Florida Senate - 2014 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 744
Ì520092~Î520092
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/18/2014 .
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recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 28 - 43
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
6 39.701, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 39.701 Judicial review.—
8 (3) REVIEW HEARINGS FOR CHILDREN 17 YEARS OF AGE.—
9 (a) In addition to the review and report required under
10 paragraphs (1)(a) and (2)(a), respectively, the court shall hold
11 a judicial review hearing within 90 days after a child’s 17th
12 birthday. The court shall also issue an order, separate from the
13 order on judicial review, that the disability of nonage of the
14 child has been removed pursuant to ss. 743.045 and 743.047 for
15 any of these disabilities that the court finds is in the child's
16 best interest to remove. The court and shall continue to hold
17 timely judicial review hearings. If necessary, the court may
18 review the status of the child more frequently during the year
19 before the child’s 18th birthday. At each review hearing held
20 under this subsection, in addition to any information or report
21 provided to the court by the foster parent, legal custodian, or
22 guardian ad litem, the child shall be given the opportunity to
23 address the court with any information relevant to the child’s
24 best interest, particularly in relation to independent living
25 transition services. The department shall include in the social
26 study report for judicial review written verification that the
27 child has:
28 1. A current Medicaid card and all necessary information
29 concerning the Medicaid program sufficient to prepare the child
30 to apply for coverage upon reaching the age of 18, if such
31 application is appropriate.
32 2. A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate and,
33 if the child does not have a valid driver license, a Florida
34 identification card issued under s. 322.051.
35 3. A social security card and information relating to
36 social security insurance benefits if the child is eligible for
37 those benefits. If the child has received such benefits and they
38 are being held in trust for the child, a full accounting of
39 these funds must be provided and the child must be informed as
40 to how to access those funds.
41 4. All relevant information related to the Road-to
42 Independence Program, including, but not limited to, eligibility
43 requirements, information on participation, and assistance in
44 gaining admission to the program. If the child is eligible for
45 the Road-to-Independence Program, he or she must be advised that
46 he or she may continue to reside with the licensed family home
47 or group care provider with whom the child was residing at the
48 time the child attained his or her 18th birthday, in another
49 licensed family home, or with a group care provider arranged by
50 the department.
51 5. An open bank account or the identification necessary to
52 open a bank account and to acquire essential banking and
53 budgeting skills.
54 6. Information on public assistance and how to apply for
55 public assistance.
56 7. A clear understanding of where he or she will be living
57 on his or her 18th birthday, how living expenses will be paid,
58 and the educational program or school in which he or she will be
59 enrolled.
60 8. Information related to the ability of the child to
61 remain in care until he or she reaches 21 years of age under s.
62 39.013.
63 9. A letter providing the dates that the child is under the
64 jurisdiction of the court.
65 10. A letter stating that the child is in compliance with
66 financial aid documentation requirements.
67 11. The child’s educational records.
68 12. The child’s entire health and mental health records.
69 13. The process for accessing his or her case file.
70 14. A statement encouraging the child to attend all
71 judicial review hearings occurring after the child’s 17th
72 birthday.
73 Section 2. Section 409.1454, Florida Statutes, is created
74 to read:
75 409.1454 Motor vehicle insurance for children in care.—
76 (1) The Legislature finds that the costs of driver
77 education, licensure and costs incidental to licensure, and
78 motor vehicle insurance for a child in licensed out of home care
79 after such child obtains a driver license creates an additional
80 barrier to engaging in normal age-appropriate activities and
81 gaining independence and may limit opportunities for obtaining
82 employment and completing educational goals. The Legislature
83 also finds that the completion of an approved driver education
84 course is necessary to develop safe driving skills.
85 (2) To the extent that funding is available, the department
86 shall establish a 3-year pilot program to pay the cost of driver
87 education, licensure and other costs incidental to licensure,
88 and motor vehicle insurance for children in licensed out of home
89 care who have
90
91 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
92 And the title is amended as follows:
93 Delete lines 3 - 8
94 and insert:
95 education for children in care; amending s.
96 39.701(1)(a), F.S.; authorizing the court to consider
97 the best interest of a child in removing the
98 disability of nonage for certain minors and adding a
99 reference; creating s. 409.1454, F.S.; providing
100 legislative findings; directing the Department of
101 Children and Families to establish a statewide pilot
102 program to pay specified costs of driver education,
103 licensure and costs incidental to licensure, and motor
104 vehicle insurance for a child in licensed out of home