Enacting Legislation

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County was established in 1988 after the Juvenile Welfare Services Act was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by the Governor in 1986 (Florida Statutes 125.901). This enabling legislation provided that any county in Florida, whose voters agreed through referendum, could create a special taxing district for children’s services with a governing board and the authority to levy ad valorem taxes.

At a special Public Hearing on July 28, 1988, child advocates, business leaders, citizens, and service providers urged the Board of County Commissioners to authorize a referendum for voter approval. That resolution was approved, and on October 4, 1988, the Hillsborough County voters passed the referendum which created the Children’s Board.