House Bill 1405 proposes comprehensive amendments to Chapter 984 of the Florida Statutes, which governs juvenile justice, particularly focusing on truancy, ungovernable behavior, and runaway children. The chapter is renamed to "Prevention and Intervention for School Truancy and Ungovernable and Runaway Children," with an emphasis on judicial and nonjudicial procedures for addressing these issues. Key provisions include early truancy intervention, the appointment of counsel for children in specific situations, and the establishment of a court process for school boards to manage truancy cases. The bill also mandates that relevant departments provide information about juvenile procedures online and ensures the availability of voluntary family services to support children and families in need.

Additionally, the bill repeals outdated sections related to attorney fees and sheltering unmarried minors, while introducing new provisions that prohibit detention for certain purposes and revise contempt of court procedures. It emphasizes preserving family ties and the safety of children, allowing temporary shelter placements only when necessary. The bill also modernizes definitions and responsibilities concerning children in need of services, clarifying terms such as "custodian" and "detention care," and streamlining processes for handling truancy and child welfare cases. Overall, HB 1405 aims to enhance the juvenile justice framework in Florida by prioritizing prevention, intervention, and the protection of children's rights, while ensuring fair adjudication processes.

Statutes affected:
H 1405 Filed: 984.01, 984.02, 984.03, 984.04, 984.07, 984.071, 984.09, 984.10, 984.11, 984.12, 984.13, 984.14, 984.15, 984.151, 984.17, 984.18, 984.19, 984.20, 984.21, 984.22, 984.225, 984.226, 985.03, 985.24, 1003.26, 790.22, 985.12, 985.126, 985.25, 985.433, 985.632, 409.2564, 95.11, 419.001, 744.309, 784.075, 985.618