Senate Bill sb0184c1
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By the Committee on Children and Families; and Senator Lynn
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to drug court programs;
3 amending s. 39.001, F.S.; providing additional
4 legislative purposes and intent with respect to
5 the treatment of substance abuse, including the
6 use of the drug court program model;
7 authorizing the court to require certain
8 persons to undergo treatment following
9 adjudication; providing that the court is not
10 precluded from ordering drug testing; amending
11 ss. 39.402 and 39.407, F.S.; authorizing the
12 court to order specified persons to submit to a
13 substance abuse assessment upon a showing of
14 good cause in connection with a shelter hearing
15 or petition for dependency; amending ss. 39.507
16 and 39.521, F.S.; authorizing the court to
17 order specified persons to submit to a
18 substance abuse assessment as part of an
19 adjudicatory order or pursuant to a disposition
20 hearing; requiring a showing of good cause;
21 authorizing the court to require participation
22 in a treatment-based drug court program;
23 authorizing the court to impose sanctions for
24 noncompliance; amending s. 39.701, F.S.;
25 authorizing the court to extend the time for
26 completing a case plan during judicial review,
27 based upon participation in a treatment-based
28 drug court program; amending s. 397.334, F.S.;
29 revising legislative intent with respect to
30 treatment-based drug court programs to reflect
31 participation by community support agencies,
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1 the Department of Education, and other
2 individuals; including postadjudicatory
3 programs as part of treatment-based drug court
4 programs; providing requirements and sanctions,
5 including clinical placement or incarceration,
6 for the coordinated strategy developed by the
7 drug court team to encourage participant
8 compliance; requiring each judicial circuit to
9 establish a position for a coordinator of the
10 treatment-based drug court program, subject to
11 annual appropriation by the Legislature;
12 authorizing the chief judge of each judicial
13 circuit to appoint an advisory committee for
14 the treatment-based drug court program;
15 providing for membership of the committee;
16 revising provisions with respect to an annual
17 report; amending s. 910.035, F.S.; revising
18 provisions with respect to conditions for the
19 transfer of a case in the drug court treatment
20 program to a county other than that in which
21 the charge arose; amending ss. 948.08, 948.16,
22 and 985.306, F.S., relating to felony,
23 misdemeanor, and delinquency pretrial substance
24 abuse education and treatment intervention
25 programs; providing requirements and sanctions,
26 including clinical placement or incarceration,
27 for the coordinated strategy developed by the
28 drug court team to encourage participant
29 compliance and removing provisions authorizing
30 appointment of an advisory committee, to
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1 conform to changes made by the act; providing
2 an effective date.
3
4 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
5
6 Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 39.001, Florida
7 Statutes, is amended to read:
8 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
9 screening.--
10 (4) SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.--
11 (a) The Legislature recognizes that substance abuse is
12 a primary cause of the dramatic rise in cases of child abuse
13 and neglect, immeasurably increases the complexity of cases in
14 the dependency system, severely compromises or destroys the
15 ability of parents to provide a safe and nurturing home for
16 children, and severely confounds the dependency system's
17 ability to protect children. The Legislature also recognizes
18 that early referral and comprehensive treatment can help
19 combat substance abuse in families and that treatment is cost
20 effective. The Legislature further recognizes that
21 treatment-based drug court program models that integrate
22 judicial supervision, treatment, accountability, sanctions,
23 and community support greatly increase the effectiveness of
24 substance abuse treatment and reduce the number of cases of
25 child abuse and neglect.
26 (b) The substance abuse treatment and family safety
27 programs of the Department of Children and Family Services
28 have identified the following goals for the state:
29 1. To ensure the safety of children.
30 2. To prevent and remediate the consequences of
31 substance abuse on families involved in protective supervision
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1 or foster care and reduce substance abuse, including alcohol
2 abuse, for families who are at risk of being involved in
3 protective supervision or foster care.
4 3. To expedite permanency for children and reunify
5 healthy, intact families, when appropriate.
6 4. To support families in recovery.
7 (c) The Legislature finds that children in the care of
8 the state's dependency system need appropriate health care
9 services, that the impact of substance abuse on health
10 indicates the need for health care services to include
11 substance abuse services to children and parents where
12 appropriate, and that it is in the state's best interest that
13 such children be provided the services they need to enable
14 them to become and remain independent of state care. In order
15 to provide these services, the state's dependency system must
16 have the ability to identify and provide appropriate
17 intervention and treatment for children with personal or
18 family-related substance abuse problems.
19 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
20 the court to support the drug court program model by assessing
21 parents and children to identify and address substance abuse
22 problems as the court deems appropriate at every stage of the
23 dependency process. Participation in treatment, including a
24 treatment-based drug court program, may be required by the
25 court following adjudication. This subsection does not prevent
26 a child's parents and, when appropriate, the legal custodian
27 from voluntarily entering treatment, including a
28 treatment-based drug court program, at the earliest stage of
29 the process. Nothing in this subsection precludes a court from
30 ordering drug testing where substance abuse is suspected to
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1 determine the safety of the placement of a child with a
2 caretaker.
3 (e) It is therefore the purpose of the Legislature to
4 provide authority for the state to contract with community
5 substance abuse treatment providers for the development and
6 operation of specialized support and overlay services for the
7 dependency system, which will be fully implemented and used
8 utilized as resources permit.
9 (f) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
10 the Department of Children and Family Services, in conjunction
11 with community agencies; treatment-based facilities;
12 facilities dedicated to child welfare, child development, and
13 mental health services; the Department of Health; other
14 similar agencies; local governments; law enforcement agencies;
15 and other interested public or private sources to support the
16 drug court program model. Participation in the treatment-based
17 drug court program does not divest any public or private
18 agency of its responsibility for a child or adult, but enables
19 these agencies to better meet their needs through shared
20 responsibility and resources.
21 Section 2. Subsections (11) through (16) of section
22 39.402, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (12)
23 through (17), respectively, and a new subsection (11) is added
24 to that section to read:
25 39.402 Placement in a shelter.--
26 (11) At the shelter hearing, the court may order the
27 child or the child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian, or
28 other person requesting custody of the child to submit to a
29 substance abuse assessment or evaluation. The assessment or
30 evaluation must be administered by a qualified professional,
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1 as defined in s. 397.311. The order may be made only upon good
2 cause shown.
3 Section 3. Section 39.407, Florida Statutes, is
4 amended to read:
5 39.407 Medical, psychiatric, and psychological
6 examination and treatment of child; physical, or mental, or
7 substance abuse examination of parent or person requesting
8 custody of child.--
9 (1) When any child is removed from the home and
10 maintained in an out-of-home placement, the department is
11 authorized to have a medical screening performed on the child
12 without authorization from the court and without consent from
13 a parent or legal custodian. Such medical screening shall be
14 performed by a licensed health care professional and shall be
15 to examine the child for injury, illness, and communicable
16 diseases and to determine the need for immunization. The
17 department shall by rule establish the invasiveness of the
18 medical procedures authorized to be performed under this
19 subsection. In no case does this subsection authorize the
20 department to consent to medical treatment for such children.
21 (2) When the department has performed the medical
22 screening authorized by subsection (1), or when it is
23 otherwise determined by a licensed health care professional
24 that a child who is in an out-of-home placement, but who has
25 not been committed to the department, is in need of medical
26 treatment, including the need for immunization, consent for
27 medical treatment shall be obtained in the following manner:
28 (a)1. Consent to medical treatment shall be obtained
29 from a parent or legal custodian of the child; or
30 2. A court order for such treatment shall be obtained.
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1 (b) If a parent or legal custodian of the child is
2 unavailable and his or her whereabouts cannot be reasonably
3 ascertained, and it is after normal working hours so that a
4 court order cannot reasonably be obtained, an authorized agent
5 of the department shall have the authority to consent to
6 necessary medical treatment, including immunization, for the
7 child. The authority of the department to consent to medical
8 treatment in this circumstance shall be limited to the time
9 reasonably necessary to obtain court authorization.
10 (c) If a parent or legal custodian of the child is
11 available but refuses to consent to the necessary treatment,
12 including immunization, a court order shall be required unless
13 the situation meets the definition of an emergency in s.
14 743.064 or the treatment needed is related to suspected abuse,
15 abandonment, or neglect of the child by a parent, caregiver,
16 or legal custodian. In such case, the department shall have
17 the authority to consent to necessary medical treatment. This
18 authority is limited to the time reasonably necessary to
19 obtain court authorization.
20
21 In no case shall the department consent to sterilization,
22 abortion, or termination of life support.
23 (3)(a) A judge may order a child in an out-of-home
24 placement to be examined by a licensed health care
25 professional.
26 (b) The judge may also order such child to be
27 evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist or, if a
28 developmental disability is suspected or alleged, by the
29 developmental disability diagnostic and evaluation team of the
30 department. If it is necessary to place a child in a
31 residential facility for such evaluation, the criteria and
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1 procedure established in s. 394.463(2) or chapter 393 shall be
2 used, whichever is applicable.
3 (c) The judge may also order such child to be
4 evaluated by a district school board educational needs
5 assessment team. The educational needs assessment provided by
6 the district school board educational needs assessment team
7 shall include, but not be limited to, reports of intelligence
8 and achievement tests, screening for learning disabilities and
9 other handicaps, and screening for the need for alternative
10 education as defined in s. 1001.42.
11 (4) A judge may order a child in an out-of-home
12 placement to be treated by a licensed health care professional
13 based on evidence that the child should receive treatment. The
14 judge may also order such child to receive mental health or
15 developmental disabilities services from a psychiatrist,
16 psychologist, or other appropriate service provider. Except as
17 provided in subsection (5), if it is necessary to place the
18 child in a residential facility for such services, the
19 procedures and criteria established in s. 394.467 or chapter
20 393 shall be used, whichever is applicable. A child may be
21 provided developmental disabilities or mental health services
22 in emergency situations, pursuant to the procedures and
23 criteria contained in s. 394.463(1) or chapter 393, whichever
24 is applicable.
25 (5) Children who are in the legal custody of the
26 department may be placed by the department, without prior
27 approval of the court, in a residential treatment center
28 licensed under s. 394.875 or a hospital licensed under chapter
29 395 for residential mental health treatment only pursuant to
30 this section or may be placed by the court in accordance with
31 an order of involuntary examination or involuntary placement
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1 entered pursuant to s. 394.463 or s. 394.467. All children
2 placed in a residential treatment program under this
3 subsection must have a guardian ad litem appointed.
4 (a) As used in this subsection, the term:
5 1. "Residential treatment" means placement for
6 observation, diagnosis, or treatment of an emotional
7 disturbance in a residential treatment center licensed under
8 s. 394.875 or a hospital licensed under chapter 395.
9 2. "Least restrictive alternative" means the treatment
10 and conditions of treatment that, separately and in
11 combination, are no more intrusive or restrictive of freedom
12 than reasonably necessary to achieve a substantial therapeutic
13 benefit or to protect the child or adolescent or others from
14 physical injury.
15 3. "Suitable for residential treatment" or
16 "suitability" means a determination concerning a child or
17 adolescent with an emotional disturbance as defined in s.
18 394.492(5) or a serious emotional disturbance as defined in s.
19 394.492(6) that each of the following criteria is met:
20 a. The child requires residential treatment.
21 b. The child is in need of a residential treatment
22 program and is expected to benefit from mental health
23 treatment.
24 c. An appropriate, less restrictive alternative to
25 residential treatment is unavailable.
26 (b) Whenever the department believes that a child in
27 its legal custody is emotionally disturbed and may need
28 residential treatment, an examination and suitability
29 assessment must be conducted by a qualified evaluator who is
30 appointed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. This
31 suitability assessment must be completed before the placement
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1 of the child in a residential treatment center for emotionally
2 disturbed children and adolescents or a hospital. The
3 qualified evaluator must be a psychiatrist or a psychologist
4 licensed in Florida who has at least 3 years of experience in
5 the diagnosis and treatment of serious emotional disturbances
6 in children and adolescents and who has no actual or perceived
7 conflict of interest with any inpatient facility or
8 residential treatment center or program.
9 (c) Before a child is admitted under this subsection,
10 the child shall be assessed for suitability for residential
11 treatment by a qualified evaluator who has conducted a
12 personal examination and assessment of the child and has made
13 written findings that:
14 1. The child appears to have an emotional disturbance
15 serious enough to require residential treatment and is
16 reasonably likely to benefit from the treatment.
17 2. The child has been provided with a clinically
18 appropriate explanation of the nature and purpose of the
19 treatment.
20 3. All available modalities of treatment less
21 restrictive than residential treatment have been considered,
22 and a less restrictive alternative that would offer comparable
23 benefits to the child is unavailable.
24
25 A copy of the written findings of the evaluation and
26 suitability assessment must be provided to the department and
27 to the guardian ad litem, who shall have the opportunity to
28 discuss the findings with the evaluator.
29 (d) Immediately upon placing a child in a residential
30 treatment program under this section, the department must
31 notify the guardian ad litem and the court having jurisdiction
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1 over the child and must provide the guardian ad litem and the
2 court with a copy of the assessment by the qualified
3 evaluator.
4 (e) Within 10 days after the admission of a child to a
5 residential treatment program, the director of the residential
6 treatment program or the director's designee must ensure that
7 an individualized plan of treatment has been prepared by the
8 program and has been explained to the child, to the
9 department, and to the guardian ad litem, and submitted to the
10 department. The child must be involved in the preparation of
11 the plan to the maximum feasible extent consistent with his or
12 her ability to understand and participate, and the guardian ad
13 litem and the child's foster parents must be involved to the
14 maximum extent consistent with the child's treatment needs.
15 The plan must include a preliminary plan for residential
16 treatment and aftercare upon completion of residential
17 treatment. The plan must include specific behavioral and
18 emotional goals against which the success of the residential
19 treatment may be measured. A copy of the plan must be provided
20 to the child, to the guardian ad litem, and to the department.
21 (f) Within 30 days after admission, the residential
22 treatment program must review the appropriateness and
23 suitability of the child's placement in the program. The
24 residential treatment program must determine whether the child
25 is receiving benefit toward the treatment goals and whether
26 the child could be treated in a less restrictive treatment
27 program. The residential treatment program shall prepare a
28 written report of its findings and submit the report to the
29 guardian ad litem and to the department. The department must
30 submit the report to the court. The report must include a
31 discharge plan for the child. The residential treatment
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1 program must continue to evaluate the child's treatment
2 progress every 30 days thereafter and must include its
3 findings in a written report submitted to the department. The
4 department may not reimburse a facility until the facility has
5 submitted every written report that is due.
6 (g)1. The department must submit, at the beginning of
7 each month, to the court having jurisdiction over the child, a
8 written report regarding the child's progress toward achieving
9 the goals specified in the individualized plan of treatment.
10 2. The court must conduct a hearing to review the
11 status of the child's residential treatment plan no later than
12 3 months after the child's admission to the residential
13 treatment program. An independent review of the child's
14 progress toward achieving the goals and objectives of the
15 treatment plan must be completed by a qualified evaluator and
16 submitted to the court before its 3-month review.
17 3. For any child in residential treatment at the time
18 a judicial review is held pursuant to s. 39.701, the child's
19 continued placement in residential treatment must be a subject
20 of the judicial review.
21 4. If at any time the court determines that the child
22 is not suitable for continued residential treatment, the court
23 shall order the department to place the child in the least
24 restrictive setting that is best suited to meet his or her
25 needs.
26 (h) After the initial 3-month review, the court must
27 conduct a review of the child's residential treatment plan
28 every 90 days.
29 (i) The department must adopt rules for implementing
30 timeframes for the completion of suitability assessments by
31 qualified evaluators and a procedure that includes timeframes
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1 for completing the 3-month independent review by the qualified
2 evaluators of the child's progress toward achieving the goals
3 and objectives of the treatment plan which review must be
4 submitted to the court. The Agency for Health Care
5 Administration must adopt rules for the registration of
6 qualified evaluators, the procedure for selecting the
7 evaluators to conduct the reviews required under this section,
8 and a reasonable, cost-efficient fee schedule for qualified
9 evaluators.
10 (6) When a child is in an out-of-home placement, a
11 licensed health care professional shall be immediately called
12 if there are indications of physical injury or illness, or the
13 child shall be taken to the nearest available hospital for
14 emergency care.
15 (7) Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in
16 this section shall be deemed to eliminate the right of a
17 parent, legal custodian, or the child to consent to
18 examination or treatment for the child.
19 (8) Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in
20 this section shall be deemed to alter the provisions of s.
21 743.064.
22 (9) A court shall not be precluded from ordering
23 services or treatment to be provided to the child by a duly
24 accredited practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means
25 for healing in accordance with the tenets and practices of a
26 church or religious organization, when required by the child's
27 health and when requested by the child.
28 (10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
29 authorize the permanent sterilization of the child unless such
30 sterilization is the result of or incidental to medically
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1 necessary treatment to protect or preserve the life of the
2 child.
3 (11) For the purpose of obtaining an evaluation or
4 examination, or receiving treatment as authorized pursuant to
5 this section, no child alleged to be or found to be dependent
6 shall be placed in a detention home or other program used
7 primarily for the care and custody of children alleged or
8 found to have committed delinquent acts.
9 (12) The parents or legal custodian of a child in an
10 out-of-home placement remain financially responsible for the
11 cost of medical treatment provided to the child even if either
12 one or both of the parents or if the legal custodian did not
13 consent to the medical treatment. After a hearing, the court
14 may order the parents or legal custodian, if found able to do
15 so, to reimburse the department or other provider of medical
16 services for treatment provided.
17 (13) Nothing in this section alters the authority of
18 the department to consent to medical treatment for a dependent
19 child when the child has been committed to the department and
20 the department has become the legal custodian of the child.
21 (14) At any time after the filing of a shelter
22 petition or petition for dependency, when the mental or
23 physical condition, including the blood group, of a parent,
24 caregiver, legal custodian, or other person requesting custody
25 of a child is in controversy, the court may order the person
26 to submit to a physical or mental examination by a qualified
27 professional. The order may be made only upon good cause shown
28 and pursuant to notice and procedures as set forth by the
29 Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.
30 (15) At any time after a shelter petition or petition
31 for dependency is filed, the court may order a child or the
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1 child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian, or other person
2 requesting custody of the child, if it has not already done
3 so, to submit to a substance abuse assessment and evaluation.
4 The assessment or evaluation must be administered by a
5 qualified professional, as defined in s. 397.311. The order
6 may be made only upon good cause shown.
7 Section 4. Subsection (9) is added to section 39.507,
8 Florida Statutes, to read:
9 39.507 Adjudicatory hearings; orders of
10 adjudication.--
11 (9) The court may order a child or the child's parent,
12 caregiver, legal custodian, or other person requesting custody
13 of the child, if it has not already done so, to submit to a
14 substance abuse assessment or evaluation. The assessment or
15 evaluation must be administered by a qualified professional,
16 as defined in s. 397.311. The court may also require such
17 person to participate in and comply with treatment and
18 services identified as necessary, including, when appropriate
19 and available, participation in and compliance with a
20 treatment-based drug court program. The court, including the
21 treatment-based drug court program, shall oversee the progress
22 and compliance with treatment by the child or the child's
23 parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting
24 custody of the child and shall impose appropriate available
25 sanctions for noncompliance upon the child or the child's
26 parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting
27 custody of the child. Any order entered under this subsection
28 may be made only upon good cause shown.
29 Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
30 39.521, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
31 39.521 Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.--
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1 (1) A disposition hearing shall be conducted by the
2 court, if the court finds that the facts alleged in the
3 petition for dependency were proven in the adjudicatory
4 hearing, or if the parents or legal custodians have consented
5 to the finding of dependency or admitted the allegations in
6 the petition, have failed to appear for the arraignment
7 hearing after proper notice, or have not been located despite
8 a diligent search having been conducted.
9 (b) When any child is adjudicated by a court to be
10 dependent, the court having jurisdiction of the child has the
11 power by order to:
12 1. Require the parent and, when appropriate, the legal
13 custodian and the child, to participate in treatment and
14 services identified as necessary. The court may require a
15 child or the child's parent, caregiver, legal custodian, or
16 other person requesting custody of the child to submit to a
17 substance abuse assessment or evaluation. The assessment or
18 evaluation must be administered by a qualified professional,
19 as defined in s. 397.311. The court may also require such
20 person to participate in and comply with treatment and
21 services identified as necessary, including participation in
22 and compliance with a treatment-based drug court program, when
23 appropriate and if available. The court, including the
24 treatment-based drug court program, shall oversee the progress
25 and compliance with treatment by the child or the child's
26 parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting
27 custody of the child and shall impose appropriate available
28 sanctions for noncompliance upon the child or the child's
29 parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person requesting
30 custody of the child. Any order entered under this
31 subparagraph may be made only upon good cause shown.
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1 2. Require, if the court deems necessary, the parties
2 to participate in dependency mediation.
3 3. Require placement of the child either under the
4 protective supervision of an authorized agent of the
5 department in the home of one or both of the child's parents
6 or in the home of a relative of the child or another adult
7 approved by the court, or in the custody of the department.
8 Protective supervision continues until the court terminates it
9 or until the child reaches the age of 18, whichever date is
10 first. Protective supervision shall be terminated by the court
11 whenever the court determines that permanency has been
12 achieved for the child, whether with a parent, another
13 relative, or a legal custodian, and that protective
14 supervision is no longer needed. The termination of
15 supervision may be with or without retaining jurisdiction, at
16 the court's discretion, and shall in either case be considered
17 a permanency option for the child. The order terminating
18 supervision by the department shall set forth the powers of
19 the custodian of the child and shall include the powers
20 ordinarily granted to a guardian of the person of a minor
21 unless otherwise specified. Upon the court's termination of
22 supervision by the department, no further judicial reviews are
23 required, so long as permanency has been established for the
24 child.
25 Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section
26 39.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
27 39.701 Judicial review.--
28 (9)
29 (d) The court may extend the time limitation of the
30 case plan, or may modify the terms of the plan, which, in
31 addition to other modifications, may include a requirement
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1 that the parent, foster parent, or legal custodian participate
2 in a treatment-based drug court program, based upon
3 information provided by the social service agency, and the
4 guardian ad litem, if one has been appointed, the parent or
5 parents, and the foster parents or legal custodian, and any
6 other competent information on record demonstrating the need
7 for the amendment. If the court extends the time limitation of
8 the case plan, the court must make specific findings
9 concerning the frequency of past parent-child visitation, if
10 any, and the court may authorize the expansion or restriction
11 of future visitation. Modifications to the plan must be
12 handled as prescribed in s. 39.601. Any extension of a case
13 plan must comply with the time requirements and other
14 requirements specified by this chapter.
15 Section 7. Section 397.334, Florida Statutes, is
16 amended to read:
17 397.334 Treatment-based drug court programs.--
18 (1) Each county may fund a treatment-based drug court
19 program under which persons in the justice system assessed
20 with a substance abuse problem will be processed in such a
21 manner as to appropriately address the severity of the
22 identified substance abuse problem through treatment services
23 plans tailored to the individual needs of the participant. It
24 is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the Department
25 of Corrections, the Department of Children and Family
26 Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department
27 of Health, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department
28 of Education, and such other agencies, local governments, law
29 enforcement agencies, and other interested public or private
30 sources, and individuals to support the creation and
31 establishment of these problem-solving court programs.
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1 Participation in the treatment-based drug court programs does
2 not divest any public or private agency of its responsibility
3 for a child or adult, but enables allows these agencies to
4 better meet their needs through shared responsibility and
5 resources.
6 (2) The treatment-based drug court programs shall
7 include therapeutic jurisprudence principles and adhere to the
8 following 10 key components, recognized by the Drug Courts
9 Program Office of the Office of Justice Programs of the United
10 States Department of Justice and adopted by the Florida
11 Supreme Court Treatment-Based Drug Court Steering Committee:
12 (a) Drug court programs integrate alcohol and other
13 drug treatment services with justice system case processing.
14 (b) Using a nonadversarial approach, prosecution and
15 defense counsel promote public safety while protecting
16 participants' due process rights.
17 (c) Eligible participants are identified early and
18 promptly placed in the drug court program.
19 (d) Drug court programs provide access to a continuum
20 of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and
21 rehabilitation services.
22 (e) Abstinence is monitored by frequent testing for
23 alcohol and other drugs.
24 (f) A coordinated strategy governs drug court program
25 responses to participants' compliance.
26 (g) Ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court
27 program participant is essential.
28 (h) Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement
29 of program goals and gauge program effectiveness.
30
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1 (i) Continuing interdisciplinary education promotes
2 effective drug court program planning, implementation, and
3 operations.
4 (j) Forging partnerships among drug court programs,
5 public agencies, and community-based organizations generates
6 local support and enhances drug court program effectiveness.
7 (3) Treatment-based drug court programs may include
8 pretrial intervention programs as provided in ss. 948.08,
9 948.16, and 985.306, postadjudicatory programs, and the
10 monitoring of sentenced offenders through a treatment-based
11 drug court program. Supervision may also be provided for
12 offenders who transfer from jail or a prison-based treatment
13 program into the community. While enrolled in any pretrial
14 intervention program, the participant is subject to a
15 coordinated strategy developed by the drug court team under
16 paragraph (2)(f). Each coordinated strategy must include a
17 protocol of sanctions that may be imposed upon the
18 participant. The protocol of sanctions must include as
19 available options placement in a secure licensed clinical or
20 jail-based treatment program or serving a period of
21 incarceration for noncompliance with program rules within the
22 limits established for contempt of court. The coordinated
23 strategy must be provided in writing to the participant at the
24 time the participant enters into a pretrial drug court
25 program.
26 (4) Contingent upon an annual appropriation by the
27 Legislature, each judicial circuit shall establish, at a
28 minimum, one coordinator position for the treatment-based drug
29 court program within the state courts system to coordinate the
30 responsibilities of the participating agencies and service
31 providers. Each coordinator shall provide direct support to
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1 the treatment-based drug court program by providing
2 coordination between the multidisciplinary team and the
3 judiciary, providing case management, monitoring compliance of
4 the participants in the treatment-based drug court program
5 with court requirements, and providing program evaluation and
6 accountability.
7 (5)(4)(a) The Florida Association of Drug Court
8 Program Professionals is created. The membership of the
9 association may consist of treatment-based drug court program
10 practitioners who comprise the multidisciplinary
11 treatment-based drug court program team, including, but not
12 limited to, judges, state attorneys, defense counsel, drug
13 court program coordinators, probation officers, law
14 enforcement officers, community representatives, members of
15 the academic community, and treatment professionals.
16 Membership in the association shall be voluntary.
17 (b) The association shall annually elect a chair whose
18 duty is to solicit recommendations from members on issues
19 relating to the expansion, operation, and institutionalization
20 of treatment-based drug court programs. The chair is
21 responsible for providing on or before October 1 of each year
22 the association's recommendations and an annual report to the
23 appropriate Supreme Court Treatment-Based Drug Court Steering
24 committee or to the appropriate personnel of the Office of the
25 State Courts Administrator, and shall submit a report each
26 year, on or before October 1, to the steering committee.
27 (6)(5) If a county chooses to fund a treatment-based
28 drug court program, the county must secure funding from
29 sources other than the state for those costs not otherwise
30 assumed by the state pursuant to s. 29.004. However, this does
31 not preclude counties from using treatment and other service
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1 dollars provided through state executive branch agencies.
2 Counties may provide, by interlocal agreement, for the
3 collective funding of these programs.
4 (7) The chief judge of each judicial circuit may
5 appoint an advisory committee for the treatment-based drug
6 court program. The committee shall be composed of the chief
7 judge, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair; the
8 judge of the treatment-based drug court program, if not
9 otherwise designated by the chief judge as his or her
10 designee; the state attorney, or his or her designee; the
11 public defender, or his or her designee; the treatment-based
12 drug court program coordinators; community representatives;
13 treatment representatives; and any other persons the chair
14 finds are appropriate.
15 Section 8. Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (5) of
16 section 910.035, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17 910.035 Transfer from county for plea and sentence.--
18 (5) Any person eligible for participation in a drug
19 court treatment program pursuant to s. 948.08(6) may be
20 eligible to have the case transferred to a county other than
21 that in which the charge arose if the drug court program
22 agrees and if the following conditions are met:
23 (b) If approval for transfer is received from all
24 parties, the trial court shall accept a plea of nolo
25 contendere and enter a transfer order directing the clerk to
26 transfer the case to the county which has accepted the
27 defendant into its drug court program.
28 (e) Upon successful completion of the drug court
29 program, the jurisdiction to which the case has been
30 transferred shall dispose of the case pursuant to s.
31 948.08(6). If the defendant does not complete the drug court
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1 program successfully, the jurisdiction to which the case has
2 been transferred shall dispose of the case within the
3 guidelines of the Criminal Punishment Code case shall be
4 prosecuted as determined by the state attorneys of the sending
5 and receiving counties.
6 Section 9. Subsections (6), (7), and (8) of section
7 948.08, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
8 948.08 Pretrial intervention program.--
9 (6)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this section,
10 a person who is charged with a felony of the second or third
11 degree for purchase or possession of a controlled substance
12 under chapter 893, prostitution, tampering with evidence,
13 solicitation for purchase of a controlled substance, or
14 obtaining a prescription by fraud; who has not been charged
15 with a crime involving violence, including, but not limited
16 to, murder, sexual battery, robbery, carjacking, home-invasion
17 robbery, or any other crime involving violence; and who has
18 not previously been convicted of a felony nor been admitted to
19 a felony pretrial program referred to in this section is
20 eligible for admission into a pretrial substance abuse
21 education and treatment intervention program approved by the
22 chief judge of the circuit, for a period of not less than 1
23 year in duration, upon motion of either party or the court's
24 own motion, except:
25 1. If a defendant was previously offered admission to
26 a pretrial substance abuse education and treatment
27 intervention program at any time prior to trial and the
28 defendant rejected that offer on the record, then the court or
29 the state attorney may deny the defendant's admission to such
30 a program.
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1 2. If the state attorney believes that the facts and
2 circumstances of the case suggest the defendant's involvement
3 in the dealing and selling of controlled substances, the court
4 shall hold a preadmission hearing. If the state attorney
5 establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence at such
6 hearing, that the defendant was involved in the dealing or
7 selling of controlled substances, the court shall deny the
8 defendant's admission into a pretrial intervention program.
9 (b) While enrolled in a pretrial intervention program
10 authorized by this section, the participant is subject to a
11 coordinated strategy developed by a drug court team under s.
12 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must include a protocol
13 of sanctions that may be imposed upon the participant. The
14 protocol of sanctions must include as available options
15 placement in a secure licensed clinical or jail-based
16 treatment program or serving a period of incarceration for
17 noncompliance with program rules within the limits established
18 for contempt of court. The coordinated strategy must be
19 provided in writing to the participant at the time the
20 participant enters into a pretrial drug court program.
21 (c)(b) At the end of the pretrial intervention period,
22 the court shall consider the recommendation of the
23 administrator pursuant to subsection (5) and the
24 recommendation of the state attorney as to disposition of the
25 pending charges. The court shall determine, by written
26 finding, whether the defendant has successfully completed the
27 pretrial intervention program.
28 (c)1. If the court finds that the defendant has not
29 successfully completed the pretrial intervention program, the
30 court may order the person to continue in education and
31 treatment, which may include secure licensed clinical or
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1 jail-based treatment programs, or order that the charges
2 revert to normal channels for prosecution.
3 2. The court shall dismiss the charges upon a finding
4 that the defendant has successfully completed the pretrial
5 intervention program.
6 (d) Any entity, whether public or private, providing a
7 pretrial substance abuse education and treatment intervention
8 program under this subsection must contract with the county or
9 appropriate governmental entity, and the terms of the contract
10 must include, but need not be limited to, the requirements
11 established for private entities under s. 948.15(3).
12 (7) The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an
13 advisory committee for the pretrial intervention program
14 composed of the chief judge or his or her designee, who shall
15 serve as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and
16 the program administrator, or their designees; and such other
17 persons as the chair deems appropriate. The advisory committee
18 may not designate any defendant eligible for a pretrial
19 intervention program for any offense that is not listed under
20 paragraph (6)(a) without the state attorney's recommendation
21 and approval. The committee may also include persons
22 representing any other agencies to which persons released to
23 the pretrial intervention program may be referred.
24 (7)(8) The department may contract for the services
25 and facilities necessary to operate pretrial intervention
26 programs.
27 Section 10. Section 948.16, Florida Statutes, is
28 amended to read:
29 948.16 Misdemeanor pretrial substance abuse education
30 and treatment intervention program.--
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1 (1)(a) A person who is charged with a misdemeanor for
2 possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia
3 under chapter 893, and who has not previously been convicted
4 of a felony nor been admitted to a pretrial program, is
5 eligible for admission into a misdemeanor pretrial substance
6 abuse education and treatment intervention program approved by
7 the chief judge of the circuit, for a period based on the
8 program requirements and the treatment plan for the offender,
9 upon motion of either party or the court's own motion, except,
10 if the state attorney believes the facts and circumstances of
11 the case suggest the defendant is involved in dealing and
12 selling controlled substances, the court shall hold a
13 preadmission hearing. If the state attorney establishes, by a
14 preponderance of the evidence at such hearing, that the
15 defendant was involved in dealing or selling controlled
16 substances, the court shall deny the defendant's admission
17 into the pretrial intervention program.
18 (b) While enrolled in a pretrial intervention program
19 authorized by this section, the participant is subject to a
20 coordinated strategy developed by a drug court team under s.
21 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must include a protocol
22 of sanctions that may be imposed upon the participant. The
23 protocol of sanctions must include as available options
24 placement in a secure licensed clinical or jail-based
25 treatment program or serving a period of incarceration for
26 noncompliance with program rules within the limits established
27 for contempt of court. The coordinated strategy must be
28 provided in writing to the participant at the time the
29 participant enters into a pretrial drug court program.
30 (2) At the end of the pretrial intervention period,
31 the court shall consider the recommendation of the treatment
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1 program and the recommendation of the state attorney as to
2 disposition of the pending charges. The court shall determine,
3 by written finding, whether the defendant successfully
4 completed the pretrial intervention program.
5 (a) If the court finds that the defendant has not
6 successfully completed the pretrial intervention program, the
7 court may order the person to continue in education and
8 treatment or return the charges to the criminal docket for
9 prosecution.
10 (b) The court shall dismiss the charges upon finding
11 that the defendant has successfully completed the pretrial
12 intervention program.
13 (3) Any public or private entity providing a pretrial
14 substance abuse education and treatment program under this
15 section shall contract with the county or appropriate
16 governmental entity. The terms of the contract shall include,
17 but not be limited to, the requirements established for
18 private entities under s. 948.15(3).
19 Section 11. Section 985.306, Florida Statutes, is
20 amended to read:
21 985.306 Delinquency pretrial intervention program.--
22 (1)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
23 contrary, a child who is charged under chapter 893 with a
24 felony of the second or third degree for purchase or
25 possession of a controlled substance under chapter 893;
26 tampering with evidence; solicitation for purchase of a
27 controlled substance; or obtaining a prescription by fraud,
28 and who has not previously been adjudicated for a felony nor
29 been admitted to a delinquency pretrial intervention program
30 under this section, is eligible for admission into a
31 delinquency pretrial substance abuse education and treatment
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1 intervention program approved by the chief judge or
2 alternative sanctions coordinator of the circuit to the extent
3 that funded programs are available, for a period based on the
4 program requirements and the treatment services that are
5 suitable for the offender of not less than 1 year in duration,
6 upon motion of either party or the court's own motion. If the
7 state attorney believes that the facts and circumstances of
8 the case suggest the child's involvement in the dealing and
9 selling of controlled substances, the court shall hold a
10 preadmission hearing. If the state attorney establishes by a
11 preponderance of the evidence at such hearing that the child
12 was involved in the dealing and selling of controlled
13 substances, the court shall deny the child's admission into a
14 delinquency pretrial intervention program.
15 (2) While enrolled in a delinquency pretrial
16 intervention program authorized by this section, a child is
17 subject to a coordinated strategy developed by a drug court
18 team under s. 397.334(2). The coordinated strategy must
19 include a protocol of sanctions that may be imposed upon the
20 child. The protocol of sanctions must include as available
21 options placement in a secure licensed clinical facility or
22 placement in a secure detention facility under s. 985.216 for
23 noncompliance with program rules. The coordinated strategy
24 must be provided in writing to the child at the time the child
25 enters the pretrial drug court program.
26 (3)(b) At the end of the delinquency pretrial
27 intervention period, the court shall consider the
28 recommendation of the state attorney and the program
29 administrator as to disposition of the pending charges. The
30 court shall determine, by written finding, whether the child
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1 has successfully completed the delinquency pretrial
2 intervention program.
3 (c)1. If the court finds that the child has not
4 successfully completed the delinquency pretrial intervention
5 program, the court may order the child to continue in an
6 education, treatment, or urine monitoring program if resources
7 and funding are available or order that the charges revert to
8 normal channels for prosecution.
9 2. The court may dismiss the charges upon a finding
10 that the child has successfully completed the delinquency
11 pretrial intervention program.
12 (4)(d) Any entity, whether public or private,
13 providing pretrial substance abuse education, treatment
14 intervention, and a urine monitoring program under this
15 section must contract with the county or appropriate
16 governmental entity, and the terms of the contract must
17 include, but need not be limited to, the requirements
18 established for private entities under s. 948.15(3). It is the
19 intent of the Legislature that public or private entities
20 providing substance abuse education and treatment intervention
21 programs involve the active participation of parents, schools,
22 churches, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and the
23 department or its contract providers.
24 (2) The chief judge in each circuit may appoint an
25 advisory committee for the delinquency pretrial intervention
26 program composed of the chief judge or designee, who shall
27 serve as chair; the state attorney, the public defender, and
28 the program administrator, or their designees; and such other
29 persons as the chair deems appropriate. The committee may also
30 include persons representing any other agencies to which
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1 children released to the delinquency pretrial intervention
2 program may be referred.
3 Section 12. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
4 law.
5
6 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
7 Senate Bill 184
8
9 Removes the court requirement that an order for substance
abuse assessment or evaluation be issued pursuant to the
10 notice and procedures set forth in the Rules of Juvenile
Procedure.
11
Removes the provisions expanding the eligibility requirements
12 of adults juvenile delinquents who participate in a pretrial
intervention program
13
Reinstates current statutory language authorizing the court or
14 the state attorney to deny a defendant's admission to a
pretrial intervention program, if the defendant has refused
15 the program at any time prior to trial.
16 Provides for the monitoring of sentenced offenders through a
treatment-based drug court program as well as authorizes the
17 supervision of offenders who transfer from jail or a
prison-based treatment program.
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