Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Children and Families to maintain copies of certain assessments and tools used to assess children for certain placements in Florida

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Children and Families to maintain copies of certain assessments and tools used to assess children for certain placements in Florida (Sec. 1-14).

• Increases the collection of data in the battle against child exploitation, with a study of residential bed capacity and of nonresidential service (Sec. 1-14).

• Establishes a structure to recruit Child Protective Investigators and case managers (Sec. 1-14).

• Establishes a professional foster care pilot program to serve children with behavioral issues, with short-term, family-like placement options for children in foster care who need extra help or who are emerging inpatient residential treatment (Sec. 1-14).

• Specifies that specialized training will be made available for foster parents, as will crisis intervention and placement stabilization services if they are needed, at any time of the day or night (Sec. 1-14).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text