HB 597

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to homelessness; amending s. 320.02, F.S.;
3	requiring the motor vehicle registration form and
4	registration renewal form to include an option to make a
5	voluntary contribution to aid the homeless; amending s.
6	322.08, F.S.; requiring the driver license application
7	form to include an option to make a voluntary contribution
8	to aid the homeless; amending s. 322.18, F.S.; requiring
9	the driver license application form for renewal issuance
10	or renewal extension to include an option to make a
11	voluntary contribution to aid the homeless; providing for
12	such contributions to be deposited into the Grants and
13	Donations Trust Fund of the Department of Children and
14	Family Services and used by the State Office on
15	Homelessness for certain purposes; providing that
16	voluntary contributions for the homeless are not income of
17	a revenue nature for the purpose of applying certain
18	service charges; creating s. 414.161, F.S.; establishing a
19	homelessness prevention grant program; requiring grant
20	applicants to be ranked competitively; providing
21	preference for certain grant applicants; providing
22	eligibility requirements; providing grant limitations and
23	restrictions; requiring lead agencies for local homeless
24	assistance continuum of care to track, monitor, and report
25	on assisted families for a specified period of time;
26	amending s. 420.507, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
27	amending s. 420.621, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
28	revising, providing, and deleting definitions; amending s.
29	420.622, F.S.; increasing and revising membership on the
30	Council on Homelessness; removing a member from an
31	obsolete organization; correcting the name of a member
32	organization on the council; revising the date of an
33	annual report; amending s. 420.625, F.S.; deleting a
34	cross-reference to conform; creating s. 420.6275, F.S.;
35	creating the Housing First program; providing legislative
36	findings and intent; providing that certain local homeless
37	assistance continuums of care shall receive priority for
38	certain funding; requiring the State Office on
39	Homelessness to create specified procedures; providing
40	methodology; providing components of the program; creating
41	s. 420.628, F.S.; providing legislative findings and
42	intent with respect to children and young adults leaving
43	the child welfare system; amending s. 1003.01, F.S.;
44	revising a definition; amending s. 1003.21, F.S.;
45	conforming terminology; providing a school attendance
46	exemption for certain children in foster care; amending s.
47	1003.22, F.S.; conforming terminology; providing a school
48	certification of a school-entry health examination
49	exemption for certain children in foster care; repealing
50	s. 414.16, F.S., relating to the emergency assistance
51	program for families with children that have lost shelter
52	or face loss of shelter due to an emergency; providing an
53	effective date.
54
55	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
56
57	Section 1.  Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (15) of
58	section 320.02, Florida Statutes, to read:
59	320.02  Registration required; application for
60	registration; forms.--
61	(15)
62	(h)  Notwithstanding s. 320.023, the application form for
63	motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must
64	include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per
65	applicant to aid the homeless. Contributions made pursuant to
66	this paragraph shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations
67	Trust Fund of the Department of Children and Family Services and
68	used by the State Office on Homelessness to supplement grants
69	made under s. 420.622(4) and (5), provide information to the
70	public about homelessness in the state, and provide literature
71	for homeless persons seeking assistance.
72
73	For the purpose of applying the service charge provided in s.
74	215.20, contributions received under this subsection are not
75	income of a revenue nature.
76	Section 2.  Subsection (6) of section 322.08, Florida
77	Statutes, is amended to read:
78	322.08  Application for license.--
79	(6)  The application form for a driver's license or
80	duplicate thereof shall include language permitting the
81	following:
82	(a)  A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
83	contribution shall be deposited into the Health Care Trust Fund
84	for organ and tissue donor education and for maintaining the
85	organ and tissue donor registry.
86	(b)  A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
87	contribution shall be distributed to the Florida Council of the
88	Blind.
89	(c)  A voluntary contribution of $2 per applicant, which
90	shall be distributed to the Hearing Research Institute,
91	Incorporated.
92	(d)  A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
93	shall be distributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
94	International.
95	(e)  A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
96	shall be distributed to the Children's Hearing Help Fund.
97	(f)  A voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which
98	shall be distributed to Family First, a nonprofit organization.
99	(g)  Notwithstanding s. 322.081, a voluntary contribution
100	of $1 per applicant to aid the homeless. Contributions made
101	pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited into the Grants
102	and Donations Trust Fund of the Department of Children and
103	Family Services and used by the State Office on Homelessness to
104	supplement grants made under s. 420.622(4) and (5), provide
105	information to the public about homelessness in the state, and
106	provide literature for homeless persons seeking assistance.
107
108	A statement providing an explanation of the purpose of the trust
109	funds shall also be included. For the purpose of applying the
110	service charge provided in s. 215.20, contributions received
111	under paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), and (g) and under
112	s. 322.18(9)(a) are not income of a revenue nature.
113	Section 3.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (9) of
114	section 322.18, Florida Statutes, to read:
115	322.18  Original applications, licenses, and renewals;
116	expiration of licenses; delinquent licenses.--
117	(9)
118	(c)  The application form for a renewal issuance or renewal
119	extension shall include language permitting a voluntary
120	contribution of $1 per applicant to aid the homeless.
121	Contributions made pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited
122	into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund of the Department of
123	Children and Family Services and used by the State Office on
124	Homelessness to supplement grants made under s. 420.622(4) and
125	(5), provide information to the public about homelessness in the
126	state, and provide literature for homeless persons seeking
127	assistance. For the purpose of applying the service charge
128	provided in s. 215.20, contributions received under this
129	paragraph are not income of a revenue nature.
130	Section 4.  Section 414.161, Florida Statutes, is created
131	to read:
132	414.161  Homelessness prevention grants.--
133	(1)  ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.--There is hereby created a
134	grant program to provide emergency financial assistance to
135	families facing the loss of their current home due to a
136	financial or other crisis. The State Office on Homelessness,
137	with the concurrence of the Council on Homelessness, may accept
138	and administer moneys appropriated to it to provide homelessness
139	prevention grants annually to lead agencies for local homeless
140	assistance continuum of care, as recognized by the State Office
141	on Homelessness. These moneys shall consist of any sums that the
142	state may appropriate, as well as money received from donations,
143	gifts, bequests, or otherwise from any public or private source
144	that is intended to assist families to prevent them from
145	becoming homeless.
146	(2)  GRANT APPLICATIONS.--Grant applicants shall be ranked
147	competitively. Preference shall be given to applicants who
148	leverage additional private funds and public funds, who
149	demonstrate the effectiveness of their homelessness prevention
150	programs in keeping families housed, and who demonstrate the
151	commitment of other assistance and services to address the
152	family's health, employment, and education needs.
153	(3)  ELIGIBILITY.--In order to qualify for a grant, a lead
154	agency must develop and implement a local homeless assistance
155	continuum of care plan for its designated catchment area. The
156	homelessness prevention program must be included in the
157	continuum of care plan.
158	(4)  GRANT LIMITS.--The maximum grant amount per lead
159	agency may not exceed $300,000. The grant assistance may be used
160	to pay past due rent or mortgage payments, past due utility
161	costs, other past due bills creating the family's financial
162	crisis, provision of case management services, and program
163	administration costs not to exceed 3 percent of the grant award.
164	The homelessness prevention program must develop a case plan for
165	each family to be assisted setting forth which costs will be
166	covered and the maximum level of assistance to be offered.
167	(5)  PERFORMANCE.--The lead agency shall be required to
168	track, monitor, and report on the families assisted for at least
169	12 months after the last assistance provided to the family. The
170	goal for the homelessness prevention program shall be to enable
171	at least 85 percent of the families assisted to remain in their
172	home and avoid becoming homeless during the ensuing year.
173	Section 5.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (22) of section
174	420.507, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
175	420.507  Powers of the corporation.--The corporation shall
176	have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and
177	effectuate the purposes and provisions of this part, including
178	the following powers which are in addition to all other powers
179	granted by other provisions of this part:
180	(22)  To develop and administer the State Apartment
181	Incentive Loan Program. In developing and administering that
182	program, the corporation may:
183	(a)  Make first, second, and other subordinated mortgage
184	loans including variable or fixed rate loans subject to
185	contingent interest for all State Apartment Incentive Loans
186	provided for in this chapter based upon available cash flow of
187	the projects. The corporation shall make loans exceeding 25
188	percent of project cost available only to nonprofit
189	organizations and public bodies which are able to secure grants,
190	donations of land, or contributions from other sources and to
191	projects meeting the criteria of subparagraph 1. Mortgage loans
192	shall be made available at the following rates of interest:
193	1.  Zero to 3 percent interest for sponsors of projects
194	that set aside at least 80 percent of their total units for
195	residents qualifying as farmworkers as defined in this part, or
196	commercial fishing workers as defined in this part, or the
197	homeless as defined in s. 420.621(6)(4) over the life of the
198	loan.
199	2.  Zero to 3 percent interest based on the pro rata share
200	of units set aside for homeless residents if the total of such
201	units is less than 80 percent of the units in the borrower's
202	project.
203	3.  One to 9 percent interest for sponsors of projects
204	targeted at populations other than farmworkers, commercial
205	fishing workers, and the homeless.
206	Section 6.  Section 420.621, Florida Statutes, is amended
207	to read:
208	420.621  Definitions; ss. 420.621-420.628 420.621-
209	420.627.--As used in ss. 420.621-420.628 420.621-420.627, the
210	term following terms shall have the following meanings, unless
211	the context otherwise requires:
212	(1)  "Children and youths who are experiencing
213	homelessness," for programs authorized under the federal
214	Education for Homeless Children and Youths program, Subtitle B
215	of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42
216	U.S.C. ss. 11431 et seq., means children and youths who lack a
217	fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes:
218	(a)  Children and youths who are sharing the housing of
219	other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a
220	similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, travel trailer
221	parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative
222	adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional
223	shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster
224	care placement.
225	(b)  Children and youths who have a primary nighttime
226	residence that is a public or private place not designed for or
227	ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human
228	beings.
229	(c)  Children and youths who are living in cars, parks,
230	public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or
231	similar settings.
232	(d)  Migratory children who are living in circumstances
233	described in paragraphs (a)-(c).
234	(2)  "Continuum of care" means a community plan to organize
235	and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of
236	people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and
237	maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end
238	homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.
239	(3)  "Council on Homelessness" means the council created in
240	s. 420.622.
241	(1)  "AFDC" means Aid to Families with Dependent Children
242	as administered under chapter 409.
243	(4)(2)  "Department" means the Department of Children and
244	Family Services.
245	(5)(3)  "District" means a service district of the
246	department of Children and Family Services, as set forth in s.
247	20.19.
248	(6)(4)  "Homeless," applied to an individual, or
249	"individual experiencing homelessness" means "Homeless" refers
250	to an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
251	nighttime residence and includes or an individual who has a
252	primary nighttime residence that is:
253	(a)  Is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of
254	housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
255	(b)  Is living in a motel, hotel, travel trailer park, or
256	camping ground due to a lack of alternative adequate
257	accommodations;
258	(c)  Is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; A
259	supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to
260	provide temporary living accommodations, including welfare
261	hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the
262	mentally ill;
263	(b)  An institution that provides a temporary residence for
264	individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
265	(d)(c)  Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public
266	or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a
267	regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
268	(e)  Is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned
269	building, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
270	(f)  Is a migratory individual who qualifies as homeless
271	because he or she is living in circumstances described in
272	paragraphs (a)-(e).
273
274	The terms defined in this subsection do term does not refer to
275	any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to
276	state or federal law. The terms also do not include individuals
277	or families who are sharing housing due to cultural preferences,
278	voluntary arrangements, and traditional networks of support. The
279	terms include an individual who has been released from jail,
280	prison, the juvenile justice system, the child welfare system, a
281	mental health and developmental disability facility, a
282	residential addiction treatment program, or a hospital, for whom
283	no subsequent residence has been identified, and who lacks the
284	resources and support network to obtain housing.
285	(7)(5)  "Local coalition for the homeless" means a
286	coalition established pursuant to s. 420.623.
287	(8)(6)  "New and temporary homeless" means those
288	individuals or families who are homeless due to societal
289	external factors, such as unemployment or other loss of income,
290	personal or family-life crises, or the shortage of low-income
291	housing.
292	(9)  "Societal causes of homelessness" means factors such
293	as lack of housing for individuals and families with low
294	incomes, lack of employment opportunities for those with a high
295	school education or less, and lack of day care, transportation,
296	and other institutional supports.
297	(10)(7)  "State Office on Homelessness" means the state
298	office created in s. 420.622 "Secretary" means the secretary of
299	the Department of Children and Family Services.
300	Section 7.  Subsections (2) and (9) of section 420.622,
301	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
302	420.622  State Office on Homelessness; Council on
303	Homelessness.--
304	(2)  The Council on Homelessness is created to consist of a
305	17-member 15-member council of public and private agency
306	representatives who shall develop policy and advise the State
307	Office on Homelessness. The council members shall be: the
308	Secretary of Children and Family Services, or his or her
309	designee; the Secretary of Community Affairs, or his or her
310	designee; the State Surgeon General, or his or her designee; the
311	Executive Director of Veterans' Affairs, or his or her designee;
312	the Secretary of Corrections, or his or her designee; the
313	Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or her designee;
314	the Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee; the
315	Director of Workforce Florida, Inc., or his or her designee; one
316	representative of the Florida Association of Counties; one
317	representative from the Florida League of Cities; one
318	representative of the Florida Coalition for Supportive Housing
319	Coalition; the Executive Director of the Florida Housing Finance
320	Corporation, or his or her designee; one representative of the
321	Florida Coalition for the Homeless; one representative of the
322	Florida State Rural Development Council; and four members
323	appointed by the Governor. The council members shall be
324	volunteer, nonpaid persons and shall be reimbursed for travel
325	expenses only. The appointed members of the council shall serve
326	staggered 2-year terms, and the council shall meet at least four
327	times per year. The importance of minority, gender, and
328	geographic representation must be considered when appointing
329	members to the council.
330	(9)  The council shall, by June 30 December 31 of each
331	year, beginning in 2010, issue to the Governor, the President of
332	the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
333	Secretary of Children and Family Services an evaluation of the
334	executive director's performance in fulfilling the statutory
335	duties of the office, a report summarizing the council's
336	recommendations to the office and the corresponding actions
337	taken by the office, and any recommendations to the Legislature
338	for proposals to reduce homelessness in this state.
339	Section 8.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
340	420.625, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
341	420.625  Grant-in-aid program.--
342	(3)  ESTABLISHMENT.--There is hereby established a grant-
343	in-aid program to help local communities in serving the needs of
344	the homeless through a variety of supportive services, which may
345	include, but are not limited to:
346	(d)  Emergency financial assistance for persons who are
347	totally without shelter or facing loss of shelter, but who are
348	not eligible for such assistance under s. 414.16.
349	Section 9.  Section 420.6275, Florida Statutes, is created
350	to read:
351	420.6275  Housing First.--
352	(1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.--
353	(a)  The Legislature finds that many communities plan to
354	manage homelessness rather than plan to end it.
355	(b)  The Legislature also finds that for most of the past
356	two decades public and private solutions to homelessness have
357	focused on providing individuals and families who are
358	experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter, transitional
359	housing, or a combination of both. While emergency shelter
360	programs may provide critical access to services for individuals
361	and families in crisis, they often fail to address the long-term
362	needs of those who are homeless.
363	(c)  The Legislature further finds that Housing First is an
364	alternative approach to the current system of emergency shelter
365	or transitional housing which tends to reduce the length of time
366	of homelessness and has proven to be cost-effective to homeless
367	programs.
368	(d)  It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to
369	encourage local coalitions for the homeless continuums of care,
370	established pursuant to s. 420.623, to adopt the Housing First
371	approach to ending homelessness for individuals and families.
372	(e)  Local homeless assistance continuums of care, as
373	recognized by the State Office on Homelessness, that adopt and
374	prioritize the Housing First approach in their communities shall
375	receive priority in all funding opportunities provided through
376	the State Office on Homelessness to the lead agencies designated
377	for their continuum of care area.
378	(f)  The State Office on Homelessness, with the concurrence
379	of the Council on Homelessness, shall develop:
380	1.  A procedure to verify through the lead agency the
381	continuum's adoption and prioritizing of the Housing First
382	approach.
383	2.  A process to give priority in scoring and ranking of
384	funding applications submitted by lead agencies whose homeless
385	continuums of care have adopted and prioritized the Housing
386	First approach for their community.
387	(2)  HOUSING FIRST METHODOLOGY.--
388	(a)  The Housing First approach to homelessness differs
389	from traditional approaches by providing housing assistance,
390	case management, and support services responsive to individual
391	or family needs after housing is obtained. By using the Housing
392	First approach when appropriate, communities can significantly
393	reduce the amount of time that individuals and families are
394	homeless and prevent further episodes of homelessness. Housing
395	First emphasizes that social services provided to enhance
396	individual and family well-being can be more effective when
397	people are in their own home, and:
398	1.  The housing is not time-limited.
399	2.  The housing is not contingent on compliance with
400	services. Instead, participants must comply with a standard
401	lease agreement and are provided with the services and support
402	that are necessary to help them do so successfully.
403	(b)  The Housing First approach addresses the societal
404	causes of homelessness and advocates for the immediate return of
405	individuals and families back into housing and communities.
406	Housing First provides a critical link between the emergency and
407	transitional housing system and community-based social service,
408	educational, and health care organizations and consists of four
409	components:
410	1.  Crisis intervention and short-term stabilization.
411	2.  Screening, intake, and needs assessment.
412	3.  Provision of housing resources.
413	4.  Provision of case management.
414	Section 10.  Section 420.628, Florida Statutes, is created
415	to read:
416	420.628  Children and young adults leaving the child
417	welfare system; legislative findings and intent.--
418	(1)  The Legislature finds that the transition from
419	childhood to adulthood is filled with opportunity and risk. Most
420	young people who receive adequate support make this transition
421	successfully and will become healthy adults who will be prepared
422	for work and be able to become responsible, fulfilled members of
423	their families and communities.
424	(2)  The Legislature finds that there are also many young
425	people who will enter adulthood without the knowledge, skills,
426	attitudes, habits, and relationships that will enable them to be
427	productive members of society. Those young people who, through
428	no fault of their own, live in foster families, group homes, and
429	institutions are among those at greatest risk.
430	(3)  The Legislature finds that these young people face
431	numerous barriers to a successful transition to adulthood. Those
432	barriers include changes in foster care placements and schools,
433	limited opportunities for participation in age-appropriate
434	normal activities, and the inability to achieve economic
435	stability, make connections with permanent supportive adults or
436	family, and access housing. The main barriers to safe and
437	affordable housing for youth aging out of the foster care system
438	are cost, lack of availability, the unwillingness of many
439	landlords to rent to them, and their own lack of knowledge about
440	how to be good tenants.
441	(4)  The Legislature also finds that young adults who
442	emancipate from the child welfare system are at risk of becoming
443	homeless and those who were formerly in the child welfare system
444	are disproportionately represented in the homeless population.
445	Only about two-fifths of eligible young people receive
446	independent living services and, of those who do, few receive
447	adequate housing assistance. Without the stability of safe
448	housing all other services, training, and opportunities may not
449	be effective.
450	(5)  The Legislature further finds that research on young
451	people who emancipate from foster care suggests a nexus between
452	foster care involvement and later episodes of homelessness and
453	that interventions in the foster care system might help to
454	prevent homelessness. Responding to the needs of young people
455	leaving the foster care system with developmentally appropriate
456	supportive housing models organized in a continuum of decreasing
457	supervision may increase their ability to live independently in
458	the future.
459	(6)  It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to
460	encourage the Department of Children and Family Services, its
461	agents, and community-based care providers operating pursuant to
462	s. 409.1671, to develop and implement procedures designed to
463	reduce the number of young adults who become homeless after
464	leaving the child welfare system.
465	Section 11.  Subsection (12) of section 1003.01, Florida
466	Statutes, is amended to read:
467	1003.01  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:
468	(12)  "Children and youths who are experiencing
469	homelessness," for programs authorized under the federal
470	Education for Homeless Children and Youths program, Subtitle B
471	of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42
472	U.S.C. ss. 11431 et seq., means children and youths who lack a
473	fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes:
474	(a)  Children and youths who are sharing the housing of
475	other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a
476	similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, travel trailer
477	parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative
478	adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional
479	shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster
480	care placement.
481	(b)  Children and youths who have a primary nighttime
482	residence that is a public or private place not designed for or
483	ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human
484	beings.
485	(c)  Children and youths who are living in cars, parks,
486	public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or
487	similar settings.
488	(d)  Migratory children who are living in circumstances
489	described in paragraphs (a)-(c).
490	(12)  "Homeless child" means:
491	(a)  One who lacks a fixed, regular nighttime residence;
492	(b)  One who has a primary nighttime residence that is:
493	1.  A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter
494	designed to provide temporary living accommodations, including
495	welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing
496	for the mentally ill;
497	2.  An institution that provides a temporary residence for
498	individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
499	3.  A public or private place not designed for, or
500	ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human
501	beings; or
502	(c)  One who temporarily resides with an adult other than
503	his or her parent because the parent is suffering financial
504	hardship.
505
506	A child who is imprisoned, detained, or in the custody of the
507	state pursuant to a state or federal law is not a homeless
508	child.
509	Section 12.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraph
510	(g) of subsection (4) of section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, are
511	amended to read:
512	1003.21  School attendance.--
513	(1)
514	(f)  Children and youths who are experiencing homelessness
515	Homeless children, as defined in s. 1003.01, must have access to
516	a free public education and must be admitted to school in the
517	school district in which they or their families live. School
518	districts shall assist such homeless children to meet the
519	requirements of subsection (4) and s. 1003.22, as well as local
520	requirements for documentation.
521	(4)  Before admitting a child to kindergarten, the
522	principal shall require evidence that the child has attained the
523	age at which he or she should be admitted in accordance with the
524	provisions of subparagraph (1)(a)2. The district school
525	superintendent may require evidence of the age of any child whom
526	he or she believes to be within the limits of compulsory
527	attendance as provided for by law. If the first prescribed
528	evidence is not available, the next evidence obtainable in the
529	order set forth below shall be accepted:
530	(g)  If none of these evidences can be produced, an
531	affidavit of age sworn to by the parent, accompanied by a
532	certificate of age signed by a public health officer or by a
533	public school physician, or, if neither of these is available in
534	the county, by a licensed practicing physician designated by the
535	district school board, which certificate states that the health
536	officer or physician has examined the child and believes that
537	the age as stated in the affidavit is substantially correct.
538	Children and youths who are experiencing homelessness A homeless
539	child, as defined in s. 1003.01, and children who are in foster
540	care until the time of achieving either reunification or a
541	permanent placement shall be given temporary exemption from this
542	section for 30 school days.
543	Section 13.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (e) of subsection
544	(5) of section 1003.22, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
545	1003.22  School-entry health examinations; immunization
546	against communicable diseases; exemptions; duties of Department
547	of Health.--
548	(1)  Each district school board and the governing authority
549	of each private school shall require that each child who is
550	entitled to admittance to kindergarten, or is entitled to any
551	other initial entrance into a public or private school in this
552	state, present a certification of a school-entry health
553	examination performed within 1 year prior to enrollment in
554	school. Each district school board, and the governing authority
555	of each private school, may establish a policy that permits a
556	student up to 30 school days to present a certification of a
557	school-entry health examination. Children and youths who are
558	experiencing homelessness A homeless child, as defined in s.
559	1003.01, and children who are in foster care until the time of
560	achieving either reunification or a permanent placement shall be
561	given a temporary exemption for 30 school days. Any district
562	school board that establishes such a policy shall include
563	provisions in its local school health services plan to assist
564	students in obtaining the health examinations. However, any
565	child shall be exempt from the requirement of a health
566	examination upon written request of the parent of the child
567	stating objections to the examination on religious grounds.
568	(5)  The provisions of this section shall not apply if:
569	(e)  An authorized school official issues a temporary
570	exemption, for a period not to exceed 30 school days, to permit
571	a student who transfers into a new county to attend class until
572	his or her records can be obtained. Children and youths who are
573	experiencing homelessness A homeless child, as defined in s.
574	1003.01, and children who are in foster care until the time of
575	achieving either reunification or a permanent placement shall be
576	given a temporary exemption for 30 school days. The public
577	school health nurse or authorized private school official is
578	responsible for followup of each such student until proper
579	documentation or immunizations are obtained. An exemption for 30
580	days may be issued for a student who enters a juvenile justice
581	program to permit the student to attend class until his or her
582	records can be obtained or until the immunizations can be
583	obtained. An authorized juvenile justice official is responsible
584	for followup of each student who enters a juvenile justice
585	program until proper documentation or immunizations are
586	obtained.
587	Section 14.  Section 414.16, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
588	Section 15.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.

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