Week 3 | January 27, 2018
|
|
|
Children's Literacy Program
|
|
With the The “Hanging of the Hands” in the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, January 21
st
signaled the official start of the 2018 Children’s Week. The hands serve as a visual representation of the vast number of children that legislators and other decision makers affect. The Children's Week Awards Dinner and Reception took place Monday evening to honor and recognize Children's Week Partners and non-profit organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Florida’s children. This year’s Lawton Chiles Advocacy Award was presented to Dr. Wil Blechman, a long-time child advocate who continues to promote health, safety, early education and quality care for children. Children’s Week included numerous additional events that engaged children and parents along with community, business and state leaders. Congratulations to the United Way on another very successful Children’s Week!
|
|
Annual Children's Week Press Conference on the steps of the Historic Capitol
|
|
Chairs of both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees introduced their FY 2018-19 budget proposals this week. Both Chambers also released their respective versions of the General Appropriations Act Proposed Committee Bill (GAA PCB).
The House budgets of interest can be accessed here:
The full Appropriations Committee will meet next week to consider the full general appropriations act.
The Senate budgets of interest can be accessed here:
|
|
School Readiness
SB 1254
by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) and its House companion
HB 1091
by Rep. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) seek to reinforce and strengthen accountability measures in the publicly funded School Readiness program. The bill also restores local flexibility in determining eligibility so that early learning coalitions can prioritize children at greatest risk of school failure within communities. SB 1254 is scheduled to be heard in the Education Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 1091 was reported favorably by the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.
A bill relating to Early Learning Coalitions,
SB 1532
, was filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) with the House companion,
HB 1175
by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) that authorizes an early learning coalition to terminate a contract with School Readiness program providers for a Class I Health and Safety Violation.
SB 1532 has been referred to three committees and will be heard in the Education Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 1175 was reported favorably by the Education Committee on January 25, 2018 and has been placed on the House floor, 2
nd
reading.
|
|
Rep. Jason Fischer (R-Jacksonville)
Photo by Jessica Scher, United Way
of Miami-Dade
|
|
Voluntary Prekindergarten
Education Program
(R-Jacksonville) and the Senate companion
SB 1192
by Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) require pre- and post-assessment results to be provided to parents within ten days after the administration of the assessment and authorize students determined to be at risk of not attaining performance standards to reenroll in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. HB 951 was reported favorably by the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. SB 1192 has been referred to three committees.
|
|
Perinatal Mental Health
SB 138
by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and
HB 937
by Rep. Jeanette Nunez (R-Miami) create the "Florida Families First Act" and would require the Department of Health to create public service announcements to educate the public on perinatal mental health care, as well as revise components that are included in the postpartum evaluation and follow-up care provided by birth centers to include a mental health screening and the provision of certain information on postpartum depression. SB 138 was reported favorably by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on January 24, 2018. HB 937 was reported favorably by the Health Innovation Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.
|
|
Child Immunization
SB 1680
by Sen. Bill Montford (D-Quincy) and the House companion,
HB 1045
by Rep. Cary Pigman (R-Sebring) revise provisions relating to the communicable disease prevention and control programs under the Department of Health. The bill proposes to delete a provision that allows the parent or guardian of a child to refuse to have the child included in the immunization registry and revises school-entry health requirements to require that students have a certificate of immunization on file with the department’s immunization registry. SB 1680 was reported favorably by the Health Policy Committee on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. HB 1045 was reported favorably by the Health Quality Subcommittee on January 24, 2018.
|
|
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
HB 1377
by Rep. David Silvers (D-West Palm Beach) and the similar Senate companion
,
SB 1790
by Sen. Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach) require DCF to create a workgroup to provide recommendations for revising Baker Act. The bills also require receiving facility administrator to file a petition for voluntary placement when persons younger than age 18 are admitted for voluntary mental health services or transferred to voluntary status and the court must hear the petition within five court working days. HB 1377 has been referred to three committees and awaits action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee. SB 1790 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.
SB 270
by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) and the House companion,
HB 947
by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) relate to involuntary examination and involuntary admission of minors. The bill authorizes a designated law enforcement agency to decline to transport a minor 14 years of age or younger to a receiving facility for mental health or substance abuse evaluation if the parent or guardian of the minor agrees to transport the minor to the receiving facility. The bills require the examination of a minor 14 years of age or younger to be initiated within eight hours after the patient’s arrival at the receiving facility. SB 270 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 947 has been referred to two committees and is awaiting action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee.
|
|
Rep. Shevrin Jones meets with current and
former foster care youth with Florida Youth Shine
|
|
Early Childhood Court Program
SB 1442
by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and the House companion,
HB 1351
by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) establish the Early Childhood Court in statute and provide resources for supporting the program. The legislation would also require the Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy to hire a statewide clinical consultant and assemble a clinical oversight team. The proposed policy includes provisions for the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to conduct an evaluation of the program’s impact in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, the Office of the State Courts Administrator, the Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, and the ZERO TO THREE organization. SB 1442 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 1351 was reported favorably by the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.
|
|
Child Welfare
SB 774
by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and the House companion,
HB 505
by Rep. Rick Roth (R-Palm Beach Garden) and Rep. Patricia Williams (D-Ft. Lauderdale) revise the types of information relating to the identity and location of a child’s legal father that fall within the scope of a court inquiry at a shelter hearing or a hearing regarding a petition for termination of parental rights. The bill provides for certain unmarried biological fathers to receive notice of dependency hearings and requires notice of a petition for termination of parental rights to be served on an unmarried biological father identified under oath or by a diligent search of the Florida Putative Father Registry. SB 774 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 505 is awaiting action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee.
HB 1105
by Rep. Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) provides for the name of a child's guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem to be entered on court orders in dependency proceedings. The bill requires the court to advise parents during adjudicatory hearing of actions required to achieve reunification and modifies mandatory timeframes for dependency hearings and enter orders. HB 1105 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Seniors Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee.
SB 522
by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) and the House companion,
HB 281
by Patricia Williams (D-Fort Lauderdale) requires the Department of Children and Families to include parents who are incarcerated in the development of case plans for their children where reunification is a stated goal. The Department of Corrections must work with the incarcerated parent to ensure that they are able to access services and programs stipulated in the case plan. SB 522 was reported favorably by the Senate Rules Committee on January 25, 2018 and awaits consideration by the full chamber. HB 281 has been placed on the Special Order calendar and will be considered on Wednesday, January 29, 2018.
|
|
Public Assistance
SB 508
by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) and the House companion
HB 751
by Rep. Dane Eagle (R-Cape Coral)
require CareerSource Florida, Inc., to submit in a detailed annual report certain information on individuals subject to mandatory work requirements who receive temporary cash or food assistance. The bill requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to work with program participants in developing strategies to overcome obstacles to compliance with work activity requirements and creates the TANF Reemployment Pilot Program in Pinellas County. SB 508 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 751 is awaiting action in the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.
SB 1232
by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake) and the House companion,
HB 643
by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) pertain to public assistance fraud and revise the maximum reward paid to persons providing certain information leading to the recovery of particular fraudulent public assistance payments. The bill also proposes to direct state-retained shares of recovered public assistance over payments to be held in the Federal Grants Trust Fund. SB 1232 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 643 has been referred to three committees.
|
|
Child Protection
HB 487
by Rep. Bobby Olszewski (R-Orlando) and
SB 634
by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) prohibit a child who has suffered sexual exploitation from being placed in a generic shelter setting when safe-harbor or trauma-informed housing is not available and require the Department of Children and Families to assemble a team of specified experts to determine the safest placement for the child. HB 487 was reported favorably by the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to Health and Human Services Committee. SB 634 has been referred to three committees.
HB 417
by Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Hollywood) and its Senate companion,
SB 1212
by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation)
provides an exemption from public records requirements to certain identifying and location information of current or former directors, managers, supervisors, and clinical employees of child advocacy centers that meet certain standards and requirements including members of a child protection team and their spouses and children. HB 417 was reported favorably by the Health and Human Services Committee on January 25, 2018. SB 1212 is awaiting action in the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee.
HB 7017
by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) and the Senate companion,
SB 1214
by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) authorize subpoenas in certain investigations of sexual offenses involving child victims & specify requirements and provide for separate offenses of transmission of child pornography. HB 7017 was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee on January 25, 2018. SB 1214 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.
SB 1650
by Sen. Bill Montford (D-Quincy) prohibits the Department of Children and Families from releasing the names of certain persons who have provided information during a protective investigation except under certain circumstances. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.
|
|
Federal Funding
HM (House Memorial) 817
by Rep. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) is a memorial to the Congress of the United States imploring the renewal of the Title IV-E Waivers for child welfare services. Florida is one of 26 states that have approved agreements with the federal government for the administration of child welfare services. Florida’s variance permits it to use funds for services beyond out-of-home care this removes the financial incentive to remove a child when it may not be the appropriate action. HM 817 was reported favorably by the House Government Accountability Committee on January 24, 2018, it awaits consideration by the full chamber.
|
|
Direct Filing
SB 1552
by Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) is similar to
SB 392
and
SB 1298
by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and the House companion,
HB 1417
by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City). The bills require that a prolific juvenile offender be held in secure detention until a detention hearing is held if the juvenile violated the conditions of non-secure detention. Two of these bills also include language to increase the age of a child that is required to or can be direct filed to the adult court system from 14 to 15 years old. SB 1552 and SB 1298 have each been referred to three committees. HB 1417 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on January 24, 2018.
|
|
Civil Rights
SB 936
by Sen. Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach) and the similar House bill,
HB 509
by Rep. Sean Shaw (D-Tampa)
create an exception to the suspension of civil rights upon the conviction of a felony for children convicted as adults and requires children of certain ages who are convicted and sentenced to the Department of Corrections to be kept completely separated from adult offenders in the facility. SB 936 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 509 has been referred to three committees and is awaiting action in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
|
|
Civil Citation/Diversion
SB 1392
by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and its House companion
HB 489
by Rep. Sharon Pritchett (D-Miramar) require, in every judicial circuit, the establishment of a prearrest diversion program and modifies processes and procedures relating to the administration of diversion and civil citation programs. The bill also requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to expunge the nonjudicial arrest record of a minor if the diversion program submits certification for expunction. SB 1392 was reported favorably by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 489 has been referred to three committees.
|
|
Other Bills Affecting Children
|
|
Members of the Children and Youth Cabinet engage in conversations with teens at the Teen Town Hall meeting hosted by the Florida YMCA Youth in Government
|
|
Children with Unique Abilities
SB 146
by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and the House companion,
HB 57
by Rep. Frank White (R-Pensacola) and Rep. Patricia Williams (D-Ft. Lauderdale) designate this act as the “Pro Bono Matters Act of 2018”; and require the payment of due process costs of litigation of all pro bono attorneys appointed to represent dependent children with certain special needs by the court. SB 146 is scheduled for final passage on January 31, 2018. HB 57 has been retained in the Special Order Calendar for full floor action on January 24, 2018.
HB 63
by Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole (D-Sunrise) and Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Ft. Myers) and the Senate companion,
SB 260
by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) provide requirements for use of seclusion, restraint, and exclusionary and nonexclusionary time and requires continuing education and in-service training relating to students with certain disabilities. HB 63 was reported favorably by the Education Committee on January 25, 2018 and is awaiting consideration by the full chamber. SB 260 has been referred to three committees.
CS/HB 135
by Rep. Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee) and the Senate companion,
SB 290
by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) require application for motor vehicle registration to include language indicating applicant is deaf or hard of hearing. CS/HB 135 has been placed on the Special Order Calendar for January 31, 2018. SB 290 is awaiting action in its last committee of reference, Appropriations.
SB 1286
by Sen. David Simmons (R-Longwood) revises the meaning of a rare disease within the definition of a “disability” for purposes of the Gardiner Scholarship Program to include those defined in the Orphan Drug Act of 1983. The bill was reported favorably the Education Committee on January 22, 2018 and now heads to the Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12 Education.
|
|
For more information, please contact
Donovan Lee-Sin, Director of Public Policy & Community Engagement at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|