The Florida Senate

Protecting Vulnerable Floridians

Improving Florida's Child Welfare System

More than 430 child fatalities with allegations of maltreatment occurred between 2007 and 2012. While the majority of these deaths were children who were not known to Department of Children and Families, between 35 and 45 percent of the deaths involved children with prior involvement with child protective services. In too many of these tragedies, warning signs were missed and intervention was too little or too late. Through a bipartisan legislative package the Senate's goal is to prevent child deaths due to maltreatment, to learn from tragedies we cannot prevent, and to expand the resources needed to help families stay whole and healthy.

SB 1666 Child Abuse and Child Welfare Services by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

SB 1666 signed by the Governor, June 23, 2014.

Senate Bill 1666 seeks to improve the quality of child abuse investigations conducted by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and certain sheriff's offices by increasing child welfare expertise in the department, improving child abuse investigator qualifications, and creating a consortium of schools of social work to advise the state on child welfare policy. The bill directs the DCF to conduct immediate investigations of deaths and other significant incidents involving children who have been known to the child protection and child welfare system. The purpose of the investigations is to identify root causes and to rapidly determine the need to change policies and practices related to child protection and child welfare. The bill requires improvements in the care of medically complex children and the investigation of child abuse cases involving these children.

Increasing Protections Against Sexual Offenders

News accounts all too often report stories of sexually violent predators slipping through the cracks of our criminal justice and civil commitment system and committing unthinkable repeat offenses against Florida’s most vulnerable children. The Senate began to address this serious problem during the first committee week leading up to the 2014 Legislative Session through a joint meeting of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Senator Lee, and the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Senator Sobel. During this meeting and in the days and weeks that followed, Senators heard from and met with victims, law enforcement, medical professionals, and other experts. The product of those meetings is an aggressive legislative package which includes four bills filed by Senators Bradley, Evers, Grimsley and Sobel. Together these bills will make Florida a safer place for children by minimizing certain risks and making sure offenders are significantly less likely to recommit.

Senate Bills 522, 524, 526 and 528 Signed by the Governor, April 1, 2014.

• Senate Bill 522 by Senator Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring) creates an "arrest notification program" to notify DCF when an offender, previously held at the Florida Civil Commitment Center, is arrested and convicted of either a misdemeanor or felony. The bill further requires the state attorney to refer the rearrested offender for civil commitment. The legislation also allows members of the multidisciplinary team that currently evaluate offenders considered for civil commitment to consult with a state attorney, a law enforcement officer, and victim’s advocate. Additionally, SB 522 expands requirements for DCF release notifications to include the sheriff of the county in which the offender intends to reside as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Summary of SB 522
• Senate Bill 524 by Senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood) requires a person be defined as a sexually violent predator and be subject to civil confinement after a finding by two or more members of a multidisciplinary team, and requires higher education institutions to tell students about a sexual predator’s presence on campus. Summary of SB 524
• Senate Bill 526 by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island) increases the length of sentences for certain adult-on-minor sex offenses and also prohibits incentive gain-time for offenders convicted of certain sex offenses. The legislation suspends (tolls) post-release supervision of offenders while in Department of Children and Families (DCF) custody as part of the civil commitment process and requires the court to order community supervision (split sentences) after release from prison for certain sex offenses. Summary of SB 526
• Senate Bill 528 by Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) makes a number of changes to the sex offender registry requirements. The bill creates a process for relevant agencies to be notified of an order granting a registrant’s name change petition and for informing FDLE and law enforcement agencies when a registrant whose name was legally changed fails to meet requirements for obtaining a replacement driver license or identification card. The bill also requires a registrant to report specified information on vehicles the registrant owns and vehicles owned by a person who resides at the registrant's permanent residence, Internet identifiers (prior to their use), palm prints, passports, professional license information, immigration status information, and volunteer status at a Florida institution of higher education. SB 528 also requires registrants who are unable to secure or update a driver license or identification card with DHSMV to report any change of residence or change of name within 48 hours after the change. Further, the bill requires registrants to report information regarding their intention to establish a residence in another country. Summary of SB 528

Enhancing the Accountability and Transparency of Assisted Living Facilities

Certain situations arise where the best care can be provided by an assisted living facility. When the time comes to make this difficult choice, Floridians should have confidence that state-licensed assisted living facilities are a safe and caring place to call home. Senator Sobel and the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs have crafted a strong piece of legislation that increases transparency and accountability in state-licensed long-term care facilities. This bipartisan legislation will help Florida families make the best decision for their loved ones when they can no longer be cared for at home.

SB 248 Assisted Living Facilities by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Senate Bill 248 unanimously passed the Senate on March 18, 2014. The legislation did not pass the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 248 improves accountability in ALFs by clarifying who is responsible for assuring residents receive services and requiring a larger cross section of caregivers to report abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families Central Abuse Hotline. The legislation creates additional and stricter penalties for ALFs by amending fine amounts and clarifying the criteria under which the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) must revoke or deny a facility's license or impose an immediate moratorium.

The legislation also improves transparency by requiring additional inspections for facilities with prior violations and requiring the AHCA to implement an ALF rating system by March 1, 2015. The legislation also requires AHCA to add certain content to its website by November 1, 2014, to help consumers select an ALF that best meets their needs or the needs of a family member or friend who requires assisted living care.