Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1506 By Senator Burgess 20-00825-21 20211506__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to disability claim coordinators; 3 creating s. 381.029, F.S.; defining the terms 4 “department” and “disability claim coordinator”; 5 authorizing counties to request the Department of 6 Health to assign disability claim coordinators to 7 their respective county health departments; providing 8 that the counties are responsible for such 9 coordinators’ employment terms, duty assignments, and 10 salaries and benefits; requiring the department to 11 certify disability claim coordinators if they meet 12 certain qualifications; requiring disability claim 13 coordinators to complete certain initial and annual 14 training; providing requirements for such training; 15 providing duties for disability claim coordinators; 16 authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing 17 an effective date. 18 19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20 21 Section 1. Section 381.029, Florida Statutes, is created to 22 read: 23 381.029 Disability Claim Coordinators.— 24 (1) As used in this section, the term: 25 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health. 26 (b) “Disability claim coordinator” means a person certified 27 by the department to assist residents seeking state or federal 28 disability benefits. 29 (2) Counties may request the department to assign 30 disability claim coordinators to their respective county health 31 departments to assist residents seeking state or federal 32 disability benefits. A county that requests assignment of a 33 disability claim coordinator is responsible for determining the 34 employment terms, assigning duties, and paying the salary and 35 benefits for the position. 36 (3) The department shall certify as a disability claim 37 coordinator an individual who meets the qualifications 38 prescribed by the department in rule. Disability claim 39 coordinators must complete initial and annual training approved 40 by the department. The training must include, at a minimum, 41 coverage of all state and federal laws and rules related to 42 disability benefits, including eligibility requirements, 43 eligible benefits, and the application and appeals processes for 44 disability determinations and benefit claims. 45 (4) A disability claim coordinator shall do all of the 46 following: 47 (a) Meet, interview, counsel, and obtain information from 48 clients who are seeking state or federal benefits for 49 disabilities and assist them in preparing or submitting claims 50 for such benefits. 51 (b) Provide accurate and current information related to the 52 eligibility requirements and application for and administration 53 of state and federal disability benefits. 54 (c) Review disability determinations, coordinate with the 55 claims examiners to ensure that the determinations accurately 56 reflect the clients’ medical conditions and comply with state 57 and federal laws and rules, and initiate corrective action or 58 appellate review if deemed appropriate in the disability claim 59 coordinator’s professional judgment. 60 (d) Assist in preparing and perfecting claims appeals and 61 provide representation at related hearings. 62 (e) Coordinate with the department’s Division of Disability 63 Determinations, including the area office responsible for the 64 county; local field offices for the Social Security 65 Administration; local regional offices for the United States 66 Department of Veterans Affairs; any local organizations that 67 assist residents in applying for disability benefits; and any 68 other state or federal agencies responsible for processing or 69 providing disability benefits in this state. 70 (f) Link clients to additional resources available in their 71 communities. 72 (5) The department may adopt rules to implement this 73 section. 74 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.