Senate Bill 0730

    Florida Senate - 2000                                   SB 730

    By Senator Cowin





    11-631-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to foster care and related

  3         services; providing legislative intent;

  4         providing an effective date.

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  6         WHEREAS, the Legislature has directed that foster care

  7  and related services be privatized through contracts with

  8  community-based providers, and

  9         WHEREAS, the transition to a statewide system of

10  community-based foster care and related services is already

11  underway in several locations around the state, and

12         WHEREAS, this transition is complicated by a

13  significant and unprecedented increase in the number of

14  children entering out-of-home care, and

15         WHEREAS, there is a need to strengthen the level of

16  confidence that communities have in the state's involvement in

17  the emerging privatized community-based system, and

18         WHEREAS, foster parents are critical in meeting the

19  needs of abused children, regardless of whether foster care

20  and related services are provided by the public or private

21  sector, and yet find themselves increasingly frustrated in

22  their ability to serve effectively as foster parents, NOW,

23  THEREFORE,

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25  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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27         Section 1.  The Legislature intends to provide

28  direction to providers of foster care and related services

29  which will enhance the ability of foster parents to

30  effectively carry out their responsibilities in meeting the

31  needs of the children in their care. In addition, the

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






    Florida Senate - 2000                                   SB 730
    11-631-00




  1  Legislature intends to further clarify the role of state

  2  government in the increasingly community-based system of

  3  foster care and related services.

  4         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  5  law.

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  8                          SENATE SUMMARY

  9    Provides legislative intent relating to foster care and
      related services.
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