Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 168
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00394-23                                            2023168__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to motor vehicle insurance and driver
    3         licenses for foster youth; amending s. 409.1454, F.S.;
    4         deleting a requirement that a foster youth receiving
    5         postsecondary educational services and support must
    6         have also been in licensed care at the time of turning
    7         18 years of age in order to be eligible to participate
    8         in a specified program covering certain costs for a
    9         driver license and motor vehicle insurance; providing
   10         an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 409.1454, Florida
   15  Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         409.1454 Motor vehicle insurance and driver licenses for
   17  children in care and certified unaccompanied homeless youth.—
   18         (4) Payment must be made to eligible recipients in the
   19  order of eligibility until available funds are exhausted. If a
   20  child determined to be eligible reaches permanency status or
   21  turns 18 years of age, the program may pay for that child to
   22  complete a driver education program and obtain a driver license
   23  for up to 6 months after the date the child reaches permanency
   24  status or 6 months after the date the child turns 18 years of
   25  age. A child may be eligible to have the costs of and incidental
   26  to licensure paid if he or she demonstrates that such costs are
   27  creating barriers to obtaining employment or completing
   28  educational goals, if the child meets any of the following
   29  criteria:
   30         (a) Is continuing in care under s. 39.6251;
   31         (b) Was in licensed care when the child reached 18 years of
   32  age and Is currently receiving postsecondary education services
   33  and support under s. 409.1451(2); or
   34         (c) Is an unaccompanied homeless youth certified under s.
   35  743.067 who is a citizen of the United States or legal resident
   36  of this state and is:
   37         1. Completing secondary education;
   38         2. Employed at least part time;
   39         3. Attending any postsecondary education program at least
   40  part time; or
   41         4. Has a disability that precludes full-time work or
   42  education.
   43         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.