Senate Bill sb2114

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    Florida Senate - 2007                                  SB 2114

    By Senator Rich





    34-1066B-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to independent living

  3         transition services; amending s. 322.09, F.S.;

  4         limiting liability of a caseworker who signs an

  5         application for a driver's license for a minor

  6         who is in foster care; requiring a caseworker

  7         to provide notice of intent to sign the

  8         application to specified persons; amending s.

  9         409.1451, F.S.; revising eligibility criteria

10         for independent living transition services;

11         exempting foster parents and caregivers from

12         responsibility for the actions of certain

13         children engaged in activities specified in a

14         written plan; requiring certain children

15         eligible for subsidized independent living

16         services to be formally evaluated under certain

17         circumstances; revising eligibility criteria

18         for the Road-to-Independence Program; amending

19         s. 409.903, F.S.; increasing the age limit for

20         eligibility for certain persons to qualify for

21         medical assistance payments; creating s.

22         743.044, F.S.; providing for the removal of

23         disabilities of certain minors for purposes of

24         securing depository financial services;

25         providing an effective date.

26  

27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

28  

29         Section 1.  Section 322.09, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31  

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 1         322.09  Application of minors; responsibility for

 2  negligence or misconduct of minor.--

 3         (1)(a)  The application of any person under the age of

 4  18 years for a driver's license must be signed and verified

 5  before a person authorized to administer oaths by the father,

 6  mother, or guardian; by a secondary guardian if the primary

 7  guardian dies before the minor reaches 18 years of age; or, if

 8  there is no parent or guardian, by another responsible adult

 9  who is willing to assume the obligation imposed under this

10  chapter upon a person signing the application of a minor. This

11  section does not apply to a person under the age of 18 years

12  who is emancipated by marriage.

13         (b)  There shall be submitted with each application a

14  certified copy of a United States birth certificate, a valid

15  United States passport, an alien registration receipt card

16  (green card), an employment authorization card issued by the

17  United States Department of Homeland Security, or proof of

18  nonimmigrant classification provided by the United States

19  Department of Homeland Security, for an original license.

20         (2)  Any negligence or willful misconduct of a minor

21  under the age of 18 years when driving a motor vehicle upon a

22  highway shall be imputed to the person who has signed the

23  application of such minor for a permit or license, which

24  person shall be jointly and severally liable with such minor

25  for any damages caused by such negligence or willful

26  misconduct.

27         (3)  The department may not issue a driver's license or

28  learner's driver's license to any applicant under the age of

29  18 years who is not in compliance with the requirements of s.

30  322.091.

31  

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 1         (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1)

 2  and (2), if a foster parent of a minor who is under the age of

 3  18 years and is in foster care as defined in s. 39.01, or an

 4  authorized representative of a residential group home at which

 5  such a minor resides, or the caseworker at the agency at which

 6  the state has placed the minor signs the minor's application

 7  for a driver's license or a learner's driver's license, that

 8  foster parent, or group home representative, or caseworker

 9  does not assume any obligation or become liable for any

10  damages caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the

11  minor, by reason of having signed the application. Prior to

12  signing the application, the caseworker shall notify the

13  foster parents or other responsible party of his or her intent

14  to sign and verify the application.

15         Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2), paragraph

16  (a) of subsection (3), paragraph (c) of subsection (4), and

17  subsection (5) of section 409.1451, Florida Statutes, are

18  amended to read:

19         409.1451  Independent living transition services.--

20         (2)  ELIGIBILITY.--

21         (b)  The department shall serve young adults who have

22  reached 18 years of age but are not yet 23 years of age and

23  who were in foster care when they turned 18 years of age or,

24  after reaching 16 years of age were adopted from foster care

25  or placed with a court-approved dependency guardian and have

26  spent a minimum of 6 months in foster care within the 12

27  months immediately preceding such placement or adoption, by

28  providing services pursuant to subsection (5). Young adults to

29  be served must meet the eligibility requirements set forth for

30  specific services in this section.

31         (3)  PREPARATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.--

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 1         (a)  It is the intent of the Legislature for the

 2  Department of Children and Family Services to assist older

 3  children in foster care and young adults who exit foster care

 4  at age 18 in making the transition to independent living and

 5  self-sufficiency as adults. The department shall provide such

 6  children and young adults with opportunities to participate in

 7  life skills activities in their foster families and

 8  communities which are reasonable and appropriate for their

 9  respective ages or for any special needs they may have and

10  shall provide them with services to build life skills and

11  increase their ability to live independently and become

12  self-sufficient. To support the provision of opportunities for

13  participation in age-appropriate life skills activities, the

14  department shall:

15         1.  Develop a list of age-appropriate activities and

16  responsibilities to be offered to all children involved in

17  independent living transition services and their foster

18  parents.

19         2.  Provide training for staff and foster parents to

20  address the issues of older children in foster care in

21  transitioning to adulthood, which shall include information on

22  high school completion, grant applications, vocational school

23  opportunities, supporting education and employment

24  opportunities, and opportunities to participate in appropriate

25  daily activities.

26         3.  Develop procedures to maximize the authority of

27  foster parents or caregivers to approve participation in

28  age-appropriate activities of children in their care. The

29  age-appropriate activities and the authority of the foster

30  parent or caregiver shall be developed into a written plan

31  that the foster parent or caregiver, the child, and the case

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 1  manager all develop together, sign, and follow. This plan must

 2  include specific goals and objectives and be reviewed and

 3  updated no less than quarterly. Foster parents or caregivers

 4  who have developed a written plan as described in this

 5  subparagraph shall not be held responsible under

 6  administrative rules or laws pertaining to state licensure or

 7  have their licensure status in any manner jeopardized as a

 8  result of the actions of a child engaged in the approved

 9  age-appropriate activities specified in the written plan.

10         4.  Provide opportunities for older children in foster

11  care to interact with mentors.

12         5.  Develop and implement procedures for older children

13  to directly access and manage the personal allowance they

14  receive from the department in order to learn responsibility

15  and participate in age-appropriate life skills activities to

16  the extent feasible.

17         6.  Make a good faith effort to fully explain, prior to

18  execution of any signature, if required, any document, report,

19  form, or other record, whether written or electronic,

20  presented to a child or young adult pursuant to this chapter

21  and allow for the recipient to ask any appropriate questions

22  necessary to fully understand the document. It shall be the

23  responsibility of the person presenting the document to the

24  child or young adult to comply with this subparagraph.

25         (4)  SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.--The

26  department shall provide the following transition to

27  independence services to children in foster care who meet

28  prescribed conditions and are determined eligible by the

29  department. The service categories available to children in

30  foster care which facilitate successful transition into

31  adulthood are:

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 1         (c)  Subsidized independent living services.--

 2         1.  Subsidized independent living services are living

 3  arrangements that allow the child to live independently of the

 4  daily care and supervision of an adult in a setting that is

 5  not required to be licensed under s. 409.175.

 6         2.  A child who has reached 16 years of age but is not

 7  yet 18 years of age is eligible for such services and shall be

 8  formally evaluated for placement in a subsidized independent

 9  living arrangement, if he or she:

10         a.  Is adjudicated dependent under chapter 39; has been

11  placed in licensed out-of-home care for at least 6 months

12  prior to entering subsidized independent living; and has a

13  permanency goal of adoption, independent living, or long-term

14  licensed care; and

15         b.  Is able to demonstrate independent living skills,

16  as determined by the department, using established procedures

17  and assessments.

18         3.  Independent living arrangements established for a

19  child must be part of an overall plan leading to the total

20  independence of the child from the department's supervision.

21  The plan must include, but need not be limited to, a

22  description of the skills of the child and a plan for learning

23  additional identified skills; the behavior that the child has

24  exhibited which indicates an ability to be responsible and a

25  plan for developing additional responsibilities, as

26  appropriate; a plan for future educational, vocational, and

27  training skills; present financial and budgeting capabilities

28  and a plan for improving resources and ability; a description

29  of the proposed residence; documentation that the child

30  understands the specific consequences of his or her conduct in

31  the independent living program; documentation of proposed

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 1  services to be provided by the department and other agencies,

 2  including the type of service and the nature and frequency of

 3  contact; and a plan for maintaining or developing

 4  relationships with the family, other adults, friends, and the

 5  community, as appropriate.

 6         4.  Subsidy payments in an amount established by the

 7  department may be made directly to a child under the direct

 8  supervision of a caseworker or other responsible adult

 9  approved by the department.

10         (5)  SERVICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS FORMERLY IN FOSTER

11  CARE.--Based on the availability of funds, the department

12  shall provide or arrange for the following services to young

13  adults formerly in foster care who meet the prescribed

14  conditions and are determined eligible by the department. The

15  department, or a community-based care lead agency when the

16  agency is under contract with the department to provide the

17  services described under this subsection, shall develop a plan

18  to implement those services. A plan shall be developed for

19  each community-based care service area in the state. Each plan

20  that is developed by a community-based care lead agency shall

21  be submitted to the department. Each plan shall include the

22  number of young adults to be served each month of the fiscal

23  year and specify the number of young adults who will reach 18

24  years of age who will be eligible for the plan and the number

25  of young adults who will reach 23 years of age and will be

26  ineligible for the plan or who are otherwise ineligible during

27  each month of the fiscal year; staffing requirements and all

28  related costs to administer the services and program;

29  expenditures to or on behalf of the eligible recipients; costs

30  of services provided to young adults through an approved plan

31  for housing, transportation, and employment; reconciliation of

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 1  these expenses and any additional related costs with the funds

 2  allocated for these services; and an explanation of and a plan

 3  to resolve any shortages or surpluses in order to end the

 4  fiscal year with a balanced budget. The categories of services

 5  available to assist a young adult formerly in foster care to

 6  achieve independence are:

 7         (a)  Aftercare support services.--

 8         1.  Aftercare support services are available to assist

 9  young adults who were formerly in foster care in their efforts

10  to continue to develop the skills and abilities necessary for

11  independent living. The aftercare support services available

12  include, but are not limited to, the following:

13         a.  Mentoring and tutoring.

14         b.  Mental health services and substance abuse

15  counseling.

16         c.  Life skills classes, including credit management

17  and preventive health activities.

18         d.  Parenting classes.

19         e.  Job and career skills training.

20         f.  Counselor consultations.

21         g.  Temporary financial assistance.

22         h.  Financial literacy skills training.

23  

24  The specific services to be provided under this subparagraph

25  shall be determined by an aftercare services assessment and

26  may be provided by the department or through referrals in the

27  community.

28         2.  Temporary assistance provided to prevent

29  homelessness shall be provided as expeditiously as possible

30  and within the limitations defined by the department.

31  

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 1         3.  A young adult who has reached 18 years of age but

 2  is not yet 23 years of age who leaves foster care at 18 years

 3  of age but who requests services prior to reaching 23 years of

 4  age is eligible for such services.

 5         (b)  Road-to-Independence Program.--

 6         1.  The Road-to-Independence Program is intended to

 7  help eligible students who are former foster children in this

 8  state to receive the educational and vocational training

 9  needed to achieve independence. The amount of the award shall

10  be based on the living and educational needs of the young

11  adult and may be up to, but may not exceed, the amount of

12  earnings that the student would have been eligible to earn

13  working a 40-hour-a-week federal minimum wage job.

14         2.  A young adult who has reached 18 years of age but

15  is not yet 21 years of age is eligible for the initial award,

16  and a young adult under 23 years of age is eligible for

17  renewal awards, if he or she:

18         a.  Was a dependent child, under chapter 39, and was

19  living in licensed foster care or in subsidized independent

20  living at the time of his or her 18th birthday or is currently

21  living in licensed foster care or subsidized independent

22  living, or, after reaching the age of 16 was adopted from

23  foster care or placed with a court-approved dependency

24  guardian and has spent a minimum of 6 months in foster care

25  immediately preceding such placement or adoption;

26         b.  Spent at least 6 months living in foster care

27  before reaching his or her 18th birthday;

28         c.  Is a resident of this state as defined in s.

29  1009.40; and

30         d.  Meets one of the following qualifications:

31  

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 1         (I)  Has earned a standard high school diploma or its

 2  equivalent as described in s. 1003.43 or s. 1003.435, or has

 3  earned a special diploma or special certificate of completion

 4  as described in s. 1003.438, and has been admitted for

 5  full-time enrollment in an eligible postsecondary education

 6  institution as defined in s. 1009.533;

 7         (II)  Is enrolled full time in an accredited high

 8  school; or

 9         (III)  Is enrolled full time in an accredited adult

10  education program designed to provide the student with a high

11  school diploma or its equivalent.

12         3.  A young adult applying for the Road-to-Independence

13  Program must apply for any other grants and scholarships for

14  which he or she may qualify. The department shall assist the

15  young adult in the application process and may use the federal

16  financial aid grant process to determine the funding needs of

17  the young adult.

18         4.  An award shall be available to a young adult who is

19  considered a full-time student or its equivalent by the

20  educational institution in which he or she is enrolled, unless

21  that young adult has a recognized disability preventing

22  full-time attendance. The amount of the award, whether it is

23  being used by a young adult working toward completion of a

24  high school diploma or its equivalent or working toward

25  completion of a postsecondary education program, shall be

26  determined based on an assessment of the funding needs of the

27  young adult. This assessment must consider the young adult's

28  living and educational costs and other grants, scholarships,

29  waivers, earnings, and other income to be received by the

30  young adult. An award shall be available only to the extent

31  that other grants and scholarships are not sufficient to meet

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 1  the living and educational needs of the young adult, but an

 2  award may not be less than $25 in order to maintain Medicaid

 3  eligibility for the young adult as provided in s. 409.903.

 4         5.  The amount of the award may be disregarded for

 5  purposes of determining the eligibility for, or the amount of,

 6  any other federal or federally supported assistance.

 7         6.a.  The department must advertise the criteria,

 8  application procedures, and availability of the program to:

 9         (I)  Children and young adults in, leaving, or formerly

10  in foster care.

11         (II)  Case managers.

12         (III)  Guidance and family services counselors.

13         (IV)  Principals or other relevant school

14  administrators.

15         (V)  Guardians ad litem.

16         (VI)  Foster parents.

17         b.  The department shall issue awards from the program

18  for each young adult who meets all the requirements of the

19  program to the extent funding is available.

20         c.  An award shall be issued at the time the eligible

21  student reaches 18 years of age.

22         d.  A young adult who is eligible for the

23  Road-to-Independence Program, transitional support services,

24  or aftercare services and who so desires shall be allowed to

25  reside with the licensed foster family or group care provider

26  with whom he or she was residing at the time of attaining his

27  or her 18th birthday or to reside in another licensed foster

28  home or with a group care provider arranged by the department.

29         e.  If the award recipient transfers from one eligible

30  institution to another and continues to meet eligibility

31  

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 1  requirements, the award must be transferred with the

 2  recipient.

 3         f.  Funds awarded to any eligible young adult under

 4  this program are in addition to any other services or funds

 5  provided to the young adult by the department through

 6  transitional support services or aftercare services.

 7         g.  The department shall provide information concerning

 8  young adults receiving funding through the

 9  Road-to-Independence Program to the Department of Education

10  for inclusion in the student financial assistance database, as

11  provided in s. 1009.94.

12         h.  Funds are intended to help eligible young adults

13  who are former foster children in this state to receive the

14  educational and vocational training needed to become

15  independent and self-supporting. The funds shall be terminated

16  when the young adult has attained one of four postsecondary

17  goals under subsection (3) or reaches 23 years of age,

18  whichever occurs earlier. In order to initiate postsecondary

19  education, to allow for a change in career goal, or to obtain

20  additional skills in the same educational or vocational area,

21  a young adult may earn no more than two diplomas,

22  certificates, or credentials. A young adult attaining an

23  associate of arts or associate of science degree shall be

24  permitted to work toward completion of a bachelor of arts or a

25  bachelor of science degree or an equivalent undergraduate

26  degree. Road-to-Independence Program funds may not be used for

27  education or training after a young adult has attained a

28  bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree or an

29  equivalent undergraduate degree.

30         i.  The department shall evaluate and renew each award

31  annually during the 90-day period before the young adult's

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 1  birthday. In order to be eligible for a renewal award for the

 2  subsequent year, the young adult must:

 3         (I)  Complete the number of hours, or the equivalent

 4  considered full time by the educational institution, unless

 5  that young adult has a recognized disability preventing

 6  full-time attendance, in the last academic year in which the

 7  young adult earned an award, except for a young adult who

 8  meets the requirements of s. 1009.41.

 9         (II)  Maintain appropriate progress as required by the

10  educational institution, except that, if the young adult's

11  progress is insufficient to renew the award at any time during

12  the eligibility period, the young adult may restore

13  eligibility by improving his or her progress to the required

14  level.

15         j.  Funds may be terminated during the interim between

16  an award and the evaluation for a renewal award if the

17  department determines that the award recipient is no longer

18  enrolled in an educational institution as defined in

19  sub-subparagraph 2.d., or is no longer a state resident. The

20  department shall notify a recipient who is terminated and

21  inform the recipient of his or her right to appeal.

22         k.  An award recipient who does not qualify for a

23  renewal award or who chooses not to renew the award may

24  subsequently apply for reinstatement. An application for

25  reinstatement must be made before the young adult reaches 23

26  years of age, and a student may not apply for reinstatement

27  more than once. In order to be eligible for reinstatement, the

28  young adult must meet the eligibility criteria and the

29  criteria for award renewal for the program.

30         (c)  Transitional support services.--

31  

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 1         1.  In addition to any services provided through

 2  aftercare support or the Road-to-Independence Program, a young

 3  adult formerly in foster care may receive other appropriate

 4  short-term funding and services, which may include financial,

 5  housing, counseling, employment, education, mental health,

 6  disability, and other services, if the young adult

 7  demonstrates that the services are critical to the young

 8  adult's own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to develop

 9  a personal support system. The department or community-based

10  care provider shall work with the young adult in developing a

11  joint transition plan that is consistent with a needs

12  assessment identifying the specific need for transitional

13  services to support the young adult's own efforts. The young

14  adult must have specific tasks to complete or maintain

15  included in the plan and be accountable for the completion of

16  or making progress towards the completion of these tasks. If

17  the young adult and the department or community-based care

18  provider cannot come to agreement regarding any part of the

19  plan, the young adult may access a grievance process to its

20  full extent in an effort to resolve the disagreement.

21         2.  A young adult formerly in foster care is eligible

22  to apply for transitional support services if he or she has

23  reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of age, was a

24  dependent child pursuant to chapter 39, was living in licensed

25  foster care or in subsidized independent living at the time of

26  his or her 18th birthday, and had spent at least 6 months

27  living in foster care before that date.

28         3.  If at any time the services are no longer critical

29  to the young adult's own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency

30  and to develop a personal support system, they shall be

31  terminated.

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 1         (d)  Payment of aftercare, Road-to-Independence

 2  Program, or transitional support funds.--

 3         1.  Payment of aftercare, Road-to-Independence Program,

 4  or transitional support funds shall be made directly to the

 5  recipient unless the recipient requests in writing to the

 6  community-based care lead agency, or the department, that the

 7  payments or a portion of the payments be made directly on the

 8  recipient's behalf in order to secure services such as

 9  housing, counseling, education, or employment training as part

10  of the young adult's own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.

11         2.  After the completion of aftercare support services

12  that satisfy the requirements of sub-subparagraph (a)1.h.,

13  payment of awards under the Road-to-Independence Program shall

14  be made by direct deposit to the recipient, unless the

15  recipient requests in writing to the community-based care lead

16  agency or the department that:

17         a.  The payments be made directly to the recipient by

18  check or warrant;

19         b.  The payments or a portion of the payments be made

20  directly on the recipient's behalf to institutions the

21  recipient is attending to maintain eligibility under this

22  section; or

23         c.  The payments be made on a two-party check to a

24  business or landlord for a legitimate expense, whether

25  reimbursed or not. A legitimate expense for the purposes of

26  this sub-subparagraph shall include automobile repair or

27  maintenance expenses; educational, job, or training expenses;

28  and costs incurred, except legal costs, fines, or penalties,

29  when applying for or executing a rental agreement for the

30  purposes of securing a home or residence.

31  

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 1         3.  The community-based care lead agency may purchase

 2  housing, transportation, or employment services to ensure the

 3  availability and affordability of specific transitional

 4  services thereby allowing an eligible young adult to utilize

 5  these services in lieu of receiving a direct payment. Prior to

 6  purchasing such services, the community-based care lead agency

 7  must have a plan approved by the department describing the

 8  services to be purchased, the rationale for purchasing the

 9  services, and a specific range of expenses for each service

10  that is less than the cost of purchasing the service by an

11  individual young adult. The plan must include a description of

12  the transition of a young adult using these services into

13  independence and a timeframe for achievement of independence.

14  An eligible young adult who prefers a direct payment shall

15  receive such payment. The plan must be reviewed annually and

16  evaluated for cost-efficiency and for effectiveness in

17  assisting young adults in achieving independence, preventing

18  homelessness among young adults, and enabling young adults to

19  earn a livable wage in a permanent employment situation.

20         4.  The young adult who resides with a foster family

21  may not be included as a child in calculating any licensing

22  restriction on the number of children in the foster home.

23         (e)  Appeals process.--

24         1.  The Department of Children and Family Services

25  shall adopt by rule a procedure by which a young adult may

26  appeal an eligibility determination or the department's

27  failure to provide aftercare, Road-to-Independence Program, or

28  transitional support services, or the termination of such

29  services, if such funds are available.

30         2.  The procedure developed by the department must be

31  readily available to young adults, must provide timely

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 1  decisions, and must provide for an appeal to the Secretary of

 2  Children and Family Services. The decision of the secretary

 3  constitutes final agency action and is reviewable by the court

 4  as provided in s. 120.68.

 5         Section 3.  Subsection (4) of section 409.903, Florida

 6  Statutes, is amended to read:

 7         409.903  Mandatory payments for eligible persons.--The

 8  agency shall make payments for medical assistance and related

 9  services on behalf of the following persons who the

10  department, or the Social Security Administration by contract

11  with the Department of Children and Family Services,

12  determines to be eligible, subject to the income, assets, and

13  categorical eligibility tests set forth in federal and state

14  law. Payment on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is

15  subject to the availability of moneys and any limitations

16  established by the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

17         (4)  A child who is eligible under Title IV-E of the

18  Social Security Act for subsidized board payments, foster

19  care, or adoption subsidies, and a child for whom the state

20  has assumed temporary or permanent responsibility and who does

21  not qualify for Title IV-E assistance but is in foster care,

22  shelter or emergency shelter care, or subsidized adoption.

23  This category includes a young adult who is eligible to

24  receive services under s. 409.1451(5), until the young adult

25  reaches 21 20 years of age, without regard to any income,

26  resource, or categorical eligibility test that is otherwise

27  required. This category also includes a person who as a child

28  was eligible under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for

29  foster care or the state-provided foster care and who is a

30  participant in the Road-to-Independence Program.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2007                                  SB 2114
    34-1066B-07




 1         Section 4.  Section 743.044, Florida Statutes, is

 2  created to read:

 3         743.044  Removal of disabilities of minors; executing

 4  agreements for depository financial services.--For the purpose

 5  of ensuring that a youth in foster care will be able to secure

 6  depository financial services, such as checking and savings

 7  accounts, the disability of nonage of minors shall be removed

 8  provided that the youth has reached 16 years of age, has been

 9  adjudicated dependent, is residing in an out-of-home placement

10  as defined in s. 39.01, and has completed a financial literacy

11  class. Upon issuance of an order by a court of competent

12  jurisdiction, such a youth is authorized to make and execute

13  all documents, contracts, or agreements necessary for

14  obtaining the rights, privileges, and benefits of depository

15  financial services as if the youth is otherwise competent to

16  make and execute contracts. Execution of any such contract or

17  agreement for depository financial services shall have the

18  same effect as if it were the act of a person who is not a

19  minor. A youth seeking to enter into such contracts or

20  agreements or execute other necessary instruments incidental

21  to obtaining depository financial services must present an

22  order from a court of competent jurisdiction removing the

23  disabilities of nonage of the minor under this section.

24         Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

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    Florida Senate - 2007                                  SB 2114
    34-1066B-07




 1            *****************************************

 2                          SENATE SUMMARY

 3    Provides that a caseworker at an agency that has placed a
      minor in foster care may sign the minor's application for
 4    a driver's license or learner's driver's license without
      obligation or liability for damages caused by the minor.
 5    Requires that the caseworker notify the foster parents or
      other responsible party of his or her intent to sign and
 6    verify the application. Provides for eligibility for
      independent living transition services for young adults
 7    who were adopted from foster care after reaching 16 years
      of age and have spent a minimum of 6 months in foster
 8    care within the 12 months preceding placement or
      adoption. Provides that a foster parent or caregiver who
 9    has developed a written plan of goals for the child may
      not be held responsible under administrative rules or
10    laws pertaining to state licensure or have their
      licensure status jeopardized as a result of the actions
11    of the child engaged in approved activities specified
      under the written plan. Provides for a formal evaluation
12    for subsidized independent living services in certain
      circumstances for a child between the ages of 16 and 18
13    years. Provides new age requirements for the
      Road-to-Independence Program. Authorizes certain youths
14    to secure financial services. Provides that a youth
      seeking to enter into contracts or other agreements for
15    depository financial services must present an order from
      a court of competent jurisdiction removing the
16    disabilities of nonage of the minor.

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