Bill > S1560

Introduced Session

An act relating to medical placement for high-acuity children; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; providing definitions; amending s. 39.01375, F.S.; requiring that specific needs of a high-acuity child be considered when determining a child’s best interest; amending s. 39.302, F.S.; conforming a cross reference; amending s. 39.303, F.S.; revising the role of and services provided by a Child Protection Team; requiring that reports involving a high-acuity child be referred to a Child Protection Team; requiring certain agencies and departments to avoid duplicating the provision of certain services; authorizing a Child Protection Team to prioritize the placement of a high acuity child and to require certain services for a high-acuity child; revising membership of the Children’s Medical Services task force; amending s. 39.4021, F.S.; providing for the placement of a high acuity child; amending s. 39.4022, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “multidisciplinary team”; revising the goals of multidisciplinary teams; revising the participants in a multidisciplinary team; requiring that a multidisciplinary team staffing be held for placement decisions for a high-acuity child; providing the process for instances when the multidisciplinary team cannot reach a consensus on a plan for the placement of a high-acuity child; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; requiring a licensed health care professional to perform a medical screening for certain conditions on a child who is removed from the home and maintained in an out-of-home placement; requiring a judge to order the placement of a high acuity child in a medical placement after he or she is evaluated even if there are other placement options available; authorizing the placement of a high-acuity child in a setting that best meets the needs of the high-acuity child; revising definitions; requiring that a specified examination and suitability assessment be conducted on a high-acuity child; requiring a high-acuity child’s guardian ad litem to notify the court within a specified timeframe if a suitable placement is not identified after an evaluation and suitability assessment within a specified timeframe; requiring the court to set an emergency evidentiary hearing within a specified timeframe to determine a suitable placement; authorizing the court to prioritize certain placements; creating s. 39.4078, F.S.; providing a short title; providing legislative findings and intent; providing definitions; providing applicability; providing for medical placements; providing requirements for a medical placement; requiring a comprehensive clinical assessment of a high-acuity child by a qualified licensed professional under certain circumstances; providing requirements for such clinical assessment and admission to a medical placement; requiring the court to hold an emergency evidentiary hearing under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Children and Families to petition the court within a specified timeframe after a multidisciplinary team staffing; requiring the court to conduct an evidentiary hearing and provide specified written findings; requiring that certain consent and authorization be obtained and documented; requiring the court to maintain certain services and contacts for a high-acuity child; requiring the court to conduct certain periodic reviews during the duration of a medical placement; requiring the department to file a certain report at a specified time before each review hearing; authorizing the court to immediately order that a high-acuity child be moved to a less or more restrictive licensed placement under certain circumstances; authorizing the department to implement certain emergency procedures; requiring a transition plan; requiring that a high acuity child’s case plan be updated within a specified timeframe; prohibiting a medical placement from exceeding a specified number of days except under certain circumstances; providing that a high-acuity child maintains certain rights; requiring the department to collect certain data; requiring the department to submit to the Legislature a specified annual report; providing construction; authorizing the department and the Department of Health to adopt rules; amending s. 39.523, F.S.; revising legislative findings and intent; requiring that a comprehensive placement assessment for a high-acuity child be used to determine the medical necessity of such child; requiring that certain procedures be followed for high-acuity children; requiring appropriate agencies and departments to prioritize the placement of a high acuity child; amending s. 39.6012, F.S.; requiring that a high-acuity child’s case plan include a specific description of the child’s needs; requiring that certain tasks and descriptions be included in the high-acuity child’s case plan; amending s. 39.6013, F.S.; requiring that a high-acuity child’s case plan reflect certain goals, services, and requirements; amending s. 391.025, F.S.; providing that the Children’s Medical Services program includes the Medical Placement for High-acuity Children Act; amending s. 391.029, F.S.; providing that a high acuity child is eligible for the Children’s Medical Services program and the Children’s Medical Services Safety Net program; amending s. 393.065, F.S.; requiring that a high-acuity child be placed in category 1 for priority purposes of Medicaid waiver services; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 394.495, F.S.; providing that certain services include placement of a high-acuity child in a medical bed in a medical placement; revising the list of who a community action treatment team serves to include a high-acuity child; revising the list of who certain mobile response teams serve to include a high-acuity child; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 409.145, F.S.; revising the goals of a system of care; defining the term “high-acuity child”; requiring that the medical necessity of a high-acuity child take priority over the reasonable and prudent parent standard; amending s. 409.166, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “difficult-to-place child”; amending s. 409.906, F.S.; authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration to pay for a medical bed in a medical placement and certain services for a high acuity child; amending s. 409.986, F.S.; revising goals of the Department of Children and Families; defining the term “high-acuity child”; amending ss. 934.255, 960.065, and 984.03, F.S.; conforming cross references; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Corey Simon (R)*, 

Withdrawn from further consideration (on 02/19/2026)

Official Document