News & Events

Week 3

WEEK 3 – Children’s Week 2018

The “Hanging of the Hands” in the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, January 21st signaled the official start of the 2018 Children’s Week. The hands serve as a visual representation of the vast number of children that legislators and other decision makers affect. The Children’s Week Awards Dinner and Reception took place Monday evening to honor and recognize Children’s Week Partners and non-profit organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Florida’s children. This year’s Lawton Chiles Advocacy Award was presented to Dr. Wil Blechman, a long-time child advocate who continues to promote health, safety, early education and quality care for children. Children’s Week included numerous additional events that engaged children and parents along with community, business and state leaders. Congratulations to the United Way on another very successful Children’s Week!

 

BUDGET OUTLOOK

Chairs of both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees introduced their FY 2018-19 budget proposals this week. Both Chambers also released their respective versions of the General Appropriations Act Proposed Committee Bill (GAA PCB).

The House budgets of interest can be accessed here:

The full Appropriations Committee will meet next week to consider the full general appropriations act.

The Senate budgets of interest can be accessed here:

 

EARLY LEARNING

School Readiness

SB 1254 by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) and its House companion HB 1091 by Rep. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) seek to reinforce and strengthen accountability measures in the publicly funded School Readiness program. The bill also restores local flexibility in determining eligibility so that early learning coalitions can prioritize children at greatest risk of school failure within communities. SB 1254 is scheduled to be heard in the Education Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.  HB 1091 was reported favorably by the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.

A bill relating to Early Learning Coalitions, SB 1532, was filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) with the House companion, HB 1175 by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) that authorizes an early learning coalition to terminate a contract with School Readiness program providers for a Class I Health and Safety Violation. SB 1532 has been referred to three committees and will be heard in the Education Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 1175 was reported favorably by the Education Committee on January 25, 2018 and has been placed on the House floor, 2nd reading.

 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

HB 951 by Rep. Jason Fischer (R-Jacksonville) and the Senate companion SB 1192 by Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) require pre- and post-assessment results to be provided to parents within ten days after the administration of the assessment and authorize students determined to be at risk of not attaining performance standards to reenroll in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. HB 951 was reported favorably by the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. SB 1192 has been referred to three committees.

 

HEALTH

Perinatal Mental Health

 SB 138 by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and HB 937 by Rep. Jeanette Nunez (R-Miami) create the “Florida Families First Act” and would require the Department of Health to create public service announcements to educate the public on perinatal mental health care, as well as revise components that are included in the postpartum evaluation and follow-up care provided by birth centers to include a mental health screening and the provision of certain information on postpartum depression. SB 138 was reported favorably by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on January 24, 2018. HB 937 was reported favorably by the Health Innovation Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.

Child Immunization

SB 1680 by Sen. Bill Montford (D-Quincy) and the House companion, HB 1045 by Rep. Cary Pigman (R-Sebring) revise provisions relating to the communicable disease prevention and control programs under the Department of Health. The bill proposes to delete a provision that allows the parent or guardian of a child to refuse to have the child included in the immunization registry and revises school-entry health requirements to require that students have a certificate of immunization on file with the department’s immunization registry. SB 1680 was reported favorably by the Health Policy Committee on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. HB 1045 was reported favorably by the Health Quality Subcommittee on January 24, 2018.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

HB 1377 by Rep. David Silvers (D-West Palm Beach) and the similar Senate companion, SB 1790 by Sen. Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach) require DCF to create a workgroup to provide recommendations for revising Baker Act. The bills also require receiving facility administrator to file a petition for voluntary placement when persons younger than age 18 are admitted for voluntary mental health services or transferred to voluntary status and the court must hear the petition within five court working days. HB 1377 has been referred to three committees and awaits action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee. SB 1790 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.

SB 270 by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) and the House companion, HB 947 by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) relate to involuntary examination and involuntary admission of minors. The bill authorizes a designated law enforcement agency to decline to transport a minor 14 years of age or younger to a receiving facility for mental health or substance abuse evaluation if the parent or guardian of the minor agrees to transport the minor to the receiving facility. The bills require the examination of a minor 14 years of age or younger to be initiated within eight hours after the patient’s arrival at the receiving facility. SB 270 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 947 has been referred to two committees and is awaiting action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee.

 

CHILD WELFARE 

Early Childhood Court Program

SB 1442 by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and the House companion, HB 1351 by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) establish the Early Childhood Court in statute and provide resources for supporting the program. The legislation would also require the Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy to hire a statewide clinical consultant and assemble a clinical oversight team. The proposed policy includes provisions for the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to conduct an evaluation of the program’s impact in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, the Office of the State Courts Administrator, the Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, and the ZERO TO THREE organization. SB 1442 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 1351 was reported favorably by the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee on January 23, 2018.

Child Welfare

SB 774 by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and the House companion, HB 505 by Rep. Rick Roth (R-Palm Beach Garden) and Rep. Patricia Williams (D-Ft. Lauderdale) revise the types of information relating to the identity and location of a child’s legal father that fall within the scope of a court inquiry at a shelter hearing or a hearing regarding a petition for termination of parental rights. The bill provides for certain unmarried biological fathers to receive notice of dependency hearings and requires notice of a petition for termination of parental rights to be served on an unmarried biological father identified under oath or by a diligent search of the Florida Putative Father Registry. SB 774 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 505 is awaiting action in the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee.

HB 1105 by Rep. Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) provides for the name of a child’s guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem to be entered on court orders in dependency proceedings. The bill requires the court to advise parents during adjudicatory hearing of actions required to achieve reunification and modifies mandatory timeframes for dependency hearings and enter orders. HB 1105 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Seniors Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee.

SB 522 by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) and the House companion, HB 281 by Patricia Williams (D-Fort Lauderdale) requires the Department of Children and Families to include parents who are incarcerated in the development of case plans for their children where reunification is a stated goal.  The Department of Corrections must work with the incarcerated parent to ensure that they are able to access services and programs stipulated in the case plan. SB 522 was reported favorably by the Senate Rules Committee on January 25, 2018 and awaits consideration by the full chamber. HB 281 has been placed on the Special Order calendar and will be considered on Wednesday, January 29, 2018.

Public Assistance

SB 508 by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) and the House companion HB 751 by Rep. Dane Eagle (R-Cape Coral) require CareerSource Florida, Inc., to submit in a detailed annual report certain information on individuals subject to mandatory work requirements who receive temporary cash or food assistance. The bill requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to work with program participants in developing strategies to overcome obstacles to compliance with work activity requirements and creates the TANF Reemployment Pilot Program in Pinellas County. SB 508 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018. HB 751 is awaiting action in the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.

SB 1232 by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake) and the House companion, HB 643 by Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) pertain to public assistance fraud and revise the maximum reward paid to persons providing certain information leading to the recovery of particular fraudulent public assistance payments. The bill also proposes to direct state-retained shares of recovered public assistance over payments to be held in the Federal Grants Trust Fund. SB 1232 was reported favorably by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 643 has been referred to three committees.

Child Protection

HB 487 by Rep. Bobby Olszewski (R-Orlando) and SB 634 by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) prohibit a child who has suffered sexual exploitation from being placed in a generic shelter setting when safe-harbor or trauma-informed housing is not available and require the Department of Children and Families to assemble a team of specified experts to determine the safest placement for the child. HB 487 was reported favorably by the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee on January 23, 2018 and now heads to Health and Human Services Committee. SB 634 has been referred to three committees.

HB 417 by Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Hollywood) and its Senate companion, SB 1212 by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) provides an exemption from public records requirements to certain identifying and location information of current or former directors, managers, supervisors, and clinical employees of child advocacy centers that meet certain standards and requirements including members of a child protection team and their spouses and children. HB 417 was reported favorably by the Health and Human Services Committee on January 25, 2018. SB 1212 is awaiting action in the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee.

HB 7017 by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) and the Senate companion, SB 1214 by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) authorize subpoenas in certain investigations of sexual offenses involving child victims & specify requirements and provide for separate offenses of transmission of child pornography. HB 7017 was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee on January 25, 2018. SB 1214 is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.

SB 1650 by Sen. Bill Montford (D-Quincy) prohibits the Department of Children and Families from releasing the names of certain persons who have provided information during a protective investigation except under certain circumstances. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Monday, January 29, 2018.

Federal Funding

HM (House Memorial) 817 by Rep. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) is a memorial to the Congress of the United States imploring the renewal of the Title IV-E Waivers for child welfare services. Florida is one of 26 states that have approved agreements with the federal government for the administration of child welfare services. Florida’s variance permits it to use funds for services beyond out-of-home care this removes the financial incentive to remove a child when it may not be the appropriate action. HM 817 was reported favorably by the House Government Accountability Committee on January 24, 2018, it awaits consideration by the full chamber.

 

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Direct Filing

SB 1552 by Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) is similar to SB 392 and SB 1298 by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and the House companion, HB 1417 by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City). The bills require that a prolific juvenile offender be held in secure detention until a detention hearing is held if the juvenile violated the conditions of non-secure detention. Two of these bills also include language to increase the age of a child that is required to or can be direct filed to the adult court system from 14 to 15 years old. SB 1552 and SB 1298 have each been referred to three committees. HB 1417 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on January 24, 2018.

Civil Rights

SB 936 by Sen. Bobby Powell (D-West Palm Beach) and the similar House bill, HB 509 by Rep. Sean Shaw (D-Tampa) create an exception to the suspension of civil rights upon the conviction of a felony for children convicted as adults and requires children of certain ages who are convicted and sentenced to the Department of Corrections to be kept completely separated from adult offenders in the facility. SB 936 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Committee on January 22, 2018. HB 509 has been referred to three committees and is awaiting action in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Civil Citation/Diversion

SB 1392 by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and its House companion HB 489 by Rep. Sharon Pritchett (D-Miramar) require, in every judicial circuit, the establishment of a prearrest diversion program and modifies processes and procedures relating to the administration of diversion and civil citation programs. The bill also requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to expunge the nonjudicial arrest record of a minor if the diversion program submits certification for expunction. SB 1392 was reported favorably by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on January 22, 2018.  HB 489 has been referred to three committees.

 

OTHER BILLS AFFECTING CHILDREN

 Gun Bills

SB 1048 by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake) and its House companion, HB 1419 by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City) and Rep. Ross Spano (R-Riverview) authorize a church, a synagogue, or other religious institution to allow a concealed weapons or concealed firearms licensee to carry a firearm on the property of the church, synagogue, or religious institution for certain purposes. SB 1048 was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee on January 25, 2018.  HB 1419 was reported favorably by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on January 24, 2018 and now heads to the Judiciary Committee.

Children with Unique Abilities

SB 146 by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and the House companion, HB 57 by Rep. Frank White (R-Pensacola) and Rep. Patricia Williams (D-Ft. Lauderdale) designate this act as the “Pro Bono Matters Act of 2018”; and require the payment of due process costs of litigation of all pro bono attorneys appointed to represent dependent children with certain special needs by the court. SB 146 is scheduled for final passage on January 31, 2018. HB 57 has been retained in the Special Order Calendar for full floor action on January 24, 2018.

HB 63 by Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole (D-Sunrise) and Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Ft. Myers) and the Senate companion, SB 260 by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) provide requirements for use of seclusion, restraint, and exclusionary and nonexclusionary time and requires continuing education and in-service training relating to students with certain disabilities. HB 63 was reported favorably by the Education Committee on January 25, 2018 and is awaiting consideration by the full chamber. SB 260 has been referred to three committees.

CS/HB 135 by Rep. Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee) and the Senate companion, SB 290 by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) require application for motor vehicle registration to include language indicating applicant is deaf or hard of hearing. CS/HB 135 has been placed on the Special Order Calendar for January 31, 2018. SB 290 is awaiting action in its last committee of reference, Appropriations.

SB 1286 by Sen. David Simmons (R-Longwood) revises the meaning of a rare disease within the definition of a “disability” for purposes of the Gardiner Scholarship Program to include those defined in the Orphan Drug Act of 1983. The bill was reported favorably the Education Committee on January 22, 2018 and now heads to the Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12 Education.


« Return to Capitol Connections