1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to protection of children; amending s. |
3 | 402.302, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "child |
4 | care personnel" for screening purposes; amending s. |
5 | 409.175, F.S.; revising purpose; revising definitions; |
6 | requiring summer day camps and summer 24-hour camps to be |
7 | licensed by the Department of Children and Family |
8 | Services; requiring employees of summer day camps and |
9 | summer 24-hour camps to undergo level 2 screening; |
10 | conforming provisions; repealing s. 409.1758, F.S., |
11 | relating to exemption from fingerprint requirements for |
12 | screening purposes for summer camp personnel; providing an |
13 | effective date. |
14 |
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15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
16 |
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17 | Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 402.302, Florida |
18 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
19 | 402.302 Definitions.-- |
20 | (3) "Child care personnel" means all owners, operators, |
21 | employees, and volunteers working in a child care facility. The |
22 | term does not include persons who work in a child care facility |
23 | after hours when children are not present or parents of children |
24 | in Head Start. For purposes of screening, the term includes any |
25 | member, over the age of 12 years, of a child care facility |
26 | operator's family, or person, over the age of 12 years, residing |
27 | with a child care facility operator if the child care facility |
28 | is located in or adjacent to the home of the operator or if the |
29 | family member of, or person residing with, the child care |
30 | facility operator has any direct contact with the children in |
31 | the facility during its hours of operation. Members of the |
32 | operator's family or persons residing with the operator who are |
33 | between the ages of 12 years and 18 years shall not be required |
34 | to be fingerprinted but shall be screened for delinquency |
35 | records. For purposes of screening, the term shall also include |
36 | persons who work in child care programs which provide care for |
37 | children 15 hours or more each week in public or nonpublic |
38 | schools, summer day camps, summer 24-hour camps, family day care |
39 | homes, or those programs otherwise exempted under s. 402.316. |
40 | The term does not include public or nonpublic school personnel |
41 | who are providing care during regular school hours, or after |
42 | hours for activities related to a school's program for grades |
43 | kindergarten through 12. A volunteer who assists on an |
44 | intermittent basis for less than 40 hours per month is not |
45 | included in the term "personnel" for the purposes of screening |
46 | and training, provided that the volunteer is under direct and |
47 | constant supervision by persons who meet the personnel |
48 | requirements of s. 402.305(2). Students who observe and |
49 | participate in a child care facility as a part of their required |
50 | coursework shall not be considered child care personnel, |
51 | provided such observation and participation are on an |
52 | intermittent basis and the students are under direct and |
53 | constant supervision of child care personnel. |
54 | Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) and subsections (4) |
55 | through (12) of section 409.175, Florida Statutes, are amended |
56 | to read: |
57 | 409.175 Licensure of family foster homes, residential |
58 | child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies, summer day |
59 | camps, and summer 24-hour camps; public records exemption.-- |
60 | (1)(a) The purpose of this section is to protect the |
61 | health, safety, and well-being of all children in the state who |
62 | are cared for by family foster homes, residential child-caring |
63 | agencies, and child-placing agencies, summer day camps, and |
64 | summer 24-hour camps by providing for the establishment of |
65 | licensing requirements for such homes, and agencies, and camps |
66 | and providing procedures to determine adherence to these |
67 | requirements. |
68 | (b) Nothing in this section gives any governmental agency |
69 | jurisdiction or authority to regulate, control, or supervise the |
70 | form, manner, or content of any religious curriculum or |
71 | teachings of a family foster home, or of a child-caring or |
72 | child-placing agency, summer day camp, or summer 24-hour camp, |
73 | provided the health, safety, or well-being of the child is not |
74 | adversely affected. |
75 | (2) As used in this section, the term: |
76 | (a) "Agency" means a residential child-caring agency or a |
77 | child-placing agency. |
78 | (b) "Boarding school" means a school which is accredited |
79 | by the Florida Council of Independent Schools or the Southern |
80 | Association of Colleges and Schools; which is accredited by the |
81 | Council on Accreditation, the Commission on Accreditation of |
82 | Rehabilitation Facilities, or the Coalition for Residential |
83 | Education; and which is registered with the Department of |
84 | Education as a school. Its program must follow established |
85 | school schedules, with holiday breaks and summer recesses in |
86 | accordance with other public and private school programs. The |
87 | children in residence must customarily return to their family |
88 | homes or legal guardians during school breaks and must not be in |
89 | residence year-round, except that this provision does not apply |
90 | to foreign students. The parents of these children retain |
91 | custody and planning and financial responsibility. A boarding |
92 | school currently in existence and a boarding school opening and |
93 | seeking accreditation have 3 years to comply with the |
94 | requirements of this paragraph. A boarding school must provide |
95 | proof of accreditation or documentation of the accreditation |
96 | process upon request. A boarding school that cannot produce the |
97 | required documentation or that has not registered with the |
98 | Department of Education shall be considered to be providing |
99 | residential group care without a license. The department may |
100 | impose administrative sanctions or seek civil remedies as |
101 | provided under paragraph (11)(a). |
102 | (c) "Child" means any unmarried person under the age of 18 |
103 | years. |
104 | (d) "Child-placing agency" means any person, corporation, |
105 | or agency, public or private, other than the parent or legal |
106 | guardian of the child or an intermediary acting pursuant to |
107 | chapter 63, that receives a child for placement and places or |
108 | arranges for the placement of a child in a family foster home, |
109 | residential child-caring agency, or adoptive home. |
110 | (e) "Family foster home" means a private residence in |
111 | which children who are unattended by a parent or legal guardian |
112 | are provided 24-hour care. Such homes include emergency shelter |
113 | family homes and specialized foster homes for children with |
114 | special needs. A person who cares for a child of a friend for a |
115 | period not to exceed 90 days, a relative who cares for a child |
116 | and does not receive reimbursement for such care from the state |
117 | or federal government, or an adoptive home which has been |
118 | approved by the department or by a licensed child-placing agency |
119 | for children placed for adoption is not considered a family |
120 | foster home. |
121 | (f) "License" means "license" as defined in s. 120.52(10). |
122 | A license under this section is issued to a family foster home, |
123 | summer day camp, summer 24-hour camp, or other facility and is |
124 | not a professional license of any individual. Receipt of a |
125 | license under this section shall not create a property right in |
126 | the recipient. A license under this act is a public trust and a |
127 | privilege, and is not an entitlement. This privilege must guide |
128 | the finder of fact or trier of law at any administrative |
129 | proceeding or court action initiated by the department. |
130 | (g) "Operator" means any onsite person ultimately |
131 | responsible for the overall operation of a child-placing agency, |
132 | family foster home, or residential child-caring agency, summer |
133 | day camp, or summer 24-hour camp, whether or not she or he is |
134 | the owner or administrator of such an agency, or home, or camp. |
135 | (h) "Owner" means the person who is licensed to operate |
136 | the child-placing agency, family foster home, or residential |
137 | child-caring agency, summer day camp, or summer 24-hour camp. |
138 | (i) "Personnel" means all owners, operators, employees, |
139 | and volunteers working in a child-placing agency, family foster |
140 | home, or residential child-caring agency, summer day camp, or |
141 | summer 24-hour camp who may be employed by or do volunteer work |
142 | for a person, corporation, or agency which holds a license as a |
143 | child-placing agency, or a residential child-caring agency, |
144 | summer day camp, or summer 24-hour camp, but the term does not |
145 | include those who do not work on the premises where child care |
146 | is furnished and either have no direct contact with a child or |
147 | have no contact with a child outside of the presence of the |
148 | child's parent or guardian. For purposes of screening, the term |
149 | shall include any member, over the age of 12 years, of the |
150 | family of the owner or operator or any person other than a |
151 | client, over the age of 12 years, residing with the owner or |
152 | operator if the agency or family foster home is located in or |
153 | adjacent to the home of the owner or operator or if the family |
154 | member of, or person residing with, the owner or operator has |
155 | any direct contact with the children. Members of the family of |
156 | the owner or operator, or persons residing with the owner or |
157 | operator, who are between the ages of 12 years and 18 years |
158 | shall not be required to be fingerprinted, but shall be screened |
159 | for delinquency records. For purposes of screening, the term |
160 | "personnel" shall also include owners, operators, employees, and |
161 | volunteers working in summer day camps, or summer 24-hour camps |
162 | providing care for children. A volunteer who assists on an |
163 | intermittent basis for less than 40 hours per month shall not be |
164 | included in the term "personnel" for the purposes of screening, |
165 | provided that the volunteer is under direct and constant |
166 | supervision by persons who meet the personnel requirements of |
167 | this section. |
168 | (j) "Residential child-caring agency" means any person, |
169 | corporation, or agency, public or private, other than the |
170 | child's parent or legal guardian, that provides staffed 24-hour |
171 | care for children in facilities maintained for that purpose, |
172 | regardless of whether operated for profit or whether a fee is |
173 | charged. Such residential child-caring agencies include, but are |
174 | not limited to, maternity homes, runaway shelters, group homes |
175 | that are administered by an agency, emergency shelters that are |
176 | not in private residences, and wilderness camps. Residential |
177 | child-caring agencies do not include hospitals, boarding |
178 | schools, summer or recreation camps, nursing homes, or |
179 | facilities operated by a governmental agency for the training, |
180 | treatment, or secure care of delinquent youth, or facilities |
181 | licensed under s. 393.067 or s. 394.875 or chapter 397. |
182 | (k) "Screening" means the act of assessing the background |
183 | of personnel and includes, but is not limited to, employment |
184 | history checks as provided in chapter 435, using the level 2 |
185 | standards for screening set forth in that chapter. Screening for |
186 | employees and volunteers in summer day camps and summer 24-hour |
187 | camps and screening for all volunteers included under the |
188 | definition of "personnel" shall be conducted as provided in |
189 | chapter 435, using the level 1 standards set forth in that |
190 | chapter. |
191 | (l) "Summer day camp" means recreational, educational, and |
192 | other enrichment programs operated during summer vacations for |
193 | children who are 5 years of age on or before September 1 and |
194 | older. |
195 | (m) "Summer 24-hour camp" means recreational, educational, |
196 | and other enrichment programs operated on a 24-hour basis during |
197 | summer vacation for children who are 5 years of age on or before |
198 | September 1 and older, that are not exclusively educational. |
199 | (4)(a) A person, family foster home, or residential child- |
200 | caring agency, summer day camp, or summer 24-hour camp may not |
201 | provide continuing full-time child care or custody unless such |
202 | person, home, or agency, or camp has first procured a license |
203 | from the department to provide such care. This requirement does |
204 | not apply to a person who is a relative of the child by blood, |
205 | marriage, or adoption, a permanent guardian established under s. |
206 | 39.6221, a licensed child-placing agency, or an intermediary for |
207 | the purposes of adoption pursuant to chapter 63. |
208 | (b) A person or agency, other than a parent or legal |
209 | guardian of the child or an intermediary as defined in s. |
210 | 63.032, shall not place or arrange for the placement of a child |
211 | in a family foster home, residential child-caring agency, or |
212 | adoptive home unless such person or agency has first procured a |
213 | license from the department to do so. |
214 | (c) A state, county, city, or political subdivision shall |
215 | not operate a residential group care agency, or receive children |
216 | for placement in residential group care facilities, family |
217 | foster homes, or adoptive homes without a license issued |
218 | pursuant to this section. |
219 | (d) This license requirement does not apply to boarding |
220 | schools, recreation and summer camps, nursing homes, or |
221 | hospitals;, or to persons who care for children of friends or |
222 | neighbors in their homes for periods not to exceed 90 days; or |
223 | to persons who have received a child for adoption from a |
224 | licensed child-placing agency. |
225 | (e) The department or licensed child-placing agency may |
226 | place a 16-year-old child or 17-year-old child in her or his own |
227 | unlicensed residence, or in the unlicensed residence of an adult |
228 | who has no supervisory responsibility for the child, provided |
229 | the department or licensed child-placing agency retains |
230 | supervisory responsibility for the child. |
231 | (5)(a) The department shall adopt and amend licensing |
232 | rules for family foster homes, residential child-caring |
233 | agencies, and child-placing agencies,. The department may also |
234 | adopt rules relating to the screening requirements for summer |
235 | day camps, and summer 24-hour camps. The requirements for |
236 | licensure and operation of family foster homes, residential |
237 | child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies, summer day |
238 | camps, and summer 24-hour camps shall include: |
239 | 1. The operation, conduct, and maintenance of these homes, |
240 | and agencies, and camps and the responsibility which they assume |
241 | for children served and the evidence of need for that service. |
242 | 2. The provision of food, clothing, educational |
243 | opportunities, services, equipment, and individual supplies to |
244 | assure the healthy physical, emotional, and mental development |
245 | of the children served. |
246 | 3. The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and general |
247 | adequacy of the premises, including fire prevention and health |
248 | standards, to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well- |
249 | being of the children served. |
250 | 4. The ratio of staff to children required to provide |
251 | adequate care and supervision of the children served and, in the |
252 | case of foster homes, the maximum number of children in the |
253 | home. |
254 | 5. The good moral character based upon screening, |
255 | education, training, and experience requirements for personnel. |
256 | 6. The department may grant exemptions from |
257 | disqualification from working with children or the |
258 | developmentally disabled as provided in s. 435.07. |
259 | 6.7. The provision of preservice and inservice training |
260 | for all foster parents and agency staff. |
261 | 7.8. Satisfactory evidence of financial ability to provide |
262 | care for the children in compliance with licensing requirements. |
263 | 8.9. The maintenance by the agency of records pertaining |
264 | to admission, progress, health, and discharge of children |
265 | served, including written case plans and reports to the |
266 | department. |
267 | 9.10. The provision for parental involvement to encourage |
268 | preservation and strengthening of a child's relationship with |
269 | the family. |
270 | 10.11. The transportation safety of children served. |
271 | 11.12. The provisions for safeguarding the cultural, |
272 | religious, and ethnic values of a child. |
273 | 12.13. Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of |
274 | children served. |
275 | (b) In promulgating licensing rules pursuant to this |
276 | section, the department may: |
277 | 1. Make distinctions among types of care; numbers of |
278 | children served; and the physical, mental, emotional, and |
279 | educational needs of the children to be served by a home, or |
280 | agency, or camp. |
281 | 2. Grant exemptions from disqualification from working |
282 | with children or the developmentally disabled as provided in s. |
283 | 435.07. |
284 | (c) The department shall not adopt rules which interfere |
285 | with the free exercise of religion or which regulate religious |
286 | instruction or teachings in any child-caring or child-placing |
287 | home or agency or any summer day camp or summer 24-hour camp; |
288 | however, nothing herein shall be construed to allow religious |
289 | instruction or teachings that are inconsistent with the health, |
290 | safety, or well-being of any child; with public morality; or |
291 | with the religious freedom of children, parents, or legal |
292 | guardians who place their children in such homes, or agencies, |
293 | or camps. |
294 | (6)(a) An application for a license shall be made on forms |
295 | provided, and in the manner prescribed, by the department. The |
296 | department shall make a determination as to the good moral |
297 | character of the applicant based upon screening. |
298 | (b) Upon application, the department shall conduct a |
299 | licensing study based on its licensing rules; shall inspect the |
300 | home, or the agency, or camp and the records, including |
301 | financial records, of the agency or camp; and shall interview |
302 | the applicant. The department may authorize a licensed child- |
303 | placing agency to conduct the licensing study of a family foster |
304 | home to be used exclusively by that agency and to verify to the |
305 | department that the home meets the licensing requirements |
306 | established by the department. Upon certification by a licensed |
307 | child-placing agency that a family foster home meets the |
308 | licensing requirements, the department shall issue the license. |
309 | (c) A licensed family foster home, child-placing agency, |
310 | or residential child-caring agency, summer day camp, or summer |
311 | 24-hour camp which applies for renewal of its license shall |
312 | submit to the department a list of personnel who have worked on |
313 | a continuous basis at the applicant family foster home, or |
314 | agency, or camp since submitting fingerprints to the department, |
315 | identifying those for whom a written assurance of compliance was |
316 | provided by the department and identifying those personnel who |
317 | have recently begun working at the family foster home, or |
318 | agency, or camp and are awaiting the results of the required |
319 | fingerprint check, along with the date of the submission of |
320 | those fingerprints for processing. The department shall by rule |
321 | determine the frequency of requests to the Department of Law |
322 | Enforcement to run state criminal records checks for such |
323 | personnel except for those personnel awaiting the results of |
324 | initial fingerprint checks for employment at the applicant |
325 | family foster home, or agency, or camp. |
326 | (d)1. The department may pursue other remedies provided in |
327 | this section in addition to denial or revocation of a license |
328 | for failure to comply with the screening requirements. The |
329 | disciplinary actions determination to be made by the department |
330 | and the procedure for hearing for applicants and licensees shall |
331 | be in accordance with chapter 120. |
332 | 2. When the department has reasonable cause to believe |
333 | that grounds for denial or termination of employment exist, it |
334 | shall notify, in writing, the applicant or, licensee, or summer |
335 | or recreation camp, and the personnel affected, stating the |
336 | specific record which indicates noncompliance with the screening |
337 | requirements. |
338 | 3. Procedures established for hearing under chapter 120 |
339 | shall be available to the applicant or, licensee, summer day |
340 | camp, or summer 24-hour camp, and affected personnel, in order |
341 | to present evidence relating either to the accuracy of the basis |
342 | for exclusion or to the denial of an exemption from |
343 | disqualification. |
344 | 4. Refusal on the part of an applicant to dismiss |
345 | personnel who have been found not to be in compliance with the |
346 | requirements for good moral character of personnel shall result |
347 | in automatic denial or revocation of license in addition to any |
348 | other remedies provided in this section which may be pursued by |
349 | the department. |
350 | (e) At the request of the department, the local county |
351 | health department shall inspect a home, or agency, or camp |
352 | according to the licensing rules promulgated by the department. |
353 | Inspection reports shall be furnished to the department within |
354 | 30 days after the date of the request. Such an inspection shall |
355 | only be required when called for by the licensing agency. |
356 | (f) All residential child-caring agencies must meet |
357 | firesafety standards for such agencies adopted by the Division |
358 | of State Fire Marshal of the Department of Financial Services |
359 | and must be inspected annually. At the request of the |
360 | department, firesafety inspections shall be conducted by the |
361 | Division of State Fire Marshal or a local fire department |
362 | official who has been certified by the division as having |
363 | completed the training requirements for persons inspecting such |
364 | agencies. Inspection reports shall be furnished to the |
365 | department within 30 days after the date of a request. |
366 | (g) In the licensing process, the licensing staff of the |
367 | department shall provide consultation on request. |
368 | (h) Upon determination that the applicant meets the state |
369 | minimum licensing requirements, the department shall issue a |
370 | license without charge to a specific person, or agency, summer |
371 | day camp, or summer 24-hour camp at a specific location. A |
372 | license may be issued if all the screening materials have been |
373 | timely submitted; however, a license may not be issued or |
374 | renewed if any person at the home, or agency, or camp has failed |
375 | the required screening. The license is nontransferable. A copy |
376 | of the license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place. Except |
377 | as provided in paragraph (j), the license is valid for 1 year |
378 | from the date of issuance, unless the license is suspended or |
379 | revoked by the department or is voluntarily surrendered by the |
380 | licensee. The license is the property of the department. |
381 | (i) A license issued for the operation of a family foster |
382 | home, or agency, summer day camp, or summer 24-hour camp, unless |
383 | sooner suspended, revoked, or voluntarily returned, will expire |
384 | automatically 1 year from the date of issuance except as |
385 | provided in paragraph (j). Ninety days prior to the expiration |
386 | date, an application for renewal shall be submitted to the |
387 | department by a licensee who wishes to have the license renewed. |
388 | A license shall be renewed upon the filing of an application on |
389 | forms furnished by the department if the applicant has first met |
390 | the requirements established under this section and the rules |
391 | promulgated hereunder. |
392 | (j) Except for a family foster group home having a |
393 | licensed capacity for more than five children, the department |
394 | may issue a license that is valid for longer than 1 year but no |
395 | longer than 3 years to a family foster home that: |
396 | 1. Has maintained a license with the department as a |
397 | family foster home for at least the 3 previous consecutive |
398 | years; |
399 | 2. Remains in good standing with the department; and |
400 | 3. Has not been the subject of a report of child abuse or |
401 | neglect with any findings of maltreatment. |
402 |
|
403 | A family foster home that has been issued a license valid for |
404 | longer than 1 year must be monitored and visited as frequently |
405 | as one that has been issued a 1-year license. The department |
406 | reserves the right to reduce a licensure period to 1 year at any |
407 | time. |
408 | (k) The department may not license summer day camps or |
409 | summer 24-hour camps. However, the department shall have access |
410 | to the personnel records of such facilities to ensure compliance |
411 | with the screening requirements. |
412 | (7)(a) The department may issue a provisional license to |
413 | an applicant who is unable to conform to the licensing |
414 | requirements at the time of the study, but who is believed able |
415 | to meet the licensing requirements within the time allowed by |
416 | the provisional license. The issuance of a provisional license |
417 | shall be contingent upon the submission to the department of an |
418 | acceptable written plan to overcome the deficiency by the |
419 | expiration date of the provisional license. |
420 | (b) A provisional license may be issued when the applicant |
421 | fails to meet licensing requirements in matters that are not of |
422 | immediate danger to the children and the agency, summer day |
423 | camp, or summer 24-hour camp has submitted a corrective action |
424 | plan which is approved by the department. A provisional license |
425 | may be issued if the screening material has been timely |
426 | submitted; however, a provisional license may not be issued |
427 | unless the applicant is in compliance with the requirements in |
428 | this section for screening of personnel. |
429 | (c) A provisional license shall not be issued for a period |
430 | in excess of 1 year and shall not be subject to renewal; and it |
431 | may be suspended if periodic inspection by the department |
432 | indicates that insufficient progress has been made toward |
433 | compliance with the requirements. |
434 | (8)(a) Authorized licensing staff of the department who |
435 | are qualified by training may make scheduled or unannounced |
436 | inspections of a licensed home, or agency, summer day camp, or |
437 | summer 24-hour camp at any reasonable time to investigate and |
438 | evaluate the compliance of the home, or agency, or camp with the |
439 | licensing requirements. All licensed homes, and agencies, and |
440 | camps shall be inspected at least annually. |
441 | (b) The department shall investigate complaints to |
442 | determine whether a home, or agency, or camp is meeting the |
443 | licensure requirements. The department shall advise the home, or |
444 | agency, or camp of the complaint and shall provide a written |
445 | report of the results of the investigation to the licensee. |
446 | (9)(a) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a |
447 | license. |
448 | (b) Any of the following actions by a home, or agency, or |
449 | camp or its personnel is a ground for denial, suspension, or |
450 | revocation of a license: |
451 | 1. An intentional or negligent act materially affecting |
452 | the health or safety of children in the home, or agency, or |
453 | camp. |
454 | 2. A violation of the provisions of this section or of |
455 | licensing rules promulgated pursuant to this section. |
456 | 3. Noncompliance with the requirements for good moral |
457 | character as specified in paragraph (5)(a). |
458 | 4. Failure to dismiss personnel found in noncompliance |
459 | with requirements for good moral character. |
460 | (10)(a) The department may institute injunctive |
461 | proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to: |
462 | 1. Enforce the provisions of this section or any license |
463 | requirement, rule, or order issued or entered into pursuant |
464 | thereto; or |
465 | 2. Terminate the operation of an agency, summer day camp, |
466 | or summer 24-hour camp in which any of the following conditions |
467 | exists exist: |
468 | a. The licensee has failed to take preventive or |
469 | corrective measures in accordance with any order of the |
470 | department to maintain conformity with licensing requirements. |
471 | b. There is a violation of any of the provisions of this |
472 | section, or of any licensing requirement promulgated pursuant to |
473 | this section, which violation threatens harm to any child or |
474 | which constitutes an emergency requiring immediate action. |
475 | 3. Terminate the operation of a summer day camp or summer |
476 | 24-hour camp providing care for children when such camp has |
477 | willfully and knowingly refused to comply with the screening |
478 | requirements for personnel or has refused to terminate the |
479 | employment of personnel found to be in noncompliance with the |
480 | requirements for good moral character as determined in paragraph |
481 | (5)(a). |
482 | (b) If the department finds, within 30 days after written |
483 | notification by registered mail of the requirement for |
484 | licensure, that a person, or agency, or camp continues to |
485 | provide care for or to place children without a license or, |
486 | within 30 days after written notification by registered mail of |
487 | the requirement for screening of personnel and compliance with |
488 | paragraph (5)(a) for the hiring and continued employment of |
489 | personnel, that a summer day camp or summer 24-hour camp |
490 | continues to provide care for children without complying, the |
491 | department shall notify the appropriate state attorney of the |
492 | violation of law and, if necessary, shall institute a civil suit |
493 | to enjoin the person, or agency, or camp from continuing the |
494 | placement or care of children or to enjoin the summer day camp |
495 | or summer 24-hour camp from continuing the care of children. |
496 | (c) Such injunctive relief may be temporary or permanent. |
497 | (11)(a) The department is authorized to seek compliance |
498 | with the licensing requirements of this section to the fullest |
499 | extent possible by reliance on administrative sanctions and |
500 | civil actions. |
501 | (b) If the department determines that a person, or agency, |
502 | or camp is caring for a child or is placing a child without a |
503 | valid license issued by the department or has made a willful or |
504 | intentional misstatement on any license application or other |
505 | document required to be filed in connection with an application |
506 | for a license, the department, as an alternative to or in |
507 | conjunction with an administrative action against such person, |
508 | or agency, or camp, shall make a reasonable attempt to discuss |
509 | each violation with, and recommend corrective action to, the |
510 | person, or the administrator of the agency, or the operator of |
511 | the camp, prior to written notification thereof. The department, |
512 | instead of fixing a period within which the person, or agency, |
513 | or camp must enter into compliance with the licensing |
514 | requirements, may request a plan of corrective action from the |
515 | person, or agency, or camp that demonstrates a good faith effort |
516 | to remedy each violation by a specific date, subject to the |
517 | approval of the department. |
518 | (c) Any action taken to correct a violation shall be |
519 | documented in writing by the person, the or administrator of the |
520 | agency, or the operator of the camp and verified through |
521 | followup visits by licensing personnel of the department. |
522 | (d) If the person, or agency, or camp has failed to remedy |
523 | each violation by the specific date agreed upon with the |
524 | department, the department shall, within 30 days after the |
525 | agreed-upon date, notify the person, or agency, or camp by |
526 | certified mail of its intention to refer the violation or |
527 | violations to the office of the state attorney. |
528 | (e) If the person, or agency, or camp fails to come into |
529 | compliance with the licensing requirements within 30 days after |
530 | receipt of written notification, it is the intent of the |
531 | Legislature that the department, within 30 days after the |
532 | deadline for compliance, refer the violation or violations to |
533 | the office of the state attorney. |
534 | (12)(a) It is unlawful for any person, or agency, or camp |
535 | to: |
536 | 1. Provide continuing full-time care for or to receive or |
537 | place a child apart from her or his parents in a residential |
538 | group care facility, family foster home, or adoptive home |
539 | without a valid license issued by the department if such license |
540 | is required by subsection (5); or |
541 | 2. Make a willful or intentional misstatement on any |
542 | license application or other document required to be filed in |
543 | connection with an application for a license. |
544 | (b) It is unlawful for any person, agency, summer day |
545 | camp, or summer 24-hour camp providing care for children to: |
546 | 1. Willfully or intentionally fail to comply with the |
547 | requirements for the screening of personnel or the dismissal of |
548 | personnel found not to be in compliance with the requirements |
549 | for good moral character as specified in paragraph (5)(a). |
550 | 2. Use information from the criminal records obtained |
551 | under this section for any purpose other than screening a person |
552 | for employment as specified in this section or to release such |
553 | information to any other person for any purpose other than |
554 | screening for employment as specified in this section. |
555 | (c) It is unlawful for any person, agency, summer day |
556 | camp, or summer 24-hour camp providing care for children to use |
557 | information from the juvenile records of any person obtained |
558 | under this section for any purpose other than screening for |
559 | employment as specified in this section or to release |
560 | information from such records to any other person for any |
561 | purpose other than screening for employment as specified in this |
562 | section. |
563 | (d)1. A first violation of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) |
564 | is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in |
565 | s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
566 | 2. A second or subsequent violation of paragraph (a) or |
567 | paragraph (b) is a felony of the third degree, punishable as |
568 | provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
569 | 3. A violation of paragraph (c) is a felony of the third |
570 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. |
571 | 775.084. |
572 | Section 3. Section 409.1758, Florida Statutes, is |
573 | repealed. |
574 | Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010. |