Senate Bill sb2210

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210

    By Senator Lynn





    7-591-03                                                See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to substance abuse treatment

  3         and intervention; amending s. 39.001, F.S.;

  4         providing additional legislative findings and

  5         purposes with respect to the treatment of

  6         substance abuse; amending ss. 39.402 and

  7         39.407, F.S.; authorizing the court to order

  8         specified persons to submit to a substance

  9         abuse assessment upon a showing of good cause

10         in connection with a shelter hearing or

11         petition for dependency; authorizing sanctions

12         for noncompliance; amending ss. 39.507 and

13         39.521, F.S.; authorizing the court to order

14         specified persons to submit to a substance

15         abuse assessment as part of an adjudicatory

16         order or pursuant to a disposition hearing;

17         requiring a showing of good cause; authorizing

18         the court to require participation in a

19         treatment-based drug court program; authorizing

20         the court to impose sanctions for

21         noncompliance; amending s. 39.701, F.S.;

22         authorizing the court to extend the time for

23         completing a case plan during judicial review,

24         based upon participation in a treatment-based

25         drug court program; amending s. 397.334, F.S.;

26         revising legislative intent with respect to

27         treatment-based drug court programs to reflect

28         participation by community support agencies,

29         the Department of Education, and other

30         individuals; including post adjudicatory

31         programs as part of treatment-based drug court

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         programs; requiring each judicial circuit to

 2         establish a position for a coordinator of the

 3         treatment-based drug court program; requiring

 4         the chief judge of each judicial circuit to

 5         appoint an advisory committee for the

 6         treatment-based drug court program; providing

 7         for membership of the committee; revising

 8         language with respect to an annual report;

 9         amending s. 910.035, F.S.; revising language

10         with respect to conditions for the transfer of

11         a case in the drug court treatment program to a

12         county other than that in which the charge

13         arose; amending s. 948.08, F.S.; revising

14         eligibility requirements for participation in

15         pretrial intervention programs; authorizing the

16         court to refer certain defendants who are

17         assessed with a substance abuse problem to a

18         pretrial intervention program with the approval

19         of the state attorney; deleting provisions

20         authorizing advisory committees for the

21         district pretrial intervention programs;

22         amending s. 985.306, F.S.; revising eligibility

23         requirements for participation in delinquency

24         pretrial intervention programs; authorizing the

25         court to refer certain juveniles who are

26         assessed as having a substance abuse problem to

27         a substance abuse education and treatment

28         intervention program; deleting provisions

29         authorizing advisory committees for the

30         district delinquency pretrial intervention

31         program; providing an effective date.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




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

 2  

 3         Section 1.  Subsection (4) of section 39.001, Florida

 4  Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         39.001  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and

 6  screening.--

 7         (4)  SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.--

 8         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that substance abuse is

 9  a primary cause of the dramatic rise in cases of child abuse

10  and neglect, immeasurably increases the complexity of cases in

11  the dependency system, severely compromises or destroys the

12  ability of parents to provide a safe and nurturing home for

13  children, and severely confounds the dependency system's

14  ability to protect children. The Legislature also recognizes

15  that early referral and comprehensive treatment can help

16  combat substance abuse in families and that treatment is

17  cost-effective. The Legislature further recognizes that

18  treatment-based drug court program models that integrate

19  judicial supervision, treatment, accountability, sanctions,

20  and community support greatly increase the effectiveness of

21  substance abuse treatment and reduce the number of cases of

22  child abuse and neglect.

23         (b)  The substance abuse treatment and family safety

24  programs of the Department of Children and Family Services

25  have identified the following goals for this state:

26         1.  Ensure the safety of children.

27         2.  Prevent and remediate the consequences of substance

28  abuse on families involved in protective supervision or foster

29  care and reduce substance abuse, including alcohol abuse, for

30  families who are at risk of being involved in protective

31  supervision or foster care.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         3.  Expedite permanency for children and reunify

 2  healthy, intact families, when appropriate.

 3         4.  Support families in recovery.

 4         (c)  The Legislature finds that children in the care of

 5  the state's dependency system need appropriate health care

 6  services, that the impact of substance abuse on health

 7  indicates the need for health care services to include

 8  substance abuse services to children and parents where

 9  appropriate, and that it is in the state's best interest that

10  such children be provided the services they need to enable

11  them to become and remain independent of state care.  In order

12  to provide these services, the state's dependency system must

13  have the ability to identify and provide appropriate

14  intervention and treatment for children with personal or

15  family-related substance abuse problems.

16         (d)  Parents and children should be assessed early and

17  continually in the process, but not later than the conference

18  date of the case planning process, to identify substance abuse

19  problems and appropriately address the severity of the

20  substance abuse problem. Participation in treatment, including

21  a treatment-based drug court program, may be required by the

22  court following adjudication. This subsection does not prevent

23  a child's parent, and, when appropriate, the legal custodian,

24  from voluntarily entering treatment, including a

25  treatment-based drug court program, at the earliest stage of

26  the process.

27         (e)  It is therefore the purpose of the Legislature to

28  provide authority for the state to contract with community

29  substance abuse treatment providers for the development and

30  operation of specialized support and overlay services for the

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  dependency system, which will be fully implemented and used

 2  utilized as resources permit.

 3         (f)  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

 4  the Department of Children and Family Services, in conjunction

 5  with community agencies; treatment-based facilities;

 6  facilities dedicated to child welfare, child development, and

 7  mental health services; the Department of Health; other

 8  similar agencies; local governments; law enforcement agencies;

 9  and other interested public or private sources to support the

10  drug court program model. Participation in the treatment-based

11  drug court program does not divest any public or private

12  agency of its responsibility for a child or adult, but enables

13  these agencies to better meet their needs through shared

14  responsibility and resources.

15         Section 2.  Present subsections (11) through (16) of

16  section 39.402, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as

17  subsections (12) through (17), respectively, and a new

18  subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:

19         39.402  Placement in a shelter.--

20         (11)  At the shelter hearing, if the mental or physical

21  condition of a child or the child's parent, caregiver, legal

22  custodian, or other person requesting custody of the child is

23  in controversy, the court may order the person to submit to a

24  substance abuse assessment or evaluation. The assessment or

25  evaluation must be administered by a qualified professional,

26  as defined in s. 397.311. The order may be made only upon good

27  cause shown and pursuant to the notice and procedures set

28  forth in the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.

29         Section 3.  Section 39.407, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         39.407  Medical, psychiatric, and psychological

 2  examination and treatment of child; physical, or mental, or

 3  substance abuse examination of parent or person requesting

 4  custody of child.--

 5         (1)  When any child is removed from the home and

 6  maintained in an out-of-home placement, the department is

 7  authorized to have a medical screening performed on the child

 8  without authorization from the court and without consent from

 9  a parent or legal custodian. Such medical screening shall be

10  performed by a licensed health care professional and shall be

11  to examine the child for injury, illness, and communicable

12  diseases and to determine the need for immunization. The

13  department shall by rule establish the invasiveness of the

14  medical procedures authorized to be performed under this

15  subsection. In no case does this subsection authorize the

16  department to consent to medical treatment for such children.

17         (2)  When the department has performed the medical

18  screening authorized by subsection (1), or when it is

19  otherwise determined by a licensed health care professional

20  that a child who is in an out-of-home placement, but who has

21  not been committed to the department, is in need of medical

22  treatment, including the need for immunization, consent for

23  medical treatment shall be obtained in the following manner:

24         (a)1.  Consent to medical treatment shall be obtained

25  from a parent or legal custodian of the child; or

26         2.  A court order for such treatment shall be obtained.

27         (b)  If a parent or legal custodian of the child is

28  unavailable and his or her whereabouts cannot be reasonably

29  ascertained, and it is after normal working hours so that a

30  court order cannot reasonably be obtained, an authorized agent

31  of the department shall have the authority to consent to

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  necessary medical treatment, including immunization, for the

 2  child. The authority of the department to consent to medical

 3  treatment in this circumstance shall be limited to the time

 4  reasonably necessary to obtain court authorization.

 5         (c)  If a parent or legal custodian of the child is

 6  available but refuses to consent to the necessary treatment,

 7  including immunization, a court order shall be required unless

 8  the situation meets the definition of an emergency in s.

 9  743.064 or the treatment needed is related to suspected abuse,

10  abandonment, or neglect of the child by a parent, caregiver,

11  or legal custodian. In such case, the department shall have

12  the authority to consent to necessary medical treatment. This

13  authority is limited to the time reasonably necessary to

14  obtain court authorization.

15  

16  In no case shall the department consent to sterilization,

17  abortion, or termination of life support.

18         (3)(a)  A judge may order a child in an out-of-home

19  placement to be examined by a licensed health care

20  professional.

21         (b)  The judge may also order such child to be

22  evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist or, if a

23  developmental disability is suspected or alleged, by the

24  developmental disability diagnostic and evaluation team of the

25  department. If it is necessary to place a child in a

26  residential facility for such evaluation, the criteria and

27  procedure established in s. 394.463(2) or chapter 393 shall be

28  used, whichever is applicable.

29         (c)  The judge may also order such child to be

30  evaluated by a district school board educational needs

31  assessment team. The educational needs assessment provided by

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  the district school board educational needs assessment team

 2  shall include, but not be limited to, reports of intelligence

 3  and achievement tests, screening for learning disabilities and

 4  other handicaps, and screening for the need for alternative

 5  education as defined in s. 1001.42.

 6         (4)  A judge may order a child in an out-of-home

 7  placement to be treated by a licensed health care professional

 8  based on evidence that the child should receive treatment. The

 9  judge may also order such child to receive mental health or

10  developmental disabilities services from a psychiatrist,

11  psychologist, or other appropriate service provider. Except as

12  provided in subsection (5), if it is necessary to place the

13  child in a residential facility for such services, the

14  procedures and criteria established in s. 394.467 or chapter

15  393 shall be used, whichever is applicable. A child may be

16  provided developmental disabilities or mental health services

17  in emergency situations, pursuant to the procedures and

18  criteria contained in s. 394.463(1) or chapter 393, whichever

19  is applicable.

20         (5)  Children who are in the legal custody of the

21  department may be placed by the department, without prior

22  approval of the court, in a residential treatment center

23  licensed under s. 394.875 or a hospital licensed under chapter

24  395 for residential mental health treatment only pursuant to

25  this section or may be placed by the court in accordance with

26  an order of involuntary examination or involuntary placement

27  entered pursuant to s. 394.463 or s. 394.467. All children

28  placed in a residential treatment program under this

29  subsection must have a guardian ad litem appointed.

30         (a)  As used in this subsection, the term:

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         1.  "Residential treatment" means placement for

 2  observation, diagnosis, or treatment of an emotional

 3  disturbance in a residential treatment center licensed under

 4  s. 394.875 or a hospital licensed under chapter 395.

 5         2.  "Least restrictive alternative" means the treatment

 6  and conditions of treatment that, separately and in

 7  combination, are no more intrusive or restrictive of freedom

 8  than reasonably necessary to achieve a substantial therapeutic

 9  benefit or to protect the child or adolescent or others from

10  physical injury.

11         3.  "Suitable for residential treatment" or

12  "suitability" means a determination concerning a child or

13  adolescent with an emotional disturbance as defined in s.

14  394.492(5) or a serious emotional disturbance as defined in s.

15  394.492(6) that each of the following criteria is met:

16         a.  The child requires residential treatment.

17         b.  The child is in need of a residential treatment

18  program and is expected to benefit from mental health

19  treatment.

20         c.  An appropriate, less restrictive alternative to

21  residential treatment is unavailable.

22         (b)  Whenever the department believes that a child in

23  its legal custody is emotionally disturbed and may need

24  residential treatment, an examination and suitability

25  assessment must be conducted by a qualified evaluator who is

26  appointed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. This

27  suitability assessment must be completed before the placement

28  of the child in a residential treatment center for emotionally

29  disturbed children and adolescents or a hospital. The

30  qualified evaluator must be a psychiatrist or a psychologist

31  licensed in Florida who has at least 3 years of experience in

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  the diagnosis and treatment of serious emotional disturbances

 2  in children and adolescents and who has no actual or perceived

 3  conflict of interest with any inpatient facility or

 4  residential treatment center or program.

 5         (c)  Before a child is admitted under this subsection,

 6  the child shall be assessed for suitability for residential

 7  treatment by a qualified evaluator who has conducted a

 8  personal examination and assessment of the child and has made

 9  written findings that:

10         1.  The child appears to have an emotional disturbance

11  serious enough to require residential treatment and is

12  reasonably likely to benefit from the treatment.

13         2.  The child has been provided with a clinically

14  appropriate explanation of the nature and purpose of the

15  treatment.

16         3.  All available modalities of treatment less

17  restrictive than residential treatment have been considered,

18  and a less restrictive alternative that would offer comparable

19  benefits to the child is unavailable.

20  

21  A copy of the written findings of the evaluation and

22  suitability assessment must be provided to the department and

23  to the guardian ad litem, who shall have the opportunity to

24  discuss the findings with the evaluator.

25         (d)  Immediately upon placing a child in a residential

26  treatment program under this section, the department must

27  notify the guardian ad litem and the court having jurisdiction

28  over the child and must provide the guardian ad litem and the

29  court with a copy of the assessment by the qualified

30  evaluator.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         (e)  Within 10 days after the admission of a child to a

 2  residential treatment program, the director of the residential

 3  treatment program or the director's designee must ensure that

 4  an individualized plan of treatment has been prepared by the

 5  program and has been explained to the child, to the

 6  department, and to the guardian ad litem, and submitted to the

 7  department. The child must be involved in the preparation of

 8  the plan to the maximum feasible extent consistent with his or

 9  her ability to understand and participate, and the guardian ad

10  litem and the child's foster parents must be involved to the

11  maximum extent consistent with the child's treatment needs.

12  The plan must include a preliminary plan for residential

13  treatment and aftercare upon completion of residential

14  treatment. The plan must include specific behavioral and

15  emotional goals against which the success of the residential

16  treatment may be measured. A copy of the plan must be provided

17  to the child, to the guardian ad litem, and to the department.

18         (f)  Within 30 days after admission, the residential

19  treatment program must review the appropriateness and

20  suitability of the child's placement in the program. The

21  residential treatment program must determine whether the child

22  is receiving benefit toward the treatment goals and whether

23  the child could be treated in a less restrictive treatment

24  program. The residential treatment program shall prepare a

25  written report of its findings and submit the report to the

26  guardian ad litem and to the department. The department must

27  submit the report to the court. The report must include a

28  discharge plan for the child. The residential treatment

29  program must continue to evaluate the child's treatment

30  progress every 30 days thereafter and must include its

31  findings in a written report submitted to the department. The

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  department may not reimburse a facility until the facility has

 2  submitted every written report that is due.

 3         (g)1.  The department must submit, at the beginning of

 4  each month, to the court having jurisdiction over the child, a

 5  written report regarding the child's progress toward achieving

 6  the goals specified in the individualized plan of treatment.

 7         2.  The court must conduct a hearing to review the

 8  status of the child's residential treatment plan no later than

 9  3 months after the child's admission to the residential

10  treatment program. An independent review of the child's

11  progress toward achieving the goals and objectives of the

12  treatment plan must be completed by a qualified evaluator and

13  submitted to the court before its 3-month review.

14         3.  For any child in residential treatment at the time

15  a judicial review is held pursuant to s. 39.701, the child's

16  continued placement in residential treatment must be a subject

17  of the judicial review.

18         4.  If at any time the court determines that the child

19  is not suitable for continued residential treatment, the court

20  shall order the department to place the child in the least

21  restrictive setting that is best suited to meet his or her

22  needs.

23         (h)  After the initial 3-month review, the court must

24  conduct a review of the child's residential treatment plan

25  every 90 days.

26         (i)  The department must adopt rules for implementing

27  timeframes for the completion of suitability assessments by

28  qualified evaluators and a procedure that includes timeframes

29  for completing the 3-month independent review by the qualified

30  evaluators of the child's progress toward achieving the goals

31  and objectives of the treatment plan which review must be

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  submitted to the court. The Agency for Health Care

 2  Administration must adopt rules for the registration of

 3  qualified evaluators, the procedure for selecting the

 4  evaluators to conduct the reviews required under this section,

 5  and a reasonable, cost-efficient fee schedule for qualified

 6  evaluators.

 7         (6)  When a child is in an out-of-home placement, a

 8  licensed health care professional shall be immediately called

 9  if there are indications of physical injury or illness, or the

10  child shall be taken to the nearest available hospital for

11  emergency care.

12         (7)  Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in

13  this section shall be deemed to eliminate the right of a

14  parent, legal custodian, or the child to consent to

15  examination or treatment for the child.

16         (8)  Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in

17  this section shall be deemed to alter the provisions of s.

18  743.064.

19         (9)  A court shall not be precluded from ordering

20  services or treatment to be provided to the child by a duly

21  accredited practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means

22  for healing in accordance with the tenets and practices of a

23  church or religious organization, when required by the child's

24  health and when requested by the child.

25         (10)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to

26  authorize the permanent sterilization of the child unless such

27  sterilization is the result of or incidental to medically

28  necessary treatment to protect or preserve the life of the

29  child.

30         (11)  For the purpose of obtaining an evaluation or

31  examination, or receiving treatment as authorized pursuant to

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  this section, no child alleged to be or found to be dependent

 2  shall be placed in a detention home or other program used

 3  primarily for the care and custody of children alleged or

 4  found to have committed delinquent acts.

 5         (12)  The parents or legal custodian of a child in an

 6  out-of-home placement remain financially responsible for the

 7  cost of medical treatment provided to the child even if either

 8  one or both of the parents or if the legal custodian did not

 9  consent to the medical treatment. After a hearing, the court

10  may order the parents or legal custodian, if found able to do

11  so, to reimburse the department or other provider of medical

12  services for treatment provided.

13         (13)  Nothing in this section alters the authority of

14  the department to consent to medical treatment for a dependent

15  child when the child has been committed to the department and

16  the department has become the legal custodian of the child.

17         (14)  At any time after the filing of a shelter

18  petition or petition for dependency, when the mental or

19  physical condition, including the blood group, of a parent,

20  caregiver, legal custodian, or other person requesting custody

21  of a child is in controversy, the court may order the person

22  to submit to a physical or mental examination by a qualified

23  professional. The order may be made only upon good cause shown

24  and pursuant to notice and procedures as set forth by the

25  Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.

26         (15)  At any time after a shelter petition or petition

27  for dependency is filed, if the mental or physical condition

28  of a child or the child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian,

29  or other person requesting custody of the child is in

30  controversy, the court, if it has not already done so, may

31  order the person to submit to a substance abuse assessment and

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  evaluation. The assessment or evaluation must be administered

 2  by a qualified professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The

 3  order may be made only upon good cause shown and pursuant to

 4  the notice and procedures set forth in the Florida Rules of

 5  Juvenile Procedure.

 6         Section 4.  Subsection (9) is added to section 39.507,

 7  Florida Statutes, to read:

 8         39.507  Adjudicatory hearings; orders of

 9  adjudication.--

10         (9)  If the mental or physical condition of a child or

11  the child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian, or other

12  person requesting custody of the child is in controversy, the

13  court, if it has not already done so, may require the person

14  to submit to a substance abuse assessment or evaluation. The

15  assessment or evaluation must be administered by a qualified

16  professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The court may also

17  require such person to participate in and comply with

18  treatment and services identified as necessary, including,

19  when appropriate and available, participation and compliance

20  with a treatment-based drug court program. The court,

21  including the treatment-based drug court program, shall

22  oversee the progress and compliance with treatment by the

23  child or the child's parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or

24  other person requesting custody of the child, and shall impose

25  appropriate available sanctions for noncompliance upon the

26  child's parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person

27  requesting custody of the child. Any order entered under this

28  subsection may be made only upon good cause shown and pursuant

29  to the notice and procedures set forth in the Florida Rules of

30  Juvenile Procedure.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         Section 5.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

 2  39.521, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         39.521  Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.--

 4         (1)  A disposition hearing shall be conducted by the

 5  court, if the court finds that the facts alleged in the

 6  petition for dependency were proven in the adjudicatory

 7  hearing, or if the parents or legal custodians have consented

 8  to the finding of dependency or admitted the allegations in

 9  the petition, have failed to appear for the arraignment

10  hearing after proper notice, or have not been located despite

11  a diligent search having been conducted.

12         (b)  When any child is adjudicated by a court to be

13  dependent, the court having jurisdiction of the child has the

14  power by order to:

15         1.  Require, if the court has not already done so, a

16  child or the child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian, or

17  other person requesting custody of the child to submit to a

18  substance abuse assessment or evaluation when such person's

19  mental or physical condition is in controversy. The assessment

20  or evaluation must be administered by a qualified

21  professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The court may also

22  require such person to participate in treatment and services

23  identified as necessary, including participation and

24  compliance with a treatment-based drug court program, when

25  appropriate and if available. The court, including the

26  treatment-based drug court program, shall oversee the progress

27  and compliance with treatment by the child or the child's

28  parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting

29  custody of the child, and shall impose appropriate available

30  sanctions for noncompliance upon the child's parent, legal

31  custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting custody of

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  the child. Any order entered under this paragraph may be made

 2  only upon good cause shown and pursuant to the notice and

 3  procedures set forth in the Florida Rules of Juvenile

 4  Procedure. the parent and, when appropriate, the legal

 5  custodian and the child, to participate in treatment and

 6  services identified as necessary.

 7         2.  Require, if the court deems necessary, the parties

 8  to participate in dependency mediation.

 9         3.  Require placement of the child either under the

10  protective supervision of an authorized agent of the

11  department in the home of one or both of the child's parents

12  or in the home of a relative of the child or another adult

13  approved by the court, or in the custody of the department.

14  Protective supervision continues until the court terminates it

15  or until the child reaches the age of 18, whichever date is

16  first. Protective supervision shall be terminated by the court

17  whenever the court determines that permanency has been

18  achieved for the child, whether with a parent, another

19  relative, or a legal custodian, and that protective

20  supervision is no longer needed. The termination of

21  supervision may be with or without retaining jurisdiction, at

22  the court's discretion, and shall in either case be considered

23  a permanency option for the child. The order terminating

24  supervision by the department shall set forth the powers of

25  the custodian of the child and shall include the powers

26  ordinarily granted to a guardian of the person of a minor

27  unless otherwise specified. Upon the court's termination of

28  supervision by the department, no further judicial reviews are

29  required, so long as permanency has been established for the

30  child.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         Section 6.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of section

 2  39.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         39.701  Judicial review.--

 4         (8)

 5         (d)  The court may extend the time limitation of the

 6  case plan, or may modify the terms of the plan, which, in

 7  addition to other modifications, may include a requirement

 8  that the parent, foster parent, or legal custodian participate

 9  in a treatment-based drug court program, based upon

10  information provided by the social service agency, and the

11  guardian ad litem, if one has been appointed, the parent or

12  parents, and the foster parents or legal custodian, and any

13  other competent information on record demonstrating the need

14  for the amendment. If the court extends the time limitation of

15  the case plan, the court must make specific findings

16  concerning the frequency of past parent-child visitation, if

17  any, and the court may authorize the expansion or restriction

18  of future visitation. Modifications to the plan must be

19  handled as prescribed in s. 39.601. Any extension of a case

20  plan must comply with the time requirements and other

21  requirements specified by this chapter.

22         Section 7.  Section 397.334, Florida Statutes, is

23  amended to read:

24         397.334  Treatment-based drug court programs.--

25         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to implement

26  treatment-based drug court programs in each judicial circuit

27  in an effort to reduce crime and recidivism, abuse and neglect

28  cases, and family dysfunction by breaking the cycle of

29  addiction, which is the most predominant cause of cases

30  entering the justice system.  The Legislature recognizes that

31  the integration of judicial supervision, treatment,

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  accountability, and sanctions, and community support greatly

 2  increases the effectiveness of  substance abuse

 3  treatment.  The Legislature also seeks to ensure that there is

 4  a coordinated, integrated, and multidisciplinary response to

 5  the substance abuse problem in this state, with special

 6  attention given to the creation of creating partnerships among

 7  between the public, community, and private sectors and to the

 8  coordinated, supported, and integrated delivery of

 9  multiple-system services for substance abusers, including a

10  multiagency team approach to service delivery and aftercare

11  services.

12         (2)  Each judicial circuit shall establish a model of a

13  treatment-based drug court program under which persons in the

14  justice system assessed with a substance abuse problem will be

15  processed in such a manner as to appropriately address the

16  severity of the identified substance abuse problem through

17  treatment services plans tailored to the individual needs of

18  the participant. These treatment-based drug court program

19  models may be established in the misdemeanor, felony, family,

20  delinquency, and dependency divisions of the judicial

21  circuits.  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

22  the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children and

23  Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the

24  Department of Health, the Department of Law Enforcement, the

25  Department of Education, and other such other agencies, local

26  governments, law enforcement agencies, and other interested

27  public or private sources, and individuals to support the

28  creation and establishment of these problem-solving court

29  programs. Participation in the treatment-based drug court

30  programs does not divest any public or private agency of its

31  responsibility for a child or adult, but enables allows these

                                  19

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  agencies to better meet their needs through shared

 2  responsibility and resources.

 3         (3)  The treatment-based drug court programs shall

 4  include therapeutic jurisprudence and restorative justice

 5  principles and adhere to the following 10 key components,

 6  recognized by the Drug Courts Program Office of the Office of

 7  Justice Programs of the United States Department of Justice

 8  and adopted by the Florida Supreme Court Treatment-Based Drug

 9  Court Steering Committee:

10         (a)  Drug court programs integrate alcohol and other

11  drug treatment services with justice system case processing.

12         (b)  Using a nonadversarial approach, prosecution and

13  defense counsel promote public safety while protecting

14  participants' due process rights.

15         (c)  Eligible participants are identified early and

16  promptly placed in the drug court program.

17         (d)  Drug court programs provide access to a continuum

18  of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and

19  rehabilitation services.

20         (e)  Abstinence is monitored by frequent testing for

21  alcohol and other drugs.

22         (f)  A coordinated strategy governs drug court program

23  responses to participants' compliance.

24         (g)  Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court

25  program participant is essential.

26         (h)  Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement

27  of program goals and gauge program effectiveness.

28         (i)  Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes

29  effective drug court program planning, implementation, and

30  operations.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         (j)  Forging partnerships among drug court programs,

 2  public agencies, and community-based organizations generates

 3  local support and enhances drug court program effectiveness.

 4         (4)  Treatment-based drug court programs may include

 5  pretrial intervention programs as provided in ss. 948.08,

 6  948.16, and 985.306, postadjudicatory programs, and the

 7  monitoring of sentenced offenders through a treatment-based

 8  drug court program. Supervision may also be provided for

 9  offenders who transfer from jail or a prison-based treatment

10  program into the community.

11         (5)  Contingent upon an annual appropriation by the

12  Legislature, each judicial circuit shall establish, at a

13  minimum, one coordinator position for the treatment-based drug

14  court program within the state courts system to coordinate the

15  responsibilities of the participating agencies and service

16  providers. Each coordinator shall provide direct support to

17  the treatment-based drug court program by providing

18  coordination between the multidisciplinary team and the

19  judiciary, providing case management, monitoring compliance of

20  the participants in the treatment-based drug court program

21  with court requirements, and providing program evaluation and

22  accountability.

23         (6)(5)(a)  The Florida Association of Drug Court

24  Program Professionals is created.  The membership of the

25  association may consist of treatment-based drug court program

26  practitioners who comprise the multidisciplinary

27  treatment-based drug court program team, including, but not

28  limited to, judges, state attorneys, defense counsel, drug

29  court program coordinators, probation officers, law

30  enforcement officers, community representatives, members of

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  the academic community, and treatment professionals.

 2  Membership in the association shall be voluntary.

 3         (b)  The association shall annually elect a chair whose

 4  duty is to solicit recommendations from members on issues

 5  relating to the expansion, operation, and institutionalization

 6  of treatment-based drug court programs.  The chair is

 7  responsible for providing the association's recommendations

 8  together with a report each year, on or before October 1, to

 9  the appropriate Supreme Court committee or personnel of the

10  Office of the State Courts Administrator Supreme Court

11  Treatment-Based Drug Court Steering Committee, and shall

12  submit a report each year, on or before October 1, to the

13  steering committee.

14         (7)  The chief judge of each judicial circuit may

15  appoint an advisory committee for the treatment-based drug

16  court program. The committee shall be composed of the chief

17  judge or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair; the

18  judge of the treatment-based drug court program, if not

19  otherwise designated by the chief judge as his or her

20  designee; the state attorney, or his or her designee; the

21  public defender, or his or her designee; the treatment-based

22  drug court program coordinators; community representatives;

23  and any other persons the chair finds to be appropriate.

24         Section 8.  Subsection (5) of section 910.035, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         910.035  Transfer from county for plea and sentence.--

27         (5)  Any person eligible for participation in a drug

28  court treatment program pursuant to s. 948.08(6) may be

29  eligible to have the case transferred to a county other than

30  that in which the charge arose if the drug court program

31  agrees and if the following conditions are met:

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         (a)  The authorized representative of the drug court

 2  program of the county requesting to transfer the case shall

 3  consult with the authorized representative of the drug court

 4  program in the county to which transfer is desired.

 5         (b)  If approval for transfer is received from all

 6  parties, the trial court shall accept a plea of nolo

 7  contendere and enter a transfer order directing the clerk to

 8  transfer the case to the county which has accepted the

 9  defendant into its drug court program.

10         (c)  The transfer order shall include a copy of the

11  probable cause affidavit; any charging documents in the case;

12  all reports, witness statements, test results, evidence lists,

13  and other documents in the case; the defendant's mailing

14  address and phone number; and the defendant's written consent

15  to abide by the rules and procedures of the receiving county's

16  drug court program.

17         (d)  After the transfer takes place, the clerk shall

18  set the matter for a hearing before the drug court program

19  judge and the court shall ensure the defendant's entry into

20  the drug court program.

21         (e)  Upon successful completion of the drug court

22  program, the jurisdiction to which the case has been

23  transferred shall dispose of the case pursuant to s.

24  948.08(6). If the defendant does not complete the drug court

25  program successfully, the jurisdiction to which the case has

26  been transferred shall dispose of the case within the

27  guidelines of the Criminal Punishment Code case shall be

28  prosecuted as determined by the state attorneys of the sending

29  and receiving counties.

30         Section 9.  Subsections (6), (7), and (8) of section

31  948.08, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         948.08  Pretrial intervention program.--

 2         (6)(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section,

 3  a person who is charged with a felony of the second or third

 4  degree for purchase or possession of a controlled substance

 5  under chapter 893, prostitution, tampering with evidence,

 6  solicitation for purchase of a controlled substance, or

 7  obtaining a prescription by fraud; who has not been charged

 8  with a crime involving violence, including, but not limited

 9  to, murder, sexual battery, robbery, carjacking, home-invasion

10  robbery, or any other crime involving violence; and who has

11  not previously been convicted of a felony nor been admitted to

12  a felony pretrial program referred to in this section is

13  eligible for admission into a pretrial substance abuse

14  education and treatment intervention program approved by the

15  chief judge of the circuit, for a period of not less than 1

16  year in duration, upon motion of either party or the court's

17  own motion, except:

18         1.  If a defendant was previously offered admission to

19  a pretrial substance abuse education and treatment

20  intervention program at any time prior to trial and the

21  defendant rejected that offer on the record, then the court or

22  the state attorney may deny the defendant's admission to such

23  a program.

24         1.2.  If the state attorney believes that the facts and

25  circumstances of the case suggest the defendant's involvement

26  in the dealing and selling of controlled substances, the court

27  shall hold a preadmission hearing. If the state attorney

28  establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence at such

29  hearing, that the defendant was involved in the dealing or

30  selling of controlled substances, the court shall deny the

31  defendant's admission into a pretrial intervention program.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         2.  A defendant assessed with a substance abuse problem

 2  who is charged for the first time with a nonviolent

 3  third-degree felony and a defendant assessed with a substance

 4  abuse problem who has previously been convicted of a

 5  nonviolent third-degree felony who is charged with a second or

 6  subsequent nonviolent third-degree felony may, with the

 7  approval of the state attorney, be referred to the program

 8  outlined in this subsection. Upon successful completion of the

 9  program, the defendant is entitled to dismissal of the pending

10  charge involving a nonviolent third-degree felony.

11         (b)  At the end of the pretrial intervention period,

12  the court shall consider the recommendation of the

13  administrator pursuant to subsection (5) and the

14  recommendation of the state attorney as to disposition of the

15  pending charges.  The court shall determine, by written

16  finding, whether the defendant has successfully completed the

17  pretrial intervention program.

18         (c)1.  If the court finds that the defendant has not

19  successfully completed the pretrial intervention program, the

20  court may order the person to continue in education and

21  treatment or order that the charges revert to normal channels

22  for prosecution.

23         2.  The court shall dismiss the charges upon a finding

24  that the defendant has successfully completed the pretrial

25  intervention program.

26         (d)  Any entity, whether public or private, providing a

27  pretrial substance abuse education and treatment intervention

28  program under this subsection must contract with the county or

29  appropriate governmental entity, and the terms of the contract

30  must include, but need not be limited to, the requirements

31  established for private entities under s. 948.15(3).

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1         (7)  The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an

 2  advisory committee for the pretrial intervention program

 3  composed of the chief judge or his or her designee, who shall

 4  serve as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and

 5  the program administrator, or their designees; and such other

 6  persons as the chair deems appropriate. The advisory committee

 7  may not designate any defendant eligible for a pretrial

 8  intervention program for any offense that is not listed under

 9  paragraph (6)(a) without the state attorney's recommendation

10  and approval. The committee may also include persons

11  representing any other agencies to which persons released to

12  the pretrial intervention program may be referred.

13         (7)(8)  The department may contract for the services

14  and facilities necessary to operate pretrial intervention

15  programs.

16         Section 10.  Section 985.306, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         985.306  Delinquency pretrial intervention program.--

19         (1)(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the

20  contrary, a child who is charged under chapter 893 with a

21  misdemeanor; a felony of the second or third degree for

22  purchase or possession of a controlled substance under chapter

23  893; tampering with evidence; solicitation for purchase of a

24  controlled substance; or obtaining a prescription by fraud,

25  and who has not previously been adjudicated for a felony nor

26  been admitted to a delinquency pretrial intervention program

27  under this section, is eligible for admission into a

28  delinquency pretrial substance abuse education and treatment

29  intervention program approved by the chief judge or

30  alternative sanctions coordinator of the circuit to the extent

31  that funded programs are available, for a period based on the

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  program requirements and the treatment services that are

 2  suitable for the offender of not less than 1 year in duration,

 3  upon motion of either party or the court's own motion, except:

 4  .

 5         (a)  If the state attorney believes that the facts and

 6  circumstances of the case suggest the child's involvement in

 7  the dealing and selling of controlled substances, the court

 8  shall hold a preadmission hearing. If the state attorney

 9  establishes by a preponderance of the evidence at such hearing

10  that the child was involved in the dealing and selling of

11  controlled substances, the court shall deny the child's

12  admission into a delinquency pretrial intervention program.

13         (b)  A child assessed with a substance abuse problem

14  who is charged for the first time with a nonviolent

15  third-degree felony and a child assessed with a substance

16  abuse problem who has previously been adjudicated guilty of or

17  delinquent for a nonviolent third-degree felony who is charged

18  with a second or subsequent nonviolent third-degree felony

19  may, with the approval of the state attorney, be referred to

20  the program outlined in this subsection. Upon successful

21  completion of the program, the child is entitled to dismissal

22  of the pending charge as provided in paragraph (3)(b).

23         (2)(b)  At the end of the delinquency pretrial

24  intervention period, the court shall consider the

25  recommendation of the state attorney and the program

26  administrator as to disposition of the pending charges.  The

27  court shall determine, by written finding, whether the child

28  has successfully completed the delinquency pretrial

29  intervention program.

30         (3)(a)(c)1.  If the court finds that the child has not

31  successfully completed the delinquency pretrial intervention

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2210
    7-591-03                                                See HB




 1  program, the court may order the child to continue in an

 2  education, treatment, or urine monitoring program if resources

 3  and funding are available or order that the charges revert to

 4  normal channels for prosecution.

 5         (b)2.  The court may dismiss the charges upon a finding

 6  that the child has successfully completed the delinquency

 7  pretrial intervention program.

 8         (4)(d)  Any entity, whether public or private,

 9  providing pretrial substance abuse education, treatment

10  intervention, and a urine monitoring program under this

11  section must contract with the county or appropriate

12  governmental entity, and the terms of the contract must

13  include, but need not be limited to, the requirements

14  established for private entities under s. 948.15(3). It is the

15  intent of the Legislature that public or private entities

16  providing substance abuse education and treatment intervention

17  programs involve the active participation of parents, schools,

18  churches, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and the

19  department or its contract providers.

20         (2)  The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an

21  advisory committee for the delinquency pretrial intervention

22  program composed of the chief judge or designee, who shall

23  serve as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and

24  the program administrator, or their designees; and such other

25  persons as the chair deems appropriate.  The committee may

26  also include persons representing any other agencies to which

27  children released to the delinquency pretrial intervention

28  program may be referred.

29         Section 11.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.

30  

31  

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