24605037, 65C-16.001 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 24605037

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Division:

Family Safety and Preservation Program

Chapter:

ADOPTIONS

Overview

RULE:

65C-16.001	Definitions
65C-16.002	Adoptive Family Selection
65C-16.003	Case Reviews
65C-16.004	Recruitment, Screening and Application Process/Adoptive Applicants
65C-16.005	Evaluation of Applicants
65C-16.007	Abuse Hotline and Registry and Criminal Records Checks
65C-16.009	Adoption Placement
65C-16.010	Adoption Placement - Post-Placement Services
65C-16.013	Determination of Maintenance Subsidy Payments
65C-16.0131	Determination of Extension of Maintenance Subsidy Payments
65C-16.014	Post Adoption Services
65C-16.016	Access to Closed Adoption Records
65C-16.017	Florida Adoption Reunion Registry
65C-16.019	Intervention in Dependency Cases

PURPOSE:

The Department intends to update Rule Chapter 65C-16 to conform to current statute and practice.

SUMMARY:

The amendments accomplish the following: (1) Adds a definition for “Adoptive Home Application” and updates the form; (2) Updates the Memorandum of Agreement form; (3) Requires members of a sibling separation staffing to have completed adoption competency training and adds to what must be considered at the staffing; (4) Removes an unnecessary form; (5) Changes the requirement for match staffings from every 60 days to every 45 days; (6) Sets forth required components of adoptive parent training programs; (7) Sets forth requirements that must be met prior to initiating an adoption home study; (8) Requires background screening of household members in caregiving roles; (9) Updates the “Acknowledgement of Firearms Safety Requirements” form; (10) Requires adoption staff to conduct a minimum of two in-home visits with the prospective adoptive parents; (11) Increases the number of references that can be obtained from a relative when updating an adoption home study toward placement of an additional child; (12) Increases the number of  members of an Adoption Applicant Review Committee who must have completed the Department adoption competency training, and requires a Department representative who has knowledge of the applicant’s national and state criminal history and child abuse and neglect history to be a member of the committee; (13) Requires the adoption placement process to include a transition plan; (14) Clarifies continued adoption assistance eligibility requirements when adoption has been dissolved by termination of parental rights or by the death of the adoptive parents; (15) Requires the adoption case manager to provide information to the birth and adoptive parents informing them of their rights to consent to the release of adoption records within 30 days of adoption finalization; (16) Codifies the purpose of medical assistance; (17) Permits identifying information from closed adoption records to be released pursuant to statutory conditions, rather than court order; (18) Updates the “Application for Adoption Registry Services”; (19) Requires the Department to use the “Intervention Best Interest Checklist” to evaluate the intervention preliminary home study of the adoption entity’s prospective adoptive parent to determine whether the placement will be in the child’s best interest; and (20) Updates statutory references.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

39.012, 39.0121, 39.0137, 63.233, 409.166(8), 409.167(6), 409.988(2)(e), FS.

LAW:

39.00145, 39.0137, 39.0138, 39.521, 39.621, 39.701, 39.811, 39.812, 63.039, 63.042, 63.0425, 63.0427, 63.082, 63.085, 63.092, 63.125, 63.162, 63.165, 409.166, 409.167, 409.175, 409.986, 409.988, FS.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

6/3/2021 Vol. 47/107

COMMENTS:

From 6/3/2021 To 6/24/2021 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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