Senate Bill sb2726c1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
By the Committee on Children and Families; and Senator Rich
586-2427-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to court actions involving
3 families; amending ss. 39.001, 61.001, 63.022,
4 68.07, 741.2902, 984.01, and 985.02, F.S., and
5 creating ss. 88.1041, 742.016, 743.001, and
6 1003.20, F.S.; providing additional purposes
7 relating to implementing a unified family court
8 program in the circuit courts; providing
9 legislative intent; providing an effective
10 date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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14 Section 1. Paragraph (n) is added to subsection (1) of
15 section 39.001, Florida Statutes, to read:
16 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
17 screening.--
18 (1) PURPOSES OF CHAPTER.--The purposes of this chapter
19 are:
20 (n) To provide all children and families with a fully
21 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
22 involve children and families and a resolution of family
23 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
24 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
25 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
26 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
27 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
28 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
29 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
30 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
31 children and families through a fully integrated,
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
2 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
3 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
4 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
5 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
6 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
7 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
8 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
9 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
10 better condition than when the families entered the system.
11 Section 2. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of
12 section 61.001, Florida Statutes, to read:
13 61.001 Purpose of chapter.--
14 (2) Its purposes are:
15 (d) To provide all children and families with a fully
16 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
17 involve children and families and a resolution of family
18 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
19 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
20 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
21 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
22 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
23 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
24 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
25 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
26 children and families through a fully integrated,
27 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
28 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
29 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
30 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
31 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
2 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
3 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
4 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
5 better condition than when the families entered the system.
6 Section 3. Subsection (6) is added to section 63.022,
7 Florida Statutes, to read:
8 63.022 Legislative intent.--
9 (6) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
10 children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
11 approach to handling all cases that involve children and
12 families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair,
13 timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent
14 of the Legislature that the courts of this state embrace
15 methods of resolving disputes that do not cause additional
16 emotional harm to the children and families who are required
17 to interact with the judicial system. It is the intent of the
18 Legislature to support the development of a unified family
19 court and to support the state courts system's efforts to
20 improve the resolution of disputes involving children and
21 families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
22 that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
23 family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
24 referral to needed services; and methods of alternative
25 dispute resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the
26 legal system should focus on the needs of children who are
27 involved in the litigation, refer families to resources that
28 will make families' relationships stronger, coordinate
29 families' cases to provide consistent results, and strive to
30 leave families in better condition than when the families
31 entered the system.
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 Section 4. Subsection (9) is added to section 68.07,
2 Florida Statutes, to read:
3 68.07 Change of name.--
4 (9) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
5 children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
6 approach to handling all cases that involve children and
7 families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair,
8 timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent
9 of the Legislature that the courts of this state embrace
10 methods of resolving disputes that do not cause additional
11 emotional harm to the children and families who are required
12 to interact with the judicial system. It is the intent of the
13 Legislature to support the development of a unified family
14 court and to support the state courts system's efforts to
15 improve the resolution of disputes involving children and
16 families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
17 that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
18 family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
19 referral to needed services; and methods of alternative
20 dispute resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the
21 legal system should focus on the needs of children who are
22 involved in the litigation, refer families to resources that
23 will make families' relationships stronger, coordinate
24 families' cases to provide consistent results, and strive to
25 leave families in better condition than when the families
26 entered the system.
27 Section 5. Section 88.1041, Florida Statutes, is
28 created to read:
29 88.1041 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
30 Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
31 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
4
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 involve children and families and a resolution of family
2 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
3 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
4 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
5 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
6 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
7 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
8 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
9 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
10 children and families through a fully integrated,
11 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
12 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
13 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
14 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
15 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
16 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
17 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
18 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
19 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
20 better condition than when the families entered the system.
21 Section 6. Subsection (3) is added to section
22 741.2902, Florida Statutes, to read:
23 741.2902 Domestic violence; legislative intent with
24 respect to judiciary's role.--
25 (3) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
26 children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
27 approach to handling all cases that involve children and
28 families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair,
29 timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent
30 of the Legislature that the courts of this state embrace
31 methods of resolving disputes that do not cause additional
5
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 emotional harm to the children and families who are required
2 to interact with the judicial system. It is the intent of the
3 Legislature to support the development of a unified family
4 court and to support the state courts system's efforts to
5 improve the resolution of disputes involving children and
6 families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
7 that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
8 family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
9 referral to needed services; and methods of alternative
10 dispute resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the
11 legal system should focus on the needs of children who are
12 involved in the litigation, refer families to resources that
13 will make families' relationships stronger, coordinate
14 families' cases to provide consistent results, and strive to
15 leave families in better condition than when the families
16 entered the system.
17 Section 7. Section 742.016, Florida Statutes, is
18 created to read:
19 742.016 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
20 Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
21 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
22 involve children and families and a resolution of family
23 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
24 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
25 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
26 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
27 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
28 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
29 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
30 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
31 children and families through a fully integrated,
6
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
2 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
3 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
4 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
5 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
6 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
7 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
8 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
9 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
10 better condition than when the families entered the system.
11 Section 8. Section 743.001, Florida Statutes, is
12 created to read:
13 743.001 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
14 Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
15 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
16 involve children and families and a resolution of family
17 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
18 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
19 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
20 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
21 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
22 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
23 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
24 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
25 children and families through a fully integrated,
26 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
27 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
28 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
29 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
30 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
31 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
7
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
2 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
3 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
4 better condition than when the families entered the system.
5 Section 9. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
6 section 984.01, Florida Statutes, to read:
7 984.01 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
8 screening.--
9 (1) The purposes of this chapter are:
10 (g) To provide all children and families with a fully
11 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
12 involve children and families and a resolution of family
13 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
14 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
15 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
16 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
17 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
18 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
19 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
20 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
21 children and families through a fully integrated,
22 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
23 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
24 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
25 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
26 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
27 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
28 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
29 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
30 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
31 better condition than when the families entered the system.
8
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 Section 10. Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (1)
2 of section 985.02, Florida Statutes, to read:
3 985.02 Legislative intent for the juvenile justice
4 system.--
5 (1) GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.--It is a purpose
6 of the Legislature that the children of this state be provided
7 with the following protections:
8 (j) A fully integrated, comprehensive approach to
9 handling all cases that involve children and families and a
10 resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient,
11 and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the Legislature
12 that the courts of this state embrace methods of resolving
13 disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm to the
14 children and families who are required to interact with the
15 judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
16 support the development of a unified family court and to
17 support the state courts system's efforts to improve the
18 resolution of disputes involving children and families through
19 a fully integrated, comprehensive approach that includes
20 coordinated case management; the concept of "one family, one
21 judge"; collaboration with the community for referral to
22 needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
23 resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
24 system should focus on the needs of children who are involved
25 in the litigation, refer families to resources that will make
26 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
27 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
28 better condition than when the families entered the system.
29 Section 11. Section 1003.20, Florida Statutes, is
30 created to read:
31
9
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 1003.20 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
2 Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
3 integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
4 involve children and families and a resolution of family
5 disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
6 manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
7 this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
8 cause additional emotional harm to the children and families
9 who are required to interact with the judicial system. It is
10 the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
11 unified family court and to support the state courts system's
12 efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving
13 children and families through a fully integrated,
14 comprehensive approach that includes coordinated case
15 management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
16 collaboration with the community for referral to needed
17 services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
18 Legislature supports the goal that the legal system should
19 focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
20 litigation, refer families to resources that will make
21 families' relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases
22 to provide consistent results, and strive to leave families in
23 better condition than when the families entered the system.
24 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2726
586-2427-06
1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 Senate Bill 2726
3
4 Rewords the Legislative intent language relating to a unified
family court program.
5
Adds the language to eight sections of law in addition to the
6 three sections in the original bill. The new sections are:
7 - Chapter 63, F.S., pertaining to adoption;
8 - Section 68.07, F.S., pertaining to name change;
9 - Chapter 88, F.S., pertaining to the Uniform Interstate
Family Support Act;
10
- Chapter 741, F.S., pertaining to marriage and domestic
11 violence;
12 - Chapter 742, F.S., pertaining to the determination of
parentage;
13
- Chapter 743, F.S., pertaining to the disability of nonage
14 of minors;
15 - Chapter 984, F.S., pertaining to children and families in
need of services;
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- Chapter 1003, F.S., (part II), pertaining to school
17 attendance.
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