Senate Bill sb0220c1
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 220
By the Committee on Children and Families; and Senators
Bennett and Fasano
586-891-06
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.
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24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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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
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 220
586-891-06
1 independence and may limit the child's opportunities for
2 obtaining employment. In accordance with these findings, the
3 Department of Children and Family Services shall establish a
4 3-year pilot program in Sarasota, Desoto, Manatee, Pinellas,
5 and Pasco Counties to pay a portion of the cost of motor
6 vehicle insurance for foster children who have obtained a
7 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 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 is available to pay for the
22 increase. The foster child must be encouraged to pay the other
23 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 ensuring that
29 the payments are made to eligible persons in the order each is
30 determined eligible until the funds are exhausted.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 220
586-891-06
1 (4) The department shall examine and use, to the
2 extent possible, other available options for funding the cost
3 of the motor vehicle insurance increase, such as, but not
4 limited to, through the child's master trust fund, social
5 security income, child support payments, and other income
6 available to the child.
7 (5) Beginning January 1, 2007, and continuing for the
8 duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit to
9 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
10 the House of Representatives an annual report on the success
11 and outcomes achieved by the pilot program, with a
12 recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be
13 continued, terminated, or expanded.
14 Section 2. The sum of $150,000 is appropriated from
15 the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and
16 Family Services for the purpose of implementing this act
17 during the 2006-2007 fiscal year. This sum shall be
18 apportioned as follows: $110,000 to be divided between
19 Pinellas and Pasco Counties and $40,000 to be divided among
20 the Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties.
21 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 220
586-891-06
1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 Senate Bill 220
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4 Increases the appropriation for a pilot project subsidizing
the automobile insurance premiums of foster children from
5 $50,000 to $150,000.
6 Provides that the appropriation will be allocated as follows:
$110,000 to be divided between Pasco and Pinellas counties;
7 and $40,000 to be divided among Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto
counties.
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Directs the Department of Children and Families to ensure that
9 the payments are made to eligible persons in the pilot project
area in the order each is determined eligible until the funds
10 are exhausted.
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