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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 amendments)

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     Between line(s) 150 and 151,

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insert:

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     Section 2.  Section 743.046, Florida Statutes, is created to

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read:

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     743.046 Removal of disabilities of minors; agreements for

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utility services.--For the sole purpose of enabling a minor in

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foster care to secure utility services at a residential property

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upon becoming an adult, the disability of nonage of minors is

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removed for all minors who have reached 17 years of age, have

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been adjudicated dependent, and are in the legal custody of the

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Department of Children and Family Services through foster care or

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subsidized independent living. Such minors may make and execute

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contracts, agreements, releases, and all other instruments

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necessary for securing utility services at a residential property

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upon becoming 17 years of age. The contracts or other agreements

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made by the minor shall have the same effect as though they were

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the obligations of persons who are adults. A minor seeking to

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enter into such contracts or agreements or execute other

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necessary instruments that are incidental to securing utility

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services must present a court order removing the disabilities of

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nonage for the purpose of this section.

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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) 11, after the semicolon,

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insert:

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creating s. 743.046, F.S.; removing the disability of

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nonage for minor executing a contract for the purpose of

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securing utility services upon reaching 17 years of age;

4/21/2008  9:41:00 AM     4-08044-08