The bill amends section 39.5085 of the Florida Statutes to modify the payment structure for the Relative Caregiver Program. It allows relatives and nonrelatives who have a child placed with them in out-of-home care to begin receiving monthly payments from the date of placement, rather than waiting for a court to determine the child's dependency status. The bill specifies that these payments will be made regardless of whether the child has been found to be dependent, and it establishes a timeline for payments based on the caregivers' licensure status.

Additionally, the bill introduces a provision for caregivers who have not obtained a child-specific level I foster license within one month of placement, allowing them to receive a monthly payment until they obtain the license or the child achieves permanency. The amount of this payment will be determined by department rule and will be less than the amount provided to participants in the Guardianship Assistance Program. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1046 Filed: 39.5085