H0893: Child Welfare Placements

Legislative Summary

Authorizes DCF to place children in its custody in therapeutic group homes for residential mental health treatment without prior court approval; defines "therapeutic group home"; provides that DCF, rather than AHCA, shall appoint qualified evaluators to conduct suitability assessments of certain children in department's custody; specifies qualifications for evaluators conducting suitability assessments for placement in therapeutic group home; revises requirements for suitability assessments; specifies when DCF must provide copy of assessment to guardian ad litem & court; removes department's & agency's rulemaking authority; revises definition of term "special needs child".