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The Committee on Judiciary (Joyner) recommended the following

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amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Delete everything after the enacting clause

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and insert:

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (o) is added to subsection (1) of

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section 39.001, Florida Statutes, to read:

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     39.001  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and

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screening.--

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     (1)  PURPOSES OF CHAPTER.--The purposes of this chapter

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are:

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     (o) To provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 61.001, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     61.001  Purpose of chapter.--

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     (2)  Its purposes are:

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     (a)  To preserve the integrity of marriage and to safeguard

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meaningful family relationships.;

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     (b)  To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that

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arise between parties to a marriage.; and

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     (c)  To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and

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their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of

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marriage.

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     (d) To provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 3.  Subsection (6) is added to section 63.022,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     63.022  Legislative intent.--

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     (6) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all

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children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive

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approach to handling all cases that involve children and

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families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,

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efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the

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Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of

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resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm

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to the children and families who are required to interact with

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the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to

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support the development of a unified family court and to support

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the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of

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disputes involving children and families through a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated

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case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";

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collaboration with the community for referral to needed

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services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The

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Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the

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needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer

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families to resources that will make families' relationships

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stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent

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results, and strive to leave families in better condition than

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when the families entered the system.

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     Section 4.  Subsection (9) is added to section 68.07,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     68.07  Change of name.--

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     (9) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all

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children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive

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approach to handling all cases that involve children and

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families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,

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efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the

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Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of

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resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm

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to the children and families who are required to interact with

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the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to

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support the development of a unified family court and to support

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the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of

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disputes involving children and families through a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated

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case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";

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collaboration with the community for referral to needed

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services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The

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Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the

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needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer

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families to resources that will make families' relationships

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stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent

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results, and strive to leave families in better condition than

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when the families entered the system.

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     Section 5.  Section 88.1041, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     88.1041 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the

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Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 6.  Subsection (3) is added to section 741.2902,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     741.2902  Domestic violence; legislative intent with

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respect to judiciary's role.--

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     (3) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all

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children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive

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approach to handling all cases that involve children and

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families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,

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efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the

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Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of

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resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm

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to the children and families who are required to interact with

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the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to

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support the development of a unified family court and to support

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the state courts system's efforts to improve the resolution of

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disputes involving children and families through a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated

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case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";

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collaboration with the community for referral to needed

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services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The

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Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the

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needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer

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families to resources that will make families' relationships

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stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent

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results, and strive to leave families in better condition than

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when the families entered the system.

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     Section 7.  Section 742.016, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     742.016 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the

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Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 8.  Section 743.001, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     743.001 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the

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Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 9.  Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of

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section 984.01, Florida Statutes, to read:

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     984.01  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and

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screening.--

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     (1)  The purposes of this chapter are:

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     (g) To provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 10.  Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (1) of

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section 985.02, Florida Statutes, to read:

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     985.02  Legislative intent for the juvenile justice

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system.--

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     (1)  GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.--It is a purpose of

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the Legislature that the children of this state be provided with

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the following protections:

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     (j) A fully integrated, comprehensive approach to handling

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all cases that involve children and families and a resolution of

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family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 11.  Section 1003.201, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     1003.201 Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the

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Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully

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integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that

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involve children and families and a resolution of family

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disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective

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manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of

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this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not

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cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who

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are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the

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intent of the Legislature to support the development of a

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unified family court and to support the state courts system's

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efforts to improve the resolution of disputes involving children

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and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive approach

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that includes coordinated case management; the concept of "one

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family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for

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referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute

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resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal

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system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the

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litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'

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relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide

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consistent results, and strive to leave families in better

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condition than when the families entered the system.

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     Section 12.  Section 61.402, Florida Statutes, is amended

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to read:

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     61.402  Qualifications of guardians ad litem.--A guardian

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ad litem must be either a citizen certified by the Guardian Ad

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Litem Program to act in family law cases, a citizen certified by

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a not-for-profit legal aid organization as defined in s. 68.096,

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or an attorney who is a member in good standing of The Florida

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Bar. Prior to certifying a guardian ad litem to be appointed

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under this chapter, the Guardian Ad Litem Program must conduct a

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security background investigation as provided in s. 39.821.

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Certification by a not-for-profit legal aid organization shall

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qualify a guardian ad litem to serve only in actions described

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in s. 61.401 other than actions in which the court has

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determined that there are well-founded allegations of child

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abuse, abandonment, or neglect as defined in s. 39.01. Prior to

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certifying a guardian ad litem, a not-for-profit legal aid

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organization must conduct a security background investigation

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that conforms to the requirements of s. 39.821.

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     Section 13.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

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law.

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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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     Delete everything before the enacting clause

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and insert:     

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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to court actions involving families;

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amending ss. 39.001, 61.001, 63.022, 68.07, 741.2902,

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984.01, and 985.02, F.S., and creating ss. 88.1041,

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742.016, 743.001, and 1003.201, F.S.; providing additional

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purposes relating to implementing a unified family court

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program in the circuit courts; providing legislative

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intent; amending s. 61.402, F.S.; expanding eligibility

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criteria for guardians ad litem; providing requirements

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for and limitations on certification of guardians ad litem

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by not-for-profit legal aid organizations; providing an

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effective date.

3/11/2008  10:03:00 AM     590-04714-08