The Florida Senate

402.167  Department duties relating to the Statewide Human Rights Advocacy Committee and the District Human Rights Advocacy Committees.--

(1)  The Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules which are consistent with law, amended to reflect any statutory changes, which rules address at least the following:

(a)  Procedures by which Department of Children and Family Services district staff refer reports of abuse to district human rights advocacy committees.

(b)  Procedures by which client information is made available to members of the Statewide Human Rights Advocacy Committee and the district human rights advocacy committees.

(c)  Procedures by which recommendations made by human rights advocacy committees will be incorporated into Department of Children and Family Services policies and procedures.

(d)  Procedures by which committee members are reimbursed for authorized expenditures.

(2)  The Department of Children and Family Services shall provide for the location of district human rights advocacy committees in district headquarters offices and shall provide necessary equipment and office supplies, including, but not limited to, clerical and word processing services, photocopiers, telephone services, and stationery and other necessary supplies.

(3)  The secretary shall ensure the full cooperation and assistance of employees of the Department of Children and Family Services with members and staff of the human rights advocacy committees. Further, the secretary shall ensure that to the extent possible, staff assigned to the Statewide Human Rights Advocacy Committees and District Human Rights Advocacy Committees are free of interference from or control by the department in performing their duties relative to those committees.

History.--ss. 3, 5, ch. 89-215; s. 7, ch. 91-158; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 136, ch. 99-8.