Senate Bill sb1058

    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1058

    By Senator Bennett





    21-661-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to motor vehicle insurance for

  3         foster children; creating a pilot program for

  4         the purpose of reimbursing foster parents for a

  5         portion of the increased costs of motor vehicle

  6         insurance for a foster child who has a driver's

  7         license; directing the Department of Children

  8         and Family Services to establish the pilot

  9         program in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties;

10         requiring that the remaining portion of the

11         increase in costs be borne by the foster child;

12         prohibiting a child who accumulates a specified

13         number of points due to moving traffic

14         violations from participating in the pilot

15         program; providing an appropriation; providing

16         an effective date.

17  

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

19  

20         Section 1.  The Legislature finds that foster parents

21  bear the increased cost of motor vehicle liability insurance

22  for a foster child after that child attains a driver's

23  license. This increase in the cost of insurance creates an

24  additional barrier for a foster child in gaining independence

25  and may limit the child's opportunities for obtaining

26  employment. In accordance with these findings, the Legislature

27  directs the Department of Children and Family Services to

28  establish a 3-year pilot program in Sarasota and DeSoto

29  Counties. The pilot program shall provide funds to reimburse

30  foster parents for the increase in the cost of motor vehicle

31  liability insurance. To be eligible for reimbursement under

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






    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1058
    21-661-04




 1  the pilot program, a foster parent must submit appropriate

 2  documentation to the department demonstrating the increase in

 3  the cost of insurance. The department shall reimburse the

 4  foster parent for one-half of the amount of increase in the

 5  parent's cost of motor vehicle liability insurance which is

 6  incurred as a result of adding the foster child to the policy.

 7  The foster child must pay the other half of the increase in

 8  insurance costs. If a foster child accumulates six or more

 9  points due to one or more moving traffic violations, the

10  child's foster parent if ineligible to receive reimbursement

11  for the increase in insurance costs incurred for that child.

12         Section 2.  The sum of $200,000 is appropriated from

13  the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and

14  Family Services for the purpose of implementing this act

15  during the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

16         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

17  

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19                          SENATE SUMMARY

20    Creates a 3-year pilot program to reimburse foster
      parents for one-half of the increase in the costs of
21    motor vehicle insurance for a foster child with a
      driver's license. Directs the Department of Children and
22    Family Services to establish the pilot program in
      Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Requires that one-half of
23    the increased costs be borne by the foster child. Directs
      that any foster child who accumulates a specified number
24    of vehicular-driving-violation points may not participate
      in the pilot program. Provides an appropriation.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.