HB 0143

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to motor vehicle insurance for foster
3	children; creating a pilot program to reimburse foster
4	parents, residential facilities, or foster children who
5	live independently a portion of the increased costs of
6	motor vehicle insurance for a foster child who has a
7	driver's license; directing the Department of Children and
8	Family Services to establish the pilot program in Sarasota,
9	DeSoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties; requiring
10	that the person who incurs the increased cost submit to the
11	department documentation of that increase; requiring that
12	foster children be encouraged to pay the remaining portion
13	of the increase in costs; directing the department to
14	develop procedures for operating the pilot program;
15	requiring the department to submit a report with
16	recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by a
17	specified date; providing an appropriation; providing an
18	effective date.
19
20	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22	Section 1.  (1)  The Legislature finds that the increased
23	cost of motor vehicle insurance for a foster child after that
24	child attains a driver's license is borne by the foster parents
25	and the authorized representative of the residential facility.
26	This increase in the cost of insurance creates an additional
27	barrier for a foster child in gaining independence and may limit
28	the child's opportunities for obtaining employment. In
29	accordance with these findings, the Department of Children and
30	Family Services shall establish a 3-year pilot program in
31	Sarasota, Desoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties to pay a
32	portion of the cost of motor vehicle insurance for foster
33	children who have obtained a driver's license.
34	(2)  To the extent that funding is available, the pilot
35	program shall provide funds to pay for a portion of the increase
36	in the cost of motor vehicle insurance incurred by the foster
37	parents, residential facilities, or the foster child if living
38	independently. To be eligible for payment under the pilot
39	program, the person incurring the cost must submit to the
40	department appropriate documentation demonstrating the increase
41	in the cost of insurance. The amount of the payment provided to
42	the foster parent, residential facility, or foster child if
43	living independently shall be one-half of the amount of the
44	increase in the cost of motor vehicle insurance which is
45	incurred as a result of adding the foster child to the policy or
46	less than one-half if another source of funding is available to
47	pay for the increase. The foster child must be encouraged to pay
48	the other half of the increase in insurance costs.
49	(3)  The department shall develop procedures for operating
50	the pilot program, including, but not limited to, determining
51	eligibility, providing the payment, ensuring that payment is
52	limited solely to the additional costs of including the foster
53	child in the insurance policy, and allocating available funds.
54	(4)  The department shall examine and use, to the extent
55	possible, other available options for funding the cost of the
56	motor vehicle insurance increase, such as, but not limited to,
57	through the child's master trust fund, social security income,
58	child support payments, and other income available to the child.
59	(5)  Beginning July 1, 2006, and continuing for the
60	duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit to
61	the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
62	the House of Representatives an annual report on the success and
63	outcomes achieved by the pilot program, with a recommendation as
64	to whether the pilot program should be continued, terminated, or
65	expanded.
66	Section 2.  The sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the
67	General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family
68	Services for the purpose of implementing this act during the
69	2005-2006 fiscal year.
70	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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