Florida Senate - 2022 SB 1014
By Senator Burgess
20-00425A-22 20221014__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to disability claims coordinators;
3 creating s. 381.029, F.S.; defining the terms
4 “department” and “disability claims coordinator”;
5 authorizing counties to request the Department of
6 Health to assign disability claims 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 claims coordinators if they meet
12 certain qualifications; requiring disability claims
13 coordinators to complete certain initial and annual
14 training; providing requirements for such training;
15 providing duties for disability claims coordinators;
16 requiring the department to designate at least five
17 employees to provide administrative support to, and
18 facilitate the exchange of information between,
19 counties, county health departments, and disability
20 claims coordinators; requiring the department to
21 maintain specified information on its website;
22 requiring the information to be made available on a
23 dedicated webpage and in a specified manner;
24 authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing
25 an effective date.
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. Section 381.029, Florida Statutes, is created to
30 read:
31 381.029 Disability claims coordinators.—
32 (1) As used in this section, the term:
33 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health.
34 (b) “Disability claims coordinator” means a person
35 certified by the department to assist residents seeking state or
36 federal disability benefits.
37 (2) Counties may request the department to assign
38 disability claims coordinators to their respective county health
39 departments to assist residents seeking state or federal
40 disability benefits. A county that requests assignment of a
41 disability claims coordinator is responsible for determining the
42 employment terms, assigning duties, and paying the salary and
43 benefits for the position.
44 (3) The department must certify an individual as a
45 disability claims coordinator if he or she meets the
46 qualifications prescribed by the department in rule. Disability
47 claims coordinators must complete initial and annual training
48 approved by the department. The training must include, at a
49 minimum, coverage of all state and federal laws and rules
50 related to disability benefits, including eligibility
51 requirements, eligible benefits, and the application and appeals
52 processes for disability determinations and benefit claims.
53 (4) Disability claims coordinators shall do all of the
54 following:
55 (a) Meet, interview, counsel, and obtain information from
56 clients who are seeking state or federal benefits for
57 disabilities and assist them in preparing or submitting claims
58 for such benefits.
59 (b) Provide accurate and current information related to the
60 eligibility requirements and applications for and administration
61 of state and federal disability benefits.
62 (c) Review disability determinations, coordinate with the
63 claims examiners to ensure that the determinations accurately
64 reflect the clients’ medical conditions and comply with state
65 and federal laws and rules, and initiate corrective action or
66 appellate review if deemed appropriate in the disability claims
67 coordinator’s professional judgment.
68 (d) Assist clients in preparing and perfecting claims
69 appeals and provide representation at related hearings.
70 (e) Coordinate with the department’s Division of Disability
71 Determinations, including the area office responsible for the
72 county; local field offices for the Social Security
73 Administration; local regional offices for the United States
74 Department of Veterans Affairs; any local organizations that
75 assist residents in applying for disability benefits; and any
76 other state or federal agencies responsible for processing or
77 providing disability benefits in this state.
78 (f) Link clients to additional resources available in their
79 communities.
80 (5) The department shall designate at least five department
81 employees to provide administrative support to counties, county
82 health departments, and disability claims coordinators in
83 furtherance of their duties under this section and to facilitate
84 the exchange of information between them to implement the
85 purposes of this section.
86 (6) The department shall maintain on its website a list of
87 disability claims coordinators, including their contact
88 information and the county they serve, and links to any
89 corresponding county or county health department websites. The
90 website must also include a description of the role disability
91 claims coordinators serve in the disability determination
92 process, emphasizing that they are not claims examiners but
93 rather third-party resources for clients. The information must
94 be available on a dedicated webpage accessible through a
95 conspicuous link on the Division of Disability Determinations’
96 homepage.
97 (7) The department may adopt rules to implement this
98 section.
99 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.