1 | The Juvenile Justice Committee recommends the following: |
2 |
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3 | Council/Committee Substitute |
4 | Remove the entire bill and insert: |
5 | A bill to be entitled |
6 | An act relating to drug court programs; amending s. |
7 | 39.001, F.S.; providing additional legislative purposes |
8 | and intent with respect to the treatment of substance |
9 | abuse, including the use of the drug court program model; |
10 | authorizing the court to require certain persons to |
11 | undergo treatment following adjudication; providing that |
12 | the court is not precluded from ordering drug testing; |
13 | amending ss. 39.402 and 39.407, F.S.; authorizing the |
14 | court to order specified persons to submit to a substance |
15 | abuse assessment upon a showing of good cause in |
16 | connection with a shelter hearing or petition for |
17 | dependency; amending ss. 39.507 and 39.521, F.S.; |
18 | authorizing the court to order specified persons to submit |
19 | to a substance abuse assessment as part of an adjudicatory |
20 | order or pursuant to a disposition hearing; requiring a |
21 | showing of good cause; authorizing the court to require |
22 | participation in a treatment-based drug court program; |
23 | authorizing the court to impose sanctions for |
24 | noncompliance; amending s. 39.701, F.S.; authorizing the |
25 | court to extend the time for completing a case plan during |
26 | judicial review, based upon participation in a treatment- |
27 | based drug court program; amending s. 397.334, F.S.; |
28 | revising legislative intent with respect to treatment- |
29 | based drug court programs to reflect participation by |
30 | community support agencies, the Department of Education, |
31 | and other individuals; including postadjudicatory programs |
32 | as part of treatment-based drug court programs; providing |
33 | requirements and sanctions, including clinical placement |
34 | or incarceration, for the coordinated strategy developed |
35 | by the drug court team to encourage participant |
36 | compliance; requiring each judicial circuit to establish a |
37 | position for a coordinator of the treatment-based drug |
38 | court program, subject to annual appropriation by the |
39 | Legislature; authorizing the chief judge of each judicial |
40 | circuit to appoint an advisory committee for the |
41 | treatment-based drug court program; providing for |
42 | membership of the committee; revising language with |
43 | respect to an annual report; amending s. 910.035, F.S.; |
44 | revising language with respect to conditions for the |
45 | transfer of a case in the drug court treatment program to |
46 | a county other than that in which the charge arose; |
47 | amending ss. 948.08, 948.16, and 985.306, F.S., relating |
48 | to felony, misdemeanor, and delinquency pretrial substance |
49 | abuse education and treatment intervention programs; |
50 | providing requirements and sanctions, including clinical |
51 | placement or incarceration, for the coordinated strategy |
52 | developed by the drug court team to encourage participant |
53 | compliance and removing provisions authorizing appointment |
54 | of an advisory committee, to conform to changes made by |
55 | the act; providing an effective date. |
56 |
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57 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
58 |
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59 | Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 39.001, Florida |
60 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
61 | 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and |
62 | screening.-- |
63 | (4) SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.-- |
64 | (a) The Legislature recognizes that substance abuse is a |
65 | primary cause of the dramatic rise in cases of child abuse and |
66 | neglect, immeasurably increases the complexity of cases in the |
67 | dependency system, severely compromises or destroys the ability |
68 | of parents to provide a safe and nurturing home for children, |
69 | and severely confounds the dependency system's ability to |
70 | protect children. The Legislature also recognizes that early |
71 | referral and comprehensive treatment can help combat substance |
72 | abuse in families and that treatment is cost effective. The |
73 | Legislature further recognizes that treatment-based drug court |
74 | program models that integrate judicial supervision, treatment, |
75 | accountability, sanctions, and community support greatly |
76 | increase the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment and |
77 | reduce the number of cases of child abuse and neglect. |
78 | (b) The substance abuse treatment and family safety |
79 | programs of the Department of Children and Family Services have |
80 | identified the following goals for the state: |
81 | 1. To ensure the safety of children. |
82 | 2. To prevent and remediate the consequences of substance |
83 | abuse on families involved in protective supervision or foster |
84 | care and reduce substance abuse, including alcohol abuse, for |
85 | families who are at risk of being involved in protective |
86 | supervision or foster care. |
87 | 3. To expedite permanency for children and reunify |
88 | healthy, intact families, when appropriate. |
89 | 4. To support families in recovery. |
90 | (c) The Legislature finds that children in the care of the |
91 | state's dependency system need appropriate health care services, |
92 | that the impact of substance abuse on health indicates the need |
93 | for health care services to include substance abuse services to |
94 | children and parents where appropriate, and that it is in the |
95 | state's best interest that such children be provided the |
96 | services they need to enable them to become and remain |
97 | independent of state care. In order to provide these services, |
98 | the state's dependency system must have the ability to identify |
99 | and provide appropriate intervention and treatment for children |
100 | with personal or family-related substance abuse problems. |
101 | (d) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the |
102 | court to support the drug court program model by assessing |
103 | parents and children to identify and address substance abuse |
104 | problems as the court deems appropriate at every stage of the |
105 | dependency process. Participation in treatment, including a |
106 | treatment-based drug court program, may be required by the court |
107 | following adjudication. This subsection does not prevent a |
108 | child's parents and, when appropriate, the legal custodian from |
109 | voluntarily entering treatment, including a treatment-based drug |
110 | court program, at the earliest stage of the process. Nothing in |
111 | this subsection precludes a court from ordering drug testing |
112 | where substance abuse is suspected to determine the safety of |
113 | the placement of a child with a caretaker. |
114 | (e) It is therefore the purpose of the Legislature to |
115 | provide authority for the state to contract with community |
116 | substance abuse treatment providers for the development and |
117 | operation of specialized support and overlay services for the |
118 | dependency system, which will be fully implemented and used |
119 | utilized as resources permit. |
120 | (f) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the |
121 | Department of Children and Family Services, in conjunction with |
122 | community agencies; treatment-based facilities; facilities |
123 | dedicated to child welfare, child development, and mental health |
124 | services; the Department of Health; other similar agencies; |
125 | local governments; law enforcement agencies; and other |
126 | interested public or private sources to support the drug court |
127 | program model. Participation in the treatment-based drug court |
128 | program does not divest any public or private agency of its |
129 | responsibility for a child or adult, but enables these agencies |
130 | to better meet their needs through shared responsibility and |
131 | resources. |
132 | Section 2. Subsections (11) through (16) of section |
133 | 39.402, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (12) |
134 | through (17), respectively, and a new subsection (11) is added |
135 | to said section to read: |
136 | 39.402 Placement in a shelter.-- |
137 | (11) At the shelter hearing, the court may order the child |
138 | or a person who has custody or is requesting custody of the |
139 | child to submit to a substance abuse assessment or evaluation. |
140 | The assessment or evaluation must be administered by a qualified |
141 | professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The order may be made |
142 | only upon good cause shown. |
143 | Section 3. Section 39.407, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
144 | read: |
145 | 39.407 Medical, psychiatric, and psychological examination |
146 | and treatment of child; physical, or mental, or substance abuse |
147 | examination of parent or person with or requesting child custody |
148 | of child.-- |
149 | (1) When any child is removed from the home and maintained |
150 | in an out-of-home placement, the department is authorized to |
151 | have a medical screening performed on the child without |
152 | authorization from the court and without consent from a parent |
153 | or legal custodian. Such medical screening shall be performed by |
154 | a licensed health care professional and shall be to examine the |
155 | child for injury, illness, and communicable diseases and to |
156 | determine the need for immunization. The department shall by |
157 | rule establish the invasiveness of the medical procedures |
158 | authorized to be performed under this subsection. In no case |
159 | does this subsection authorize the department to consent to |
160 | medical treatment for such children. |
161 | (2) When the department has performed the medical |
162 | screening authorized by subsection (1), or when it is otherwise |
163 | determined by a licensed health care professional that a child |
164 | who is in an out-of-home placement, but who has not been |
165 | committed to the department, is in need of medical treatment, |
166 | including the need for immunization, consent for medical |
167 | treatment shall be obtained in the following manner: |
168 | (a)1. Consent to medical treatment shall be obtained from |
169 | a parent or legal custodian of the child; or |
170 | 2. A court order for such treatment shall be obtained. |
171 | (b) If a parent or legal custodian of the child is |
172 | unavailable and his or her whereabouts cannot be reasonably |
173 | ascertained, and it is after normal working hours so that a |
174 | court order cannot reasonably be obtained, an authorized agent |
175 | of the department shall have the authority to consent to |
176 | necessary medical treatment, including immunization, for the |
177 | child. The authority of the department to consent to medical |
178 | treatment in this circumstance shall be limited to the time |
179 | reasonably necessary to obtain court authorization. |
180 | (c) If a parent or legal custodian of the child is |
181 | available but refuses to consent to the necessary treatment, |
182 | including immunization, a court order shall be required unless |
183 | the situation meets the definition of an emergency in s. 743.064 |
184 | or the treatment needed is related to suspected abuse, |
185 | abandonment, or neglect of the child by a parent, caregiver, or |
186 | legal custodian. In such case, the department shall have the |
187 | authority to consent to necessary medical treatment. This |
188 | authority is limited to the time reasonably necessary to obtain |
189 | court authorization. |
190 |
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191 | In no case shall the department consent to sterilization, |
192 | abortion, or termination of life support. |
193 | (3)(a) A judge may order a child in an out-of-home |
194 | placement to be examined by a licensed health care professional. |
195 | (b) The judge may also order such child to be evaluated by |
196 | a psychiatrist or a psychologist or, if a developmental |
197 | disability is suspected or alleged, by the developmental |
198 | disability diagnostic and evaluation team of the department. If |
199 | it is necessary to place a child in a residential facility for |
200 | such evaluation, the criteria and procedure established in s. |
201 | 394.463(2) or chapter 393 shall be used, whichever is |
202 | applicable. |
203 | (c) The judge may also order such child to be evaluated by |
204 | a district school board educational needs assessment team. The |
205 | educational needs assessment provided by the district school |
206 | board educational needs assessment team shall include, but not |
207 | be limited to, reports of intelligence and achievement tests, |
208 | screening for learning disabilities and other handicaps, and |
209 | screening for the need for alternative education as defined in |
210 | s. 1001.42. |
211 | (4) A judge may order a child in an out-of-home placement |
212 | to be treated by a licensed health care professional based on |
213 | evidence that the child should receive treatment. The judge may |
214 | also order such child to receive mental health or developmental |
215 | disabilities services from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or |
216 | other appropriate service provider. Except as provided in |
217 | subsection (5), if it is necessary to place the child in a |
218 | residential facility for such services, the procedures and |
219 | criteria established in s. 394.467 or chapter 393 shall be used, |
220 | whichever is applicable. A child may be provided developmental |
221 | disabilities or mental health services in emergency situations, |
222 | pursuant to the procedures and criteria contained in s. |
223 | 394.463(1) or chapter 393, whichever is applicable. |
224 | (5) Children who are in the legal custody of the |
225 | department may be placed by the department, without prior |
226 | approval of the court, in a residential treatment center |
227 | licensed under s. 394.875 or a hospital licensed under chapter |
228 | 395 for residential mental health treatment only pursuant to |
229 | this section or may be placed by the court in accordance with an |
230 | order of involuntary examination or involuntary placement |
231 | entered pursuant to s. 394.463 or s. 394.467. All children |
232 | placed in a residential treatment program under this subsection |
233 | must have a guardian ad litem appointed. |
234 | (a) As used in this subsection, the term: |
235 | 1. "Residential treatment" means placement for |
236 | observation, diagnosis, or treatment of an emotional disturbance |
237 | in a residential treatment center licensed under s. 394.875 or a |
238 | hospital licensed under chapter 395. |
239 | 2. "Least restrictive alternative" means the treatment and |
240 | conditions of treatment that, separately and in combination, are |
241 | no more intrusive or restrictive of freedom than reasonably |
242 | necessary to achieve a substantial therapeutic benefit or to |
243 | protect the child or adolescent or others from physical injury. |
244 | 3. "Suitable for residential treatment" or "suitability" |
245 | means a determination concerning a child or adolescent with an |
246 | emotional disturbance as defined in s. 394.492(5) or a serious |
247 | emotional disturbance as defined in s. 394.492(6) that each of |
248 | the following criteria is met: |
249 | a. The child requires residential treatment. |
250 | b. The child is in need of a residential treatment program |
251 | and is expected to benefit from mental health treatment. |
252 | c. An appropriate, less restrictive alternative to |
253 | residential treatment is unavailable. |
254 | (b) Whenever the department believes that a child in its |
255 | legal custody is emotionally disturbed and may need residential |
256 | treatment, an examination and suitability assessment must be |
257 | conducted by a qualified evaluator who is appointed by the |
258 | Agency for Health Care Administration. This suitability |
259 | assessment must be completed before the placement of the child |
260 | in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed |
261 | children and adolescents or a hospital. The qualified evaluator |
262 | must be a psychiatrist or a psychologist licensed in Florida who |
263 | has at least 3 years of experience in the diagnosis and |
264 | treatment of serious emotional disturbances in children and |
265 | adolescents and who has no actual or perceived conflict of |
266 | interest with any inpatient facility or residential treatment |
267 | center or program. |
268 | (c) Before a child is admitted under this subsection, the |
269 | child shall be assessed for suitability for residential |
270 | treatment by a qualified evaluator who has conducted a personal |
271 | examination and assessment of the child and has made written |
272 | findings that: |
273 | 1. The child appears to have an emotional disturbance |
274 | serious enough to require residential treatment and is |
275 | reasonably likely to benefit from the treatment. |
276 | 2. The child has been provided with a clinically |
277 | appropriate explanation of the nature and purpose of the |
278 | treatment. |
279 | 3. All available modalities of treatment less restrictive |
280 | than residential treatment have been considered, and a less |
281 | restrictive alternative that would offer comparable benefits to |
282 | the child is unavailable. |
283 |
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284 | A copy of the written findings of the evaluation and suitability |
285 | assessment must be provided to the department and to the |
286 | guardian ad litem, who shall have the opportunity to discuss the |
287 | findings with the evaluator. |
288 | (d) Immediately upon placing a child in a residential |
289 | treatment program under this section, the department must notify |
290 | the guardian ad litem and the court having jurisdiction over the |
291 | child and must provide the guardian ad litem and the court with |
292 | a copy of the assessment by the qualified evaluator. |
293 | (e) Within 10 days after the admission of a child to a |
294 | residential treatment program, the director of the residential |
295 | treatment program or the director's designee must ensure that an |
296 | individualized plan of treatment has been prepared by the |
297 | program and has been explained to the child, to the department, |
298 | and to the guardian ad litem, and submitted to the department. |
299 | The child must be involved in the preparation of the plan to the |
300 | maximum feasible extent consistent with his or her ability to |
301 | understand and participate, and the guardian ad litem and the |
302 | child's foster parents must be involved to the maximum extent |
303 | consistent with the child's treatment needs. The plan must |
304 | include a preliminary plan for residential treatment and |
305 | aftercare upon completion of residential treatment. The plan |
306 | must include specific behavioral and emotional goals against |
307 | which the success of the residential treatment may be measured. |
308 | A copy of the plan must be provided to the child, to the |
309 | guardian ad litem, and to the department. |
310 | (f) Within 30 days after admission, the residential |
311 | treatment program must review the appropriateness and |
312 | suitability of the child's placement in the program. The |
313 | residential treatment program must determine whether the child |
314 | is receiving benefit toward the treatment goals and whether the |
315 | child could be treated in a less restrictive treatment program. |
316 | The residential treatment program shall prepare a written report |
317 | of its findings and submit the report to the guardian ad litem |
318 | and to the department. The department must submit the report to |
319 | the court. The report must include a discharge plan for the |
320 | child. The residential treatment program must continue to |
321 | evaluate the child's treatment progress every 30 days thereafter |
322 | and must include its findings in a written report submitted to |
323 | the department. The department may not reimburse a facility |
324 | until the facility has submitted every written report that is |
325 | due. |
326 | (g)1. The department must submit, at the beginning of each |
327 | month, to the court having jurisdiction over the child, a |
328 | written report regarding the child's progress toward achieving |
329 | the goals specified in the individualized plan of treatment. |
330 | 2. The court must conduct a hearing to review the status |
331 | of the child's residential treatment plan no later than 3 months |
332 | after the child's admission to the residential treatment |
333 | program. An independent review of the child's progress toward |
334 | achieving the goals and objectives of the treatment plan must be |
335 | completed by a qualified evaluator and submitted to the court |
336 | before its 3-month review. |
337 | 3. For any child in residential treatment at the time a |
338 | judicial review is held pursuant to s. 39.701, the child's |
339 | continued placement in residential treatment must be a subject |
340 | of the judicial review. |
341 | 4. If at any time the court determines that the child is |
342 | not suitable for continued residential treatment, the court |
343 | shall order the department to place the child in the least |
344 | restrictive setting that is best suited to meet his or her |
345 | needs. |
346 | (h) After the initial 3-month review, the court must |
347 | conduct a review of the child's residential treatment plan every |
348 | 90 days. |
349 | (i) The department must adopt rules for implementing |
350 | timeframes for the completion of suitability assessments by |
351 | qualified evaluators and a procedure that includes timeframes |
352 | for completing the 3-month independent review by the qualified |
353 | evaluators of the child's progress toward achieving the goals |
354 | and objectives of the treatment plan which review must be |
355 | submitted to the court. The Agency for Health Care |
356 | Administration must adopt rules for the registration of |
357 | qualified evaluators, the procedure for selecting the evaluators |
358 | to conduct the reviews required under this section, and a |
359 | reasonable, cost-efficient fee schedule for qualified |
360 | evaluators. |
361 | (6) When a child is in an out-of-home placement, a |
362 | licensed health care professional shall be immediately called if |
363 | there are indications of physical injury or illness, or the |
364 | child shall be taken to the nearest available hospital for |
365 | emergency care. |
366 | (7) Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in this |
367 | section shall be deemed to eliminate the right of a parent, |
368 | legal custodian, or the child to consent to examination or |
369 | treatment for the child. |
370 | (8) Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in this |
371 | section shall be deemed to alter the provisions of s. 743.064. |
372 | (9) A court shall not be precluded from ordering services |
373 | or treatment to be provided to the child by a duly accredited |
374 | practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing in |
375 | accordance with the tenets and practices of a church or |
376 | religious organization, when required by the child's health and |
377 | when requested by the child. |
378 | (10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to |
379 | authorize the permanent sterilization of the child unless such |
380 | sterilization is the result of or incidental to medically |
381 | necessary treatment to protect or preserve the life of the |
382 | child. |
383 | (11) For the purpose of obtaining an evaluation or |
384 | examination, or receiving treatment as authorized pursuant to |
385 | this section, no child alleged to be or found to be dependent |
386 | shall be placed in a detention home or other program used |
387 | primarily for the care and custody of children alleged or found |
388 | to have committed delinquent acts. |
389 | (12) The parents or legal custodian of a child in an out- |
390 | of-home placement remain financially responsible for the cost of |
391 | medical treatment provided to the child even if either one or |
392 | both of the parents or if the legal custodian did not consent to |
393 | the medical treatment. After a hearing, the court may order the |
394 | parents or legal custodian, if found able to do so, to reimburse |
395 | the department or other provider of medical services for |
396 | treatment provided. |
397 | (13) Nothing in this section alters the authority of the |
398 | department to consent to medical treatment for a dependent child |
399 | when the child has been committed to the department and the |
400 | department has become the legal custodian of the child. |
401 | (14) At any time after the filing of a shelter petition or |
402 | petition for dependency, when the mental or physical condition, |
403 | including the blood group, of a parent, caregiver, legal |
404 | custodian, or other person who has custody or is requesting |
405 | custody of a child is in controversy, the court may order the |
406 | person to submit to a physical or mental examination by a |
407 | qualified professional. The order may be made only upon good |
408 | cause shown and pursuant to notice and procedures as set forth |
409 | by the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure. |
410 | (15) At any time after a shelter petition or petition for |
411 | dependency is filed, the court may order a child or a person who |
412 | has custody or is requesting custody of the child, if it has not |
413 | already done so, to submit to a substance abuse assessment and |
414 | evaluation. The assessment or evaluation must be administered by |
415 | a qualified professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The order |
416 | may be made only upon good cause shown. |
417 | Section 4. Subsection (9) is added to section 39.507, |
418 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
419 | 39.507 Adjudicatory hearings; orders of adjudication.-- |
420 | (9) The court may order a child or a person who has |
421 | custody or is requesting custody of the child, if it has not |
422 | already done so, to submit to a substance abuse assessment or |
423 | evaluation. The assessment or evaluation must be administered by |
424 | a qualified professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The court |
425 | may also require such person to participate in and comply with |
426 | treatment and services identified as necessary, including, when |
427 | appropriate and available, participation in and compliance with |
428 | a treatment-based drug court program. The court, including the |
429 | treatment-based drug court program, shall oversee the progress |
430 | and compliance with treatment by the child or a person who has |
431 | custody or is requesting custody of the child and shall impose |
432 | appropriate available sanctions for noncompliance upon the child |
433 | or a person who has custody or is requesting custody of the |
434 | child. Any order entered under this subsection may be made only |
435 | upon good cause shown. |
436 | Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
437 | 39.521, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
438 | 39.521 Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.-- |
439 | (1) A disposition hearing shall be conducted by the court, |
440 | if the court finds that the facts alleged in the petition for |
441 | dependency were proven in the adjudicatory hearing, or if the |
442 | parents or legal custodians have consented to the finding of |
443 | dependency or admitted the allegations in the petition, have |
444 | failed to appear for the arraignment hearing after proper |
445 | notice, or have not been located despite a diligent search |
446 | having been conducted. |
447 | (b) When any child is adjudicated by a court to be |
448 | dependent, the court having jurisdiction of the child has the |
449 | power by order to: |
450 | 1. Require the parent and, when appropriate, the legal |
451 | custodian and the child, to participate in treatment and |
452 | services identified as necessary. The court may require a child |
453 | or a person who has custody or is requesting custody of the |
454 | child to submit to a substance abuse assessment or evaluation. |
455 | The assessment or evaluation must be administered by a qualified |
456 | professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The court may also |
457 | require such person to participate in and comply with treatment |
458 | and services identified as necessary, including participation in |
459 | and compliance with a treatment-based drug court program, when |
460 | appropriate and if available. The court, including the |
461 | treatment-based drug court program, shall oversee the progress |
462 | and compliance with treatment by the child or a person who has |
463 | custody or is requesting custody of the child and shall impose |
464 | appropriate available sanctions for noncompliance upon the child |
465 | or a person who has custody or is requesting custody of the |
466 | child. Any order entered under this subparagraph may be made |
467 | only upon good cause shown. |
468 | 2. Require, if the court deems necessary, the parties to |
469 | participate in dependency mediation. |
470 | 3. Require placement of the child either under the |
471 | protective supervision of an authorized agent of the department |
472 | in the home of one or both of the child's parents or in the home |
473 | of a relative of the child or another adult approved by the |
474 | court, or in the custody of the department. Protective |
475 | supervision continues until the court terminates it or until the |
476 | child reaches the age of 18, whichever date is first. Protective |
477 | supervision shall be terminated by the court whenever the court |
478 | determines that permanency has been achieved for the child, |
479 | whether with a parent, another relative, or a legal custodian, |
480 | and that protective supervision is no longer needed. The |
481 | termination of supervision may be with or without retaining |
482 | jurisdiction, at the court's discretion, and shall in either |
483 | case be considered a permanency option for the child. The order |
484 | terminating supervision by the department shall set forth the |
485 | powers of the custodian of the child and shall include the |
486 | powers ordinarily granted to a guardian of the person of a minor |
487 | unless otherwise specified. Upon the court's termination of |
488 | supervision by the department, no further judicial reviews are |
489 | required, so long as permanency has been established for the |
490 | child. |
491 | Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section |
492 | 39.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
493 | 39.701 Judicial review.-- |
494 | (9) |
495 | (d) The court may extend the time limitation of the case |
496 | plan, or may modify the terms of the plan, which, in addition to |
497 | other modifications, may include a requirement that the parent, |
498 | foster parent, or legal custodian participate in a treatment- |
499 | based drug court program, based upon information provided by the |
500 | social service agency, and the guardian ad litem, if one has |
501 | been appointed, the parent or parents, and the foster parents or |
502 | legal custodian, and any other competent information on record |
503 | demonstrating the need for the amendment. If the court extends |
504 | the time limitation of the case plan, the court must make |
505 | specific findings concerning the frequency of past parent-child |
506 | visitation, if any, and the court may authorize the expansion or |
507 | restriction of future visitation. Modifications to the plan must |
508 | be handled as prescribed in s. 39.601. Any extension of a case |
509 | plan must comply with the time requirements and other |
510 | requirements specified by this chapter. |
511 | Section 7. Section 397.334, Florida Statutes, is amended |
512 | to read: |
513 | 397.334 Treatment-based drug court programs.-- |
514 | (1) Each county may fund a treatment-based drug court |
515 | program under which persons in the justice system assessed with |
516 | a substance abuse problem will be processed in such a manner as |
517 | to appropriately address the severity of the identified |
518 | substance abuse problem through treatment services plans |
519 | tailored to the individual needs of the participant. It is the |
520 | intent of the Legislature to encourage the Department of |
521 | Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services, the |
522 | Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Health, the |
523 | Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Education, and |
524 | such other agencies, local governments, law enforcement |
525 | agencies, and other interested public or private sources, and |
526 | individuals to support the creation and establishment of these |
527 | problem-solving court programs. Participation in the treatment- |
528 | based drug court programs does not divest any public or private |
529 | agency of its responsibility for a child or adult, but enables |
530 | allows these agencies to better meet their needs through shared |
531 | responsibility and resources. |
532 | (2) The treatment-based drug court programs shall include |
533 | therapeutic jurisprudence principles and adhere to the following |
534 | 10 key components, recognized by the Drug Courts Program Office |
535 | of the Office of Justice Programs of the United States |
536 | Department of Justice and adopted by the Florida Supreme Court |
537 | Treatment-Based Drug Court Steering Committee: |
538 | (a) Drug court programs integrate alcohol and other drug |
539 | treatment services with justice system case processing. |
540 | (b) Using a nonadversarial approach, prosecution and |
541 | defense counsel promote public safety while protecting |
542 | participants' due process rights. |
543 | (c) Eligible participants are identified early and |
544 | promptly placed in the drug court program. |
545 | (d) Drug court programs provide access to a continuum of |
546 | alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation |
547 | services. |
548 | (e) Abstinence is monitored by frequent testing for |
549 | alcohol and other drugs. |
550 | (f) A coordinated strategy governs drug court program |
551 | responses to participants' compliance. |
552 | (g) Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court |
553 | program participant is essential. |
554 | (h) Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of |
555 | program goals and gauge program effectiveness. |
556 | (i) Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes |
557 | effective drug court program planning, implementation, and |
558 | operations. |
559 | (j) Forging partnerships among drug court programs, public |
560 | agencies, and community-based organizations generates local |
561 | support and enhances drug court program effectiveness. |
562 | (3) Treatment-based drug court programs may include |
563 | pretrial intervention programs as provided in ss. 948.08, |
564 | 948.16, and 985.306, postadjudicatory programs, and the |
565 | monitoring of sentenced offenders through a treatment-based drug |
566 | court program. Supervision may also be provided for offenders |
567 | who transfer from jail or a prison-based treatment program into |
568 | the community. While enrolled in any pretrial intervention |
569 | program, the participant is subject to a coordinated strategy |
570 | developed by the drug court team under paragraph (2)(f). Each |
571 | coordinated strategy must include a protocol of sanctions that |
572 | may be imposed upon the participant. The protocol of sanctions |
573 | must include as available options placement in a secure licensed |
574 | clinical or jail-based treatment program or serving a period of |
575 | incarceration for noncompliance with program rules within the |
576 | time limits established for contempt of court. The coordinated |
577 | strategy must be provided in writing to the participant at the |
578 | time the participant enters into a pretrial drug court program. |
579 | (4) Contingent upon an annual appropriation by the |
580 | Legislature, each judicial circuit shall establish, at a |
581 | minimum, one coordinator position for the treatment-based drug |
582 | court program within the state courts system to coordinate the |
583 | responsibilities of the participating agencies and service |
584 | providers. Each coordinator shall provide direct support to the |
585 | treatment-based drug court program by providing coordination |
586 | between the multidisciplinary team and the judiciary, providing |
587 | case management, monitoring compliance of the participants in |
588 | the treatment-based drug court program with court requirements, |
589 | and providing program evaluation and accountability. |
590 | (5)(4)(a) The Florida Association of Drug Court Program |
591 | Professionals is created. The membership of the association may |
592 | consist of treatment-based drug court program practitioners who |
593 | comprise the multidisciplinary treatment-based drug court |
594 | program team, including, but not limited to, judges, state |
595 | attorneys, defense counsel, drug court program coordinators, |
596 | probation officers, law enforcement officers, community |
597 | representatives, members of the academic community, and |
598 | treatment professionals. Membership in the association shall be |
599 | voluntary. |
600 | (b) The association shall annually elect a chair whose |
601 | duty is to solicit recommendations from members on issues |
602 | relating to the expansion, operation, and institutionalization |
603 | of treatment-based drug court programs. The chair is responsible |
604 | for providing on or before October 1 of each year the |
605 | association's recommendations and an annual report to the |
606 | appropriate Supreme Court Treatment-Based Drug Court Steering |
607 | committee or to the appropriate personnel of the Office of the |
608 | State Courts Administrator, and shall submit a report each year, |
609 | on or before October 1, to the steering committee. |
610 | (6)(5) If a county chooses to fund a treatment-based drug |
611 | court program, the county must secure funding from sources other |
612 | than the state for those costs not otherwise assumed by the |
613 | state pursuant to s. 29.004. However, this does not preclude |
614 | counties from using treatment and other service dollars provided |
615 | through state executive branch agencies. Counties may provide, |
616 | by interlocal agreement, for the collective funding of these |
617 | programs. |
618 | (7) The chief judge of each judicial circuit may appoint |
619 | an advisory committee for the treatment-based drug court |
620 | program. The committee shall be composed of the chief judge, or |
621 | his or her designee, who shall serve as chair; the judge of the |
622 | treatment-based drug court program, if not otherwise designated |
623 | by the chief judge as his or her designee; the state attorney, |
624 | or his or her designee; the public defender, or his or her |
625 | designee; the treatment-based drug court program coordinators; |
626 | community representatives; treatment representatives; and any |
627 | other persons the chair finds are appropriate. |
628 | Section 8. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (5) of |
629 | section 910.035, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
630 | 910.035 Transfer from county for plea and sentence.-- |
631 | (5) Any person eligible for participation in a drug court |
632 | treatment program pursuant to s. 948.08(6) may be eligible to |
633 | have the case transferred to a county other than that in which |
634 | the charge arose if the drug court program agrees and if the |
635 | following conditions are met: |
636 | (b) If approval for transfer is received from all parties, |
637 | the trial court shall accept a plea of nolo contendere and enter |
638 | a transfer order directing the clerk to transfer the case to the |
639 | county which has accepted the defendant into its drug court |
640 | program. |
641 | (e) Upon successful completion of the drug court program, |
642 | the jurisdiction to which the case has been transferred shall |
643 | dispose of the case pursuant to s. 948.08(6). If the defendant |
644 | does not complete the drug court program successfully, the |
645 | jurisdiction to which the case has been transferred shall |
646 | dispose of the case within the guidelines of the Criminal |
647 | Punishment Code case shall be prosecuted as determined by the |
648 | state attorneys of the sending and receiving counties. |
649 | Section 9. Subsections (6), (7), and (8) of section |
650 | 948.08, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
651 | 948.08 Pretrial intervention program.-- |
652 | (6)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a |
653 | person who is charged with a felony of the second or third |
654 | degree for purchase or possession of a controlled substance |
655 | under chapter 893, prostitution, tampering with evidence, |
656 | solicitation for purchase of a controlled substance, or |
657 | obtaining a prescription by fraud; who has not been charged with |
658 | a crime involving violence, including, but not limited to, |
659 | murder, sexual battery, robbery, carjacking, home-invasion |
660 | robbery, or any other crime involving violence; and who has not |
661 | previously been convicted of a felony nor been admitted to a |
662 | felony pretrial program referred to in this section is eligible |
663 | for admission into a pretrial substance abuse education and |
664 | treatment intervention program approved by the chief judge of |
665 | the circuit, for a period of not less than 1 year in duration, |
666 | upon motion of either party or the court's own motion, except: |
667 | 1. If a defendant was previously offered admission to a |
668 | pretrial substance abuse education and treatment intervention |
669 | program at any time prior to trial and the defendant rejected |
670 | that offer on the record, then the court or the state attorney |
671 | may deny the defendant's admission to such a program. |
672 | 2. If the state attorney believes that the facts and |
673 | circumstances of the case suggest the defendant's involvement in |
674 | the dealing and selling of controlled substances, the court |
675 | shall hold a preadmission hearing. If the state attorney |
676 | establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence at such hearing, |
677 | that the defendant was involved in the dealing or selling of |
678 | controlled substances, the court shall deny the defendant's |
679 | admission into a pretrial intervention program. |
680 | (b) While enrolled in a pretrial intervention program |
681 | authorized by this section, the participant is subject to a |
682 | coordinated strategy developed by a drug court team under s. |
683 | 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must include a protocol of |
684 | sanctions that may be imposed upon the participant. The protocol |
685 | of sanctions must include as available options placement in a |
686 | secure licensed clinical or jail-based treatment program or |
687 | serving a period of incarceration for noncompliance with program |
688 | rules within the time limits established for contempt of court. |
689 | The coordinated strategy must be provided in writing to the |
690 | participant at the time the participant enters into a pretrial |
691 | drug court program. |
692 | (c)(b) At the end of the pretrial intervention period, the |
693 | court shall consider the recommendation of the administrator |
694 | pursuant to subsection (5) and the recommendation of the state |
695 | attorney as to disposition of the pending charges. The court |
696 | shall determine, by written finding, whether the defendant has |
697 | successfully completed the pretrial intervention program. |
698 | (c)1. If the court finds that the defendant has not |
699 | successfully completed the pretrial intervention program, the |
700 | court may order the person to continue in education and |
701 | treatment, which may include secure licensed clinical or jail- |
702 | based treatment programs, or order that the charges revert to |
703 | normal channels for prosecution. |
704 | 2. The court shall dismiss the charges upon a finding that |
705 | the defendant has successfully completed the pretrial |
706 | intervention program. |
707 | (d) Any entity, whether public or private, providing a |
708 | pretrial substance abuse education and treatment intervention |
709 | program under this subsection must contract with the county or |
710 | appropriate governmental entity, and the terms of the contract |
711 | must include, but need not be limited to, the requirements |
712 | established for private entities under s. 948.15(3). |
713 | (7) The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an |
714 | advisory committee for the pretrial intervention program |
715 | composed of the chief judge or his or her designee, who shall |
716 | serve as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and the |
717 | program administrator, or their designees; and such other |
718 | persons as the chair deems appropriate. The advisory committee |
719 | may not designate any defendant eligible for a pretrial |
720 | intervention program for any offense that is not listed under |
721 | paragraph (6)(a) without the state attorney's recommendation and |
722 | approval. The committee may also include persons representing |
723 | any other agencies to which persons released to the pretrial |
724 | intervention program may be referred. |
725 | (7)(8) The department may contract for the services and |
726 | facilities necessary to operate pretrial intervention programs. |
727 | Section 10. Section 948.16, Florida Statutes, is amended |
728 | to read: |
729 | 948.16 Misdemeanor pretrial substance abuse education and |
730 | treatment intervention program.-- |
731 | (1)(a) A person who is charged with a misdemeanor for |
732 | possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia under |
733 | chapter 893, and who has not previously been convicted of a |
734 | felony nor been admitted to a pretrial program, is eligible for |
735 | admission into a misdemeanor pretrial substance abuse education |
736 | and treatment intervention program approved by the chief judge |
737 | of the circuit, for a period based on the program requirements |
738 | and the treatment plan for the offender, upon motion of either |
739 | party or the court's own motion, except, if the state attorney |
740 | believes the facts and circumstances of the case suggest the |
741 | defendant is involved in dealing and selling controlled |
742 | substances, the court shall hold a preadmission hearing. If the |
743 | state attorney establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence |
744 | at such hearing, that the defendant was involved in dealing or |
745 | selling controlled substances, the court shall deny the |
746 | defendant's admission into the pretrial intervention program. |
747 | (b) While enrolled in a pretrial intervention program |
748 | authorized by this section, the participant is subject to a |
749 | coordinated strategy developed by a drug court team under s. |
750 | 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must include a protocol of |
751 | sanctions that may be imposed upon the participant. The protocol |
752 | of sanctions must include as available options placement in a |
753 | secure licensed clinical or jail-based treatment program or |
754 | serving a period of incarceration for noncompliance with program |
755 | rules within the time limits established for contempt of court. |
756 | The coordinated strategy must be provided in writing to the |
757 | participant at the time the participant enters into a pretrial |
758 | drug court program. |
759 | (2) At the end of the pretrial intervention period, the |
760 | court shall consider the recommendation of the treatment program |
761 | and the recommendation of the state attorney as to disposition |
762 | of the pending charges. The court shall determine, by written |
763 | finding, whether the defendant successfully completed the |
764 | pretrial intervention program. |
765 | (a) If the court finds that the defendant has not |
766 | successfully completed the pretrial intervention program, the |
767 | court may order the person to continue in education and |
768 | treatment or return the charges to the criminal docket for |
769 | prosecution. |
770 | (b) The court shall dismiss the charges upon finding that |
771 | the defendant has successfully completed the pretrial |
772 | intervention program. |
773 | (3) Any public or private entity providing a pretrial |
774 | substance abuse education and treatment program under this |
775 | section shall contract with the county or appropriate |
776 | governmental entity. The terms of the contract shall include, |
777 | but not be limited to, the requirements established for private |
778 | entities under s. 948.15(3). |
779 | Section 11. Section 985.306, Florida Statutes, is amended |
780 | to read: |
781 | 985.306 Delinquency pretrial intervention program.-- |
782 | (1)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the |
783 | contrary, a child who is charged under chapter 893 with a felony |
784 | of the second or third degree for purchase or possession of a |
785 | controlled substance under chapter 893; tampering with evidence; |
786 | solicitation for purchase of a controlled substance; or |
787 | obtaining a prescription by fraud, and who has not previously |
788 | been adjudicated for a felony nor been admitted to a delinquency |
789 | pretrial intervention program under this section, is eligible |
790 | for admission into a delinquency pretrial substance abuse |
791 | education and treatment intervention program approved by the |
792 | chief judge or alternative sanctions coordinator of the circuit |
793 | to the extent that funded programs are available, for a period |
794 | based on the program requirements and the treatment services |
795 | that are suitable for the offender of not less than 1 year in |
796 | duration, upon motion of either party or the court's own motion. |
797 | If the state attorney believes that the facts and circumstances |
798 | of the case suggest the child's involvement in the dealing and |
799 | selling of controlled substances, the court shall hold a |
800 | preadmission hearing. If the state attorney establishes by a |
801 | preponderance of the evidence at such hearing that the child was |
802 | involved in the dealing and selling of controlled substances, |
803 | the court shall deny the child's admission into a delinquency |
804 | pretrial intervention program. |
805 | (2) While enrolled in a delinquency pretrial intervention |
806 | program authorized by this section, a child is subject to a |
807 | coordinated strategy developed by a drug court team under s. |
808 | 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must include a protocol of |
809 | sanctions that may be imposed upon the child. The protocol of |
810 | sanctions must include as available options placement in a |
811 | secure licensed clinical facility or placement in a secure |
812 | detention facility under s. 985.216 for noncompliance with |
813 | program rules. The coordinated strategy must be provided in |
814 | writing to the child at the time the child enters the pretrial |
815 | drug court program. |
816 | (3)(b) At the end of the delinquency pretrial intervention |
817 | period, the court shall consider the recommendation of the state |
818 | attorney and the program administrator as to disposition of the |
819 | pending charges. The court shall determine, by written finding, |
820 | whether the child has successfully completed the delinquency |
821 | pretrial intervention program. |
822 | (c)1. If the court finds that the child has not |
823 | successfully completed the delinquency pretrial intervention |
824 | program, the court may order the child to continue in an |
825 | education, treatment, or urine monitoring program if resources |
826 | and funding are available or order that the charges revert to |
827 | normal channels for prosecution. |
828 | 2. The court may dismiss the charges upon a finding that |
829 | the child has successfully completed the delinquency pretrial |
830 | intervention program. |
831 | (4)(d) Any entity, whether public or private, providing |
832 | pretrial substance abuse education, treatment intervention, and |
833 | a urine monitoring program under this section must contract with |
834 | the county or appropriate governmental entity, and the terms of |
835 | the contract must include, but need not be limited to, the |
836 | requirements established for private entities under s. |
837 | 948.15(3). It is the intent of the Legislature that public or |
838 | private entities providing substance abuse education and |
839 | treatment intervention programs involve the active participation |
840 | of parents, schools, churches, businesses, law enforcement |
841 | agencies, and the department or its contract providers. |
842 | (2) The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an |
843 | advisory committee for the delinquency pretrial intervention |
844 | program composed of the chief judge or designee, who shall serve |
845 | as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and the |
846 | program administrator, or their designees; and such other |
847 | persons as the chair deems appropriate. The committee may also |
848 | include persons representing any other agencies to which |
849 | children released to the delinquency pretrial intervention |
850 | program may be referred. |
851 | Section 12. This act shall take effect upon becoming a |
852 | law. |