Category: Legislation
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“One way you do not recruit volunteers is charge them a lot of money out of pocket”
The Florida House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee heard testimony on HB 57. The bill would authorize pro bono attorneys representing special needs foster children to access due process funds for costs like deposition, evaluations, and subpoenas. The bill is sponsored by Representative Frank White of Pensacola: “One way you do not recruit volunteers is to…
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And the first child welfare bills this session are…
If it feels like the legislative session just ended, that’s because it did. Florida’s constitution allows legislators to choose the session start date in even numbered years instead of the normal first Tuesday after the first whatever this is a confusing way to do dates. Why would they move it? Spring Break, campaign season, and…
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Now Hiring: Attorneys for Children
Florida’s dependent children finally have attorneys, or at least some of them do. Governor Scott today signed into law House Bill 561, which creates section 39.0135, entitled Appointment of an attorney for a dependent child with certain special needs, for: children who reside in or are being considered for placement in a skilled nursing home, children who have…
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Do not revictimize human trafficking victims in residential facilities
When discussing whether to put victims of child trafficking in lock-down facilities, let’s not forget this: Teens Tied Down and Shot Up With Drugs at Pembroke Pines Facility. And this: Video Shows Pembroke Pines Cop Punching Mentally Ill Girl. And all of these: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Kids-choked-stripped-beaten-at-Texas-treatment-1700591.php http://myfox8.com/2014/03/24/alleged-child-abuse-at-omega-treatment-center-in-greensboro-conditions-inhumane/ http://www.bloomberg.com/video/finr-patient-allegedly-abused-by-staff-members-ZKkfZvi4TJOgw9LedauA4g.html Those may be extreme cases, but the day-to-day workings of…
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Normalcy Bill passes the House!
I’m happy to report that the Normalcy Bill (HB 0215) unanimously passed the House today. Its equivalent Senate Bill (SB 0164) is on its second reading, which means it could pass very soon.
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Youth and GALs Stand in Support of SB 164 on Normalcy
I am inspired any time I see a group of people who believe strongly in improving life for others, and this is one such time. Everyone who spoke did a fantastic job. The video is here. The normalcy bill portion begins at 35:40. (And hat tip to Mr. Pitts for knowing a good bill when…
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DCF Responds to HB 803 Critique
I recently wrote a post, in truest yellow journalism fashion, asking the Limbaughian question of whether HB 803 would make another child death in Florida more or less likely. I make no apology for the tactic–I’m competing for screen time with blogs about cats wearing things on their heads, and the content of the post…
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Is HB 803 More Likely to Cause Another Barahona Than Prevent One?
House Bill 803 (the Silver Bullet Bill) has passed unanimously in the Florida House. Since it’s being hailed as the thing that will prevent Barahona from ever happening again, let’s take a look at what it actually does. Spoiler alert: it does very little that would have actually prevented Barahona, and does a few things…