Bill Text: FL S1064 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Trauma Screening for Children Removed from Caregivers

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-16 - Chapter No. 2023-254 [S1064 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S1064-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1064
       
       
        
       By Senator Yarborough
       
       
       
       
       
       4-01207A-23                                           20231064__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to children removed from caregivers;
    3         amending s. 409.988, F.S.; requiring community-based
    4         care lead agencies, in coordination with the local
    5         managing entity, to provide a trauma-focused
    6         assessment within a specified timeframe to children
    7         removed from certain caregivers; specifying
    8         requirements of the assessment and therapy, if
    9         recommended; requiring community-based care lead
   10         agencies to offer voluntary trauma services under
   11         certain circumstances; amending s. 409.996, F.S.;
   12         requiring the Department of Children and Families to
   13         require in its contracts with the community-based care
   14         lead agencies that such agencies and managing entities
   15         provide a trauma-focused assessment within a specified
   16         timeframe to children removed from certain caregivers;
   17         conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective
   18         date.
   19          
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21  
   22         Section 1. Present paragraphs (b) through (n) of subsection
   23  (1) of section 409.988, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   24  paragraphs (c) through (o), respectively, and a new paragraph
   25  (b) is added to that subsection, to read:
   26         409.988 Community-based care lead agency duties; general
   27  provisions.—
   28         (1) DUTIES.—A lead agency:
   29         (b)1. Shall, in coordination with the local managing
   30  entity, provide a trauma-focused assessment to a child removed
   31  from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to ensure
   32  that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma
   33  services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if
   34  needed. The trauma-focused assessment must occur as soon as
   35  practicable subsequent to the child’s removal but no later than
   36  14 days after the shelter hearing. The assessment and therapy,
   37  if recommended, must evaluate and address the impact of the
   38  removal to the child.
   39         2. Shall offer voluntary trauma services to a child and his
   40  or her family in the event that a shelter petition is denied and
   41  the child is returned to his or her parent, legal custodian, or
   42  caregiver.
   43         Section 2. Present paragraphs (b) through (f) of subsection
   44  (1) of section 409.996, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   45  paragraphs (c) through (g), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is
   46  added to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of
   47  that section is amended, to read:
   48         409.996 Duties of the Department of Children and Families.
   49  The department shall contract for the delivery, administration,
   50  or management of care for children in the child protection and
   51  child welfare system. In doing so, the department retains
   52  responsibility for the quality of contracted services and
   53  programs and shall ensure that, at a minimum, services are
   54  delivered in accordance with applicable federal and state
   55  statutes and regulations and the performance standards and
   56  metrics specified in the strategic plan created under s.
   57  20.19(1).
   58         (1) The department shall enter into contracts with lead
   59  agencies for the performance of the duties by the lead agencies
   60  established in s. 409.988. At a minimum, the contracts must do
   61  all of the following:
   62         (b) Require lead agencies and managing entities to
   63  coordinate to provide a trauma-focused assessment to a child
   64  removed from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to
   65  ensure that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma
   66  services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if
   67  needed as required by s. 409.988(1)(b).
   68         (4)
   69         (b) The department shall collect and publish on its
   70  website, and update monthly, the information required under s.
   71  409.988(1)(l) s. 409.988(1)(k).
   72         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.