The Florida Senate

753.001  Definitions.

753.002  Florida Family Visitation Network.

753.004  Supervised visitation projects.

753.001  Definitions.--As used in ss. 753.001-753.004:

(1)  A "supervised visitation program" exists where there is contact between a noncustodial parent and one or more children in the presence of a third person responsible for observing and ensuring the safety of those involved. Supervised visitation programs may also include exchange monitoring of children who are participating in court-ordered visitation programs or exchange monitoring where there has been mutual consent between parties for the purposes of facilitating a visitation.

(2)  "Exchange monitoring" means supervision of movement of a child from the custodial to the noncustodial parent at the start of the visit and back to the custodial parent at the end of the visit.

This section shall take effect July 1, 1996.

History.--s. 10, ch. 96-402.

753.002  Florida Family Visitation Network.--There is hereby created the Florida Family Visitation Network, which shall have the following responsibilities subject to the availability of resources:

(1)  To serve as a clearinghouse on resources and research of supervised visitation programs.

(2)  To provide technical assistance and other support services to existing and emerging supervised visitation programs.

(3)  To compile a directory of state-supervised visitation programs containing referral information.

(4)  To formulate a newsletter for supervised visitation programs.

(5)  To organize workshops and conferences which address issues and concerns of supervised visitation programs.

(6)  To have the authority to apply for grants and accept private contributions.

(7)  To compile data on the use of supervised visitation programs.

This section shall take effect July 1, 1996.

History.--s. 11, ch. 96-402.

753.004  Supervised visitation projects.--Within its existing resources, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Florida may establish supervised visitation projects in communities throughout the state.

(1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to coordinate the efforts of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Family Visitation Network as follows: the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Florida shall take an active role in developing and providing relevant educational activities as a means of strengthening parenting skills.

(2)  Any community participating in a visitation project supervised by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences shall provide a local match of $15,000, exclusive of existing county extension funds, to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and $2,000 to the Institute for Family Violence Studies at Florida State University to carry out the responsibilities under s. 753.002. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has discretion to waive all or part of their portion of the local match.

(3)  A supervised visitation project must be approved by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the project is located if a county-owned facility is used as a visitation site or personnel paid by the county participate in the supervised visitation program.

History.--s. 13, ch. 96-402; s. 87, ch. 2000-158.