2020 Legislative Session | Week 8
There is only one official week left of the 2020 Florida Legislative Session. The budget conference, when both chambers will work to come to an agreement on budget issues and put forth one General Appropriations Act (GAA), is anticipated to start over the weekend. Due to the rule requiring a 3-day cooling off' period, the GAA would need to be completed by midnight on Wednesday, March 11 th  for session to conclude sine die on the last day of regular session – March 13 th . We hope both chambers come to swift agreements as they work to finalize negotiations on the GAA. If the budget conference process results in the chambers being unable to agree on the GAA, regular session will be extended. 
 
Below shows the latest movements for the bills we are following, now that the committee meetings for both the House and the Senate have concluded. While there is the possibility of last-minute maneuvering for bill passage, the majority of bills that did not complete the full committee process will not become law this session.
Below you will find a list of bills filed for this session related to children, youth and families. The first column lists the bill number, name and sponsor and provides a hyperlink to the bill's text and history. The second column represents the number of committees of reference for each bill and the final column gives a brief description of the bill. Here is a key to help guide you in your review of where a bill is:
Child Welfare
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These similar bills seek to expand the list of incidents or injuries that constitute harm to a child’s health or welfare, and expands the types of reports that the Department of Children and Families must refer to Child Protection Teams.
 Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Passed Full Senate

This bill amends definitions relating to child-on-child sexual abuse and reorganizes and clarifies provisions and requirements relating to reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect and the central abuse hotline at the Department of Children and Families (DCF). It requires that the central abuse hotline keep statistical reports relating to reports of child abuse and child-on-child sexual abuse in specified educational settings. It provides penalties for specified educational providers whose employees knowingly and willingly fail to report suspected or known child abuse. It also addresses a recognized strong correlation between animal abuse and child abuse and requires reporting and penalties for specified investigators for failure to report.
Early Learning



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 Rep. Williams
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Passed Full Senate



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These compare bills require vehicles used by child care facilities to transport children to be equipped with a DCF minimum standards approved alarm system that prompts the driver to inspect the vehicle for the presence of children before leaving the area.
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Requires child care facilities and large family child care homes to install video cameras in both facilities and associated transportation. Provides DCF authority to promulgate associated rules. 
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Revises minimum licensing standards relating to transportation safety for child care facilities, large family child care homes, & family day care homes.
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These similar bills extend the scheduled expiration of the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program expected to expire in June 2020 to June 2022, and it modifies the eligibility requirements.
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These similar bills place the Office of Early Learning within the Department of Education (DOE). They revise duties of the Early Learning Programs Estimating Conference, place Gold Seal program in DOE, addressing licensing standards, and defines accountability system for Florida's VPK program.
K-12 Education
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These similar bills revise the notification requirements relating to involuntary examinations of a student who is removed from school, school transportation, or school-sponsored activity. 
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HB 7011 - K-12 Student Athletes - PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee
Passed Full Senate

Passed Full House
These similar bills are aimed at student safety while participating in rigorous events on campus. They revise provisions relating to automated external defibrillators on school grounds, training related to CPR & defibrillators, FHSAA student athlete safety policies, & specified medical evaluations.  
Juvenile Justice
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These similar bills eliminate the requirements that for a juvenile to qualify for enrollment in a diversion program, they must have been charged with a misdemeanor and it is their first offense.
Health & Safety
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Passed Full House
These identical bills revise provisions relating to reimbursement of school-based services by AHCA to certain school districts and private & charter schools.
Sen. Book
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Rep. Altman




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These similar bills aim to update outdated state laws in accordance with federal statutes for continuum of care. They increase the amount of challenge grant funds CoCs are able to receive annually, allow for federal match to be accessed, and create a designated revenue stream.
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These identical bills amend current law relating to child restraint requirements while transporting a child in a motor vehicle. The bill increases from age five years or younger, to age six years or younger, the age of children which must use a crash-tested, federally-approved child restraint device. The bill also increases from age four through five years, to age four through six years, the age of a child
for which use of a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat is authorized.
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Passed Full Senate

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These identical bills remove the lifetime maximum cap on covered expenses for a child enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids program.
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Passed Full House
These similar bills aim to provide additional evidence-based supports for young adults experiencing serious mental illness, particularly evidence of an episode of a psychotic episode .
Two-Generational Approach
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Passed Full House

These similar bills r equire the auditor general to complete audits of specified assistance programs and document eligibility requirements, the frequency of eligibility determination and other associated requirements for families. Revises definition of income and changes service priorities within the school readiness program.
For more information, please contact
Donovan Lee-Sin, Public Policy & Community Engagement Officer at
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