HB 47

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to court actions involving families;
3	amending ss. 39.001, 61.001, 63.022, 68.07, 741.2902,
4	984.01, and 985.02, F.S., and creating ss. 88.1041,
5	742.016, 743.001, and 1003.201, F.S.; providing additional
6	purposes relating to implementing a unified family court
7	program in the circuit courts; providing legislative
8	intent; providing an effective date.
9
10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12	Section 1.  Paragraph (o) is added to subsection (1) of
13	section 39.001, Florida Statutes, to read:
14	39.001  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
15	screening.--
16	(1)  PURPOSES OF CHAPTER.--The purposes of this chapter
17	are:
18	(o)  To provide all children and families with a fully
19	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
20	involve children and families and a resolution of family
21	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
22	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
23	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
24	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
25	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
26	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
27	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
28	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
29	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
30	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
31	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
32	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
33	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
34	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
35	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
36	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
37	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
38	condition than when the families entered the system.
39	Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 61.001, Florida
40	Statutes, is amended to read:
41	61.001  Purpose of chapter.--
42	(2)  Its purposes are:
43	(a)  To preserve the integrity of marriage and to safeguard
44	meaningful family relationships;
45	(b)  To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that
46	arise between parties to a marriage; and
47	(c)  To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and
48	their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of
49	marriage; and
50	(d)  To provide all children and families with a fully
51	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
52	involve children and families and a resolution of family
53	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
54	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
55	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
56	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
57	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
58	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
59	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
60	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
61	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
62	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
63	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
64	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
65	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
66	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
67	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
68	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
69	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
70	condition than when the families entered the system.
71	Section 3.  Subsection (6) is added to section 63.022,
72	Florida Statutes, to read:
73	63.022  Legislative intent.--
74	(6)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
75	children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
76	approach to handling all cases that involve children and
77	families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
78	efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
79	Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
80	resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
81	to the children and families who are required to interact with
82	the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
83	support the development of a unified family court and to support
84	the efforts of the state courts system to improve the resolution
85	of disputes involving children and families through a fully
86	integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
87	case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
88	collaboration with the community for referral to needed
89	services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
90	Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the
91	needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer
92	families to resources that will make families' relationships
93	stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent
94	results, and strive to leave families in better condition than
95	when the families entered the system.
96	Section 4.  Subsection (10) is added to section 68.07,
97	Florida Statutes, to read:
98	68.07  Change of name.--
99	(10)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
100	children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
101	approach to handling all cases that involve children and
102	families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
103	efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
104	Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
105	resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
106	to the children and families who are required to interact with
107	the judicial system. It is the intent of the Legislature to
108	support the development of a unified family court and to support
109	the efforts of the state courts system to improve the resolution
110	of disputes involving children and families through a fully
111	integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
112	case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
113	collaboration with the community for referral to needed
114	services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution. The
115	Legislature supports the goal that the legal system focus on the
116	needs of children who are involved in the litigation, refer
117	families to resources that will make families' relationships
118	stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide consistent
119	results, and strive to leave families in better condition than
120	when the families entered the system.
121	Section 5.  Section 88.1041, Florida Statutes, is created
122	to read:
123	88.1041  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
124	Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
125	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
126	involve children and families and a resolution of family
127	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
128	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
129	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
130	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
131	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
132	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
133	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
134	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
135	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
136	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
137	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
138	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
139	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
140	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
141	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
142	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
143	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
144	condition than when the families entered the system.
145	Section 6.  Subsection (3) is added to section 741.2902,
146	Florida Statutes, to read:
147	741.2902  Domestic violence; legislative intent with
148	respect to judiciary's role.--
149	(3)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide all
150	children and families with a fully integrated, comprehensive
151	approach to handling all cases that involve children and
152	families and a resolution of family disputes in a fair, timely,
153	efficient, and cost-effective manner. It is the intent of the
154	Legislature that the courts of this state embrace methods of
155	resolving disputes that do not cause additional emotional harm
156	to the children and families who are required to interact with
157	the judicial system as long as such methods do not conflict with
158	the legislative intent expressed in subsections (1) and (2). It
159	is the intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
160	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
161	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
162	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
163	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
164	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
165	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
166	resolution. Case management or alternative dispute resolution
167	processes must comply with existing laws and court rules
168	governing the use of mediation, case management, and alternative
169	dispute resolution in cases involving injunctions for protection
170	brought under this chapter. The Legislature supports the goal
171	that the legal system focus on the needs of children who are
172	involved in the litigation, refer families to resources that
173	will make families' relationships stronger, coordinate families'
174	cases to provide consistent results, and strive to leave
175	families in better condition than when the families entered the
176	system.
177	Section 7.  Section 742.016, Florida Statutes, is created
178	to read:
179	742.016  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
180	Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
181	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
182	involve children and families and a resolution of family
183	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
184	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
185	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
186	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
187	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
188	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
189	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
190	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
191	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
192	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
193	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
194	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
195	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
196	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
197	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
198	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
199	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
200	condition than when the families entered the system.
201	Section 8.  Section 743.001, Florida Statutes, is created
202	to read:
203	743.001  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
204	Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
205	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
206	involve children and families and a resolution of family
207	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
208	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
209	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
210	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
211	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
212	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
213	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
214	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
215	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
216	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
217	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
218	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
219	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
220	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
221	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
222	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
223	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
224	condition than when the families entered the system.
225	Section 9.  Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (1) of
226	section 984.01, Florida Statutes, to read:
227	984.01  Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
228	screening.--
229	(1)  The purposes of this chapter are:
230	(g)  To provide all children and families with a fully
231	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
232	involve children and families and a resolution of family
233	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
234	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
235	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
236	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
237	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
238	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
239	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
240	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
241	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
242	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
243	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
244	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
245	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
246	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
247	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
248	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
249	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
250	condition than when the families entered the system.
251	Section 10.  Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (1) of
252	section 985.02, Florida Statutes, to read:
253	985.02  Legislative intent for the juvenile justice
254	system.--
255	(1)  GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.--It is a purpose of
256	the Legislature that the children of this state be provided with
257	the following protections:
258	(j)  A fully integrated, comprehensive approach to handling
259	all cases that involve children and families and a resolution of
260	family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
261	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
262	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
263	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
264	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
265	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
266	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
267	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
268	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
269	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
270	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
271	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
272	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
273	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
274	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
275	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
276	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
277	condition than when the families entered the system. This
278	section may not be construed to contravene legislative intent
279	provided in this chapter relating to protecting the public from
280	acts of delinquency, ensuring that juveniles found to have
281	committed a delinquent act understand the consequences and
282	serious nature of such behavior, and transferring juveniles from
283	the juvenile justice system to the adult system as provided in
284	this chapter.
285	Section 11.  Section 1003.201, Florida Statutes, is created
286	to read:
287	1003.201  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
288	Legislature to provide all children and families with a fully
289	integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases that
290	involve children and families and a resolution of family
291	disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective
292	manner. It is the intent of the Legislature that the courts of
293	this state embrace methods of resolving disputes that do not
294	cause additional emotional harm to the children and families who
295	are required to interact with the judicial system. It is the
296	intent of the Legislature to support the development of a
297	unified family court and to support the efforts of the state
298	courts system to improve the resolution of disputes involving
299	children and families through a fully integrated, comprehensive
300	approach that includes coordinated case management; the concept
301	of "one family, one judge"; collaboration with the community for
302	referral to needed services; and methods of alternative dispute
303	resolution. The Legislature supports the goal that the legal
304	system focus on the needs of children who are involved in the
305	litigation, refer families to resources that will make families'
306	relationships stronger, coordinate families' cases to provide
307	consistent results, and strive to leave families in better
308	condition than when the families entered the system.
309	Section 12.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
310	law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.