The bill CS/HB 1127 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning child welfare, particularly addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the operation of domestic violence centers. It mandates the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to include detailed assessment data in its annual report, covering the prevalence of commercial sexual exploitation, services provided, and child placements. The DCF is also required to maintain and provide copies of assessments used for child placements upon request. Additionally, the bill allows the DCF to waive certain requirements for domestic violence centers in emergencies and to issue provisional certificates under specified conditions. Notably, it removes the DCF's authority to grant exemptions from working with children or the developmentally disabled, while still permitting limited exemptions to certain minimum standards.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a recruitment program for child protective investigators and case managers, introduces a pilot program for treatment foster care starting July 1, 2025, and outlines liability limitations for subcontractors of lead agencies. It also creates a workgroup in collaboration with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to review existing statutes and practices related to case management, with a report due by December 1, 2025. The DCF is tasked with conducting a study on bed capacity for residential treatment services for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, which will include policy recommendations to enhance services for these vulnerable children. Overall, CS/HB 1127 aims to improve the quality of care and support for children in the foster care system while addressing critical issues such as human trafficking and the need for specialized interventions.

Statutes affected:
H 1127 Filed: 39.524
H 1127 c1: 39.524, 39.905, 402.305, 409.987, 402.30501, 1002.59