Sunshine Sentinel

The Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs has unanimously advanced Senate Bill 80 (SB 80), a measure aimed at alleviating child trauma by ensuring caregivers promote consistent family relationships for vulnerable children.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford), proposes several changes for children in the custody of the Department of Children and Families to help "“reduce the trauma children face when they are moved from one out-of-home placement to another,” Brodeur said, as reported by Florida Politics. 

“Until we put legislative intent in that says everyone should kind of follow this process or this pathway, individual circuits have been left to kind of interpret what some of the broader laws are versus the individual rules,” Brodeur said, Florida Politics reported. “This now says legislatively, here’s what we think best practices are so now everyone follows them.”

The text of the bill states that SB80 will require the Department of Children and Families to compile an updated case record for every child in its care, make relocation decisions based on the best home placement, relocate children from homes fitting a series of red flags, reinstate parental rights if criteria are met, minimize school changes for children receiving care and ensure that siblings are placed in nearby households.

“The entire function of government is to protect our most vulnerable and get that right first,” Brodeur said, according to Florida Politics. “In this bill we put the child first. I know there’s going to be difficulties for the adults to get this done. I get that, and it’s probably going to cost some money. But if we can get it right by these vulnerable children, it’s all worth it.” 

According to The Children’s Campaign, FL SB80 will consider the age, mental state and emotional state of children before allowing relocation. If a foster child is relocated, then the Department of Children and Families must consider the child’s preference, likelihood of permanent residence at a new home, opportunities for medical care at a new residence, and the distance of the home from a child’s siblings. 

The family is a large component of FL SB80. Relative caregivers are always prioritized, and siblings must be placed in homes together if possible.

The agency Adopt US Kids estimates there are 19,000 Florida children in foster care, and 600 of those awaiting permanent placement without identified family members for them to be placed with.

The National Association of Social Workers recently expressed support for FL SB80, stating the act will extensively detail best interest factors for relocating children, as well as removing them from an incompetent caregiver’s home.

Brodeur’s 44-page proposal moves next to the Senate Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee. If signed into law, the changes will take effect beginning Oct. 1.