CS/SB 12 is a comprehensive bill that, among many others, provides for mental health services for children, parents, and others seeking custody of children involved in dependency court proceedings.  It also creates a coordinated system of care to be provided either by a community or a region for those suffering from mental illness or substance use disorder through a "No Wrong Door" system of single access points.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/24/16  SENATE  Passed as amended; HOUSE  in messages.

Elopement, which means leaving an area without supervision or caregiver permission, is prevalent among persons with certain special needs and may expose them to dangerous situations.  Individuals with Alzheimer's disease or autism are two populations at higher risk to elope.

CS/SB 230 creates three "Project Leo" pilot projects, with the first serving Alachua, Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, and Suwannee Counties, the second serving Palm Beach County, and the third serving Hillsborough County.  Each pilot project must provide personal devices to aid in search-and-rescue efforts for persons with special needs in cases of elopement.

 

The first project will be developed and administered by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Florida (CARD UF), the second project will be developed and administered by CARD at the Florida Atlantic University (CARD FAU), and the third project will be developed and administered by CARD at the University of South Florida (CARD USF).

 

The bill directs CARD UF, CARD FAU, and CARD USF to select participants on a first-come, first-serve basis to receive a personal device to aid in search-and-rescue efforts.  Participants will be selected based on criteria developed by CARD UF, CARD FAU, or CARD USF.  Each center's criteria must, at a minimum, consider the individual's risk of elopement.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/24/16  HOUSE  Passed as amended; SENATE in returning messages.

SB 268 requires periodic revision of a school district's anti-bullying and harassment policy, modifies the information that must be contained in the policy, and requires school principals to implement the policy.  Among others, the bill adds the requirements that each:

CS/CS/HB 293 addresses inconsistencies between two sections of statute relating to confidential information of juveniles and dissemination of criminal history information by, among others:

CS/SB 386 amends current law to require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to retain the criminal history record for only two years after they turn 19 (until age 21), instead of five years (until age 24), for minors who are not classified as serious or habitual juvenile offenders or who have not been committed to a juvenile correctional facility or juvenile prison. The criminal history record is then automatically expunged.

 

The bill also provides that a minor who is eligible for automatic expunction of criminal history records at age 21 may apply for an expunction before turning 21 under certain circumstances.

 

LAST ACTION: 1/28/16 SENATE  Passed; 2/24/16 HOUSE  Passed.

CS/CS/SB 408 requires a law enforcement officer to issue a civil citation or require the juvenile's participation in a similar diversion program for the following enumerated first-time "misdemeanor offenses":

 

The bill also provides that the civil citation law, s. 985.12, F.S., does not modify the authority of a law enforcement officer to issue only a simple warning to the juvenile or to notice the juvenile's guardian or parent of the alleged offense.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/24/16 SENATE  Favorable with CS by Children, Families and Elder Affairs.

CS/CS/HB 545 addresses human trafficking and offenses that are often associated with human trafficking.  Among others, the bill:

CS/CS/SB 750 provides that the income of an illegal noncitizen, or ineligible noncitizen who is a mandatory member of a family, counts in full for determining if the family of a new applicant or a person reapplying is eligible to participate in the Temporary Cash Assistance Program.  The provision would take effect July 1, 2016.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/24/16  SENATE Favorable with CS By Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

The John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program (McKay Scholarship Program) provides scholarships for eligible students with disabilities to attend an eligible public or private school of their choice.  Currently, a McKay Scholarship student must have direct contact with his or her private school teacher at the school's physical location in order to maintain eligibility.

 

CS/HB 837 authorizes a private school to establish a transition-to-work program for students participating in the McKay Scholarship Program, which will allow students to earn credits while working off-site.

 

A student enrolled in a transition-to-work program must receive 15 hours of academic instruction and work skills training at a private school.  The student must also participate in 10 hours of work at the student's work experience program.  Consequently, the student does not need to have regular and direct contact with the teacher at the private school's physical location.

 

To participate in a transition-to-work-program, a business must maintain and provide accurate records of the student's performance and hours worked and comply with all state and federal child labor laws.

 

LAST ACTION 2/18/16 HOUSE  Passed; 2/23/16  SENATE in messages.

The Institute of Medicine has chronicled efforts, beginning as early as the 1970s, to deal with workforce issues regarding mental and substance use disorders, but notes that most have not been sustained long enough or been comprehensive enough to remedy the problems.  Shortages of qualified workers, recruitment and retention of staff, and an aging workforce have long been cited as problems.

CS/CS/SB 1250 expands the behavioral health workforce, recognizes that the need for additional psychiatrists is of critical state concern, integrates primary care and psychiatry, and allows persons with disqualifying offenses that occurred five or more years ago to work under the supervision of certain qualified personnel until a final determination regarding the request for an exemption from disqualification is made.

 

LAST ACTION:  2/24/16 SENATE Favorable with CS by Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

CS/SB 1420 disqualifies from employment with a child care provider any person who is registered as a sex offender under federal law.  It also disqualifies anyone who has been arrested, is awaiting final disposition, or has been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, or has been adjudicated delinquent and the record has not been sealed or expunged for any felony or misdemeanor referenced in the federal child care criminal background check law or any felony or misdemeanor enumerated in Florida's Level 1 and Level 2 employment screening statutes.

 

The bill also requires that any person employed by a child care provider on July1, 2016, who has been granted an exemption to a disqualification from employment must be rescreened no later than August1, 2016.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/22/16 SENATE  Favorable by Criminal Justice.

To address mental health issues in the criminal justice system, Florida has multiple programs, some of which operate on a statewide basis, such as state-administered forensic and civil mental health programs.  Others are only available in certain counties or circuits, such as mental health courts and veterans' courts. CS/CS/CS/HB 439  amends statutes governing these programs by, among others:

CS/CS/CS/SB 232 expands and renames the Statewide Public Guardianship Office within the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) as the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.  The office is given the additional responsibility to regulate professional guardians, who have not previously been closely regulated by the state.  The newly titled office remains housed within the DOEA and the executive director remains an appointee of the Secretary of the DOEA.

 

The Office of Public and Professional Guardians is directed to adopt rules to establish standards of practice for public and professional guardians, receive and investigate complaints, establish procedures for disciplinary oversight, conduct hearings, specify penalties, and take administrative action.

 

LAST ACTION: 2/10/16 SENATE, Passed; 2/24/16  HOUSE Passed as amended.