Bill Text: FL S0590 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Child Welfare

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-07 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 1435 [S0590 Detail]

Download: Florida-2018-S0590-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2018                       CS for CS for SB 590
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Children, Families, and
       Elder Affairs; and Senators Garcia and Campbell
       
       
       
       
       576-03815-18                                           2018590c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to child welfare; creating s. 39.4015,
    3         F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent;
    4         defining terms; requiring the Department of Children
    5         and Families, in collaboration with sheriffs’ offices
    6         that conduct child protective investigations and
    7         community-based care lead agencies, to develop a
    8         statewide family-finding program; specifying that
    9         implementation of the family-finding program is
   10         contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the
   11         Legislature; specifying when a family finding is
   12         required; requiring the department and community-based
   13         care lead agencies to document strategies taken to
   14         engage relatives and kin; providing strategies to
   15         engage relatives and kin; requiring the department and
   16         community-based care lead agencies to use diligent
   17         efforts in family finding; providing that certain
   18         actions do not constitute family finding; requiring
   19         determinations by the court; requiring the department
   20         to adopt rules; amending s. 39.402, F.S.; requiring
   21         the court to request that parents consent to providing
   22         access to additional records; upon implementation of
   23         the family-finding program, requiring a judge to
   24         appoint a surrogate parent for certain children;
   25         requiring the court to place on the record its
   26         determinations regarding the department’s or the
   27         community-based lead agency’s reasonable engagement in
   28         family finding; providing guidelines for determining
   29         reasonableness; amending s. 39.506, F.S.; upon
   30         implementation of the family-finding program,
   31         requiring the court to make a determination regarding
   32         the department’s or the community-based lead agency’s
   33         reasonable engagement in family finding; providing
   34         guidelines for determining reasonableness; amending s.
   35         39.507, F.S.; upon implementation of the family
   36         finding program, requiring the court to make a
   37         determination regarding the department’s or the
   38         community-based lead agency’s reasonable engagement in
   39         family finding; providing guidelines for determining
   40         reasonableness; requiring the court to advise parents
   41         that their parental rights may be terminated and the
   42         child’s out-of-home placement may become permanent
   43         under certain circumstances; creating s. 39.5086,
   44         F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent;
   45         defining terms; providing the purpose of a kinship
   46         navigator program; contingent upon the appropriation
   47         of funds by the Legislature, requiring each community
   48         based care lead agency to establish a kinship
   49         navigator program; providing requirements for
   50         programs; requiring the department to adopt rules;
   51         amending s. 39.521, F.S.; upon implementation of the
   52         family-finding program, requiring the court to make a
   53         determination regarding the department’s or the
   54         community-based lead agency’s reasonable engagement in
   55         family finding; providing guidelines for determining
   56         reasonableness; conforming provisions to changes made
   57         by the act; amending s. 39.6012, F.S.; revising the
   58         types of records that must be attached to a case plan
   59         and updated throughout the judicial review process;
   60         upon implementation of the family-finding program,
   61         requiring that documentation of the family-finding
   62         efforts of the department and the community-based care
   63         lead agency be included in certain case plans;
   64         amending s. 39.604, F.S.; revising legislative
   65         findings and intent; revising enrollment and
   66         attendance requirements for children in an early
   67         education or child care program; conforming cross
   68         references; providing requirements and procedures for
   69         maintaining the educational stability of a child
   70         during the child’s placement in out-of-home care, or
   71         subsequent changes in out-of-home placement; requiring
   72         that a child’s transition from a child care or early
   73         education program be pursuant to a plan that meets
   74         certain requirements; amending s. 39.6251, F.S.;
   75         requiring the case manager for a young adult in foster
   76         care to consult with the young adult when updating the
   77         case plan and the transition plan and arrangements;
   78         deleting a provision authorizing case management
   79         reviews to be conducted by telephone under certain
   80         circumstances; amending s. 39.701, F.S.; requiring the
   81         court to appoint a surrogate parent if the child is
   82         under the age of school entry; upon implementation of
   83         the family-finding program, requiring the court to
   84         determine if the department and community-based lead
   85         agency have continued to reasonably engage in family
   86         finding; providing guidelines for determining the
   87         level of reasonableness; amending s. 409.166, F.S.;
   88         defining terms; providing conditions for the
   89         department to provide adoption assistance payments to
   90         adoptive parents of certain children; providing that
   91         children and young adults receiving benefits through
   92         the adoption assistance program are ineligible for
   93         other specified benefits and services; providing
   94         additional conditions for eligibility for adoption
   95         assistance; contingent upon the appropriation of funds
   96         by the Legislature, requiring the department to create
   97         a pilot Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program;
   98         providing definitions; specifying eligibility and
   99         limitations; establishing a room and board rate for
  100         guardians in certain circuits who are eligible for the
  101         program; providing an exception to licensing standards
  102         in certain circuits under certain circumstances;
  103         providing effective dates.
  104          
  105  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  106  
  107         Section 1. Effective January 1, 2019, section 39.4015,
  108  Florida Statutes, is created to read:
  109         39.4015 Family finding.—
  110         (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
  111         (a) The Legislature finds that every child who is in out
  112  of-home care has the goal of finding a permanent home, whether
  113  achieved by reunifying the child with his or her parents or
  114  finding another permanent connection, such as adoption or legal
  115  guardianship with a relative or nonrelative who has a
  116  significant relationship with the child.
  117         (b) The Legislature finds that while legal permanency is
  118  important to a child in out-of-home care, emotional permanency
  119  helps increase the likelihood that children will achieve
  120  stability and well-being and successfully transition to
  121  independent adulthood.
  122         (c) The Legislature also finds that research has
  123  consistently shown that placing a child within his or her own
  124  family reduces the trauma of being removed from his or her home,
  125  is less likely to result in placement disruptions, and enhances
  126  prospects for finding a permanent family if the child cannot
  127  return home.
  128         (d) The Legislature further finds that the primary purpose
  129  of family finding is to facilitate legal and emotional
  130  permanency for children who are in out-of-home care by finding
  131  and engaging their relatives.
  132         (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that every child in
  133  out-of-home care be afforded the advantages that can be gained
  134  from the use of family finding to establish caring and long-term
  135  or permanent connections and relationships for children and
  136  youth in out-of-home care, as well as to establish a long-term
  137  emotional support network with family members and other adults
  138  who may not be able to take the child into their home but who
  139  want to stay connected with the child.
  140         (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
  141         (a) “Diligent efforts” means the use of methods and
  142  techniques including, but not limited to, interviews with
  143  immediate and extended family and kin, genograms, eco-mapping,
  144  case mining, cold calls, and specialized computer searches.
  145         (b) “Family finding” means an intensive relative search and
  146  engagement technique used in identifying family and other close
  147  adults for children in out-of-home care and involving them in
  148  developing and carrying out a plan for the emotional and legal
  149  permanency of a child.
  150         (c) “Family group decisionmaking” is a generic term that
  151  includes a number of approaches in which family members and
  152  fictive kin are brought together to make decisions about how to
  153  care for their children and develop a plan for services. The
  154  term includes family team conferencing, family team meetings,
  155  family group conferencing, family team decisionmaking, family
  156  unity meetings, and team decisionmaking, which may consist of
  157  several phases and employ a trained facilitator or coordinator.
  158         (d) “Fictive kin” means an individual who is unrelated to
  159  the child by either birth or marriage, but has such a close
  160  emotional relationship with the child that he or she may be
  161  considered part of the family.
  162         (3) FAMILY-FINDING PROGRAM.—The department, in
  163  collaboration with sheriffs’ offices that conduct child
  164  protective investigations and community-based care lead
  165  agencies, shall develop a formal family-finding program to be
  166  implemented statewide by child protective investigators and
  167  community-based care lead agencies. Implementation of the
  168  program is contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the
  169  Legislature specifically for the program.
  170         (a) Family finding is required as soon as a child comes to
  171  the attention of the department and throughout the duration of
  172  the case, and finding and engaging with as many family members
  173  and fictive kin as possible for each child who may help with
  174  care or support for the child is considered a best practice. The
  175  department or community-based care lead agency must specifically
  176  document strategies taken to locate and engage relatives and
  177  kin. Strategies of engagement may include, but are not limited
  178  to, asking the relatives and kin to:
  179         1. Participate in a family group decisionmaking conference,
  180  family team conferencing, or other family meetings aimed at
  181  developing or supporting the family service plan;
  182         2. Attend visitations with the child;
  183         3. Assist in transportation of the child;
  184         4. Provide respite or child care services; or
  185         5. Provide actual kinship care.
  186         (b) The department and the community-based care lead
  187  agencies must use diligent efforts in family finding, must
  188  continue those efforts until multiple relatives and kin are
  189  identified, and must go beyond basic searching tools by
  190  exploring alternative tools and methodologies. Efforts by the
  191  department and the community-based care lead agency may include,
  192  but are not limited to:
  193         1. Searching for and locating adult relatives and kin.
  194         2. Identifying and building positive connections between
  195  the child and the child’s relatives and fictive kin.
  196         3. Supporting the engagement of relatives and fictive kin
  197  in social service planning and delivery of services and creating
  198  a network of extended family support to assist in remedying the
  199  concerns that led to the child becoming involved with the child
  200  welfare system, when appropriate.
  201         4. Maintaining family connections, when possible.
  202         5. Keeping siblings together in care, when in the best
  203  interest of each child and when possible.
  204         (c) A basic computer search using the Internet or attempts
  205  to contact known relatives at a last known address or telephone
  206  number do not constitute effective family finding.
  207         (d) The court’s inquiry and determination regarding family
  208  finding should be made at each stage of the case, including a
  209  shelter hearing conducted pursuant to s. 39.402. The court shall
  210  place its determinations on the record as to whether the
  211  department or community-based care lead agency has reasonably
  212  engaged in family finding. The level of reasonableness is to be
  213  determined by the length of the case and the amount of time the
  214  department or community-based care lead agency has had to begin
  215  or continue the process.
  216         (4) RULEMAKING.—The department shall adopt rules to
  217  implement this section.
  218         Section 2. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (11) of
  219  section 39.402, Florida Statutes, and subsection (17) of that
  220  section are amended to read:
  221         39.402 Placement in a shelter.—
  222         (11)
  223         (c) The court shall request that the parents consent to
  224  provide access to the child’s child care records, early
  225  education program records, or other educational records and
  226  provide information to the court, the department or its contract
  227  agencies, and any guardian ad litem or attorney for the child.
  228  If a parent is unavailable or unable to consent or withholds
  229  consent and the court determines access to the records and
  230  information is necessary to provide services to the child, the
  231  court shall issue an order granting access.
  232         (d) The court may appoint a surrogate parent or may refer
  233  the child to the district school superintendent for appointment
  234  of a surrogate parent if the child has or is suspected of having
  235  a disability and the parent is unavailable pursuant to s.
  236  39.0016(3)(b). If the child is under the age of school entry,
  237  the court must make the appointment.
  238         (17) At the shelter hearing, the court shall inquire of the
  239  parent whether the parent has relatives who might be considered
  240  as a placement for the child. The parent shall provide to the
  241  court and all parties identification and location information
  242  regarding the relatives. The court shall advise the parent that
  243  the parent has a continuing duty to inform the department of any
  244  relative who should be considered for placement of the child.
  245  Upon implementation of the program authorized under s. 39.4015,
  246  the court shall place its determinations on the record as to
  247  whether the department or community-based care lead agency has
  248  reasonably engaged in family finding. The level of
  249  reasonableness is to be determined by the length of the case and
  250  amount of time the department or community-based care lead
  251  agency has had to begin or continue the process.
  252         Section 3. Present subsection (9) of section 39.506,
  253  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (10), and a new
  254  subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
  255         39.506 Arraignment hearings.—
  256         (9)Upon implementation of the program authorized under s.
  257  39.4015, the court shall review whether the department or
  258  community-based care lead agency has reasonably engaged in
  259  family finding and make a written determination as to its
  260  findings. The level of reasonableness is determined by the
  261  length of the case and amount of time the department or
  262  community-based care lead agency has had to begin or continue
  263  the process.
  264         Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of section
  265  39.507, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (d) is added
  266  to that subsection, to read:
  267         39.507 Adjudicatory hearings; orders of adjudication.—
  268         (7)
  269         (c) If a court adjudicates a child dependent and the child
  270  is in out-of-home care, the court shall inquire of the parent or
  271  parents whether the parents have relatives who might be
  272  considered as a placement for the child. The court shall advise
  273  the parents that, if the parents fail to substantially comply
  274  with the case plan, their parental rights may be terminated and
  275  that the child’s out-of-home placement may become permanent. The
  276  parent or parents shall provide to the court and all parties
  277  identification and location information of the relatives. Upon
  278  implementation of the program authorized under s. 39.4015, the
  279  court shall review whether the department or community-based
  280  care lead agency has reasonably engaged in family finding and
  281  make a written determination as to its findings. The level of
  282  reasonableness is determined by the length of the case and
  283  amount of time the department or community-based care lead
  284  agency has had to begin or continue the process.
  285         (d)The court shall advise the parents that, if they fail
  286  to substantially comply with the case plan, their parental
  287  rights may be terminated and that the child’s out-of-home
  288  placement may become permanent.
  289         Section 5. Section 39.5086, Florida Statutes, is created to
  290  read:
  291         39.5086Kinship navigator programs.—
  292         (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
  293         (a) The Legislature finds that an increasing number of
  294  relatives and fictive kin are assuming the responsibility of
  295  raising children because the parents of these children are
  296  unable to care for them.
  297         (b) The Legislature also finds that these kinship
  298  caregivers perform a vital function by providing homes for
  299  children who would otherwise be at risk of foster care placement
  300  and that kinship care is a crucial option in the spectrum of
  301  out-of-home care available to children in need.
  302         (c) The Legislature finds that children living with kinship
  303  caregivers experience increased placement stability, are less
  304  likely to reenter care if they are reunified with their parents,
  305  and have better behavioral and mental health outcomes.
  306         (d) The Legislature further finds that these kinship
  307  caregivers may face a number of difficulties and need assistance
  308  to support the health and well-being of the children in their
  309  care. These needs include, but are not limited to, financial
  310  assistance, legal assistance, respite care, child care,
  311  specialized training, and counseling.
  312         (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for the
  313  establishment and implementation of procedures and protocols
  314  that are likely to increase and adequately support appropriate
  315  and safe kinship care placements.
  316         (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used this section, the term:
  317         (a) “Fictive kin” means an individual who is unrelated to
  318  the child by either birth or marriage, but has such a close
  319  emotional relationship with the child that he or she may be
  320  considered part of the family.
  321         (b) “Kinship care” means the full-time care of a child
  322  placed in out-of-home care by the court in the home of a
  323  relative or fictive kin.
  324         (c) “Kinship navigator program” means a statewide program
  325  designed to ensure that kinship caregivers are provided with
  326  necessary resources for the preservation of the family.
  327         (d) “Relative” means an individual who is caring full time
  328  for a child placed in out-of-home care by the court and who:
  329         1. Is related to the child within the fifth degree by blood
  330  or marriage to the parent or stepparent of the child; or
  331         2. Is related to a half-sibling of that child within the
  332  fifth degree by blood or marriage to the parent or stepparent.
  333         (3) PURPOSE AND SERVICES.—
  334         (a) The purpose of a kinship navigator program is to help
  335  relative caregivers and fictive kin in the child welfare system
  336  to navigate the broad range of services available to them and
  337  the children from public, private, community, and faith-based
  338  organizations.
  339         (b) Contingent upon a specific appropriation, effective
  340  January 1, 2019, each community-based care lead agency shall
  341  establish a kinship navigator program. In order to meet the
  342  requirements of a kinship navigator program, the program must:
  343         1. Be coordinated with other state or local agencies that
  344  promote service coordination or provide information and referral
  345  services, including any entities that participate in the Florida
  346  211 Network, to avoid duplication or fragmentation of services
  347  to kinship care families;
  348         2. Be planned and operated in consultation with kinship
  349  caregivers and organizations representing them, youth raised by
  350  kinship caregivers, relevant governmental agencies, and relevant
  351  community-based or faith-based organizations;
  352         3.Establish a toll-free telephone hotline to provide
  353  information to link kinship caregivers, kinship support group
  354  facilitators, and kinship service providers to:
  355         a.One another;
  356         b.Eligibility and enrollment information for federal,
  357  state, and local benefits;
  358         c.Relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in
  359  caregiving and in obtaining benefits and services; and
  360         d.Relevant knowledge related to legal options available
  361  for child custody, other legal assistance, and help in obtaining
  362  legal services.
  363         4.Provide outreach to kinship care families, including by
  364  establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care website,
  365  or other relevant guides or outreach materials; and
  366         5.Promote partnerships between public and private
  367  agencies, including schools, community-based or faith-based
  368  organizations, and relevant governmental agencies, to increase
  369  their knowledge of the needs of kinship care families to promote
  370  better services for those families.
  371         (4) RULEMAKING.—The department shall adopt rules to
  372  implement this section.
  373         Section 6. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
  374  39.521, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  375         39.521 Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.—
  376         (1) A disposition hearing shall be conducted by the court,
  377  if the court finds that the facts alleged in the petition for
  378  dependency were proven in the adjudicatory hearing, or if the
  379  parents or legal custodians have consented to the finding of
  380  dependency or admitted the allegations in the petition, have
  381  failed to appear for the arraignment hearing after proper
  382  notice, or have not been located despite a diligent search
  383  having been conducted.
  384         (e) The court shall, in its written order of disposition,
  385  include all of the following:
  386         1. The placement or custody of the child.
  387         2. Special conditions of placement and visitation.
  388         3. Evaluation, counseling, treatment activities, and other
  389  actions to be taken by the parties, if ordered.
  390         4. The persons or entities responsible for supervising or
  391  monitoring services to the child and parent.
  392         5. Continuation or discharge of the guardian ad litem, as
  393  appropriate.
  394         6. The date, time, and location of the next scheduled
  395  review hearing, which must occur within the earlier of:
  396         a. Ninety days after the disposition hearing;
  397         b. Ninety days after the court accepts the case plan;
  398         c. Six months after the date of the last review hearing; or
  399         d. Six months after the date of the child’s removal from
  400  his or her home, if no review hearing has been held since the
  401  child’s removal from the home.
  402         7. If the child is in an out-of-home placement, child
  403  support to be paid by the parents, or the guardian of the
  404  child’s estate if possessed of assets which under law may be
  405  disbursed for the care, support, and maintenance of the child.
  406  The court may exercise jurisdiction over all child support
  407  matters, shall adjudicate the financial obligation, including
  408  health insurance, of the child’s parents or guardian, and shall
  409  enforce the financial obligation as provided in chapter 61. The
  410  state’s child support enforcement agency shall enforce child
  411  support orders under this section in the same manner as child
  412  support orders under chapter 61. Placement of the child shall
  413  not be contingent upon issuance of a support order.
  414         8.a. If the court does not commit the child to the
  415  temporary legal custody of an adult relative, legal custodian,
  416  or other adult approved by the court, the disposition order must
  417  shall include the reasons for such a decision and, upon
  418  implementation of the program authorized under s. 39.4015, shall
  419  include a written determination as to whether diligent efforts
  420  were made by the department and the community-based care lead
  421  agency reasonably engaged in family finding in attempting to
  422  locate an adult relative, legal custodian, or other adult
  423  willing to care for the child in order to present that placement
  424  option to the court instead of placement with the department.
  425  The level of reasonableness is determined by the length of the
  426  case and amount of time the department or community-based care
  427  lead agency has had to begin or continue the process.
  428         b. If no suitable relative is found and the child is placed
  429  with the department or a legal custodian or other adult approved
  430  by the court, both the department and the court shall consider
  431  transferring temporary legal custody to an adult relative
  432  approved by the court at a later date, but neither the
  433  department nor the court is obligated to so place the child if
  434  it is in the child’s best interest to remain in the current
  435  placement.
  436  
  437  For the purposes of this section, “diligent efforts to locate an
  438  adult relative” means a search similar to the diligent search
  439  for a parent, but without the continuing obligation to search
  440  after an initial adequate search is completed.
  441         9. Other requirements necessary to protect the health,
  442  safety, and well-being of the child, to preserve the stability
  443  of the child’s child care, early education program, or any other
  444  educational placement, and to promote family preservation or
  445  reunification whenever possible.
  446         Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
  447  (a) of subsection (3) of section 39.6012, Florida Statutes, are
  448  amended to read:
  449         39.6012 Case plan tasks; services.—
  450         (2) The case plan must include all available information
  451  that is relevant to the child’s care including, at a minimum:
  452         (b) A description of the plan for ensuring that the child
  453  receives safe and proper care and that services are provided to
  454  the child in order to address the child’s needs. To the extent
  455  available and accessible, the following health, mental health,
  456  and education information and records of the child must be
  457  attached to the case plan and updated throughout the judicial
  458  review process:
  459         1. The names and addresses of the child’s health, mental
  460  health, and educational providers;
  461         2. The child’s grade level performance;
  462         3. The child’s school record or, if the child is under the
  463  age of school entry, any records from a child care program,
  464  early education program, or preschool program;
  465         4.Documentation of compliance or noncompliance with the
  466  attendance requirements under s. 39.604, if the child is
  467  enrolled in a child care program, early education program, or
  468  preschool program;
  469         5.4. Assurances that the child’s placement takes into
  470  account proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled
  471  at the time of placement;
  472         6.5. A record of The child’s immunizations;
  473         7.6. The child’s known medical history, including any known
  474  health problems;
  475         8.7. The child’s medications, if any; and
  476         9.8. Any other relevant health, mental health, and
  477  education information concerning the child.
  478         (3) In addition to any other requirement, if the child is
  479  in an out-of-home placement, the case plan must include:
  480         (a) A description of the type of placement in which the
  481  child is to be living and, if the child has been placed with the
  482  department and the program as authorized under s. 39.4015 has
  483  been implemented, whether the department and the community-based
  484  care lead agency have reasonably engaged in family finding to
  485  locate an adult relative, legal custodian, or other adult
  486  willing to care for the child in order to present that placement
  487  option to the court instead of placement with the department.
  488         Section 8. Section 39.604, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  489  read:
  490         39.604 Rilya Wilson Act; short title; legislative intent;
  491  requirements; attendance; stability and transitions reporting
  492  responsibilities.—
  493         (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Rilya
  494  Wilson Act.”
  495         (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
  496         (a) The Legislature finds that children from birth to age 5
  497  years are particularly vulnerable to maltreatment and that they
  498  enter out-of-home care in disproportionately high numbers.
  499         (b) The Legislature also finds that children who are abused
  500  or neglected are at high risk of experiencing physical and
  501  mental health problems and problems with language and
  502  communication, cognitive development, and social and emotional
  503  development.
  504         (c) The Legislature also finds that providing early
  505  intervention and services, as well as quality child care and
  506  early education programs to support the healthy development of
  507  these young children, can have positive effects that last
  508  throughout childhood and into adulthood.
  509         (d) The Legislature also finds that the needs of each of
  510  these children are unique, and while some children may be best
  511  served by a quality child care or early education program,
  512  others may need more attention and nurturing that can best be
  513  provided by a stay-at-home caregiver The Legislature recognizes
  514  that children who are in the care of the state due to abuse,
  515  neglect, or abandonment are at increased risk of poor school
  516  performance and other behavioral and social problems.
  517         (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that children who
  518  are currently in out-of-home the care of the state be provided
  519  with an age-appropriate developmental child care or early
  520  education arrangement that is in the best interest of the child
  521  education program to help ameliorate the negative consequences
  522  of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
  523         (3) REQUIREMENTS.—
  524         (a) A child from birth to the age of school entry, who is
  525  under court-ordered protective supervision or in out-of-home
  526  care and is the custody of the Family Safety Program Office of
  527  the Department of Children and Families or a community-based
  528  lead agency, and enrolled in an a licensed early education or
  529  child care program must attend the program 5 days a week unless
  530  the court grants an exception due to the court determining it is
  531  in the best interest of a child from birth to age 3 years:
  532         1. With a stay-at-home caregiver to remain at home.
  533         2. With a caregiver who works less than full time to attend
  534  an early education or child care program fewer than 5 days a
  535  week.
  536         (b) Notwithstanding s. 39.202, the department of Children
  537  and Families must notify operators of an the licensed early
  538  education or child care program, subject to the reporting
  539  requirements of this act, of the enrollment of any child from
  540  birth to the age of school entry, under court-ordered protective
  541  supervision or in out-of-home care. If the custody of the Family
  542  Safety Program Office of the Department of Children and Families
  543  or a community-based lead agency. When a child is enrolled in an
  544  early education or child care program regulated by the
  545  department, the child’s attendance in the program must be a
  546  required task action in the safety plan or the case plan
  547  developed for the child pursuant to this chapter. An exemption
  548  to participating in the licensed early education or child care
  549  program 5 days a week may be granted by the court.
  550         (4) ATTENDANCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
  551         (a) A child enrolled in an a licensed early education or
  552  child care program who meets the requirements of subsection (3)
  553  may not be withdrawn from the program without the prior written
  554  approval of the department Family Safety Program Office of the
  555  Department of Children and Families or the community-based care
  556  lead agency.
  557         (b)1. If a child covered by this section is absent from the
  558  program on a day when he or she is supposed to be present, the
  559  person with whom the child resides must report the absence to
  560  the program by the end of the business day. If the person with
  561  whom the child resides, whether the parent or caregiver, fails
  562  to timely report the absence, the absence is considered to be
  563  unexcused. The program shall report any unexcused absence or
  564  seven consecutive excused absences of a child who is enrolled in
  565  the program and covered by this act to the local designated
  566  staff of the Family Safety Program Office of the department of
  567  Children and Families or the community-based care lead agency by
  568  the end of the business day following the unexcused absence or
  569  seventh consecutive excused absence.
  570         2. The department or community-based care lead agency shall
  571  conduct a site visit to the residence of the child upon
  572  receiving a report of two consecutive unexcused absences or
  573  seven consecutive excused absences.
  574         3. If the site visit results in a determination that the
  575  child is missing, the department or community-based care lead
  576  agency shall follow the procedure set forth in s. 39.0141 report
  577  the child as missing to a law enforcement agency and proceed
  578  with the necessary actions to locate the child pursuant to
  579  procedures for locating missing children.
  580         4. If the site visit results in a determination that the
  581  child is not missing, the parent or caregiver shall be notified
  582  that failure to ensure that the child attends the licensed early
  583  education or child care program is a violation of the safety
  584  plan or the case plan. If more than two site visits are
  585  conducted pursuant to this subsection, staff shall initiate
  586  action to notify the court of the parent or caregiver’s
  587  noncompliance with the case plan.
  588         (5) EDUCATIONAL STABILITY.—Just as educational stability is
  589  important for school-age children, it is also important to
  590  minimize disruptions to secure attachments and stable
  591  relationships with supportive caregivers of children from birth
  592  to school age and to ensure that these attachments are not
  593  disrupted due to placement in out-of-home care or subsequent
  594  changes in out-of-home placement.
  595         (a) A child must be allowed to remain in the child care or
  596  early educational setting that he or she attended before entry
  597  into out-of-home care, unless the program is not in the best
  598  interest of the child.
  599         (b) If it is not in the best interest of the child for him
  600  or her to remain in his or her child care or early education
  601  setting upon entry into out-of-home care, the caregiver must
  602  work with the case manager, guardian ad litem, child care and
  603  educational staff, and educational surrogate, if one has been
  604  appointed, to determine the best setting for the child. Such
  605  setting may be a child care provider that receives a Gold Seal
  606  Quality Care designation pursuant to s. 402.281, a provider
  607  participating in a quality rating system, a licensed child care
  608  provider, a public school provider, or a license-exempt child
  609  care provider, including religious-exempt and registered
  610  providers, and non-public schools.
  611         (c) The department and providers of early care and
  612  education shall develop protocols to ensure continuity if
  613  children are required to leave a program because of a change in
  614  out-of-home placement.
  615         (6) TRANSITIONS.—In the absence of an emergency, if a child
  616  from birth to school age leaves a child care or early education
  617  program, the transition must be pursuant to a plan that involves
  618  cooperation and sharing of information among all persons
  619  involved, that respects the child’s developmental stage and
  620  associated psychological needs, and that allows for a gradual
  621  transition from one setting to another.
  622         Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) and subsection
  623  (7) of section 39.6251, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  624         39.6251 Continuing care for young adults.—
  625         (6) A young adult who is between the ages of 18 and 21 and
  626  who has left care may return to care by applying to the
  627  community-based care lead agency for readmission. The community
  628  based care lead agency shall readmit the young adult if he or
  629  she continues to meet the eligibility requirements in this
  630  section.
  631         (b) Within 30 days after the young adult has been
  632  readmitted to care, the community-based care lead agency shall
  633  assign a case manager to update the case plan and the transition
  634  plan and to arrange for the required services. Updates to the
  635  case plan and the transition plan and arrangements for the
  636  required services Such activities shall be undertaken in
  637  consultation with the young adult. The department shall petition
  638  the court to reinstate jurisdiction over the young adult.
  639  Notwithstanding s. 39.013(2), the court shall resume
  640  jurisdiction over the young adult if the department establishes
  641  that he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements in
  642  this section.
  643         (7) During each period of time that a young adult is in
  644  care, the community-based lead agency shall provide regular case
  645  management reviews that must include at least monthly contact
  646  with the case manager. If a young adult lives outside the
  647  service area of his or her community-based care lead agency,
  648  monthly contact may occur by telephone.
  649         Section 10. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
  650  39.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  651         39.701 Judicial review.—
  652         (2) REVIEW HEARINGS FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF
  653  AGE.—
  654         (c) Review determinations.—The court and any citizen review
  655  panel shall take into consideration the information contained in
  656  the social services study and investigation and all medical,
  657  psychological, and educational records that support the terms of
  658  the case plan; testimony by the social services agency, the
  659  parent, the foster parent or legal custodian, the guardian ad
  660  litem or surrogate parent for educational decisionmaking if one
  661  has been appointed for the child, and any other person deemed
  662  appropriate; and any relevant and material evidence submitted to
  663  the court, including written and oral reports to the extent of
  664  their probative value. These reports and evidence may be
  665  received by the court in its effort to determine the action to
  666  be taken with regard to the child and may be relied upon to the
  667  extent of their probative value, even though not competent in an
  668  adjudicatory hearing. In its deliberations, the court and any
  669  citizen review panel shall seek to determine:
  670         1. If the parent was advised of the right to receive
  671  assistance from any person or social service agency in the
  672  preparation of the case plan.
  673         2. If the parent has been advised of the right to have
  674  counsel present at the judicial review or citizen review
  675  hearings. If not so advised, the court or citizen review panel
  676  shall advise the parent of such right.
  677         3. If a guardian ad litem needs to be appointed for the
  678  child in a case in which a guardian ad litem has not previously
  679  been appointed or if there is a need to continue a guardian ad
  680  litem in a case in which a guardian ad litem has been appointed.
  681         4. Who holds the rights to make educational decisions for
  682  the child. If appropriate, the court may refer the child to the
  683  district school superintendent for appointment of a surrogate
  684  parent or may itself appoint a surrogate parent under the
  685  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and s. 39.0016. If
  686  the child is under the age of school entry, the court must make
  687  the appointment.
  688         5. The compliance or lack of compliance of all parties with
  689  applicable items of the case plan, including the parents’
  690  compliance with child support orders.
  691         6. The compliance or lack of compliance with a visitation
  692  contract between the parent and the social service agency for
  693  contact with the child, including the frequency, duration, and
  694  results of the parent-child visitation and the reason for any
  695  noncompliance.
  696         7. The frequency, kind, and duration of contacts among
  697  siblings who have been separated during placement, as well as
  698  any efforts undertaken to reunite separated siblings if doing so
  699  is in the best interest of the child.
  700         8. The compliance or lack of compliance of the parent in
  701  meeting specified financial obligations pertaining to the care
  702  of the child, including the reason for failure to comply, if
  703  applicable.
  704         9. Whether the child is receiving safe and proper care
  705  according to s. 39.6012, including, but not limited to, the
  706  appropriateness of the child’s current placement, including
  707  whether the child is in a setting that is as family-like and as
  708  close to the parent’s home as possible, consistent with the
  709  child’s best interests and special needs, and including
  710  maintaining stability in the child’s educational placement, as
  711  documented by assurances from the community-based care provider
  712  that:
  713         a. The placement of the child takes into account the
  714  appropriateness of the current educational setting and the
  715  proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the
  716  time of placement.
  717         b. The community-based care agency has coordinated with
  718  appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child
  719  remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time
  720  of placement.
  721         10. Upon implementation of the program authorized under s.
  722  39.4015, whether the department or community-based care lead
  723  agency continues to reasonably engage in family finding. The
  724  level of reasonableness is determined by the length of the case
  725  and amount of time the department or community-based care lead
  726  agency has had to continue the process.
  727         11.10. A projected date likely for the child’s return home
  728  or other permanent placement.
  729         12.11. When appropriate, the basis for the unwillingness or
  730  inability of the parent to become a party to a case plan. The
  731  court and the citizen review panel shall determine if the
  732  efforts of the social service agency to secure party
  733  participation in a case plan were sufficient.
  734         13.12. For a child who has reached 13 years of age but is
  735  not yet 18 years of age, the adequacy of the child’s preparation
  736  for adulthood and independent living. For a child who is 15
  737  years of age or older, the court shall determine if appropriate
  738  steps are being taken for the child to obtain a driver license
  739  or learner’s driver license.
  740         14.13. If amendments to the case plan are required.
  741  Amendments to the case plan must be made as provided in under s.
  742  39.6013.
  743         Section 11. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 409.166,
  744  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  745         409.166 Children within the child welfare system; adoption
  746  assistance program.—
  747         (4) ADOPTION ASSISTANCE.—
  748         (a)For purposes of administering payments under paragraph
  749  (d), the term:
  750         1.“Child” means an individual who has not attained 21
  751  years of age.
  752         2.“Young adult” means an individual who has attained 18
  753  years of age but who has not attained 21 years of age.
  754         (b)(a) A maintenance subsidy shall be granted only when all
  755  other resources available to a child have been thoroughly
  756  explored and it can be clearly established that this is the most
  757  acceptable plan for providing permanent placement for the child.
  758  The maintenance subsidy may not be used as a substitute for
  759  adoptive parent recruitment or as an inducement to adopt a child
  760  who might be placed without providing a subsidy. However, it
  761  shall be the policy of the department that no child be denied
  762  adoption if providing a maintenance subsidy would make adoption
  763  possible. The best interest of the child shall be the deciding
  764  factor in every case. This section does not prohibit foster
  765  parents from applying to adopt a child placed in their care.
  766  Foster parents or relative caregivers must be asked if they
  767  would adopt without a maintenance subsidy.
  768         (c)(b) The department shall provide adoption assistance to
  769  the adoptive parents, subject to specific appropriation, in the
  770  amount of $5,000 annually, paid on a monthly basis, for the
  771  support and maintenance of a child until the 18th birthday of
  772  such child or in an amount other than $5,000 annually as
  773  determined by the adoptive parents and the department and
  774  memorialized in a written agreement between the adoptive parents
  775  and the department. The agreement shall take into consideration
  776  the circumstances of the adoptive parents and the needs of the
  777  child being adopted. The amount of subsidy may be adjusted based
  778  upon changes in the needs of the child or circumstances of the
  779  adoptive parents. Changes may shall not be made without the
  780  concurrence of the adoptive parents. However, in no case shall
  781  the amount of the monthly payment exceed the foster care
  782  maintenance payment that would have been paid during the same
  783  period if the child had been in a foster family home.
  784         (d)Contingent upon a specific appropriation, adoption
  785  assistance payments may be made for a child up to 21 years of
  786  age whose adoptive parent entered into an initial adoption
  787  assistance agreement after the child reached 16 years of age but
  788  before the child reached 18 years of age if the child is:
  789         1.Completing secondary education or a program leading to
  790  an equivalent credential;
  791         2.Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary
  792  or vocational education;
  793         3.Participating in a program or activity designed to
  794  promote or eliminate barriers to employment;
  795         4.Employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
  796         5.Unable to participate in programs or activities listed
  797  in subparagraphs 1.-4. full time due to a physical,
  798  intellectual, emotional, or psychiatric condition that limits
  799  participation. Any such barrier to participation must be
  800  supported by documentation in the child’s case file or school or
  801  medical records.
  802         (e)A child or young adult receiving benefits through the
  803  adoption assistance program is not eligible to simultaneously
  804  receive relative caregiver benefits under s. 39.5085 or
  805  postsecondary education services and support under s. 409.1451.
  806         (f)(c) The department may provide adoption assistance to
  807  the adoptive parents, subject to specific appropriation, for
  808  medical assistance initiated after the adoption of the child for
  809  medical, surgical, hospital, and related services needed as a
  810  result of a physical or mental condition of the child which
  811  existed before the adoption and is not covered by Medicaid,
  812  Children’s Medical Services, or Children’s Mental Health
  813  Services. Such assistance may be initiated at any time but shall
  814  terminate on or before the child’s 18th birthday.
  815         (5) ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES.—
  816         (a) As a condition of providing adoption assistance under
  817  this section and before the adoption is finalized, the adoptive
  818  parents must have an approved adoption home study and must enter
  819  into an adoption-assistance agreement with the department which
  820  specifies the financial assistance and other services to be
  821  provided.
  822         (b) A child who is handicapped at the time of adoption is
  823  shall be eligible for services through the Children’s Medical
  824  Services network established under part I of chapter 391 if the
  825  child was eligible for such services before prior to the
  826  adoption.
  827         Section 12. (1) Contingent upon a specific appropriation,
  828  effective August 1, 2018, the Department of Children and
  829  Families shall establish and operate a pilot Title IV-E
  830  Guardianship Assistance Program in two circuits in this state.
  831  The program will provide payments at a rate of $333 per month
  832  for persons who meet the Title IV-E eligibility requirements as
  833  outlined in s. 473(d)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act.
  834         (2) For purposes of administering this program, the term:
  835         (a) “Child” means an individual who has not attained 21
  836  years of age.
  837         (b) “Young adult” means an individual who has attained 18
  838  years of age but who has not attained 21 years of age.
  839         (c) “Fictive kin” means a person unrelated by birth,
  840  marriage, or adoption who has an emotionally significant
  841  relationship, which possesses the characteristics of a family
  842  relationship, to a child.
  843         (3) Caregivers enrolled in the Relative Caregiver or
  844  Nonrelative Caregiver Program prior to August 1, 2018, are not
  845  eligible to participate in the Title IV-E Guardianship
  846  Assistance Program pilot. Effective August 1, 2018, eligible
  847  caregivers enrolled in the pilot may not simultaneously have
  848  payments made on the child’s behalf through the Relative
  849  Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085, postsecondary education
  850  services and supports under s. 409.1451, or child-only cash
  851  assistance under chapter 414.
  852         (4) Notwithstanding s. 409.145(4), in the two circuits
  853  where the Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program pilot is
  854  established, the room and board rate for guardians who are
  855  eligible for the program will be $333 per month.
  856         (5) Notwithstanding s. 409.175(11)(a), in the two circuits
  857  where the Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program pilot is
  858  established, an exception of licensing standards may be provided
  859  for those standards where a waiver has been granted.
  860         Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  861  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2018.

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