summary
Introduced
02/27/2025
02/27/2025
In Committee
03/06/2025
03/06/2025
Crossed Over
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to child welfare; creating s. 39.3011, F.S.; defining the term “Family Advocacy Program”; requiring the Department of Children and Families to enter into agreements with certain military installations for child protective investigations involving military families; providing requirements for such agreements; amending s. 39.401, F.S.; authorizing a law enforcement officer or an authorized agent of the department to take a child into custody who is the subject of a specified court order; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; requiring the department to develop rules to include a specific process to ensure children receive timely access to clinically appropriate psychotropic medications; amending s. 39.905, F.S.; authorizing the department to waive a specified requirement if there is an emergency need for a new domestic violence center, to issue a provisional certification to such center under certain circumstances, and to adopt rules relating to provisional certifications; amending s. 125.901, F.S.; revising membership requirements for the governing bodies of certain independent special districts; authorizing the county governing body to select an interim appointment for a vacancy under certain circumstances; revising the terms for certain members of the districts’ governing bodies; amending s. 402.305, F.S.; authorizing the department to grant certain exemptions from disqualification for certain persons; amending s. 409.145, F.S.; requiring the department to establish a methodology to determine daily room and board rates for certain children by a date certain, which may include different rates based on a child’s acuity level or the geographic location of the residential child-caring agency; requiring the department to adopt rules; amending s. 409.175, F.S.; authorizing the department to grant certain exemptions from disqualification for certain persons; authorizing the department to extend the expiration date of a license by a specified amount of time for a certain purpose; amending s. 409.993, F.S.; specifying that subcontractors of lead agencies that are direct providers of foster care and related services are not liable for certain acts or omissions; providing that certain contract provisions are void and unenforceable; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; prohibiting the Florida Building Commission from mandating the installation of fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system in certain agencies licensed by the department; amending s. 633.208, F.S.; providing that certain residential child-caring agencies are not required to install fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system under certain circumstances; amending s. 937.0201, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “missing child”; amending s. 937.021, F.S.; specifying the entity with jurisdiction for accepting missing child reports under certain circumstances; amending ss. 402.30501, 1002.57, and 1002.59, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill addresses multiple aspects of child welfare in Florida, making several significant changes to existing statutes. It establishes a new Family Advocacy Program requiring the Department of Children and Families to enter into agreements with military installations to coordinate child protective investigations involving military families, ensuring information sharing and maintaining confidentiality. The bill expands law enforcement's ability to take children into custody, including when a child is subject to a court order. It mandates the development of rules to ensure timely access to psychotropic medications for children, including procedures for caretakers to schedule and manage medical appointments. The legislation also introduces provisions for provisional certification of domestic violence centers during emergencies, modifies membership requirements for children's services councils, and allows the department to grant limited exemptions for certain personnel working with children. Additionally, the bill addresses various technical changes, such as extending license expiration dates, adjusting room and board rate methodologies for residential child-caring agencies, and modifying definitions related to missing children. The bill aims to improve child welfare services, streamline administrative processes, and enhance protections for children in foster care and other vulnerable situations, with most provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (3)
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Senate), Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (Senate), Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Last Action
Died in Messages, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1255 (Ch. 2025-110), CS/SB 7012 (Ch.2025-186) (on 06/16/2025)
Official Document
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