| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to public child care; amending s. 402.301, |
| 3 | F.S.; providing legislative intent that children meeting |
| 4 | certain requirements be given first priority for placement |
| 5 | in the Gold Seal Quality Care Program; providing an |
| 6 | effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Subsection (8) is added to section 402.301, |
| 11 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 12 | 402.301 Child care facilities; legislative intent and |
| 13 | declaration of purpose and policy.--It is the legislative intent |
| 14 | to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the children of |
| 15 | the state and to promote their emotional and intellectual |
| 16 | development and care. Toward that end: |
| 17 | (8) It is the intent of the Legislature that a public |
| 18 | child care center designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care |
| 19 | facility under s. 402.281 allow children who have not attained |
| 20 | the age of eligibility for kindergarten and who are under the |
| 21 | jurisdiction of a circuit court of this state due to a |
| 22 | documented case of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to |
| 23 | receive first priority for placement. To the extent that this |
| 24 | subsection creates a conflict with a priority placement pursuant |
| 25 | to s. 411.01(6), a child who is at least 3 years of age but who |
| 26 | has not yet attained the age of eligibility for kindergarten |
| 27 | shall have first priority for placement. |
| 28 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |