HB 145

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to court actions involving families;
3amending ss. 39.001, 61.001, 63.022, 68.07, 741.2902,
4984.01, and 985.02, F.S., and creating ss. 88.1041,
5742.016, 743.001, and 1003.201, F.S.; providing additional
6purposes relating to implementing a unified family court
7program in the circuit courts; providing legislative
8intent; providing an effective date.
9
10Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12     Section 1.  Paragraph (o) is added to subsection (1) of
13section 39.001, Florida Statutes, to read:
14     39.001  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
15screening.--
16     (1)  PURPOSES OF CHAPTER.--The purposes of this chapter
17are:
18     (o)  To provide all children and families with a fully
19integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
20involve children and families and a resolution of family
21disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
22manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
23this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
24cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
25are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
26intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
27unified family court and to support the state courts system's
28efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
29and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
30that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
31family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
32referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
33resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
34system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
35litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
36relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
37consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
38condition than when the families entered the system.
39     Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 61.001, Florida
40Statutes, is amended to read:
41     61.001  Purpose of chapter.--
42     (2)  Its purposes are:
43     (a)  To preserve the integrity of marriage and to safeguard
44meaningful family relationships.;
45     (b)  To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that
46arise between parties to a marriage.; and
47     (c)  To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and
48their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of
49marriage.
50     (d)  To provide all children and families with a fully
51integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
52involve children and families and a resolution of family
53disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
54manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
55this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
56cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
57are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
58intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
59unified family court and to support the state courts system's
60efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
61and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
62that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
63family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
64referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
65resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
66system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
67litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
68relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
69consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
70condition than when the families entered the system.
71     Section 3.  Subsection (6) is added to section 63.022,
72Florida Statutes, to read:
73     63.022  Legislative intent.--
74     (6)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
75children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
76approach to handling all cases that involve children and
77families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
78efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
79Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
80resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
81to the children and families who are required to interact with
82the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
83support the development of a unified family court and to support
84the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of
85disputes involving children and families through a fully
86integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
87case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
88collaboration with the community for referral to needed
89services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
90Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the
91needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer
92families to resources that will make families' relationships
93stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent
94results, and strive to leave families in better condition than
95when the families entered the system.
96     Section 4.  Subsection (9) is added to section 68.07,
97Florida Statutes, to read:
98     68.07  Change of name.--
99     (9)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
100children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
101approach to handling all cases that involve children and
102families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
103efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
104Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
105resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
106to the children and families who are required to interact with
107the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
108support the development of a unified family court and to support
109the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of
110disputes involving children and families through a fully
111integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
112case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
113collaboration with the community for referral to needed
114services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
115Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the
116needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer
117families to resources that will make families' relationships
118stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent
119results, and strive to leave families in better condition than
120when the families entered the system.
121     Section 5.  Section 88.1041, Florida Statutes, is created
122to read:
123     88.1041  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
124Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
125integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
126involve children and families and a resolution of family
127disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
128manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
129this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
130cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
131are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
132intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
133unified family court and to support the state courts system's
134efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
135and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
136that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
137family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
138referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
139resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
140system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
141litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
142relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
143consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
144condition than when the families entered the system.
145     Section 6.  Subsection (3) is added to section 741.2902,
146Florida Statutes, to read:
147     741.2902  Domestic violence; legislative intent with
148respect to judiciary's role.--
149     (3)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
150children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
151approach to handling all cases that involve children and
152families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
153efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
154Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
155resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
156to the children and families who are required to interact with
157the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
158support the development of a unified family court and to support
159the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of
160disputes involving children and families through a fully
161integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
162case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
163collaboration with the community for referral to needed
164services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
165Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the
166needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer
167families to resources that will make families' relationships
168stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent
169results, and strive to leave families in better condition than
170when the families entered the system.
171     Section 7.  Section 742.016, Florida Statutes, is created
172to read:
173     742.016  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
174Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
175integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
176involve children and families and a resolution of family
177disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
178manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
179this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
180cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
181are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
182intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
183unified family court and to support the state courts system's
184efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
185and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
186that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
187family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
188referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
189resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
190system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
191litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
192relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
193consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
194condition than when the families entered the system.
195     Section 8.  Section 743.001, Florida Statutes, is created
196to read:
197     743.001  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
198Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
199integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
200involve children and families and a resolution of family
201disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
202manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
203this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
204cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
205are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
206intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
207unified family court and to support the state courts system's
208efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
209and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
210that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
211family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
212referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
213resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
214system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
215litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
216relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
217consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
218condition than when the families entered the system.
219     Section 9.  Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
220section 984.01, Florida Statutes, to read:
221     984.01  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
222screening.--
223     (1)  The purposes of this chapter are:
224     (g)  To provide all children and families with a fully
225integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
226involve children and families and a resolution of family
227disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
228manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
229this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
230cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
231are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
232intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
233unified family court and to support the state courts system's
234efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
235and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
236that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
237family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
238referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
239resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
240system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
241litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
242relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
243consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
244condition than when the families entered the system.
245     Section 10.  Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (1) of
246section 985.02, Florida Statutes, to read:
247     985.02  Legislative intent for the juvenile justice
248system.--
249     (1)  GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.--It is a purpose of
250the Legislature that the children of this state be provided with
251the following protections:
252     (j)  A fully integrated, comprehensive approach to handling
253all cases that involve children and families and a resolution of
254family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
255manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
256this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
257cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
258are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
259intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
260unified family court and to support the state courts system's
261efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
262and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
263that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
264family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
265referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
266resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
267system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
268litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
269relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
270consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
271condition than when the families entered the system.
272     Section 11.  Section 1003.201, Florida Statutes, is created
273to read:
274     1003.201  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
275Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
276integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
277involve children and families and a resolution of family
278disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
279manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
280this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
281cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
282are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
283intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
284unified family court and to support the state courts system's
285efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children
286and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach
287that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one
288family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
289referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
290resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
291system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
292litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
293relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
294consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
295condition than when the families entered the system.
296     Section 12.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.


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