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Capitol Connection
2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
As we enter into the last month of 2021, this week marked the final week of pre-committee weeks for the 2022 legislative session. It also was the deadline to have bills submitted to drafting for both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. The bill drafting deadline for the House was 5:00 PM on Wednesday, December 1st and for the Senate was 5:00 PM on Friday, December 3rd. All bills must then be filed by January 11, 2022, the first day of the 2022 legislative session. 
 
As committee meetings progressed there were two substantive bills that were heard this week that are in the bill tracking section below. The first was SB 342 by Senator Perry regarding Juvenile Diversion Program Expunction that unanimously passed the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. The second was SB 792 by Senator Ausley regarding Children and Young adults in Out-of-home Care that also unanimously passed the Senate Children, Family, and Elder Affairs Committee. As a final area of interest, the House Judiciary Committee received presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Agency for Healthcare Administration, and Department of Education on background screening processes. If you would like to view any of the above-mentioned committee meetings please click the links below:
 
 
 
 
As we conclude this year, we hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season.
 
Until next year!
 
Sincerely,
The Children's Trust
Healthy Development
This bill increases income eligibility threshold for coverage under Florida Kidcare program and requires applicants seeking coverage under the program to provide specified documentation under certain circumstances. It also requires the Agency for Healthcare Administration to examine graduated family contribution rates for newly qualifying families under program; requires agency to increase income eligibility threshold for coverage under program each fiscal year until meeting a specified income threshold; authorizes agency to seek federal waiver approval or submit state plan amendments as necessary.
These identical bills ​​establish a tiered system of family premiums for Title XXI coverage under the Florida Kidcare program beginning with a specified fiscal year and authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration to seek federal waiver approval or submit any state plan amendments as necessary; provides for future expiration; increases the income eligibility threshold for coverage under the program to conform to changes made by the act; and provides for reversion of certain provisions.
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.
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 remove juveniles from numerous provisions relating to court fees; provides that fees & court-ordered costs previously ordered to be paid are unenforceable & uncollectable; and provides for reinstatement of driver licenses suspended for failure to make specified payments.
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 similar bills specify rights of children & young adults in out-of-home care; provides roles & responsibilities of the Department of Children and Families & community-based care lead agencies; authorizes district school boards to establish certain educational programs; designates a children's ombudsman within the department & provides responsibilities of the ombudsman; requires the department & community-based care lead agencies to use information provided by the ombudsman in carrying out responsibilities; and requires the department to establish statewide a toll-free telephone number for the ombudsman.

K-12
Rep. Chambliss
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These identical bills revise the required age for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age; removes requirement that student's parent sign declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment; and removes requirement that school district notify student's parent upon receipt of such declaration.

Equity
These identical bills establish the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion within EOG. They provide for appointment of Chief Diversity Officer, prescribe minimum qualifications for Chief Diversity Officer, and provide duties & responsibilities of Chief Diversity Officer.

Economic Self-Sufficiency
This bill creates the Working Floridians Tax Rebate Program within the Department of Revenue for a certain purpose; grants specified people and households certain state funds if they received the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and meet certain criteria; prohibits receipt of the rebate from being used in certain program eligibility determinations.


For more information, please contact
Natalia Zea, Chief Public Policy & Engagement Officer at