Capitol Connection
2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WEEK 7
This week marked week 7 of the Regular Legislative Session. On Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Child Welfare package HB 7065 by the House Children, Families, and Seniors Subcommittee. This bill invests $70 million to promote “responsible” fatherhood, protect at-risk boys and support foster children throughout Florida. It also designates June as “Responsible Fatherhood Month”. 


On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee took up HB 1505 by Representative Dana Trabulsy, (R- St. Lucie) relating to Background Screening and HB 1199 by Representative Erin Grall, (R- Vero Beach) regarding funding for the School Readiness program. Both bills now head to the House floor and have been agended on the House Special Order Calendar for Tuesday, March 1st.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed its Child Welfare package SB 7034 by the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. This bill enhances benefits for relative caregivers, increases child care subsidies, and expands college tuition waivers. To read the full press release from the Senate click here. The bill now heads to the House. 

Finally, on Thursday the House passed HB 195 and HB 197 the Juvenile Diversion Program Expunction bill and its Public Records Exemption companion by Representative David Smith, (R- Winter Springs). The bills now head to the Senate.

Next week expect to see budget conferees being appointed and appropriations chairs receive their allocations and instructions. Budget conferences will continue into next weekend with the 2022 Regular Legislative Session concluding on March 11th.

Until next week!

Sincerely,

The Children's Trust
Voted Favorably By Committee
Did Not Pass Committee Vote
Temporarily Postponed in Committee
Referred to Committee but Not Yet Heard
Bill has not yet been referred to committees
Healthy Development
HB 1073 - Newborn Screenings
Rep. Aloupis
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SB 292 - Newborn Screenings
Sen. Polsky
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These identical bills require hospitals & other state-licensed birthing facilities to test for congenital cytomegalovirus in newborns; revise the timeframe which health care providers attending home births must make referrals; require health care providers practicing in a primary care setting to screen newborns for hearing loss; require providers to test newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus; revises the timeframe which hospitals must complete newborn hearing screenings; and requires test results be reported to the Department of Health.
Early Learning
These identical bills delete the requirement that school readiness program funds be used to increase the number of children served; requires the Division of Early Learning to conduct a School Readiness Funding Formula Allocation Conference before distribution of certain funds for school readiness program; specifies conference principals; provides division duties; and provides requirements for the conference.
Juvenile Justice
These identical bills require the Department of Law Enforcement to expunge the nonjudicial arrest record of certain minors who successfully complete a diversion program for specified felony offenses, rather than only for misdemeanor offenses; authorizing a minor who successfully completes a diversion program for any offense, rather than only for a first-time misdemeanor offense.
These identical bills provide an exemption from public records requirements for a nonjudicial record of the arrest of a minor who has successfully completed a diversion program; provide for retroactive application; provide for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; and provide a statement of public necessity. HB 195 or its companion will have to pass in order for HB 197 or SB 344 to take effect.
Child Protection
These identical bills require independent sanctioning authorities to conduct level 2 instead of level 1 background screenings of current and prospective athletic coaches; requires certain athletic coaches to be rescreened every 5 years following the date of their most recent background screening or exemption; requires the Criminal Justice Information Program to develop a method for establishing direct identification in a certain manner; requires, rather than authorizing, the Department of Law Enforcement to periodically audit qualified entities; requires certain fingerprints to be submitted to the clearinghouse; and requires certain information to be filed or submitted through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
SB 7034 - Child Welfare
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
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This bill expresses legislative intent to revise laws relating to the welfare of children in Florida.
K-12 Education
These comparable bills revise the grade levels for which the coordinated screening and monitoring program measures student progress in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; revise requirements for the statewide, standardized comprehensive assessments program, beginning with a specified school year; require that progress monitoring include both a web-based and mobile device-compatible option; require 2022-2023 school and school district grades to serve as an informal baseline for schools and school districts; and provide that school improvement ratings will not be calculated for a certain school year.
Children With Disabilities
These identical bills ​​revise the definition of the term “exceptional student” to include additional students with developmental delays.
These identical bills ​​prohibit school personnel from using mechanical restraint on students with disabilities.
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For more information, contact: Natalia Zea at natalia@thechildrenstrust.org