A Sarasota lawmaker wants to put in place more stringent protections for those working and living in Florida’s foster care homes.
Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland filed a bill (HB 287) that would introduce new public records exemptions to protect the personal identifying and location information of individuals associated with family foster homes.[1]
This would include current and former owners and operators of family foster homes that are licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), their spouses and children, including biological, adopted and foster children placed in their care by DCF.[2]
DCF’s Foster Parent Handbook already provides essential guidance to foster parents, which includes being advised to maintain confidentiality about the child’s case and background to keep their home and the child safe.[3]
According to the bill’s text, the Legislature has found that disclosing private information like addresses poses a serious risk to the safety and privacy of foster families.
It further notes that children placed into foster care are often removed from abusive and dangerous environments and revealing the children’s location could allow biological parents or others to find and harm them.[4]
Information exempted from disclosure would include home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, places of employment, photographs and the name and locations of schools and day care facilities used by their children.
The Legislature further finds that foster parents could face retaliation or harassment from individuals who are upset about children being placed into foster care. Any public access to this data could result in identity theft, fraud, or unauthorized access to sensitive personal, financial or medical information.
According to Florida Health Charts, as of 2024 there were approximately 20,627 children in foster care in Florida, but this number has decreased significantly every year since it peaked at 25,475 children in 2021. This is due in part to statewide efforts to improve family reunification and reducing the length of time children spend in foster care.[5]
The exemption would shield foster parents and their families from these potential threats, ensuring the children in their care are kept in a safe and stable environment.
The bill is subject to a sunset clause that will automatically repeal on Oct. 2, 2031, unless reenacted by the Legislature.
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
References
- ^ HB 287 (flhouse.gov)
- ^ DCF (www.myflfamilies.com)
- ^ Foster Parent Handbook (www.myflfamilies.com)
- ^ foster care (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Florida Health Charts (www.flhealthcharts.gov)