LibGuides: Florida Laws on Maintaining Sibling Groups by Claire Salitsky: Legislative History

Prayer for the Legislative Committee at the beginning of the Process

"Dear God,

it is with a deep sense of reverence and awe that we come before you today, this opening day [sic] of the 100th Regular Session.

We acknowledge your sovereignty as our creator. We not only acknowledge your sovereignty, but we invite your blessings and your help. May each Representative be sensitive to the need for divine direction as they enter into the deliberations that will affect not only their lives, but the lives of their constituents around this great state. Give them an understanding of their high calling, and may they acknowledge and respect their duty to punish evil and to reward good.

Lord, we would ask a special measure of strength be given to each of these chosen Representatives: strength to stand for that which is right; strength to make correct decisions; courage, if necessary, to stand alone in the pursuit of that which is right. Help them to understand they are servants of the people. Help them to be sensitive to the needs of every man and woman and boy and girl represented by them. And may they make each decision with integrity and uprightness.

We pray that every decision will result in making our state a better place to live for our families, for our children, and for our elderly, who have chosen our state as the place to live in the sunset of their lives. May each decision made bring honor upon us as a leader in our United States.

We ask you now, dear Lord, to give each of these, your servants, an extra measure of physical strength to endure the long hours of work. Give them strength to do their job and still have time and energy to maintain their families and personal life. May they seek and know your intervention in the affairs that are before them.

Now, God, we ask you to bless each Member of this House, its honorable leadership, and each person who works to make Florida a great state. God bless our dear state, and God bless the United States of America.

Amen."

Reverend Bruce E. Turner of West Gate Baptist Church of Tampa

Legislative History of Legislative Intent in Florida Adoption Act

Legislative History for Chapter 63: Adoption: 63.022 Legislative Intent

Important revisions:

Laws 1991, c. 91-99, § 1, eff. May 24, 1991, in subsec. (1), included maintaining sibling groups as part of the legislative intent.

Laws 2001, c. 2001-3, § 6, rewrote this section, which formerly read: “(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect and promote the well-being of persons being adopted and their birth and adoptive parents and to provide to all children who can benefit by it a permanent family life, and, whenever possible, to maintain sibling groups... (m) In dependency cases initiated by the department, where termination of parental rights occurs, and siblings are separated despite diligent efforts of the department, continuing postadoption communication or contact among the siblings may be ordered by the court if found to be in the best interests of the children.”

Laws 2003, c. 2003-58, § 1, rewrote this section, which formerly read: “(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect and promote the well- being of persons being adopted and their birth and adoptive parents and to provide to all children who can benefit by it a permanent family life, and, whenever possible, to maintain sibling groups... (m) In dependency cases initiated by the department, where termination of parental rights occurs, and siblings are separated despite diligent efforts of the department, continuing postadoption communication or contact among the siblings may be ordered by the court if found to be in the best interests of the children.”

Current Section: "(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect and promote the well-being of persons being adopted and their birth and adoptive parents and to provide to all children who can benefit by it a permanent family life, and, whenever appropriate, to maintain sibling groups... (l) In dependency cases initiated by the department, where termination of parental rights occurs, and siblings are separated despite diligent efforts of the department, continuing postadoption communication or contact among the siblings may be ordered by the court if found to be in the best interests of the children."

Legislative History of Legislative Intent Regarding Proceedings Related to Children

Legislative History for Chapter 39: Proceedings Related to Children: 39.001. Purposes and intent; personnel standards and screening

Current: "(1) Purposes of chapter.--The purposes of this chapter are: (k) To make every possible effort, when two or more children who are in the care or under the supervision of the department are siblings, to place the siblings in the same home; and in the event of permanent placement of the siblings, to place them in the same adoptive home or, if the siblings are separated, to keep them in contact with each other."