Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed into law two bills benefiting persons with disabilities. Crist signed the bills ceremonially, surrounded by individuals with disabilities, their families and advocates. The new legislation helps protect persons with disabilities from abuse and increases residential opportunities.
Joining Gov. Crist for the bill signings was Senate Bill 1166 sponsor Senator Thad Altman. Senate Bill 1166 increases opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to choose where they want to live. The bill alleviates restrictions for people with disabilities to allow them to live next to each other in residential communities, exempting them from the 1,000-foot rule if no more than three centers are located within a radius of 1,000 feet.
Sponsored by Representatives Marcelo Llorente and Dorothy Hukill, House Bill 1073 specifies that persons with developmental disabilities have the right to be free of abuse, neglect and exploitation. The legislation requires staff of facilities licensed by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities be trained in detecting and reporting client abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment. The bill also includes provisions to protect children with disabilities, such as providing guidelines for the safe use of seclusion and restraint of students. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to collect information on incidents of restraint and seclusion and to provide such information to parents and the Florida Department of Education.
