Fla. Stat. § 985.66 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 985 / Part XI / Section 985.66
985.66 Juvenile justice training; staff development and training; Juvenile Justice Training Trust Fund.
Status: in_force

(1) LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE. — In order to enable the state to provide a systematic approach to staff development and training for judges, state attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, school district personnel, and juvenile justice program staff that will meet the needs of such persons in their discharge of duties while at the same time meeting the requirements for the American Correction Association accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, it is the purpose of the Legislature to require the department to establish, maintain, and oversee the operation of juvenile justice training, programs, and courses in the state. The purpose of the Legislature in establishing staff development and training programs is to provide employees of the department, any private or public entity, or contract providers who provide services or care for children under the responsibility of the department with the knowledge and skills needed to appropriately interact with children and provide such care and services; to positively impact the recidivism of children in the juvenile justice system; and to afford greater protection of the public through an improved level of services delivered by a professionally trained juvenile justice staff to children who are alleged to be or who have been found to be delinquent.

(2) STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING. — The department shall: (a) Designate the number and location of the training programs and courses; assess, design, develop, implement, evaluate, maintain, and update the curriculum to be used in the training of juvenile justice staff; establish timeframes for participation in and completion of training by juvenile justice staff; develop, implement, score, analyze, maintain, and update job-related examinations; develop, implement, analyze, and update the types and frequencies for evaluations of the training programs, courses, and instructors; and manage the budget and contracts for all the training deliverables. (b) Establish uniform minimum job-related preservice and inservice training courses and examinations for juvenile justice program staff. (c) Consult and cooperate with the state or any political subdivision; any private entity or contractor; and with private and public universities, colleges, community colleges, and other educational institutions concerning the development of juvenile justice training and programs or courses of instruction, including, but not limited to, education and training in the areas of juvenile justice. (d) Enter into contracts and agreements with other agencies, organizations, associations, corporations, individuals, or federal agencies as necessary in the execution of the powers of the department or the performance of its duties.

(3) JUVENILE JUSTICE TRAINING PROGRAM. — The department shall establish a certifiable program for juvenile justice training pursuant to this section, and all department program staff and providers who deliver direct care services pursuant to contract with the department shall be required to participate in and successfully complete the department-approved program of training pertinent to their areas of responsibility. Judges, state attorneys, and public defenders, law enforcement officers, school district personnel, and employees of contract providers who provide services or care for children under the responsibility of the department may participate in such training program. For the juvenile justice program staff, the department shall, based on a job-task analysis: (a) Design, implement, maintain, evaluate, and revise a basic training program, including a competency-based examination, for the purpose of providing minimum employment training qualifications for all juvenile justice personnel. All program staff of the department and providers who deliver direct-care services who are hired after October 1, 1999, must meet the following minimum requirements: 1. Be at least 19 years of age. 2. Be a high school graduate or its equivalent as determined by the department. 3. Not have been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any person who, after September 30, 1999, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement is not eligible for employment, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subparagraph, any person who pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement before October 1, 1999, and who has had such record of that plea sealed or expunged is not ineligible for employment for that reason. 4. Abide by all of s. 985.644(1) regarding fingerprinting and background investigations and other screening requirements for personnel. 5. Execute and submit to the department an affidavit-of-application form, adopted by the department, attesting to his or her compliance with subparagraphs 1.-4. The affidavit must be executed under oath and constitutes an official statement under s. 837.06. The affidavit must include conspicuous language that the intentional false execution of the affidavit constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree. The employing agency shall retain the affidavit. (b) Design, implement, maintain, evaluate, and revise an advanced training program, including a competency-based examination for each training course, which is intended to enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities related to job performance. (c) Design, implement, maintain, evaluate, and revise a career development training program, including a competency-based examination for each training course. Career development courses are intended to prepare personnel for promotion. (d) The department is encouraged to design, implement, maintain, evaluate, and revise juvenile justice training courses, or to enter into contracts for such training courses, that are intended to provide for the safety and well-being of both citizens and juvenile offenders.

(4) JUVENILE JUSTICE TRAINING TRUST FUND. — (a) There is created within the State Treasury a Juvenile Justice Training Trust Fund to be used by the department for the purpose of funding the development and updating of a job-task analysis of juvenile justice personnel; the development, implementation, and updating of job-related training courses and examinations; and the cost of juvenile justice training courses. (b) One dollar from every noncriminal traffic infraction collected pursuant to ss. 318.14(10)(b) and 318.18 shall be deposited into the Juvenile Justice Training Trust Fund. (c) In addition to the funds generated by paragraph (b), the trust fund may receive funds from any other public or private source. (d) Funds that are not expended by the end of the budget cycle or through a supplemental budget approved by the department shall revert to the trust fund.

(5) ESTABLISHMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE TRAINING ACADEMIES. — The number, location, and establishment of juvenile justice training academies shall be determined by the department.

(6) SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS. — The department shall establish criteria to award scholarships or stipends to qualified juvenile justice personnel who are residents of the state who want to pursue a bachelor’s or associate in arts degree in juvenile justice or a related field. The department shall handle the administration of the scholarship or stipend. The Department of Education shall handle the notes issued for the payment of the scholarships or stipends. All scholarship and stipend awards shall be paid from the Juvenile Justice Training Trust Fund upon vouchers approved by the Department of Education and properly certified by the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to the award of a scholarship or stipend, the juvenile justice employee must agree in writing to practice her or his profession in juvenile justice or a related field for 1 month for each month of grant or to repay the full amount of the scholarship or stipend together with interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum over a period not to exceed 10 years. Repayment shall be made payable to the state for deposit into the Juvenile Justice Training Trust Fund.

(7) PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS IN THE STATE RISK MANAGEMENT TRUST FUND. — Pursuant to s. 284.30, the Division of Risk Management of the Department of Financial Services is authorized to insure a private agency, individual, or corporation operating a state-owned training school under a contract to carry out the purposes and responsibilities of any program of the department. The coverage authorized herein shall be under the same general terms and conditions as the department is insured for its responsibilities under chapter 284.

History: s. 5, ch. 90-208; s. 3, ch. 91-74; s. 21, ch. 91-201; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 21, ch. 94-209; s. 1336, ch. 95-147; s. 53, ch. 95-280; s. 1, ch. 97-215; s. 66, ch. 97-238; s. 26, ch. 98-207; s. 19, ch. 99-284; s. 25, ch. 2000-122; s. 48, ch. 2000-135; s. 1940, ch. 2003-261; s. 90, ch. 2006-120; s. 9, ch. 2006-296; s. 13, ch. 2011-70; s. 118, ch. 2013-18; s. 36, ch. 2014-162.