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The Committee on Health and Human Services Appropriations (Gaetz)

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recommended the following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Between line(s) 653 and 654,

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insert:

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     Section 14.  Subsection (6) of section 39.621, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     39.621  Permanency determination by the court.--

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     (6)  If a child will not be reunited with a parent,

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adoption, under chapter 63, is the primary permanency option. If

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the child is a sibling of a previously adopted child and the

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child becomes available for adoption, the adoptive parent of the

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previously placed sibling shall be offered the opportunity to

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apply to adopt the child and the adoptive parent's application

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shall be given the same consideration as a relative's application

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for adoption. If the child is placed with a relative or with a

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relative of the child's half-brother or half-sister as a

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permanency option, the court may recognize the permanency of this

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placement without requiring the relative to adopt the child. If

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the court approves a permanency goal of permanent guardianship of

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a dependent child, placement with a fit and willing relative, or

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another planned permanent living arrangement, the court shall

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make findings as to why this permanent placement is established

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without adoption of the child to follow. If the court approves a

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permanency goal of another planned permanent living arrangement,

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the court shall document the compelling reasons for choosing this

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goal.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     On line(s) 42, after the second semicolon,

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insert:

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amending s. 39.621, F.S.; requiring that an adoptive

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parent of a child's sibling be given the opportunity to

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apply to adopt such child if the child is available for

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adoption; requiring that such application be given the

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same consideration as a relative's application for

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adoption;

4/7/2008  10:39:00 AM     4-06097-08