Chapter 984 — Chapter 984

(1) The purposes of this chapter are:(a) To provide judicial and other procedures to assure due process through which children and other interested parties are assured fair hearings by a respectful and respected court or other tribunal and the recognition, protection, and enforce…

(1) GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.—It is a purpose of the Legislature that the children of this state be provided with the following protections:(a) Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.(b) A permanent and stable home.(c) A safe and nurturing environment which will…

When used in this chapter, the term:(1) “Abandoned” means a situation in which the parent or legal custodian of a child or, in the absence of a parent or legal custodian, the person responsible for the child’s welfare, while being able, makes no provision for the child’s support …

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to address the problems of families in need of services by providing them with an array of services designed to preserve the unity and integrity of the family and to emphasize parental responsibility for the behavior of their children. Serv…

(1) The judge, clerks or deputy clerks, or authorized agents of the department shall each have the power to administer oaths and affirmations.(2) The court shall make and keep records of all cases brought before it pursuant to this chapter and shall preserve the records pertainin…

If counsel is entitled to receive compensation for representation pursuant to court appointment in a child-in-need-of-services proceeding, such compensation shall not exceed $1,000 at the trial level and $2,500 at the appellate level.

(1) The Department of Juvenile Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Education, shall develop and publish an information packet that explains the current process under this chapter for obtaining assistance for a child in need…

The court may appoint an attorney to represent a parent or legal guardian under this chapter only upon a finding that the parent or legal guardian is indigent pursuant to s. 57.082. If an attorney is appointed, the parent or legal guardian shall be enrolled in a payment plan purs…

(1)(a) A person who is not an authorized agent of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Children and Families may not knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more than 24 hours without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian or without notifying a law enf…

The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Families shall encourage interagency cooperation within each circuit and shall develop comprehensive agreements between the staff and providers for each department in order to coordinate the services provided t…

(1) CONTEMPT OF COURT; LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—The court may punish any child for contempt for interfering with the court or with court administration, or for violating any provision of this chapter or order of the court relative thereto. It is the intent of the Legislature that the …

(1) Intake shall be performed by the department. A report or complaint alleging that a child is from a family in need of services shall be made to the intake office operating in the county in which the child is found or in which the case arose. Any person or agency, including, bu…

(1) Services and treatment to families in need of services shall be by voluntary agreement of the parent or legal guardian and the child or as directed by a court order pursuant to s. 984.22.(2) These services may include, but need not be limited to:(a) Homemaker or parent aide s…

(1) The appropriate representative of the department shall request a meeting of the family and child with a case staffing committee to review the case of any family or child who the department determines is in need of services or treatment if:(a) The family or child is not in agr…

(1) A child may be taken into custody:(a) By a law enforcement officer when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the child has run away from his or her parents, guardian, or other legal custodian.(b) By a law enforcement officer when the officer has reasonable groun…

(1) Unless ordered by the court pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or upon voluntary consent to placement by the child and the child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian, a child taken into custody shall not be placed in a shelter prior to a court hearing unless a dete…

(1) All proceedings seeking an adjudication that a child is a child in need of services shall be initiated by the filing of a petition by an attorney representing the department or by the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian. If a child in need of services has been placed…

(1) If the school determines that a student subject to compulsory school attendance has had at least five unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a calendar month or 10 unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a 9…

(1) Personal appearance of any person in a hearing before the court shall obviate the necessity of serving process on that person.(2) Upon the filing of a petition containing allegations of facts which, if true, would constitute the child therein being named a child in need of se…

(1) At the time a petition is filed, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child.(2) No answer to the petition or any other pleading need be filed by any child, parent, or legal custodian, but any matters which might be set forth in an answer or other pleading may be …

(1) At any stage in a child-in-need-of-services proceeding, the case staffing committee or any party may request the court to refer the parties to mediation in accordance with chapter 44 and rules and procedures developed by the Supreme Court.(2) A court may refer the parties to …

(1) When any child is to be placed in shelter care, the department is authorized to have a medical screening performed on the child without authorization from the court and without consent from a parent or guardian. Such medical screening shall be performed by a licensed health c…

(1) ARRAIGNMENT HEARING.—(a) When a child has been taken into custody by order of the court, an arraignment hearing shall be held within 7 days after the date the child is taken into custody. The hearing shall be held for the child and the parent, guardian, or custodian to admit,…

(1) If the court finds that the child named in a petition is not a child in need of services, it shall enter an order so finding and dismissing the case.(2) If the court finds that the child named in the petition is a child in need of services, but finds that no action other than…

(1) If the court finds that services and treatment have not been provided or utilized by a child or family, the court having jurisdiction of the child shall have the power to direct the least intrusive and least restrictive disposition, as follows:(a) Order the parent, guardian, …

(1) Subject to specific legislative appropriation, the court may order that a child adjudicated as a child in need of services be placed for up to 90 days in a staff-secure shelter if:(a) The child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian refuses to provide food, clothing, shelter,…

(1) Subject to specific legislative appropriation, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall establish physically secure settings designated exclusively for the placement of children in need of services who meet the criteria provided in this section.(2) When a petition is filed al…

In all proceedings under this chapter, no court fees shall be charged against, and no witness fees shall be allowed to, any party to a petition or any parent or legal custodian or child named in a summons. Other witnesses shall be paid the witness fees fixed by law.

The state, any child, or the family, guardian ad litem, or legal custodian of any child who is affected by an order of the court pursuant to this chapter may appeal to the appropriate district court of appeal within the time and in the manner prescribed by the Florida Rules of Ap…