The Florida Senate

402.167  Duties of state agencies that provide client services relating to the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council and the Florida local advocacy councils.--

(1)  Each state agency that provides client services shall adopt rules that are consistent with law, amended to reflect any statutory changes, and that address at least the following:

(a)  Procedures by which staff of state agencies refer reports of abuse of clients to the Florida local advocacy councils.

(b)  Procedures by which client information is made available to members of the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council and the Florida local advocacy councils.

(c)  Procedures by which recommendations made by the statewide and local councils will be incorporated into policies and procedures of the state agencies.

(2)  The Department of Children and Family Services shall provide for the location of local councils in area 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, and shall establish the procedures by which council members are reimbursed for authorized expenditures.

(3)  The secretaries or directors of the state agencies shall ensure the full cooperation and assistance of employees of their respective state agencies with members and staff of the statewide and local councils. Further, the Secretary of Children and Family Services shall ensure that, to the extent possible, staff assigned to the statewide council and local councils are free of interference from or control by the department in performing their duties relative to those councils.

History.--ss. 3, 5, ch. 89-215; s. 7, ch. 91-158; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 136, ch. 99-8; s. 4, ch. 2000-263.