Legislation to enhance child protection advances to next committee
The legislation would make several changes to ensure the safety of children and improve the state’s welfare system.
The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced legislation Wednesday that seeks to strengthen and enhance child protections.
Fort Pierce Republican Sen. Erin Grall presented the bill (SB 1626) and explained that it would improve Florida’s welfare system and codify the current practice of agreements between the Department of Children and Families and military installations. Grall also introduced amendments to clarify certain language.
“SB 1626 strengthens protections for children and improves accountability for our child welfare system across the state,” Grall said. “As amended, it recognizes the needs of military families. We are seeking to codify the current practice of agreements between DCF and military installations to ensure collaborative child protective investigations for military families.”
Grall noted that the bill would also ensure continuity of service, allow emergency shelters to qualify for certification, and grant the Governor flexibility over appointees to Children’s Services Councils.
“It also ensures better continuity of service for survivors of domestic violence,” Grall said. “This bill will allow the department to issue provisional certifications in emergency situations for shelters that are working meet the number of months of historic operation to qualify for full certification. The bill also adjusts the guidelines for Children Services Councils with regard to appointees, allowing greater flexibility for the Governor when choosing the appointees, but also providing for interim appointments by the local Commission.”
The bill also allows the department to grant more narrow and limited exemptions for people with disqualifying criminal backgrounds, ensuring that only qualified individuals work while protecting vulnerable populations.
An amendment was adopted that would direct DCF to establish a methodology for determining daily room and board rates rather than establish a fee schedule themselves.
“We spoke briefly about the methodology for the room rate; there’s also language in the bill that indicates that a subcontractor cannot be held responsible for the wrongful acts of the lead agency, and any contract provision would be void and unenforceable,” Grall said. “The bill also allows more time for a licensee to come into compliance with licensing standards by increasing the number of days the department can extend from 30 days to 90 days. The bill updates the licensing requirements for small residential group homes.”
A second amendment was adopted that also removed language relating to unaccompanied alien children and special immigrant visas.
“Lastly, the bill provides clarity to improve the handling of missing children reports and clarifies jurisdiction issues to ensure faster responses for missing children who have a Take into Custody Order,” Grall said.
St. Petersburg Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson asked what problem the bill solves after noting that he thought DCF would already be cooperating with military families. In response, Grall said it is DCF’s current practice; however, she pointed out the goal is to codify that so it’s not discretionary in the future.
Jacksonville Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis asked for clarity on what protocols the Sheriff’s Office would need to adhere to if they were given jurisdiction over a missing child. In response, Grall said law enforcement would be called upon if the department orders a TCO and they cannot find or access the order to carry it out.
“Law enforcement is called upon to help effectuate that order and treat that child as a missing child,” Grall said. “A child is typically considered missing because their parents are aware of the pending removal and attempt to flee or hide. Being designated missing brings a great many resources into play to help locate that child, including inputting that child’s information into the Florida Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center.”
Tiffany Hankins of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said she appreciated the addition of the amendments.
“I really appreciate the addition of these amendments, it certainly makes the concerns that advocates and my organization works with, about the impact that it would have on the kids they represent,” Hankins said.
Hankins said that one concern they have is the Sheriff’s Office having jurisdiction over missing children, citing the recent signing on of all Florida’s 67 county jails, which have all signed agreements to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hankins said this could delay a family reaching out if their child goes missing.
The bill will now move to the Fiscal Policy Committee.