Florida SB 516: Emergency Refills of Insulin and Insulin-related Supplies or Equipment

Bill Text

516 
Domestic Violence Centers 
2025-11-17T05:50:56Z 
Prohibiting the Department of Children and Families from deeming the results of a home study unfavorable under certain circumstances; prohibiting the removal of a child from certain placement due to the child and his or her custodian or parent temporarily residing in a certified domestic violence center if certain requirements are met; prohibiting a court from making a certain finding solely due to a parent temporarily residing in a certified domestic violence center, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 516 

 By Senator Jones 

 34-00221A-26 2026516__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to domestic violence centers; amending 
 3 s. 39.521, F.S.; prohibiting the Department of 
 4 Children and Families from deeming the results of a 
 5 home study unfavorable under certain circumstances; 
 6 prohibiting the removal of a child from certain 
 7 placement due to the child and his or her custodian or 
 8 parent temporarily residing in a certified domestic 
 9 violence center if certain requirements are met; 
 10 prohibiting a court from making a certain finding 
 11 solely due to a parent temporarily residing in a 
 12 certified domestic violence center; amending s. 
 13 39.522, F.S.; providing that a child and his or her 
 14 caregiver temporarily residing in a certified domestic 
 15 violence center does not rebut a certain presumption 
 16 if certain requirements are met; providing an 
 17 effective date. 
 18 
 19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 20 
 21 Section 1. Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) and paragraph 
 22 (b) of subsection (3) of section 39.521, Florida Statutes, are 
 23 amended to read: 
 24 39.521 Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.— 
 25 (2) The family functioning assessment must provide the 
 26 court with the following documented information: 
 27 (o) If the child has been removed from the home and will be 
 28 remaining with a relative, parent, or other adult approved by 
 29 the court, a home study report concerning the proposed placement 
 30 shall be provided to the court. Before recommending to the court 
 31 any out-of-home placement for a child other than placement in a 
 32 licensed shelter or foster home, the department shall conduct a 
 33 study of the home of the proposed legal custodians, which must 
 34 include, at a minimum: 
 35 1. An interview with the proposed legal custodians to 
 36 assess their ongoing commitment and ability to care for the 
 37 child. 
 38 2. Records checks through the State Automated Child Welfare 
 39 Information System (SACWIS), and local and statewide criminal 
 40 and juvenile records checks through the Department of Law 
 41 Enforcement, on all household members 12 years of age or older. 
 42 In addition, the fingerprints of any household members who are 
 43 18 years of age or older may be submitted to the Department of 
 44 Law Enforcement for processing and forwarding to the Federal 
 45 Bureau of Investigation for state and national criminal history 
 46 information. The department has the discretion to request State 
 47 Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) and local, 
 48 statewide, and national criminal history checks and 
 49 fingerprinting of any other visitor to the home who is made 
 50 known to the department. Out-of-state criminal records checks 
 51 must be initiated for any individual who has resided in a state 
 52 other than Florida if that state’s laws allow the release of 
 53 these records. The out-of-state criminal records must be filed 
 54 with the court within 5 days after receipt by the department or 
 55 its agent. 
 56 3. An assessment of the physical environment of the home. 
 57 4. A determination of the financial security of the 
 58 proposed legal custodians. 
 59 5. A determination of suitable child care arrangements if 
 60 the proposed legal custodians are employed outside of the home. 
 61 6. Documentation of counseling and information provided to 
 62 the proposed legal custodians regarding the dependency process 
 63 and possible outcomes. 
 64 7. Documentation that information regarding support 
 65 services available in the community has been provided to the 
 66 proposed legal custodians. 
 67 8. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court 
 68 deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, 
 69 and experience to express a preference. 
 70 
 71 The department may not place the child or continue the placement 
 72 of the child in a home under shelter or postdisposition 
 73 placement if the results of the home study are unfavorable, 
 74 unless the court finds that this placement is in the child’s 
 75 best interest. The results of a home study may not be deemed 
 76 unfavorable solely due to the potential custodian temporarily 
 77 residing in a certified domestic violence center. A child may 
 78 n