| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to persons with disabilities; amending s. |
| 3 | 20.197, F.S.; requiring the director of the Agency for |
| 4 | Persons with Disabilities to be subject to confirmation by |
| 5 | the Senate; requiring the agency to create a Division of |
| 6 | Budget and Planning and a Division of Operations; |
| 7 | authorizing the director to recommend creating additional |
| 8 | subdivisions of the agency in order to promote efficient |
| 9 | and effective operation of the agency; amending s. 39.001, |
| 10 | F.S., relating to the development of a comprehensive state |
| 11 | plan for children; conforming provisions to the transfer |
| 12 | of duties from the Developmental Disabilities Program |
| 13 | Office within the Department of Children and Family |
| 14 | Services to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; |
| 15 | amending s. 39.202, F.S.; providing for certain employees, |
| 16 | agents, and contract providers of the agency to have |
| 17 | access to records concerning cases of child abuse or |
| 18 | neglect for specified purposes; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; |
| 19 | deleting provisions authorizing the treatment of a child |
| 20 | under ch. 393, F.S., if the child is alleged to be |
| 21 | dependent; amending s. 287.155, F.S.; authorizing the |
| 22 | agency to purchase vehicles under certain circumstances; |
| 23 | amending ss. 381.0072 and 383.14, F.S., relating to food |
| 24 | service licenses and the Genetics and Newborn Screening |
| 25 | Advisory Council, respectively; conforming provisions to |
| 26 | the transfer of duties from the Developmental Disabilities |
| 27 | Program Office within the Department of Children and |
| 28 | Family Services to the Agency for Persons with |
| 29 | Disabilities; repealing s. 393.061, F.S., relating to a |
| 30 | short title; amending s. 393.062, F.S.; revising |
| 31 | legislative findings and intent to conform to changes in |
| 32 | terminology; amending s. 393.063, F.S.; revising the |
| 33 | definitions applicable to ch. 393, F.S., relating to |
| 34 | developmental disabilities; amending s. 393.064, F.S.; |
| 35 | revising the duties of the Agency for Persons with |
| 36 | Disabilities with respect to prevention services, |
| 37 | evaluations and assessments, intervention services, and |
| 38 | support services; amending s. 393.0641, F.S.; defining the |
| 39 | term "severe self-injurious behavior" for purposes of a |
| 40 | program of prevention and treatment for individuals |
| 41 | exhibiting such behavior; amending s. 393.065, F.S., |
| 42 | relating to application for services and the determination |
| 43 | of eligibility for services; providing for children in the |
| 44 | child welfare system to be placed at the top of the |
| 45 | agency's wait list for waiver services; authorizing the |
| 46 | agency to adopt rules; amending s. 393.0651, F.S., |
| 47 | relating to support plans for families and individuals; |
| 48 | revising the age at which support plans are developed for |
| 49 | children; deleting a prohibition against assessing certain |
| 50 | fees; creating s. 393.0654, F.S.; specifying circumstances |
| 51 | under which an employee of the agency may own, operate, or |
| 52 | work in a private facility under contract with the agency; |
| 53 | amending s. 393.0655, F.S.; revising the screening |
| 54 | requirements for direct service providers; providing a |
| 55 | temporary exemption from screening requirements for |
| 56 | certain providers; amending s. 393.0657, F.S.; revising an |
| 57 | exemption from certain requirements for refingerprinting |
| 58 | and rescreening; amending s. 393.066, F.S.; revising |
| 59 | certain requirements for the services provided by the |
| 60 | agency; requiring agency approval for purchased services; |
| 61 | revising the agency's rulemaking authority; amending s. |
| 62 | 393.067, F.S.; revising requirements governing the |
| 63 | agency's licensure procedures; revising the requirements |
| 64 | for background screening of applicants for licensure and |
| 65 | managers, supervisors, and staff members of service |
| 66 | providers; requiring that the agency adopt rules governing |
| 67 | the reporting of incidents; deleting certain |
| 68 | responsibilities of the Agency for Health Care |
| 69 | Administration with respect to the development and review |
| 70 | of emergency management plans; amending s. 393.0673, F.S.; |
| 71 | providing circumstances under which the agency may deny, |
| 72 | revoke, or suspend a license or impose a fine; requiring |
| 73 | the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to adopt rules |
| 74 | for evaluating violations and determining the amount of |
| 75 | fines; amending s. 393.0674, F.S.; providing a penalty for |
| 76 | failure by a provider to comply with background screening |
| 77 | requirements; amending s. 393.0675, F.S.; deleting certain |
| 78 | obsolete provisions requiring that a provider be of good |
| 79 | moral character; amending s. 393.0678, F.S.; deleting |
| 80 | provisions governing receivership proceedings for an |
| 81 | intermediate care facility for the developmentally |
| 82 | disabled; amending s. 393.068, F.S.; requiring that the |
| 83 | family care program emphasize self-determination; removing |
| 84 | supported employment from the list of services available |
| 85 | under the family care program; revising certain |
| 86 | requirements for reimbursing a family care program |
| 87 | provider; amending s. 393.0695, F.S., relating to in-home |
| 88 | subsidies; requiring that the Agency for Persons with |
| 89 | Disabilities adopt rules for such subsidies; amending s. |
| 90 | 393.075, F.S., relating to liability coverage for |
| 91 | facilities licensed by the agency; conforming terminology; |
| 92 | amending s. 393.11, F.S.; revising provisions governing |
| 93 | the involuntary admission of a person to residential |
| 94 | services; clarifying provisions governing involuntary |
| 95 | commitment; requiring that a person who is charged with a |
| 96 | felony will have his or her competency determined under |
| 97 | ch. 916, F.S.; conforming terminology; amending s. |
| 98 | 393.122, F.S.; clarifying requirements governing |
| 99 | applications for continued residential services; amending |
| 100 | s. 393.13, F.S., relating to the Bill of Rights of Persons |
| 101 | Who are Developmentally Disabled; deleting a provision |
| 102 | protecting minimum wage compensation for certain programs; |
| 103 | limiting the use of restraint and seclusion; requiring the |
| 104 | agency to adopt rules governing the use of restraint or |
| 105 | seclusion; revising requirements for client records; |
| 106 | deleting certain requirements governing local advocacy |
| 107 | councils; allowing the resident government to include |
| 108 | disability advocates from the community; amending s. |
| 109 | 393.135, F.S.; revising definitions; clarifying provisions |
| 110 | making such misconduct a second-degree felony; amending s. |
| 111 | 393.15, F.S.; establishing the Community Resources |
| 112 | Development Loan Program to provide loans to foster homes, |
| 113 | group homes, and supported employment programs; providing |
| 114 | legislative intent; providing eligibility requirements; |
| 115 | providing authorized uses of loan funds; requiring that |
| 116 | the agency adopt rules governing the loan program; |
| 117 | providing requirements for repaying loans; amending s. |
| 118 | 393.17, F.S.; authorizing the agency to establish |
| 119 | certification programs for persons providing services to |
| 120 | clients; requiring that the agency establish a |
| 121 | certification program for behavior analysts; requiring |
| 122 | that the program be reviewed and validated; creating s. |
| 123 | 393.18, F.S.; providing for a comprehensive transition |
| 124 | education program for persons who have severe or moderate |
| 125 | maladaptive behaviors; specifying the types of treatment |
| 126 | and education centers providing services under the |
| 127 | program; providing requirements for licensure; requiring |
| 128 | individual education plans for persons receiving services; |
| 129 | limiting the number of persons who may receive services in |
| 130 | such a program; authorizing licensure of certain existing |
| 131 | programs; creating s. 393.23, F.S.; requiring that |
| 132 | receipts from operating canteens, vending machines, and |
| 133 | other like activities in a developmental disabilities |
| 134 | institution be deposited in a trust account in a bank, |
| 135 | credit union, or savings and loan association; describing |
| 136 | how the moneys earned may be expended; allowing for the |
| 137 | investment of the funds; requiring that the accounting |
| 138 | system at the institution account for the revenues and |
| 139 | expenses of the activities; requiring that sales tax |
| 140 | moneys be remitted to the Department of Revenue; amending |
| 141 | s. 393.501, F.S.; revising the agency's rulemaking |
| 142 | authority; providing requirements for rules governing |
| 143 | alternative living centers and independent living |
| 144 | education centers; amending s. 394.453, F.S.; declaring |
| 145 | that the policy of the state is to achieve an ongoing |
| 146 | reduction of the use of restraint and seclusion on persons |
| 147 | with mental illness who are served by programs and |
| 148 | facilities operated, licensed, or monitored by the agency; |
| 149 | amending s. 394.455, F.S.; defining the terms "restraint" |
| 150 | and "seclusion" for purposes of the Baker Act; amending s. |
| 151 | 394.457, F.S.; requiring the Department of Children and |
| 152 | Family Services to adopt rules for the use of restraint |
| 153 | and seclusion for cases handled under the Baker Act; |
| 154 | amending s. 394.879, F.S.; requiring that rules be adopted |
| 155 | for the use of restraint and seclusion; amending s. |
| 156 | 397.405, F.S.; clarifying an exemption from licensure |
| 157 | provided to certain facilities licensed under ch. 393, |
| 158 | F.S.; amending s. 400.419, F.S.; requiring that a list of |
| 159 | facilities subject to sanctions or fines be disseminated |
| 160 | to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; amending s. |
| 161 | 400.960, F.S.; revising definitions for purposes of part |
| 162 | XI of ch. 400, F.S., relating to nursing homes and related |
| 163 | facilities; amending 400.962, F.S.; requiring an applicant |
| 164 | for a license to operate an intermediate care facility to |
| 165 | agree to provide or arrange for active treatment services; |
| 166 | providing rulemaking authority; amending s. 400.967, F.S., |
| 167 | relating to rules and classification of deficiencies; |
| 168 | conforming provisions to the transfer of duties from the |
| 169 | Department of Children and Family Services to the Agency |
| 170 | for Persons with Disabilities; requiring that rules be |
| 171 | adopted for the use of restraint and seclusion; amending |
| 172 | ss. 402.115, 402.17, 402.181, 402.20, 402.22, and 402.33, |
| 173 | F.S.; including the Agency for Persons with Disabilities |
| 174 | within provisions governing the sharing of information, |
| 175 | claims for the care and maintenance of facility residents, |
| 176 | county contracts for services for persons with |
| 177 | developmental disabilities, education programs for |
| 178 | students who reside in state facilities, and fees for |
| 179 | services; conforming provisions to changes made by the |
| 180 | act; correcting a cross-reference; amending s. 408.036, |
| 181 | F.S., relating to projects that are exempt from obtaining |
| 182 | a certificate of need; conforming terminology; amending s. |
| 183 | 409.221, F.S., relating to the consumer directed care |
| 184 | program; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; |
| 185 | amending ss. 409.908 and 409.9127, F.S., relating to the |
| 186 | Medicaid program; conforming a cross-reference; deleting |
| 187 | obsolete provisions; amending ss. 411.224 and 411.232, |
| 188 | F.S.; conforming provisions to the transfer of duties from |
| 189 | the Developmental Disabilities Program Office within the |
| 190 | Department of Children and Family Services to the Agency |
| 191 | for Persons with Disabilities; amending ss. 415.102, |
| 192 | 415.1035, 415.1055, and 415.107, F.S.; conforming |
| 193 | terminology; including the Agency for Persons with |
| 194 | Disabilities within provisions providing requirements that |
| 195 | a facility inform residents of certain rights, |
| 196 | notification requirements for administrative entities, and |
| 197 | requirements for maintaining the confidentiality of |
| 198 | reports and records; amending s. 435.03, F.S., relating to |
| 199 | screening standards; conforming terminology and a cross- |
| 200 | reference; amending ss. 490.014 and 491.014, F.S., |
| 201 | relating to exemptions from licensure for psychologists |
| 202 | and certain specified counselors, respectively; conforming |
| 203 | provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. |
| 204 | 944.602, 945.025, 947.185, and 985.224, F.S., relating to |
| 205 | the Department of Corrections, the Parole Commission, and |
| 206 | petitions alleging delinquency; conforming provisions to |
| 207 | the transfer of duties from the Developmental Disabilities |
| 208 | Program Office within the Department of Children and |
| 209 | Family Services to the Agency for Persons with |
| 210 | Disabilities; amending s. 1003.58, F.S.; including |
| 211 | facilities operated by the Agency for Persons with |
| 212 | Disabilities within provisions governing the residential |
| 213 | care of students; amending ss. 17.61 and 400.464, F.S., |
| 214 | relating to investment of certain funds and home health |
| 215 | services for persons with disabilities, respectively; |
| 216 | conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending |
| 217 | s. 744.704, F.S.; correcting a cross-reference; amending |
| 218 | s. 984.22, F.S.; removing a provision that specifies fines |
| 219 | be deposited into the Community Resources Development |
| 220 | Trust Fund; creating part III of ch. 282, F.S.; requiring |
| 221 | that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of |
| 222 | state government provide to individuals with disabilities |
| 223 | access to and use of information and data that is |
| 224 | comparable to the information and data provided to |
| 225 | individuals who do not have disabilities; providing |
| 226 | certain exceptions; providing definitions; requiring that |
| 227 | each state agency use accessible electronic information |
| 228 | and information technology that conforms with specified |
| 229 | provisions of federal law; providing certain exceptions; |
| 230 | requiring the Department of Management Services to adopt |
| 231 | rules; providing an exception for electronic information |
| 232 | and information technology involving military activities |
| 233 | or criminal intelligence activities; specifying that the |
| 234 | act applies to competitive solicitations; providing |
| 235 | legislative intent; providing an effective date. |
| 236 |
|
| 237 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 238 |
|
| 239 | Section 1. Section 20.197, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
| 240 | read: |
| 241 | 20.197 Agency for Persons with Disabilities.--There is |
| 242 | created the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, housed within |
| 243 | the Department of Children and Family Services for |
| 244 | administrative purposes only. The agency shall be a separate |
| 245 | budget entity not subject to control, supervision, or direction |
| 246 | by the Department of Children and Family Services in any manner, |
| 247 | including, but not limited to, personnel, purchasing, |
| 248 | transactions involving real or personal property, and budgetary |
| 249 | matters. |
| 250 | (1) The director of the agency shall be the agency head |
| 251 | for all purposes and shall be appointed by the Governor, subject |
| 252 | to confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure |
| 253 | of the Governor. The director shall administer the affairs of |
| 254 | the agency and establish administrative units as needed and may, |
| 255 | within available resources, employ assistants, professional |
| 256 | staff, and other employees as necessary to discharge the powers |
| 257 | and duties of the agency. |
| 258 | (2) The agency shall include a Division of Budget and |
| 259 | Planning and a Division of Operations. In addition, and in |
| 260 | accordance with s. 20.04, the director of the agency may |
| 261 | recommend establishing additional divisions, bureaus, sections, |
| 262 | and subsections of the agency in order to promote efficient and |
| 263 | effective operation of the agency. |
| 264 | (3)(2) The agency is shall be responsible for providing |
| 265 | the provision of all services provided to persons with |
| 266 | developmental disabilities under pursuant to chapter 393, |
| 267 | including the operation of all state institutional programs and |
| 268 | the programmatic management of Medicaid waivers established to |
| 269 | provide services to persons with developmental disabilities. |
| 270 | (4)(3) The agency shall engage in such other |
| 271 | administrative activities as are deemed necessary to effectively |
| 272 | and efficiently address the needs of the agency's clients. |
| 273 | (5)(4) The agency shall enter into an interagency |
| 274 | agreement that delineates the responsibilities of the Agency for |
| 275 | Health Care Administration for the following: |
| 276 | (a) The terms and execution of contracts with Medicaid |
| 277 | providers for the provision of services provided through |
| 278 | Medicaid, including federally approved waiver programs. |
| 279 | (b) The billing, payment, and reconciliation of claims for |
| 280 | Medicaid services reimbursed by the agency. |
| 281 | (c) The implementation of utilization management measures, |
| 282 | including the prior authorization of services plans and the |
| 283 | streamlining and consolidation of waivers services, to ensure |
| 284 | the cost-effective provision of needed Medicaid services and to |
| 285 | maximize the number of persons with access to such services. |
| 286 | (d) A system of approving each client's plan of care to |
| 287 | ensure that the services on the plan of care are those that |
| 288 | without which the client would require the services of an |
| 289 | intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled. |
| 290 | Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section |
| 291 | 39.001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 292 | 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and |
| 293 | screening.-- |
| 294 | (7) PLAN FOR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.-- |
| 295 | (b) The development of the comprehensive state plan shall |
| 296 | be accomplished in the following manner: |
| 297 | 1. The department shall establish an interprogram task |
| 298 | force comprised of the Program Director for Family Safety, or a |
| 299 | designee, a representative from the Child Care Services Program |
| 300 | Office, a representative from the Family Safety Program Office, |
| 301 | a representative from the Mental Health Program Office, a |
| 302 | representative from the Substance Abuse Program Office, a |
| 303 | representative from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities |
| 304 | Developmental Disabilities Program Office, and a representative |
| 305 | from the Division of Children's Medical Services Network |
| 306 | Prevention and Intervention of the Department of Health. |
| 307 | Representatives of the Department of Law Enforcement and of the |
| 308 | Department of Education shall serve as ex officio members of the |
| 309 | interprogram task force. The interprogram task force shall be |
| 310 | responsible for: |
| 311 | a. Developing a plan of action for better coordination and |
| 312 | integration of the goals, activities, and funding pertaining to |
| 313 | the prevention of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect |
| 314 | conducted by the department in order to maximize staff and |
| 315 | resources at the state level. The plan of action shall be |
| 316 | included in the state plan. |
| 317 | b. Providing a basic format to be utilized by the |
| 318 | districts in the preparation of local plans of action in order |
| 319 | to provide for uniformity in the district plans and to provide |
| 320 | for greater ease in compiling information for the state plan. |
| 321 | c. Providing the districts with technical assistance in |
| 322 | the development of local plans of action, if requested. |
| 323 | d. Examining the local plans to determine if all the |
| 324 | requirements of the local plans have been met and, if they have |
| 325 | not, informing the districts of the deficiencies and requesting |
| 326 | the additional information needed. |
| 327 | e. Preparing the state plan for submission to the |
| 328 | Legislature and the Governor. Such preparation shall include the |
| 329 | collapsing of information obtained from the local plans, the |
| 330 | cooperative plans with the Department of Education, and the plan |
| 331 | of action for coordination and integration of departmental |
| 332 | activities into one comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan |
| 333 | shall include a section reflecting general conditions and needs, |
| 334 | an analysis of variations based on population or geographic |
| 335 | areas, identified problems, and recommendations for change. In |
| 336 | essence, the plan shall provide an analysis and summary of each |
| 337 | element of the local plans to provide a statewide perspective. |
| 338 | The plan shall also include each separate local plan of action. |
| 339 | f. Working with the specified state agency in fulfilling |
| 340 | the requirements of subparagraphs 2., 3., 4., and 5. |
| 341 | 2. The department, the Department of Education, and the |
| 342 | Department of Health shall work together in developing ways to |
| 343 | inform and instruct parents of school children and appropriate |
| 344 | district school personnel in all school districts in the |
| 345 | detection of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect and in the |
| 346 | proper action that should be taken in a suspected case of child |
| 347 | abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and in caring for a child's |
| 348 | needs after a report is made. The plan for accomplishing this |
| 349 | end shall be included in the state plan. |
| 350 | 3. The department, the Department of Law Enforcement, and |
| 351 | the Department of Health shall work together in developing ways |
| 352 | to inform and instruct appropriate local law enforcement |
| 353 | personnel in the detection of child abuse, abandonment, and |
| 354 | neglect and in the proper action that should be taken in a |
| 355 | suspected case of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. |
| 356 | 4. Within existing appropriations, the department shall |
| 357 | work with other appropriate public and private agencies to |
| 358 | emphasize efforts to educate the general public about the |
| 359 | problem of and ways to detect child abuse, abandonment, and |
| 360 | neglect and in the proper action that should be taken in a |
| 361 | suspected case of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. The plan |
| 362 | for accomplishing this end shall be included in the state plan. |
| 363 | 5. The department, the Department of Education, and the |
| 364 | Department of Health shall work together on the enhancement or |
| 365 | adaptation of curriculum materials to assist instructional |
| 366 | personnel in providing instruction through a multidisciplinary |
| 367 | approach on the identification, intervention, and prevention of |
| 368 | child abuse, abandonment, and neglect. The curriculum materials |
| 369 | shall be geared toward a sequential program of instruction at |
| 370 | the four progressional levels, K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. |
| 371 | Strategies for encouraging all school districts to utilize the |
| 372 | curriculum are to be included in the comprehensive state plan |
| 373 | for the prevention of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect. |
| 374 | 6. Each district of the department shall develop a plan |
| 375 | for its specific geographical area. The plan developed at the |
| 376 | district level shall be submitted to the interprogram task force |
| 377 | for utilization in preparing the state plan. The district local |
| 378 | plan of action shall be prepared with the involvement and |
| 379 | assistance of the local agencies and organizations listed in |
| 380 | paragraph (a), as well as representatives from those |
| 381 | departmental district offices participating in the treatment and |
| 382 | prevention of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect. In order to |
| 383 | accomplish this, the district administrator in each district |
| 384 | shall establish a task force on the prevention of child abuse, |
| 385 | abandonment, and neglect. The district administrator shall |
| 386 | appoint the members of the task force in accordance with the |
| 387 | membership requirements of this section. In addition, the |
| 388 | district administrator shall ensure that each subdistrict is |
| 389 | represented on the task force; and, if the district does not |
| 390 | have subdistricts, the district administrator shall ensure that |
| 391 | both urban and rural areas are represented on the task force. |
| 392 | The task force shall develop a written statement clearly |
| 393 | identifying its operating procedures, purpose, overall |
| 394 | responsibilities, and method of meeting responsibilities. The |
| 395 | district plan of action to be prepared by the task force shall |
| 396 | include, but shall not be limited to: |
| 397 | a. Documentation of the magnitude of the problems of child |
| 398 | abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional |
| 399 | abuse, and child abandonment and neglect in its geographical |
| 400 | area. |
| 401 | b. A description of programs currently serving abused, |
| 402 | abandoned, and neglected children and their families and a |
| 403 | description of programs for the prevention of child abuse, |
| 404 | abandonment, and neglect, including information on the impact, |
| 405 | cost-effectiveness, and sources of funding of such programs. |
| 406 | c. A continuum of programs and services necessary for a |
| 407 | comprehensive approach to the prevention of all types of child |
| 408 | abuse, abandonment, and neglect as well as a brief description |
| 409 | of such programs and services. |
| 410 | d. A description, documentation, and priority ranking of |
| 411 | local needs related to child abuse, abandonment, and neglect |
| 412 | prevention based upon the continuum of programs and services. |
| 413 | e. A plan for steps to be taken in meeting identified |
| 414 | needs, including the coordination and integration of services to |
| 415 | avoid unnecessary duplication and cost, and for alternative |
| 416 | funding strategies for meeting needs through the reallocation of |
| 417 | existing resources, utilization of volunteers, contracting with |
| 418 | local universities for services, and local government or private |
| 419 | agency funding. |
| 420 | f. A description of barriers to the accomplishment of a |
| 421 | comprehensive approach to the prevention of child abuse, |
| 422 | abandonment, and neglect. |
| 423 | g. Recommendations for changes that can be accomplished |
| 424 | only at the state program level or by legislative action. |
| 425 | Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (h) of subsection (2) of |
| 426 | section 39.202, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 427 | 39.202 Confidentiality of reports and records in cases of |
| 428 | child abuse or neglect.-- |
| 429 | (2) Except as provided in subsection (4), access to such |
| 430 | records, excluding the name of the reporter which shall be |
| 431 | released only as provided in subsection (5), shall be granted |
| 432 | only to the following persons, officials, and agencies: |
| 433 | (a) Employees, authorized agents, or contract providers of |
| 434 | the department, the Department of Health, the Agency for Persons |
| 435 | with Disabilities, or county agencies responsible for carrying |
| 436 | out: |
| 437 | 1. Child or adult protective investigations; |
| 438 | 2. Ongoing child or adult protective services; |
| 439 | 3. Healthy Start services; or |
| 440 | 4. Licensure or approval of adoptive homes, foster homes, |
| 441 | or child care facilities, facilities licensed under chapter 393, |
| 442 | or family day care homes or informal child care providers who |
| 443 | receive subsidized child care funding, or other homes used to |
| 444 | provide for the care and welfare of children. |
| 445 | 5. Services for victims of domestic violence when provided |
| 446 | by certified domestic violence centers working at the |
| 447 | department's request as case consultants or with shared clients. |
| 448 |
|
| 449 | Also, employees or agents of the Department of Juvenile Justice |
| 450 | responsible for the provision of services to children, pursuant |
| 451 | to chapters 984 and 985. |
| 452 | (h) Any appropriate official of the department or the |
| 453 | Agency for Persons with Disabilities who is responsible for: |
| 454 | 1. Administration or supervision of the department's |
| 455 | program for the prevention, investigation, or treatment of child |
| 456 | abuse, abandonment, or neglect, or abuse, neglect, or |
| 457 | exploitation of a vulnerable adult, when carrying out his or her |
| 458 | official function; |
| 459 | 2. Taking appropriate administrative action concerning an |
| 460 | employee of the department or the agency who is alleged to have |
| 461 | perpetrated child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, or abuse, |
| 462 | neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult; or |
| 463 | 3. Employing and continuing employment of personnel of the |
| 464 | department or the agency. |
| 465 | Section 4. Subsection (5) of section 39.407, Florida |
| 466 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 467 | 39.407 Medical, psychiatric, and psychological examination |
| 468 | and treatment of child; physical or mental examination of parent |
| 469 | or person requesting custody of child.-- |
| 470 | (5) A judge may order a child in an out-of-home placement |
| 471 | to be treated by a licensed health care professional based on |
| 472 | evidence that the child should receive treatment. The judge may |
| 473 | also order such child to receive mental health or developmental |
| 474 | disabilities services from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or |
| 475 | other appropriate service provider. Except as provided in |
| 476 | subsection (6), if it is necessary to place the child in a |
| 477 | residential facility for such services, the procedures and |
| 478 | criteria established in s. 394.467 or chapter 393 shall be used, |
| 479 | whichever is applicable. A child may be provided developmental |
| 480 | disabilities or mental health services in emergency situations, |
| 481 | pursuant to the procedures and criteria contained in s. |
| 482 | 394.463(1) or chapter 393, whichever is applicable. Nothing in |
| 483 | this section confers jurisdiction on the court with regard to |
| 484 | determining eligibility or ordering services under chapter 393. |
| 485 | Section 5. Section 287.155, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 486 | to read: |
| 487 | 287.155 Motor vehicles; purchase by Division of |
| 488 | Universities, Department of Children and Family Services, Agency |
| 489 | for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Health, Department |
| 490 | of Juvenile Justice, and Department of Corrections.-- |
| 491 | (1) The Division of Universities of the Department of |
| 492 | Education, the Department of Children and Family Services, the |
| 493 | Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Health, |
| 494 | the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of |
| 495 | Corrections may are hereby authorized, subject to the approval |
| 496 | of the Department of Management Services, to purchase |
| 497 | automobiles, trucks, tractors, and other automotive equipment |
| 498 | for the use of institutions under the management of the Division |
| 499 | of Universities, the Department of Children and Family Services, |
| 500 | the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of |
| 501 | Health, and the Department of Corrections, and for the use of |
| 502 | residential facilities managed or contracted by the Department |
| 503 | of Juvenile Justice. |
| 504 | (2) The Department of Corrections shall, prior to |
| 505 | purchasing motor vehicles, seek to procure the motor vehicles |
| 506 | from those vehicles renovated pursuant to correctional work |
| 507 | programs of the Department of Corrections, and for the use of |
| 508 | residential facilities managed or contracted by the Department |
| 509 | of Juvenile Justice. |
| 510 | (3) The Department of Health is authorized, subject to the |
| 511 | approval of the Department of Management Services, to purchase |
| 512 | automobiles, trucks, and other automotive equipment for use by |
| 513 | county health departments. |
| 514 | Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section |
| 515 | 381.0072, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 516 | 381.0072 Food service protection.--It shall be the duty of |
| 517 | the Department of Health to adopt and enforce sanitation rules |
| 518 | consistent with law to ensure the protection of the public from |
| 519 | food-borne illness. These rules shall provide the standards and |
| 520 | requirements for the storage, preparation, serving, or display |
| 521 | of food in food service establishments as defined in this |
| 522 | section and which are not permitted or licensed under chapter |
| 523 | 500 or chapter 509. |
| 524 | (3) LICENSES REQUIRED.-- |
| 525 | (a) Licenses; annual renewals.--Each food service |
| 526 | establishment regulated under this section shall obtain a |
| 527 | license from the department annually. Food service establishment |
| 528 | licenses shall expire annually and are shall not be transferable |
| 529 | from one place or individual to another. However, those |
| 530 | facilities licensed by the department's Office of Licensure and |
| 531 | Certification, the Child Care Services Program Office, or the |
| 532 | Agency for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program |
| 533 | Office are exempt from this subsection. It shall be a |
| 534 | misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. |
| 535 | 381.0061, s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, for such an establishment |
| 536 | to operate without this license. The department may refuse a |
| 537 | license, or a renewal thereof, to any establishment that is not |
| 538 | constructed or maintained in accordance with law and with the |
| 539 | rules of the department. Annual application for renewal is shall |
| 540 | not be required. |
| 541 | Section 7. Subsection (5) of section 383.14, Florida |
| 542 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 543 | 383.14 Screening for metabolic disorders, other hereditary |
| 544 | and congenital disorders, and environmental risk factors.-- |
| 545 | (5) ADVISORY COUNCIL.--There is established a Genetics and |
| 546 | Newborn Screening Advisory Council made up of 15 members |
| 547 | appointed by the Secretary of Health. The council shall be |
| 548 | composed of two consumer members, three practicing |
| 549 | pediatricians, at least one of whom must be a pediatric |
| 550 | hematologist, one representative from each of the four medical |
| 551 | schools in the state, the Secretary of Health or his or her |
| 552 | designee, one representative from the Department of Health |
| 553 | representing Children's Medical Services, one representative |
| 554 | from the Florida Hospital Association, one individual with |
| 555 | experience in newborn screening programs, one individual |
| 556 | representing audiologists, and one representative from the |
| 557 | Agency for Persons with Disabilities Developmental Disabilities |
| 558 | Program Office of the Department of Children and Family |
| 559 | Services. All appointments shall be for a term of 4 years. The |
| 560 | chairperson of the council shall be elected from the membership |
| 561 | of the council and shall serve for a period of 2 years. The |
| 562 | council shall meet at least semiannually or upon the call of the |
| 563 | chairperson. The council may establish ad hoc or temporary |
| 564 | technical advisory groups to assist the council with specific |
| 565 | topics which come before the council. Council members shall |
| 566 | serve without pay. Pursuant to the provisions of s. 112.061, the |
| 567 | council members are entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and |
| 568 | travel expenses. It is the purpose of the council to advise the |
| 569 | department about: |
| 570 | (a) Conditions for which testing should be included under |
| 571 | the screening program and the genetics program. |
| 572 | (b) Procedures for collection and transmission of |
| 573 | specimens and recording of results. |
| 574 | (c) Methods whereby screening programs and genetics |
| 575 | services for children now provided or proposed to be offered in |
| 576 | the state may be more effectively evaluated, coordinated, and |
| 577 | consolidated. |
| 578 | Section 8. Section 393.061, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
| 579 | Section 9. Section 393.062, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 580 | to read: |
| 581 | 393.062 Legislative findings and declaration of |
| 582 | intent.--The Legislature finds and declares that existing state |
| 583 | programs for the treatment of individuals with developmental |
| 584 | disabilities who are developmentally disabled, which often |
| 585 | unnecessarily place clients in institutions, are unreasonably |
| 586 | costly, are ineffective in bringing the individual client to his |
| 587 | or her maximum potential, and are in fact debilitating to many a |
| 588 | great majority of clients. A redirection in state treatment |
| 589 | programs for individuals with developmental disabilities who are |
| 590 | developmentally disabled is necessary if any significant |
| 591 | amelioration of the problems faced by such individuals is ever |
| 592 | to take place. Such redirection should place primary emphasis on |
| 593 | programs that have the potential to prevent or reduce the |
| 594 | severity of developmental disabilities. Further, the Legislature |
| 595 | declares that greatest priority shall be given to the |
| 596 | development and implementation of community-based residential |
| 597 | placements, services that, and treatment programs for |
| 598 | individuals who are developmentally disabled which will enable |
| 599 | such individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve |
| 600 | their greatest potential for independent and productive living, |
| 601 | which will enable them to live in their own homes or in |
| 602 | residences located in their own communities, and which will |
| 603 | permit them to be diverted or removed from unnecessary |
| 604 | institutional placements. This goal The Legislature finds that |
| 605 | the eligibility criteria for intermediate-care facilities for |
| 606 | the developmentally disabled which are specified in the Medicaid |
| 607 | state plan in effect on the effective date of this act are |
| 608 | essential to the system of residential services. The Legislature |
| 609 | declares that the goal of this act, to improve the quality of |
| 610 | life of all developmentally disabled persons by the development |
| 611 | and implementation of community-based residential placements, |
| 612 | services, and treatment, cannot be met without ensuring the |
| 613 | availability of community residential opportunities for |
| 614 | developmentally disabled persons in the residential areas of |
| 615 | this state. The Legislature, therefore, declares that all |
| 616 | persons with developmental disabilities who live in licensed |
| 617 | community homes shall have a family living environment |
| 618 | comparable to other Floridians and. The Legislature intends that |
| 619 | such residences shall be considered and treated as a functional |
| 620 | equivalent of a family unit and not as an institution, business, |
| 621 | or boarding home. The Legislature further declares that, in |
| 622 | developing community-based programs and services for individuals |
| 623 | with developmental disabilities who are developmentally |
| 624 | disabled, private businesses, not-for-profit corporations, units |
| 625 | of local government, and other organizations capable of |
| 626 | providing needed services to clients in a cost-efficient manner |
| 627 | shall be given preference in lieu of operation of programs |
| 628 | directly by state agencies. Finally, it is the intent of the |
| 629 | Legislature that all caretakers unrelated to individuals with |
| 630 | developmental disabilities receiving care shall be of good moral |
| 631 | character. |
| 632 | Section 10. Section 393.063, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 633 | to read: |
| 634 | 393.063 Definitions.--For the purposes of this chapter, |
| 635 | the term: |
| 636 | (1) "Agency" means the Agency for Persons with |
| 637 | Disabilities. |
| 638 | (2) "Adult day training" means training services which |
| 639 | take place in a nonresidential setting, separate from the home |
| 640 | or facility in which the client resides, are intended to support |
| 641 | the participation of clients in daily, meaningful, and valued |
| 642 | routines of the community, and may include work-like settings |
| 643 | that do not meet the definition of supported employment. |
| 644 | (3)(2) "Autism" means a pervasive, neurologically based |
| 645 | developmental disability of extended duration which causes |
| 646 | severe learning, communication, and behavior disorders with age |
| 647 | of onset during infancy or childhood. Individuals with autism |
| 648 | exhibit impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment |
| 649 | in verbal and nonverbal communication and imaginative ability, |
| 650 | and a markedly restricted repertoire of activities and |
| 651 | interests. |
| 652 | (4)(3) "Cerebral palsy" means a group of disabling |
| 653 | symptoms of extended duration which results from damage to the |
| 654 | developing brain that may occur before, during, or after birth |
| 655 | and that results in the loss or impairment of control over |
| 656 | voluntary muscles. For the purposes of this definition, cerebral |
| 657 | palsy does not include those symptoms or impairments resulting |
| 658 | solely from a stroke. |
| 659 | (5)(4) "Client" means any person determined eligible by |
| 660 | the agency for services under this chapter. |
| 661 | (6)(5) "Client advocate" means a friend or relative of the |
| 662 | client, or of the client's immediate family, who advocates for |
| 663 | the best interests of the client in any proceedings under this |
| 664 | chapter in which the client or his or her family has the right |
| 665 | or duty to participate. |
| 666 | (7)(6) "Comprehensive assessment" means the process used |
| 667 | to determine eligibility for services under this chapter. |
| 668 | (8)(7) "Comprehensive transitional education program" |
| 669 | means the program established in s. 393.18. a group of jointly |
| 670 | operating centers or units, the collective purpose of which is |
| 671 | to provide a sequential series of educational care, training, |
| 672 | treatment, habilitation, and rehabilitation services to persons |
| 673 | who have developmental disabilities and who have severe or |
| 674 | moderate maladaptive behaviors. However, nothing in this |
| 675 | subsection shall require such programs to provide services only |
| 676 | to persons with developmental disabilities. All such services |
| 677 | shall be temporary in nature and delivered in a structured |
| 678 | residential setting with the primary goal of incorporating the |
| 679 | normalization principle to establish permanent residence for |
| 680 | persons with maladaptive behaviors in facilities not associated |
| 681 | with the comprehensive transitional education program. The staff |
| 682 | shall include psychologists and teachers who shall be available |
| 683 | to provide services in each component center or unit of the |
| 684 | program. The psychologists shall be individuals who are licensed |
| 685 | in this state and certified as behavior analysts in this state, |
| 686 | or individuals who are certified as behavior analysts pursuant |
| 687 | to s. 393.17. |
| 688 | (a) Comprehensive transitional education programs shall |
| 689 | include a minimum of two component centers or units, one of |
| 690 | which shall be either an intensive treatment and educational |
| 691 | center or a transitional training and educational center, which |
| 692 | provide services to persons with maladaptive behaviors in the |
| 693 | following sequential order: |
| 694 | 1. Intensive treatment and educational center. This |
| 695 | component is a self-contained residential unit providing |
| 696 | intensive psychological and educational programming for persons |
| 697 | with severe maladaptive behaviors, whose behaviors preclude |
| 698 | placement in a less restrictive environment due to the threat of |
| 699 | danger or injury to themselves or others. |
| 700 | 2. Transitional training and educational center. This |
| 701 | component is a residential unit for persons with moderate |
| 702 | maladaptive behaviors, providing concentrated psychological and |
| 703 | educational programming emphasizing a transition toward a less |
| 704 | restrictive environment. |
| 705 | 3. Community transition residence. This component is a |
| 706 | residential center providing educational programs and such |
| 707 | support services, training, and care as are needed to assist |
| 708 | persons with maladaptive behaviors to avoid regression to more |
| 709 | restrictive environments while preparing them for more |
| 710 | independent living. Continuous-shift staff shall be required for |
| 711 | this component. |
| 712 | 4. Alternative living center. This component is a |
| 713 | residential unit providing an educational and family living |
| 714 | environment for persons with maladaptive behaviors, in a |
| 715 | moderately unrestricted setting. Residential staff shall be |
| 716 | required for this component. |
| 717 | 5. Independent living education center. This component is |
| 718 | a facility providing a family living environment for persons |
| 719 | with maladaptive behaviors, in a largely unrestricted setting |
| 720 | which includes education and monitoring appropriate to support |
| 721 | the development of independent living skills. |
| 722 | (b) Centers or units that are components of a |
| 723 | comprehensive transitional education program are subject to the |
| 724 | license issued to the comprehensive transitional education |
| 725 | program and may be located on either single or multiple sites. |
| 726 | (c) Comprehensive transitional education programs shall |
| 727 | develop individual education plans for each person with |
| 728 | maladaptive behaviors who receives services therein. Such |
| 729 | individual education plans shall be developed in accordance with |
| 730 | the criteria specified in 20 U.S.C. ss. 401 et seq., and 34 |
| 731 | C.F.R. part 300. |
| 732 | (d) In no instance shall the total number of persons with |
| 733 | maladaptive behaviors being provided services in a comprehensive |
| 734 | transitional education program exceed 120. |
| 735 | (e) This subsection shall authorize licensure for |
| 736 | comprehensive transitional education programs which by July 1, |
| 737 | 1989: |
| 738 | 1. Are in actual operation; or |
| 739 | 2. Own a fee simple interest in real property for which a |
| 740 | county or city government has approved zoning allowing for the |
| 741 | placement of the facilities described in this subsection, and |
| 742 | have registered an intent with the department to operate a |
| 743 | comprehensive transitional education program. However, nothing |
| 744 | shall prohibit the assignment by such a registrant to another |
| 745 | entity at a different site within the state, so long as there is |
| 746 | compliance with all criteria of the comprehensive transitional |
| 747 | education program and local zoning requirements and provided |
| 748 | that each residential facility within the component centers or |
| 749 | units of the program authorized under this subparagraph shall |
| 750 | not exceed a capacity of 15 persons. |
| 751 | (8) "Day habilitation facility" means any nonresidential |
| 752 | facility which provides day habilitation services. |
| 753 | (9) "Day habilitation service" means assistance with the |
| 754 | acquisition, retention, or improvement in self-help, |
| 755 | socialization, and adaptive skills which takes place in a |
| 756 | nonresidential setting, separate from the home or facility in |
| 757 | which the individual resides. Day habilitation services shall |
| 758 | focus on enabling the individual to attain or maintain his or |
| 759 | her maximum functional level and shall be coordinated with any |
| 760 | physical, occupational, or speech therapies listed in the plan |
| 761 | of care. |
| 762 | (9)(10) "Developmental disability" means a disorder or |
| 763 | syndrome that is attributable to retardation, cerebral palsy, |
| 764 | autism, spina bifida, or Prader-Willi syndrome; that manifests |
| 765 | before the age of 18; and that constitutes a substantial |
| 766 | handicap that can reasonably be expected to continue |
| 767 | indefinitely. |
| 768 | (10)(11) "Developmental disabilities institution" means a |
| 769 | state-owned and state-operated facility, formerly known as a |
| 770 | "Sunland Center," providing for the care, habilitation, and |
| 771 | rehabilitation of clients with developmental disabilities. |
| 772 | (11)(12) "Direct service provider," also known as |
| 773 | "caregiver" in chapters 39 and 415 or "caretaker" in provisions |
| 774 | relating to employment security checks, means a person 18 years |
| 775 | of age or older who has direct face-to-face contact with a |
| 776 | client while providing services to the client individuals with |
| 777 | developmental disabilities, or has access to a client's living |
| 778 | areas or to a client's funds or personal property, and is not a |
| 779 | relative of such individuals. |
| 780 | (12)(13) "Domicile" means the place where a client legally |
| 781 | resides, which place is his or her permanent home. Domicile may |
| 782 | be established as provided in s. 222.17. Domicile may not be |
| 783 | established in Florida by a minor who has no parent domiciled in |
| 784 | Florida, or by a minor who has no legal guardian domiciled in |
| 785 | Florida, or by any alien not classified as a resident alien. |
| 786 | (14) "Enclave" means a work station in public or private |
| 787 | business or industry where a small group of persons with |
| 788 | developmental disabilities is employed and receives training and |
| 789 | support services or follow-along services among nonhandicapped |
| 790 | workers. |
| 791 | (15) "Epilepsy" means a chronic brain disorder of various |
| 792 | causes which is characterized by recurrent seizures due to |
| 793 | excessive discharge of cerebral neurons. When found concurrently |
| 794 | with retardation, autism, or cerebral palsy, epilepsy is |
| 795 | considered a secondary disability for which the client is |
| 796 | eligible to receive services to ameliorate this condition |
| 797 | pursuant to this chapter. |
| 798 | (13)(16) "Express and informed consent" means consent |
| 799 | voluntarily given in writing with sufficient knowledge and |
| 800 | comprehension of the subject matter involved to enable the |
| 801 | person giving consent to make a knowing an understanding and |
| 802 | enlightened decision without any element of force, fraud, |
| 803 | deceit, duress, or other form of constraint or coercion. |
| 804 | (14)(17) "Family care program" means the program |
| 805 | established in s. 393.068. |
| 806 | (18) "Follow-along services" means those support services |
| 807 | provided to persons with developmental disabilities in all |
| 808 | supported employment programs and may include, but are not |
| 809 | limited to, family support, assistance in meeting transportation |
| 810 | and medical needs, employer intervention, performance |
| 811 | evaluation, advocacy, replacement, retraining or promotional |
| 812 | assistance, or other similar support services. |
| 813 | (15)(19) "Foster care facility" means a residential |
| 814 | facility licensed under this chapter which provides a family |
| 815 | living environment including supervision and care necessary to |
| 816 | meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of its residents. |
| 817 | The capacity of such a facility may shall not be more than three |
| 818 | residents. |
| 819 | (16)(20) "Group home facility" means a residential |
| 820 | facility licensed under this chapter which provides a family |
| 821 | living environment including supervision and care necessary to |
| 822 | meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of its residents. |
| 823 | The capacity of such a facility shall be at least 4 but not more |
| 824 | than 15 residents. For the purposes of this chapter, group home |
| 825 | facilities shall not be considered commercial enterprises. |
| 826 | (17)(21) "Guardian advocate" means a person appointed by a |
| 827 | written order of the court to represent a person with |
| 828 | developmental disabilities under s. 393.12. |
| 829 | (18)(22) "Habilitation" means the process by which a |
| 830 | client is assisted to acquire and maintain those life skills |
| 831 | which enable the client to cope more effectively with the |
| 832 | demands of his or her condition and environment and to raise the |
| 833 | level of his or her physical, mental, and social efficiency. It |
| 834 | includes, but is not limited to, programs of formal structured |
| 835 | education and treatment. |
| 836 | (19)(23) "High-risk child" means, for the purposes of this |
| 837 | chapter, a child from 3 birth to 5 years of age with one or more |
| 838 | of the following characteristics: |
| 839 | (a) A developmental delay in cognition, language, or |
| 840 | physical development. |
| 841 | (b) A child surviving a catastrophic infectious or |
| 842 | traumatic illness known to be associated with developmental |
| 843 | delay, when funds are specifically appropriated. |
| 844 | (c) A child with a parent or guardian with developmental |
| 845 | disabilities who requires assistance in meeting the child's |
| 846 | developmental needs. |
| 847 | (d) A child who has a physical or genetic anomaly |
| 848 | associated with developmental disability. |
| 849 | (20)(24) "Intermediate care facility for the |
| 850 | developmentally disabled" or "ICF/DD" means a residential |
| 851 | facility licensed and certified pursuant to part XI of chapter |
| 852 | 400. |
| 853 | (25) "Job coach" means a person who provides employment- |
| 854 | related training at a worksite to individuals with developmental |
| 855 | disabilities. |
| 856 | (21)(26) "Medical/dental services" means medically |
| 857 | necessary those services which are provided or ordered for a |
| 858 | client by a person licensed under pursuant to the provisions of |
| 859 | chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 466. Such services may |
| 860 | include, but are not limited to, prescription drugs, specialized |
| 861 | therapies, nursing supervision, hospitalization, dietary |
| 862 | services, prosthetic devices, surgery, specialized equipment and |
| 863 | supplies, adaptive equipment, and other services as required to |
| 864 | prevent or alleviate a medical or dental condition. |
| 865 | (27) "Mobile work crew" means a group of workers employed |
| 866 | by an agency that provides services outside the agency, usually |
| 867 | under service contracts. |
| 868 | (28) "Normalization principle" means the principle of |
| 869 | letting the client obtain an existence as close to the normal as |
| 870 | possible, making available to the client patterns and conditions |
| 871 | of everyday life which are as close as possible to the norm and |
| 872 | patterns of the mainstream of society. |
| 873 | (22)(29) "Personal care services" means include, but are |
| 874 | not limited to, such services as: individual assistance with or |
| 875 | supervision of essential activities of daily living for self- |
| 876 | care, including ambulation, bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, |
| 877 | and toileting, and other similar services that are incidental to |
| 878 | the care furnished and essential to the health, safety, and |
| 879 | welfare of the client when there is no one else available to |
| 880 | perform those services the agency may define by rule. "Personal |
| 881 | services" shall not be construed to mean the provision of |
| 882 | medical, nursing, dental, or mental health services by the staff |
| 883 | of a facility, except as provided in this chapter. In addition, |
| 884 | an emergency response device installed in the apartment or |
| 885 | living area of a resident shall not be classified as a personal |
| 886 | service. |
| 887 | (23)(30) "Prader-Willi syndrome" means an inherited |
| 888 | condition typified by neonatal hypotonia with failure to thrive, |
| 889 | hyperphagia or an excessive drive to eat which leads to obesity |
| 890 | usually at 18 to 36 months of age, mild to moderate mental |
| 891 | retardation, hypogonadism, short stature, mild facial |
| 892 | dysmorphism, and a characteristic neurobehavior. |
| 893 | (31) "Reassessment" means a process which periodically |
| 894 | develops, through annual review and revision of a client's |
| 895 | family or individual support plan, a knowledgeable statement of |
| 896 | current needs and past development for each client. |
| 897 | (24)(32) "Relative" means an individual who is connected |
| 898 | by affinity or consanguinity to the client and who is 18 years |
| 899 | of age or older more. |
| 900 | (25)(33) "Resident" means any person with developmental |
| 901 | disabilities who is developmentally disabled residing at a |
| 902 | residential facility in the state, whether or not such person is |
| 903 | a client of the agency. |
| 904 | (26)(34) "Residential facility" means a facility providing |
| 905 | room and board and personal care for persons with developmental |
| 906 | disabilities. |
| 907 | (27)(35) "Residential habilitation" means supervision and |
| 908 | training assistance provided with the acquisition, retention, or |
| 909 | improvement in skills related to activities of daily living, |
| 910 | such as personal hygiene skills grooming and cleanliness, |
| 911 | homemaking skills bedmaking and household chores, eating and the |
| 912 | preparation of food, and the social and adaptive skills |
| 913 | necessary to enable the individual to reside in the community a |
| 914 | noninstitutional setting. |
| 915 | (28)(36) "Residential habilitation center" means a |
| 916 | community residential facility licensed under this chapter which |
| 917 | that provides residential habilitation services. The capacity of |
| 918 | such a facility shall not be fewer than nine residents. After |
| 919 | October 1, 1989, no new residential habilitation centers may not |
| 920 | shall be licensed and the licensed capacity shall not be |
| 921 | increased for any existing residential habilitation center may |
| 922 | not be increased. |
| 923 | (29)(37) "Respite service" means appropriate, short-term, |
| 924 | temporary care that is provided to a person with developmental |
| 925 | disabilities to meet the planned or emergency needs of the |
| 926 | person or the family or other direct service provider. |
| 927 | (30) "Restraint" means a physical device, method, or drug |
| 928 | used to control dangerous behavior. |
| 929 | (a) A physical restraint is any manual method or physical |
| 930 | or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or |
| 931 | adjacent to the individual's body so that he or she cannot |
| 932 | easily remove the restraint and which restricts freedom of |
| 933 | movement or normal access to one's body. |
| 934 | (b) A drug used as a restraint is a medication used to |
| 935 | control the person's behavior or to restrict his or her freedom |
| 936 | of movement and is not a standard treatment for the person's |
| 937 | medical or psychiatric condition. Physically holding a person |
| 938 | during a procedure to forcibly administer psychotropic |
| 939 | medication is a physical restraint. |
| 940 | (c) Restraint does not include physical devices, such as |
| 941 | orthopedically prescribed appliances, surgical dressings and |
| 942 | bandages, supportive body bands, or other physical holding when |
| 943 | necessary for routine physical examinations and tests; for |
| 944 | purposes of orthopedic, surgical, or other similar medical |
| 945 | treatment; when used to provide support for the achievement of |
| 946 | functional body position or proper balance; or when used to |
| 947 | protect a person from falling out of bed. |
| 948 | (31)(38) "Retardation" means significantly subaverage |
| 949 | general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with |
| 950 | deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the period |
| 951 | from conception to age 18. "Significantly subaverage general |
| 952 | intellectual functioning," for the purpose of this definition, |
| 953 | means performance which is two or more standard deviations from |
| 954 | the mean score on a standardized intelligence test specified in |
| 955 | the rules of the agency. "Adaptive behavior," for the purpose of |
| 956 | this definition, means the effectiveness or degree with which an |
| 957 | individual meets the standards of personal independence and |
| 958 | social responsibility expected of his or her age, cultural |
| 959 | group, and community. |
| 960 | (32) "Seclusion" means the involuntary isolation of a |
| 961 | person in a room or area from which the person is prevented from |
| 962 | leaving. The prevention may be by physical barrier or by a staff |
| 963 | member who is acting in a manner, or who is physically situated, |
| 964 | so as to prevent the person from leaving the room or area. For |
| 965 | the purposes of this chapter, the term does not mean isolation |
| 966 | due to the medical condition or symptoms of the person. |
| 967 | (33) "Self-determination" means an individual's freedom to |
| 968 | exercise the same rights as all other citizens, authority to |
| 969 | exercise control over funds needed for one's own support, |
| 970 | including prioritizing these funds when necessary, |
| 971 | responsibility for the wise use of public funds, and self |
| 972 | advocacy to speak and advocate for oneself in order to gain |
| 973 | independence and ensure that individuals with a developmental |
| 974 | disability are treated equally. |
| 975 | (39) "Severe self-injurious behavior" means any chronic |
| 976 | behavior that results in injury to the person's own body, which |
| 977 | includes, but is not limited to, self-hitting, head banging, |
| 978 | self-biting, scratching, and the ingestion of harmful or |
| 979 | potentially harmful nutritive or nonnutritive substances. |
| 980 | (34)(40) "Specialized therapies" means those treatments or |
| 981 | activities prescribed by and provided by an appropriately |
| 982 | trained, licensed, or certified professional or staff person and |
| 983 | may include, but are not limited to, physical therapy, speech |
| 984 | therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, behavior |
| 985 | therapy, physical management services, and related specialized |
| 986 | equipment and supplies. |
| 987 | (35)(41) "Spina bifida" means, for purposes of this |
| 988 | chapter, a person with a medical diagnosis of spina bifida |
| 989 | cystica or myelomeningocele. |
| 990 | (36)(42) "Support coordinator" means a person who is |
| 991 | designated by the agency to assist individuals and families in |
| 992 | identifying their capacities, needs, and resources, as well as |
| 993 | finding and gaining access to necessary supports and services; |
| 994 | coordinating the delivery of supports and services; advocating |
| 995 | on behalf of the individual and family; maintaining relevant |
| 996 | records; and monitoring and evaluating the delivery of supports |
| 997 | and services to determine the extent to which they meet the |
| 998 | needs and expectations identified by the individual, family, and |
| 999 | others who participated in the development of the support plan. |
| 1000 | (43) "Supported employee" means a person who requires and |
| 1001 | receives supported employment services in order to maintain |
| 1002 | community-based employment. |
| 1003 | (37)(44) "Supported employment" means employment located |
| 1004 | or provided in a normal employment setting which provides at |
| 1005 | least 20 hours employment per week in an integrated work |
| 1006 | setting, with earnings paid on a commensurate wage basis, and |
| 1007 | for which continued support is needed for job maintenance. |
| 1008 | (38)(45) "Supported living" means a category of |
| 1009 | individually determined services designed and coordinated in |
| 1010 | such a manner as to provide assistance to adult clients who |
| 1011 | require ongoing supports to live as independently as possible in |
| 1012 | their own homes, to be integrated into the community, and to |
| 1013 | participate in community life to the fullest extent possible. |
| 1014 | (39)(46) "Training" means a planned approach to assisting |
| 1015 | a client to attain or maintain his or her maximum potential and |
| 1016 | includes services ranging from sensory stimulation to |
| 1017 | instruction in skills for independent living and employment. |
| 1018 | (40)(47) "Treatment" means the prevention, amelioration, |
| 1019 | or cure of a client's physical and mental disabilities or |
| 1020 | illnesses. |
| 1021 | Section 11. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section |
| 1022 | 393.064, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1023 | 393.064 Prevention.-- |
| 1024 | (1) The agency shall give priority to the development, |
| 1025 | planning, and implementation of programs which have the |
| 1026 | potential to prevent, correct, cure, or reduce the severity of |
| 1027 | developmental disabilities. The agency shall direct an |
| 1028 | interagency and interprogram effort for the continued |
| 1029 | development of a prevention plan and program. The agency shall |
| 1030 | identify, through demonstration projects, through program |
| 1031 | evaluation, and through monitoring of programs and projects |
| 1032 | conducted outside of the agency, any medical, social, economic, |
| 1033 | or educational methods, techniques, or procedures that have the |
| 1034 | potential to effectively ameliorate, correct, or cure |
| 1035 | developmental disabilities. The agency program shall determine |
| 1036 | the costs and benefits that would be associated with such |
| 1037 | prevention efforts and shall implement, or recommend the |
| 1038 | implementation of, those methods, techniques, or procedures |
| 1039 | which are found likely to be cost-beneficial. |
| 1040 | (2) Prevention services provided by the agency shall |
| 1041 | developmental services program include services to high-risk and |
| 1042 | developmentally disabled children from 3 birth to 5 years of |
| 1043 | age, and their families, to meet the intent of chapter 411. |
| 1044 | Except for services for children from birth to age 3 years which |
| 1045 | Such services shall include individual evaluations or |
| 1046 | assessments necessary to diagnose a developmental disability or |
| 1047 | high-risk condition and to determine appropriate individual |
| 1048 | family and support services, unless evaluations or assessments |
| 1049 | are the responsibility of the Division of Children's Medical |
| 1050 | Services in the Department of Health Prevention and Intervention |
| 1051 | for children ages birth to 3 years eligible for services under |
| 1052 | this chapter or part H of the Individuals with Disabilities |
| 1053 | Education Act, such services and may include: |
| 1054 | (a) Individual evaluations or assessments necessary to |
| 1055 | diagnose a developmental disability or high-risk condition and |
| 1056 | to determine appropriate, individual family and support |
| 1057 | services. |
| 1058 | (b)(a) Early intervention services, including |
| 1059 | developmental training and specialized therapies. Early |
| 1060 | intervention services, which are the responsibility of the |
| 1061 | Division of Children's Medical Services Prevention and |
| 1062 | Intervention for children ages birth to 3 years who are eligible |
| 1063 | for services under this chapter or under part H of the |
| 1064 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, shall not be |
| 1065 | provided through the developmental services program unless |
| 1066 | funding is specifically appropriated to the developmental |
| 1067 | services program for this purpose. |
| 1068 | (c)(b) Support services, such as respite care, parent |
| 1069 | education and training, parent-to-parent counseling, homemaker |
| 1070 | services, and other services which allow families to maintain |
| 1071 | and provide quality care to children in their homes. The |
| 1072 | Division of Children's Medical Services Prevention and |
| 1073 | Intervention is responsible for the provision of services to |
| 1074 | children from birth to 3 years who are eligible for services |
| 1075 | under this chapter. |
| 1076 | (4) There is created at the developmental disabilities |
| 1077 | services institution in Gainesville a research and education |
| 1078 | unit. Such unit shall be named the Raymond C. Philips Research |
| 1079 | and Education Unit. The functions of such unit shall include: |
| 1080 | (a) Research into the etiology of developmental |
| 1081 | disabilities. |
| 1082 | (b) Ensuring that new knowledge is rapidly disseminated |
| 1083 | throughout the developmental services program of the agency. |
| 1084 | (c) Diagnosis of unusual conditions and syndromes |
| 1085 | associated with developmental disabilities in clients identified |
| 1086 | throughout the developmental disabilities services programs. |
| 1087 | (d) Evaluation of families of clients with developmental |
| 1088 | disabilities of genetic origin in order to provide them with |
| 1089 | genetic counseling aimed at preventing the recurrence of the |
| 1090 | disorder in other family members. |
| 1091 | (e) Ensuring that health professionals in the |
| 1092 | developmental disabilities services institution at Gainesville |
| 1093 | have access to information systems that will allow them to |
| 1094 | remain updated on newer knowledge and maintain their |
| 1095 | postgraduate education standards. |
| 1096 | (f) Enhancing staff training for professionals throughout |
| 1097 | the agency in the areas of genetics and developmental |
| 1098 | disabilities. |
| 1099 | Section 12. Section 393.0641, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1100 | to read: |
| 1101 | 393.0641 Program for the prevention and treatment of |
| 1102 | severe self-injurious behavior.-- |
| 1103 | (1) Contingent upon specific appropriations, there is |
| 1104 | created a diagnostic, treatment, training, and research program |
| 1105 | for clients exhibiting severe self-injurious behavior. As used |
| 1106 | in this section, the term "severe self-injurious behavior" means |
| 1107 | any chronic behavior that results in injury to the person's own |
| 1108 | body, including, but not limited to, self-hitting, head banging, |
| 1109 | self-biting, scratching, and the ingestion of harmful or |
| 1110 | potentially harmful nutritive or nonnutritive substances. |
| 1111 | (2) The This program shall: |
| 1112 | (a) Serve as a resource center for information, training, |
| 1113 | and program development. |
| 1114 | (b) Research the diagnosis and treatment of severe self- |
| 1115 | injurious behavior, and related disorders, and develop methods |
| 1116 | of prevention and treatment of self-injurious behavior. |
| 1117 | (c) Identify individuals in critical need. |
| 1118 | (d) Develop treatment programs which are meaningful to |
| 1119 | individuals with developmental disabilities, in critical need, |
| 1120 | while safeguarding and respecting the legal and human rights of |
| 1121 | the individuals. |
| 1122 | (e) Disseminate research findings on the prevention and |
| 1123 | treatment of severe self-injurious behavior. |
| 1124 | (f) Collect data on the type, severity, incidence, and |
| 1125 | demographics of individuals with severe self-injurious behavior, |
| 1126 | and disseminate the data. |
| 1127 | (3)(2) The This program shall adhere to the provisions of |
| 1128 | s. 393.13. |
| 1129 | (4)(3) The agency may contract for the provision of any |
| 1130 | portion or all of the services required by the program. |
| 1131 | (5)(4) The agency may has the authority to license this |
| 1132 | program and shall adopt rules to administer implement the |
| 1133 | program. |
| 1134 | Section 13. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 393.065, |
| 1135 | Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (5) and (6) are |
| 1136 | added to that section, to read: |
| 1137 | 393.065 Application and eligibility determination.-- |
| 1138 | (1) Application for services shall be made in writing to |
| 1139 | the agency, in the service area district in which the applicant |
| 1140 | resides. The agency Employees of the agency's developmental |
| 1141 | services program shall review each applicant for eligibility |
| 1142 | within 45 days after the date the application is signed for |
| 1143 | children under 6 years of age and within 60 days after the date |
| 1144 | the application is signed for all other applicants. When |
| 1145 | necessary to definitively identify individual conditions or |
| 1146 | needs, the agency shall provide a comprehensive assessment. Only |
| 1147 | applicants individuals whose domicile is in Florida are eligible |
| 1148 | for services. Information accumulated by other agencies, |
| 1149 | including professional reports and collateral data, shall be |
| 1150 | considered in this process when available. |
| 1151 | (4) The agency shall assess the level of need and medical |
| 1152 | necessity for prospective residents of intermediate-care |
| 1153 | facilities for the developmentally disabled after October 1, |
| 1154 | 1999. The agency may enter into an agreement with the Department |
| 1155 | of Elderly Affairs for its Comprehensive Assessment and Review |
| 1156 | for Long-Term-Care Services (CARES) program to conduct |
| 1157 | assessments to determine the level of need and medical necessity |
| 1158 | for long-term-care services under this chapter. To the extent |
| 1159 | permissible under federal law, the assessments shall must be |
| 1160 | funded under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. |
| 1161 | (5) With the exception of clients deemed to be in crisis |
| 1162 | whom the agency shall serve as described in rule, the agency |
| 1163 | shall place at the top of its wait list for waiver services |
| 1164 | those children on the wait list who are from the child welfare |
| 1165 | system with an open case in the Department of Children and |
| 1166 | Family Services' statewide automated child welfare information |
| 1167 | system. |
| 1168 | (6) The agency may adopt rules specifying application |
| 1169 | procedures and eligibility criteria as needed to administer this |
| 1170 | section. |
| 1171 | Section 14. Section 393.0651, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1172 | to read: |
| 1173 | 393.0651 Family or individual support plan.--The agency |
| 1174 | shall provide directly or contract for the development of a an |
| 1175 | appropriate family support plan for children ages 3 birth to 18 |
| 1176 | years of age and an individual support plan for each client. The |
| 1177 | parent or guardian of The client or, if competent, the client's |
| 1178 | parent or guardian client, or, when appropriate, the client |
| 1179 | advocate, shall be consulted in the development of the plan and |
| 1180 | shall receive a copy of the plan. Each plan must shall include |
| 1181 | the most appropriate, least restrictive, and most cost- |
| 1182 | beneficial environment for accomplishment of the objectives for |
| 1183 | client progress and a specification of all services authorized. |
| 1184 | The plan must shall include provisions for the most appropriate |
| 1185 | level of care for the client. Within the specification of needs |
| 1186 | and services for each client, when residential care is |
| 1187 | necessary, the agency shall move toward placement of clients in |
| 1188 | residential facilities based within the client's community. The |
| 1189 | ultimate goal of each plan, whenever possible, shall be to |
| 1190 | enable the client to live a dignified life in the least |
| 1191 | restrictive setting, be that in the home or in the community. |
| 1192 | For children under 6 years of age, the family support plan shall |
| 1193 | be developed within the 45-day application period as specified |
| 1194 | in s. 393.065(1); for all applicants 6 years of age or older, |
| 1195 | the family or individual support plan shall be developed within |
| 1196 | the 60-day period as specified in that subsection. |
| 1197 | (1) The agency shall develop and specify by rule the core |
| 1198 | components of support plans to be used by each district. |
| 1199 | (2)(a) The family or individual support plan shall be |
| 1200 | integrated with the individual education plan (IEP) for all |
| 1201 | clients who are public school students entitled to a free |
| 1202 | appropriate public education under the Individuals with |
| 1203 | Disabilities Education Act, I.D.E.A., as amended. The family or |
| 1204 | individual support plan and IEP shall be implemented to maximize |
| 1205 | the attainment of educational and habilitation goals. |
| 1206 | (a) If the IEP for a student enrolled in a public school |
| 1207 | program indicates placement in a public or private residential |
| 1208 | program is necessary to provide special education and related |
| 1209 | services to a client, the local education agency shall provide |
| 1210 | for the costs of that service in accordance with the |
| 1211 | requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, |
| 1212 | I.D.E.A., as amended. This shall not preclude local education |
| 1213 | agencies and the agency from sharing the residential service |
| 1214 | costs of students who are clients and require residential |
| 1215 | placement. Under no circumstances shall clients entitled to a |
| 1216 | public education or their parents be assessed a fee by the |
| 1217 | agency under s. 402.33 for placement in a residential program. |
| 1218 | (b) For clients who are entering or exiting the school |
| 1219 | system, an interdepartmental staffing team composed of |
| 1220 | representatives of the agency and the local school system shall |
| 1221 | develop a written transitional living and training plan with the |
| 1222 | participation of the client or with the parent or guardian of |
| 1223 | the client, or the client advocate, as appropriate. |
| 1224 | (3) Each family or individual support plan shall be |
| 1225 | facilitated through case management designed solely to advance |
| 1226 | the individual needs of the client. |
| 1227 | (4) In the development of the family or individual support |
| 1228 | plan, a client advocate may be appointed by the support planning |
| 1229 | team for a client who is a minor or for a client who is not |
| 1230 | capable of express and informed consent when: |
| 1231 | (a) The parent or guardian cannot be identified; |
| 1232 | (b) The whereabouts of the parent or guardian cannot be |
| 1233 | discovered; or |
| 1234 | (c) The state is the only legal representative of the |
| 1235 | client. |
| 1236 |
|
| 1237 | Such appointment shall not be construed to extend the powers of |
| 1238 | the client advocate to include any of those powers delegated by |
| 1239 | law to a legal guardian. |
| 1240 | (5) The agency shall place a client in the most |
| 1241 | appropriate and least restrictive, and cost-beneficial, |
| 1242 | residential facility according to his or her individual support |
| 1243 | habilitation plan. The parent or guardian of The client or, if |
| 1244 | competent, the client's parent or guardian client, or, when |
| 1245 | appropriate, the client advocate, and the administrator of the |
| 1246 | residential facility to which placement is proposed shall be |
| 1247 | consulted in determining the appropriate placement for the |
| 1248 | client. Considerations for placement shall be made in the |
| 1249 | following order: |
| 1250 | (a) Client's own home or the home of a family member or |
| 1251 | direct service provider. |
| 1252 | (b) Foster care facility. |
| 1253 | (c) Group home facility. |
| 1254 | (d) Intermediate care facility for the developmentally |
| 1255 | disabled. |
| 1256 | (e) Other facilities licensed by the agency which offer |
| 1257 | special programs for people with developmental disabilities. |
| 1258 | (f) Developmental disabilities services institution. |
| 1259 | (6) In developing a client's annual family or individual |
| 1260 | support plan, the individual or family with the assistance of |
| 1261 | the support planning team shall identify measurable objectives |
| 1262 | for client progress and shall specify a time period expected for |
| 1263 | achievement of each objective. |
| 1264 | (7) The individual, family, and support coordinator shall |
| 1265 | review progress in achieving the objectives specified in each |
| 1266 | client's family or individual support plan, and shall revise the |
| 1267 | plan annually, following consultation with the client, if |
| 1268 | competent, or with the parent or guardian of the client, or, |
| 1269 | when appropriate, the client advocate. The agency or designated |
| 1270 | contractor shall annually report in writing to the client, if |
| 1271 | competent, or to the parent or guardian of the client, or to the |
| 1272 | client advocate, when appropriate, with respect to the client's |
| 1273 | habilitative and medical progress. |
| 1274 | (8) Any client, or any parent of a minor client, or |
| 1275 | guardian, authorized guardian advocate, or client advocate for a |
| 1276 | client, who is substantially affected by the client's initial |
| 1277 | family or individual support plan, or the annual review thereof, |
| 1278 | shall have the right to file a notice to challenge the decision |
| 1279 | pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57. Notice of such right to |
| 1280 | appeal shall be included in all support plans provided by the |
| 1281 | agency. |
| 1282 | Section 15. Section 393.0654, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 1283 | to read. |
| 1284 | 393.0654 Direct service providers; private sector |
| 1285 | services.--It is not a violation of s. 112.313(7) for a direct |
| 1286 | service provider who is employed by the agency to own, operate, |
| 1287 | or work in a private facility that is a service provider under |
| 1288 | contract with the agency if: |
| 1289 | (1) The employee does not have any role in the agency's |
| 1290 | placement recommendations or the client's decisionmaking process |
| 1291 | regarding placement; |
| 1292 | (2) The direct service provider's employment with the |
| 1293 | agency does not compromise the ability of the client to make a |
| 1294 | voluntary choice among private providers for services; |
| 1295 | (3) The employee's employment outside the agency does not |
| 1296 | create a conflict with the employee's public duties and does not |
| 1297 | impede the full and faithful discharge of the employee's duties |
| 1298 | as assigned by the agency; and |
| 1299 | (4) The service provider discloses the dual employment or |
| 1300 | ownership status to the agency and all clients within the |
| 1301 | provider's care. The disclosure must be given to the agency, the |
| 1302 | client, and the client's guardian or guardian advocate, if |
| 1303 | appropriate. |
| 1304 | Section 16. Section 393.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1305 | to read: |
| 1306 | 393.0655 Screening of direct service providers.-- |
| 1307 | (1) MINIMUM STANDARDS.--The agency shall require level 2 |
| 1308 | employment screening pursuant to chapter 435 for direct service |
| 1309 | providers who are unrelated to their clients, including support |
| 1310 | coordinators, and managers and supervisors of residential |
| 1311 | facilities or comprehensive transitional education programs |
| 1312 | licensed under this chapter s. 393.067 and any other person, |
| 1313 | including volunteers, who provide care or services, who have |
| 1314 | access to a client's living areas, or who have access to a |
| 1315 | client's funds or personal property. Background screening shall |
| 1316 | include employment history checks as provided in s. 435.03(1) |
| 1317 | and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement |
| 1318 | agencies. |
| 1319 | (a) A volunteer who assists on an intermittent basis for |
| 1320 | less than 40 hours per month does not have to be screened if the |
| 1321 | volunteer is under the direct and constant visual supervision of |
| 1322 | persons who meet the screening requirements of this section. |
| 1323 | (b) Licensed physicians, nurses, or other professionals |
| 1324 | licensed and regulated by the Department of Health are not |
| 1325 | subject to background screening pursuant to this section if they |
| 1326 | are providing a service that is within their scope of licensed |
| 1327 | practice. |
| 1328 | (c) A person selected by the family or the individual with |
| 1329 | developmental disabilities and paid by the family or the |
| 1330 | individual to provide supports or services is not required to |
| 1331 | have a background screening under this section. |
| 1332 | (d) Persons 12 years of age or older, including family |
| 1333 | members, residing with a the direct services provider who |
| 1334 | provides services to clients in his or her own place of |
| 1335 | residence, including family members, are subject to background |
| 1336 | screening; however, such persons who are 12 to 18 years of age |
| 1337 | shall be screened for delinquency records only. |
| 1338 | (e) A direct service provider who is awaiting the |
| 1339 | completion of background screening is temporarily exempt from |
| 1340 | the screening requirements under this section if the provider is |
| 1341 | under the direct and constant visual supervision of persons who |
| 1342 | meet the screening requirements of this section. Such exemption |
| 1343 | expires 90 days after the direct service provider first provides |
| 1344 | care or services to clients, has access to a client's living |
| 1345 | areas, or has access to a client's funds or personal property. |
| 1346 | (2) EXEMPTIONS FROM DISQUALIFICATION.--The agency may |
| 1347 | grant exemptions from disqualification from working with |
| 1348 | children or adults with developmental disabilities only as |
| 1349 | provided in s. 435.07. |
| 1350 | (3) PAYMENT FOR PROCESSING OF FINGERPRINTS AND STATE |
| 1351 | CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS.--The costs of processing fingerprints |
| 1352 | and the state criminal records checks shall be borne by the |
| 1353 | employer or by the employee or individual who is being screened. |
| 1354 | (4) TERMINATION EXCLUSION FROM OWNING, OPERATING, OR BEING |
| 1355 | EMPLOYED BY A DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER RESIDENTIAL FACILITY; |
| 1356 | HEARINGS PROVIDED.-- |
| 1357 | (a) The agency shall deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke a |
| 1358 | license, certification, rate agreement, purchase order, or |
| 1359 | contract, or pursue other remedies provided in s. 393.0673, s. |
| 1360 | 393.0675, or s. 393.0678 in addition to or in lieu of denial, |
| 1361 | suspension, termination, or revocation for failure to comply |
| 1362 | with this section. |
| 1363 | (b) When the agency has reasonable cause to believe that |
| 1364 | grounds for denial or termination of employment exist, it shall |
| 1365 | notify, in writing, the employer and the person direct service |
| 1366 | provider affected, stating the specific record that which |
| 1367 | indicates noncompliance with the standards in this section. |
| 1368 | (c) The procedures established for hearing under chapter |
| 1369 | 120 shall be available to the employer and the person affected |
| 1370 | direct service provider in order to present evidence relating |
| 1371 | either to the accuracy of the basis of exclusion or to the |
| 1372 | denial of an exemption from disqualification. |
| 1373 | (d) Refusal on the part of an employer to dismiss a |
| 1374 | manager, supervisor, or direct service provider who has been |
| 1375 | found to be in noncompliance with standards of this section |
| 1376 | shall result in automatic denial, termination, or revocation of |
| 1377 | the license or, certification, rate agreement, purchase order, |
| 1378 | or contract, in addition to any other remedies pursued by the |
| 1379 | agency. |
| 1380 | Section 17. Section 393.0657, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1381 | to read: |
| 1382 | 393.0657 Persons not required to be refingerprinted or |
| 1383 | rescreened.--Persons who have undergone any portion of the |
| 1384 | background screening required under s. 393.0655 within the last |
| 1385 | 12 months are Any provision of law to the contrary |
| 1386 | notwithstanding, human resource personnel who have been |
| 1387 | fingerprinted or screened pursuant to chapters 393, 394, 397, |
| 1388 | 402, and 409, and teachers who have been fingerprinted pursuant |
| 1389 | to chapter 1012, who have not been unemployed for more than 90 |
| 1390 | days thereafter, and who under the penalty of perjury attest to |
| 1391 | the completion of such fingerprinting or screening and to |
| 1392 | compliance with the provisions of this section and the standards |
| 1393 | for good moral character as contained in such provisions as ss. |
| 1394 | 110.1127(3), 393.0655(1), 394.457(6), 397.451, 402.305(2), and |
| 1395 | 409.175(6), shall not be required to repeat such screening be |
| 1396 | refingerprinted or rescreened in order to comply with the any |
| 1397 | direct service provider screening or fingerprinting |
| 1398 | requirements. Such persons are responsible for providing |
| 1399 | documentation of the screening and shall undergo screening for |
| 1400 | any remaining background screening requirements that have never |
| 1401 | been conducted or have not been completed within the last 12 |
| 1402 | months. |
| 1403 | Section 18. Section 393.066, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1404 | to read: |
| 1405 | 393.066 Community services and treatment for persons who |
| 1406 | are developmentally disabled.-- |
| 1407 | (1) The agency shall plan, develop, organize, and |
| 1408 | implement its programs of services and treatment for persons |
| 1409 | with developmental disabilities who are developmentally disabled |
| 1410 | to allow clients to live as independently as possible in their |
| 1411 | own homes or communities and to achieve productive lives as |
| 1412 | close to normal as possible. All elements of community-based |
| 1413 | services shall be made available, and eligibility for these |
| 1414 | services shall be consistent across the state. In addition, all |
| 1415 | purchased services shall be approved by the agency. |
| 1416 | (2) All services needed shall be purchased instead of |
| 1417 | provided directly by the agency, when such arrangement is more |
| 1418 | cost-efficient than having those services provided directly. All |
| 1419 | purchased services must be approved by the agency. |
| 1420 | (3) Community-based services that are medically necessary |
| 1421 | to prevent institutionalization shall, to the extent of |
| 1422 | available resources, include: |
| 1423 | (a) Adult day training habilitation services, including |
| 1424 | developmental training services. |
| 1425 | (b) Family care services. |
| 1426 | (c) Guardian advocate referral services. |
| 1427 | (d) Medical/dental services, except that medical services |
| 1428 | shall not be provided to clients with spina bifida except as |
| 1429 | specifically appropriated by the Legislature. |
| 1430 | (e) Parent training. |
| 1431 | (f) Personal care services. |
| 1432 | (g)(f) Recreation. |
| 1433 | (h)(g) Residential facility services. |
| 1434 | (i)(h) Respite services. |
| 1435 | (j)(i) Social services. |
| 1436 | (k)(j) Specialized therapies. |
| 1437 | (l)(k) Supported employment, including enclave, job coach, |
| 1438 | mobile work crew, and follow-along services. |
| 1439 | (m)(l) Supported living. |
| 1440 | (n)(m) Training, including behavioral-analysis services |
| 1441 | behavioral programming. |
| 1442 | (o)(n) Transportation. |
| 1443 | (p)(o) Other habilitative and rehabilitative services as |
| 1444 | needed. |
| 1445 | (4) The agency shall utilize the services of private |
| 1446 | businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and units of local |
| 1447 | government whenever such services are more cost-efficient than |
| 1448 | such services provided directly by the department, including |
| 1449 | arrangements for provision of residential facilities. |
| 1450 | (5) In order to improve the potential for utilization of |
| 1451 | more cost-effective, community-based residential facilities, the |
| 1452 | agency shall promote the statewide development of day |
| 1453 | habilitation services for clients who live with a direct service |
| 1454 | provider in a community-based residential facility and who do |
| 1455 | not require 24-hour-a-day care in a hospital or other health |
| 1456 | care institution, but who may, in the absence of day |
| 1457 | habilitation services, require admission to a developmental |
| 1458 | disabilities institution. Each day service facility shall |
| 1459 | provide a protective physical environment for clients, ensure |
| 1460 | that direct service providers meet minimum screening standards |
| 1461 | as required in s. 393.0655, make available to all day |
| 1462 | habilitation service participants at least one meal on each day |
| 1463 | of operation, provide facilities to enable participants to |
| 1464 | obtain needed rest while attending the program, as appropriate, |
| 1465 | and provide social and educational activities designed to |
| 1466 | stimulate interest and provide socialization skills. |
| 1467 | (6) To promote independence and productivity, the agency |
| 1468 | shall provide supports and services, within available resources, |
| 1469 | to assist clients enrolled in Medicaid waivers who choose to |
| 1470 | pursue gainful employment. |
| 1471 | (7) For the purpose of making needed community-based |
| 1472 | residential facilities available at the least possible cost to |
| 1473 | the state, the agency is authorized to lease privately owned |
| 1474 | residential facilities under long-term rental agreements, if |
| 1475 | such rental agreements are projected to be less costly to the |
| 1476 | state over the useful life of the facility than state purchase |
| 1477 | or state construction of such a facility. |
| 1478 | (8) The agency may adopt rules providing definitions, |
| 1479 | eligibility criteria, and procedures for the purchase of |
| 1480 | services to ensure compliance with federal laws or regulations |
| 1481 | that apply to services provided pursuant to this section. |
| 1482 | Section 19. Section 393.067, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1483 | to read: |
| 1484 | 393.067 Facility licensure of residential facilities and |
| 1485 | comprehensive transitional education programs.-- |
| 1486 | (1) The agency shall provide through its licensing |
| 1487 | authority and by rule license application procedures, a system |
| 1488 | of provider qualifications, facility and client care standards, |
| 1489 | requirements for client records, requirements for staff |
| 1490 | qualifications and training criteria for meeting standards, and |
| 1491 | requirements for monitoring foster care for residential |
| 1492 | facilities, group home facilities, residential habilitation |
| 1493 | centers, and comprehensive transitional education programs that |
| 1494 | serve agency clients. |
| 1495 | (2) The agency shall conduct annual inspections and |
| 1496 | reviews of residential facilities and comprehensive transitional |
| 1497 | education programs licensed under this section annually. |
| 1498 | (3) An application for a license under this section must |
| 1499 | for a residential facility or a comprehensive transitional |
| 1500 | education program shall be made to the agency on a form |
| 1501 | furnished by it and shall be accompanied by the appropriate |
| 1502 | license fee. |
| 1503 | (4) The application shall be under oath and shall contain |
| 1504 | the following: |
| 1505 | (a) The name and address of the applicant, if an applicant |
| 1506 | is an individual; if the applicant is a firm, partnership, or |
| 1507 | association, the name and address of each member thereof; if the |
| 1508 | applicant is a corporation, its name and address and the name |
| 1509 | and address of each director and each officer thereof; and the |
| 1510 | name by which the facility or program is to be known. |
| 1511 | (b) The location of the facility or program for which a |
| 1512 | license is sought. |
| 1513 | (c) The name of the person or persons under whose |
| 1514 | management or supervision the facility or program will be |
| 1515 | conducted. |
| 1516 | (d) The number and type of residents or clients for which |
| 1517 | maintenance, care, education, or treatment is to be provided by |
| 1518 | the facility or program. |
| 1519 | (e) The number and location of the component centers or |
| 1520 | units which will compose the comprehensive transitional |
| 1521 | education program. |
| 1522 | (f) A description of the types of services and treatment |
| 1523 | to be provided by the facility or program. |
| 1524 | (g) Information relating to the number, experience, and |
| 1525 | training of the employees of the facility or program. |
| 1526 | (h) Certification that the staff of the facility or |
| 1527 | program will receive training to detect and prevent sexual abuse |
| 1528 | of residents and clients. |
| 1529 | (i) Such other information as the agency determines is |
| 1530 | necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. |
| 1531 | (5) The applicant shall submit evidence which establishes |
| 1532 | the good moral character of the manager or supervisor of the |
| 1533 | facility or program and the direct service providers in the |
| 1534 | facility or program and its component centers or units. A |
| 1535 | license may be issued if all the screening materials have been |
| 1536 | timely submitted; however, a license may not be issued or |
| 1537 | renewed if any of the direct service providers have failed the |
| 1538 | screening required by s. 393.0655. |
| 1539 | (a)1. A licensed residential facility or comprehensive |
| 1540 | transitional education program which applies for renewal of its |
| 1541 | license shall submit to the agency a list of direct service |
| 1542 | providers who have worked on a continuous basis at the applicant |
| 1543 | facility or program since submitting fingerprints to the agency |
| 1544 | or the Department of Children and Family Services, identifying |
| 1545 | those direct service providers for whom a written assurance of |
| 1546 | compliance was provided by the agency or department and |
| 1547 | identifying those direct service providers who have recently |
| 1548 | begun working at the facility or program and are awaiting the |
| 1549 | results of the required fingerprint check along with the date of |
| 1550 | the submission of those fingerprints for processing. The agency |
| 1551 | shall by rule determine the frequency of requests to the |
| 1552 | Department of Law Enforcement to run state criminal records |
| 1553 | checks for such direct service providers except for those direct |
| 1554 | service providers awaiting the results of initial fingerprint |
| 1555 | checks for employment at the applicant facility or program. The |
| 1556 | agency shall review the records of the direct service providers |
| 1557 | at the applicant facility or program with respect to the crimes |
| 1558 | specified in s. 393.0655 and shall notify the facility or |
| 1559 | program of its findings. When disposition information is missing |
| 1560 | on a criminal record, it is the responsibility of the person |
| 1561 | being screened, upon request of the agency, to obtain and supply |
| 1562 | within 30 days the missing disposition information to the |
| 1563 | agency. Failure to supply the missing information within 30 days |
| 1564 | or to show reasonable efforts to obtain such information shall |
| 1565 | result in automatic disqualification. |
| 1566 | 2. The applicant shall sign an affidavit under penalty of |
| 1567 | perjury stating that all new direct service providers have been |
| 1568 | fingerprinted and that the facility's or program's remaining |
| 1569 | direct service providers have worked at the applicant facility |
| 1570 | or program on a continuous basis since being initially screened |
| 1571 | at that facility or program or have a written assurance of |
| 1572 | compliance from the agency or department. |
| 1573 | (5)(b) As a prerequisite for issuance of an the initial or |
| 1574 | renewal license, the applicant, and any manager, supervisor, and |
| 1575 | staff member of the direct service provider of a facility or |
| 1576 | program licensed under this section, must have submitted to |
| 1577 | background screening as required under s. 393.0655. A license |
| 1578 | may not be issued or renewed if the applicant or any manager, |
| 1579 | supervisor, or staff member of the direct service provider has |
| 1580 | failed background screenings as required under s. 393.0655. The |
| 1581 | agency shall determine by rule the frequency of background |
| 1582 | screening. The applicant shall submit with each initial or |
| 1583 | renewal application a signed affidavit under penalty of perjury |
| 1584 | stating that the applicant and any manager, supervisor, or staff |
| 1585 | member of the direct service provider is in compliance with all |
| 1586 | requirements for background screening. to a residential facility |
| 1587 | or comprehensive transitional education program: |
| 1588 | 1. The applicant shall submit to the agency a complete set |
| 1589 | of fingerprints, taken by an authorized law enforcement agency |
| 1590 | or an employee of the agency who is trained to take |
| 1591 | fingerprints, for the manager, supervisor, or direct service |
| 1592 | providers of the facility or program; |
| 1593 | 2. The agency shall submit the fingerprints to the |
| 1594 | Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and for |
| 1595 | federal processing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and |
| 1596 | 3. The agency shall review the record of the manager or |
| 1597 | supervisor with respect to the crimes specified in s. |
| 1598 | 393.0655(1) and shall notify the applicant of its findings. When |
| 1599 | disposition information is missing on a criminal record, it is |
| 1600 | the responsibility of the manager or supervisor, upon request of |
| 1601 | the agency, to obtain and supply within 30 days the missing |
| 1602 | disposition information to the agency. Failure to supply the |
| 1603 | missing information within 30 days or to show reasonable efforts |
| 1604 | to obtain such information shall result in automatic |
| 1605 | disqualification. |
| 1606 | (c) The agency or a residential facility or comprehensive |
| 1607 | transitional education program may not use the criminal records |
| 1608 | or juvenile records of a person obtained under this subsection |
| 1609 | for any purpose other than determining if that person meets the |
| 1610 | minimum standards for good moral character for a manager or |
| 1611 | supervisor of, or direct service provider in, such a facility or |
| 1612 | program. The criminal records or juvenile records obtained by |
| 1613 | the agency or a residential facility or comprehensive |
| 1614 | transitional education program for determining the moral |
| 1615 | character of a manager, supervisor, or direct service provider |
| 1616 | are exempt from s. 119.07(1). |
| 1617 | (6) Each applicant for licensure as an intermediate care |
| 1618 | facility for the developmentally disabled must comply with the |
| 1619 | following requirements: |
| 1620 | (a) Upon receipt of a completed, signed, and dated |
| 1621 | application, the agency shall require background screening, in |
| 1622 | accordance with the level 2 standards for screening set forth in |
| 1623 | chapter 435, of the managing employee, or other similarly titled |
| 1624 | individual who is responsible for the daily operation of the |
| 1625 | facility, and of the financial officer, or other similarly |
| 1626 | titled individual who is responsible for the financial operation |
| 1627 | of the center, including billings for resident care and |
| 1628 | services. The applicant must comply with the procedures for |
| 1629 | level 2 background screening as set forth in chapter 435, as |
| 1630 | well as the requirements of s. 435.03(3). |
| 1631 | (b) The agency may require background screening of any |
| 1632 | other individual who is an applicant if the agency has probable |
| 1633 | cause to believe that he or she has been convicted of a crime or |
| 1634 | has committed any other offense prohibited under the level 2 |
| 1635 | standards for screening set forth in chapter 435. |
| 1636 | (c) Proof of compliance with the level 2 background |
| 1637 | screening requirements of chapter 435 which has been submitted |
| 1638 | within the previous 5 years in compliance with any other health |
| 1639 | care licensure requirements of this state is acceptable in |
| 1640 | fulfillment of the requirements of paragraph (a). |
| 1641 | (d) A provisional license may be granted to an applicant |
| 1642 | when each individual required by this section to undergo |
| 1643 | background screening has met the standards for the Department of |
| 1644 | Law Enforcement background check, but the agency has not yet |
| 1645 | received background screening results from the Federal Bureau of |
| 1646 | Investigation, or a request for a disqualification exemption has |
| 1647 | been submitted to the agency as set forth in chapter 435, but a |
| 1648 | response has not yet been issued. A standard license may be |
| 1649 | granted to the applicant upon the agency's receipt of a report |
| 1650 | of the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation background |
| 1651 | screening for each individual required by this section to |
| 1652 | undergo background screening which confirms that all standards |
| 1653 | have been met, or upon the granting of a disqualification |
| 1654 | exemption by the agency as set forth in chapter 435. Any other |
| 1655 | person who is required to undergo level 2 background screening |
| 1656 | may serve in his or her capacity pending the agency's receipt of |
| 1657 | the report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, |
| 1658 | the person may not continue to serve if the report indicates any |
| 1659 | violation of background screening standards and a |
| 1660 | disqualification exemption has not been requested of and granted |
| 1661 | by the agency as set forth in chapter 435. |
| 1662 | (e) Each applicant must submit to the agency, with its |
| 1663 | application, a description and explanation of any exclusions, |
| 1664 | permanent suspensions, or terminations of the applicant from the |
| 1665 | Medicare or Medicaid programs. Proof of compliance with the |
| 1666 | requirements for disclosure of ownership and control interests |
| 1667 | under the Medicaid or Medicare programs shall be accepted in |
| 1668 | lieu of this submission. |
| 1669 | (f) Each applicant must submit to the agency a description |
| 1670 | and explanation of any conviction of an offense prohibited under |
| 1671 | the level 2 standards of chapter 435 by a member of the board of |
| 1672 | directors of the applicant, its officers, or any individual |
| 1673 | owning 5 percent or more of the applicant. This requirement does |
| 1674 | not apply to a director of a not-for-profit corporation or |
| 1675 | organization if the director serves solely in a voluntary |
| 1676 | capacity for the corporation or organization, does not regularly |
| 1677 | take part in the day-to-day operational decisions of the |
| 1678 | corporation or organization, receives no remuneration for his or |
| 1679 | her services on the corporation or organization's board of |
| 1680 | directors, and has no financial interest and has no family |
| 1681 | members with a financial interest in the corporation or |
| 1682 | organization, provided that the director and the not-for-profit |
| 1683 | corporation or organization include in the application a |
| 1684 | statement affirming that the director's relationship to the |
| 1685 | corporation satisfies the requirements of this paragraph. |
| 1686 | (g) A license may not be granted to an applicant if the |
| 1687 | applicant or managing employee has been found guilty of, |
| 1688 | regardless of adjudication, or has entered a plea of nolo |
| 1689 | contendere or guilty to, any offense prohibited under the level |
| 1690 | 2 standards for screening set forth in chapter 435, unless an |
| 1691 | exemption from disqualification has been granted by the agency |
| 1692 | as set forth in chapter 435. |
| 1693 | (h) The agency may deny or revoke licensure if the |
| 1694 | applicant: |
| 1695 | 1. Has falsely represented a material fact in the |
| 1696 | application required by paragraph (e) or paragraph (f), or has |
| 1697 | omitted any material fact from the application required by |
| 1698 | paragraph (e) or paragraph (f); or |
| 1699 | 2. Has had prior action taken against the applicant under |
| 1700 | the Medicaid or Medicare program as set forth in paragraph (e). |
| 1701 | (i) An application for license renewal must contain the |
| 1702 | information required under paragraphs (e) and (f). |
| 1703 | (6)(7) The applicant shall furnish satisfactory proof of |
| 1704 | financial ability to operate and conduct the facility or program |
| 1705 | in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and adopted |
| 1706 | all rules promulgated hereunder. |
| 1707 | (7)(8) The agency shall adopt rules establishing minimum |
| 1708 | standards for licensure of residential facilities and |
| 1709 | comprehensive transitional education programs licensed under |
| 1710 | this section, including rules requiring facilities and programs |
| 1711 | to train staff to detect and prevent sexual abuse of residents |
| 1712 | and clients, minimum standards of quality and adequacy of client |
| 1713 | care, incident-reporting requirements, and uniform firesafety |
| 1714 | standards established by the State Fire Marshal which are |
| 1715 | appropriate to the size of the facility or of the component |
| 1716 | centers or units of the program. |
| 1717 | (8)(9) The agency and the Agency for Health Care |
| 1718 | Administration, after consultation with the Department of |
| 1719 | Community Affairs, shall adopt rules for foster care residential |
| 1720 | facilities, group home facilities, and residential habilitation |
| 1721 | centers which establish under the respective regulatory |
| 1722 | jurisdiction of each establishing minimum standards for the |
| 1723 | preparation and annual update of a comprehensive emergency |
| 1724 | management plan. At a minimum, the rules must provide for plan |
| 1725 | components that address emergency evacuation transportation; |
| 1726 | adequate sheltering arrangements; postdisaster activities, |
| 1727 | including emergency power, food, and water; postdisaster |
| 1728 | transportation; supplies; staffing; emergency equipment; |
| 1729 | individual identification of residents and transfer of records; |
| 1730 | and responding to family inquiries. The comprehensive emergency |
| 1731 | management plan for all comprehensive transitional education |
| 1732 | programs and for homes serving individuals who have complex |
| 1733 | medical conditions is subject to review and approval by the |
| 1734 | local emergency management agency. During its review, the local |
| 1735 | emergency management agency shall ensure that the agency and the |
| 1736 | Department of Community Affairs following agencies, at a |
| 1737 | minimum, are given the opportunity to review the plan: the |
| 1738 | Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons |
| 1739 | with Disabilities, and the Department of Community Affairs. |
| 1740 | Also, appropriate volunteer organizations must be given the |
| 1741 | opportunity to review the plan. The local emergency management |
| 1742 | agency shall complete its review within 60 days and either |
| 1743 | approve the plan or advise the facility of necessary revisions. |
| 1744 | (9)(10) The agency may conduct unannounced inspections to |
| 1745 | determine compliance by foster care residential facilities, |
| 1746 | group home facilities, residential habilitation centers, and |
| 1747 | comprehensive transitional education programs with the |
| 1748 | applicable provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted |
| 1749 | pursuant hereto, including the rules adopted for training staff |
| 1750 | of a facility or a program to detect and prevent sexual abuse of |
| 1751 | residents and clients. The facility or program shall make copies |
| 1752 | of inspection reports available to the public upon request. |
| 1753 | (11) An alternative living center and an independent |
| 1754 | living education center, as defined in s. 393.063, shall be |
| 1755 | subject to the provisions of s. 419.001, except that such |
| 1756 | centers shall be exempt from the 1,000-foot-radius requirement |
| 1757 | of s. 419.001(2) if: |
| 1758 | (a) Such centers are located on a site zoned in a manner |
| 1759 | so that all the component centers of a comprehensive transition |
| 1760 | education center may be located thereon; or |
| 1761 | (b) There are no more than three such centers within said |
| 1762 | radius of 1,000 feet. |
| 1763 | (10)(12) Each residential facility or comprehensive |
| 1764 | transitional education program licensed under this section by |
| 1765 | the agency shall forward annually to the agency a true and |
| 1766 | accurate sworn statement of its costs of providing care to |
| 1767 | clients funded by the agency. |
| 1768 | (11)(13) The agency may audit the records of any |
| 1769 | residential facility or comprehensive transitional education |
| 1770 | program that it has reason to believe may not be in full |
| 1771 | compliance with the provisions of this section; provided that, |
| 1772 | any financial audit of such facility or program shall be limited |
| 1773 | to the records of clients funded by the agency. |
| 1774 | (12)(14) The agency shall establish, for the purpose of |
| 1775 | control of licensure costs, a uniform management information |
| 1776 | system and a uniform reporting system with uniform definitions |
| 1777 | and reporting categories. |
| 1778 | (13)(15) Facilities and programs licensed pursuant to this |
| 1779 | section shall adhere to all rights specified in s. 393.13, |
| 1780 | including those enumerated in s. 393.13(4). |
| 1781 | (14)(16) An No unlicensed residential facility or |
| 1782 | comprehensive transitional education program may not shall |
| 1783 | receive state funds. A license for the operation of a facility |
| 1784 | or program shall not be renewed if the licensee has any |
| 1785 | outstanding fines assessed pursuant to this chapter wherein |
| 1786 | final adjudication of such fines has been entered. |
| 1787 | (15)(17) The agency is shall not be required to contract |
| 1788 | with new facilities licensed after October 1, 1989, pursuant to |
| 1789 | this chapter. Pursuant to chapter 287, the agency shall continue |
| 1790 | to contract within available resources for residential services |
| 1791 | with facilities licensed prior to October 1, 1989, if such |
| 1792 | facilities comply with the provisions of this chapter and all |
| 1793 | other applicable laws and regulations. |
| 1794 | Section 20. Section 393.0673, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1795 | to read: |
| 1796 | 393.0673 Denial, suspension, revocation of license; |
| 1797 | moratorium on admissions; administrative fines; procedures.-- |
| 1798 | (1) The agency may deny, revoke, or suspend a license or |
| 1799 | impose an administrative fine, not to exceed $1,000 per |
| 1800 | violation per day, if the applicant or licensee: |
| 1801 | (a) Has falsely represented, or omitted a material fact in |
| 1802 | its license application submitted under s. 393.067. |
| 1803 | (b) Has had prior action taken against it under the |
| 1804 | Medicaid or Medicare program. |
| 1805 | (c) Has failed to comply with the applicable requirements |
| 1806 | of this chapter or rules applicable to the applicant or licensee |
| 1807 | for a violation of any provision of s. 393.0655 or s. 393.067 or |
| 1808 | rules adopted pursuant thereto. |
| 1809 | (2) All hearings shall be held within the county in which |
| 1810 | the licensee or applicant operates or applies for a license to |
| 1811 | operate a facility as defined herein. |
| 1812 | (3)(2) The agency, as a part of any final order issued by |
| 1813 | it under the provisions of this chapter, may impose such fine as |
| 1814 | it deems proper, except that such fine may not exceed $1,000 for |
| 1815 | each violation. Each day a violation of this chapter occurs |
| 1816 | constitutes a separate violation and is subject to a separate |
| 1817 | fine, but in no event may the aggregate amount of any fine |
| 1818 | exceed $10,000. Fines paid by any facility licensee under the |
| 1819 | provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in the Resident |
| 1820 | Protection Trust Fund and expended as provided in s. 400.063. |
| 1821 | (4)(3) The agency may issue an order immediately |
| 1822 | suspending or revoking a license when it determines that any |
| 1823 | condition in the facility presents a danger to the health, |
| 1824 | safety, or welfare of the residents in the facility. |
| 1825 | (5)(4) The agency may impose an immediate moratorium on |
| 1826 | admissions to any facility when the department determines that |
| 1827 | any condition in the facility presents a threat to the health, |
| 1828 | safety, or welfare of the residents in the facility. |
| 1829 | (6) The agency shall establish by rule criteria for |
| 1830 | evaluating the severity of violations and for determining the |
| 1831 | amount of fines imposed. |
| 1832 | Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 393.0674, Florida |
| 1833 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1834 | 393.0674 Penalties.-- |
| 1835 | (1) It is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as |
| 1836 | provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for any person willfully, |
| 1837 | knowingly, or intentionally to: |
| 1838 | (a) Fail, by false statement, misrepresentation, |
| 1839 | impersonation, or other fraudulent means, to disclose in any |
| 1840 | application for voluntary or paid employment a material fact |
| 1841 | used in making a determination as to such person's |
| 1842 | qualifications to be a direct service provider; |
| 1843 | (b) Provide or attempt to provide supports or services |
| 1844 | with direct service providers who are not in compliance |
| 1845 | noncompliance with the background screening requirements minimum |
| 1846 | standards for good moral character as contained in this chapter; |
| 1847 | or |
| 1848 | (c) Use information from the criminal records or central |
| 1849 | abuse hotline obtained under s. 393.0655, s. 393.066, or s. |
| 1850 | 393.067 for any purpose other than screening that person for |
| 1851 | employment as specified in those sections or release such |
| 1852 | information to any other person for any purpose other than |
| 1853 | screening for employment as specified in those sections. |
| 1854 | Section 22. Subsection (3) of section 393.0675, Florida |
| 1855 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1856 | 393.0675 Injunctive proceedings authorized.-- |
| 1857 | (3) The agency may institute proceedings for an injunction |
| 1858 | in a court of competent jurisdiction to terminate the operation |
| 1859 | of a provider of supports or services if such provider has |
| 1860 | willfully and knowingly refused to comply with the screening |
| 1861 | requirement for direct service providers or has refused to |
| 1862 | terminate direct service providers found not to be in compliance |
| 1863 | with such the requirements for good moral character. |
| 1864 | Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 393.0678, Florida |
| 1865 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1866 | 393.0678 Receivership proceedings.-- |
| 1867 | (1) The agency may petition a court of competent |
| 1868 | jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver for an |
| 1869 | intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled, a |
| 1870 | residential habilitation center, or a group home facility owned |
| 1871 | and operated by a corporation or partnership when any of the |
| 1872 | following conditions exist: |
| 1873 | (a) Any person is operating a facility without a license |
| 1874 | and refuses to make application for a license as required by s. |
| 1875 | 393.067 or, in the case of an intermediate care facility for the |
| 1876 | developmentally disabled, as required by ss. 393.067 and |
| 1877 | 400.062. |
| 1878 | (b) The licensee is closing the facility or has informed |
| 1879 | the department that it intends to close the facility; and |
| 1880 | adequate arrangements have not been made for relocation of the |
| 1881 | residents within 7 days, exclusive of weekends and holidays, of |
| 1882 | the closing of the facility. |
| 1883 | (c) The agency determines that conditions exist in the |
| 1884 | facility which present an imminent danger to the health, safety, |
| 1885 | or welfare of the residents of the facility or which present a |
| 1886 | substantial probability that death or serious physical harm |
| 1887 | would result therefrom. Whenever possible, the agency shall |
| 1888 | facilitate the continued operation of the program. |
| 1889 | (d) The licensee cannot meet its financial obligations to |
| 1890 | provide food, shelter, care, and utilities. Evidence such as the |
| 1891 | issuance of bad checks or the accumulation of delinquent bills |
| 1892 | for such items as personnel salaries, food, drugs, or utilities |
| 1893 | constitutes prima facie evidence that the ownership of the |
| 1894 | facility lacks the financial ability to operate the home in |
| 1895 | accordance with the requirements of this chapter and all rules |
| 1896 | promulgated thereunder. |
| 1897 | Section 24. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (5), and (7) of |
| 1898 | section 393.068, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1899 | 393.068 Family care program.-- |
| 1900 | (1) The family care program is established for the purpose |
| 1901 | of providing services and support to families and individuals |
| 1902 | with developmental disabilities in order to maintain the |
| 1903 | individual in the home environment and avoid costly out-of-home |
| 1904 | residential placement. Services and support available to |
| 1905 | families and individuals with developmental disabilities shall |
| 1906 | emphasize community living and self-determination and enable |
| 1907 | individuals with developmental disabilities to enjoy typical |
| 1908 | lifestyles. One way to accomplish this is to recognize that |
| 1909 | families are the greatest resource available to individuals who |
| 1910 | have developmental disabilities and must be supported in their |
| 1911 | role as primary care givers. |
| 1912 | (2) Services and support authorized under the family care |
| 1913 | this program shall, to the extent of available resources, |
| 1914 | include the services listed under s. 393.066 and, in addition, |
| 1915 | shall include, but not be limited to: |
| 1916 | (a) Attendant care. |
| 1917 | (b) Barrier-free modifications to the home. |
| 1918 | (c) Home visitation by agency workers. |
| 1919 | (d) In-home subsidies. |
| 1920 | (e) Low-interest loans. |
| 1921 | (f) Modifications for vehicles used to transport the |
| 1922 | individual with a developmental disability. |
| 1923 | (g) Facilitated communication. |
| 1924 | (h) Family counseling. |
| 1925 | (i) Equipment and supplies. |
| 1926 | (j) Self-advocacy training. |
| 1927 | (k) Roommate services. |
| 1928 | (l) Integrated community activities. |
| 1929 | (m) Emergency services. |
| 1930 | (n) Support coordination. |
| 1931 | (o) Supported employment. |
| 1932 | (o)(p) Other support services as identified by the family |
| 1933 | or individual. |
| 1934 | (3) When it is determined by the agency to be more cost- |
| 1935 | effective and in the best interest of the client to maintain |
| 1936 | such client in the home of a direct service provider, the parent |
| 1937 | or guardian of the client or, if competent, the client may |
| 1938 | enroll the client in the family care program. The direct service |
| 1939 | provider of a client enrolled in the family care program shall |
| 1940 | be reimbursed according to a rate schedule set by the agency, |
| 1941 | except that. in-home subsidies cited in paragraph (2)(d) shall |
| 1942 | be provided in accordance with according to s. 393.0695 and are |
| 1943 | not subject to any other payment method or rate schedule |
| 1944 | provided for in this section. |
| 1945 | (5) The agency may contract for the provision of any |
| 1946 | portion of the services required by the program, except for in- |
| 1947 | home subsidies cited in paragraph (2)(d), which shall be |
| 1948 | provided pursuant to s. 393.0695. Otherwise, purchase of service |
| 1949 | contracts shall be used whenever the services so provided are |
| 1950 | more cost-efficient than those provided by the agency. |
| 1951 | (7) To provide a range of personal care services for the |
| 1952 | client, the use of volunteers shall be maximized. The agency |
| 1953 | shall assure appropriate insurance coverage to protect |
| 1954 | volunteers from personal liability while acting within the scope |
| 1955 | of their volunteer assignments under the program. |
| 1956 | Section 25. Subsection (3) of section 393.0695, Florida |
| 1957 | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) is added to that |
| 1958 | section, to read: |
| 1959 | 393.0695 Provision of in-home subsidies.-- |
| 1960 | (3) In-home subsidies must be based on an individual |
| 1961 | determination of need and must not exceed maximum amounts set by |
| 1962 | the agency and reassessed by the agency quarterly annually. |
| 1963 | (5) The agency shall adopt rules to administer this |
| 1964 | section, including standards and procedures governing |
| 1965 | eligibility for services, selection of housing, selection of |
| 1966 | providers, and planning for services, and requirements for |
| 1967 | ongoing monitoring. |
| 1968 | Section 26. Subsection (2) of section 393.075, Florida |
| 1969 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1970 | 393.075 General liability coverage.-- |
| 1971 | (2) The Division of Risk Management of the Department of |
| 1972 | Financial Services shall provide coverage through the agency to |
| 1973 | any person who owns or operates a foster care facility or group |
| 1974 | home facility solely for the agency, who cares for children |
| 1975 | placed by developmental services staff of the agency, and who is |
| 1976 | licensed pursuant to s. 393.067 to provide such supervision and |
| 1977 | care in his or her place of residence. The coverage shall be |
| 1978 | provided from the general liability account of the State Risk |
| 1979 | Management Trust Fund. The coverage is limited to general |
| 1980 | liability claims arising from the provision of supervision and |
| 1981 | care of children in a foster care facility or group home |
| 1982 | facility pursuant to an agreement with the agency and pursuant |
| 1983 | to guidelines established through policy, rule, or statute. |
| 1984 | Coverage shall be subject to the limits provided in ss. 284.38 |
| 1985 | and 284.385, and the exclusions set forth therein, together with |
| 1986 | other exclusions as may be set forth in the certificate of |
| 1987 | coverage issued by the trust fund. A person covered under the |
| 1988 | general liability account pursuant to this subsection shall |
| 1989 | immediately notify the Division of Risk Management of the |
| 1990 | Department of Financial Services of any potential or actual |
| 1991 | claim. |
| 1992 | Section 27. Section 393.11, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1993 | to read: |
| 1994 | 393.11 Involuntary admission to residential services.-- |
| 1995 | (1) JURISDICTION.-- When a person is mentally retarded and |
| 1996 | requires involuntary admission to residential services provided |
| 1997 | by the agency, the circuit court of the county in which the |
| 1998 | person resides shall have jurisdiction to conduct a hearing and |
| 1999 | enter an order involuntarily admitting the person in order that |
| 2000 | the person may receive the care, treatment, habilitation, and |
| 2001 | rehabilitation which the person needs. For the purpose of |
| 2002 | identifying mental retardation, diagnostic capability shall be |
| 2003 | established by the agency. Except as otherwise specified, the |
| 2004 | proceedings under this section shall be governed by the Florida |
| 2005 | Rules of Civil Procedure. |
| 2006 | (2) PETITION.-- |
| 2007 | (a) A petition for involuntary admission to residential |
| 2008 | services may be executed by a petitioning commission. For |
| 2009 | proposed involuntary admission to residential services arising |
| 2010 | out of chapter 916, the petition may be filed by a petitioning |
| 2011 | commission, the agency, the state attorney of the circuit from |
| 2012 | which the defendant was committed, or the defendant's attorney. |
| 2013 | (b) The petitioning commission shall consist of three |
| 2014 | persons. One of these persons shall be a physician licensed and |
| 2015 | practicing under chapter 458 or chapter 459. |
| 2016 | (c) The petition shall be verified and shall: |
| 2017 | 1. State the name, age, and present address of the |
| 2018 | commissioners and their relationship to the person with mental |
| 2019 | retardation or autism; |
| 2020 | 2. State the name, age, county of residence, and present |
| 2021 | address of the person with mental retardation or autism; |
| 2022 | 3. Allege that the commission believes that the person |
| 2023 | needs involuntary residential services and specify the factual |
| 2024 | information on which the such belief is based; |
| 2025 | 4. Allege that the person lacks sufficient capacity to |
| 2026 | give express and informed consent to a voluntary application for |
| 2027 | services and lacks the basic survival and self-care skills to |
| 2028 | provide for the person's well-being or is likely to physically |
| 2029 | injure others if allowed to remain at liberty; and |
| 2030 | 5. State which residential setting is the least |
| 2031 | restrictive and most appropriate alternative and specify the |
| 2032 | factual information on which the such belief is based. |
| 2033 | (d) The petition shall be filed in the circuit court of |
| 2034 | the county in which the person with mental retardation or autism |
| 2035 | resides. |
| 2036 | (3) NOTICE.-- |
| 2037 | (a) Notice of the filing of the petition shall be given to |
| 2038 | the individual and his or her legal guardian. The notice shall |
| 2039 | be given both verbally and in writing in the language of the |
| 2040 | client, or in other modes of communication of the client, and in |
| 2041 | English. Notice shall also be given to such other persons as the |
| 2042 | court may direct. The petition for involuntary admission to |
| 2043 | residential services shall be served with the notice. |
| 2044 | (b) Whenever a motion or petition has been filed pursuant |
| 2045 | to s. 916.303 to dismiss criminal charges against a defendant |
| 2046 | with retardation or autism, and a petition is filed to |
| 2047 | involuntarily admit the defendant to residential services under |
| 2048 | this section, the notice of the filing of the petition shall |
| 2049 | also be given to the defendant's attorney, and to the state |
| 2050 | attorney of the circuit from which the defendant was committed, |
| 2051 | and the agency. |
| 2052 | (c) The notice shall state that a hearing shall be set to |
| 2053 | inquire into the need of the person with mental retardation or |
| 2054 | autism for involuntary residential services. The notice shall |
| 2055 | also state the date of the hearing on the petition. |
| 2056 | (d) The notice shall state that the individual with mental |
| 2057 | retardation or autism has the right to be represented by counsel |
| 2058 | of his or her own choice and that, if the person cannot afford |
| 2059 | an attorney, the court shall appoint one. |
| 2060 | (4) AGENCY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES PARTICIPATION.-- |
| 2061 | (a) Upon receiving the petition, the court shall |
| 2062 | immediately order the developmental services program of the |
| 2063 | agency to examine the person being considered for involuntary |
| 2064 | admission to residential services. |
| 2065 | (b) Following examination, the agency shall file After the |
| 2066 | developmental services program examines the person, a written |
| 2067 | report shall be filed with the court not less than 10 working |
| 2068 | days before the date of the hearing. The report must shall be |
| 2069 | served on the petitioner, the person with mental retardation, |
| 2070 | and the person's attorney at the time the report is filed with |
| 2071 | the court. |
| 2072 | (c) The report must shall contain the findings of the |
| 2073 | agency's developmental services program evaluation, and any |
| 2074 | recommendations deemed appropriate, and a determination of |
| 2075 | whether the person is eligible for services under this chapter. |
| 2076 | (5) EXAMINING COMMITTEE.-- |
| 2077 | (a) Upon receiving the petition, the court shall |
| 2078 | immediately appoint an examining committee to examine the person |
| 2079 | being considered for involuntary admission to residential |
| 2080 | services provided by of the developmental services program of |
| 2081 | the agency. |
| 2082 | (b) The court shall appoint no fewer than three |
| 2083 | disinterested experts who have demonstrated to the court an |
| 2084 | expertise in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of persons |
| 2085 | with mental retardation. The committee must shall include at |
| 2086 | least one licensed and qualified physician, one licensed and |
| 2087 | qualified psychologist, and one qualified professional with a |
| 2088 | minimum of a masters degree in social work, special education, |
| 2089 | or vocational rehabilitation counseling, to examine the person |
| 2090 | and to testify at the hearing on the involuntary admission to |
| 2091 | residential services. |
| 2092 | (c) Counsel for the person who is being considered for |
| 2093 | involuntary admission to residential services and counsel for |
| 2094 | the petition commission has shall have the right to challenge |
| 2095 | the qualifications of those appointed to the examining |
| 2096 | committee. |
| 2097 | (d) Members of the committee may shall not be employees of |
| 2098 | the agency or be associated with each other in practice or in |
| 2099 | employer-employee relationships. Members of the committee may |
| 2100 | shall not have served as members of the petitioning commission. |
| 2101 | Members of the committee may shall not be employees of the |
| 2102 | members of the petitioning commission or be associated in |
| 2103 | practice with members of the commission. |
| 2104 | (e) The committee shall prepare a written report for the |
| 2105 | court. The report must shall explicitly document the extent that |
| 2106 | the person meets the criteria for involuntary admission. The |
| 2107 | report, and expert testimony, must shall include, but not be |
| 2108 | limited to: |
| 2109 | 1. The degree of the person's mental retardation and |
| 2110 | whether, using diagnostic capabilities established by the |
| 2111 | agency, the person is eligible for agency services; |
| 2112 | 2. Whether, because of the person's degree of mental |
| 2113 | retardation, the person: |
| 2114 | a. Lacks sufficient capacity to give express and informed |
| 2115 | consent to a voluntary application for services pursuant to s. |
| 2116 | 393.065; |
| 2117 | b. Lacks basic survival and self-care skills to such a |
| 2118 | degree that close supervision and habilitation in a residential |
| 2119 | setting is necessary and if not provided would result in a real |
| 2120 | and present threat of substantial harm to the person's well- |
| 2121 | being; or |
| 2122 | c. Is likely to physically injure others if allowed to |
| 2123 | remain at liberty. |
| 2124 | 3. The purpose to be served by residential care; |
| 2125 | 4. A recommendation on the type of residential placement |
| 2126 | which would be the most appropriate and least restrictive for |
| 2127 | the person; and |
| 2128 | 5. The appropriate care, habilitation, and treatment. |
| 2129 | (f) The committee shall file the report with the court not |
| 2130 | less than 10 working days before the date of the hearing. The |
| 2131 | report shall be served on the petitioner, the person with mental |
| 2132 | retardation, and the person's attorney at the time the report is |
| 2133 | filed with the court, and the agency. |
| 2134 | (g) Members of the examining committee shall receive a |
| 2135 | reasonable fee to be determined by the court. The fees are to be |
| 2136 | paid from the general revenue fund of the county in which the |
| 2137 | person with mental retardation resided when the petition was |
| 2138 | filed. |
| 2139 | (h) The agency shall develop and prescribe by rule one or |
| 2140 | more standard forms to be used as a guide for members of the |
| 2141 | examining committee. |
| 2142 | (6) COUNSEL; GUARDIAN AD LITEM.-- |
| 2143 | (a) The person with mental retardation shall be |
| 2144 | represented by counsel at all stages of the judicial proceeding. |
| 2145 | In the event the person is indigent and cannot afford counsel, |
| 2146 | the court shall appoint a public defender not less than 20 |
| 2147 | working days before the scheduled hearing. The person's counsel |
| 2148 | shall have full access to the records of the service provider |
| 2149 | and the agency. In all cases, the attorney shall represent the |
| 2150 | rights and legal interests of the person with mental |
| 2151 | retardation, regardless of who may initiate the proceedings or |
| 2152 | pay the attorney's fee. |
| 2153 | (b) If the attorney, during the course of his or her |
| 2154 | representation, reasonably believes that the person with mental |
| 2155 | retardation cannot adequately act in his or her own interest, |
| 2156 | the attorney may seek the appointment of a guardian ad litem. A |
| 2157 | prior finding of incompetency is not required before a guardian |
| 2158 | ad litem is appointed pursuant to this section. |
| 2159 | (7) HEARING.-- |
| 2160 | (a) The hearing for involuntary admission shall be |
| 2161 | conducted, and the order shall be entered, in the county in |
| 2162 | which the petition is filed person is residing or be as |
| 2163 | convenient to the person as may be consistent with orderly |
| 2164 | procedure. The hearing shall be conducted in a physical setting |
| 2165 | not likely to be injurious to the person's condition. |
| 2166 | (b) A hearing on the petition must shall be held as soon |
| 2167 | as practicable after the petition is filed, but reasonable delay |
| 2168 | for the purpose of investigation, discovery, or procuring |
| 2169 | counsel or witnesses shall be granted. |
| 2170 | (c) The court may appoint a general or special magistrate |
| 2171 | to preside. Except as otherwise specified, the magistrate's |
| 2172 | proceeding shall be governed by the rule 1.490, Florida Rules of |
| 2173 | Civil Procedure. |
| 2174 | (d) The person with mental retardation shall be physically |
| 2175 | present throughout the entire proceeding. If the person's |
| 2176 | attorney believes that the person's presence at the hearing is |
| 2177 | not in the person's best interest, the person's presence may be |
| 2178 | waived once the court has seen the person and the hearing has |
| 2179 | commenced. |
| 2180 | (e) The person has shall have the right to present |
| 2181 | evidence and to cross-examine all witnesses and other evidence |
| 2182 | alleging the appropriateness of the person's admission to |
| 2183 | residential care. Other relevant and material evidence regarding |
| 2184 | the appropriateness of the person's admission to residential |
| 2185 | services; the most appropriate, least restrictive residential |
| 2186 | placement; and the appropriate care, treatment, and habilitation |
| 2187 | of the person, including written or oral reports, may be |
| 2188 | introduced at the hearing by any interested person. |
| 2189 | (f) The petitioning commission may be represented by |
| 2190 | counsel at the hearing. The petitioning commission shall have |
| 2191 | the right to call witnesses, present evidence, cross-examine |
| 2192 | witnesses, and present argument on behalf of the petitioning |
| 2193 | commission. |
| 2194 | (g) All evidence shall be presented according to chapter |
| 2195 | 90. The burden of proof shall be on the party alleging the |
| 2196 | appropriateness of the person's admission to residential |
| 2197 | services. The burden of proof shall be by clear and convincing |
| 2198 | evidence. |
| 2199 | (h) All stages of each proceeding shall be |
| 2200 | stenographically reported. |
| 2201 | (8) ORDER.-- |
| 2202 | (a) In all cases, the court shall issue written findings |
| 2203 | of fact and conclusions of law to support its decision. The |
| 2204 | order must shall state the basis for the such findings of fact. |
| 2205 | (b) An order of involuntary admission to residential |
| 2206 | services may shall not be entered unless the court finds that: |
| 2207 | 1. The person is mentally retarded or autistic; |
| 2208 | 2. Placement in a residential setting is the least |
| 2209 | restrictive and most appropriate alternative to meet the |
| 2210 | person's needs; and |
| 2211 | 3. Because of the person's degree of mental retardation or |
| 2212 | autism, the person: |
| 2213 | a. Lacks sufficient capacity to give express and informed |
| 2214 | consent to a voluntary application for services pursuant to s. |
| 2215 | 393.065 and lacks basic survival and self-care skills to such a |
| 2216 | degree that close supervision and habilitation in a residential |
| 2217 | setting is necessary and, if not provided, would result in a |
| 2218 | real and present threat of substantial harm to the person's |
| 2219 | well-being; or |
| 2220 | b. Is likely to physically injure others if allowed to |
| 2221 | remain at liberty. |
| 2222 | (c) If the evidence presented to the court is not |
| 2223 | sufficient to warrant involuntary admission to residential |
| 2224 | services, but the court feels that residential services would be |
| 2225 | beneficial, the court may recommend that the person seek |
| 2226 | voluntary admission. |
| 2227 | (d) If an order of involuntary admission to residential |
| 2228 | services provided by the developmental services program of the |
| 2229 | agency is entered by the court, a copy of the written order |
| 2230 | shall be served upon the person, the person's counsel, the |
| 2231 | agency, and the state attorney and the person's defense counsel, |
| 2232 | if applicable. The order of involuntary admission sent to the |
| 2233 | agency shall also be accompanied by a copy of the examining |
| 2234 | committee's report and other reports contained in the court |
| 2235 | file. |
| 2236 | (e) Upon receiving the order, the agency shall, within 45 |
| 2237 | days, provide the court with a copy of the person's family or |
| 2238 | individual support plan and copies of all examinations and |
| 2239 | evaluations, outlining the treatment and rehabilitative |
| 2240 | programs. The agency shall document that the person has been |
| 2241 | placed in the most appropriate, least restrictive and cost- |
| 2242 | beneficial residential setting facility. A copy of the family or |
| 2243 | individual support plan and other examinations and evaluations |
| 2244 | shall be served upon the person and the person's counsel at the |
| 2245 | same time the documents are filed with the court. |
| 2246 | (9) EFFECT OF THE ORDER OF INVOLUNTARY ADMISSION TO |
| 2247 | RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.-- |
| 2248 | (a) In no case shall An order authorizing an admission to |
| 2249 | residential care may not be considered an adjudication of mental |
| 2250 | incompetency. A No person is not shall be presumed incompetent |
| 2251 | solely by reason of the person's involuntary admission to |
| 2252 | residential services. A No person may not shall be denied the |
| 2253 | full exercise of all legal rights guaranteed to citizens of this |
| 2254 | state and of the United States. |
| 2255 | (b) Any minor involuntarily admitted to residential |
| 2256 | services shall, upon reaching majority, be given a hearing to |
| 2257 | determine the continued appropriateness of his or her |
| 2258 | involuntary admission. |
| 2259 | (10) COMPETENCY.-- |
| 2260 | (a) The issue of competency shall be separate and distinct |
| 2261 | from a determination of the appropriateness of involuntary |
| 2262 | admission to residential services for a condition of mental |
| 2263 | retardation. |
| 2264 | (b) The issue of the competency of a person with mental |
| 2265 | retardation for purposes of assigning guardianship shall be |
| 2266 | determined in a separate proceeding according to the procedures |
| 2267 | and requirements of chapter 744 and the Florida Probate Rules. |
| 2268 | The issue of the competency of a person with mental retardation |
| 2269 | or autism for purposes of determining whether the person is |
| 2270 | competent to proceed in a criminal trial shall be determined in |
| 2271 | accordance with chapter 916. |
| 2272 | (11) CONTINUING JURISDICTION.--The court which issues the |
| 2273 | initial order for involuntary admission to residential services |
| 2274 | under this section has shall have continuing jurisdiction to |
| 2275 | enter further orders to ensure that the person is receiving |
| 2276 | adequate care, treatment, habilitation, and rehabilitation, |
| 2277 | including psychotropic medication and behavioral programming. |
| 2278 | Upon request, the court may transfer the continuing jurisdiction |
| 2279 | to the court where a client resides if it is different from |
| 2280 | where the original involuntary admission order was issued. A No |
| 2281 | person may not be released from an order for involuntary |
| 2282 | admission to residential services except by the order of the |
| 2283 | court. |
| 2284 | (12) APPEAL.-- |
| 2285 | (a) Any party to the proceeding who is affected by an |
| 2286 | order of the court, including the agency, may appeal to the |
| 2287 | appropriate district court of appeal within the time and in the |
| 2288 | manner prescribed by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. |
| 2289 | (b) The filing of an appeal by the person with mental |
| 2290 | retardation shall stay admission of the person into residential |
| 2291 | care. The stay shall remain in effect during the pendency of all |
| 2292 | review proceedings in Florida courts until a mandate issues. |
| 2293 | (13) HABEAS CORPUS.--At any time and without notice, any |
| 2294 | person involuntarily admitted into residential care to the |
| 2295 | developmental services program of the agency, or the person's |
| 2296 | parent or legal guardian in his or her behalf, is entitled to |
| 2297 | file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to question the |
| 2298 | cause, legality, and appropriateness of the person's involuntary |
| 2299 | admission. Each person, or the person's parent or legal |
| 2300 | guardian, shall receive specific written notice of the right to |
| 2301 | petition for a writ of habeas corpus at the time of his or her |
| 2302 | involuntary placement. |
| 2303 | Section 28. Section 393.122, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2304 | to read: |
| 2305 | 393.122 Applications for continued residential services.-- |
| 2306 | (1) If a client is discharged from residential services |
| 2307 | under the provisions of s. 393.115 this section, application for |
| 2308 | needed services shall be encouraged. |
| 2309 | (2) A No client receiving services from a state agency may |
| 2310 | not the department as of July 1, 1977, shall be denied continued |
| 2311 | services due to any change in eligibility requirements by |
| 2312 | chapter 77-335, Laws of Florida. |
| 2313 | Section 29. Section 393.13, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2314 | to read: |
| 2315 | 393.13 Personal Treatment of persons with developmental |
| 2316 | disabilities who are developmentally disabled.-- |
| 2317 | (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section act shall be known as "The |
| 2318 | Bill of Rights of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Who |
| 2319 | are Developmentally Disabled." |
| 2320 | (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-- |
| 2321 | (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the system of |
| 2322 | care provided to individuals with developmental disabilities who |
| 2323 | are developmentally disabled must be designed to meet the needs |
| 2324 | of the clients as well as protect the integrity of their legal |
| 2325 | and human rights. |
| 2326 | (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the |
| 2327 | design and delivery of treatment and services to persons with |
| 2328 | developmental disabilities who are developmentally disabled |
| 2329 | should be directed by the principles of self-determination |
| 2330 | normalization and therefore should: |
| 2331 | 1. Abate the use of large institutions. |
| 2332 | 2. Continue the development of community-based services |
| 2333 | that which provide reasonable alternatives to |
| 2334 | institutionalization in settings that are least restrictive to |
| 2335 | the client and that provide opportunities for inclusion in the |
| 2336 | community. |
| 2337 | 3. Provide training and education that to individuals who |
| 2338 | are developmentally disabled which will maximize their potential |
| 2339 | to lead independent and productive lives and that which will |
| 2340 | afford opportunities for outward mobility from institutions. |
| 2341 | 4. Reduce the use of sheltered workshops and other |
| 2342 | noncompetitive employment day activities and promote |
| 2343 | opportunities for those gainful employment for persons with |
| 2344 | developmental disabilities who choose to seek such employment. |
| 2345 | (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that duplicative |
| 2346 | and unnecessary administrative procedures and practices shall be |
| 2347 | eliminated, and areas of responsibility shall be clearly defined |
| 2348 | and consolidated in order to economically utilize present |
| 2349 | resources. Furthermore, personnel providing services should be |
| 2350 | sufficiently qualified and experienced to meet the needs of the |
| 2351 | clients, and they must be sufficient in number to provide |
| 2352 | treatment in a manner which is beneficial to the clients. |
| 2353 | (d) It is the intent of the Legislature: |
| 2354 | 1. To articulate the existing legal and human rights of |
| 2355 | persons with developmental disabilities who are developmentally |
| 2356 | disabled so that they may be exercised and protected. Persons |
| 2357 | with developmental disabilities shall have all the rights |
| 2358 | enjoyed by citizens of the state and the United States. |
| 2359 | 2. To provide a mechanism for the identification, |
| 2360 | evaluation, and treatment of persons with developmental |
| 2361 | disabilities. |
| 2362 | 3. To divert those individuals from institutional |
| 2363 | commitment who, by virtue of comprehensive assessment, can be |
| 2364 | placed in less costly, more effective community environments and |
| 2365 | programs. |
| 2366 | 4. To fund improvements in the program in accordance with |
| 2367 | the availability of state resources and yearly priorities |
| 2368 | determined by the Legislature. |
| 2369 | 5. To ensure that persons with developmental disabilities |
| 2370 | receive treatment and habilitation which fosters the |
| 2371 | developmental potential of the individual. |
| 2372 | 6. To provide programs for the proper habilitation and |
| 2373 | treatment of persons with developmental disabilities which shall |
| 2374 | include, but not be limited to, comprehensive medical/dental |
| 2375 | care, education, recreation, specialized therapies, training, |
| 2376 | social services, transportation, guardianship, family care |
| 2377 | programs, day habilitation services, and habilitative and |
| 2378 | rehabilitative services suited to the needs of the individual |
| 2379 | regardless of age, degree of disability, or handicapping |
| 2380 | condition. It is the intent of the Legislature that no person |
| 2381 | with developmental disabilities shall be deprived of these |
| 2382 | enumerated services by reason of inability to pay. |
| 2383 | 7. To fully effectuate the principles of self- |
| 2384 | determination normalization principle through the establishment |
| 2385 | of community services for persons with developmental |
| 2386 | disabilities as a viable and practical alternative to |
| 2387 | institutional care at each stage of individual life development |
| 2388 | and to promote opportunities for community inclusion. If care in |
| 2389 | a residential facility becomes necessary, it shall be in the |
| 2390 | least restrictive setting. |
| 2391 | 8. To minimize and achieve an ongoing reduction in the use |
| 2392 | of restraint and seclusion in facilities and programs serving |
| 2393 | persons with developmental disabilities. |
| 2394 | (e) It is the clear, unequivocal intent of this act to |
| 2395 | guarantee individual dignity, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and |
| 2396 | protection of the civil and legal rights of persons with |
| 2397 | developmental disabilities. |
| 2398 | (3) RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL |
| 2399 | DISABILITIES.--The rights described in this subsection shall |
| 2400 | apply to all persons with developmental disabilities, whether or |
| 2401 | not such persons are clients of the agency. |
| 2402 | (a) Persons with developmental disabilities shall have a |
| 2403 | right to dignity, privacy, and humane care, including the right |
| 2404 | to be free from sexual abuse in residential facilities. |
| 2405 | (b) Persons with developmental disabilities shall have the |
| 2406 | right to religious freedom and practice. Nothing shall restrict |
| 2407 | or infringe on a person's right to religious preference and |
| 2408 | practice. |
| 2409 | (c) Persons with developmental disabilities shall receive |
| 2410 | services, within available sources, which protect the personal |
| 2411 | liberty of the individual and which are provided in the least |
| 2412 | restrictive conditions necessary to achieve the purpose of |
| 2413 | treatment. |
| 2414 | (d) Persons with developmental disabilities who are |
| 2415 | developmentally disabled shall have a right to participate in an |
| 2416 | appropriate program of quality education and training services, |
| 2417 | within available resources, regardless of chronological age or |
| 2418 | degree of disability. Such persons may be provided with |
| 2419 | instruction in sex education, marriage, and family planning. |
| 2420 | (e) Persons with developmental disabilities who are |
| 2421 | developmentally disabled shall have a right to social |
| 2422 | interaction and to participate in community activities. |
| 2423 | (f) Persons with developmental disabilities who are |
| 2424 | developmentally disabled shall have a right to physical exercise |
| 2425 | and recreational opportunities. |
| 2426 | (g) Persons with developmental disabilities who are |
| 2427 | developmentally disabled shall have a right to be free from |
| 2428 | harm, including unnecessary physical, chemical, or mechanical |
| 2429 | restraint, isolation, excessive medication, abuse, or neglect. |
| 2430 | (h) Persons with developmental disabilities who are |
| 2431 | developmentally disabled shall have a right to consent to or |
| 2432 | refuse treatment, subject to the provisions of s. 393.12(2)(a) |
| 2433 | or chapter 744. |
| 2434 | (i) No otherwise qualified person shall, by reason of |
| 2435 | having a developmental disability, be excluded from |
| 2436 | participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subject to |
| 2437 | discrimination under, any program or activity which receives |
| 2438 | public funds, and all prohibitions set forth under any other |
| 2439 | statute shall be actionable under this statute. |
| 2440 | (j) No otherwise qualified person shall, by reason of |
| 2441 | having a developmental disability, be denied the right to vote |
| 2442 | in public elections. |
| 2443 | (4) CLIENT RIGHTS.--For purposes of this subsection, the |
| 2444 | term "client," as defined in s. 393.063, shall also include any |
| 2445 | person served in a facility licensed under pursuant to s. |
| 2446 | 393.067. |
| 2447 | (a) Clients shall have an unrestricted right to |
| 2448 | communication: |
| 2449 | 1. Each client is shall be allowed to receive, send, and |
| 2450 | mail sealed, unopened correspondence. A No client's incoming or |
| 2451 | outgoing correspondence may not shall be opened, delayed, held, |
| 2452 | or censored by the facility unless there is reason to believe |
| 2453 | that it contains items or substances which may be harmful to the |
| 2454 | client or others, in which case the chief administrator of the |
| 2455 | facility may direct reasonable examination of such mail and |
| 2456 | regulate the disposition of such items or substances. |
| 2457 | 2. Clients in residential facilities shall be afforded |
| 2458 | reasonable opportunities for telephone communication, to make |
| 2459 | and receive confidential calls, unless there is reason to |
| 2460 | believe that the content of the telephone communication may be |
| 2461 | harmful to the client or others, in which case the chief |
| 2462 | administrator of the facility may direct reasonable observation |
| 2463 | and monitoring to the telephone communication. |
| 2464 | 3. Clients shall have an unrestricted right to visitation |
| 2465 | subject to reasonable rules of the facility. However, nothing in |
| 2466 | this provision may not shall be construed to permit infringement |
| 2467 | upon other clients' rights to privacy. |
| 2468 | (b) Each client has the right to the possession and use of |
| 2469 | his or her own clothing and personal effects, except in those |
| 2470 | specific instances where the use of some of these items as |
| 2471 | reinforcers is essential for training the client as part of an |
| 2472 | appropriately approved behavioral program. The chief |
| 2473 | administrator of the facility may take temporary custody of such |
| 2474 | effects when it is essential to do so for medical or safety |
| 2475 | reasons. Custody of such personal effects shall be promptly |
| 2476 | recorded in the client's record, and a receipt for such effects |
| 2477 | shall be immediately given to the client, if competent, or the |
| 2478 | client's parent or legal guardian. |
| 2479 | 1. All money belonging to a client held by the agency |
| 2480 | shall be held in compliance with s. 402.17(2). |
| 2481 | 2. All interest on money received and held for the |
| 2482 | personal use and benefit of a client shall be the property of |
| 2483 | that client and may shall not accrue to the general welfare of |
| 2484 | all clients or be used to defray the cost of residential care. |
| 2485 | Interest so accrued shall be used or conserved for the personal |
| 2486 | use or benefit of the individual client as provided in s. |
| 2487 | 402.17(2). |
| 2488 | 3. Upon the discharge or death of a client, a final |
| 2489 | accounting shall be made of all personal effects and money |
| 2490 | belonging to the client held by the agency. All such personal |
| 2491 | effects and money, including interest, shall be promptly turned |
| 2492 | over to the client or his or her heirs. |
| 2493 | (c) Each client shall receive prompt and appropriate |
| 2494 | medical treatment and care for physical and mental ailments and |
| 2495 | for the prevention of any illness or disability. Medical |
| 2496 | treatment shall be consistent with the accepted standards of |
| 2497 | medical practice in the community. |
| 2498 | 1. Medication shall be administered only at the written |
| 2499 | order of a physician. Medication shall not be used as |
| 2500 | punishment, for the convenience of staff, as a substitute for |
| 2501 | implementation of an individual or family support plan or |
| 2502 | behavior-analysis services behavior modification programming, or |
| 2503 | in unnecessary or excessive quantities. |
| 2504 | 2. Daily notation of medication received by each client in |
| 2505 | a residential facility shall be kept in the client's record. |
| 2506 | 3. Periodically, but no less frequently than every 6 |
| 2507 | months, the drug regimen of each client in a residential |
| 2508 | facility shall be reviewed by the attending physician or other |
| 2509 | appropriate monitoring body, consistent with appropriate |
| 2510 | standards of medical practice. All prescriptions shall have a |
| 2511 | termination date. |
| 2512 | 4. When pharmacy services are provided at any residential |
| 2513 | facility, such services shall be directed or supervised by a |
| 2514 | professionally competent pharmacist licensed according to the |
| 2515 | provisions of chapter 465. |
| 2516 | 5. Pharmacy services shall be delivered in accordance with |
| 2517 | the provisions of chapter 465. |
| 2518 | 6. Prior to instituting a plan of experimental medical |
| 2519 | treatment or carrying out any necessary surgical procedure, |
| 2520 | express and informed consent shall be obtained from the client, |
| 2521 | if competent, or the client's parent or legal guardian. |
| 2522 | Information upon which the client shall make necessary treatment |
| 2523 | and surgery decisions shall include, but not be limited to: |
| 2524 | a. The nature and consequences of such procedures. |
| 2525 | b. The risks, benefits, and purposes of such procedures. |
| 2526 | c. Alternate procedures available. |
| 2527 | 7. When the parent or legal guardian of the client is |
| 2528 | unknown or unlocatable and the physician is unwilling to perform |
| 2529 | surgery based solely on the client's consent, a court of |
| 2530 | competent jurisdiction shall hold a hearing to determine the |
| 2531 | appropriateness of the surgical procedure. The client shall be |
| 2532 | physically present, unless the client's medical condition |
| 2533 | precludes such presence, represented by counsel, and provided |
| 2534 | the right and opportunity to be confronted with, and to cross- |
| 2535 | examine, all witnesses alleging the appropriateness of such |
| 2536 | procedure. In such proceedings, the burden of proof by clear and |
| 2537 | convincing evidence shall be on the party alleging the |
| 2538 | appropriateness of such procedures. The express and informed |
| 2539 | consent of a person described in subparagraph 6. may be |
| 2540 | withdrawn at any time, with or without cause, prior to treatment |
| 2541 | or surgery. |
| 2542 | 8. The absence of express and informed consent |
| 2543 | notwithstanding, a licensed and qualified physician may render |
| 2544 | emergency medical care or treatment to any client who has been |
| 2545 | injured or who is suffering from an acute illness, disease, or |
| 2546 | condition if, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, |
| 2547 | delay in initiation of emergency medical care or treatment would |
| 2548 | endanger the health of the client. |
| 2549 | (d) Each client shall have access to individual storage |
| 2550 | space for his or her private use. |
| 2551 | (e) Each client shall be provided with appropriate |
| 2552 | physical exercise as prescribed in the client's individual or |
| 2553 | family support plan. Indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment |
| 2554 | for such physical exercise shall be provided. |
| 2555 | (f) Each client shall receive humane discipline. |
| 2556 | (g) A No client may not shall be subjected to a treatment |
| 2557 | program to eliminate problematic bizarre or unusual behaviors |
| 2558 | without first being examined by a physician who in his or her |
| 2559 | best judgment determines that such behaviors are not organically |
| 2560 | caused. |
| 2561 | 1. Treatment programs involving the use of noxious or |
| 2562 | painful stimuli are shall be prohibited. |
| 2563 | 2. All alleged violations of this paragraph shall be |
| 2564 | reported immediately to the chief administrator administrative |
| 2565 | officer of the facility and or the district administrator, the |
| 2566 | agency head, and the Florida local advocacy council. A thorough |
| 2567 | investigation of each incident shall be conducted and a written |
| 2568 | report of the finding and results of the such investigation |
| 2569 | shall be submitted to the chief administrator administrative |
| 2570 | officer of the facility or the district administrator and to the |
| 2571 | agency head within 24 hours after of the occurrence or discovery |
| 2572 | of the incident. |
| 2573 | 3. The agency shall adopt by rule a system for the |
| 2574 | oversight of behavioral programs. The Such system shall |
| 2575 | establish guidelines and procedures governing the design, |
| 2576 | approval, implementation, and monitoring of all behavioral |
| 2577 | programs involving clients. The system shall ensure statewide |
| 2578 | and local review by committees of professionals certified as |
| 2579 | behavior analysts pursuant to s. 393.17. No behavioral program |
| 2580 | shall be implemented unless reviewed according to the rules |
| 2581 | established by the agency under this section. Nothing stated in |
| 2582 | this section shall prohibit the review of programs by the |
| 2583 | Florida statewide or local advocacy councils. |
| 2584 | (h) Each client engaged in work programs which require |
| 2585 | compliance with federal wage and hour laws shall be provided |
| 2586 | with minimum wage protection and fair compensation for labor in |
| 2587 | accordance with the federal wage-per-hour regulations. |
| 2588 | (h)(i) Clients shall have the right to be free from the |
| 2589 | unnecessary use of restraint or seclusion physical, chemical, or |
| 2590 | mechanical restraint. Restraints shall be employed only in |
| 2591 | emergencies or to protect the client or others from imminent |
| 2592 | injury to himself or herself or others. Restraints may shall not |
| 2593 | be employed as punishment, for the convenience of staff, or as a |
| 2594 | substitute for a support habilitative plan. Restraints shall |
| 2595 | impose the least possible restrictions consistent with their |
| 2596 | purpose and shall be removed when the emergency ends. Restraints |
| 2597 | shall not cause physical injury to the client and shall be |
| 2598 | designed to allow the greatest possible comfort. |
| 2599 | 1. Mechanical supports used in normative situations to |
| 2600 | achieve proper body position and balance shall not be considered |
| 2601 | restraints, but shall be prescriptively designed and applied |
| 2602 | under the supervision of a qualified professional with concern |
| 2603 | for principles of good body alignment, circulation, and |
| 2604 | allowance for change of position. |
| 2605 | 2. Totally enclosed cribs and barred enclosures shall be |
| 2606 | considered restraints. |
| 2607 | 1.3. Daily reports on the employment of restraint or |
| 2608 | seclusion physical, chemical, or mechanical restraints by those |
| 2609 | specialists authorized in the use of such restraints shall be |
| 2610 | made to the appropriate chief administrator of the facility or |
| 2611 | program licensed under this chapter, and a monthly compilation |
| 2612 | summary of such reports shall be relayed to the agency's local |
| 2613 | area office district administrator and the Florida local |
| 2614 | advocacy council. The monthly reports shall summarize all such |
| 2615 | cases of restraints, the type used, the duration of usage, and |
| 2616 | the reasons therefor. The area offices Districts shall submit |
| 2617 | monthly summaries of these districtwide quarterly reports of |
| 2618 | these summaries to the agency's central office state |
| 2619 | Developmental Disabilities Program Office. |
| 2620 | 2.4. The agency shall adopt by rule standards and |
| 2621 | procedures relating to the use of restraint and seclusion post a |
| 2622 | copy of the rules adopted under this section in each living unit |
| 2623 | of residential facilities. Such rules must be consistent with |
| 2624 | recognized best practices; prohibit inherently dangerous |
| 2625 | restraint or seclusion procedures; establish limitations on the |
| 2626 | use and duration of restraint and seclusion; establish measures |
| 2627 | to ensure the safety of clients and staff during an incident of |
| 2628 | restraint or seclusion; establish procedures for staff to follow |
| 2629 | before, during, and after incidents of restraint or seclusion, |
| 2630 | including individualized plans for the use of restraints or |
| 2631 | seclusion in emergency situations; establish professional |
| 2632 | qualifications of and training for staff who may order or be |
| 2633 | engaged in the use of restraint or seclusion; establish |
| 2634 | requirements for facility data collection and reporting relating |
| 2635 | to the use of restraint and seclusion; and establish procedures |
| 2636 | relating to the documentation of the use of restraint or |
| 2637 | seclusion in the client's facility or program record. A copy of |
| 2638 | the rules adopted under this subparagraph section shall be given |
| 2639 | to the client, parent, guardian or guardian advocate, and all |
| 2640 | staff members of licensed facilities and programs licensed under |
| 2641 | this chapter and made a part of all staff preservice and |
| 2642 | inservice training programs. |
| 2643 | (i)(j)1. Each client shall have a central record. The |
| 2644 | central record shall be established by the agency at the time |
| 2645 | that an individual is determined eligible for services, shall be |
| 2646 | maintained by the client's support coordinator, and must contain |
| 2647 | information include data pertaining to admission, diagnosis and |
| 2648 | treatment history, present condition, and such other information |
| 2649 | as may be required under rules of the agency. The central record |
| 2650 | is the property of the agency. |
| 2651 | 1.2. Unless waived by the client, if competent, or the |
| 2652 | client's parent or legal guardian if the client is incompetent, |
| 2653 | the client's central record shall be confidential and exempt |
| 2654 | from the provisions of s. 119.07(1), and no part of it shall be |
| 2655 | released except: |
| 2656 | a. The record may be released to physicians, attorneys, |
| 2657 | and government agencies having need of the record to aid the |
| 2658 | client, as designated by the client, if competent, or the |
| 2659 | client's parent or legal guardian, if the client is incompetent. |
| 2660 | b. The record shall be produced in response to a subpoena |
| 2661 | or released to persons authorized by order of court, excluding |
| 2662 | matters privileged by other provisions of law. |
| 2663 | c. The record or any part thereof may be disclosed to a |
| 2664 | qualified researcher, a staff member of the facility where the |
| 2665 | client resides, or an employee of the agency when the |
| 2666 | administrator of the facility or the director of the agency |
| 2667 | deems it necessary for the treatment of the client, maintenance |
| 2668 | of adequate records, compilation of treatment data, or |
| 2669 | evaluation of programs. |
| 2670 | d. Information from the records may be used for |
| 2671 | statistical and research purposes if the information is |
| 2672 | abstracted in such a way to protect the identity of individuals. |
| 2673 | 3. All central records for each client in residential |
| 2674 | facilities shall be kept on uniform forms distributed by the |
| 2675 | agency. The central record shall accurately summarize each |
| 2676 | client's history and present condition. |
| 2677 | 2.4. The client, if competent, or the client's parent or |
| 2678 | legal guardian if the client is incompetent, shall be supplied |
| 2679 | with a copy of the client's central record upon request. |
| 2680 | (j)(k) Each client residing in a residential facility who |
| 2681 | is eligible to vote in public elections according to the laws of |
| 2682 | the state has shall have the right to vote. Facilities operators |
| 2683 | shall arrange the means to exercise the client's right to vote. |
| 2684 | (5) LIABILITY FOR VIOLATIONS.--Any person who violates or |
| 2685 | abuses any rights or privileges of persons with developmental |
| 2686 | disabilities who are developmentally disabled provided by this |
| 2687 | chapter is act shall be liable for damages as determined by law. |
| 2688 | Any person who acts in good faith compliance with the provisions |
| 2689 | of this chapter is act shall be immune from civil or criminal |
| 2690 | liability for actions in connection with evaluation, admission, |
| 2691 | habilitative programming, education, treatment, or discharge of |
| 2692 | a client. However, this section does shall not relieve any |
| 2693 | person from liability if the such person is guilty of |
| 2694 | negligence, misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance. |
| 2695 | (6) NOTICE OF RIGHTS.--Each person with developmental |
| 2696 | disabilities, if competent, or parent or legal guardian of such |
| 2697 | person if the person is incompetent, shall promptly receive from |
| 2698 | the agency or the Department of Education a written copy of this |
| 2699 | act. Each person with developmental disabilities able to |
| 2700 | comprehend shall be promptly informed, in the language or other |
| 2701 | mode of communication which such person understands, of the |
| 2702 | above legal rights of persons with developmental disabilities. |
| 2703 | (7) RESIDENT GOVERNMENT.--Each residential facility |
| 2704 | providing services to clients who are desirous and capable of |
| 2705 | participating shall initiate and develop a program of resident |
| 2706 | government to hear the views and represent the interests of all |
| 2707 | clients served by the facility. The resident government shall be |
| 2708 | composed of residents elected by other residents, staff advisers |
| 2709 | skilled in the administration of community organizations, and, |
| 2710 | at the option of the resident government, representatives of |
| 2711 | advocacy groups for persons with developmental disabilities from |
| 2712 | the community a representative of the Florida local advocacy |
| 2713 | council. The resident government shall work closely with the |
| 2714 | Florida local advocacy council and the district administrator to |
| 2715 | promote the interests and welfare of all residents in the |
| 2716 | facility. |
| 2717 | Section 30. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of |
| 2718 | section 393.135, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2719 | 393.135 Sexual misconduct prohibited; reporting required; |
| 2720 | penalties.-- |
| 2721 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 2722 | (a) "Covered person" "Employee" includes any employee, |
| 2723 | paid staff member, volunteer, or intern of the agency or the |
| 2724 | department; any person under contract with the agency or the |
| 2725 | department; and any person providing care or support to a client |
| 2726 | on behalf of the agency department or its providers. |
| 2727 | (b) "Sexual activity" means: |
| 2728 | 1. Fondling the genital area, groin, inner thighs, |
| 2729 | buttocks, or breasts of a person. |
| 2730 | 2. The oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by or union with |
| 2731 | the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration |
| 2732 | of another by any other object. |
| 2733 | 3. Intentionally touching in a lewd or lascivious manner |
| 2734 | the breasts, genitals, the genital area, or buttocks, or the |
| 2735 | clothing covering them, of a person, or forcing or enticing a |
| 2736 | person to touch the perpetrator. |
| 2737 | 4. Intentionally masturbating in the presence of another |
| 2738 | person. |
| 2739 | 5. Intentionally exposing the genitals in a lewd or |
| 2740 | lascivious manner in the presence of another person. |
| 2741 | 6. Intentionally committing any other sexual act that does |
| 2742 | not involve actual physical or sexual contact with the victim, |
| 2743 | including, but not limited to, sadomasochistic abuse, sexual |
| 2744 | bestiality, or the simulation of any act involving sexual |
| 2745 | activity in the presence of a victim. |
| 2746 | (c) "Sexual misconduct" means any sexual activity between |
| 2747 | a covered person an employee and a client to whom a covered |
| 2748 | person renders services, care, or support on behalf of the |
| 2749 | agency or its providers, or between a covered person and another |
| 2750 | client who lives in the same home as the client to whom a |
| 2751 | covered person is rendering the services, care, or support, |
| 2752 | regardless of the consent of the client. The term does not |
| 2753 | include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose or an |
| 2754 | internal search conducted in the lawful performance of duty by a |
| 2755 | covered person an employee. |
| 2756 | (2) A covered person An employee who engages in sexual |
| 2757 | misconduct with an individual with a developmental disability |
| 2758 | who: |
| 2759 | (a) Is in the custody of the department; |
| 2760 | (a)(b) Resides in a residential facility, including any |
| 2761 | comprehensive transitional education program, developmental |
| 2762 | disabilities services institution, foster care facility, group |
| 2763 | home facility, intermediate care facility for the |
| 2764 | developmentally disabled, or residential habilitation center; or |
| 2765 | (b)(c) Is eligible to receive Receives services from the |
| 2766 | agency under this chapter a family care program, |
| 2767 |
|
| 2768 | commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in |
| 2769 | s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. A covered person An |
| 2770 | employee may be found guilty of violating this subsection |
| 2771 | without having committed the crime of sexual battery. |
| 2772 | (3) The consent of the client to sexual activity is not a |
| 2773 | defense to prosecution under this section. |
| 2774 | (4) This section does not apply to a covered person an |
| 2775 | employee who: |
| 2776 | (a) is legally married to the client; or |
| 2777 | (b) Has no reason to believe that the person with whom the |
| 2778 | employee engaged in sexual misconduct is a client receiving |
| 2779 | services as described in subsection (2). |
| 2780 | (5) A covered person An employee who witnesses sexual |
| 2781 | misconduct, or who otherwise knows or has reasonable cause to |
| 2782 | suspect that a person has engaged in sexual misconduct, shall |
| 2783 | immediately report the incident to the department's central |
| 2784 | abuse hotline of the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 2785 | and to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. The covered |
| 2786 | person Such employee shall also prepare, date, and sign an |
| 2787 | independent report that specifically describes the nature of the |
| 2788 | sexual misconduct, the location and time of the incident, and |
| 2789 | the persons involved. The covered person employee shall deliver |
| 2790 | the report to the supervisor or program director, who is |
| 2791 | responsible for providing copies to the agency's local office |
| 2792 | and the agency's department's inspector general. The inspector |
| 2793 | general shall immediately conduct an appropriate administrative |
| 2794 | investigation, and, if there is probable cause to believe that |
| 2795 | sexual misconduct has occurred, the inspector general shall |
| 2796 | notify the state attorney in the circuit in which the incident |
| 2797 | occurred. |
| 2798 | Section 31. Section 393.15, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2799 | to read: |
| 2800 | 393.15 Legislative intent; Community Resources Development |
| 2801 | Loan Program Trust Fund.-- |
| 2802 | (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the |
| 2803 | development of community-based treatment facilities for persons |
| 2804 | with developmental disabilities who are developmentally disabled |
| 2805 | is desirable and recommended and should be encouraged and |
| 2806 | fostered by the state. The Legislature further recognizes that |
| 2807 | the development of such facilities is financially difficult for |
| 2808 | private individuals, due to initial expenditures required to |
| 2809 | adapt existing structures to the special needs of such persons |
| 2810 | who are developmentally disabled who may be served in community- |
| 2811 | based foster care, group home, developmental training, and |
| 2812 | supported employment programs. Therefore, it is the intent of |
| 2813 | the Legislature intends that the agency by this act to develop |
| 2814 | and administer a loan program trust fund to provide support and |
| 2815 | encouragement in the establishment of community-based foster |
| 2816 | care, group home, developmental training, and supported |
| 2817 | employment programs for persons with developmental disabilities |
| 2818 | who are developmentally disabled. |
| 2819 | (2) As used in this section, a foster care, group home, |
| 2820 | developmental training, or supported employment program may not |
| 2821 | be a for-profit corporation, but may be a nonprofit corporation, |
| 2822 | partnership, or sole proprietorship. |
| 2823 | (2)(3) There is created a Community Resources Development |
| 2824 | Loan Program in Trust Fund in the State Treasury to be used by |
| 2825 | the agency for the purpose of granting loans to eligible |
| 2826 | programs for the initial costs of development of the programs. |
| 2827 | In order to be eligible for the program, a foster home, group |
| 2828 | home, or supported employment program must: |
| 2829 | (a) Serve persons with developmental disabilities; |
| 2830 | (b) Be a nonprofit corporation, partnership, or sole |
| 2831 | proprietorship; and |
| 2832 | (c) Be Loans shall be made only to those facilities which |
| 2833 | are in compliance with the zoning regulations of the local |
| 2834 | community. |
| 2835 | (3) Loans may be made to pay for the costs of development |
| 2836 | and may include structural modification, the purchase of |
| 2837 | equipment and fire and safety devices, preoperational staff |
| 2838 | training, and the purchase of insurance. Such costs may shall |
| 2839 | not include the actual construction of a facility and may not be |
| 2840 | in lieu of payment for maintenance, client services, or care |
| 2841 | provided. |
| 2842 | (4) The agency may grant to an eligible program a lump-sum |
| 2843 | loan in one payment not to exceed the cost to the program of |
| 2844 | providing 2 months' services, care, or maintenance to each |
| 2845 | person with developmental disabilities who is developmentally |
| 2846 | disabled to be placed in the program by the agency, or the |
| 2847 | actual cost of firesafety renovations to a facility required by |
| 2848 | the state, whichever is greater. Loans granted to programs shall |
| 2849 | not be in lieu of payment for maintenance, services, or care |
| 2850 | provided, but shall stand separate and distinct. |
| 2851 | (5) The agency shall adopt rules, as provided in chapter |
| 2852 | 120, to determine the criteria standards under which a program |
| 2853 | shall be eligible to receive a loan as provided in this section |
| 2854 | and the methodology criteria for the equitable allocation of |
| 2855 | loan trust funds when eligible applications exceed the funds |
| 2856 | available. |
| 2857 | (6)(5) Any loan granted by the agency under this section |
| 2858 | shall be repaid by the program within 5 years and the amount |
| 2859 | paid shall be deposited into the agency's Administrative Trust |
| 2860 | Fund. Moneys repaid shall be used to fund new loans. A program |
| 2861 | that operates as a nonprofit corporation meeting the |
| 2862 | requirements of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and |
| 2863 | that seeks forgiveness of its loan shall submit to the agency an |
| 2864 | annual a statement setting forth the service it has provided |
| 2865 | during the year together with such other information as the |
| 2866 | agency by rule shall require, and, upon approval of each such |
| 2867 | annual statement, the agency may shall forgive up to 20 percent |
| 2868 | of the principal of any such loan granted after June 30, 1975. |
| 2869 | (7)(6) If any program that has received a loan under this |
| 2870 | section ceases to accept, or provide care, services, or |
| 2871 | maintenance to persons placed in the program by the department, |
| 2872 | or if such program files papers of bankruptcy, at that point in |
| 2873 | time the loan shall become an interest-bearing loan at the rate |
| 2874 | of 5 percent per annum on the entire amount of the initial loan |
| 2875 | which shall be repaid within a 1-year period from the date on |
| 2876 | which the program ceases to provide care, services, or |
| 2877 | maintenance, or files papers in bankruptcy, and the amount of |
| 2878 | the loan due plus interest shall constitute a lien in favor of |
| 2879 | the state against all real and personal property of the program. |
| 2880 | The lien shall be perfected by the appropriate officer of the |
| 2881 | agency by executing and acknowledging a statement of the name of |
| 2882 | the program and the amount due on the loan and a copy of the |
| 2883 | promissory note, which shall be recorded by the agency with the |
| 2884 | clerk of the circuit court in the county wherein the program is |
| 2885 | located. If the program has filed a petition for bankruptcy, the |
| 2886 | agency shall file and enforce the lien in the bankruptcy |
| 2887 | proceedings. Otherwise, the lien shall be enforced in the manner |
| 2888 | provided in s. 85.011. All funds received by the agency from the |
| 2889 | enforcement of the lien shall be deposited in the agency's |
| 2890 | Administrative Community Resources Development Trust Fund and |
| 2891 | used to fund new loans. |
| 2892 | Section 32. Section 393.17, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2893 | to read: |
| 2894 | 393.17 Behavioral programs; certification of behavior |
| 2895 | analysts.-- |
| 2896 | (1) The agency may establish a certification process for |
| 2897 | behavior analysts in order to ensure that only qualified |
| 2898 | employees and service providers provide behavioral analysis |
| 2899 | services to clients. The procedures must be established by rule |
| 2900 | and must include criteria for scope of practice, qualifications |
| 2901 | for certification, including training and testing requirements, |
| 2902 | continuing education requirements for ongoing certification, and |
| 2903 | standards of performance. The procedures must also include |
| 2904 | decertification procedures that may be used to determine whether |
| 2905 | an individual continues to meet the qualifications for |
| 2906 | certification or the professional performance standards and, if |
| 2907 | not, the procedures necessary to decertify an employee or |
| 2908 | service provider. |
| 2909 | (2) The agency shall may recognize the certification of |
| 2910 | behavior analysts awarded by a nonprofit corporation that |
| 2911 | adheres to the national standards of boards that determine |
| 2912 | professional credentials and whose mission is to meet |
| 2913 | professional credentialing needs identified by behavior |
| 2914 | analysts, state governments, and consumers of behavior analysis |
| 2915 | services and whose work has the support of the Association for |
| 2916 | Behavior Analysis International. The certification procedure |
| 2917 | recognized by the agency must undergo regular psychometric |
| 2918 | review and validation, pursuant to a job analysis survey of the |
| 2919 | profession and standards established by content experts in the |
| 2920 | field. |
| 2921 | Section 33. Section 393.18, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 2922 | to read: |
| 2923 | 393.18 Comprehensive transitional education program.--A |
| 2924 | comprehensive transition education program is a group of jointly |
| 2925 | operating centers or units, the collective purpose of which is |
| 2926 | to provide a sequential series of educational care, training, |
| 2927 | treatment, habilitation, and rehabilitation services to persons |
| 2928 | who have developmental disabilities and who have severe or |
| 2929 | moderate maladaptive behaviors. However, this section does not |
| 2930 | require such programs to provide services only to persons with |
| 2931 | developmental disabilities. All such services shall be temporary |
| 2932 | in nature and delivered in a structured residential setting, |
| 2933 | having the primary goal of incorporating the principle of self- |
| 2934 | determination in establishing permanent residence for persons |
| 2935 | with maladaptive behaviors in facilities that are not associated |
| 2936 | with the comprehensive transitional education program. The staff |
| 2937 | shall include behavior analysts and teachers, as appropriate, |
| 2938 | who shall be available to provide services in each component |
| 2939 | center or unit of the program. A behavior analyst must be |
| 2940 | certified pursuant to s. 393.17. |
| 2941 | (1) Comprehensive transitional education programs shall |
| 2942 | include a minimum of two component centers or units, one of |
| 2943 | which shall be an intensive treatment and educational center or |
| 2944 | a transitional training and educational center, which provides |
| 2945 | services to persons with maladaptive behaviors in the following |
| 2946 | sequential order: |
| 2947 | (a) Intensive treatment and educational center.--This |
| 2948 | component is a self-contained residential unit providing |
| 2949 | intensive behavioral and educational programming for persons |
| 2950 | with severe maladaptive behaviors whose behaviors preclude |
| 2951 | placement in a less-restrictive environment due to the threat of |
| 2952 | danger or injury to themselves or others. Continuous-shift staff |
| 2953 | shall be required for this component. |
| 2954 | (b) Transitional training and educational center.--This |
| 2955 | component is a residential unit for persons with moderate |
| 2956 | maladaptive behaviors providing concentrated psychological and |
| 2957 | educational programming that emphasizes a transition toward a |
| 2958 | less-restrictive environment. Continuous-shift staff shall be |
| 2959 | required for this component. |
| 2960 | (c) Community transition residence.--This component is a |
| 2961 | residential center providing educational programs and any |
| 2962 | support services, training, and care that are needed to assist |
| 2963 | persons with maladaptive behaviors to avoid regression to more |
| 2964 | restrictive environments while preparing them for more |
| 2965 | independent living. Continuous-shift staff shall be required for |
| 2966 | this component. |
| 2967 | (d) Alternative living center.--This component is a |
| 2968 | residential unit providing an educational and family living |
| 2969 | environment for persons with maladaptive behaviors in a |
| 2970 | moderately unrestricted setting. Residential staff shall be |
| 2971 | required for this component. |
| 2972 | (e) Independent living education center.--This component |
| 2973 | is a facility providing a family living environment for persons |
| 2974 | with maladaptive behaviors in a largely unrestricted setting and |
| 2975 | includes education and monitoring that is appropriate to support |
| 2976 | the development of independent living skills. |
| 2977 | (2) Components of a comprehensive transitional education |
| 2978 | program are subject to the license issued under s. 393.067 to a |
| 2979 | comprehensive transitional education program and may be located |
| 2980 | on a single site or multiple sites. |
| 2981 | (3) Comprehensive transitional education programs shall |
| 2982 | develop individual education plans for each person with |
| 2983 | maladaptive behaviors who receives services from the program. |
| 2984 | Each individual education plan shall be developed in accordance |
| 2985 | with the criteria specified in 20 U.S.C. ss. 401 et seq., and 34 |
| 2986 | C.F.R. part 300. |
| 2987 | (4) The total number of persons with maladaptive behaviors |
| 2988 | who are being provided with services in a comprehensive |
| 2989 | transitional education program may not in any instance exceed |
| 2990 | 120 residents. |
| 2991 | (5) This section shall authorize licensure for |
| 2992 | comprehensive transitional education programs which by July 1, |
| 2993 | 1989: |
| 2994 | (a) Were in actual operation; or |
| 2995 | (b) Owned a fee simple interest in real property for which |
| 2996 | a county or city government has approved zoning allowing for the |
| 2997 | placement of the facilities described in this subsection, and |
| 2998 | have registered an intent with the agency to operate a |
| 2999 | comprehensive transitional education program. However, nothing |
| 3000 | shall prohibit the assignment by such a registrant to another |
| 3001 | entity at a different site within the state, so long as there is |
| 3002 | compliance with all criteria of this program and local zoning |
| 3003 | requirements and provided that each residential facility within |
| 3004 | the component centers or units of the program authorized under |
| 3005 | this subparagraph does not exceed a capacity of 15 persons. |
| 3006 | Section 34. Section 393.23, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 3007 | to read: |
| 3008 | 393.23 Developmental disabilities institutions; trust |
| 3009 | accounts.--All receipts from the operation of canteens, vending |
| 3010 | machines, hobby shops, sheltered workshops, activity centers, |
| 3011 | farming projects, and other like activities operated in a |
| 3012 | developmental disabilities institution, and moneys donated to |
| 3013 | the institution, must be deposited in a trust account in any |
| 3014 | bank, credit union, or savings and loan association authorized |
| 3015 | by the State Treasury as a qualified depositor to do business in |
| 3016 | this state, if the moneys are available on demand. |
| 3017 | (1) Moneys in the trust account must be expended for the |
| 3018 | benefit, education, and welfare of clients. However, if |
| 3019 | specified, moneys that are donated to the institution must be |
| 3020 | expended in accordance with the intentions of the donor. Trust |
| 3021 | account money may not be used for the benefit of employees of |
| 3022 | the agency, or to pay the wages of such employees. The welfare |
| 3023 | of the clients includes the expenditure of funds for the |
| 3024 | purchase of items for resale at canteens or vending machines, |
| 3025 | and for the establishment of, maintenance of, and operation of |
| 3026 | canteens, hobby shops, recreational or entertainment facilities, |
| 3027 | sheltered workshops, activity centers, farming projects, or |
| 3028 | other like facilities or programs established at the |
| 3029 | institutions for the benefit of clients. |
| 3030 | (2) The institution may invest, in the manner authorized |
| 3031 | by law for fiduciaries, any money in a trust account which is |
| 3032 | not necessary for immediate use. The interest earned and other |
| 3033 | increments derived from the investments of the money must be |
| 3034 | deposited into the trust account for the benefit of clients. |
| 3035 | (3) The accounting system of an institution must account |
| 3036 | separately for revenues and expenses for each activity. The |
| 3037 | institution shall reconcile the trust account to the |
| 3038 | institution's accounting system and check registers and to the |
| 3039 | accounting system of the Chief Financial Officer. |
| 3040 | (4) All sales taxes collected by the institution as a |
| 3041 | result of sales shall be deposited into the trust account and |
| 3042 | remitted to the Department of Revenue. |
| 3043 | (5) Funds shall be expended in accordance with |
| 3044 | requirements and guidelines established by the Chief Financial |
| 3045 | Officer. |
| 3046 | Section 35. Section 393.501, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3047 | to read: |
| 3048 | 393.501 Rulemaking.-- |
| 3049 | (1) The agency may shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. |
| 3050 | 120.536(1) and 120.54 to carry out its statutory duties the |
| 3051 | provisions of this chapter. |
| 3052 | (2) Such rules shall address the number of facilities on a |
| 3053 | single lot parcel or on adjacent lots parcels of land, and in |
| 3054 | addition, for ICF/MR, the rate and location of facility |
| 3055 | development and level of care. In adopting rules, an alternative |
| 3056 | living center and an independent living education center, as |
| 3057 | described in s. 393.18, shall be subject to the provisions of s. |
| 3058 | 419.001, except that such centers shall be exempt from the |
| 3059 | 1,000-foot-radius requirement of s. 419.001(2) if: |
| 3060 | (a) The centers are located on a site zoned in a manner |
| 3061 | that permits all the components of a comprehensive transition |
| 3062 | education center to be located on the site; or |
| 3063 | (b) There are no more than three such centers within a |
| 3064 | radius of 1,000 feet. |
| 3065 | Section 36. Section 394.453, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3066 | to read: |
| 3067 | 394.453 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the |
| 3068 | Legislature to authorize and direct the Department of Children |
| 3069 | and Family Services to evaluate, research, plan, and recommend |
| 3070 | to the Governor and the Legislature programs designed to reduce |
| 3071 | the occurrence, severity, duration, and disabling aspects of |
| 3072 | mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. It is the intent of |
| 3073 | the Legislature that treatment programs for such disorders shall |
| 3074 | include, but not be limited to, comprehensive health, social, |
| 3075 | educational, and rehabilitative services to persons requiring |
| 3076 | intensive short-term and continued treatment in order to |
| 3077 | encourage them to assume responsibility for their treatment and |
| 3078 | recovery. It is intended that such persons be provided with |
| 3079 | emergency service and temporary detention for evaluation when |
| 3080 | required; that they be admitted to treatment facilities on a |
| 3081 | voluntary basis when extended or continuing care is needed and |
| 3082 | unavailable in the community; that involuntary placement be |
| 3083 | provided only when expert evaluation determines that it is |
| 3084 | necessary; that any involuntary treatment or examination be |
| 3085 | accomplished in a setting which is clinically appropriate and |
| 3086 | most likely to facilitate the person's return to the community |
| 3087 | as soon as possible; and that individual dignity and human |
| 3088 | rights be guaranteed to all persons who are admitted to mental |
| 3089 | health facilities or who are being held under s. 394.463. It is |
| 3090 | the further intent of the Legislature that the least restrictive |
| 3091 | means of intervention be employed based on the individual needs |
| 3092 | of each person, within the scope of available services. It is |
| 3093 | the policy of this state that the use of restraint and seclusion |
| 3094 | on clients is justified only as an emergency safety measure to |
| 3095 | be used in response to imminent danger to the client or others. |
| 3096 | It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to achieve an |
| 3097 | ongoing reduction in the use of restraint and seclusion in |
| 3098 | programs and facilities serving persons with mental illness. |
| 3099 | Section 37. Present subsections (28) through (33) of |
| 3100 | section 394.455, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as |
| 3101 | subsections (30) through (35), respectively, and new subsections |
| 3102 | (28) and (29) are added to that section, to read: |
| 3103 | 394.455 Definitions.--As used in this part, unless the |
| 3104 | context clearly requires otherwise, the term: |
| 3105 | (28)(a) "Restraint" means a physical device, method, or |
| 3106 | drug used to control behavior. A physical restraint is any |
| 3107 | manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or |
| 3108 | equipment attached or adjacent to the individual's body so that |
| 3109 | he or she cannot easily remove the restraint and which restricts |
| 3110 | freedom of movement or normal access to one's body. |
| 3111 | (b) A drug used as a restraint is a medication used to |
| 3112 | control the person's behavior or to restrict his or her freedom |
| 3113 | of movement and is not part of the standard treatment regimen of |
| 3114 | a person with a diagnosed mental illness who is a client of the |
| 3115 | department. Physically holding a person during a procedure to |
| 3116 | forcibly administer psychotropic medication is a physical |
| 3117 | restraint. |
| 3118 | (c) Restraint does not include physical devices, such as |
| 3119 | orthopedically prescribed appliances, surgical dressings and |
| 3120 | bandages, supportive body bands, or other physical holding when |
| 3121 | necessary for routine physical examinations and tests; or for |
| 3122 | purposes of orthopedic, surgical, or other similar medical |
| 3123 | treatment; when used to provide support for the achievement of |
| 3124 | functional body position or proper balance; or when used to |
| 3125 | protect a person from falling out of bed. |
| 3126 | (29) "Seclusion" means the physical segregation of a |
| 3127 | person in any fashion or involuntary isolation of a person in a |
| 3128 | room or area from which the person is prevented from leaving. |
| 3129 | The prevention may be by physical barrier or by a staff member |
| 3130 | who is acting in a manner, or who is physically situated, so as |
| 3131 | to prevent the person from leaving the room or area. For |
| 3132 | purposes of this chapter, the term does not mean isolation due |
| 3133 | to a person's medical condition or symptoms. |
| 3134 | Section 38. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section |
| 3135 | 394.457, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3136 | 394.457 Operation and administration.-- |
| 3137 | (5) RULES.-- |
| 3138 | (b) The department shall adopt rules necessary for the |
| 3139 | implementation and administration of the provisions of this |
| 3140 | part, and a program subject to the provisions of this part shall |
| 3141 | not be permitted to operate unless rules designed to ensure the |
| 3142 | protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the patients |
| 3143 | treated through such program have been adopted. Rules adopted |
| 3144 | under this subsection must include provisions governing the use |
| 3145 | of restraint and seclusion which are consistent with recognized |
| 3146 | best practices and professional judgment; prohibit inherently |
| 3147 | dangerous restraint or seclusion procedures; establish |
| 3148 | limitations on the use and duration of restraint and seclusion; |
| 3149 | establish measures to ensure the safety of program participants |
| 3150 | and staff during an incident of restraint or seclusion; |
| 3151 | establish procedures for staff to follow before, during, and |
| 3152 | after incidents of restraint or seclusion; establish |
| 3153 | professional qualifications of and training for staff who may |
| 3154 | order or be engaged in the use of restraint or seclusion; and |
| 3155 | establish mandatory reporting, data collection, and data |
| 3156 | dissemination procedures and requirements. Rules adopted under |
| 3157 | this subsection must require that each instance of the use of |
| 3158 | restraint or seclusion be documented in the record of the |
| 3159 | patient. |
| 3160 | Section 39. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of |
| 3161 | section 394.879, Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 3162 | 394.879 Rules; enforcement.-- |
| 3163 | (1) The department, in consultation with the agency, shall |
| 3164 | adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement |
| 3165 | the provisions of this chapter, including, at a minimum, rules |
| 3166 | providing standards to ensure that: |
| 3167 | (g) The use of restraint and seclusion is consistent with |
| 3168 | recognized best practices and professional judgment; that |
| 3169 | inherently dangerous restraint or seclusion procedures are |
| 3170 | prohibited; that limitations are established on the use and |
| 3171 | duration of restraint and seclusion; that measures are |
| 3172 | established to ensure the safety of program participants and |
| 3173 | staff during an incident of restraint or seclusion; that |
| 3174 | procedures are created for staff to follow before, during, and |
| 3175 | after incidents of restraint or seclusion; that professional |
| 3176 | qualifications and training are established for staff who may |
| 3177 | order or be engaged in the use of restraint or seclusion; and |
| 3178 | that mandatory reporting, data collection, and data |
| 3179 | dissemination procedures and requirements are instituted. Rules |
| 3180 | adopted under this section must require that any instance of the |
| 3181 | use of restraint or seclusion shall be documented in the record |
| 3182 | of the client. |
| 3183 | Section 40. Subsection (9) of section 397.405, Florida |
| 3184 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3185 | 397.405 Exemptions from licensure.--The following are |
| 3186 | exempt from the licensing provisions of this chapter: |
| 3187 | (9) Facilities licensed under chapter 393 which s. 393.063 |
| 3188 | that, in addition to providing services to persons with |
| 3189 | developmental disabilities who are developmentally disabled as |
| 3190 | defined therein, also provide services to persons |
| 3191 | developmentally at risk as a consequence of exposure to alcohol |
| 3192 | or other legal or illegal drugs while in utero. |
| 3193 |
|
| 3194 | The exemptions from licensure in this section do not apply to |
| 3195 | any service provider that receives an appropriation, grant, or |
| 3196 | contract from the state to operate as a service provider as |
| 3197 | defined in this chapter or to any substance abuse program |
| 3198 | regulated pursuant to s. 397.406. Furthermore, this chapter may |
| 3199 | not be construed to limit the practice of a physician licensed |
| 3200 | under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a psychologist licensed under |
| 3201 | chapter 490, or a psychotherapist licensed under chapter 491 who |
| 3202 | provides substance abuse treatment, so long as the physician, |
| 3203 | psychologist, or psychotherapist does not represent to the |
| 3204 | public that he or she is a licensed service provider and does |
| 3205 | not provide services to clients pursuant to part V of this |
| 3206 | chapter. Failure to comply with any requirement necessary to |
| 3207 | maintain an exempt status under this section is a misdemeanor of |
| 3208 | the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
| 3209 | 775.083. |
| 3210 | Section 41. Subsection (13) of section 400.419, Florida |
| 3211 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3212 | 400.419 Violations; imposition of administrative fines; |
| 3213 | grounds.-- |
| 3214 | (13) The agency shall develop and disseminate an annual |
| 3215 | list of all facilities sanctioned or fined $5,000 or more for |
| 3216 | violations of state standards, the number and class of |
| 3217 | violations involved, the penalties imposed, and the current |
| 3218 | status of cases. The list shall be disseminated, at no charge, |
| 3219 | to the Department of Elderly Affairs, the Department of Health, |
| 3220 | the Department of Children and Family Services, the Agency for |
| 3221 | Persons with Disabilities, the area agencies on aging, the |
| 3222 | Florida Statewide Advocacy Council, and the state and local |
| 3223 | ombudsman councils. The Department of Children and Family |
| 3224 | Services shall disseminate the list to service providers under |
| 3225 | contract to the department who are responsible for referring |
| 3226 | persons to a facility for residency. The agency may charge a fee |
| 3227 | commensurate with the cost of printing and postage to other |
| 3228 | interested parties requesting a copy of this list. |
| 3229 | Section 42. Section 400.960, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3230 | to read: |
| 3231 | 400.960 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term: |
| 3232 | (1) "Active treatment" means the provision of services by |
| 3233 | an interdisciplinary team which are necessary to maximize a |
| 3234 | client's individual independence or prevent regression or loss |
| 3235 | of functional status. |
| 3236 | (2) "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care |
| 3237 | Administration. |
| 3238 | (3) "Autism" has the same meaning as in s. 393.063. means |
| 3239 | a pervasive, neurologically based developmental disability of |
| 3240 | extended duration which causes severe learning, communication, |
| 3241 | and behavior disorders with age of onset during infancy or |
| 3242 | childhood. Individuals with autism exhibit impairment in |
| 3243 | reciprocal social interaction, impairment in verbal and |
| 3244 | nonverbal communication and imaginative ability, and a markedly |
| 3245 | restricted repertoire of activities and interests. |
| 3246 | (4) "Cerebral palsy" has the same meaning as in s. |
| 3247 | 393.063. means a group of disabling symptoms of extended |
| 3248 | duration which results from damage to the developing brain |
| 3249 | occurring before, during, or after birth and resulting in the |
| 3250 | loss or impairment of control over voluntary muscles. The term |
| 3251 | does not include those symptoms or impairments resulting solely |
| 3252 | from a stroke. |
| 3253 | (5) "Client" means any person determined by the Agency for |
| 3254 | Persons with Disabilities department to be eligible for |
| 3255 | developmental services. |
| 3256 | (6) "Client advocate" means a friend or relative of the |
| 3257 | client, or of the client's immediate family, who advocates for |
| 3258 | the best interests of the client in any proceedings under this |
| 3259 | part in which the client or his or her family has the right or |
| 3260 | duty to participate. |
| 3261 | (7) "Department" means the Department of Children and |
| 3262 | Family Services. |
| 3263 | (6)(8) "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as |
| 3264 | in s. 393.063 means a disorder or syndrome that is attributable |
| 3265 | to retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, or Prader- |
| 3266 | Willi syndrome and that constitutes a substantial handicap that |
| 3267 | can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely. |
| 3268 | (7)(9) "Direct service provider" means a person 18 years |
| 3269 | of age or older who has direct contact with individuals with |
| 3270 | developmental disabilities and who is unrelated to the |
| 3271 | individuals with developmental disabilities. |
| 3272 | (10) "Epilepsy" means a chronic brain disorder of various |
| 3273 | causes which is characterized by recurrent seizures due to |
| 3274 | excessive discharge of cerebral neurons. When found concurrently |
| 3275 | with retardation, autism, or cerebral palsy, epilepsy is |
| 3276 | considered a secondary disability for which the client is |
| 3277 | eligible to receive services to ameliorate this condition |
| 3278 | according to the provisions of this part. |
| 3279 | (11) "Guardian advocate" means a person appointed by the |
| 3280 | circuit court to represent a person with developmental |
| 3281 | disabilities in any proceedings brought pursuant to s. 393.12, |
| 3282 | and is distinct from a guardian advocate for mentally ill |
| 3283 | persons under chapter 394. |
| 3284 | (8)(12) "Intermediate care facility for the |
| 3285 | developmentally disabled" means a residential facility licensed |
| 3286 | and certified in accordance with state law, and certified by the |
| 3287 | Federal Government, pursuant to the Social Security Act, as a |
| 3288 | provider of Medicaid services to persons with developmental |
| 3289 | disabilities who are developmentally disabled. |
| 3290 | (9)(13) "Prader-Willi syndrome" has the same meaning as in |
| 3291 | s. 393.063. means an inherited condition typified by neonatal |
| 3292 | hypotonia with failure to thrive, hyperphagia, or an excessive |
| 3293 | drive to eat which leads to obesity, usually at 18 to 36 months |
| 3294 | of age, mild to moderate retardation, hypogonadism, short |
| 3295 | stature, mild facial dysmorphism, and a characteristic |
| 3296 | neurobehavior. |
| 3297 | (10)(a) "Restraint" means a physical device, method, or |
| 3298 | drug used to control behavior. A physical restraint is any |
| 3299 | manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or |
| 3300 | equipment attached or adjacent to the individual's body so that |
| 3301 | he or she cannot easily remove the restraint and which restricts |
| 3302 | freedom of movement or normal access to one's body. |
| 3303 | (b) A drug used as a restraint is a medication used to |
| 3304 | control the person's behavior or to restrict his or her freedom |
| 3305 | of movement. Physically holding a person during a procedure to |
| 3306 | forcibly administer psychotropic medication is a physical |
| 3307 | restraint. |
| 3308 | (c) Restraint does not include physical devices, such as |
| 3309 | orthopedically prescribed appliances, surgical dressings and |
| 3310 | bandages, supportive body bands, or other physical holding when |
| 3311 | necessary for routine physical examinations and tests; for |
| 3312 | purposes of orthopedic, surgical, or other similar medical |
| 3313 | treatment; when used to provide support for the achievement of |
| 3314 | functional body position or proper balance; or when used to |
| 3315 | protect a person from falling out of bed. |
| 3316 | (11)(14) "Retardation" has the same meaning as in s. |
| 3317 | 393.063. means significantly subaverage general intellectual |
| 3318 | functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive |
| 3319 | behavior and manifested during the period from conception to age |
| 3320 | 18. "Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning," |
| 3321 | for the purpose of this definition, means performance that is |
| 3322 | two or more standard deviations from the mean score on a |
| 3323 | standardized intelligence test specified in rules of the |
| 3324 | department. "Deficits in adaptive behavior," for the purpose of |
| 3325 | this definition, means deficits in the effectiveness or degree |
| 3326 | with which an individual meets the standards of personal |
| 3327 | independence and social responsibility expected of his or her |
| 3328 | age, cultural group, and community. |
| 3329 | (12) "Seclusion" means the physical segregation of a |
| 3330 | person in any fashion or the involuntary isolation of a person |
| 3331 | in a room or area from which the person is prevented from |
| 3332 | leaving. The prevention may be by physical barrier or by a staff |
| 3333 | member who is acting in a manner, or who is physically situated, |
| 3334 | so as to prevent the person from leaving the room or area. For |
| 3335 | purposes of this part, the term does not mean isolation due to a |
| 3336 | person's medical condition or symptoms. |
| 3337 | (13)(15) "Spina bifida" has the same meaning as in s. |
| 3338 | 393.063 means a medical diagnosis of spina bifida cystica or |
| 3339 | myelomeningocele. |
| 3340 | Section 43. Subsection (12) is added to section 400.962, |
| 3341 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 3342 | 400.962 License required; license application.-- |
| 3343 | (12) The applicant must agree to provide or arrange for |
| 3344 | active treatment services by an interdisciplinary team to |
| 3345 | maximize individual independence or prevent regression or loss |
| 3346 | of functional status. Standards for active treatment shall be |
| 3347 | adopted by the Agency for Health Care Administration by rule |
| 3348 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54. Active treatment services |
| 3349 | shall be provided in accordance with the individual support plan |
| 3350 | and shall be reimbursed as part of the per diem rate as paid |
| 3351 | under the Medicaid program. |
| 3352 | Section 44. Subsection (2) of section 400.967, Florida |
| 3353 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3354 | 400.967 Rules and classification of deficiencies.-- |
| 3355 | (2) Pursuant to the intention of the Legislature, the |
| 3356 | agency, in consultation with the Agency for Persons with |
| 3357 | Disabilities Department of Children and Family Services and the |
| 3358 | Department of Elderly Affairs, shall adopt and enforce rules to |
| 3359 | administer this part, which shall include reasonable and fair |
| 3360 | criteria governing: |
| 3361 | (a) The location and construction of the facility; |
| 3362 | including fire and life safety, plumbing, heating, cooling, |
| 3363 | lighting, ventilation, and other housing conditions that will |
| 3364 | ensure the health, safety, and comfort of residents. The agency |
| 3365 | shall establish standards for facilities and equipment to |
| 3366 | increase the extent to which new facilities and a new wing or |
| 3367 | floor added to an existing facility after July 1, 2000, are |
| 3368 | structurally capable of serving as shelters only for residents, |
| 3369 | staff, and families of residents and staff, and equipped to be |
| 3370 | self-supporting during and immediately following disasters. The |
| 3371 | Agency for Health Care Administration shall work with facilities |
| 3372 | licensed under this part and report to the Governor and the |
| 3373 | Legislature by April 1, 2000, its recommendations for cost- |
| 3374 | effective renovation standards to be applied to existing |
| 3375 | facilities. In making such rules, the agency shall be guided by |
| 3376 | criteria recommended by nationally recognized, reputable |
| 3377 | professional groups and associations having knowledge concerning |
| 3378 | such subject matters. The agency shall update or revise such |
| 3379 | criteria as the need arises. All facilities must comply with |
| 3380 | those lifesafety code requirements and building code standards |
| 3381 | applicable at the time of approval of their construction plans. |
| 3382 | The agency may require alterations to a building if it |
| 3383 | determines that an existing condition constitutes a distinct |
| 3384 | hazard to life, health, or safety. The agency shall adopt fair |
| 3385 | and reasonable rules setting forth conditions under which |
| 3386 | existing facilities undergoing additions, alterations, |
| 3387 | conversions, renovations, or repairs are required to comply with |
| 3388 | the most recent updated or revised standards. |
| 3389 | (b) The number and qualifications of all personnel, |
| 3390 | including management, medical nursing, and other personnel, |
| 3391 | having responsibility for any part of the care given to |
| 3392 | residents. |
| 3393 | (c) All sanitary conditions within the facility and its |
| 3394 | surroundings, including water supply, sewage disposal, food |
| 3395 | handling, and general hygiene, which will ensure the health and |
| 3396 | comfort of residents. |
| 3397 | (d) The equipment essential to the health and welfare of |
| 3398 | the residents. |
| 3399 | (e) A uniform accounting system. |
| 3400 | (f) The care, treatment, and maintenance of residents and |
| 3401 | measurement of the quality and adequacy thereof. |
| 3402 | (g) The preparation and annual update of a comprehensive |
| 3403 | emergency management plan. The agency shall adopt rules |
| 3404 | establishing minimum criteria for the plan after consultation |
| 3405 | with the Department of Community Affairs. At a minimum, the |
| 3406 | rules must provide for plan components that address emergency |
| 3407 | evacuation transportation; adequate sheltering arrangements; |
| 3408 | postdisaster activities, including emergency power, food, and |
| 3409 | water; postdisaster transportation; supplies; staffing; |
| 3410 | emergency equipment; individual identification of residents and |
| 3411 | transfer of records; and responding to family inquiries. The |
| 3412 | comprehensive emergency management plan is subject to review and |
| 3413 | approval by the local emergency management agency. During its |
| 3414 | review, the local emergency management agency shall ensure that |
| 3415 | the following agencies, at a minimum, are given the opportunity |
| 3416 | to review the plan: the Department of Elderly Affairs, the |
| 3417 | Agency for Persons with Disabilities Department of Children and |
| 3418 | Family Services, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and |
| 3419 | the Department of Community Affairs. Also, appropriate volunteer |
| 3420 | organizations must be given the opportunity to review the plan. |
| 3421 | The local emergency management agency shall complete its review |
| 3422 | within 60 days and either approve the plan or advise the |
| 3423 | facility of necessary revisions. |
| 3424 | (h) The posting of licenses. Each licensee shall post its |
| 3425 | license in a prominent place that is in clear and unobstructed |
| 3426 | public view at or near the place where residents are being |
| 3427 | admitted to the facility. |
| 3428 | (i) The use of restraint and seclusion. Such rules must be |
| 3429 | consistent with recognized best practices; prohibit inherently |
| 3430 | dangerous restraint or seclusion procedures; establish |
| 3431 | limitations on the use and duration of restraint and seclusion; |
| 3432 | establish measures to ensure the safety of clients and staff |
| 3433 | during an incident of restraint or seclusion; establish |
| 3434 | procedures for staff to follow before, during, and after |
| 3435 | incidents of restraint or seclusion, including individualized |
| 3436 | plans for the use of restraints or seclusion in emergency |
| 3437 | situations; establish professional qualifications of and |
| 3438 | training for staff who may order or be engaged in the use of |
| 3439 | restraint or seclusion; establish requirements for facility data |
| 3440 | collection and reporting relating to the use of restraint and |
| 3441 | seclusion; and establish procedures relating to the |
| 3442 | documentation of the use of restraint or seclusion in the |
| 3443 | client's facility or program record. |
| 3444 | Section 45. Section 402.115, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3445 | to read: |
| 3446 | 402.115 Sharing confidential or exempt |
| 3447 | information.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the |
| 3448 | contrary, the Department of Health, and the Department of |
| 3449 | Children and Family Services, and the Agency for Persons with |
| 3450 | Disabilities may share confidential information or information |
| 3451 | exempt from disclosure under chapter 119 on any individual who |
| 3452 | is or has been the subject of a program within the jurisdiction |
| 3453 | of each agency. Information so exchanged remains confidential or |
| 3454 | exempt as provided by law. |
| 3455 | Section 46. Section 402.17, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3456 | to read: |
| 3457 | 402.17 Claims for care and maintenance; trust |
| 3458 | property.--The Department of Children and Family Services and |
| 3459 | the Agency for Persons with Disabilities shall protect the |
| 3460 | financial interest of the state with respect to claims that |
| 3461 | which the state may have for the care and maintenance of clients |
| 3462 | of the department or agency. The department or agency shall, as |
| 3463 | trustee, hold in trust and administer money of clients and |
| 3464 | property designated for the personal benefit of clients. The |
| 3465 | department or agency shall act as trustee of clients' money and |
| 3466 | property entrusted to it in accordance with the usual fiduciary |
| 3467 | standards applicable generally to trustees, and shall act to |
| 3468 | protect both the short-term and long-term interests of the |
| 3469 | clients for whose benefit it is holding such money and property. |
| 3470 | (1) CLAIMS FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE.-- |
| 3471 | (a) The department or agency shall perform the following |
| 3472 | acts: |
| 3473 | 1. Receive and supervise the collection of sums due the |
| 3474 | state. |
| 3475 | 2. Bring any court action necessary to collect any claim |
| 3476 | the state may have against any client, former client, guardian |
| 3477 | of any client or former client, executor or administrator of the |
| 3478 | client's estate, or any person against whom any client or former |
| 3479 | client may have a claim. |
| 3480 | 3. Obtain a copy of any inventory or appraisal of the |
| 3481 | client's property filed with any court. |
| 3482 | 4. Obtain from the department's Economic Self-Sufficiency |
| 3483 | Services Program Office a financial status report on any client |
| 3484 | or former client, including the ability of third parties |
| 3485 | responsible for such client to pay all or part of the cost of |
| 3486 | the client's care and maintenance. |
| 3487 | 5. Petition the court for appointment of a guardian or |
| 3488 | administrator for an otherwise unrepresented client or former |
| 3489 | client should the financial status report or other information |
| 3490 | indicate the need for such action. The cost of any such action |
| 3491 | shall be charged against the assets or estate of the client. |
| 3492 | 6. Represent the interest of the state in any litigation |
| 3493 | in which a client or former client is a party. |
| 3494 | 7. File claims with any person, firm, or corporation or |
| 3495 | with any federal, state, county, district, or municipal agency |
| 3496 | on behalf of an unrepresented client. |
| 3497 | 8. Represent the state in the settlement of the estates of |
| 3498 | deceased clients or in the settlement of estates in which a |
| 3499 | client or a former client against whom the state may have a |
| 3500 | claim has a financial interest. |
| 3501 | 9. Establish procedures by rule for the use of amounts |
| 3502 | held in trust for the client to pay for the cost of care and |
| 3503 | maintenance, if such amounts would otherwise cause the client to |
| 3504 | become ineligible for services which are in the client's best |
| 3505 | interests. |
| 3506 | (b) The department or agency of Children and Family |
| 3507 | Services may charge off accounts if it certifies that the |
| 3508 | accounts are uncollectible after diligent efforts have been made |
| 3509 | to collect them. If the department certifies an account to the |
| 3510 | Department of Financial Services, setting forth the |
| 3511 | circumstances upon which it predicates the uncollectibility, and |
| 3512 | if, pursuant to s. 17.04, the Department of Financial Services |
| 3513 | concurs, the account shall be charged off. |
| 3514 | (2) MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY RECEIVED FOR PERSONAL USE OR |
| 3515 | BENEFIT OF ANY CLIENT.--The department or agency shall perform |
| 3516 | the following acts: |
| 3517 | (a) Accept and administer in trust, as a trustee having a |
| 3518 | fiduciary responsibility to a client of the department, any |
| 3519 | money or other property received for personal use or benefit of |
| 3520 | that client. In the case of children in the legal custody of the |
| 3521 | department, following the termination of the parental rights as |
| 3522 | to that client, until the child such client leaves the legal |
| 3523 | custody of the department due to the client's adoption or |
| 3524 | attaining because the client attains the age of 18 or, in the |
| 3525 | case of children who are otherwise in the custody of the |
| 3526 | department, the court having jurisdiction over such child client |
| 3527 | shall have jurisdiction, upon application of the department or |
| 3528 | other interested party, to review or approve any extraordinary |
| 3529 | action of the department acting as trustee as to the child's |
| 3530 | client's money or other property. When directed by a court of |
| 3531 | competent jurisdiction, the department may further hold money or |
| 3532 | property of a child person under the age of 18 who has been in |
| 3533 | the care, custody, or control of the department and who is the |
| 3534 | subject of a court proceeding during the pendency of that |
| 3535 | proceeding. |
| 3536 | (b) Deposit the money in banks qualified as state |
| 3537 | depositories, or in any bank, credit union, or savings and loan |
| 3538 | association authorized to do business in this state, provided |
| 3539 | moneys so deposited or held by such institutions are fully |
| 3540 | insured by a federal depository or share insurance program, or |
| 3541 | an approved state depository or share insurance program, and are |
| 3542 | available on demand. |
| 3543 | (c) Withdraw the money and use it to meet current needs of |
| 3544 | clients. For purposes of this paragraph, "current needs" |
| 3545 | includes payment of fees assessed under s. 402.33. The amount of |
| 3546 | money withdrawn by the department to meet current needs of a |
| 3547 | client shall take into account the need of the department or |
| 3548 | agency, as the trustee of a client's money and property, to |
| 3549 | provide for the long-term needs of a client, including, but not |
| 3550 | limited to, ensuring that to provide for the need of a client |
| 3551 | under the age of 18 will to have sufficient financial resources |
| 3552 | available to be able to function as an adult upon reaching the |
| 3553 | age of 18, meeting or to meet the special needs of a client who |
| 3554 | has a disability and whose special needs cannot otherwise be met |
| 3555 | by any form of public assistance or family resources, or |
| 3556 | maintaining to maintain the client's eligibility for public |
| 3557 | assistance, including medical assistance, under state or federal |
| 3558 | law. |
| 3559 | (d) As trustee, invest in the manner authorized by law for |
| 3560 | fiduciaries money not used for current needs of clients. Such |
| 3561 | investments may include, but shall not be limited to, |
| 3562 | investments in savings share accounts of any credit union |
| 3563 | chartered under the laws of the United States and doing business |
| 3564 | in this state, and savings share accounts of any credit union |
| 3565 | chartered under the laws of this state, provided the credit |
| 3566 | union is insured under the federal share insurance program or an |
| 3567 | approved state share insurance program. |
| 3568 | (3) DEPOSIT OF FUNDS RECEIVED.--Funds received by the |
| 3569 | Department of Children and Family Services in accordance with s. |
| 3570 | 402.33 shall be deposited into a trust fund for the operation of |
| 3571 | the department. |
| 3572 | (4) DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED TRUST FUNDS.--Upon the death |
| 3573 | of any client affected by the provisions of this section, any |
| 3574 | unclaimed money held in trust by the department, the agency, or |
| 3575 | by the Chief Financial Officer for the child him or her shall be |
| 3576 | applied first to the payment of any unpaid claim of the state |
| 3577 | against the client, and any balance remaining unclaimed for a |
| 3578 | period of 1 year shall escheat to the state as unclaimed funds |
| 3579 | held by fiduciaries. |
| 3580 | (5) LEGAL REPRESENTATION.--To the extent that the budget |
| 3581 | will permit, the Department of Legal Affairs shall furnish the |
| 3582 | legal services to carry out the provisions of this section. Upon |
| 3583 | the request of the department or agency of Children and Family |
| 3584 | Services, the various state and county attorneys shall assist in |
| 3585 | litigation within their jurisdiction. The Such department or |
| 3586 | agency may retain legal counsel for necessary legal services |
| 3587 | which cannot be furnished by the Department of Legal Affairs and |
| 3588 | the various state and county attorneys. |
| 3589 | (6) DEPOSIT OR INVESTMENT OF FUNDS OF CLIENTS.-- |
| 3590 | (a) The department or agency of Children and Family |
| 3591 | Services may deposit any funds of clients in its possession in |
| 3592 | any bank in the state or may invest or reinvest such funds in |
| 3593 | bonds or obligations of the United States for the payment of |
| 3594 | which the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged. |
| 3595 | For purposes of deposit only, the funds of any client may be |
| 3596 | mingled with the funds of any other clients. |
| 3597 | (b) The interest or increment accruing on such funds shall |
| 3598 | be the property of the clients and shall be used or conserved |
| 3599 | for the personal use or benefit of the individual client, in |
| 3600 | accordance with the department's or agency's fiduciary |
| 3601 | responsibility as a trustee for the money and property of the |
| 3602 | client held by the department. Such interest shall not accrue to |
| 3603 | the general welfare of all clients. Whenever any proposed action |
| 3604 | of the department or agency, acting in its own interest, may |
| 3605 | conflict with the department's or agency's obligation as a |
| 3606 | trustee with a fiduciary responsibility to the client, the |
| 3607 | department or agency shall promptly present the matter to a |
| 3608 | court of competent jurisdiction for the court's determination as |
| 3609 | to what action the department or agency may take. The department |
| 3610 | or agency shall establish rules governing reasonable fees by |
| 3611 | rule for the cost of administering such accounts and for |
| 3612 | establishing the minimum balance eligible to earn interest. |
| 3613 | (7) DISPOSITION OF MONEY AND PROPERTY OF CLIENTS UPON |
| 3614 | ATTAINING AGE 18 OR DISCHARGE FROM CARE, CUSTODY, CONTROL, OR |
| 3615 | SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT.-- |
| 3616 | (a) Whenever a client of the department for whom the |
| 3617 | department is holding money or property as a trustee attains the |
| 3618 | age of 18, and thereby will no longer be in the legal custody of |
| 3619 | the department, the department shall promptly disburse such |
| 3620 | money and property of the client the department has held as a |
| 3621 | trustee to that client, or as that client directs, as soon as |
| 3622 | practicable once the client attains the age of 18. |
| 3623 | (b) Whenever a client of the department over the age of 18 |
| 3624 | for whom the department is holding money or property as a |
| 3625 | trustee no longer requires the care, custody, control, or |
| 3626 | services of the department, the department shall promptly |
| 3627 | disburse such money and property of the client the department |
| 3628 | has held as a trustee to that client, or as that client or a |
| 3629 | court directs, as soon as practicable. |
| 3630 | (c) When a client under the age of 18 who has been in the |
| 3631 | legal custody, care, or control of the department and for whom |
| 3632 | the department is holding money or property as a trustee attains |
| 3633 | the age of 18 and has a physical or mental disability, or is |
| 3634 | otherwise incapacitated or incompetent to handle that client's |
| 3635 | own financial affairs, the department shall apply for a court |
| 3636 | order from a court of competent jurisdiction to establish a |
| 3637 | trust on behalf of that client. Where there is no willing |
| 3638 | relative of the client acceptable to the court available to |
| 3639 | serve as trustee of such proposed trust, the court may enter an |
| 3640 | order authorizing the department to serve as trustee of a |
| 3641 | separate trust under such terms and conditions as the court |
| 3642 | determines appropriate to the circumstances. |
| 3643 | (d) When a client under the age of 18 who has been in the |
| 3644 | legal custody, care, or control of the department and for whom |
| 3645 | the department is holding money or property as a trustee leaves |
| 3646 | the care, custody, and control of the department due to adoption |
| 3647 | or placement of the client with a relative, or as otherwise |
| 3648 | directed by a court of competent jurisdiction, the department |
| 3649 | shall notify that court of the existence of the money and |
| 3650 | property in the possession of the department either prior to, or |
| 3651 | promptly after, receiving knowledge of the change of custody, |
| 3652 | care, or control. The department shall apply for an order from |
| 3653 | the court exercising jurisdiction over the client to direct the |
| 3654 | disposition of the money and property belonging to that client. |
| 3655 | The court order may establish a trust in which the money and |
| 3656 | property of the client will be deposited, appoint a guardian of |
| 3657 | a property as to the money or property of the client, or direct |
| 3658 | the creation of a Uniform Transfers Gifts to Minors Act account |
| 3659 | on behalf of that client, as the court finds appropriate and |
| 3660 | under the terms and conditions the court determines appropriate |
| 3661 | to the circumstances. |
| 3662 | Section 47. Section 402.181, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3663 | to read: |
| 3664 | 402.181 State Institutions Claims Program.-- |
| 3665 | (1) There is created a State Institutions Claims Program, |
| 3666 | for the purpose of making restitution for property damages and |
| 3667 | direct medical expenses for injuries caused by shelter children |
| 3668 | or foster children, or escapees, inmates, or patients of state |
| 3669 | institutions under the Department of Children and Family |
| 3670 | Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile |
| 3671 | Justice, or the Department of Corrections, or the Agency for |
| 3672 | Persons with Disabilities. |
| 3673 | (2) Claims for restitution may be filed with the |
| 3674 | Department of Legal Affairs at its office in accordance with |
| 3675 | regulations prescribed by the Department of Legal Affairs. The |
| 3676 | Department of Legal Affairs shall have full power and authority |
| 3677 | to hear, investigate, and determine all questions in respect to |
| 3678 | such claims and is authorized, within the limits of current |
| 3679 | appropriations, to pay individual claims up to $1,000 or, with |
| 3680 | respect to children in foster care and their families, |
| 3681 | individual claims up to $1,500. Claims in excess of these |
| 3682 | amounts shall continue to require legislative approval. |
| 3683 | (3)(a) The Department of Legal Affairs shall make or cause |
| 3684 | to be made such investigations as it considers necessary in |
| 3685 | respect to such claims. Hearings shall be held in accordance |
| 3686 | with chapter 120. |
| 3687 | (b) The Department of Legal Affairs shall work with the |
| 3688 | Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of |
| 3689 | Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department |
| 3690 | of Corrections, and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to |
| 3691 | streamline the process of investigations, hearings, and |
| 3692 | determinations with respect to claims under this section, to |
| 3693 | ensure that eligible claimants receive restitution within a |
| 3694 | reasonable time. |
| 3695 | Section 48. Section 402.20, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3696 | to read: |
| 3697 | 402.20 County contracts authorized for services and |
| 3698 | facilities for in mental health and developmental disabilities |
| 3699 | retardation areas.--The boards of county commissioners are |
| 3700 | authorized to provide monetary grants and facilities, and to |
| 3701 | enter into renewable contracts, for services and facilities, for |
| 3702 | a period not to exceed 2 years, with public and private |
| 3703 | hospitals, clinics, and laboratories; other state agencies, |
| 3704 | departments, or divisions; the state colleges and universities; |
| 3705 | the community colleges; private colleges and universities; |
| 3706 | counties; municipalities; towns; townships; and any other |
| 3707 | governmental unit or nonprofit organization which provides |
| 3708 | needed facilities for persons with mental illness or |
| 3709 | developmental disabilities the mentally ill or retarded. These |
| 3710 | services are hereby declared to be for a public and county |
| 3711 | purpose. The county commissioners may make periodic inspections |
| 3712 | to assure that the services or facilities provided under this |
| 3713 | chapter meet the standards of the Department of Children and |
| 3714 | Family Services and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. |
| 3715 | Section 49. Section 402.22, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 3716 | to read: |
| 3717 | 402.22 Education program for students who reside in |
| 3718 | residential care facilities operated by the Department of |
| 3719 | Children and Family Services or the Agency for Persons with |
| 3720 | Disabilities.-- |
| 3721 | (1)(a) The Legislature recognizes that the Department of |
| 3722 | Children and Family Services and the Agency for Persons with |
| 3723 | Disabilities have under their has under its residential care |
| 3724 | students with critical problems of physical impairment, |
| 3725 | emotional disturbance, mental impairment, and learning |
| 3726 | impairment. |
| 3727 | (b) The Legislature recognizes the vital role of education |
| 3728 | in the rehabilitation of such students. It is the intent of the |
| 3729 | Legislature that all such students benefit from educational |
| 3730 | services and receive such services. |
| 3731 | (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that educational |
| 3732 | services be coordinated with appropriate and existing diagnostic |
| 3733 | and evaluative, social, followup, and other therapeutic services |
| 3734 | of the department and agency of Children and Family Services so |
| 3735 | that the effect of the total rehabilitation process is |
| 3736 | maximized. |
| 3737 | (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that, as |
| 3738 | educational programs for students in residential care facilities |
| 3739 | are implemented by the district school board, educational |
| 3740 | personnel in the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 3741 | residential care facilities who meet the qualifications for |
| 3742 | employees of the district school board be employed by the |
| 3743 | district school board. |
| 3744 | (2) District school boards shall establish educational |
| 3745 | programs for all students ages 5 through 18 under the |
| 3746 | residential care of the Department of Children and Family |
| 3747 | Services and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and may |
| 3748 | provide for students below age 3 as provided for in s. |
| 3749 | 1003.21(1)(e). Funding of such programs shall be pursuant to s. |
| 3750 | 1011.62. |
| 3751 | (3) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 39, 393, |
| 3752 | 394, and 397 to the contrary, the services of the Department of |
| 3753 | Children and Family Services and the Agency for Persons with |
| 3754 | Disabilities and those of the Department of Education and |
| 3755 | district school boards shall be mutually supportive and |
| 3756 | complementary of each other. The education programs provided by |
| 3757 | the district school board shall meet the standards prescribed by |
| 3758 | the State Board of Education and the district school board. |
| 3759 | Decisions regarding the design and delivery of department or |
| 3760 | agency of Children and Family Services treatment or habilitative |
| 3761 | services shall be made by interdisciplinary teams of |
| 3762 | professional and paraprofessional staff of which appropriate |
| 3763 | district school system administrative and instructional |
| 3764 | personnel shall be invited to be participating members. The |
| 3765 | requirements for maintenance of confidentiality as prescribed in |
| 3766 | chapters 39, 393, 394, and 397 shall be applied to information |
| 3767 | used by such interdisciplinary teams, and such information shall |
| 3768 | be exempt from the provisions of ss. 119.07(1) and 286.011. |
| 3769 | (4) Students age 18 and under who are under the |
| 3770 | residential care of the Department of Children and Family |
| 3771 | Services or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and who |
| 3772 | receive an education program shall be calculated as full-time |
| 3773 | equivalent student membership in the appropriate cost factor as |
| 3774 | provided for in s. 1011.62(1)(c). Residential care facilities of |
| 3775 | the Department of Children and Family Services shall include, |
| 3776 | but not be limited to, developmental disabilities services |
| 3777 | institutions and state mental health facilities. All students |
| 3778 | shall receive their education program from the district school |
| 3779 | system, and funding shall be allocated through the Florida |
| 3780 | Education Finance Program for the district school system. |
| 3781 | (5) Instructional and special educational services that |
| 3782 | which are provided to mental health and retardation clients with |
| 3783 | mental illness or developmental disabilities of the department's |
| 3784 | or agency's in the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 3785 | residential care facilities by local school districts shall not |
| 3786 | be less than 180 days or 900 hours; however, the 900 hours may |
| 3787 | be distributed over a 12-month period, unless otherwise stated |
| 3788 | in rules developed by the State Board of Education, with the |
| 3789 | concurrence of the department or agency and adopted of Children |
| 3790 | and Family Services promulgated pursuant to subsection (6). |
| 3791 | (6) The State Board of Education, and the Department of |
| 3792 | Children and Family Services, and the Agency for Persons with |
| 3793 | Disabilities may adopt shall have the authority to promulgate |
| 3794 | rules to which shall assist in the orderly transfer of the |
| 3795 | instruction of students from department or agency Department of |
| 3796 | Children and Family Services residential care facilities to the |
| 3797 | district school system or to the public education agency and |
| 3798 | which shall assist in implementing the specific intent as stated |
| 3799 | in this act. |
| 3800 | (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 1001.42(4)(n), |
| 3801 | the educational program at the Marianna Sunland Center in |
| 3802 | Jackson County shall be operated by the Department of Education, |
| 3803 | either directly or through grants or contractual agreements with |
| 3804 | other public educational agencies. The annual state allocation |
| 3805 | to any such agency shall be computed pursuant to s. 1011.62(1), |
| 3806 | (2), and (5) and allocated in the amount that would have been |
| 3807 | provided the local school district in which the residential |
| 3808 | facility is located. |
| 3809 | Section 50. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection |
| 3810 | (2) of section 402.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3811 | 402.33 Department authority to charge fees for services |
| 3812 | provided.-- |
| 3813 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 3814 | (c) "Department" means the Department of Children and |
| 3815 | Family Services, and the Department of Health, and the Agency |
| 3816 | for Persons with Disabilities. |
| 3817 | (2) The department, in accordance with rules established |
| 3818 | by it, shall either charge, assess, or collect, or cause to be |
| 3819 | charged, assessed, or collected, fees for any service it |
| 3820 | provides to its clients either directly or through its agencies |
| 3821 | or contractors, except for: |
| 3822 | (a) Diagnosis and evaluation procedures necessary to |
| 3823 | determine the client's eligibility and need for services |
| 3824 | provided by the department; |
| 3825 | (b) Customary and routine information and referral |
| 3826 | services; |
| 3827 | (c) Educational services provided in lieu of public |
| 3828 | education; |
| 3829 | (d) Specific services exempted by law from fee assessment; |
| 3830 | (e) Emergency shelter or emergency detention care and |
| 3831 | custody prior to a detention hearing under chapter 39; |
| 3832 | (f) Specific classes or types of services provided in |
| 3833 | programs funded by grants, donations, or contracts that prohibit |
| 3834 | charging fees; |
| 3835 | (g) Developmental disability services provided under |
| 3836 | chapter 393 to any person who is determined to be eligible for |
| 3837 | such services by the department and whose earned income falls |
| 3838 | below the federal Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines, |
| 3839 | unless such fees are collected from third-party benefits and |
| 3840 | benefit payments; or |
| 3841 | (h) Any type of service for which the department |
| 3842 | determines that the net estimated revenue from such fees after |
| 3843 | deducting any loss of funds from federal grants occasioned by |
| 3844 | such fees will be less than the estimated cost to charge and |
| 3845 | collect such fees. |
| 3846 |
|
| 3847 | Fees, other than third-party benefits and benefit payments, may |
| 3848 | not be charged for services provided to indigents whose only |
| 3849 | sources of income are from state and federal aid. In addition, |
| 3850 | fees may not be charged parents of a minor client for services |
| 3851 | requested by the minor without parental consent or for services |
| 3852 | provided a minor client who has been permanently committed to |
| 3853 | the care and custody of the department with parental rights |
| 3854 | permanently severed. However, lack of parental consent does not |
| 3855 | preclude the charging of fees established under chapter 39. The |
| 3856 | department may not require A client who is receiving wages that |
| 3857 | which are below the minimum wage under the federal Fair Labor |
| 3858 | Standards Act may not be required to pay fees from such wages. |
| 3859 | Voluntary payments for services must be encouraged. |
| 3860 | Section 51. Paragraphs (r) and (s) of subsection (3) of |
| 3861 | section 408.036, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3862 | 408.036 Projects subject to review; exemptions.-- |
| 3863 | (3) EXEMPTIONS.--Upon request, the following projects are |
| 3864 | subject to exemption from the provisions of subsection (1): |
| 3865 | (r) For beds in state mental health treatment facilities |
| 3866 | operated under s. 394.455(32)(30) and state mental health |
| 3867 | forensic facilities operated under s. 916.106(8). |
| 3868 | (s) For beds in state developmental disabilities services |
| 3869 | institutions as defined in s. 393.063. |
| 3870 | Section 52. Paragraphs (a), (j), and (k) of subsection (4) |
| 3871 | of section 409.221, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3872 | 409.221 Consumer-directed care program.-- |
| 3873 | (4) CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE.-- |
| 3874 | (a) Program established.--The Agency for Health Care |
| 3875 | Administration shall establish the consumer-directed care |
| 3876 | program which shall be based on the principles of consumer |
| 3877 | choice and control. The agency shall implement the program upon |
| 3878 | federal approval. The agency shall establish interagency |
| 3879 | cooperative agreements with and shall work with the Departments |
| 3880 | of Elderly Affairs, Health, and Children and Family Services and |
| 3881 | the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to implement and |
| 3882 | administer the program. The program shall allow enrolled persons |
| 3883 | to choose the providers of services and to direct the delivery |
| 3884 | of services, to best meet their long-term care needs. The |
| 3885 | program must operate within the funds appropriated by the |
| 3886 | Legislature. |
| 3887 | (j) Rules; federal waivers.--In order to implement this |
| 3888 | section: |
| 3889 | 1. The agency and the Departments of Elderly Affairs, |
| 3890 | Health, and Children and Family Services and the Agency for |
| 3891 | Persons with Disabilities are authorized to adopt and enforce |
| 3892 | rules. |
| 3893 | 2. The agency shall take all necessary action to ensure |
| 3894 | state compliance with federal regulations. The agency shall |
| 3895 | apply for any necessary federal waivers or waiver amendments |
| 3896 | needed to implement the program. |
| 3897 | (k) Reviews and reports.--The agency and the Departments |
| 3898 | of Elderly Affairs, Health, and Children and Family Services and |
| 3899 | the Agency for Persons with Disabilities shall each, on an |
| 3900 | ongoing basis, review and assess the implementation of the |
| 3901 | consumer-directed care program. By January 15 of each year, the |
| 3902 | agency shall submit a written report to the Legislature that |
| 3903 | includes each department's review of the program and contains |
| 3904 | recommendations for improvements to the program. |
| 3905 | Section 53. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and subsection |
| 3906 | (8) of section 409.908, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3907 | 409.908 Reimbursement of Medicaid providers.--Subject to |
| 3908 | specific appropriations, the agency shall reimburse Medicaid |
| 3909 | providers, in accordance with state and federal law, according |
| 3910 | to methodologies set forth in the rules of the agency and in |
| 3911 | policy manuals and handbooks incorporated by reference therein. |
| 3912 | These methodologies may include fee schedules, reimbursement |
| 3913 | methods based on cost reporting, negotiated fees, competitive |
| 3914 | bidding pursuant to s. 287.057, and other mechanisms the agency |
| 3915 | considers efficient and effective for purchasing services or |
| 3916 | goods on behalf of recipients. If a provider is reimbursed based |
| 3917 | on cost reporting and submits a cost report late and that cost |
| 3918 | report would have been used to set a lower reimbursement rate |
| 3919 | for a rate semester, then the provider's rate for that semester |
| 3920 | shall be retroactively calculated using the new cost report, and |
| 3921 | full payment at the recalculated rate shall be effected |
| 3922 | retroactively. Medicare-granted extensions for filing cost |
| 3923 | reports, if applicable, shall also apply to Medicaid cost |
| 3924 | reports. Payment for Medicaid compensable services made on |
| 3925 | behalf of Medicaid eligible persons is subject to the |
| 3926 | availability of moneys and any limitations or directions |
| 3927 | provided for in the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216. |
| 3928 | Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent |
| 3929 | or limit the agency from adjusting fees, reimbursement rates, |
| 3930 | lengths of stay, number of visits, or number of services, or |
| 3931 | making any other adjustments necessary to comply with the |
| 3932 | availability of moneys and any limitations or directions |
| 3933 | provided for in the General Appropriations Act, provided the |
| 3934 | adjustment is consistent with legislative intent. |
| 3935 | (2)(a)1. Reimbursement to nursing homes licensed under |
| 3936 | part II of chapter 400 and state-owned-and-operated intermediate |
| 3937 | care facilities for the developmentally disabled licensed under |
| 3938 | part XI of chapter 400 chapter 393 must be made prospectively. |
| 3939 | 2. Unless otherwise limited or directed in the General |
| 3940 | Appropriations Act, reimbursement to hospitals licensed under |
| 3941 | part I of chapter 395 for the provision of swing-bed nursing |
| 3942 | home services must be made on the basis of the average statewide |
| 3943 | nursing home payment, and reimbursement to a hospital licensed |
| 3944 | under part I of chapter 395 for the provision of skilled nursing |
| 3945 | services must be made on the basis of the average nursing home |
| 3946 | payment for those services in the county in which the hospital |
| 3947 | is located. When a hospital is located in a county that does not |
| 3948 | have any community nursing homes, reimbursement shall must be |
| 3949 | determined by averaging the nursing home payments, in counties |
| 3950 | that surround the county in which the hospital is located. |
| 3951 | Reimbursement to hospitals, including Medicaid payment of |
| 3952 | Medicare copayments, for skilled nursing services shall be |
| 3953 | limited to 30 days, unless a prior authorization has been |
| 3954 | obtained from the agency. Medicaid reimbursement may be extended |
| 3955 | by the agency beyond 30 days, and approval must be based upon |
| 3956 | verification by the patient's physician that the patient |
| 3957 | requires short-term rehabilitative and recuperative services |
| 3958 | only, in which case an extension of no more than 15 days may be |
| 3959 | approved. Reimbursement to a hospital licensed under part I of |
| 3960 | chapter 395 for the temporary provision of skilled nursing |
| 3961 | services to nursing home residents who have been displaced as |
| 3962 | the result of a natural disaster or other emergency may not |
| 3963 | exceed the average county nursing home payment for those |
| 3964 | services in the county in which the hospital is located and is |
| 3965 | limited to the period of time which the agency considers |
| 3966 | necessary for continued placement of the nursing home residents |
| 3967 | in the hospital. |
| 3968 | (8) A provider of home-based or community-based services |
| 3969 | rendered pursuant to a federally approved waiver shall be |
| 3970 | reimbursed based on an established or negotiated rate for each |
| 3971 | service. These rates shall be established according to an |
| 3972 | analysis of the expenditure history and prospective budget |
| 3973 | developed by each contract provider participating in the waiver |
| 3974 | program, or under any other methodology adopted by the agency |
| 3975 | and approved by the Federal Government in accordance with the |
| 3976 | waiver. Effective July 1, 1996, Privately owned and operated |
| 3977 | community-based residential facilities which meet agency |
| 3978 | requirements and which formerly received Medicaid reimbursement |
| 3979 | for the optional intermediate care facility for the mentally |
| 3980 | retarded service may participate in the developmental services |
| 3981 | waiver as part of a home-and-community-based continuum of care |
| 3982 | for Medicaid recipients who receive waiver services. |
| 3983 | Section 54. Subsection (3) of section 409.9127, Florida |
| 3984 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 3985 | 409.9127 Preauthorization and concurrent utilization |
| 3986 | review; conflict-of-interest standards.-- |
| 3987 | (3) The agency shall help the Agency for Persons with |
| 3988 | Disabilities Department of Children and Family Services meet the |
| 3989 | requirements of s. 393.065(4). Only admissions approved pursuant |
| 3990 | to such assessments are eligible for reimbursement under this |
| 3991 | chapter. |
| 3992 | Section 55. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and subsection |
| 3993 | (5) of section 411.224, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 3994 | 411.224 Family support planning process.--The Legislature |
| 3995 | establishes a family support planning process to be used by the |
| 3996 | Department of Children and Family Services as the service |
| 3997 | planning process for targeted individuals, children, and |
| 3998 | families under its purview. |
| 3999 | (2) To the extent possible within existing resources, the |
| 4000 | following populations must be included in the family support |
| 4001 | planning process: |
| 4002 | (c) Children from age 3 birth through age 5 who are served |
| 4003 | by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Developmental |
| 4004 | Disabilities Program Office of the Department of Children and |
| 4005 | Family Services. |
| 4006 | (5) There must be only a single-family support plan to |
| 4007 | address the problems of the various family members unless the |
| 4008 | family requests that an individual family support plan be |
| 4009 | developed for different members of that family. The family |
| 4010 | support plan must replace individual habilitation plans for |
| 4011 | children from 3 birth through 5 years old who are served by the |
| 4012 | Agency for Persons with Disabilities Developmental Disabilities |
| 4013 | Program Office of the Department of Children and Family |
| 4014 | Services. To the extent possible, the family support plan must |
| 4015 | replace other case-planning forms used by the Department of |
| 4016 | Children and Family Services. |
| 4017 | Section 56. Subsection (4) of section 411.232, Florida |
| 4018 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4019 | 411.232 Children's Early Investment Program.-- |
| 4020 | (4) RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION.--The Department of Health |
| 4021 | and Rehabilitative Services shall adopt rules necessary to |
| 4022 | implement this section. |
| 4023 | Section 57. Subsection (8) of section 415.102, Florida |
| 4024 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4025 | 415.102 Definitions of terms used in ss. 415.101- |
| 4026 | 415.113.--As used in ss. 415.101-415.113, the term: |
| 4027 | (8) "Facility" means any location providing day or |
| 4028 | residential care or treatment for vulnerable adults. The term |
| 4029 | "facility" may include, but is not limited to, any hospital, |
| 4030 | state institution, nursing home, assisted living facility, adult |
| 4031 | family-care home, adult day care center, residential facility |
| 4032 | licensed under chapter 393, adult day training center, group |
| 4033 | home, or mental health treatment center. |
| 4034 | Section 58. Section 415.1035, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4035 | to read: |
| 4036 | 415.1035 Facility's duty to inform residents of their |
| 4037 | right to report abusive, neglectful, or exploitive |
| 4038 | practices.--The department shall work cooperatively with the |
| 4039 | Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons |
| 4040 | with Disabilities, and the Department of Elderly Affairs to |
| 4041 | ensure that every facility that serves vulnerable adults informs |
| 4042 | residents of their right to report abusive, neglectful, or |
| 4043 | exploitive practices. Each facility must establish appropriate |
| 4044 | policies and procedures to facilitate such reporting. |
| 4045 | Section 59. Subsections (1) and (10) of section 415.1055, |
| 4046 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4047 | 415.1055 Notification to administrative entities.-- |
| 4048 | (1) Upon receipt of a report that alleges that an employee |
| 4049 | or agent of the department, the Agency for Persons with |
| 4050 | Disabilities, or the Department of Elderly Affairs, acting in an |
| 4051 | official capacity, has committed an act of abuse, neglect, or |
| 4052 | exploitation, the department shall notify the state attorney in |
| 4053 | whose circuit the abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred. This |
| 4054 | notification may be oral or written. |
| 4055 | (10) When a report has been received and the department |
| 4056 | has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult resident of a |
| 4057 | facility licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration |
| 4058 | or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has been the victim |
| 4059 | of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, the department shall provide |
| 4060 | a copy of its investigation to the appropriate agency. If the |
| 4061 | investigation determines that a health professional licensed or |
| 4062 | certified under the Department of Health may have abused, |
| 4063 | neglected, or exploited a vulnerable adult, the department shall |
| 4064 | also provide a copy to the Department of Health. |
| 4065 | Section 60. Paragraphs (a) and (h) of subsection (3) of |
| 4066 | section 415.107, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4067 | 415.107 Confidentiality of reports and records.-- |
| 4068 | (3) Access to all records, excluding the name of the |
| 4069 | reporter which shall be released only as provided in subsection |
| 4070 | (6), shall be granted only to the following persons, officials, |
| 4071 | and agencies: |
| 4072 | (a) Employees or agents of the department, the Agency for |
| 4073 | Persons with Disabilities, of the Agency for Health Care |
| 4074 | Administration, or of the Department of Elderly Affairs who are |
| 4075 | responsible for carrying out protective investigations, ongoing |
| 4076 | protective services, or licensure or approval of nursing homes, |
| 4077 | assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, adult |
| 4078 | family-care homes, home care for the elderly, hospices, |
| 4079 | residential facilities licensed under chapter 393, or other |
| 4080 | facilities used for the placement of vulnerable adults. |
| 4081 | (h) Any appropriate official of the department, the Agency |
| 4082 | for Persons with Disabilities, of the Agency for Health Care |
| 4083 | Administration, or of the Department of Elderly Affairs who is |
| 4084 | responsible for: |
| 4085 | 1. Administration or supervision of the programs for the |
| 4086 | prevention, investigation, or treatment of abuse, neglect, or |
| 4087 | exploitation of vulnerable adults when carrying out an official |
| 4088 | function; or |
| 4089 | 2. Taking appropriate administrative action concerning an |
| 4090 | employee alleged to have perpetrated abuse, neglect, or |
| 4091 | exploitation of a vulnerable adult in an institution. |
| 4092 | Section 61. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section |
| 4093 | 435.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4094 | 435.03 Level 1 screening standards.-- |
| 4095 | (3) Standards must also ensure that the person: |
| 4096 | (a) For employees and employers licensed or registered |
| 4097 | pursuant to chapter 400, and for employees and employers of |
| 4098 | developmental disabilities services institutions as defined in |
| 4099 | s. 393.063, intermediate care facilities for the developmentally |
| 4100 | disabled as defined in s. 400.960 s. 393.063, and mental health |
| 4101 | treatment facilities as defined in s. 394.455, meets the |
| 4102 | requirements of this chapter. |
| 4103 | Section 62. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
| 4104 | 490.014, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4105 | 490.014 Exemptions.-- |
| 4106 | (2) No person shall be required to be licensed or |
| 4107 | provisionally licensed under this chapter who: |
| 4108 | (a) Is a salaried employee of a government agency; |
| 4109 | developmental disability facility or services program, mental |
| 4110 | health, alcohol, or drug abuse facility operating under pursuant |
| 4111 | to chapter 393, chapter 394, or chapter 397; subsidized child |
| 4112 | care program, subsidized child care case management program, or |
| 4113 | child care resource and referral program operating pursuant to |
| 4114 | chapter 402; child-placing or child-caring agency licensed |
| 4115 | pursuant to chapter 409; domestic violence center certified |
| 4116 | pursuant to chapter 39; accredited academic institution; or |
| 4117 | research institution, if such employee is performing duties for |
| 4118 | which he or she was trained and hired solely within the confines |
| 4119 | of such agency, facility, or institution, so long as the |
| 4120 | employee is not held out to the public as a psychologist |
| 4121 | pursuant to s. 490.012(1)(a). |
| 4122 | Section 63. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section |
| 4123 | 491.014, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4124 | 491.014 Exemptions.-- |
| 4125 | (4) No person shall be required to be licensed, |
| 4126 | provisionally licensed, registered, or certified under this |
| 4127 | chapter who: |
| 4128 | (a) Is a salaried employee of a government agency; |
| 4129 | developmental disability facility or services program, mental |
| 4130 | health, alcohol, or drug abuse facility operating under pursuant |
| 4131 | to chapter 393, chapter 394, or chapter 397; subsidized child |
| 4132 | care program, subsidized child care case management program, or |
| 4133 | child care resource and referral program operating pursuant to |
| 4134 | chapter 402; child-placing or child-caring agency licensed |
| 4135 | pursuant to chapter 409; domestic violence center certified |
| 4136 | pursuant to chapter 39; accredited academic institution; or |
| 4137 | research institution, if such employee is performing duties for |
| 4138 | which he or she was trained and hired solely within the confines |
| 4139 | of such agency, facility, or institution, so long as the |
| 4140 | employee is not held out to the public as a clinical social |
| 4141 | worker, mental health counselor, or marriage and family |
| 4142 | therapist. |
| 4143 | Section 64. Section 944.602, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4144 | to read: |
| 4145 | 944.602 Agency notification of Department of Children and |
| 4146 | Family Services before release of mentally retarded |
| 4147 | inmates.--Before the release by parole, release by reason of |
| 4148 | gain-time allowances provided for in s. 944.291, or expiration |
| 4149 | of sentence of any inmate who has been diagnosed as mentally |
| 4150 | retarded as defined in s. 393.063, the Department of Corrections |
| 4151 | shall notify the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Department |
| 4152 | of Children and Family Services in order that sufficient time be |
| 4153 | allowed to notify the inmate or the inmate's representative, in |
| 4154 | writing, at least 7 days prior to the inmate's release, of |
| 4155 | available community services. |
| 4156 | Section 65. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 945.025, |
| 4157 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 4158 | 945.025 Jurisdiction of department.-- |
| 4159 | (2) In establishing, operating, and utilizing these |
| 4160 | facilities, the department shall attempt, whenever possible, to |
| 4161 | avoid the placement of nondangerous offenders who have potential |
| 4162 | for rehabilitation with repeat offenders or dangerous offenders. |
| 4163 | Medical, mental, and psychological problems shall be diagnosed |
| 4164 | and treated whenever possible. The Department of Children and |
| 4165 | Family Services and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities |
| 4166 | shall cooperate to ensure the delivery of services to persons |
| 4167 | under the custody or supervision of the department. When it is |
| 4168 | the intent of the department to transfer a mentally ill or |
| 4169 | retarded prisoner to the Department of Children and Family |
| 4170 | Services or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, an |
| 4171 | involuntary commitment hearing shall be held according to the |
| 4172 | provisions of chapter 393 or chapter 394. |
| 4173 | (3) There shall be other correctional facilities, |
| 4174 | including detention facilities of varying levels of security, |
| 4175 | work-release facilities, and community correctional facilities, |
| 4176 | halfway houses, and other approved community residential and |
| 4177 | nonresidential facilities and programs; however, no adult |
| 4178 | correctional facility may be established by changing the use and |
| 4179 | purpose of any mental health facility or mental health |
| 4180 | institution under the jurisdiction of any state agency or |
| 4181 | department without authorization in the General Appropriation |
| 4182 | Act or other approval by the Legislature. Any facility the |
| 4183 | purpose and use of which was changed subsequent to January 1, |
| 4184 | 1975, shall be returned to its original use and purpose by July |
| 4185 | 1, 1977. However, the G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital located |
| 4186 | at Arcadia, DeSoto County, may not be converted into a |
| 4187 | correctional facility as long as such hospital is in use as a |
| 4188 | state mental health hospital. Any community residential facility |
| 4189 | may be deemed a part of the state correctional system for |
| 4190 | purposes of maintaining custody of offenders, and for this |
| 4191 | purpose the department may contract for and purchase the |
| 4192 | services of such facilities. |
| 4193 | Section 66. Section 947.185, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4194 | to read: |
| 4195 | 947.185 Application for mental retardation services as |
| 4196 | condition of parole.--The Parole Commission may require as a |
| 4197 | condition of parole that any inmate who has been diagnosed as |
| 4198 | mentally retarded as defined in s. 393.063 shall, upon release, |
| 4199 | apply for retardation services from the Agency for Persons with |
| 4200 | Disabilities Department of Children and Family Services. |
| 4201 | Section 67. Subsection (1) of section 985.224, Florida |
| 4202 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4203 | 985.224 Medical, psychiatric, psychological, substance |
| 4204 | abuse, and educational examination and treatment.-- |
| 4205 | (1) After a detention petition or a petition for |
| 4206 | delinquency has been filed, the court may order the child named |
| 4207 | in the petition to be examined by a physician. The court may |
| 4208 | also order the child to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or a |
| 4209 | psychologist, by a district school board educational needs |
| 4210 | assessment team, or, if a developmental disability is suspected |
| 4211 | or alleged, by a the developmental disabilities diagnostic and |
| 4212 | evaluation team with of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities |
| 4213 | Department of Children and Family Services. If it is necessary |
| 4214 | to place a child in a residential facility for such evaluation, |
| 4215 | the criteria and procedures established in chapter 393, chapter |
| 4216 | 394, or chapter 397, whichever is applicable, shall be used. |
| 4217 | Section 68. Section 1003.58, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 4218 | to read: |
| 4219 | 1003.58 Students in residential care facilities.--Each |
| 4220 | district school board shall provide educational programs |
| 4221 | according to rules of the State Board of Education to students |
| 4222 | who reside in residential care facilities operated by the |
| 4223 | Department of Children and Family Services or the Agency for |
| 4224 | Persons with Disabilities. |
| 4225 | (1) The district school board shall not be charged any |
| 4226 | rent, maintenance, utilities, or overhead on such facilities. |
| 4227 | Maintenance, repairs, and remodeling of existing facilities |
| 4228 | shall be provided by the Department of Children and Family |
| 4229 | Services or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, as |
| 4230 | appropriate. |
| 4231 | (2) If additional facilities are required, the district |
| 4232 | school board and the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 4233 | or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, as appropriate, |
| 4234 | shall agree on the appropriate site based on the instructional |
| 4235 | needs of the students. When the most appropriate site for |
| 4236 | instruction is on district school board property, a special |
| 4237 | capital outlay request shall be made by the commissioner in |
| 4238 | accordance with s. 1013.60. When the most appropriate site is on |
| 4239 | state property, state capital outlay funds shall be requested by |
| 4240 | the department or agency in accordance with chapter 216 of |
| 4241 | Children and Family Services as provided by s. 216.043 and shall |
| 4242 | be submitted as specified by s. 216.023. Any instructional |
| 4243 | facility to be built on state property shall have educational |
| 4244 | specifications jointly developed by the school district and the |
| 4245 | department or agency of Children and Family Services and |
| 4246 | approved by the Department of Education. The size of space and |
| 4247 | occupant design capacity criteria as provided by state board |
| 4248 | rules shall be used for remodeling or new construction whether |
| 4249 | facilities are provided on state property or district school |
| 4250 | board property. The planning of such additional facilities shall |
| 4251 | incorporate current state Department of Children and Family |
| 4252 | Services deinstitutionalization goals and plans. |
| 4253 | (3) The district school board shall have full and complete |
| 4254 | authority in the matter of the assignment and placement of such |
| 4255 | students in educational programs. The parent of an exceptional |
| 4256 | student shall have the same due process rights as are provided |
| 4257 | under s. 1003.57(5). |
| 4258 | (4) The district school board shall have a written |
| 4259 | agreement with the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 4260 | and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities outlining the |
| 4261 | respective duties and responsibilities of each party. |
| 4262 |
|
| 4263 | Notwithstanding the provisions herein, the educational program |
| 4264 | at the Marianna Sunland Center in Jackson County shall be |
| 4265 | operated by the Department of Education, either directly or |
| 4266 | through grants or contractual agreements with other public or |
| 4267 | duly accredited educational agencies approved by the Department |
| 4268 | of Education. |
| 4269 | Section 69. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section |
| 4270 | 17.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4271 | 17.61 Chief Financial Officer; powers and duties in the |
| 4272 | investment of certain funds.-- |
| 4273 | (3) |
| 4274 | (c) Except as provided in this paragraph and except for |
| 4275 | moneys described in paragraph (d), the following agencies shall |
| 4276 | not invest trust fund moneys as provided in this section, but |
| 4277 | shall retain such moneys in their respective trust funds for |
| 4278 | investment, with interest appropriated to the General Revenue |
| 4279 | Fund, pursuant to s. 17.57: |
| 4280 | 1. The Agency for Health Care Administration, except for |
| 4281 | the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. |
| 4282 | 2. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities, except for: |
| 4283 | a. The Federal Grants Trust Fund. |
| 4284 | b. The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. |
| 4285 | 3.2. The Department of Children and Family Services, |
| 4286 | except for: |
| 4287 | a. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Trust Fund. |
| 4288 | b. The Community Resources Development Trust Fund. |
| 4289 | c. The Refugee Assistance Trust Fund. |
| 4290 | d. The Social Services Block Grant Trust Fund. |
| 4291 | e. The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. |
| 4292 | f. The Working Capital Trust Fund. |
| 4293 | 4.3. The Department of Community Affairs, only for the |
| 4294 | Operating Trust Fund. |
| 4295 | 5.4. The Department of Corrections. |
| 4296 | 6.5. The Department of Elderly Affairs, except for: |
| 4297 | a. The Federal Grants Trust Fund. |
| 4298 | b. The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. |
| 4299 | 7.6. The Department of Health, except for: |
| 4300 | a. The Federal Grants Trust Fund. |
| 4301 | b. The Grants and Donations Trust Fund. |
| 4302 | c. The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Trust Fund. |
| 4303 | d. The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. |
| 4304 | 8.7. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, |
| 4305 | only for: |
| 4306 | a. The DUI Programs Coordination Trust Fund. |
| 4307 | b. The Security Deposits Trust Fund. |
| 4308 | 9.8. The Department of Juvenile Justice. |
| 4309 | 10.9. The Department of Law Enforcement. |
| 4310 | 11.10. The Department of Legal Affairs. |
| 4311 | 12.11. The Department of State, only for: |
| 4312 | a. The Grants and Donations Trust Fund. |
| 4313 | b. The Records Management Trust Fund. |
| 4314 | 13.12. The Executive Office of the Governor, only for: |
| 4315 | a. The Economic Development Transportation Trust Fund. |
| 4316 | b. The Economic Development Trust Fund. |
| 4317 | 14.13. The Florida Public Service Commission, only for the |
| 4318 | Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund. |
| 4319 | 15.14. The Justice Administrative Commission. |
| 4320 | 16.15. The state courts system. |
| 4321 | Section 70. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section |
| 4322 | 400.464, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4323 | 400.464 Home health agencies to be licensed; expiration of |
| 4324 | license; exemptions; unlawful acts; penalties.-- |
| 4325 | (5) The following are exempt from the licensure |
| 4326 | requirements of this part: |
| 4327 | (b) Home health services provided by a state agency, |
| 4328 | either directly or through a contractor with: |
| 4329 | 1. The Department of Elderly Affairs. |
| 4330 | 2. The Department of Health, a community health center, or |
| 4331 | a rural health network that furnishes home visits for the |
| 4332 | purpose of providing environmental assessments, case management, |
| 4333 | health education, personal care services, family planning, or |
| 4334 | followup treatment, or for the purpose of monitoring and |
| 4335 | tracking disease. |
| 4336 | 3. Services provided to persons with who have |
| 4337 | developmental disabilities, as defined in s. 393.063. |
| 4338 | 4. Companion and sitter organizations that were registered |
| 4339 | under s. 400.509(1) on January 1, 1999, and were authorized to |
| 4340 | provide personal services under s. 393.063(33) under a |
| 4341 | developmental services provider certificate on January 1, 1999, |
| 4342 | may continue to provide such services to past, present, and |
| 4343 | future clients of the organization who need such services, |
| 4344 | notwithstanding the provisions of this act. |
| 4345 | 5. The Department of Children and Family Services. |
| 4346 | Section 71. Subsection (7) of section 744.704, Florida |
| 4347 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4348 | 744.704 Powers and duties.-- |
| 4349 | (7) A public guardian shall not commit a ward to a mental |
| 4350 | health treatment facility, as defined in s. 394.455(32)(30), |
| 4351 | without an involuntary placement proceeding as provided by law. |
| 4352 | Section 72. Subsection (4) of section 984.22, Florida |
| 4353 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 4354 | 984.22 Powers of disposition.-- |
| 4355 | (4) All payments of fees made to the department under |
| 4356 | pursuant to this chapter, or child support payments made to the |
| 4357 | department pursuant to subsection (3), shall be deposited in the |
| 4358 | General Revenue Fund. In cases in which the child is placed in |
| 4359 | foster care with the Department of Children and Family Services, |
| 4360 | such child support payments shall be deposited in the Community |
| 4361 | Resources Development Trust Fund. |
| 4362 | Section 73. Part III of chapter 282, Florida Statutes, |
| 4363 | consisting of sections 282.601, 282.602, 282.603, 282.604, |
| 4364 | 282.605, and 282.606, is created to read: |
| 4365 | PART III |
| 4366 | ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY |
| 4367 |
|
| 4368 | 282.601 Accessibility of electronic information and |
| 4369 | information technology.-- |
| 4370 | (1) In order to improve the accessibility of electronic |
| 4371 | information and information technology and increase the |
| 4372 | successful education, employment, access to governmental |
| 4373 | information and services, and involvement in community life, the |
| 4374 | executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state |
| 4375 | government shall, when developing, competitively procuring, |
| 4376 | maintaining, or using electronic information or information |
| 4377 | technology acquired on or after July 1, 2006, ensure that state |
| 4378 | employees with disabilities have access to and are provided with |
| 4379 | information and data comparable to the access and use by state |
| 4380 | employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an |
| 4381 | undue burden would be imposed on the agency. |
| 4382 | (2) Individuals with disabilities who are members of the |
| 4383 | public seeking information or services from state agencies that |
| 4384 | are subject to this part shall be provided with access to and |
| 4385 | use of information and data comparable to that provided to the |
| 4386 | public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an |
| 4387 | undue burden would be imposed on the agency. |
| 4388 | 282.602 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term: |
| 4389 | (1) "Accessible electronic information and information |
| 4390 | technology" means electronic information and information |
| 4391 | technology that conforms to the standards for accessible |
| 4392 | electronic information and information technology as set forth |
| 4393 | by s. 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 29 |
| 4394 | U.S.C. s. 794(d), including the regulations set forth under 36 |
| 4395 | C.F.R. part 1194. |
| 4396 | (2) "Alternate methods" means a different means of |
| 4397 | providing information to people with disabilities, including |
| 4398 | product documentation. The term includes, but is not limited to, |
| 4399 | voice, facsimile, relay service, TTY, Internet posting, |
| 4400 | captioning, text-to-speech synthesis, and audio description. |
| 4401 | (3) "Electronic information and information technology" |
| 4402 | includes information technology and any equipment or |
| 4403 | interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in |
| 4404 | creating, converting, or duplicating data or information. The |
| 4405 | term includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications |
| 4406 | products such as telephones, information kiosks and transaction |
| 4407 | machines, Internet websites, multimedia systems, and office |
| 4408 | equipment such as copiers and facsimile machines. The term does |
| 4409 | not include any equipment that contains embedded information |
| 4410 | technology that is an integral part of the product if the |
| 4411 | principal function of the technology is not the acquisition, |
| 4412 | storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, |
| 4413 | switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or |
| 4414 | information. |
| 4415 | (4) "Information technology" means any equipment or |
| 4416 | interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in |
| 4417 | the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, |
| 4418 | movement, control, display, switching, interchange, |
| 4419 | transmission, or reception of data or information. The term |
| 4420 | includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and |
| 4421 | similar procedures, services, and support services, and related |
| 4422 | resources. |
| 4423 | (5) "Undue burden" means significant difficulty or |
| 4424 | expense. In determining whether an action would result in an |
| 4425 | undue burden, a state agency shall consider all agency resources |
| 4426 | that are available to the program or component for which the |
| 4427 | product is being developed, procured, maintained, or used. |
| 4428 | (6) "State agency" means any agency of the executive, |
| 4429 | legislative, or judicial branch of state government. |
| 4430 | 282.603 Access to electronic and information technology |
| 4431 | for persons with disabilities; undue burden; limitations.-- |
| 4432 | (1) Each state agency shall develop, procure, maintain, |
| 4433 | and use accessible electronic information and information |
| 4434 | technology acquired on or after July 1, 2006, that conforms to |
| 4435 | the applicable provisions set forth by s. 508 of the |
| 4436 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 29 U.S.C. s. 794(d), |
| 4437 | including the regulations set forth under 36 C.F.R. part 1194, |
| 4438 | except when compliance with this section imposes an undue |
| 4439 | burden; however, in such instance, a state agency must provide |
| 4440 | individuals with disabilities with the information and data |
| 4441 | involved by an alternative method of access that allows the |
| 4442 | individual to use the information and data. |
| 4443 | (2) This section does not require a state agency to |
| 4444 | install specific accessibility-related software or attach an |
| 4445 | assistive-technology device at a work station of a state |
| 4446 | employee who is not an individual with a disability. |
| 4447 | (3) This section does not require a state agency, when |
| 4448 | providing the public with access to information or data through |
| 4449 | electronic information technology, to make products owned by the |
| 4450 | state agency available for access and use by individuals with |
| 4451 | disabilities at a location other than the location at which the |
| 4452 | electronic information and information technology are normally |
| 4453 | provided to the public. This section does not require a state |
| 4454 | agency to purchase products for access and use by individuals |
| 4455 | with disabilities at a location other than at the location where |
| 4456 | the electronic information and information technology are |
| 4457 | normally provided to the public. |
| 4458 | 282.604 Adoption of rules.--The Department of Management |
| 4459 | Services shall, with input from stakeholders, adopt rules |
| 4460 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 for the development, |
| 4461 | procurement, maintenance, and use of accessible electronic |
| 4462 | information technology by governmental units. |
| 4463 | 282.605 Exceptions.-- |
| 4464 | (1) This part does not apply to electronic information and |
| 4465 | information technology of the Department of Military Affairs or |
| 4466 | the Florida National Guard if the function, operation, or use of |
| 4467 | the information or technology involves intelligence activities |
| 4468 | or cryptologic activities related to national security, the |
| 4469 | command and control of military forces, equipment that is an |
| 4470 | integral part of a weapon or weapons system, or systems that are |
| 4471 | critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence |
| 4472 | missions. Systems that are critical to the direct fulfillment of |
| 4473 | military or intelligence missions do not include a system that |
| 4474 | is used for routine administrative and business applications, |
| 4475 | including, but not limited to, payroll, finance, logistics, and |
| 4476 | personnel-management applications. |
| 4477 | (2) This part does not apply to electronic information and |
| 4478 | information technology of a state agency if the function, |
| 4479 | operation, or use of the information or technology involves |
| 4480 | criminal intelligence activities. Such activities do not include |
| 4481 | information or technology that is used for routine |
| 4482 | administrative and business applications, including, but not |
| 4483 | limited to, payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel- |
| 4484 | management applications. |
| 4485 | (3) This part does not apply to electronic information and |
| 4486 | information technology that is acquired by a contractor and that |
| 4487 | is incidental to the contract. |
| 4488 | (4) This part applies to competitive solicitations issued |
| 4489 | or new systems developed by a state agency on or after July 1, |
| 4490 | 2006. |
| 4491 | 282.606 Intent.--It is the intent of the Legislature that, |
| 4492 | in construing this part, due consideration and great weight be |
| 4493 | given to the interpretations of the federal courts relating to |
| 4494 | comparable provisions of s. 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of |
| 4495 | 1973, as amended, and 29 U.S.C. s. 794(d), including the |
| 4496 | regulations set forth under 36 C.F.R. part 1194, as of July 1, |
| 4497 | 2006. |
| 4498 | Section 74. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |