PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A invoice now heading to the governor’s desk guarantees to assist preserve kids on the best path. Florida lawmakers handed laws that prioritizes early intervention, guaranteeing at-risk youth obtain the help they want.
In a bi-partisan push, the legislation revamps state statue to create a extra environment friendly and responsive juvenile justice framework.
The invoice goals to enhance company coordination with a deal with selling training, strengthening households, and stopping youth from being concerned in legal conduct.
“As a former Division of Kids and Households legal professional, I’ve witnessed how delayed interventions, and systemic crimson tape can derail a baby’s future. I’ve seen mother and father begging for assist, and I’ve seen the implications when assist comes too late,” stated State Rep. Bracy Davis (D- Ocoee).
Sponsors of the invoice say faculties, courts, service suppliers, and households now all have a task to play in constructing a greater path ahead for Florida’s youth.
“These are youth who’re operating away from dwelling. They are not exhibiting as much as faculty. They’re proper there on the cusp of one thing completely different — whether or not that is dependency or delinquency — and so the providers are there to ensure that they do not go down that path,” stated State Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole).
Jacques added that one necessary piece of the invoice focuses on enhancing the training system and addressing scholar attendance points.
“Because the pandemic, sadly in Florida, we have seen a drop in attendance on the subject of faculty. So proper now, with this invoice, we have added further measures for the faculties to trace what number of absences are occurring and so they should report these in a extra strong trend — and never simply the variety of absences, however who’s absent so we are able to begin intervening in a really early stage,” Jacques stated.
Consultant Jacques labored alongside the Division of Justice to get the invoice throughout the end line. He says this was a precedence for the governor’s administration and expects him to signal the invoice into legislation.
