This bill aims to enhance child welfare services in Florida, particularly focusing on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It mandates the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide detailed assessment data to the Legislature in its annual report, including information on the prevalence of commercial sexual exploitation, specialized services provided, and the placement of affected children. The DCF is also required to maintain individual-level data on children assessed for placement in safe houses or foster homes, ensuring that this data is available for legislative analysis. Additionally, the bill establishes a recruitment program for child protective investigators and case managers, emphasizing the recruitment of individuals with public safety backgrounds.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a four-year pilot program for treatment foster care, which will begin in July 2025, and outlines the criteria for child participation in this program. The DCF is tasked with coordinating the program with community-based care lead agencies and ensuring that it meets specific standards, including the provision of specialized training for foster parents. The bill also establishes a case management workforce workgroup to analyze existing statutes and practices, and it requires a detailed study of bed capacity and treatment services for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation to be completed by December 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the quality of care and support for vulnerable children in the state.

Statutes affected:
S 7012 pb: 39.524