FL H7053

Renames the "Infants and Toddlers Early Intervention Program" as the "Early Steps Program" within the Department of Health, making the department the mandatory lead agency for administering early intervention services under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for children from birth to age 3.

Establishes detailed performance standards, eligibility criteria, and duties for local Early Steps Program offices, including requirements to evaluate children within 45 calendar days of referral, develop individualized family support plans, coordinate with Medicaid managed care organizations and school districts, and submit annual accountability reports to the Governor and Legislature by December 1.

Strengthens child care personnel screening by expanding the definition of "screening" to include employment history checks and out-of-state criminal/abuse registry searches, adding the Office of Early Learning to entities with access to child abuse records, and creating permanent disqualification from employment at school readiness providers for individuals convicted of specified felonies and misdemeanors including murder, sexual battery, child abuse, and kidnapping.

Requires the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive information clearinghouse on developmental disabilities using the term "unique abilities," providing education for parents and health care providers, hotlines for Down syndrome and other conditions, and information on programs such as Early Steps, Healthy Start, and Help Me Grow.

Revises school readiness program requirements by directing the Office of Early Learning to coordinate inspections with the Department of Children and Families, extending the parent reemployment grace period from 60 to 90 days, establishing training requirements addressing social-emotional behavior intervention models, and capping administrative costs at 5 percent and combined nondirect expenditures at 22 percent of program funds.