Capitol Connection

October 2023

Welcome back to Capitol Connection! Since the 2024 Annual Legislative Session begins on January 9, 2024, legislative committee weeks began during the month of October. This edition will provide a wrap-up of Florida’s legislative committee weeks that took place throughout the month. As committees met there were presentations by agencies and stakeholders. Presentations centered around legislative budget requests or topics of interest to legislative committees. A list of all legislative committees for the Florida House of Representatives may be found here. A list of all legislative committees for the Florida Senate may be found here.

Presentations of interest on education, child welfare, and healthcare during the month of October may be found below:

House Committee Presentations:

10/17/23 House Education Quality Subcommittee

10/18/23 House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee

10/19/23 House Health & Human Services Committee

Senate Committee Presentations:

10/10/23 Senate Committee on Education Prek-12

10/11/23 Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

10/18/23 Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Additionally, a number of bills have already been filed for the 2024 legislative session and we have begun adding them to the tracker below.

Finally, beginning Monday, November 6^th through Thursday, November 9^th the legislature will convene a special session. Please see the Joint Proclamation here.

As always, we are excited to continue to work alongside our communities, stakeholders, and elected leaders to ensure effective policy is passed that best support our children and families. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out.

Until next time!

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

This bill requires social media platforms to disclose specified information, resources, measures, and disclaimers and prohibit certain schools from requiring students to register, enroll, or participate in social media.

This bill requires hospitals to administer congenital cytomegalovirus screenings on newborns admitted to the hospital under specific circumstances. The bill provides for Medicaid coverage for screening, management, treatment, and follow-up services.

These identical bills establish a mental health professional scholarship and loan forgiveness program within the Department of Health.

Early Learning

This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a program to provide vouchers for child care services to children within a specified age range whose parents meet a specified income limitation.

Child Protection

This bill revises provisions related to guardian and attorney ad litem access for dependent children, modifies out-of-home case plan requirements, and authorizes the Pathway to Prosperity program to provide grants to youth and young adults aging out of foster care.

These identical bills require community based care lead agencies to provide trauma focused assessment and services to children removed from caregivers.

Juvenile Justice

These identical bills revise the criteria for the criminal record expunction process for juveniles.

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For more information, contact: Natalia Zea, Chief Public Policy and Engagement Officer at natalia@thechildrenstrust.org.

The Children's Trust