SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 1666

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  Senator Mitchell moved the following amendment:

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13         Senate Amendment 

14         On page 67, line 12, through page 68, line 13, delete

15  those lines

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17  and insert:

18         (3)(a)1.  Notwithstanding s. 435.045(1), the department

19  may place a child in a foster home which otherwise meets

20  licensing requirements if state and local criminal records

21  checks do not disqualify the applicant, and the department has

22  submitted fingerprint information to the Florida Department of

23  Law Enforcement for forwarding to the Federal Bureau of

24  Investigation and is awaiting the results of the federal

25  criminal records check.

26         2.  Prospective and approved foster parents must

27  disclose to the department any prior or pending local, state

28  or federal criminal proceedings in which they are or have been

29  involved.

30         (b)(a)  Prior to recommending to the court any

31  out-of-home placement for a child other than placement in a

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 1666

    Amendment No.    





 1  licensed shelter or foster home, the department shall conduct

 2  a study of the home of the proposed legal custodians

 3  caregivers, which must include, at a minimum:

 4         1.  An interview with the proposed legal custodians

 5  adult caregivers to assess their ongoing commitment and

 6  ability to care for the child.

 7         2.  Records checks through the department's automated

 8  abuse information system, and local and statewide criminal and

 9  juvenile records checks through the Department of Law

10  Enforcement, on all household members 12 years of age or older

11  and any other persons made known to the department who are

12  frequent visitors in the home.

13         3.  An assessment of the physical environment of the

14  home.

15         4.  A determination of the financial security of the

16  proposed legal custodians caregivers.

17         5.  A determination of suitable child care arrangements

18  if the proposed legal custodians caregivers are employed

19  outside of the home.

20         6.  Documentation of counseling and information

21  provided to the proposed legal custodians caregivers regarding

22  the dependency process and possible outcomes.

23         7.  Documentation that information regarding support

24  services available in the community has been provided to the

25  proposed legal custodians caregivers.

26         (c)(b)  The department shall not place the child or

27  continue the placement of the child in the home of the

28  proposed legal custodians caregivers if the results of the

29  home study are unfavorable.

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