‘It's A Big Step For Florida': House Approves Changes To Language In State Law Describing Black Children

Florida Phoenix

March 1, 2022

Following Democrats raising concerns over an existing state law, the Florida House on Tuesday approved legislation that would define what it means to be a Black child in Florida’s welfare system.

“It’s a big step for Florida,” said state Rep. Patricia Williams, a Democrat representing part of Broward County. Lawmakers applauded in the Florida House chamber on Tuesday.

Williams, a member of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, pushed the significant change that led to GOP members supporting a move to find more appropriate language to define Black kids from the child welfare system.

Initially, Williams moved to change the current state law that defines a “special needs child” as a child of “Black or racially mixed parentage.” She felt that it was inappropriate and racist terminology. Though she faced hurdles, lawmakers approved Tuesday the change to use “difficult to place” children rather than “special needs” children in the child welfare system.

The sponsor of the bill is state Rep. Lauren Melo, a Republican representing Hendry and part of Collier counties. The term “special needs child” would be replaced with a “difficult to place” child in state law – though the Senate would still need to approve the bill.

“Last week, we worked on a Florida statute where it identified children, Black or racially mixed as special needs children…It’s a big step for Florida to change that statute,” said Williams.

And instead of using the terms “Black or racially mixed parentage,” the new language would be replaced with “a member of a racial group that is disproportionally represented among children,” according to the bill.

Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls declared that he would work with state lawmakers to make that change to the state law, Williams told members during Tuesday’s session in the Florida House.

“Our Speaker, [Florida House Speaker Chris] Sprowls stated in his message that he would find a vehicle so that we can change the statute of Florida to make it better for the children that we serve,” she said. “And I feel that a man is only as good as his word.”

Melo said: “Finally, the bill amends various sections of statute by changing the term “special needs” to “difficult to place” to accurately reflect the intent as it relates to children who would benefit from adoption assistance programs.

Williams told the Florida Phoenix this week that the existing state law categorizing Black kids in the child welfare system as a “special needs” child “is proof that racism is still very much alive.”

In mid-February, Black lawmakers raised concerns over the language in existing state law that defines a “special needs child” as a child “of black or racially mixed parentage” during a state House session.

And at the time, the issue involving the language in existing law came up following an initiative led by Florida House Speaker Sprowls, to boost fatherhood and mentorship programs through another bill, HB 7065. Although the fatherhood bill received bipartisan support, several members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus prompted conversation about the statute that included inappropriate language.

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