The Department intends to create a new rule regarding emergency shelters.

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Family Safety and Preservation Program

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

65C-14.117Standards for Contracted Emergency Shelters

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department intends to create a new rule regarding emergency shelters.

SUMMARY: The rule will require contracted emergency shelters to provide initial employee orientation and in-service training; initial client orientation; and services on a 24-hour basis. The shelters must maintain a system of accounting for the whereabouts of the children and individual client records. In addition, the shelters must either enroll children in school or provide education in the shelter.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The Department used a checklist to conduct an economic analysis and determine if there is an adverse impact or regulatory costs associated with this rule that exceeds the criteria in section 120.541(2)(a), F.S. Based upon this analysis, the Department has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 409.175(5)(a), FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 409.175, FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Jodi Abramowitz. Jodi can be reached at [phone] or [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

65C-14.117 Standards for Contracted Emergency Shelters.

(1) An authorized representative from each emergency shelter shall sign the “Civil Rights Certificate,” CF 707, October 2005, incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXX .

(2) Contracted emergency shelters shall provide an initial orientation for all new employees in accordance with Rule 65C-14.023(17), F.A.C.

(3) Contracted emergency shelters shall provide inservice training in accordance with Rule 65C-14.023(18), F.A.C.

(4) There shall be telephones on the premises which are accessible to residents for making and receiving approved private calls. Restrictions on private calls shall be based on the location of the party called, the effect of the call on the child, and any existing court orders regarding contact.

(5) All contracted emergency shelters shall be available for services on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week.

(6) No contracted emergency shelters shall refuse to accept and provide care for children because of a minor illness or injury.

(7) A contracted emergency shelter staff member shall discuss program goals, available services and rules governing conduct with each resident upon admission to the shelter. This discussion must be documented by the facility employee on a form developed by each facility. The employee and resident must sign the completed form. This requirement does not apply to contracted emergency shelters which serve infants or children not capable of understanding due to a disability.

(8) All contracted emergency shelters shall maintain a system of accounting for the whereabouts of all children.

(9) All contracted emergency shelters shall cooperate with the Department’s counselors who place clients in a contracted shelter program by enrolling the children in school or by providing an educational component in the shelter, in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements and the local school system’s policies and procedures.

(10) All contracted emergency shelters shall have on the premises individual records which contain the placing counselor’s name, the child’s name and home address, the date of the placement, the reason for placement, and any significant medical history.

Rulemaking Authority 409.175(5)(a), F.S. Law Implemented 409.175, F.S. History–New _____.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Courtney Smith

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Mike Carroll

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 5, 2017

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 15, 2017