The House and Senate will start budget negotiations with a gap of $2 billion between the two proposals, fueling the speculations that lawmakers will not complete "a spending plan by the scheduled May 5 end of the legislative session.  The Senate on Thursday published an initial draft of its budget totaling $83.2 billion for the year that begins July 1. Shortly afterward, House leaders announced that their spending plan would total approximately $81.2 billion." (Brandon Larrabee, NSF, March 30, 2017)

Next week, both chambers will continue work on the proposed 2017-2018 state budget. The budget is then scheduled to be debated and voted on the House floor on April 13. The Senate has not provided a definitive schedule at this time. Highlights of the budget recommendations may be found at the back of the report.

HB 23  by Rep. Dane Eagle (R-Cape Coral) was reported favorably in the House Health and Human Services Committee on March 30. The bill increases the penalties for the first three instances of noncompliance with the Temporary Case Assistance (TCA) work requirements to align with the food assistance program's sanctions, and creates a fourth sanction.  SB 570  by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) is a similar bill, and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on April 3.

HB 1121 by Rep. Cyndi Stevenson (R-St. Augustine) is similar to SB 1044 in that it provides that central abuse hotline information may be used for employment screening of residential group home caregivers; and requires the court to inquire as to the identity and location of the child's legal father at shelter hearings; requires the court to consider maltreatment allegations against parents in evidentiary hearing relating to dependency petition; and, requires the court to conduct an inquiry under oath to determine the identity or location of the unknown parent after filing of termination of parental rights petition. The bill was reported favorably by the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee on March 28.

SB 60 By Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for April 4. The bill requires the child's transition plan and the court to assist children in foster care in obtaining a drivers license. The bill also expands the program to include, under certain conditions, children in non-licensed out-of-home care who have reached permanency or turned 18. HB 217  by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) has been also been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for April 4.

HB 1165 by Rep. Ross Spano (R-Riverview) provides civil cause of action by victims of human trafficking or the Florida Compensation Trust Fund for Survivors of Human Trafficking against certain persons; provides for damages, attorney fees and costs; provides for civil penalties; provides for civil forfeitures; provides procedures for forfeiture actions; provides that actions have no statute of limitations; and, adds functions and duties for Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.  The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on April 3.  The Senate companion, SB 970  by Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 3.   

HB 1167 by Rep. Ross Spano (R-Riverview) creates a Florida Compensation Trust Fund for Survivors of Human Trafficking within DLA; provides for purposes and sources of funds; provides for administration of the fund by the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking; requires the fund to develop guidelines and plans; requires an annual report; requires that applications for compensation be made available in English and Spanish; and, provides for future review and termination or re-creation of the fund.  The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on April 3.  The Senate companion, SB 970 by Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 3.

HB 329 by Rep. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) is awaiting action in the Health and Human Services Committee. The Senate companion, SB 762 by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake) prohibits time-sharing plans from requiring a visitation at recovery residences between specified hours.  The bill was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on March 27.  

 

SB 1318  by Sen. Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) renames service districts as service circuits, and district medical directors as child protection team medical directors; requires that each child protection team medical director be a licensed physician and be board certified in specified specialty areas; and, requires the department's Children's Medical Services program to develop, maintain, and coordinate the services of one or more sexual abuse treatment programs.  The bill was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on March 27.  The House companion HB 1269  by Rep. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) is awaiting action in the Health and Human Services Committee. 

 

SB 1454 by Sen. Doug Broxon (R-Pensacola) adds the Statewide Medical Director for Child Protection as an official who must be consulted in the screening, employment, and termination of child protection team medical directors statewide; and, requires the Children's Medical Services program within the Department of Health to convene a task force to develop a standardized protocol for forensic interviews of children suspected of being abused.  The House bill has been referred to 3 committees and is awaiting action in the Healthy Quality Subcommittee.  SB 1454 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on March 27.

SB 1670  by Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) and  HB 7059 by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. James Grant (R-Tampa) revises requirements for the placement of a child in detention care; provides that a child who is a prolific juvenile offender does not require a risk assessment to be placed in detention care; provides that children meeting specified criteria shall be placed in detention care until the detention hearing; provides criteria for determining whether the child is a prolific juvenile offender; requires secure detention for all children awaiting placement in a commitment program until the placement or commitment is accomplished; and, specifies the time period for hearings for prolific juvenile offenders. HB 7059 is scheduled to be heard in the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on April 3. SB 1670 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Committee on March 27.