Popular Children and Families News

Popular Children Bills

SB 0378 Juvenile Justice

HB 0021 Substance Abuse Services

SB 0602 Students with Disabilities

HB 7013 Adoption and Foster Care

HB 0545 Telehealth

HB 0099 Juvenile Justice

HB 0005 Guardianship Proceedings

SB 7022 Individuals With Disabilities

HB 7111 Conscience Protection for Actions of Private Child-Placing Agencies

SB 0154 Hazardous Walking Conditions

Children Bills On The Move

SB 0294 Florida Kidcare Program

SENATE Now in Appropriations

HB 0183 Juvenile Expunction

HOUSE Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

SB 0238 Athletic Coaches

SENATE Not Considered by Judiciary

HB 0079 Crisis Stabilization Services

HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed

SB 0146 Autism

SENATE Now in Banking and Insurance

HB 0023 Autism

HOUSE Now in Health Innovation Subcommittee

HB 0007 Pub. Rec./Claim Settlement on Behalf of Minor or Ward

HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed

JUAS1 Juvenile Detention Costs

HOUSE Committee Bill Filed as H 5201

HB 1301 Juvenile Sentencing

HOUSE Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

CRJS3 Pub.Rec./Child Pornography

HOUSE Committee Bill Filed as H 7065

Topic: FL Dept. of Children and Families

Human trafficking bill moves on to governor's desk

by Arek Sarkissian - 13 months ago - +

Without the locked safe house facility concept, the bill unanimously passed the Legislature

Sober home certification bill heads to the Senate

by Arek Sarkissian - 13 months ago - +

A more expansive bill in the Senate remains frozen after failing to get a vote in Appropriations.

Sans locked safe house, Human Trafficking bill clears House

by Arek Sarkissian - 13 months ago - +

An identical version awaits discussion on the Senate floor.

Lawmakers nix locked facilities from human trafficking bill

by Arek Sarkissian - 14 months ago - +

From the moment it was proposed child advocates fought the idea of locking up teens rescued from prostitution rings, arguing it would add to the trauma they had endured. Thursday, Rep. Gayle Harrell struck the provision from her bill but said future studies will show locked facilities are a necessity.

House human trafficking bill sails through first committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 14 months ago - +

The vote was unanimous but members expressed concerned about a locked safe facility for teens rescued from prostitution rings. The sponsor asked lawmakers to focus on the problem and promised changes as the bill moves forward.

House version of human trafficking "locked facility" bill up for committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 14 months ago - +

Child advocates argue that a locked facility for teens rescued from prostitution rings would only create more trauma for them.

Human trafficking bill calling for locked facility passes first Senate committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 14 months ago - +

After postponing the bill for two weeks, the bill moves forward despite opponents submitting expert testimony that a locked facility for teens compounds the trauma. Sen. Detert responds that sometimes lawmaking is "not pretty to watch."

Family Policy Council calls for cultural reforms

by Bill Cotterell - 14 months ago - +

The group produced a report indicating a decline in two-parent families and proposed the state form a commission to help preserve families.

House human trafficking bill strengthening Safe Harbor Act passes committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 15 months ago - +

HB 989 is one of a series of Human Trafficking bills proposed by lawmakers this year. It makes four changes to the Safe Harbor Act.

House human trafficking bill postponed by Senate committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 15 months ago - +

Florida is rethinking how to rescue teens caught in a web of human traffickers. A House committee proposed a system of "a continuum of care" which includes a locked safe house for victims. Opponents say that inflicts further abuse on the teens and the Senate is rethinking the idea.

Trio of child welfare overhaul bills passes first committee

by Arek Sarkissian - 15 months ago - +

The package includes a measure requiring a minimum of a bachelor's degree in social work and creates an assistant secretary position for child welfare at DCF. Supporters of the three bills say the changes were required long ago.

Senate committee to talk child welfare overhaul

by Arek Sarkissian - 15 months ago - +

Bills calling for better educated investigators and an incident response team will be discussed Tuesday during a Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee meeting.

House panel vows to help teen sex workers regain lives

by James Call - 16 months ago - +

The House Health Family Subcommittee is developing a wide-ranging bill to rescue teen runaways and homeless kids from an underground sex industry. The chair of the committee, Rep. Gayle Harrell, said the cost could be astronomical but she's working on funding a program. "This is a priority of the Speaker," said Harrell.

Session Outlook 2014: Children and Families

by James Call - 16 months ago - +

Lawmakers appear ready to act on a grand jury recommendation to impose tougher regulations on assisted living facilities. And a Senate committee is developing a wide-ranging proposal that includes creating an institute focused on child-abuse prevention and to partner with the state to improve child protection services.