Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1064
By Senator Yarborough
4-01207A-23 20231064__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to children removed from caregivers;
3 amending s. 409.988, F.S.; requiring community-based
4 care lead agencies, in coordination with the local
5 managing entity, to provide a trauma-focused
6 assessment within a specified timeframe to children
7 removed from certain caregivers; specifying
8 requirements of the assessment and therapy, if
9 recommended; requiring community-based care lead
10 agencies to offer voluntary trauma services under
11 certain circumstances; amending s. 409.996, F.S.;
12 requiring the Department of Children and Families to
13 require in its contracts with the community-based care
14 lead agencies that such agencies and managing entities
15 provide a trauma-focused assessment within a specified
16 timeframe to children removed from certain caregivers;
17 conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective
18 date.
19
20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22 Section 1. Present paragraphs (b) through (n) of subsection
23 (1) of section 409.988, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
24 paragraphs (c) through (o), respectively, and a new paragraph
25 (b) is added to that subsection, to read:
26 409.988 Community-based care lead agency duties; general
27 provisions.—
28 (1) DUTIES.—A lead agency:
29 (b)1. Shall, in coordination with the local managing
30 entity, provide a trauma-focused assessment to a child removed
31 from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to ensure
32 that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma
33 services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if
34 needed. The trauma-focused assessment must occur as soon as
35 practicable subsequent to the child’s removal but no later than
36 14 days after the shelter hearing. The assessment and therapy,
37 if recommended, must evaluate and address the impact of the
38 removal to the child.
39 2. Shall offer voluntary trauma services to a child and his
40 or her family in the event that a shelter petition is denied and
41 the child is returned to his or her parent, legal custodian, or
42 caregiver.
43 Section 2. Present paragraphs (b) through (f) of subsection
44 (1) of section 409.996, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
45 paragraphs (c) through (g), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is
46 added to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of
47 that section is amended, to read:
48 409.996 Duties of the Department of Children and Families.
49 The department shall contract for the delivery, administration,
50 or management of care for children in the child protection and
51 child welfare system. In doing so, the department retains
52 responsibility for the quality of contracted services and
53 programs and shall ensure that, at a minimum, services are
54 delivered in accordance with applicable federal and state
55 statutes and regulations and the performance standards and
56 metrics specified in the strategic plan created under s.
57 20.19(1).
58 (1) The department shall enter into contracts with lead
59 agencies for the performance of the duties by the lead agencies
60 established in s. 409.988. At a minimum, the contracts must do
61 all of the following:
62 (b) Require lead agencies and managing entities to
63 coordinate to provide a trauma-focused assessment to a child
64 removed from his or her parent, legal custodian, or caregiver to
65 ensure that the child is referred promptly to appropriate trauma
66 services, including clinical evaluation and intervention if
67 needed as required by s. 409.988(1)(b).
68 (4)
69 (b) The department shall collect and publish on its
70 website, and update monthly, the information required under s.
71 409.988(1)(l) s. 409.988(1)(k).
72 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.