Chapter 39, Florida Statutes

Chapter 39,

Florida Statutes

with excerpts from the

Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure and

ss. 409.1451, 409.175, 409.903, and 1009.25, F.S.

July 1, 2010

A collaborative effort by:

Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office

Department of Children and Families

Office of the State Courts Administrator

Brief Overview of Changes from the 2010 Legislative Session

Bill Number HB 315 Rep. Horner SB 530 Sen. Altman

SB 1306 Sen. Storms HB 1293 Rep. Coley HB 1363 Rep. Glorioso SB 1148 Sen. Rich SB 1412 Sen. Haridopolos

SB 1784 Sen. Villalobos HB 7063 Rep. Galvano SB 2014 Sen. Wise HB 1203 Rep. Nelson

Laws of Florida (LoF) - Chapter Number and Summary Ch. 2010-6, LoF - This law revises s. 63.0422, F.S., prohibiting an adoption agency or entity from making a determination that a person is unsuitable to adopt based on the lawful possession, storage, or use of a firearm or ammunition by any member of an adoptive home. It also prohibits an adoption agency or entity from requiring an adoptive or prospective adoptive parent disclose information relating to, or restricting, a person's lawful possession, storage, or use of a firearm. The law requires the Department of Children and Families' rules to require a form to be used by child-placing agencies during an adoption home-study acknowledging in writing the receipt of a document containing solely and exclusively the language provided for in s. 709.174, F.S., verbatim.

Ch. 2010-209, LoF - This law revises s. 409.903, F.S., replacing the obsolete term "WAGES Program" with "Temporary Cash Assistance" to conform to current federal law.

Ch. 2010-68, LoF - This law revises s. 1009.25(2)(c), F.S., and creates s. 1009.25(2)(d), F.S., distinguishing which youth in foster care and young adults formerly in foster care are eligible for the tuition and fee exemption under this section. It also clearly establishes the exemption is valid until the eligible student reaches the age 28.

Ch. 2010-102, LoF - This law revises s. 39.4086, F.S., removing an obsolete legislative mandated report regarding a pilot program for attorneys ad litem for dependent children.

Ch. 2010-5, LoF - This law repeals s. 39.4086, F.S., removing an obsolete provision relating to a pilot program for attorneys ad litem for dependent children.

Ch. 2010-210, LoF - This law revises ss. 39.0121, 39.202, 39.5085, F.S., replacing an obsolete reference to subsidized child care with an updated reference to the school readiness program. It also expands the priority category under the school readiness program to include all children from birth to school entry who is served by the Department and communitybased care lead agencies.

HB 5305 Rep. Grimsley SB 2228 Sen. Haridopolos

HB 5401 Rep. Adams SB 1400 Sen. Crist

HB 7069 Rep. Snyder SB 1520 Sen. Storms

HB 7111 Rep. Holder SB 888 Sen. Storms

Ch. 2010-158, LoF - This law creates s. 402.302, F.S., providing a definition for the term "child welfare provider" and s. 402.7306, F.S., establishing requirements and limitations for conducting administrative monitoring of child welfare providers. It revises s. 402.7305, F.S., to limit contract monitoring of a child-caring and child-placing services provider to only once per year. This law revises s. 409.1451, F.S., requiring the Department to adopt rules governing payments and conditions related to payments for services to youth or young adults provided under this section. It also repeals s. 409.1663, F.S., which provides the adoption incentive program for state employees. It also revises s. 409.1671, F.S., regarding the outsourcing of foster care and related services. Lastly, this law creates proviso language allowing the Department to serve dependent children deemed to be in need of familycentered, cognitive-behavioral interventions designed to mitigate out-of home placements.

Ch. 2010-162, LoF - This law revises s. 39.0134, F.S., providing that certain parents in proceedings related to children are liable for fees and costs after receiving legal representation or due process services funded by the state. The law authorizes the court to make payment of attorney's fees and costs part of a case plan in dependency proceedings. It also authorizes and provides for enforcement of a lien upon court-ordered payment of fees and costs. This law also revises s. 39.821, F.S., regarding background screenings for guardian ad litems.

Ch. 2010-114, LoF - This law revises s. 39.001, F.S., regarding background screening requirements for volunteers under this section. It revises s. 39.821, F.S., regarding background screenings for guardian ad litems. It revises s. 409.175, F.S., regarding background screening requirements for volunteers under this section and creates requirements for drug screening a licensed foster parent when there is suspicion he or she uses illegal drugs. This law also revises background screening provisions in Chapter 435, including sections relating to the applicability of the chapter and rulemaking, definitions, level 1 background screening requirements, level 2 background screening requirements, requirements for covered employees and employers, exclusions from employment, exemptions from disqualifications, and payment for processing fingerprints and state criminal record checks.

Ch. 2010-75, LoF - This law revises s. 39.0132, F.S., regarding an exemption from public records requirements for certain information regarding a child held by a guardian ad litem.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEPENDENCY CASE FLOWCHART

PART I 39.001 39.0011 39.0014 39.00145 39.0015 39.0016 39.01 39.011 39.012 39.0121 39.013 39.0131 39.0132 39.0133 39.0134 39.0135 39.0136 39.0137 39.0138 39.0139 39.0141

GENERAL PROVISIONS Purposes and intent; personnel standards and screening ...............................1

Direct-support organization......................................................... 8

Responsibilities of public agencies ................................................................9

Records concerning children........................................................9

Child abuse prevention training in the district school system .......................10

Education of abused, neglected, and abandoned children .............................12

Definitions......................................................................................................16

Immunity from liability..................................................................................26

Rules for implementation...............................................................................26

Specific rulemaking authority........................................................................26

Procedures and jurisdiction; right to counsel.................................................28

Permanent mailing address designation.........................................................29

Oaths, records, and confidential information.................................................29

Court and witness fees ...................................................................................31

Appointed counsel; compensation .................................................................31

Operation and Maintenance Trust Fund ........................................................32

Time limitations; continuances ......................................................................32

Federal law; rulemaking authority.................................................................33

Criminal history records check; limit on placement of a child......................33

Visitation or other contact; restrictions..........................................................34

Missing children; report required...................................................................35

PART II 39.201

39.202

39.2021 39.203

39.204

39.205 39.206

REPORTING CHILD ABUSE Mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect;

mandatory reports of death; central abuse hotline .........................................37

Confidentiality of reports and records in case of child abuse

or neglect........................................................................................................40

Release of confidential information...............................................................44

Immunity from liability in cases of child abuse, abandonment,

or neglect........................................................................................................45

Abrogation of privileged communications in cases involving

child abuse, abandonment, or neglect ............................................................45

Penalties relating to reporting of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect .......45

Administrative fines for false report of abuse, abandonment, or neglect

of a child; civil damages ................................................................................46

PART III 39.301 39.302

39.303

PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS Initiation of protective investigations ............................................................48

Protective investigations of institutional child abuse, abandonment,

or neglect........................................................................................................54

Child protection teams; services; eligible cases.............................................56

39.3031 39.3032 39.3035 39.304

39.305 39.306

39.3065

39.307 39.308

PART IV 39.311 39.312 39.313 39.314 39.315 39.316 39.317 39.318

PART V 39.395 39.401

39.402 39.407

39.4075 39.4085

39.4086

PART VI 39.501 39.502 39.503 39.504 39.505 39.506 39.507 39.5075

Rules for implementation of ss. 39.303 and 39.305 ......................................58

Memorandum of agreement...........................................................................58

Child advocacy centers; standards; state funding ..........................................55

Photographs, medical examinations, X-rays, and medical treatment

of abused, abandoned, or neglected child ......................................................60

Intervention and treatment in sexual abuse cases; model plan ......................61

Child protective investigations; working agreements with local law

enforcement....................................................................................................61

Sheriffs of certain counties to provide child protective investigative

services; procedures; funding ........................................................................61

Reports of child-on-child sexual abuse..........................................................63

Guidelines for onsite child protective investigation ......................................64

FAMILY BUILDERS PROGRAM Establishment of Family Builders Program...................................................65

Goals ..............................................................................................................65

Contracting of services ..................................................................................66

Eligibility for Family Builders Program services ..........................................66

Delivery of Family Builders Program services..............................................66

Qualifications of Family Builders Program workers .....................................67

Outcome evaluation .......................................................................................67

Funding ..........................................................................................................68

TAKING CHILDREN INTO CUSTODY AND SHELTER HEARINGS Detaining a child; medical or hospital personnel...........................................69

Taking a child alleged to be dependent into custody; law enforcement

officers and authorized agents of the department ..........................................69

Placement in a shelter ....................................................................................70

Medical, psychiatric, and psychological examination and treatment

of child; physical, mental, or substance abuse examination of person with or

requesting child custody ................................................................................75

Referral of a dependency case to mediation ..................................................81

Legislative findings and declaration of intent for goals for dependent

children ..........................................................................................................82

Pilot program for attorneys ad litem for dependent children .........................83

PETITION, ARRAIGNMENT, ADJUDICATION, AND DISPOSITION Petition for dependency .................................................................................86

Notice, process, and service...........................................................................87

Identity or location of parent unknown; special procedures ..........................88

Injunction pending disposition of petition; penalty .......................................90

No answer required ........................................................................................91

Arraignment hearings.....................................................................................91

Adjudicatory hearings; orders of adjudication...............................................92

Citizenship or residency status for immigrant children who are

dependents......................................................................................................94

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