CS/CS/HB 1351 - Early Childhood Court Programs

• Creates section 39.01304, F.S. to establish Early Childhood Court programs using evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care for young children in out-of-home care, typically ages 0-3 years.

• Requires programs to incorporate four components: judicial leadership using therapeutic jurisprudence, community coordination, multidisciplinary court teams, and a continuum of mental health services focused on parent-child relationships.

• Mandates the Office of the State Courts Administrator hire and train community coordinators at each program site by August 1, 2018, and contract with university-based centers with infant mental health expertise to provide a clinical director for training and technical assistance.

• Requires the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to evaluate the program's impact on maltreatment incidence, permanency, reunification, and child welfare re-entry, with results submitted to the Governor and Legislature by October 1, 2021, and annual status reports due by December 1, 2019 and 2020.

• Implementation is subject to legislative appropriation and takes effect July 1, 2018.