Someone correct me if I'M wrong, but DCF is already in this case. If Pinellas County could control the State DCF Agency, there is no way the DCF would be in the case now. All we are talking about is the DCF taking the protective custody step...they have already taken all the steps leading up to it. Logic tells me Pinellas DCF is no more able to stop protective custody than they were able to stop the other steps.
You are right. If it is handled at the State DCF level, the local office would have to answer to them.
The State office would trump the local office, or at the very least, the local office would have to do whatever the State mandates under law.
Again, DCF not only has the right to legally intervene, they have a duty.