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Bill > S2518


FL S2518

FL S2518
Health


summary

Introduced
05/07/2026
In Committee
05/07/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/01/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Fifth Special Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to health; amending s. 216.136, F.S.; requiring the Social Services Estimating Conference to develop certain official information relating to the pilot program for individuals with developmental disabilities; amending s. 394.495, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Children and Families, as authorized by and consistent with appropriated funding, to contract with a specified organization to provide grief support services to help certain children and youth; requiring that the services be provided at no cost; authorizing the contracted organization to also provide grief awareness training and outreach to local schools and medical facilities under the contract; amending s. 409.145, F.S.; revising the monthly room and board rates the department is required to pay to certain foster parents and caregivers; amending s. 409.1455, F.S.; renaming the Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Pilot Program as the Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Program; deleting a provision limiting the duration of the program; requiring the Office of Continuing Care within the department to develop certain cohorts within specified regions, to collaborate with certain organizations to recruit mentors and organizations, and to provide eligible former foster youth with internship placement opportunities; deleting a provision requiring that the program be administered in a certain manner; deleting obsolete language; requiring the office to develop trauma-informed training for mentors of certain former foster youth; providing requirements for the training; authorizing the office to provide certain additional trainings on mentorship of special populations; revising the amount of monthly financial assistance that the office provides to participating former foster youth; requiring the office to assign experienced staff to serve as program liaisons for a specified purpose; revising qualifications to serve as a mentor; authorizing the department to offer certain training to mentors in subsequent years; authorizing an employee who serves as a mentor to participate in certain additional trainings; deleting a provision authorizing the offset of a reduction in or loss of certain benefits due to receipt of a Step into Success stipend by an additional stipend payment; creating s. 409.1475, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; creating the Foster and Family Support Grant Program within the department; requiring the department to award grants to not-for-profit, faith based organizations for specified purposes; requiring that the program emphasize certain support; specifying authorized uses for awarded grant funds; requiring grant recipients to submit reports to the department in a format and at intervals prescribed by the department; authorizing the department to adopt rules; amending s. 409.908, F.S.; revising the parameters for the prospective payment methodology used for determining the Agency for Health Care Administration’s long-term care reimbursement plan for nursing home care; requiring the agency to consider specified recommendations when revising its methodology for calculating Quality Incentive Program payments; requiring the agency to delay the effective date of any changes to its methodology for a specified timeframe; amending s. 409.9855, F.S.; requiring the agency to collect and analyze certain data relating to the pilot program for individuals with developmental disabilities for a specified timeframe; requiring the agency to report specified information to the Social Services Estimating Conference; amending s. 409.990, F.S.; revising the cumulative amount of unexpended state funds that a community-based care lead agency may carry forward to the next fiscal year; amending s. 414.56, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; reenacting ss. 39.5085(2)(d), 39.6225(5)(d), 393.065(5)(b), and 409.1451(2)(b), F.S., relating to the Relative Caregiver Program, the Guardianship Assistance Program, application and eligibility determinations, and the Road-to Independence Program, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 409.145, F.S., in references thereto; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill makes several changes to Florida's health and human services programs, including requiring the Social Services Estimating Conference to provide official data on a pilot program for individuals with developmental disabilities, authorizing the Department of Children and Families to contract for grief support services for children and youth who have lost a parent or sibling, and increasing the monthly room and board rates for foster parents. It also renames and expands the "Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Pilot Program" to better support former foster youth in gaining workforce skills and finding employment, including providing trauma-informed training for mentors and increasing financial assistance for participants. Additionally, the bill establishes a new "Foster and Family Support Grant Program" to provide grants to non-profit and faith-based organizations to recruit and support foster, adoptive, and kinship families, particularly in underserved areas. Finally, it revises how the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) calculates reimbursement rates for nursing home care, incorporating consumer satisfaction surveys and recommendations from a study, and delays the effective date of certain methodology changes, while also adjusting parameters for carrying forward unexpended funds by community-based care lead agencies.

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Laid on Table, refer to HB 5301-E (on 05/12/2026)

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