Bill > H0893

Introduced Session

An act relating to child welfare placements; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Children and Families, under certain circumstances, to place children in its custody in therapeutic group homes for residential mental health treatment without prior court approval; revising definitions; defining the term "therapeutic group home"; providing that the department, rather than the Agency for Health Care Administration, shall appoint qualified evaluators to conduct suitability assessments of certain children in the department's custody; specifying qualifications for evaluators conducting suitability assessments for certain placements; revising requirements for suitability assessments; specifying when the department must provide a copy of the assessment to the guardian ad litem and the court; removing the department's and the agency's rulemaking authority; reordering and amending s. 409.166, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "special needs child"; amending ss. 63.207, 258.0142, 409.1664, and 414.045, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Lauren Melo (R)*,  Patricia Williams (D)*,  Kristen Arrington (D),  Robin Bartleman (D),  Christopher Benjamin (D),  Dan Daley (D),  Tracie Davis (D),  Christine Hunschofsky (D),  Dotie Joseph (D),  Travaris McCurdy (D),  Jim Mooney (R),  Daisy Morales (D),  Angie Nixon (D),  Michele Rayner (D),  Felicia Robinson (D),  David Silvers (D),  Kelly Skidmore (D),  Allison Tant (D),  Geri Thompson (D),  Marie Woodson (D), 

Other Sponsors (2)

Chapter No. 2022-55 (on 04/08/2022)

Official Document