Governor Ron DeSantis today signed CS/HB 1087 – Domestic Violence Services, following the recently disclosed information regarding the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s (FCADV) untenable practices over the past several years.
CS/HB 1087 removes the FCADV from statute and allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to administer all programs related to domestic violence services so that survivors in need of these services can continue to receive vital care.
“The recent developments regarding the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence have been alarming and disturbing,” said Governor DeSantis. “Today’s bill signing is not a celebratory occasion, as it is the result of a deliberate abuse of state dollars, an inexcusable lack of transparency and a calculated breach of public trust. Floridians deserve greater accountability from their government, especially our most vulnerable citizens and survivors. I commend President Galvano and Speaker Oliva for taking swift action on this legislation so that DCF can ensure victims of domestic violence are receiving the care they need.”
“I’m extremely grateful for Governor DeSantis and our decisive legislative leaders who are unwilling to accept anything less than what the good, hard-working people of Florida deserve,” said DCF Secretary Chad Poppell. “By passing this bill and moving away from a sole-source, clearinghouse approach to providing domestic violence services, we can ensure that all organizations tasked with protecting Florida’s vulnerable populations – including survivors – do so with integrity and transparency that allows us to hold them accountable.”
“As chair of the Senate Health Care Appropriations Committee, transparency and accountability for state dollars are of the utmost importance,” said Senator Aaron Bean. “With the Governor’s leadership and the signing of HB 1087, it’s a new day in Florida when it comes to getting the needed dollars for services to the victims of domestic violence.”
“The bill signed by Governor DeSantis today gives the Department of Children and Families the necessary power to provide better care to one of our most vulnerable populations, victims of domestic violence,” said Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin. “The Coalition, a nonprofit substantially funded by taxpayers, has abysmally failed to show they can responsibly allocate taxpayer funds to accomplish their alleged purpose.”
For a PDF copy of the transmittal letter, click HERE.
