Florida subcommittee adopts amendment to streamline foster-youth supports, reports bill favorably

Representative Trubulsi presented House bill 7.63 to the Florida House Health Care Budget Subcommittee on Feb. 24, 2026, saying the measure would clarify procedures for psychotropic prescriptions for children in DCF custody, reduce duplicative background screenings for certain dependent children under 21, and—initially—had proposed extending Postsecondary Education Services and Support (PES) eligibility to age 26. "This change would not expand the program's intent," she said when outlining the original PES language.

The sponsor offered amendment barcode 093171, which the committee adopted without objection. The amendment removes the PES extension language from the bill and adds several provisions: it requires the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and community-based care agencies to regularly engage organizations representing youth with lived foster-care experience and to publicly report how that feedback is used; it clarifies reasonable and prudent parent standards so caregivers can permit age-appropriate activities; and it establishes a modest weekly allowance for foster youth ages 13 to 17 that "cannot be withheld as punishment," according to the amendment text presented to the committee.

Supporters waived in for the record but did not testify: Karen Mazzola of the Florida Parent Teacher Association, Barney Bishop of the Florida Smart Justice Alliance, Victoria Zepp of Family Support Services, and Mark Wavensport (proponent). Representative Burfield told the panel the allowance is "a magnificent idea" to teach young people financial responsibility, and Representative Tant linked the measure to personal family experience in support of expanded foster-youth assistance.

In closing, Representative Trubulsi noted existing PES living-stipend rules, saying students may receive living accommodations payments when enrolled in qualifying credit hours and described the sponsor's intent to continue the policy conversation despite budgetary constraints. She also thanked the Selfless Love Foundation for its advocacy on behalf of foster youth.

The clerk called the final vote; members present voted to report House bill 7.63 favorably. The roll-call exchange in committee recorded 12 yes votes and no nays; several members were listed earlier as excused. Chair Andrade announced the bill was "reported favorably." The committee had no further business and adjourned.

Next steps: the favorable committee report sends the amended bill forward in the House process; the transcript does not specify subsequent committee assignments, floor action dates, or fiscal impact figures.