HB 275

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to motor vehicle insurance for foster
3children; creating a pilot program to reimburse foster
4parents, residential facilities, or foster children who
5live independently a portion of the increased costs of
6motor vehicle insurance for a foster child who has a
7driver's license; directing the Department of Children and
8Family Services to establish the pilot program in
9Sarasota, DeSoto, Manatee, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties;
10requiring that the person who incurs the increased cost
11submit to the department documentation of that increase;
12requiring that foster children be encouraged to pay the
13remaining portion of the increase in cost; directing the
14department to develop procedures for operating the pilot
15program; requiring the department to submit a report with
16recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by a
17specified date each year of the pilot program; providing
18an appropriation; providing for apportionment of the
19appropriation; providing an effective date.
20
21Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23     Section 1.  (1)  The Legislature finds that the increased
24cost of motor vehicle insurance for a foster child after that
25child obtains a driver's license is borne by the foster parents,
26the authorized representative of the residential facility, or
27the foster child if living independently. This increase in the
28cost of insurance creates an additional barrier for a foster
29child in gaining independence and may limit the child's
30opportunities for obtaining employment. In accordance with these
31findings, the Department of Children and Family Services shall
32establish a 3-year pilot program in Sarasota, Desoto, Manatee,
33Pinellas, and Pasco Counties to pay a portion of the cost of
34motor vehicle insurance for foster children who have obtained a
35driver's license.
36     (2)  To the extent that funding is available, the pilot
37program shall provide funds to pay for a portion of the increase
38in the cost of motor vehicle insurance incurred by foster
39parents, residential facilities, and foster children living
40independently. To be eligible for payment under the pilot
41program, the person incurring the cost must submit to the
42department appropriate documentation demonstrating the increase
43in the cost of insurance. The amount of the payment provided to
44the foster parent, residential facility, or foster child living
45independently shall be one-half of the amount of the increase in
46the cost of motor vehicle insurance which is incurred as a
47result of adding the foster child to the policy or less than
48one-half if another source of funding is available to pay for
49the increase. The foster child must be encouraged to pay the
50other half of the increase in insurance costs.
51     (3)  The department shall develop procedures for operating
52the pilot program, including, but not limited to, determining
53eligibility, providing the payment, ensuring that payment is
54limited solely to the additional cost of including the foster
55child in the insurance policy, and ensuring that the payments
56are made to eligible persons in the order each person is
57determined eligible until the funds are exhausted.
58     (4)  The department shall examine and use, to the extent
59possible, other available options for funding the cost of the
60motor vehicle insurance increase, such as, but not limited to,
61through the child's master trust fund, social security income,
62child support payments, and other income available to the child.
63     (5)  Beginning January 1, 2007, and continuing for the
64duration of the pilot program, the department shall submit to
65the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
66the House of Representatives an annual report on the success and
67outcomes achieved by the pilot program, with a recommendation as
68to whether the pilot program should be continued, terminated, or
69expanded.
70     Section 2.  The sum of $150,000 is appropriated from the
71General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family
72Services for the purpose of implementing this act during the
732006-2007 fiscal year. This sum shall be apportioned as follows:
74$110,000 to be divided between Pinellas and Pasco Counties and
75$40,000 to be divided among Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto
76Counties.
77     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.


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