CS/HB 1425 Summary

• Creates the Task Force on the Monitoring of Children in Out-of-Home Care within the Department of Law Enforcement to identify root causes of missing children in foster care and recommend improvements to prevention and recovery policies.

• Task force consists of 13 members including legislators, state agency officials, Safe Kids Florida representative, human trafficking council representative, foster care providers, licensed foster parents, and a young adult who aged out of foster care; members must be appointed by August 1, 2021, and task force must convene by September 1, 2021.

• Task force shall analyze statistical data on missing children, assess existing policies and procedures, evaluate the human trafficking risk, and collaborate with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to identify best practices from other states.

• Department of Children and Families shall submit monthly reports through October 1, 2022, providing data on missing children by age, county, and reason; Florida Institute for Child Welfare shall conduct focus groups with current and former foster youth and submit findings by April 1, 2022.

• Task force shall submit final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by October 1, 2022; task force automatically repeals June 30, 2023, unless the Legislature votes to save it.