Downloads
CS/HB 749 — Adoption Benefits
by Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee; and Rep. Combee and others (CS/SB 780 by Education Committee and Senator Stargel)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Committee (ED)
The bill expands the definition of qualifying adoptive employee to include full-time or part-time employees of charter schools and the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) for the purpose of extending to the employees of such schools the benefits that are currently available to qualifying adoptive employees of state agencies. The State Employee Adoption Benefit Program administered through the Department of Children and Families allows qualifying employees who adopt a child from the child welfare system to receive a one-time benefit of $5,000, or $10,000 for the adoption of a child with special needs.
The bill also authorizes a qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the FLVS to apply for the monetary benefit if such employee was employed by a charter school or the FLVS when he or she adopted a child within the child welfare system on or after July 1, 2015.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2017.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 116-0