CS/CS/HB 565 — Agency for Persons with Disabilities
by Health & Human Services Committee; Human Services Subcommittee; and Reps. Tant, Weinberger, and others (CS/CS/SB 794 by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee; and Senators Jones and Garcia)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
The bill amends s. 393.063, F.S., to expand the number of individuals who may receive disability-related services from the State. Specifically, the bill defines Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS) and adds it to the list of conditions included within the definition of “developmental disability,” thereby qualifying someone diagnosed with TBRS to receive services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD).
The bill amends s. 393.0655, F.S., to expand who is required to be Level 2 background screened in licensed residential facilities and adult day training programs. This change removes the specific reference to only managers and supervisors and instead requires Level 2 employment screening for all employees of these facilities and programs. As a result, the screening requirement is broadened to apply uniformly to all employees of these facilities and programs, regardless of job title or supervisory status.
Upon becoming law, the bill directs the APD to engage in several activities that are focused on improving the quality, consistency, and accountability of support coordination services statewide. Specifically, the bill directs the APD to contract with a state university to develop and administer surveys of owners and operators of qualified organizations for the purpose of evaluating the quality, capacity, and consistency of care coordination services. The state university must submit the report on the survey results and analysis to the APD by October 1, 2026. The bill also directs the APD to solicit input on enhancing waiver support coordinator services from relevant stakeholders, hold at least one public hearing for this purpose in each service region of the state, and conduct or contract for a gap analysis to assess the caseload capacity of support coordinators. Finally, the bill directs the APD to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by February 15, 2027, identifying core competencies and performance measures for waiver support coordinators, recommending standardized assessment methods, and including the final survey report prepared by the contracted state university.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 110-0