CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

  6

  7

  8

  9

10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Peaden offered the following:

12

13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14  Remove from the bill:  Everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert in lieu thereof:

17         Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section

18  216.136, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

20  principals.--

21         (6)  SOCIAL SERVICES ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--

22         (a)  Duties.--

23         1.  The Social Services Estimating Conference shall

24  develop such official information relating to the social

25  services system of the state, including forecasts of social

26  services caseloads, as the conference determines is needed for

27  the state planning and budgeting system.  Such official

28  information shall include, but not be limited to, subsidized

29  child care caseloads mandated by the Family Support Act of

30  1988.

31         2.  In addition, the Social Services Estimating

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Conference shall develop estimates and forecasts of the

  2  unduplicated count of children eligible for subsidized child

  3  care as defined in s. 402.3015(1).  These estimates and

  4  forecasts shall not include children enrolled in the

  5  prekindergarten early intervention program established in s.

  6  230.2305.

  7         3.  The Department of Children and Family Services and

  8  the Department of Education shall provide information on

  9  caseloads and waiting lists for the subsidized child care and

10  prekindergarten early intervention programs requested by the

11  Social Services Estimating Conference or individual conference

12  principals, in a timely manner.

13         4.  The Social Services Estimating Conference shall

14  develop information relating to the Florida Kidcare program,

15  including, but not limited to, outreach impacts, enrollment,

16  caseload, utilization, and expenditure information that the

17  conference determines is needed to plan for and project future

18  budgets and the drawdown of federal matching funds. The

19  agencies required to collect and analyze Florida Kidcare

20  program data under s. 409.8134 shall be participants in the

21  Social Services Estimating Conference for purposes of

22  developing information relating to the Florida Kidcare

23  program.

24         Section 2.  Subsections (4), (6), (7), and (8) of

25  section 409.8312, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

26         409.8132  Medikids program component.--

27         (4)  APPLICABILITY OF LAWS RELATING TO MEDICAID.--The

28  provisions of ss. 409.902, 409.905, 409.906, 409.907, 409.908,

29  409.910, 409.912, 409.9121, 409.9122, 409.9123, 409.9124,

30  409.9127, 409.9128, 409.913, 409.916, 409.919, 409.920, and

31  409.9205 apply to the administration of the Medikids program

                                  2

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  component of the Florida Kidcare program, except that s.

  2  409.9122 applies to Medikids as modified by the provisions of

  3  subsection (7).

  4         (6)  ELIGIBILITY.--

  5         (a)  A child who has attained the age of 1 year but who

  6  is under the age of 5 years is eligible to enroll in the

  7  Medikids program component of the Florida Kidcare program, if

  8  the child is a member of a family that has a family income

  9  which exceeds the Medicaid applicable income level as

10  specified in s. 409.903, but which is equal to or below 200

11  percent of the current federal poverty level.  In determining

12  the eligibility of such a child, an assets test is not

13  required. A child who is eligible for Medikids may elect to

14  enroll in Florida Healthy Kids coverage or employer-sponsored

15  group coverage.  However, a child who is eligible for Medikids

16  may participate in the Florida Healthy Kids program only if

17  the child has a sibling participating in the Florida Healthy

18  Kids program and the child's county of residence permits such

19  enrollment.

20         (b)  The provisions of s. 409.814(3), (4), and (5)

21  shall be applicable to the Medikids program.

22         (7)  ENROLLMENT.--Enrollment in the Medikids program

23  component may only occur during periodic open enrollment

24  periods as specified by the agency. During the first 12 months

25  of the program, there shall be at least one, but no more than

26  three, open enrollment periods. The initial open enrollment

27  period shall be for 90 days, and subsequent open enrollment

28  periods during the first year of operation of the program

29  shall be for 30 days. After the first year of the program, the

30  agency shall determine the frequency and duration of open

31  enrollment periods. An applicant may apply for enrollment in

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  the Medikids program component and proceed through the

  2  eligibility determination process at any time throughout the

  3  year. However, enrollment in Medikids shall not begin until

  4  the next open enrollment period; and a child may not receive

  5  services under the Medikids program until the child is

  6  enrolled in a managed care plan or MediPass. In addition, once

  7  determined eligible, an applicant may receive choice

  8  counseling and select a managed care plan or MediPass. The

  9  agency may initiate mandatory assignment for a Medikids

10  applicant who has not chosen a managed care plan or MediPass

11  provider after the applicant's voluntary choice period ends.

12  An applicant may select MediPass under the Medikids program

13  component only in counties that have fewer than two managed

14  care plans available to serve Medicaid recipients and only if

15  the federal Health Care Financing Administration determines

16  that MediPass constitutes "health insurance coverage" as

17  defined in Title XXI of the Social Security Act.

18         (8)  SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS.--The agency shall

19  establish a special enrollment period of 30 days' duration for

20  any newborn child who is eligible for Medikids, or for any

21  child who is enrolled in Medicaid if such child loses Medicaid

22  eligibility and becomes eligible for Medikids, or for any

23  child who is enrolled in Medikids if such child moves to

24  another county that is not within the coverage area of the

25  child's Medikids managed care plan or MediPass provider.

26         Section 3.  Subsection (3) of section 409.8134, Florida

27  Statutes, is amended to read:

28         409.8134  Program enrollment and expenditure

29  ceilings.--

30         (3)  The agencies that administer the Florida Kidcare

31  program components agency shall collect and analyze the data

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  needed to project Florida Kidcare program enrollment,

  2  including outreach impacts, participation rates, caseloads,

  3  utilization, and expenditures. The agencies agency shall

  4  report the caseload and expenditure trends to the Social

  5  Services Estimating Conference in accordance with chapter 216.

  6         Section 4.  Section 409.814, Florida Statutes, is

  7  amended to read:

  8         409.814  Eligibility.--A child whose family income is

  9  equal to or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level is

10  eligible for the Florida Kidcare program as provided in this

11  section. In determining the eligibility of such a child, an

12  assets test is not required. An applicant under 19 years of

13  age who, based on a complete application, appears to be

14  eligible for the Medicaid component of the Florida Kidcare

15  program is presumed eligible for coverage under Medicaid,

16  subject to federal rules. A child who has been deemed

17  presumptively eligible for Medicaid shall not be enrolled in a

18  managed care plan until the child's full eligibility

19  determination for Medicaid has been completed. The Florida

20  Healthy Kids Corporation may, subject to compliance with

21  applicable requirements of the Agency for Health Care

22  Administration and the Department of Children and Family

23  Services, be designated as an entity to conduct presumptive

24  eligibility determinations. An applicant under 19 years of age

25  who, based on a complete application, appears to be eligible

26  for the Medikids, Florida Healthy Kids, or Children's Medical

27  Services network program component, who is screened as

28  ineligible for Medicaid and prior to the monthly verification

29  of the applicant's enrollment in Medicaid or of eligibility

30  for coverage under the state employee health benefit plan, may

31  be enrolled in and begin receiving coverage from the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  appropriate program component on the first day of the month

  2  following the receipt of a completed application.  For

  3  enrollment in the Children's Medical Services network, a

  4  complete application includes the medical or behavioral health

  5  screening. If, after verification, an individual is determined

  6  to be ineligible for coverage, he or she must be disenrolled

  7  from the respective Title XXI-funded Kidcare program

  8  component.

  9         (1)  A child who is eligible for Medicaid coverage

10  under s. 409.903 or s. 409.904 must be enrolled in Medicaid

11  and is not eligible to receive health benefits under any other

12  health benefits coverage authorized under ss. 409.810-409.820.

13         (2)  A child who is not eligible for Medicaid, but who

14  is eligible for the Florida Kidcare program, may obtain

15  coverage under any of the other types of health benefits

16  coverage authorized in ss. 409.810-409.820 if such coverage is

17  approved and available in the county in which the child

18  resides. However, a child who is eligible for Medikids may

19  participate in the Florida Healthy Kids program only if the

20  child has a sibling participating in the Florida Healthy Kids

21  program and the child's county of residence permits such

22  enrollment.

23         (3)  A child who is eligible for the Florida Kidcare

24  program who is a child with special health care needs, as

25  determined through a medical or behavioral screening

26  risk-screening instrument, is eligible for health benefits

27  coverage from and shall may be referred to the Children's

28  Medical Services network.

29         (4)  The following children are not eligible to receive

30  premium assistance for health benefits coverage under ss.

31  409.810-409.820, except under Medicaid if the child would have

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  been eligible for Medicaid under s. 409.903 or s. 409.904 as

  2  of June 1, 1997:

  3         (a)  A child who is eligible for coverage under a state

  4  health benefit plan on the basis of a family member's

  5  employment with a public agency in the state.;

  6         (b)  A child who is covered under a group health

  7  benefit plan or under other health insurance coverage,

  8  excluding coverage provided under the Florida Healthy Kids

  9  Corporation as established under s. 624.91.;

10         (c)  A child who is seeking premium assistance for

11  employer-sponsored group coverage, if the child has been

12  covered by the same employer's group coverage during the 6

13  months prior to the family's submitting an application for

14  determination of eligibility under the Florida Kidcare

15  program.;

16         (d)  A child who is an alien, but who does not meet the

17  definition of qualified alien, in the United States.; or

18         (e)  A child who is an inmate of a public institution

19  or a patient in an institution for mental diseases.

20         (5)  A child whose family income is above 200 percent

21  of the federal poverty level or a child who is excluded under

22  the provisions of subsection (4) may participate in the

23  Florida Kidcare program, excluding the Medicaid program, but

24  is subject to the following provisions:

25         (a)  The family is not eligible for premium assistance

26  payments and must pay the full cost of the premium, including

27  any administrative costs.

28         (b)  The agency is authorized to place limits on

29  enrollment in Medikids by these children in order to avoid

30  adverse selection.  The number of children participating in

31  Medikids whose family income exceeds 200 percent of the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  federal poverty level must not exceed 10 percent of total

  2  enrollees in the Medikids program.

  3         (c)  The board of directors of the Florida Healthy Kids

  4  Corporation is authorized to place limits on enrollment of

  5  these children in order to avoid adverse selection. In

  6  addition, the board is authorized to offer a reduced benefit

  7  package to these children in order to limit program costs for

  8  such families. The number of children participating in the

  9  Florida Healthy Kids program whose family income exceeds 200

10  percent of the federal poverty level must not exceed 10

11  percent of total enrollees in the Florida Healthy Kids

12  program.

13         (d)  Children described in this subsection are not

14  counted in the annual enrollment ceiling for the Florida

15  Kidcare program.

16         (6)  Once a child is enrolled in determined eligible

17  for the Florida Kidcare program, the child is eligible for

18  coverage under the program for 6 months without a

19  redetermination or reverification of eligibility, if the

20  family continues to pay the applicable premium. Effective

21  January 1, 1999, a child who has not attained the age of 5 and

22  who has been determined eligible for the Medicaid program is

23  eligible for coverage for 12 months without a redetermination

24  or reverification of eligibility.

25         (7)  When determining or reviewing a child's

26  eligibility under the program, the applicant shall be provided

27  with reasonable notice of changes in eligibility which may

28  affect enrollment in one or more of the program components.

29  When a transition from one program component to another is

30  appropriate, there shall be cooperation between the program

31  components and the affected family which promotes continuity

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  of health care coverage.

  2         Section 5.  Paragraphs (q), (r), (s), (t), and (u) of

  3  subsection (2) of section 409.815, Florida Statutes, are

  4  renumbered as paragraphs (r), (s), (t), (u), and (v),

  5  respectively, and a new paragraph (q) is added to said section

  6  to read:

  7         409.815  Health benefits coverage; limitations.--

  8         (2)  BENCHMARK BENEFITS.--In order for health benefits

  9  coverage to qualify for premium assistance payments for an

10  eligible child under ss. 409.810-409.820, the health benefits

11  coverage, except for coverage under Medicaid and Medikids,

12  must include the following minimum benefits, as medically

13  necessary.

14         (q)  Dental services.--Subject to a specific

15  appropriation for this benefit, covered services include those

16  dental services provided to children by the Florida Medicaid

17  program under s. 409.906(6).

18         Section 6.  Section 409.8177, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         409.8177  Program evaluation.--The agency, in

21  consultation with the Department of Health, the Department of

22  Children and Family Services, and the Florida Healthy Kids

23  Corporation, shall by January 1 of each year submit to the

24  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

25  House of Representatives Legislature a report of the Florida

26  Kidcare program. In addition to the items specified under s.

27  2108 of Title XXI of the Social Security Act, the report shall

28  include an assessment of crowd-out and access to health care,

29  as well as the following:

30         (1)  An assessment of the operation of the program,

31  including the progress made in reducing the number of

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  uncovered low-income children.

  2         (2)  An assessment of the effectiveness in increasing

  3  the number of children with creditable health coverage,

  4  including an assessment of the impact of outreach.

  5         (3)  The characteristics of the children and families

  6  assisted under the program, including ages of the children,

  7  family income, and access to or coverage by other health

  8  insurance prior to the program and after disenrollment from

  9  the program.

10         (4)  The quality of health coverage provided, including

11  the types of benefits provided.

12         (5)  The amount and level, including payment of part or

13  all of any premium, of assistance provided.

14         (6)  The average length of coverage of a child under

15  the program.

16         (7)  The program's choice of health benefits coverage

17  and other methods used for providing child health assistance.

18         (8)  The sources of nonfederal funding used in the

19  program.

20         (9)  An assessment of the effectiveness of Medikids,

21  Children's Medical Services network, and other public and

22  private programs in the state in increasing the availability

23  of affordable quality health insurance and health care for

24  children.

25         (10)  A review and assessment of state activities to

26  coordinate the program with other public and private programs.

27         (11)  An analysis of changes and trends in the state

28  that affect the provision of health insurance and health care

29  to children.

30         (12)  A description of any plans the state has for

31  improving the availability of health insurance and health care

                                  10

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  for children.

  2         (13)  Recommendations for improving the program.

  3         (14)  Other studies as necessary.

  4

  5  The agency shall also submit each month to the Governor, the

  6  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

  7  Representatives a report of enrollment for each program

  8  component of the Florida Kidcare program.

  9         Section 7.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

10  409.818, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         409.818  Administration.--In order to implement ss.

12  409.810-409.820, the following agencies shall have the

13  following duties:

14         (1)  The Department of Children and Family Services

15  shall:

16         (b)  Establish and maintain the eligibility

17  determination process under the program except as specified in

18  subsection (5). The department shall directly, or through the

19  services of a contracted third-party administrator, establish

20  and maintain a process for determining eligibility of children

21  for coverage under the program. The eligibility determination

22  process must be used solely for determining eligibility of

23  applicants for health benefits coverage under the program. The

24  eligibility determination process must include an initial

25  determination of eligibility for any coverage offered under

26  the program, as well as a redetermination or reverification of

27  eligibility each subsequent 6 months. Effective January 1,

28  1999, a child who has not attained the age of 5 and who has

29  been determined eligible for the Medicaid program is eligible

30  for coverage for 12 months without a redetermination or

31  reverification of eligibility. In conducting an eligibility

                                  11

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  determination, the department shall determine if the child has

  2  special health care needs. The department, in consultation

  3  with the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida

  4  Healthy Kids Corporation, shall develop procedures for

  5  redetermining eligibility which enable a family to easily

  6  update any change in circumstances which could affect

  7  eligibility. The department may accept changes in a family's

  8  status as reported to the department by the Florida Healthy

  9  Kids Corporation without requiring a new application from the

10  family. Redetermination of a child's eligibility for Medicaid

11  may not be linked to a child's eligibility determination for

12  other programs.

13         Section 8.  Subsections (6) and (7) of section 409.903,

14  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         409.903  Mandatory payments for eligible persons.--The

16  agency shall make payments for medical assistance and related

17  services on behalf of the following persons who the agency

18  determines to be eligible, subject to the income, assets, and

19  categorical eligibility tests set forth in federal and state

20  law.  Payment on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is

21  subject to the availability of moneys and any limitations

22  established by the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

23         (6)  A child born after September 30, 1983, living in a

24  family that has an income which is at or below 100 percent of

25  the current federal poverty level, who has attained the age of

26  6, but has not attained the age of 19.  In determining the

27  eligibility of such a child, an assets test is not required. A

28  child who is eligible for Medicaid under this subsection must

29  be offered the opportunity, subject to federal rules, to be

30  made presumptively eligible. A child who has been deemed

31  presumptively eligible for Medicaid shall not be enrolled in a

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  managed care plan until the child's full eligibility

  2  determination for Medicaid has been completed.

  3         (7)  A child living in a family that has an income

  4  which is at or below 133 percent of the current federal

  5  poverty level, who has attained the age of 1, but has not

  6  attained the age of 6.  In determining the eligibility of such

  7  a child, an assets test is not required. A child who is

  8  eligible for Medicaid under this subsection must be offered

  9  the opportunity, subject to federal rules, to be made

10  presumptively eligible. A child who has been deemed

11  presumptively eligible for Medicaid shall not be enrolled in a

12  managed care plan until the child's full eligibility

13  determination for Medicaid has been completed.

14         Section 9.  Subsection (6) of section 409.904, Florida

15  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to said

16  section, to read:

17         409.904  Optional payments for eligible persons.--The

18  agency may make payments for medical assistance and related

19  services on behalf of the following persons who are determined

20  to be eligible subject to the income, assets, and categorical

21  eligibility tests set forth in federal and state law.  Payment

22  on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is subject to the

23  availability of moneys and any limitations established by the

24  General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

25         (6)  A child born before October 1, 1983, living in a

26  family that has an income which is at or below 100 percent of

27  the current federal poverty level, who has attained the age of

28  6, but has not attained the age of 19, and who would be

29  eligible in s. 409.903(6), if the child had been born on or

30  after such date.  In determining the eligibility of such a

31  child, an assets test is not required. A child who is eligible

                                  13

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  for Medicaid under this subsection must be offered the

  2  opportunity, subject to federal rules, to be made

  3  presumptively eligible. A child who has been deemed

  4  presumptively eligible for Medicaid shall not be enrolled in a

  5  managed care plan until the child's full eligibility

  6  determination for Medicaid has been completed.

  7         (8)  A child under 1 year of age who lives in a family

  8  that has an income above 185 percent of the most recently

  9  published federal poverty level, but which is at or below 200

10  percent of such poverty level. In determining the eligibility

11  of such child, an assets test is not required. A child who is

12  eligible for Medicaid under this subsection must be offered

13  the opportunity, subject to federal rules, to be made

14  presumptively eligible.

15         Section 10.  Subsection (3) of section 391.025, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         391.025  Applicability and scope.--

18         (3)  The Children's Medical Services program shall not

19  be deemed an insurer and is not subject to the licensing

20  requirements of the Florida Insurance Code or the rules of the

21  Department of Insurance, when providing services to children

22  who receive Medicaid benefits, other Medicaid-eligible

23  children with special health care needs, and children

24  participating in the Florida Kidcare program.  This exemption

25  shall not extend to contractors.

26         Section 11.  The provisions of this act which would

27  require changes to contracts in existence as of June 30, 2000,

28  between the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation and contracted

29  providers of such corporation shall be applied to such

30  contracts upon renewal of the contracts, but not later than

31  July 1, 2002.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         Section 12.  The Division of State Group Insurance of

  2  the Department of Management Services and the Florida Healthy

  3  Kids Corporation shall study the feasibility of providing a

  4  subsidy comparable to the subsidy available through the

  5  Florida Healthy Kids Corporation for health insurance coverage

  6  through the state employee health insurance program for

  7  children of state employees who meet the eligibility

  8  requirements for the Florida Healthy Kids program. The

  9  Division of State Group Insurance and the Florida Healthy Kids

10  Corporation shall submit a report by January 1, 2001, to the

11  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

12  House of Representatives with their recommendations as to

13  whether such a subsidy should be provided through the state

14  employee health insurance program and how a subsidy could be

15  administered.

16         Section 13.  Subsection (9) of section 402.27, Florida

17  Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (10), and a new

18  subsection (9) is added to said section to read:

19         402.27  Child care and early childhood resource and

20  referral.--The Department of Children and Family Services

21  shall establish a statewide child care resource and referral

22  network. Preference shall be given to using the already

23  established central agencies for subsidized child care as the

24  child care resource and referral agency.  If the agency cannot

25  comply with the requirements to offer the resource information

26  component or does not want to offer that service, the

27  Department of Children and Family Services shall select the

28  resource information agency based upon a request for proposal.

29  At least one child care resource and referral agency must be

30  established in each district of the department, but no more

31  than one may be established in any county.  Child care

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  resource and referral agencies shall provide the following

  2  services:

  3         (9)  Assistance to families in identifying summer

  4  recreation camp and summer day camp programs and in evaluating

  5  the health and safety qualities of summer recreation camp and

  6  summer day camp programs and in evaluating the health and

  7  safety qualities of summer camp programs. Contingent upon

  8  specific appropriation, a checklist of important health and

  9  safety qualities that parents can use to choose their summer

10  camp programs shall be developed and distributed in a manner

11  that will reach parents interested in such programs for their

12  children.

13         Section 14.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

14  402.3015, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (10) is

15  added to said section, to read:

16         402.3015  Subsidized child care program; purpose; fees;

17  contracts.--

18         (1)  The purpose of the subsidized child care program

19  is to provide quality child care to enhance the development,

20  including language, cognitive, motor, social, and self-help

21  skills of children who are at risk of abuse or neglect and

22  children of low-income families, and to promote financial

23  self-sufficiency and life skills for the families of these

24  children, unless prohibited by federal law. Priority for

25  participation in the subsidized child care program shall be

26  accorded to children under 13 years of age who are:

27         (c)  Children of working families whose family income

28  is equal to or greater than 100 percent, but does not exceed

29  150 percent, of the federal poverty level. The department may

30  extend eligibility to children of working families who are

31  currently in subsidized child care and whose family income

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and

  2         (10)  A family that is eligible to participate in the

  3  subsidized child care program shall be considered a needy

  4  family for purposes of the program funded through the federal

  5  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, to

  6  the extent permitted by appropriation of funds.

  7         Section 15.  Section 402.3017, Florida Statutes, is

  8  created to read:

  9         402.3017  Teacher Education and Compensation Helps

10  (TEACH) scholarship program.--

11         (1)  The Legislature finds that the level of early

12  child care teacher education and training is a key predictor

13  for determining program quality.  The Legislature also finds

14  that low wages for child care workers prevent many from

15  obtaining increased training and education and contribute to

16  high turnover rates.  The Legislature therefore intends to

17  help fund a program which links teacher training and education

18  to compensation and commitment to the field of early childhood

19  education.

20         (2)  The Department of Children and Family Services is

21  authorized to contract for the administration of the Teacher

22  Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship program,

23  which provides educational scholarships to caregivers and

24  administrators of early childhood programs, family day care

25  homes, and large family child care homes.

26         (3)  The department shall adopt rules as necessary to

27  implement this section.

28         Section 16.  Subsection (8) of section 402.302, Florida

29  Statutes, is amended to read:

30         402.302  Definitions.--

31         (8)  "Large family child care home" means an occupied

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  residence in which child care is regularly provided for

  2  children from at least two unrelated families, which receives

  3  a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving

  4  care, whether or not operated for profit, and which has at

  5  least two full-time child care personnel on the premises

  6  during the hours of operation. One of the two full-time child

  7  care personnel must be the owner or occupant of the residence.

  8  A large family child care home must first have operated as a

  9  licensed family day care home for 2 years, with an operator

10  who has had a child development associate credential or its

11  equivalent for 1 year, before seeking licensure as a large

12  family child care home. A large family child care home shall

13  be allowed to provide care for one of the following groups of

14  children, which shall include those children under 13 12 years

15  of age who are related to the caregiver:

16         (a)  A maximum of 8 children from birth to 24 months of

17  age.

18         (b)  A maximum of 12 children, with no more than 4

19  children under 24 months of age.

20         Section 17.  Section 402.3028, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         402.3028  Referral for assessment.--The Department of

23  Children and Family Services, Department of Health, and

24  Department of Education shall implement the following

25  procedures for making referrals for Level III assessment

26  pursuant to s. 402.3027:

27         (1)  Children under 3 years of age who are in the

28  subsidized child care program and are identified as needing a

29  Level III developmental assessment pursuant to s. 402.3027

30  shall be referred to the Early Intervention for Infants and

31  Toddlers with Disabilities Program of the Department of

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Health, funded under the federal Individuals with Disabilities

  2  Education Act, Pub. L. No. 105-17, Part C. Assessments shall

  3  be completed within 45 days after the referral. If the Early

  4  Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

  5  Program is not available, referral may be made to a local

  6  community service provider.

  7         (2)  Children age 3 years through 5 years who are in

  8  the subsidized child care program and are identified as

  9  needing a Level III developmental assessment pursuant to s.

10  402.3027 shall be referred to the appropriate program under

11  the local school district or appropriate local service

12  provider. It is the intent of the Legislature that these

13  assessments be completed within 45 days because of the

14  critical nature of child development at this age.

15         (3)  Services to children with disabilities under this

16  section shall be integrated and delivered with child care

17  programs to the extent possible.

18         (4)  Nothing in this section prohibits a subsidized

19  child care program from referring a child to Medicaid or the

20  Florida KidCare program to determine eligibility for services,

21  or from making a referral to a child's primary health care

22  provider.

23         Section 18.  Section 402.3054, Florida Statutes, is

24  created to read:

25         402.3054  Child enrichment service providers.--

26         (1)  For the purposes of this section, "child

27  enrichment service provider" means an individual who provides

28  enrichment activities, such as language training, music

29  instruction, educational instruction, and other experiences,

30  to specific children during a specific time that is not part

31  of the regular program in a child care facility.

                                  19

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (2)  The child's parent shall provide written consent

  2  before a child may participate in activities conducted by a

  3  child enrichment service provider that are not part of the

  4  regular program of the child care facility.  A child

  5  enrichment service provider receives compensation from the

  6  child's parent or from the child care facility and shall not

  7  be considered a volunteer or child care personnel.

  8         (3)  A child enrichment service provider shall be of

  9  good moral character based upon screening. This screening

10  shall be conducted as provided in chapter 435, using the level

11  2 standards for screening set forth in that chapter.  A child

12  enrichment service provider must meet the screening

13  requirements prior to providing services to a child in a child

14  care facility.  A child enrichment service provider who has

15  met the screening standards shall not be required to be under

16  the direct and constant supervision of child care personnel.

17         Section 19.  Subsection (10) of section 402.305,

18  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         402.305  Licensing standards; child care facilities.--

20         (10)  TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.--Minimum standards shall

21  include requirements for child restraints or seat belts in

22  vehicles used by child care facilities and large-family child

23  care homes to transport children, requirements for annual

24  inspections of the vehicles, and limitations on the number of

25  children in the vehicles, and accountability for children

26  being transported.

27         Section 20.  Subsection (3) of section 409.178, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         409.178  Child Care Executive Partnership Act; findings

30  and intent; grant; limitation; rules.--

31         (3)  There is created a body politic and corporate

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  known as the Child Care Executive Partnership which shall

  2  establish and govern the Child Care Executive Partnership

  3  Program. The purpose of the Child Care Executive Partnership

  4  Program is to utilize state and federal funds as incentives

  5  for matching local funds derived from local governments,

  6  employers, charitable foundations, and other sources, so that

  7  Florida communities may create local flexible partnerships

  8  with employers. The Child Care Executive Partnership Program

  9  funds shall be used at the discretion of local communities to

10  meet the needs of working parents. A child care purchasing

11  pool shall be developed with the state, federal, and local

12  funds to provide subsidies to low-income working parents who

13  are eligible for subsidized child care with a

14  dollar-for-dollar match from employers, local government, and

15  other matching contributions. The funds used from the child

16  care purchasing pool must be used to supplement or extend the

17  use of existing public or private funds and may not be used to

18  supplant the maintenance of effort presently exerted by the

19  employer or other participant in the activity funded.

20         Section 21.  Contingent upon specific appropriation,

21  the statewide child care resource and referral network,

22  pursuant to s. 402.27, Florida Statutes, shall convene a

23  workgroup for the purpose of developing recommendations for

24  improving the health and safety qualities of summer camp

25  programs without over-regulation. One component of the

26  workgroup's deliberation shall include examining the

27  feasibility of requiring summer camp programs to register with

28  the Department of Children and Family Services, to provide

29  annual program information to the statewide child care

30  resource and referral networks, or to publish their health and

31  safety plans. The workgroup shall include representatives from

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  summer camp program related associations, the Department of

  2  Children and Family Services, parents, and any other

  3  interested individuals or organizations identified by the

  4  statewide child care resource and referral network. All

  5  participants in this process shall attend the meetings at

  6  their own expense. A report of the recommendations shall be

  7  submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

  8  the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1,

  9  2001.

10         Section 22.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

11

12

13  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

14  And the title is amended as follows:

15         On page 1, line 2, through page 2, line 20,

16  remove from the title of the bill:  all of said lines

17

18  and insert in lieu thereof:

19         An act relating to health care assistance for

20         children; amending s. 216.136, F.S.; requiring

21         the Social Services Estimating Conference to

22         develop certain information relating to the

23         Florida Kidcare program; amending s. 409.8132,

24         F.S.; deleting an inappropriate cross

25         reference; revising eligibility requirements

26         for the Medikids program component of the

27         Florida Kidcare program; authorizing a

28         mandatory assignment process under specified

29         circumstances; deleting obsolete language;

30         revising enrollment procedures; amending s.

31         409.8134, F.S.; requiring agencies that

                                  22

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         administer Florida Kidcare components to

  2         collect certain information and report to the

  3         Social Services Estimating Conference; amending

  4         s. 409.814, F.S.; providing for

  5         Medicaid-presumptive eligibility; providing for

  6         expedited enrollment; requiring applicant

  7         notice of changes in eligibility; requiring

  8         certain actions relating to such transition;

  9         amending s. 409.815, F.S.; providing for dental

10         benefits under the Florida Kidcare program,

11         subject to a specific appropriation; amending

12         s. 409.8177, F.S.; clarifying annual report

13         requirements; requiring the Agency for Health

14         Care Administration to submit additional

15         monthly reports to the Governor and

16         Legislature; amending s. 409.818, F.S.;

17         providing for a more simple eligibility

18         redetermination process; amending s. 409.903,

19         F.S.; providing for presumptive eligibility for

20         children eligible for Medicaid; amending s.

21         409.904, F.S.; revising the eligibility

22         requirements for optional payments for medical

23         assistance and related services for certain

24         children; providing for presumptive

25         eligibility; amending s. 391.025, F.S.;

26         deleting a contractor exclusion from an

27         exemption for the Children's Medical Services

28         program from certain licensing requirements of

29         the Insurance Code and the Department of

30         Insurance; providing for application to

31         existing contracts of the Florida Healthy Kids

                                  23

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         Corporation; requiring the Division of State

  2         Group Insurance of the Department of Management

  3         Services and the Florida Healthy Kids

  4         Corporation to study the feasibility of

  5         subsidizing health insurance coverage for

  6         children of certain state employees; specifying

  7         a study report due date; amending s. 402.27,

  8         F.S.; providing for assistance to families in

  9         evaluating summer recreation and day camp

10         programs; amending s. 402.3015, F.S.;

11         authorizing the Department of Children and

12         Family Services to increase family income

13         limits for certain eligibility for subsidized

14         child care; providing that an eligible family

15         shall be considered a needy family for federal

16         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

17         funding, subject to appropriations; creating s.

18         402.3017, F.S.; establishing the Teacher

19         Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH)

20         scholarship program; authorizing the department

21         to contract for administration of the program

22         and to adopt rules; amending s. 402.302, F.S.;

23         revising the definition of "large family child

24         care home" to include certain children related

25         to the caregiver; creating s. 402.3028, F.S.;

26         providing procedures for referrals for

27         developmental assessment of children in

28         subsidized child care programs; creating s.

29         402.3054, F.S.; defining "child enrichment

30         service provider"; specifying requirements

31         relating to parental consent, compensation, and

                                  24

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                  Bill No. CS for SB 212, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         background screening for such providers

  2         providing services in a child care facility;

  3         amending s. 402.305, F.S.; revising provisions

  4         of child care facilities' licensing standards

  5         relating to transportation safety; amending s.

  6         409.178, F.S.; removing a restriction on the

  7         use of child care purchasing pool funds, under

  8         the Child Care Executive Partnership Act;

  9         requiring a workgroup, and report therefrom, on

10         health and safety in summer camp programs,

11         contingent on specific appropriation; providing

12         an effective date.

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

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