Florida Statute 20.19 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title IV
EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Chapter 20
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

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F.S. 20.19

20.19 Department of Children and Families.—There is created a Department of Children and Families.

(1) MISSION AND PURPOSE.—

(a) The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

(b) The department shall develop a strategic plan for fulfilling its mission and establish a set of measurable goals, objectives, performance standards and metrics, and quality assurance requirements to ensure that the department is accountable to the people of Florida. Such goals shall, at a minimum, include those specified in s. 409.986(2).

(c) To the extent allowed by law and within specific appropriations, the department shall deliver services by contract through private providers.

(2) SECRETARY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES; DEPUTY SECRETARY.—

(a) The head of the department is the Secretary of Children and Families. The secretary is appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

(b) The secretary shall appoint a deputy secretary who shall act in the absence of the secretary. The deputy secretary is directly responsible to the secretary, performs such duties as are assigned by the secretary, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary.

(3) ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.—

(a) Child welfare.—

1. The secretary shall appoint an Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare to lead the department in carrying out its duties and responsibilities for child protection and child welfare. The assistant secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

2. The assistant secretary must have at least 7 years of experience working in organizations that deliver child protective or child welfare services.

(b) Substance abuse and mental health.—

1. The secretary shall appoint an Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health. The assistant secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and must have expertise in both areas of responsibility.

2. The secretary shall appoint a Director for Substance Abuse and Mental Health who has the requisite expertise and experience to head the state’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office.

(4) SERVICES PROVIDED.—

(a) The department, through offices, shall provide services relating to:

1. Adult protection.

2. Child care regulation.

3. Child welfare.

4. Domestic violence.

5. Economic self-sufficiency.

6. Homelessness.

7. Mental health.

8. Refugees.

9. Substance abuse.

(b) Offices of the department may be consolidated, restructured, or rearranged by the secretary, in consultation with the Executive Office of the Governor, provided any such consolidation, restructuring, or rearranging is capable of meeting functions and activities and achieving outcomes as delineated in state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. The secretary may appoint additional managers and administrators as he or she determines are necessary for the effective management of the department.

(c) Each fiscal year the secretary shall, in consultation with the relevant employee representatives, develop projections of the number of child abuse and neglect cases and shall include in the department’s legislative budget request a specific appropriation for funds and positions for the next fiscal year in order to provide an adequate number of full-time equivalent:

1. Child protection investigation workers so that caseloads do not exceed the Child Welfare League Standards by more than two cases; and

2. Child protection case workers so that caseloads do not exceed the Child Welfare League Standards by more than two cases.

(5) COMMUNITY ALLIANCES.—

(a) The department shall, in consultation with local communities, establish a community alliance or similar group of the stakeholders, community leaders, client representatives and funders of human services in each county to provide a focal point for community participation and governance of community-based services. An alliance may cover more than one county when such arrangement is determined to provide for more effective representation. The community alliance shall represent the diversity of the community.

(b) The duties of the community alliance include, but are not limited to:

1. Joint planning for resource utilization in the community, including resources appropriated to the department and any funds that local funding sources choose to provide.

2. Needs assessment and establishment of community priorities for service delivery.

3. Determining community outcome goals to supplement state-required outcomes.

4. Serving as a catalyst for community resource development, including, but not limited to, identifying existing programs and services delivered by and assistance available from community-based and faith-based organizations, and encouraging the development and availability of such programs, services, and assistance by such organizations. The community alliance shall ensure that the community-based care lead agency is aware of such programs, services, and assistance and work to facilitate the lead agency’s appropriate use of these resources.

5. Providing for community education and advocacy on issues related to delivery of services.

6. Promoting prevention and early intervention services.

(c) The department shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the formation of each community alliance builds on the strengths of the existing community human services infrastructure.

(d) The membership of the community alliance in a county shall at a minimum be composed of the following:

1. A representative from the department.

2. A representative from county government.

3. A representative from the school district.

4. A representative from the county United Way.

5. A representative from the county sheriff’s office.

6. A representative from the circuit court corresponding to the county.

7. A representative from the county children’s board, if one exists.

8. A representative of a faith-based organization involved in efforts to prevent child maltreatment, strengthen families, or promote adoption.

(e) The community alliance shall adopt bylaws and may increase the membership of the alliance to include the state attorney for the judicial circuit in which the community alliance is located, or his or her designee, the public defender for the judicial circuit in which the community alliance is located, or his or her designee, and other individuals and organizations who represent funding organizations, are community leaders, have knowledge of community-based service issues, or otherwise represent perspectives that will enable them to accomplish the duties listed in paragraph (b), if, in the judgment of the alliance, such change is necessary to adequately represent the diversity of the population within the community alliance service circuits.

(f) A member of the community alliance, other than a member specified in paragraph (d), may not receive payment for contractual services from the department or a community-based care lead agency.

(g) Members of the community alliances shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061. Payment may also be authorized for preapproved child care expenses or lost wages for members who are consumers of the department’s services and for preapproved child care expenses for other members who demonstrate hardship.

(h) Members of a community alliance are subject to the provisions of part III of chapter 112, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.

(i) Actions taken by a community alliance must be consistent with department policy and state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

(j) Alliance members shall annually submit a disclosure statement of services interests to the department’s inspector general. Any member who has an interest in a matter under consideration by the alliance must abstain from voting on that matter.

(k) All alliance meetings are open to the public pursuant to s. 286.011 and the public records provision of s. 119.07(1).

(6) CONSULTATION WITH COUNTIES ON MANDATED PROGRAMS.—It is the intent of the Legislature that when county governments are required by law to participate in the funding of programs, the department shall consult with designated representatives of county governments in developing policies and service delivery plans for those programs.

History.—s. 19, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, ch. 70-441; ss. 1, 4, ch. 71-213; s. 1, ch. 73-99; s. 1, ch. 73-114; s. 1, ch. 74-107; ss. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 29, 31, 32, 34, ch. 75-48; ss. 1, 2, ch. 76-115; s. 1, ch. 77-174; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 77-212; s. 4, ch. 78-323; s. 2, ch. 79-10; s. 1, ch. 79-26; s. 63, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 79-265; ss. 1, 2, 5, ch. 79-287; s. 8, ch. 80-187; s. 1, ch. 80-202; s. 8, ch. 80-374; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 81-83; ss. 7, 8, 9, ch. 81-184; ss. 1, 4, 5, ch. 81-237; s. 12, ch. 81-259; s. 1, ch. 81-290; ss. 1, 4, ch. 82-46; ss. 1, 2, ch. 82-100; s. 5, ch. 82-213; s. 1, ch. 83-89; ss. 1, 11, ch. 83-177; s. 1, ch. 83-181; s. 2, ch. 83-215; s. 3, ch. 83-216; s. 2, ch. 83-230; ss. 2, 3, ch. 83-265; ss. 13, 17, ch. 84-226; s. 3, ch. 85-80; s. 1, ch. 85-270; s. 1, ch. 86-66; s. 1, ch. 86-220; ss. 1, 2, ch. 87-140; s. 2, ch. 88-235; s. 9, ch. 88-337; s. 15, ch. 88-398; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 89-1; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 89-92; s. 4, ch. 89-215; s. 2, ch. 89-296; s. 2, ch. 90-247; s. 1, ch. 90-339; s. 1, ch. 91-14; s. 1, ch. 91-158; s. 5, ch. 91-429; ss. 9, 110, ch. 92-33; s. 3, ch. 92-58; s. 1, ch. 92-174; s. 1, ch. 93-200; s. 3, ch. 94-124; s. 7, ch. 94-209; s. 1317, ch. 95-147; s. 9, ch. 95-153; s. 50, ch. 96-175; s. 5, ch. 96-403; s. 6, ch. 97-237; s. 28, ch. 97-286; s. 1, ch. 98-25; s. 1, ch. 98-137; s. 1, ch. 98-280; s. 120, ch. 98-403; s. 5, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 99-7; s. 2, ch. 2000-135; s. 2, ch. 2000-139; s. 4, ch. 2000-158; s. 1, ch. 2001-68; s. 1, ch. 2002-63; ss. 3, 5, ch. 2003-279; s. 29, ch. 2003-399; s. 69, ch. 2004-267; s. 12, ch. 2004-269; s. 1, ch. 2004-356; s. 1, ch. 2005-3; s. 2, ch. 2005-152; s. 3, ch. 2006-50; s. 8, ch. 2006-171; s. 2, ch. 2012-84; s. 1, ch. 2014-224; s. 1, ch. 2020-152.

F.S. 20.19 on Google Scholar

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Amendments to 20.19

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 20.19

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S20.19 - OBSTRUCT - DELETE NO OFF OR PENALTY - I: N

Cases Citing Statute 20.19

Total Results: 35

STATE, DEPT. OF HEALTH & REHAB. SERVS. v. Brooke

573 So. 2d 363

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 2, 1991 | Docket: 479226

Cited 22 times | Published

secretary's executive discretion. See section 20.19(9)(a) and (b). Section 20.19(9) is a corollary to sections

United States v. State of Alabama

691 F.3d 1269, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 17516, 2012 WL 3553503

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Aug 20, 2012 | Docket: 1090290

Cited 21 times | Published

Sutherland Statutory Construction § 20:19 (7th ed. 2009). 14 . It does not

South Fla. Blood Serv. v. Rasmussen

467 So. 2d 798, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 1041

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 23, 1985 | Docket: 1274427

Cited 18 times | Published

the spread of infectious diseases. See, e.g., § 20.19(1)(g), Fla. Stat. (1983). [10] The value we place

Doris Freyre v. Chad Cronister

910 F.3d 1371

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Dec 14, 2018 | Docket: 8409183

Cited 15 times | Published

sovereign immunity. See Fla. Stat. § 20.19 . This relationship is governed by the Grant

Shinholster v. Graham

527 F. Supp. 1318

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 1981 | Docket: 2269584

Cited 10 times | Published

Human Rights Advocacy Committees established in Section 20.19, Florida Statutes (Supp.1980), fail to meet

FLORIDA DEPT. OF HEALTH, ETC. v. Califano

449 F. Supp. 274

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 28, 1978 | Docket: 1212966

Cited 10 times | Published

75-48, Laws of Florida 1975, Florida Statutes § 20.19. This reorganization was incorporated into Florida's

Bde v. Dept. of Children and Family Ser.

829 So. 2d 359, 2002 WL 31431796

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 1, 2002 | Docket: 1454225

Cited 7 times | Published

Department of Children and Family Services, see § 20.19, Fla. Stat. (1993 & 2001)) took F.E. into custody

Procacci Commercial Realty v. DHRS

690 So. 2d 603

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 22, 1997 | Docket: 436408

Cited 7 times | Published

199, Laws of Fla. [3] As recently amended, section 20.19, Florida Statutes (Supp.1996), redesignates

Coral Imaging Services v. Geico Indem. Ins.

955 So. 2d 11, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 16469, 2006 WL 2819614

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 4, 2006 | Docket: 1659265

Cited 3 times | Published

70(3)(d); § 14.29(3)(b), (12); § 20.04(7)(a); § 20.19(6)(f); § 20.23(2)(a)3; § 27.34(2); § 27.711(3);

Turro v. DEPT. OF HLT. & REHAB. SERV.

458 So. 2d 345

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 12, 1984 | Docket: 1452443

Cited 2 times | Published

which consists of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Section 20.19(4)(a), Florida Statutes.

DEPT. OF CHILDREN & FAMILY v. Brunner

707 So. 2d 1197, 1998 WL 161269

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 9, 1998 | Docket: 1260200

Cited 1 times | Published

created. See ch. 96-403, § 5, Laws of Fla.; see also § 20.19(4)(b)4., Fla. Stat. (1997).

Florida Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Califano

449 F. Supp. 274, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18741

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 28, 1978 | Docket: 66133498

Cited 1 times | Published

75-48, Laws of Florida 1975, Florida Statutes § 20.19. This reorganization was incorporated into Florida’s

J. J. v. DEPT. OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 27, 2023 | Docket: 68117314

Published

promote strong families and protect individuals. See § 20.19(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2023). Its express primary mission

In the Interest of B.Y.G.m, a Minor

176 So. 3d 290, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 10729, 2015 WL 4268719

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 15, 2015 | Docket: 2674010

Published

administration of Chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes. See § 20.19, Fla. Stat. (2013) (“There is created a Department

In re Amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure

123 So. 3d 1128, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 697, 2013 WL 5476883, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 2139

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 3, 2013 | Docket: 60234859

Published

802(4)); ch.2012-84, § 2, Laws of Fla. (amending § 20.19, Fla. Stat.); eh.2013-21, § 3, Laws of Fla. (creating

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Dec 5, 2011 | Docket: 3257874

Published

substantially reworded s. 20.19, Fla. Stat. Section 20.19(6), Fla. Stat., requires the establishment of

FHR TB, LLC v. TB Isle Resort, LP.

865 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 2011 WL 4914715, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155752

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 2011 | Docket: 65981729

Published

notices under the HMA are to go to FHRUSI (Section 20.19, HMA) and because, as the HMA contemplates,

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Dec 10, 2004 | Docket: 3255388

Published

following question: Does the recent amendment to section 20.19(6), Florida Statutes, apply to current members

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Feb 21, 2002 | Docket: 3256133

Published

of a community alliance created pursuant to section 20.19(6), Florida Statutes, an officer, employee,

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Dec 27, 2000 | Docket: 3255792

Published

officers serve on Community Alliances pursuant to section 20.19(6), Florida Statutes, without violating the

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Mar 2, 1998 | Docket: 3258425

Published

department cannot identify any provision in either section 20.19, Florida Statutes, the organizational statute

Doe v. Chiles

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Feb 26, 1998 | Docket: 236696

Published

separate Department of Health. See Fla. Stat. Ann. § 20.19, .43 (West Supp. 1998). 2 Under

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Sep 8, 1997 | Docket: 3257625

Published

restrictions in section11.062, Florida Statutes. Section 20.19(7), Florida Statutes, creates at least one Health

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Sep 1, 1995 | Docket: 3257048

Published

Services Boards are established by state statute. Section 20.19, Florida Statutes, in setting forth the structure

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Mar 4, 1994 | Docket: 3256213

Published

Board is limited to the number prescribed by section 20.19(8)(a)10., Florida Statutes, or whether section

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Oct 26, 1993 | Docket: 3257075

Published

93-200, Laws of Florida. 4 Section 20.19(8)(k), F.S., id. 5 Section 20.19(8)(o)1.-6., F.S. (1992 Supp

State, Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Brooke

573 So. 2d 363, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 45

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 2, 1991 | Docket: 64655932

Published

secretary’s executive discretion. See section 20.19(9)(a) and (b). Section 20.19(9) is a corollary to sections

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Sep 27, 1988 | Docket: 3257342

Published

Administration to approve such bonus payments. Section 20.19(3), F.S., however, merely states that the Deputy

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Aug 8, 1988 | Docket: 3258954

Published

Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General RAB/tjw 1 Section 20.19(10)(g)1., F.S. And see, s. 20.19(9)(g)1., imposing

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Jan 14, 1987 | Docket: 3259021

Published

majority vote of the district committee members. Section 20.19(8)(a), supra. The duties of each district human

Turro v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services

458 So. 2d 345, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2195, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15459

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 12, 1984 | Docket: 64607811

Published

which consists of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Section 20.19(4)(a), Florida Statutes.

Human Rights Advocacy Committee for Developmental Services for District VIII v. Lee County School Board

457 So. 2d 522, 20 Educ. L. Rep. 1276, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2012, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15069

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 1984 | Docket: 64607398

Published

advocacy committee, is an entity created under section 20.19(7), Florida Statutes (Supp.1982), to receive

Doctors' Osteopathic Medical Center, Inc. v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services

459 So. 2d 1063, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 408, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 16610

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 7, 1984 | Docket: 64608473

Published

ordered. BOOTH and JOANOS, JJ., concur. . See Section 20.19(4)(a), Florida Statutes (1983). . See, Osteopathic

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Jul 15, 1980 | Docket: 3255255

Published

Services under the provisions of s. 827.09, F. S. Section 20.19(1)(b), F. S., states that it is the purpose

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Apr 3, 1980 | Docket: 3256121

Published

secretary for program planning and development. Section 20.19 specifically establishes the organizational