Senate Bill sb0124

    Florida Senate - 2005                                   SB 124

    By Senator Bennett





    21-195-05

  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,

  5         residential facilities, or foster children who

  6         live independently for a portion of the

  7         increased costs of motor vehicle insurance for

  8         a foster child who has a driver's license;

  9         directing the Department of Children and Family

10         Services to establish the pilot program in

11         Sarasota, DeSoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco

12         Counties; requiring that the person who incurs

13         the increased cost submit to the department

14         documentation of that increase; requiring that

15         foster children be encouraged to pay the

16         remaining portion of the increase in costs;

17         directing the department to develop procedures

18         for operating the pilot program; requiring the

19         department to submit a report with

20         recommendations to the Governor and the

21         Legislature by a specified date; providing an

22         appropriation; providing an effective date.

23  

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

25  

26         Section 1.  (1)  The Legislature finds that the

27  increased cost of motor vehicle insurance for a foster child

28  after that child attains a driver's license is borne by the

29  foster parents and the authorized representative of the

30  residential facility. This increase in the cost of insurance

31  creates an additional barrier for a foster child in gaining

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






    Florida Senate - 2005                                   SB 124
    21-195-05




 1  independence and may limit the child's opportunities for

 2  obtaining employment. In accordance with these findings, the

 3  Department of Children and Family Services shall establish a

 4  3-year pilot program in Sarasota, Desoto, Manatee, Pinellas,

 5  and Pasco Counties to pay a portion of the cost of motor

 6  vehicle insurance for foster children who have obtained a

 7  driver's license.

 8         (2)  To the extent that funding is available, the pilot

 9  program shall provide funds to pay for a portion of the

10  increase in the cost of motor vehicle insurance incurred by

11  the foster parents, residential facilities, or the foster

12  child if living independently. To be eligible for payment

13  under the pilot program, the person incurring the cost must

14  submit to the department appropriate documentation

15  demonstrating the increase in the cost of insurance. The

16  amount of the payment provided to the foster parent,

17  residential facility, or foster child if living independently

18  shall be one-half of the amount of the increase in the cost of

19  motor vehicle insurance which is incurred as a result of

20  adding the foster child to the policy or less than one-half if

21  another source of funding is available to pay for the

22  increase. The foster child must be encouraged to pay the other

23  half of the increase in insurance costs.

24         (3)  The department shall develop procedures for

25  operating the pilot program, including, but not limited to,

26  determining eligibility, providing the payment, ensuring that

27  payment is limited solely to the additional costs of including

28  the foster child in the insurance policy, and allocating

29  available funds.

30         (4)  The department shall examine and use, to the

31  extent possible, other available options for funding the cost

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                   SB 124
    21-195-05




 1  of the motor vehicle insurance increase, such as, but not

 2  limited to, through the child's master trust fund, social

 3  security income, child support payments, and other income

 4  available to the child.

 5         (5)  Beginning July 1, 2006, and continuing for the

 6  duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit to

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

 8  the House of Representatives an annual report on the success

 9  and outcomes achieved by the pilot program, with a

10  recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be

11  continued, terminated, or expanded.

12         Section 2.  The sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the

13  General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family

14  Services for the purpose of implementing this act during the

15  2005-2006 fiscal year.

16         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

17  

18            *****************************************

19                          SENATE SUMMARY

20    Creates a pilot program to reimburse foster parents,
      residential facilities, or foster children who live
21    independently for a portion of the increased costs of
      motor vehicle insurance for a foster child who has a
22    driver's license. Directs the Department of Children and
      Family Services to establish the pilot program in
23    specified counties. Requires a person who incurs the
      increased cost to submit documentation of the increase.
24    Requires that foster children be encouraged to pay the
      remaining portion of the increased costs. Directs the
25    department to develop procedures to operate the pilot
      program. Directs the department to submit a report with
26    recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by a
      specified date. Provides an appropriation.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.