Senate Bill sb1058c2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2004 CS for CS for SB 1058
By the Committees on Banking and Insurance; Children and
Families; and Senator Bennett
311-2318-04
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to motor vehicle insurance for
3 foster children; creating a pilot program for
4 the purpose of reimbursing foster parents,
5 residential facilities, or foster children who
6 live independently for a portion of the
7 increased costs of motor vehicle insurance for
8 a foster child who has a driver's license;
9 directing the Department of Children and Family
10 Services to establish the pilot program in
11 Sarasota, DeSoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco
12 Counties; requiring that the person who incurs
13 the increased cost submit to the department
14 documentation of that increase; requiring that
15 foster children be encouraged to pay the
16 remaining portion of the increase in costs;
17 directing the department to develop procedures
18 for operating the pilot program; requiring the
19 department to submit a report with
20 recommendations to the Governor and the
21 Legislature by a specified date; providing an
22 appropriation; providing an effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. (1) The Legislature finds that the
27 increased cost of motor vehicle insurance for a foster child
28 after that child attains a driver's license is borne by the
29 foster parents and the authorized representative of the
30 residential facility. This increase in the cost of insurance
31 creates an additional barrier for a foster child in gaining
1
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for CS for SB 1058
311-2318-04
1 independence and may limit the child's opportunities for
2 obtaining employment. In accordance with these findings, the
3 Legislature directs the Department of Children and Family
4 Services to establish a 3-year pilot program in Sarasota,
5 Desoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties to pay for the
6 cost of motor vehicle insurance for foster children who have
7 obtained a driver's license.
8 (2) To the extent that funding is available, the pilot
9 program shall provide funds to pay for a portion of the
10 increase in the cost of motor vehicle insurance incurred by
11 the foster parents, residential facilities, or the foster
12 child if living independently. To be eligible for payment
13 under the pilot program, the person incurring the cost must
14 submit to the department appropriate documentation
15 demonstrating the increase in the cost of insurance. The
16 amount of the payment to be provided to the foster parent,
17 residential facility, or foster child if living independently
18 shall be one-half of the amount of the increase in the cost of
19 motor vehicle insurance which is incurred as a result of
20 adding the foster child to the policy or less than one-half if
21 another source of funding to pay for the increase is
22 available. The foster child must be encouraged to pay the
23 other half of the increase in insurance costs.
24 (3) The department shall develop procedures for
25 operating the pilot program, including, but not limited to,
26 determining eligibility, providing the payment, ensuring that
27 payment is limited solely to the additional costs of including
28 the foster child in the insurance policy, and allocating
29 available funds.
30 (4) The department shall examine and utilize, to the
31 extent possible, other available options for funding the cost
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2004 CS for CS for SB 1058
311-2318-04
1 of the motor vehicle insurance increase, such as, but not
2 limited to, through the child's master trust fund, social
3 security income, child support payments, and other income
4 available to the child.
5 (5) Beginning July 1, 2005, and continuing for the
6 duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit to
7 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
8 the House of Representatives an annual report on the success
9 and outcomes achieved by the pilot program, with a
10 recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be
11 continued, terminated, or expanded.
12 Section 2. The sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the
13 General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family
14 Services for the purpose of implementing this act during the
15 2004-2005 fiscal year.
16 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.
17
18 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
19 CS for SB 1058
20
21 Increases the counties that will participate in the pilot
program to include Pinellas and Pasco counties.
22
Removes the requirement that a foster youth pay one-half of
23 the increased costs of motor vehicle insurance.
24 Expands the settings in which youth in foster care may be
placed that are eligible to receive assistance through the
25 pilot program to include other residential settings, as well
as youth in subsidized independent living.
26
Removes the requirement that if a foster child accumulates six
27 or more points due to moving traffic violations, the child's
foster parent is ineligible to receive the reimbursement under
28 the pilot program.
29 Directs the Department of Children and Families to examine and
use, when available, other funding options.
30
Modifies the reporting requirement to the Governor and
31 Legislature to provide for an annual report for the duration
of the pilot program with the first report due July 1, 2005.
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.