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FL S0488
Bill
Status
Failed
5/5/2023
Primary Sponsor
Jennifer Bradley
Click for details
AI Summary
- Expands the circumstances requiring court appointment of an attorney for dependent children to include victims or at-risk victims of human trafficking, children with open criminal or delinquency cases, children needing counsel for postdisposition custody hearings, and children the court determines need an attorney
- Broadens the developmental disability trigger from requiring a formal diagnosis to including children who exhibit symptoms evidencing a need for assessment or treatment of a developmental disability
- Increases the maximum attorney fee cap from $1,000 to $1,500 per child per year for court-appointed attorneys representing dependent children
- Requires the Department of Children and Families to enter into an agreement with the Justice Administrative Commission to obtain federal Title IV-E funds, which must be used to conduct annual reviews of unrepresented children, report appointment data to the Legislature by judicial circuit, and improve procedures for timely appointment of counsel
- Directs the Justice Administrative Commission to use Title IV-E funds to expand multidisciplinary due process resources (e.g., social workers, investigators, paralegals, peer partners) and implement recommendations of the Florida Supreme Court Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court; effective July 1, 2023
Legislative Description
Appointment of Attorneys for Dependent Children with Certain Special Needs
Last Action
Died in Judiciary
5/5/2023
Full Bill Text
No bill text available