 349 business plan which addresses future operations and funding of 350 future operations. The department may waive this requirement if 351 there is an emergency need for a new domestic violence center to 352 provide services in an area and no other viable options exist to 353 ensure continuity of services. If there is an emergency need, 354 the department may issue a provisional certification to the 355 domestic violence center as long as the center meets all other 356 criteria in this subsection. The department may adopt rules to 357 provide minimum standards for a provisional certificate, 358 including increased monitoring and site visits and the time 359 period that such certificate is valid. 360 Section 8.Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of 361 section 125.901, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 362 125.901Childrens services; independent special district; 363 council; powers, duties, and functions; public records 364 exemption. 365 (1)Each county may by ordinance create an independent 366 special district, as defined in ss. 189.012 and 200.001(8)(e), 367 to provide funding for childrens services throughout the county 368 in accordance with this section. The boundaries of such district 369 shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the county. The 370 county governing body shall obtain approval at a general 371 election, as defined in s. 97.021, by a majority vote of those 372 electors voting on the question, to annually levy ad valorem 373 taxes which shall not exceed the maximum millage rate authorized 374 by this section. Any district created pursuant to the provisions 375 of this subsection shall be required to levy and fix millage 376 subject to the provisions of s. 200.065. Once such millage is 377 approved by the electorate, the district shall not be required 378 to seek approval of the electorate in future years to levy the 379 previously approved millage. However, a referendum to increase 380 the millage rate previously approved by the electors must be 381 held at a general election, and the referendum may be held only 382 once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of 383 the increased millage. 384 (a)The governing body of the district shall be a council 385 on childrens services, which may also be known as a juvenile 386 welfare board or similar name as established in the ordinance by 387 the county governing body. Such council shall consist of 10 388 members, including the superintendent of schools; a local school 389 board member; a representative the district administrator from 390 the appropriate district of the Department of Children and 391 Families, or his or her designee who is a member of the Senior 392 Management Service or of the Selected Exempt Service; one member 393 of the county governing body; and the judge assigned to juvenile 394 cases who shall sit as a voting member of the board, except that 395 said judge shall not vote or participate in the setting of ad 396 valorem taxes under this section. If there is more than one 397 judge assigned to juvenile cases in a county, the chief judge 398 shall designate one of said juvenile judges to serve on the 399 board. The remaining five members shall be appointed by the 400 Governor, and shall, to the extent possible, represent the 401 demographic makeup diversity of the population of the county. 402 After soliciting recommendations from the public, the county 403 governing body shall submit to the Governor recommendations the 404 names of at least three persons for each vacancy occurring among 405 the five members appointed by the Governor, and the Governor may 406 shall appoint members to the council from the candidates 407 nominated by the county governing body. The Governor shall make 408 a selection within a 45-day period, but if the Governor fails to 409 make an appointment within the 45-day period, the county 410 governing body may select an interim appointment for each 411 vacancy from the recommendations submitted to the Governor or 412 request a new list of candidates. All members recommended by the 413 county governing body and appointed by the Governor must shall 414 have been residents of the county for the previous 24-month 415 period. Such members shall be appointed for 4-year terms, except 416 that the length of the terms of the initial appointees shall be 417 adjusted to stagger the terms. The Governor may remove a member 418 for cause or upon the written petition of the county governing 419 body. If any of the members of the council required to be 420 appointed by the Governor under the provisions of this 421 subsection resigns, dies, or is shall resign, die, or be removed 422 from office, the vacancy thereby created shall, as soon as 423 practicable, be filled by appointment by the Governor, using the 424 same method as the original appointment, and such appointment to 425 fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of the person who 426 resigns, dies, or is removed from office. 427 (b)However, any county as defined in s. 125.011(1) may 428 instead have a governing body consisting of 33 members, 429 including the superintendent of schools, or his or her designee; 430 two representatives of public postsecondary education 431 institutions located in the county; the county manager or the 432 equivalent county officer; the district administrator from the 433 appropriate district of the Department of Children and Families, 434 or the administrators designee who is a member of the Senior 435 Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service; the director 436 of the county health department or the directors designee; the 437 state attorney for the county or the state attorneys designee; 438 the chief judge assigned to juvenile cases, or another juvenile 439 judge who is the chief judges designee and who shall sit as a 440 voting member of the board, except that the judge may not vote 441 or participate in setting ad valorem taxes under this section; 442 an individual who is selected by the board of the local United 443 Way or its equivalent; a member of a locally recognized faith 444 based coalition, selected by that coalition; a member of the 445 local chamber of commerce, selected by that chamber or, if more 446 than one chamber exists within the county, a person selected by 447 a coalition of the local chambers; a member of the early 448 learning coalition, selected by that coalition; a representative 449 of a labor organization or union active in the county; a member 450 of a local alliance or coalition engaged in cross-system 451 planning for health and social service delivery in the county, 452 selected by that alliance or coalition; a member of the local 453 Parent-Teachers Association/Parent-Teacher-Student Association, 454 selected by that association; a youth representative selected by 455 the local school systems student government; a local school 456 board member appointed by the chair of the school board; the 457 mayor of the county or the mayors designee; one member of the 458 county governing body, appointed by the chair of that body; a 459 member of the state Legislature who represents residents of the 460 county, selected by the chair of the local legislative 461 delegation; an elected official representing the residents of a 462 municipality in the county, selected by the county municipal 463 league; and 4 members-at-large, appointed to the council by the 464 majority of sitting council members. The remaining seven members 465 shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with procedures 466 set forth in paragraph (a), except that the Governor may remove 467 a member for cause or upon the written petition of the council. 468 Appointments by the Governor must, to the extent reasonably 469 possible, represent the geographic and demographic makeup 470 diversity of the population of the county. Members who are 471 appointed to the council by reason of their position are not 472 subject to the length of terms and limits on consecutive terms 473 as provided in this section. The remaining appointed members of 474 the governing body shall be appointed to serve 2-year terms, 475 except that those members appointed by the Governor shall be 476 appointed to serve 4-year terms, and the youth representative 477 and the legislative delegate shall be appointed to serve 1-year 478 terms. A member may be reappointed; however, a member may not 479 serve for more than three consecutive terms. A member is 480 eligible to be appointed again after a 2-year hiatus from the 481 council. 482 Section 9.Subsection (2) of section 402.305, Florida 483 Statutes, is amended to read: 484 402.305Licensing standards; child care facilities. 485 (2)PERSONNEL.Minimum standards for child care personnel 486 shall include minimum requirements as to: 487 (a)Good moral character based upon screening as defined in 488 s. 402.302(15). This screening shall be conducted as provided in 489 chapter 435, using the level 2 standards for screening set forth 490 in that chapter, and include employment history checks, a search 491 of criminal history records, sexual predator and sexual offender 492 registries, and child abuse and neglect registry of any state in 493 which the current or prospective child care personnel resided 494 during the preceding 5 years. 495 (b)Fingerprint submission for child care personnel, which 496 shall comply with s. 435.12. 497 (c)The department may grant exemptions from 498 disqualification from working with children or the 499 developmentally disabled as provided in s. 435.07. 500 (d)Minimum age requirements. Such minimum standards shall 501 prohibit a person under the age of 21 from being the operator of 502 a child care facility and a person under the age of 16 from 503 being employed at such facility unless such person is under 504 direct supervision and is not counted for the purposes of 505 computing the personnel-to-child ratio. 506 (d)(e)Minimum training requirements for child care 507 personnel. 508 1.Such minimum standards for training shall ensure that 509 all child care personnel take an approved 40-clock-hour 510 introductory course in child care, which course covers at least 511 the following topic areas: 512 a.State and local rules and regulations which govern child 513 care. 514 b.Health, safety, and nutrition. 515 c.Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect. 516 d.Child development, including typical and atypical 517 language, cognitive, motor, social, and self-help skills 518 development. 519 e.Observation of developmental behaviors, including using 520 a checklist or other similar observation tools and techniques to 521 determine the childs developmental age level. 522 f.Specialized areas, including computer technology for 523 professional and classroom use and early literacy and language 524 development of children from birth to 5 years of age, as 525 determined by the department, for owner-operators and child care 526 personnel of a child care facility. 527 g.Developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum 528 disorder and Down syndrome, and early identification, use of 529 available state and local resources, classroom integration, and 530 positive behavioral supports for children with developmental 531 disabilities. 532 533 Within 90 days after employment, child care personnel shall 534 begin training to meet the training requirements. Child care 535 personnel shall successfully complete such training within 1 536 year after the date on which the training began, as evidenced by 537 passage of a competency examination. Successful completion of 538 the 40-clock-hour introductory course shall articulate into 539 community college credit in early childhood education, pursuant 540 to ss. 1007.24 and 1007.25. Exemption from all or a portion of 541 the required training shall be granted to child care personnel 542 based upon educational credentials or passage of competency 543 examinations. Child care personnel possessing a 2-year degree or 544 higher that includes 6 college credit hours in early childhood 545 development or child growth and development, or a child 546 development associate credential or an equivalent state-approved 547 child development associate credential, or a child development 548 associate waiver certificate shall be automatically exempted 549 from the training requirements in sub-subparagraphs b., d., and 550 e. 551 2.The introductory course in child care shall stress, to 552 the extent possible, an interdisciplinary approach to the study 553 of children. 554 3.The introductory course shall cover recognition and 555 prevention of shaken baby syndrome; prevention of sudden infant 556 death syndrome; recognition and care of infants and toddlers 557 with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum 558 disorder and Down syndrome; and early childhood brain 559 development within the topic areas identified in this paragraph. 560 4.On an annual basis in order to further their child care 561 skills and, if appropriate, administrative skills, child care 562 personnel who have fulfilled the requirements for the child care 563 training shall be required to take an additional 1 continuing 564 education unit of approved inservice training, or 10 clock hours 565 of equivalent training, as determined by the department. 566 5.Child care personnel shall be required to complete 0.5 567 continuing education unit of approved training or 5 clock hours 568 of equivalent training, as determined by the department, in 569 early literacy and language development of children from birth 570 to 5 years of age one time. The year that this training is 571 completed, it shall fulfill the 0.5 continuing education unit or 572 5 clock hours of the annual training required in subparagraph 4. 573 6.Procedures for ensuring the training of qualified child 574 care professionals to provide training of child care personnel, 575 including onsite training, shall be included in the minimum 576 standards. It is recommended that the state community child care 577 coordination agencies (central agencies) be contracted by the 578 department to coordinate such training when possible. Other 579 district educational resources, such as community colleges and 580 career programs, can be designated in such areas where central 581 agencies may not exist or are determined not to have the 582 capability to meet the coordination requirements set forth by 583 the department. 584 7.Training requirements shall not apply to certain 585 occasional or part-time support staff, including, but not 586 limited to, swimming instructors, piano teachers, dance 587 instructors, and gymnastics instructors. 588 8.The child care operator shall be required to take basic 589 training in serving children with disabilities within 5 years 590 after employment, either as a part of the introductory training 591 or the annual 8 hours of inservice training. 592 (e)(f)Periodic health examinations. 593 (f)(g)A credential for child care facility directors. The 594 credential shall be a required minimum standard for licensing. 595 596 The department may grant limited exemptions authorizing a person 597 to work in a specified role or with a specified population. 598 Section 10.Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of 599 section 409.145, Florida Statutes, to read: 600 409.145Care of children; reasonable and prudent parent 601 standard.The child welfare system of the department shall 602 operate as a coordinated community-based system of care which 603 empowers all caregivers for children in foster care to provide 604 quality parenting, including approving or disapproving a childs 605 participation in activities based on the caregivers assessment 606 using the reasonable and prudent parent standard. 607 (3)ROOM AND BOARD RATES. 608 (e)By July 1, 2026, the department shall, in coordination 609 with its providers, establish a fee schedule for daily room and 610 board rates for children in out-of-home care who are placed in a 611 residential child-caring agency as defined in s. 409.175(2)(l). 612 The fee schedule may include different payment rates based on 613 factors including, but not limited to, the acuity level of the 614 child being placed and the geographic location of the 615 residential child-caring agency. The department shall adopt 616 rules to implement this paragraph. 617 Section 11.Paragraph (b) of subsection (5), subsection 618 (7), and paragraph (e) of subsection (14) of section 409.175, 619 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 620 409.175Licensure of family foster homes, residential 621 child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies; public 622 records exemption. 623 (5)The department shall adopt and amend rules for the 624 levels of licensed care associated with the licensure of family 625 foster homes, residential child-caring agencies, and child 626 placing agencies. The rules may include criteria to approve 627 waivers to licensing requirements when applying for a child 628 specific license. 629 (b)The requirements for licensure and operation of family 630 foster homes, residential child-caring agencies, and child 631 placing agencies shall include: 632 1.The operation, conduct, and maintenance of these homes 633 and agencies and the responsibility which they assume for 634 children served and the evidence of need for that service. 635 2.The provision of food, clothing, educational 636 opportunities, services, equipment, and individual supplies to 637 assure the healthy physical, emotional, and mental development 638 of the children served. 639 3.The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and general 640 adequacy of the premises, including fire prevention and health 641 standards, to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well 642 being of the children served. 643 4.The ratio of staff to children required to provide 644 adequate care and supervision of the children served and, in the 645 case of family foster homes, the maximum number of children in 646 the home. 647 5.The good moral character based upon screening, 648 education, training, and experience requirements for personnel 649 and family foster homes. 650 6.The department may grant exemptions from 651 disqualification from working with children or the 652 developmentally disabled as provided in s. 435.07. 653 7.The provision of preservice and inservice training for 654 all foster parents and agency staff. 655 7.8.Satisfactory evidence of financial ability to provide 656 care for the children in compliance with licensing requirements. 657 8.9.The maintenance by the agency of records pertaining to 658 admission, progress, health, and discharge of children served, 659 including written case plans and reports to the department. 660 9.10.The provision for parental involvement to encourage 661 preservation and strengthening of a childs relationship with 662 the family. 663 10.11.The transportation safety of children served. 664 11.12.The provisions for safeguarding the cultural, 665 religious, and ethnic values of a child. 666 12.13.Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of children 667 served. 668 13.14.Requiring signs to be conspicuously placed on the 669 premises of facilities maintained by child-caring agencies to 670 warn children of the dangers of human trafficking and to 671 encourage the reporting of individuals observed attempting to 672 engage in human trafficking activity. The signs must advise 673 children to report concerns to the local law enforcement agency 674 or the Department of Law Enforcement, specifying the appropriate 675 telephone numbers used for such reports. The department shall 676 specify, at a minimum, the content of the signs by rule. 677 678 The department may grant limited exemptions authorizing a person 679 to work in a specified role or with a specified population. 680 (7)The department may extend a license expiration date 681 once for a period of up to 90 30 days to allow for the 682 implementation of corrective measures. However, the department 683 may not extend a license expiration date more than once during a 684 licensure period. 685 (14) 686 (e)1.In addition to any other preservice training required 687 by law, foster parents, as a condition of licensure, and agency 688 staff must successfully complete preservice training related to 689 human trafficking which must be uniform statewide and must 690 include, but need not be limited to, all of the following: 691 a.Basic information on human trafficking, such as an 692 understanding of relevant terminology, and the differences 693 between sex trafficking and labor trafficking.; 694 b.Factors and knowledge on identifying children at risk of 695 human trafficking.; and 696 c.Steps that should be taken to prevent at-risk youths 697 from becoming victims of human trafficking. 698 2.Foster parents, before licensure renewal, and agency 699 staff, during each full year of employment, must complete 700 inservice training related to human trafficking to satisfy the 701 training requirement under subparagraph (5)(b)6 (5)(b)7. 702 Section 12.Present paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of 703 section 409.993, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph 704 (c), a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, and 705 paragraph (a) of that subsection is amended, to read: 706 409.993Lead agencies and subcontractor liability. 707 (3)SUBCONTRACTOR LIABILITY. 708 (a)A subcontractor of an eligible community-based care 709 lead agency that is a direct provider of foster care and related 710 services to children and families, and its employees or 711 officers, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) (b), 712 must, as a part of its contract, obtain a minimum of $1 million 713 per occurrence with a policy period aggregate limit of $3 714 million in general liability insurance coverage. The 715 subcontractor of a lead agency must also require that staff who 716 transport client children and families in their personal 717 automobiles in order to carry out their job responsibilities 718 obtain minimum bodily injury liability insurance in the amount 719 of $100,000 per person in any one automobile accident, and 720 subject to such limits for each person, $300,000 for all damages 721 resulting from any one automobile accident, on their personal 722 automobiles. In lieu of personal motor vehicle insurance, the 723 subcontractors casualty, liability, or motor vehicle insurance 724 carrier may provide nonowned automobile liability coverage. This 725 insurance provides liability insurance for automobiles that the 726 subcontractor uses in connection with the subcontractors 727 business but does not own, lease, rent, or borrow. This coverage 728 includes automobiles owned by the employees of the subcontractor 729 or a member of the employees household but only while the 730 automobiles are used in connection with the subcontractors 731 business. The nonowned automobile coverage for the subcontractor 732 applies as excess coverage over any other collectible insurance. 733 The personal automobile policy for the employee of the 734 subcontractor shall be primary insurance, and the nonowned 735 automobile coverage of the subcontractor acts as excess 736 insurance to the primary insurance. The subcontractor shall 737 provide a minimum limit of $1 million in nonowned automobile 738 coverage. In a tort action brought against such subcontractor or 739 employee, net economic damages shall be limited to $2 million 740 per liability claim and $200,000 per automobile claim, 741 including, but not limited to, past and future medical expenses, 742 wage loss, and loss of earning capacity, offset by any 743 collateral source payment paid or payable. In a tort action 744 brought against such subcontractor, noneconomic damages shall be 745 limited to $400,000 per claim. A claims bill may be brought on 746 behalf of a claimant pursuant to s. 768.28 for any amount 747 exceeding the limits specified in this paragraph. Any offset of 748 collateral source payments made as of the date of the settlement 749 or judgment shall be in accordance with s. 768.76. 750 (b)A subcontractor of a lead agency that is a direct 751 provider of foster care and related services is not liable for 752 the acts or omissions of the lead agency; the department; or the 753 officers, agents, or employees of the lead agency or the 754 department. Any provision in a contract between a subcontractor 755 and a lead agency which is in conflict with this paragraph is 756 void and unenforceable. 757 Section 13.Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (20) of 758 section 553.73, Florida Statutes, to read: 759 553.73Florida Building Code. 760 (20)The Florida Building Commission may not: 761 (c)Mandate the installation of fire sprinklers or a fire 762 suppression system in a residential child-caring agency licensed 763 by the Department of Children and Families under s. 409.175 764 which operates in a single-family residential property that is 765 licensed for a capacity of five or fewer children who are 766 unrelated to the licensee. 767 Section 14.Subsection (12) is added to section 633.208, 768 Florida Statutes, to read: 769 633.208Minimum firesafety standards. 770 (12)Notwithstanding subsection (8), a residential child 771 caring agency licensed by the Department of Children and 772 Families under s. 409.175 which operates in a single-family 773 residential property that is licensed for a capacity of five or 774 fewer children who are unrelated to the licensee is not required 775 to install fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system as long 776 as the licensee meets the requirements for portable fire 777 extinguishers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors under this 778 chapter. 779 Section 15.Subsection (3) of section 937.0201, Florida 780 Statutes, is amended to read: 781 937.0201Definitions.As used in this chapter, the term: 782 (3)Missing child means a person younger than 18 years of 783 age whose temporary or permanent residence is in, or is believed 784 to be in, this state, whose location has not been determined, 785 and who has been reported as missing to a law enforcement 786 agency. The term includes a child who is the subject of a court 787 order to take the child into the custody of the Department of 788 Children and Families. 789 Section 16.Subsection (3) of section 937.021, Florida 790 Statutes, is amended to read: 791 937.021Missing child and missing adult reports. 792 (3)A report that a child or adult is missing must be 793 accepted by and filed with the law enforcement agency having 794 jurisdiction in the county or municipality in which the child or 795 adult was last seen. The filing and acceptance of the report 796 imposes the duties specified in this section upon the law 797 enforcement agency receiving the report. This subsection does 798 not preclude a law enforcement agency from accepting a missing 799 child or missing adult report when agency jurisdiction cannot be 800 determined. If agency jurisdiction cannot be determined for 801 cases in which there is a child who is the subject of a court 802 order to take the child into the custody of the Department of 803 Children and Families, the sheriffs office of the county in 804 which the court order was entered must take jurisdiction. 805 Section 17.Section 402.30501, Florida Statutes, is amended 806 to read: 807 402.30501Modification of introductory child care course 808 for community college credit authorized.The Department of 809 Children and Families may modify the 40-clock-hour introductory 810 course in child care under s. 402.305 or s. 402.3131 to meet the 811 requirements of articulating the course to community college 812 credit. Any modification must continue to provide that the 813 course satisfies the requirements of s. 402.305(2)(d) s. 814 402.305(2)(e). 815 Section 18.Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1002.57, 816 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 817 1002.57Prekindergarten director credential. 818 (3)The prekindergarten director credential must meet or 819 exceed the requirements of the Department of Children and 820 Families for the child care facility director credential under 821 s. 402.305(2)(f) s. 402.305(2)(g), and successful completion of 822 the prekindergarten director credential satisfies these 823 requirements for the child care facility director credential. 824 (4)The department shall, to the maximum extent 825 practicable, award credit to a person who successfully completes 826 the child care facility director credential under s. 827 402.305(2)(f) s. 402.305(2)(g) for those requirements of the 828 prekindergarten director credential which are duplicative of 829 requirements for the child care facility director credential. 830 Section 19.Subsection (1) of section 1002.59, Florida 831 Statutes, is amended to read: 832 1002.59Emergent literacy and performance standards 833 training courses. 834 (1)The department, in collaboration with the Just Read, 835 Florida! Office, shall adopt minimum standards for courses in 836 emergent literacy for prekindergarten instructors. Each course 837 must consist of 5 clock hours and provide instruction in 838 strategies and techniques to address the age-appropriate 839 progress of prekindergarten students in developing emergent 840 literacy skills, including oral communication, knowledge of 841 print and letters, phonological and phonemic awareness, 842 vocabulary and comprehension development, and foundational 843 background knowledge designed to correlate with the content that 844 students will encounter in grades K-12, consistent with the 845 evidence-based content and strategies grounded in the science of 846 reading identified pursuant to s. 1001.215(7). The course 847 standards must be reviewed as part of any review of subject 848 coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary, reading, 849 and exceptional student educational areas conducted pursuant to 850 s. 1012.586. Each course must also provide resources containing 851 strategies that allow students with disabilities and other 852 special needs to derive maximum benefit from the Voluntary 853 Prekindergarten Education Program. Successful completion of an 854 emergent literacy training course approved under this section 855 satisfies requirements for approved training in early literacy 856 and language development under ss. 402.305(2)(d)5. ss. 857 402.305(2)(e)5., 402.313(6), and 402.3131(5). 858 Section 20.Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 859 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2025.