HB 1127 — Child Welfare

39.905 Domestic violence centers.— (1) Domestic violence centers certified under this part must:

(h) Demonstrate local need and ability to sustain operations through a history of 18 consecutive months' operation as a domestic violence center, including 12 months' operation of an emergency shelter as provided in paragraph (c), and a business plan which addresses future operations and funding of future operations.

The department may waive this requirement if there is an emergency need for a new domestic violence center to Page 5 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 provide services in an area and no other viable options exist to ensure continuity of services.

If there is such an emergency need, the department may issue a provisional certificate to the domestic violence center as long as the domestic violence center meets all other criteria in this subsection.

The department may adopt rules to provide minimum standards for a provisional certificate, including increased monitoring and site visits and the time period such provisional certificate is valid.

Section 3.

Subsection (2) of section 402.305, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

402.305 Licensing standards;

child care facilities.— (2) PERSONNEL.—Minimum standards for child care personnel shall include minimum requirements as to:

(a) Good moral character based upon screening as defined in s.

402.302(15).

This screening shall be conducted as provided in chapter 435, using the level 2 standards for screening set forth in that chapter, and include employment history checks, a search of criminal history records, sexual predator and sexual offender registries, and child abuse and neglect registry of any state in which the current or prospective child care personnel resided during the preceding 5 years.

(b) Fingerprint submission for child care personnel, which shall comply with s.

435.12.

(c) The department may grant exemptions from disqualification from working with children or the Page 6 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 developmentally disabled as provided in s.

435.07.

(c)(d) Minimum age requirements.

Such minimum standards shall prohibit a person under the age of 21 from being the operator of a child care facility and a person under the age of 16 from being employed at such facility unless such person is under direct supervision and is not counted for the purposes of computing the personnel-to-child ratio.

(d)(e) Minimum training requirements for child care personnel.

1.

Such minimum standards for training shall ensure that all child care personnel take an approved 40-clock-hour introductory course in child care, which course covers at least the following topic areas:

a.

State and local rules and regulations which govern child care.

b.

Health, safety, and nutrition.

c.

Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.

d.

Child development, including typical and atypical language, cognitive, motor, social, and self-help skills development.

e.

Observation of developmental behaviors, including using a checklist or other similar observation tools and techniques to determine the child's developmental age level.

f.

Specialized areas, including computer technology for professional and classroom use and early literacy and language Page 7 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 development of children from birth to 5 years of age, as determined by the department, for owner-operators and child care personnel of a child care facility.

g.

Developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome, and early identification, use of available state and local resources, classroom integration, and positive behavioral supports for children with developmental disabilities.

Within 90 days after employment, child care personnel shall begin training to meet the training requirements.

Child care personnel shall successfully complete such training within 1 year after the date on which the training began, as evidenced by passage of a competency examination.

Successful completion of the 40-clock-hour introductory course shall articulate into community college credit in early childhood education, pursuant to ss.

1007.24 and 1007.25.

Exemption from all or a portion of the required training shall be granted to child care personnel based upon educational credentials or passage of competency examinations.

Child care personnel possessing a 2-year degree or higher that includes 6 college credit hours in early childhood development or child growth and development, or a child development associate credential or an equivalent state-approved child development associate credential, or a child development associate waiver certificate shall be automatically exempted Page 8 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 from the training requirements in sub-subparagraphs b., d., and e.

2.

The introductory course in child care shall stress, to the extent possible, an interdisciplinary approach to the study of children.

3.

The introductory course shall cover recognition and prevention of shaken baby syndrome;

prevention of sudden infant death syndrome;

recognition and care of infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome;

and early childhood brain development within the topic areas identified in this paragraph.

4.

On an annual basis in order to further their child care skills and, if appropriate, administrative skills, child care personnel who have fulfilled the requirements for the child care training shall be required to take an additional 1 continuing education unit of approved inservice training, or 10 clock hours of equivalent training, as determined by the department.

5.

Child care personnel shall be required to complete 0.5 continuing education unit of approved training or 5 clock hours of equivalent training, as determined by the department, in early literacy and language development of children from birth to 5 years of age one time.

The year that this training is completed, it shall fulfill the 0.5 continuing education unit or 5 clock hours of the annual training required in subparagraph 4.

6.

Procedures for ensuring the training of qualified child Page 9 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 care professionals to provide training of child care personnel, including onsite training, shall be included in the minimum standards.

It is recommended that the state community child care coordination agencies (central agencies) be contracted by the department to coordinate such training when possible.

Other district educational resources, such as community colleges and career programs, can be designated in such areas where central agencies may not exist or are determined not to have the capability to meet the coordination requirements set forth by the department.

7.

Training requirements shall not apply to certain occasional or part-time support staff, including, but not limited to, swimming instructors, piano teachers, dance instructors, and gymnastics instructors.

8.

The child care operator shall be required to take basic training in serving children with disabilities within 5 years after employment, either as a part of the introductory training or the annual 8 hours of inservice training.

(e)(f) Periodic health examinations.

(f)(g) A credential for child care facility directors.

The credential shall be a required minimum standard for licensing.

The department may grant limited exemptions to the minimum standards provided in this subsection which authorize a person to work in a specified role or with a specified population.

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 Section 4.

This recruitment program Pagemust 4focus on the education and recruitment of 11individuals CODING:who have held positions of public trust and who wish to further serve their communities as child welfare personnel.

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hb1127-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 1127 2025 must focus on the education and recruitment of individuals who have held positions of public trust and who wish to further serve their communities as child welfare personnel.

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 3.

Section 3.5.

SubsectionParagraph (27)(b) isof addedsubsection to(5) sectionand 409.996,paragraph Page(e) 5of subsection (14) of 11section CODING:409.175, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

409.175 Licensure of family foster homes, residential child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies;

public records exemption.— (5) The department shall adopt and amend rules for the levels of licensed care associated with the licensure of family foster homes, residential child-caring agencies, and child- placing agencies.

The rules may include criteria to approve waivers to licensing requirements when applying for a child- specific license.

(b) The requirements for licensure and operation of family Page 12 of 26 CODING:

hb1127-00hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1127 2025 Floridafoster Statutes,homes, toresidential read:child-caring agencies, and child- placing agencies shall include:

1.

The operation, conduct, and maintenance of these homes and agencies and the responsibility which they assume for children served and the evidence of need for that service.

2.

The provision of food, clothing, educational opportunities, services, equipment, and individual supplies to assure the healthy physical, emotional, and mental development of the children served.

3.

The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and general adequacy of the premises, including fire prevention and health standards, to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well- being of the children served.

4.

The ratio of staff to children required to provide adequate care and supervision of the children served and, in the case of family foster homes, the maximum number of children in the home.

5.

The good moral character based upon screening, education, training, and experience requirements for personnel and family foster homes.

6.

The department may grant exemptions from disqualification from working with children or the developmentally disabled as provided in s.

435.07.

6.7.

The provision of preservice and inservice training for all foster parents and agency staff.

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 7.8.

Satisfactory evidence of financial ability to provide care for the children in compliance with licensing requirements.

8.9.

The maintenance by the agency of records pertaining to admission, progress, health, and discharge of children served, including written case plans and reports to the department.

9.10.

The provision for parental involvement to encourage preservation and strengthening of a child's relationship with the family.

10.11.

The transportation safety of children served.

11.12.

The provisions for safeguarding the cultural, religious, and ethnic values of a child.

12.13.

Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of children served.

13.14.

Requiring signs to be conspicuously placed on the premises of facilities maintained by child-caring agencies to warn children of the dangers of human trafficking and to encourage the reporting of individuals observed attempting to engage in human trafficking activity.

The signs must advise children to report concerns to the local law enforcement agency or the Department of Law Enforcement, specifying the appropriate telephone numbers used for such reports.

The department shall specify, at a minimum, the content of the signs by rule.

The department may grant limited exemptions to the requirements Page 14 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 provided in this paragraph which authorize a person to work in a specified role or with a specified population.

(14) (e)1.

In addition to any other preservice training required by law, foster parents, as a condition of licensure, and agency staff must successfully complete preservice training related to human trafficking which must be uniform statewide and must include, but need not be limited to:

a.

Basic information on human trafficking, such as an understanding of relevant terminology, and the differences between sex trafficking and labor trafficking;

b.

Factors and knowledge on identifying children at risk of human trafficking;

and c.

Steps that should be taken to prevent at-risk youths from becoming victims of human trafficking.

2.

Foster parents, before licensure renewal, and agency staff, during each full year of employment, must complete inservice training related to human trafficking to satisfy the training requirement under subparagraph (5)(b)6.

(5)(b)7.

Section 6.

Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 409.987, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

409.987 Lead agency procurement;

boards;

conflicts of interest.— (4) In order to serve as a lead agency, an entity must:

(c) Demonstrate financial responsibility through an Page 15 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 organized plan for regular fiscal audits and;

the posting of a performance bond;

and the posting of a fidelity bond to cover any costs associated with reprocurement and the assessed penalties related to a failure to disclose a conflict of interest under subsection (7).

Section 7.

Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 409.993, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (c), paragraph (a) is amended, and a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, to read:

409.993 Lead agencies and subcontractor liability.— (3) SUBCONTRACTOR LIABILITY.— (a) A subcontractor of an eligible community-based care lead agency that is a direct provider of foster care and related services to children and families, and its employees or officers, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) (b), must, as a part of its contract, obtain a minimum of $1 million per occurrence with a policy period aggregate limit of $3 million in general liability insurance coverage.

The subcontractor of a lead agency must also require that staff who transport client children and families in their personal automobiles in order to carry out their job responsibilities obtain minimum bodily injury liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 per person in any one automobile accident, and subject to such limits for each person, $300,000 for all damages resulting from any one automobile accident, on their personal Page 16 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 automobiles.

In lieu of personal motor vehicle insurance, the subcontractor's casualty, liability, or motor vehicle insurance carrier may provide nonowned automobile liability coverage.

This insurance provides liability insurance for automobiles that the subcontractor uses in connection with the subcontractor's business but does not own, lease, rent, or borrow.

This coverage includes automobiles owned by the employees of the subcontractor or a member of the employee's household but only while the automobiles are used in connection with the subcontractor's business.

The nonowned automobile coverage for the subcontractor applies as excess coverage over any other collectible insurance.

The personal automobile policy for the employee of the subcontractor shall be primary insurance, and the nonowned automobile coverage of the subcontractor acts as excess insurance to the primary insurance.

The subcontractor shall provide a minimum limit of $1 million in nonowned automobile coverage.

In a tort action brought against such subcontractor or employee, net economic damages shall be limited to $2 million per liability claim and $200,000 per automobile claim, including, but not limited to, past and future medical expenses, wage loss, and loss of earning capacity, offset by any collateral source payment paid or payable.

In a tort action brought against such subcontractor, noneconomic damages shall be limited to $400,000 per claim.

A claims bill may be brought on behalf of a claimant pursuant to s.

768.28 for any amount Page 17 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 exceeding the limits specified in this paragraph.

Any offset of collateral source payments made as of the date of the settlement or judgment shall be in accordance with s.

768.76.

(b) A subcontractor of a lead agency that is a direct provider of foster care and related services is not liable for the acts or omissions of the lead agency, the department, or the officers, agents, or employees of the lead agency or the department.

The limitation on liability established in this paragraph applies to contracts entered into or renewed after July 1, 2025.

Section 8.

Subsection (27) is added to section 409.996, Florida Statutes, to read:

(27)(a) Subject to appropriation, beginning July 1, 2025, the department shall develop a 4-year pilot program of treatment foster care or a substantially similar evidence-based program of professionalPage foster18 care.of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 professional foster care.

or Page3. 6 of 11 CODING:

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hb1127-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 1127 2025 3.

There is a long-term cost benefit associated with continuation and expansion of a treatment or professional foster carePage program.19 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 care program.

Development and implementation of specialized training for treatment foster parents in care coordination, de- escalation, crisis management, and other identified relevant Pageskills 7needed ofto 11care CODING:for children with high behavioral health needs that cannot be or have not been met in traditional foster care placements.

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hb1127-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB 1127 2025 skills needed to care for children with high behavioral health needs that cannot be or have not been met in traditional foster care placements.

(f) By January 1, 2030, the department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a final report that includes the independentPage evaluation,20 the department's findings and evaluation, recommendations as to whether the pilot program should be continued and expanded statewide and, if so, fiscal and policy recommendations to ensure effective expansion and continued operation of the26 program.CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 independent evaluation, the department's findings and evaluation, recommendations as to whether the pilot program should be continued and expanded statewide and, if so, fiscal and policy recommendations to ensure effective expansion and continued operation of the program.

Section 9.

Subsection (11) is added to section 1004.615, Florida Statutes, to read:

1004.615 Florida Institute for Child Welfare.— (11) An incentive provided to state employees for participating in the institute's research or evaluation as required by the institute's statutory mission under this section may not be considered a violation of s.

112.313 or require reporting under s.

112.3148.

Section 10.

Section 402.30501, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

402.30501 Modification of introductory child care course for community college credit authorized.—The Department of Children and Families may modify the 40-clock-hour introductory course in child care under s.

402.305 or s.

402.3131 to meet the requirements of articulating the course to community college credit.

Any modification must continue to provide that the course satisfies the requirements of s.

402.305(2)(d) s.

402.305(2)(e).

Section 11.

Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1002.57, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 1002.57 Prekindergarten director credential.— (3) The prekindergarten director credential must meet or exceed the requirements of the Department of Children and Families for the child care facility director credential under s.

402.305(2)(f) s.

402.305(2)(g), and successful completion of the prekindergarten director credential satisfies these requirements for the child care facility director credential.

(4) The department shall, to the maximum extent practicable, award credit to a person who successfully completes the child care facility director credential under s.

402.305(2)(f) s.

402.305(2)(g) for those requirements of the prekindergarten director credential which are duplicative of requirements for the child care facility director credential.

Section 12.

Subsection (1) of section 1002.59, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1002.59 Emergent literacy and performance standards training courses.— (1) The department, in collaboration with the Just Read, Florida! Office, shall adopt minimum standards for courses in emergent literacy for prekindergarten instructors.

Each course must consist of 5 clock hours and provide instruction in strategies and techniques to address the age-appropriate progress of prekindergarten students in developing emergent literacy skills, including oral communication, knowledge of print and letters, phonological and phonemic awareness, Page 22 of 26 CODING:

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hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1127 2025 vocabulary and comprehension development, and foundational background knowledge designed to correlate with the content that students will encounter in grades K-12, consistent with the evidence-based content and strategies grounded in the science of reading identified pursuant to s.

1001.215(7).

The course standards must be reviewed as part of any review of subject coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary, reading, and exceptional student educational areas conducted pursuant to s.

1012.586.

Each course must also provide resources containing strategies that allow students with disabilities and other special needs to derive maximum benefit from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.

Successful completion of an emergent literacy training course approved under this section satisfies requirements for approved training in early literacy and language development under ss.

402.305(2)(d)5.

ss.

402.305(2)(e)5., 402.313(6), and 402.3131(5).

Section 13.

(1) The department shall ensure the workgroup has at least Pagetwo 8representatives with subject matter expertise in case management from each of 11the CODING:following:

(a) The Department of Children and Families.

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hb1127-00hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1127 2025 two(b) representativesCommunity-based withcare subjectlead matteragencies. expertise in case management from each of the following:

(a) The Department of Children and Families.

(b) Community-based care lead agencies.

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Evaluate whether the current structure, processes, and requirements of statute, rule, and operating procedure are duplicative or unworkable.

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hb1127-00hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1127 2025 2.3.

Evaluate whether the current structure, processes, and requirements of statute, rule, and operating procedure are duplicative or unworkable.

3.

Section 5.14.

The study must be completed by PageDecember 1031, 2025, and, at a minimum, include all of 11the CODING:following:

(1) By department region, the current number of Page 25 of 26 CODING:

hb1127-00hb1127-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1127 2025 Decemberresidential 31,treatment 2025,beds and,in atsafe ahomes minimum,for includetreatment allof child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, the following:number of individuals admitted and discharged annually, the types and frequency of diagnoses, and the lengths of stays.

(1) By department region, the current number of residential treatment beds in safe homes for treatment of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, the number of individuals admitted and discharged annually, the types and frequency of diagnoses, and the lengths of stays.

Section 6.15.

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