Florida Senate - 2015                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. PCS (845714) for SB 320
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì506630zÎ506630                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  03/06/2015           .                                
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       The Committee on Fiscal Policy (Bean) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
    6  39.0016, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         39.0016 Education of abused, neglected, and abandoned
    8  children; agency agreements; children having or suspected of
    9  having a disability.—
   10         (2) AGENCY AGREEMENTS.—
   11         (b) The department shall enter into agreements with
   12  district school boards or other local educational entities
   13  regarding education and related services for children known to
   14  the department who are of school age and children known to the
   15  department who are younger than school age but who would
   16  otherwise qualify for services from the district school board.
   17  Such agreements shall include, but are not limited to:
   18         1. A requirement that the department shall:
   19         a. Ensure Enroll children known to the department are
   20  enrolled in school or in the best educational setting that meets
   21  the needs of the child. The agreement shall provide for
   22  continuing the enrollment of a child known to the department at
   23  the same school of origin when, if possible if it is in the best
   24  interest of the child, with the goal of minimal avoiding
   25  disruption of education.
   26         b. Notify the school and school district in which a child
   27  known to the department is enrolled of the name and phone number
   28  of the child known to the department caregiver and caseworker
   29  for child safety purposes.
   30         c. Establish a protocol for the department to share
   31  information about a child known to the department with the
   32  school district, consistent with the Family Educational Rights
   33  and Privacy Act, since the sharing of information will assist
   34  each agency in obtaining education and related services for the
   35  benefit of the child. The protocol must require the district
   36  school boards or other local educational entities to access the
   37  department’s Florida Safe Families Network to obtain information
   38  about children known to the department, consistent with the
   39  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. s.
   40  1232g.
   41         d. Notify the school district of the department’s case
   42  planning for a child known to the department, both at the time
   43  of plan development and plan review. Within the plan development
   44  or review process, the school district may provide information
   45  regarding the child known to the department if the school
   46  district deems it desirable and appropriate.
   47         e. Show no prejudice against out-of-home caregivers who
   48  desire to educate at home any children placed in their home
   49  through the child welfare system.
   50         2. A requirement that the district school board shall:
   51         a. Provide the department with a general listing of the
   52  services and information available from the district school
   53  board to facilitate educational access for a child known to the
   54  department.
   55         b. Identify all educational and other services provided by
   56  the school and school district which the school district
   57  believes are reasonably necessary to meet the educational needs
   58  of a child known to the department.
   59         c. Determine whether transportation is available for a
   60  child known to the department when such transportation will
   61  avoid a change in school assignment due to a change in
   62  residential placement. Recognizing that continued enrollment in
   63  the same school throughout the time the child known to the
   64  department is in out-of-home care is preferable unless
   65  enrollment in the same school would be unsafe or otherwise
   66  impractical, the department, the district school board, and the
   67  Department of Education shall assess the availability of
   68  federal, charitable, or grant funding for such transportation.
   69         d. Provide individualized student intervention or an
   70  individual educational plan when a determination has been made
   71  through legally appropriate criteria that intervention services
   72  are required. The intervention or individual educational plan
   73  must include strategies to enable the child known to the
   74  department to maximize the attainment of educational goals.
   75         3. A requirement that the department and the district
   76  school board shall cooperate in accessing the services and
   77  supports needed for a child known to the department who has or
   78  is suspected of having a disability to receive an appropriate
   79  education consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities
   80  Education Act and state implementing laws, rules, and
   81  assurances. Coordination of services for a child known to the
   82  department who has or is suspected of having a disability may
   83  include:
   84         a. Referral for screening.
   85         b. Sharing of evaluations between the school district and
   86  the department where appropriate.
   87         c. Provision of education and related services appropriate
   88  for the needs and abilities of the child known to the
   89  department.
   90         d. Coordination of services and plans between the school
   91  and the residential setting to avoid duplication or conflicting
   92  service plans.
   93         e. Appointment of a surrogate parent, consistent with the
   94  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and pursuant to
   95  subsection (3), for educational purposes for a child known to
   96  the department who qualifies.
   97         f. For each child known to the department 14 years of age
   98  and older, transition planning by the department and all
   99  providers, including the department’s independent living program
  100  staff, to meet the requirements of the local school district for
  101  educational purposes.
  102         Section 2. Subsection (6) is added to section 39.812,
  103  Florida Statutes, to read:
  104         39.812 Postdisposition relief; petition for adoption.—
  105         (6)(a) Once a child’s adoption is finalized, the community
  106  based care lead agency is required to make a reasonable effort
  107  to make contact with the adoptive family either in person or by
  108  telephone 1 year after the date of finalization of the adoption
  109  as a post-adoption service. If the family has relocated to
  110  another state, the required contact may occur by telephone. For
  111  the purposes of this subsection, the term “reasonable effort”
  112  means the exercise of reasonable diligence and care by the
  113  community-based care lead agency to make contact with the
  114  adoptive family. At a minimum the agency must document the
  115  following:
  116         1.The number of attempts made by the community-based care
  117  lead agency to contact the adoptive family and whether those
  118  attempts were successful;
  119         2.The types of post-adoption services that were requested
  120  by the adoptive family and whether those services were provided
  121  by the community-based care lead agency; and
  122         3.Any feedback received by the community-based care lead
  123  agency from the adoptive family related to the quality or
  124  effectiveness of services provided; and
  125         (b)The community-based care lead agency must annually
  126  report to the department on the outcomes achieved and
  127  recommendations for improvement under this subsection.
  128         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 409.145, Florida
  129  Statutes, is amended to read:
  130         409.145 Care of children; quality parenting; “reasonable
  131  and prudent parent” standard.—The child welfare system of the
  132  department shall operate as a coordinated community-based system
  133  of care which empowers all caregivers for children in foster
  134  care to provide quality parenting, including approving or
  135  disapproving a child’s participation in activities based on the
  136  caregiver’s assessment using the “reasonable and prudent parent”
  137  standard.
  138         (2) QUALITY PARENTING.—A child in foster care shall be
  139  placed only with a caregiver who has the ability to care for the
  140  child, is willing to accept responsibility for providing care,
  141  and is willing and able to learn about and be respectful of the
  142  child’s culture, religion and ethnicity, special physical or
  143  psychological needs, any circumstances unique to the child, and
  144  family relationships. The department, the community-based care
  145  lead agency, and other agencies shall provide such caregiver
  146  with all available information necessary to assist the caregiver
  147  in determining whether he or she is able to appropriately care
  148  for a particular child.
  149         (a) Roles and responsibilities of caregivers.—A caregiver
  150  shall:
  151         1. Participate in developing the case plan for the child
  152  and his or her family and work with others involved in his or
  153  her care to implement this plan. This participation includes the
  154  caregiver’s involvement in all team meetings or court hearings
  155  related to the child’s care.
  156         2. Complete all training needed to improve skills in
  157  parenting a child who has experienced trauma due to neglect,
  158  abuse, or separation from home, to meet the child’s special
  159  needs, and to work effectively with child welfare agencies, the
  160  court, the schools, and other community and governmental
  161  agencies.
  162         3. Respect and support the child’s ties to members of his
  163  or her biological family and assist the child in maintaining
  164  allowable visitation and other forms of communication.
  165         4. Effectively advocate for the child in the caregiver’s
  166  care with the child welfare system, the court, and community
  167  agencies, including the school, child care, health and mental
  168  health providers, and employers.
  169         5. Participate fully in the child’s medical, psychological,
  170  and dental care as the caregiver would for his or her biological
  171  child.
  172         6. Support the child’s educational school success by
  173  participating in school activities and meetings associated with
  174  the child’s school or other educational setting, including
  175  Individual Education Plan meetings and meetings with an
  176  educational surrogate if one has been appointed, assisting with
  177  school assignments, supporting tutoring programs, meeting with
  178  teachers and working with an educational surrogate if one has
  179  been appointed, and encouraging the child’s participation in
  180  extracurricular activities.
  181         a.Maintaining educational stability for a child while in
  182  out-of-home care by allowing the child to remain in the school
  183  or educational setting he or she attended before entry into out
  184  of-home care is the first priority, unless it is not in the best
  185  interest of the child.
  186         b.If it is not in the best interest of the child to remain
  187  in his or her school or educational setting upon entry into out
  188  of-home care, the caregiver must work with the case manager,
  189  guardian ad litem, teachers and guidance counselors, and
  190  educational surrogate if one has been appointed, to determine
  191  the best educational setting for the child. Those settings may
  192  include a public school that is not the school of origin, a
  193  private school pursuant to s. 1002.42, virtual education
  194  programs pursuant to s. 1002.45, or education at home pursuant
  195  to s. 1002.41.
  196         7. Work in partnership with other stakeholders to obtain
  197  and maintain records that are important to the child’s well
  198  being, including child resource records, medical records, school
  199  records, photographs, and records of special events and
  200  achievements.
  201         8. Ensure that the child in the caregiver’s care who is
  202  between 13 and 17 years of age learns and masters independent
  203  living skills.
  204         9. Ensure that the child in the caregiver’s care is aware
  205  of the requirements and benefits of the Road-to-Independence
  206  Program.
  207         10. Work to enable the child in the caregiver’s care to
  208  establish and maintain naturally occurring mentoring
  209  relationships.
  210         (b) Roles and responsibilities of the department, the
  211  community-based care lead agency, and other agency staff.—The
  212  department, the community-based care lead agency, and other
  213  agency staff shall:
  214         1. Include a caregiver in the development and
  215  implementation of the case plan for the child and his or her
  216  family. The caregiver shall be authorized to participate in all
  217  team meetings or court hearings related to the child’s care and
  218  future plans. The caregiver’s participation shall be facilitated
  219  through timely notification, an inclusive process, and
  220  alternative methods for participation for a caregiver who cannot
  221  be physically present.
  222         2. Develop and make available to the caregiver the
  223  information, services, training, and support that the caregiver
  224  needs to improve his or her skills in parenting children who
  225  have experienced trauma due to neglect, abuse, or separation
  226  from home, to meet these children’s special needs, and to
  227  advocate effectively with child welfare agencies, the courts,
  228  schools, and other community and governmental agencies.
  229         3. Provide the caregiver with all information related to
  230  services and other benefits that are available to the child.
  231         4. Show no prejudice against a caregiver who desires to
  232  educate at home any children placed in his or her home through
  233  the child welfare system.
  234         (c) Transitions.—
  235         1. Once a caregiver accepts the responsibility of caring
  236  for a child, the child will be removed from the home of that
  237  caregiver only if:
  238         a. The caregiver is clearly unable to safely or legally
  239  care for the child;
  240         b. The child and his or her biological family are
  241  reunified;
  242         c. The child is being placed in a legally permanent home
  243  pursuant to the case plan or a court order; or
  244         d. The removal is demonstrably in the child’s best
  245  interest.
  246         2. In the absence of an emergency, if a child leaves the
  247  caregiver’s home for a reason provided under subparagraph 1.,
  248  the transition must be accomplished according to a plan that
  249  involves cooperation and sharing of information among all
  250  persons involved, respects the child’s developmental stage and
  251  psychological needs, ensures the child has all of his or her
  252  belongings, allows for a gradual transition from the caregiver’s
  253  home and, if possible, for continued contact with the caregiver
  254  after the child leaves.
  255         (d) Information sharing.—Whenever a foster home or
  256  residential group home assumes responsibility for the care of a
  257  child, the department and any additional providers shall make
  258  available to the caregiver as soon as is practicable all
  259  relevant information concerning the child. Records and
  260  information that are required to be shared with caregivers
  261  include, but are not limited to:
  262         1. Medical, dental, psychological, psychiatric, and
  263  behavioral history, as well as ongoing evaluation or treatment
  264  needs;
  265         2. School records;
  266         3. Copies of his or her birth certificate and, if
  267  appropriate, immigration status documents;
  268         4. Consents signed by parents;
  269         5. Comprehensive behavioral assessments and other social
  270  assessments;
  271         6. Court orders;
  272         7. Visitation and case plans;
  273         8. Guardian ad litem reports;
  274         9. Staffing forms; and
  275         10. Judicial or citizen review panel reports and
  276  attachments filed with the court, except confidential medical,
  277  psychiatric, and psychological information regarding any party
  278  or participant other than the child.
  279         (e) Caregivers employed by residential group homes.—All
  280  caregivers in residential group homes shall meet the same
  281  education, training, and background and other screening
  282  requirements as foster parents.
  283         Section 4. Section 409.1662, Florida Statutes, is created
  284  to read:
  285         409.1662 Children within the child welfare system; adoption
  286  incentive program.—
  287         (1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the adoption incentive program
  288  is to advance the state’s achievement of permanency, stability,
  289  and well-being in living arrangements for children in foster
  290  care who cannot be reunited with their families. The department
  291  shall establish the adoption incentive program to award
  292  incentive payment to community-based care lead agencies, as
  293  defined in s. 409.986, and their subcontractors that are
  294  involved in the adoption process for achievement of specific and
  295  measureable adoption performance standards that lead to
  296  permanency, stability, and well-being for children.
  297         (2) ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.—
  298         (a) The department shall conduct a comprehensive baseline
  299  assessment of the performance of lead agencies and providers
  300  related to adoption of children from foster care. The assessment
  301  shall compile annual data for each of the most recent 5 years
  302  for which data is available. The department shall update the
  303  assessment annually. At a minimum, the assessment shall
  304  identify:
  305         1. The number of families attempting to adopt children from
  306  foster care and the number of families completing the adoption
  307  process.
  308         2. The number of children eligible for adoption and the
  309  number of children whose adoptions were finalized.
  310         3.The amount of time eligible children waited for
  311  adoption.
  312         4. The number of adoptions that resulted in disruption or
  313  dissolution and the subset of those disrupted adoptions that
  314  were preventable by the lead agency or the subcontracted
  315  provider.
  316         5. The time taken to complete each phase of the adoption
  317  process.
  318         6. The expenditures made to recruit adoptive homes and a
  319  description of any initiative to improve adoption performance or
  320  streamline the adoption process.
  321         7. The results of any specific effort to gather feedback
  322  from prospective adoptive parents, adoptive parents, children in
  323  the child welfare system, adoptees, and other stakeholders.
  324         8. The use of evidence-based, evidence-informed, promising,
  325  and innovative practices in recruitment, orientation, and
  326  preparation of appropriate adoptive families, matching children
  327  with families, supporting children during the adoption process,
  328  and providing post-adoptive support.
  329         (b)Using the information from the baseline assessment, the
  330  department shall annually negotiate outcome-based agreements
  331  with lead agencies and their subcontracted providers. The
  332  agreements must establish measureable outcome targets to
  333  increase the number of adoptions resulting in permanent
  334  placements that enhance children’s well-being. The agreements
  335  will define the method for measuring performance and for
  336  determining the level of performance required to earn the
  337  incentive payment, and the amount of the incentive payment which
  338  may be earned for each target.
  339         (3) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.—
  340         (a) The department shall allocate incentive payments to
  341  performance improvement targets in a manner that ensures that
  342  total payments do not exceed the amount appropriated for this
  343  purpose.
  344         (b) The department shall ensure that the amount of the
  345  incentive payments are proportionate to the value of the
  346  performance improvement.
  347         (4) REPORT.The department shall report annually by
  348  November 15 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
  349  the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the negotiated
  350  targets set for, outcomes achieved by, and incentive payments
  351  made to each lead agency during the previous fiscal year. The
  352  department shall also report on the program enhancements made by
  353  each lead agency and its subcontractors to achieve negotiated
  354  outcomes under this section.
  355         Section 5. Section 409.1664, Florida Statutes, is created
  356  to read:
  357         409.1664 Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive
  358  employees of state agencies.—
  359         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  360         (a) “Child within the child welfare system” has the same
  361  meaning as in s. 409.166.
  362         (b) “Qualifying adoptive employee” means a full-time or
  363  part-time employee of a state agency who is paid from regular
  364  salary appropriations, or otherwise meets the state agency
  365  employer’s definition of a regular rather than temporary
  366  employee, and who adopts a child within the child welfare system
  367  pursuant to chapter 63 on or after January 1, 2015. The term
  368  includes instructional personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01,
  369  employed by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
  370         (c) “State agency” means a branch, department, or agency of
  371  state government for which the Chief Financial Officer processes
  372  payroll requisitions, a state university or Florida College
  373  System institution as defined in s. 1000.21, a school district
  374  unit as defined in s. 1001.30, or a water management district as
  375  defined in s. 373.019.
  376         (2) A qualifying adoptive employee that adopts a child
  377  within the child welfare system who has special needs as
  378  described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is eligible to receive a lump
  379  sum benefit in the amount of $10,000 per child, subject to
  380  applicable taxes. A qualifying adoptive employee that adopts a
  381  child within the child welfare system who does not have the
  382  special needs as described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is eligible to
  383  receive a lump sum benefit in the amount of $5,000 per child,
  384  subject to applicable taxes.
  385         (a) Benefits paid to a qualifying adoptive employee who is
  386  a part-time employee must be prorated based on the qualifying
  387  adoptive employee’s full-time equivalency at the time of
  388  applying for the benefits.
  389         (b) Benefits under this section are limited to one award
  390  per adopted child within the child welfare system.
  391         (c) The payment of a lump-sum benefit for adopting a child
  392  within the child welfare system under this section is subject to
  393  a specific appropriation to the department for such purpose.
  394         (3) A qualifying adoptive employee must apply to his or her
  395  agency head to obtain the benefit provided in subsection (2).
  396  Applications must be on forms approved by the department and
  397  must include a certified copy of the final order of adoption
  398  naming the applicant as the adoptive parent.
  399         (4) This section does not preclude a qualifying adoptive
  400  employee from receiving adoption assistance he or she may
  401  qualify for under s. 409.166 or any other statute that provides
  402  financial incentives for the adoption of children.
  403         (5) Parental leave for a qualifying adoptive employee must
  404  be provided in accordance with the personnel policies and
  405  procedures of the employee’s state agency employer.
  406         (6) The department shall adopt rules to administer this
  407  section. The rules may provide for an application process such
  408  as, but not limited to, an open enrollment period during which
  409  qualifying adoptive employees may apply for monetary benefits
  410  under this section.
  411         (7) The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse a monetary
  412  benefit to a qualifying adoptive employee upon the department’s
  413  submission of a payroll requisition. The Chief Financial Officer
  414  shall transfer funds from the department to a state university,
  415  Florida College System institution, school district unit, or
  416  water management district, as appropriate, to enable payment to
  417  the qualifying adoptive employee through the payroll systems as
  418  long as funds are available for such purpose.
  419         (8) Each state agency shall develop a uniform procedure for
  420  informing employees about this benefit and for assisting the
  421  department in making eligibility determinations and processing
  422  applications. Any procedure adopted by a state agency is valid
  423  and enforceable if the procedure does not conflict with the
  424  express terms of this section.
  425         Section 6. Section 409.1666, Florida Statutes, is created
  426  to read:
  427         409.1666 Annual adoption achievement awards.—Each year, the
  428  Governor shall select and recognize one or more individuals,
  429  families, or organizations that make significant contributions
  430  to enabling this state’s foster children to achieve permanency
  431  through adoption. The department shall define appropriate
  432  categories for the achievement awards and seek nominations for
  433  potential recipients in each category from individuals and
  434  organizations knowledgeable about foster care and adoption.
  435         (1) The award shall recognize persons whose contributions
  436  involve extraordinary effort or personal sacrifice in order to
  437  provide caring and permanent homes for foster children.
  438         (2) A direct-support organization established in accordance
  439  with s. 39.0011 by the Office of Adoption and Child Protection
  440  within the Executive Office of the Governor may accept donations
  441  of products or services from private sources to be given to the
  442  recipients of the adoption achievement awards. The direct
  443  support organization may also provide suitable plaques, framed
  444  certificates, pins, and other tokens of recognition.
  445         Section 7. Subsection (18) is added to section 409.175,
  446  Florida Statutes, to read:
  447         409.175 Licensure of family foster homes, residential
  448  child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies; public
  449  records exemption.—
  450         (18)(a) A licensed child-placing agency conducting
  451  intercountry adoptions must be designated by the United States
  452  Department of State as an accredited entity for intercountry
  453  adoption services.
  454         (b)A licensed child-placing agency providing adoption
  455  services for intercountry adoption in Hague Convention
  456  countries, in incoming or outgoing cases, must meet the federal
  457  regulations pertaining to intercountry adoptions with convention
  458  countries.
  459         (c)An adoption agency in this state which provides
  460  intercountry adoption services for families residing in this
  461  state must maintain a record that contains, at a minimum, the
  462  following:
  463         1.All available family and medical history of the birth
  464  family;
  465         2.All legal documents translated into English;
  466         3.All necessary documents obtained by the adoptive parent
  467  in order for the child to attain United States citizenship, or
  468  if applicable, other legal immigration status; and
  469         4. All supervisory reports prepared before an adoption and
  470  after the finalization of an adoption.
  471         Section 8. For the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the sum of $6.5
  472  million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
  473  appropriated to the Department of Children and Families for the
  474  creation of the adoption incentive program. The Executive Office
  475  of the Governor shall place these funds in reserve until such
  476  time as the Department of Children and Families submits a plan
  477  identifying the performance measures, targeted outcomes, and an
  478  expenditure plan for approval to the Executive Office of the
  479  Governor and the chair and vice chair of the Legislative Budget
  480  Commission in accordance with s. 216.177, Florida Statutes.
  481         Section 9. For the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the sum of
  482  $3,425,356 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
  483  appropriated to the Department of Children and Families for the
  484  creation of the adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive
  485  employees of state agencies. For the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the
  486  sum of $74,644 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund
  487  is appropriated to the Department of Children and Families and
  488  one full-time equivalent position with associated salary rate of
  489  46,382 is authorized for the creation of the adoption benefits
  490  for qualifying adoptive employees of state agencies and the
  491  development of performance measures and targeted outcomes.
  492         Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.
  493  
  494  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  495  And the title is amended as follows:
  496         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  497  and insert:
  498                        A bill to be entitled                      
  499         An act relating to adoption and foster care; amending
  500         s. 39.0016, F.S.; revising what the Department of
  501         Children and Families must do when required to enter
  502         into agreements with specified entities; amending s.
  503         39.812, F.S.; requiring the community-based care lead
  504         agency to visit in person or contact by telephone the
  505         child and the child’s adoptive family 1 year after the
  506         date the adoption is finalized; requiring the agency
  507         to document specified information; requiring the
  508         agency to submit a report annually to the department;
  509         amending s. 409.145, F.S.; revising caregiver roles
  510         and responsibilities; revising the roles and
  511         responsibilities of the department, the community
  512         based care lead agency, and other agency staff;
  513         creating s. 409.1662, F.S.; providing the purpose of
  514         the adoption incentive program; directing the
  515         Department of Children and Families to establish an
  516         adoption incentive program for certain agencies and
  517         subcontractors; requiring that the department conduct
  518         a comprehensive baseline assessment of lead agencies
  519         and provider performance and compile annual data for
  520         the most recent 5 years of available data; requiring
  521         the department to update the assessment annually;
  522         providing a nonexclusive list of factors for the
  523         assessment to identify; requiring that the department
  524         negotiate outcome-based agreements; requiring that
  525         several factors be included in the agreements;
  526         requiring the department to allocate incentive
  527         payments; requiring the department to report annually
  528         by a certain date specified information to the
  529         Governor and the Legislature; creating s. 409.1664,
  530         F.S.; defining terms; providing certain amounts
  531         payable to a qualifying adoptive employee who adopts
  532         specified children under certain circumstances,
  533         subject to applicable taxes; providing prorated
  534         payments for a part-time employee and limiting the
  535         monetary benefit to one award per child; requiring
  536         that a qualifying adoptive employee apply to the
  537         agency head for the monetary benefit on forms approved
  538         by the department and include a certified copy of the
  539         final order of adoption; providing that the rights
  540         offered by this act do not preclude a qualifying
  541         adoptive employee who adopts a special needs child
  542         from receiving any other assistance or incentive;
  543         requiring that parental leave for qualifying adoptive
  544         employees be provided; requiring the department to
  545         adopt rules; requiring the Chief Financial Officer to
  546         submit payment to a qualifying adoptive employee
  547         depending on where he or she works; requiring state
  548         agencies to develop uniform procedures for informing
  549         employees about this benefit and for assisting the
  550         department in making eligibility determinations and
  551         processing applications; creating s. 409.1666, F.S.;
  552         requiring the Governor to annually select and
  553         recognize certain individuals, families, or
  554         organizations for adoption achievement awards;
  555         requiring the department to define categories for the
  556         achievement awards and seek nominations for potential
  557         recipients; authorizing a direct-support organization
  558         established by the Office of Adoption and Child
  559         Protection to accept donations of products or services
  560         from private sources to be given to the recipients of
  561         the adoption achievement awards; amending s. 409.175,
  562         F.S.; requiring licensed child-placing agencies
  563         providing adoption services for intercountry adoptions
  564         to meet specified requirements; requiring an adoption
  565         agency in this state which provides certain services
  566         to maintain records with specified information;
  567         providing appropriations; providing an effective date.