Senate Bill 2490
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 2490
By Senators Kirkpatrick and Hargrett
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to economic development;
3 creating s. 414.224, F.S.; creating the
4 Retention Enhancing Communities Initiative;
5 providing for the selection of communities;
6 requiring solicitation of proposals; providing
7 for the selection of RECI participants by the
8 WAGES Program State Board of Directors;
9 providing for the appointment of liaisons;
10 authorizing the Governor to address barriers to
11 implementation of RECI proposals; providing for
12 the redirection of certain funds; providing for
13 RECI elements; requiring the Governor to
14 designate a coordinator; establishing a center
15 for community excellence; providing
16 appropriations for RECI elements; providing
17 restrictions of funds; providing for monitoring
18 and reporting; providing an effective date.
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20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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22 Section 1. Section 414.224, Florida Statutes, is
23 created to read:
24 414.224 Retention Enhancing Communities Initiative.--
25 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that
26 this state has numerous distressed urban cores with high
27 proportions of residents who are former and current WAGES
28 Program participants. The Legislature further finds that the
29 existence of strong neighborhoods and communities is crucial
30 to reduce recidivism among former WAGES Program participants,
31 and to create new jobs and promote job retention for current
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1 WAGES Program participants. Therefore, it is the intent of the
2 Legislature to create a program designed to develop these
3 communities with the help of, and for the benefit of, current
4 and former WAGES Program participants.
5 (2) CREATION.-- The Retention Enhancing Communities
6 Initiative (RECI) is created to leverage federal, state, and
7 local resources for community redevelopment initiatives that
8 promote job retention among WAGES Program participants.
9 Selected communities will identify and compete for projects
10 coordinated around the six community-enhancing elements of
11 community safety, community builders, community businesses,
12 community schools, community partnerships, and community
13 redevelopment.
14 (3) SELECTION OF RECI COMMUNITIES.--
15 (a) By July 1, 2000, the WAGES Program State Board of
16 Directors, in consultation with local WAGES coalitions, shall
17 identify 14 communities in the state's seven largest counties.
18 These communities must be compact, congruent, and contiguous
19 census tracts that have the highest concentrations of
20 residents who are current or former WAGES Program
21 participants. To the maximum extent possible, these
22 communities should coincide with federal empowerment zones,
23 enterprise zones established under chapter 290, Neighborhood
24 Improvement Districts established under chapter 163, community
25 redevelopment areas established under chapter 163, and Urban
26 High Crime Areas established under chapter 212. By August 1,
27 2000, the WAGES Program State Board of Directors must contract
28 with an independent entity to certify that the 14 communities
29 comply with the requirements of this section.
30 (b) By July 10, 2000, the WAGES Program State Board of
31 Directors shall solicit proposals from the communities
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1 identified for participation in RECI. The Governor shall
2 appoint a liaison from a state agency to assist with each
3 proposal and its implementation. The liaisons shall have the
4 full assistance of the Executive Office of the Governor, all
5 state agencies, and their employees. If a state employee is
6 not able to assist a liaison because of state law or
7 regulation, the liaison shall notify the Governor, the Office
8 of Urban Opportunity, and the Office of Program Policy
9 Analysis and Government Accountability concerning the impasse
10 and prepare proposals to resolve it. Upon a written request
11 from a liaison, the Governor may by executive order or
12 emergency rule address regulatory or procedural impasses to
13 enable prompt implementation of a community's proposal. Any
14 federal TANF funding appropriated by the state to benefit
15 WAGES participants, to assist needy families, or to promote
16 job placement and employment retention of WAGES participants
17 that is in excess of revenues necessary to fulfill the
18 appropriated purpose may, upon the written request of a
19 liaison, be redirected, notwithstanding any other provision of
20 law, with the approval of the Office of Urban Opportunity, the
21 WAGES Program State Board of Directors, and the Governor, to
22 support an approved project in a RECI community. Proposals
23 must be general in nature, no more than 20 pages long, and
24 include:
25 1. A brief plan describing how the community will
26 coordinate and incorporate the 6 RECI elements into the
27 community's redevelopment strategy;
28 2. Specific evidence of community support from
29 community-based organizations and local government for
30 participation in RECI;
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1 3. For each RECI element, identification and commitment
2 of local resources from community-based organizations, local
3 government, and others, to be leveraged by federal and state
4 resources;
5 4. Identification of the specific entity or person
6 responsible for coordinating the community's participation in
7 RECI; and
8 5. Identification of local administrative entities.
9 (c) Based on proposal evaluation criteria developed by
10 the WAGES Program State Board of Directors, the board shall,
11 by October 1, 2000, select up to 9 communities to participate
12 in RECI, and shall notify each community of its selection. All
13 RECI projects must be fully operational by January 1, 2001,
14 and must be completed by December 31, 2002.
15 (4) RECI ELEMENTS.--After a community is selected as a
16 RECI participant, it may compete for awards in each RECI
17 element. Awards will be granted by the WAGES Program State
18 Board of Directors and will be based on a project plan that
19 must be consistent with the community's proposal describing
20 the coordination and incorporation of the RECI elements. The
21 WAGES Program State Board of Directors shall develop
22 guidelines and criteria for the application and award of the
23 funds. Criteria must provide additional weight for criteria
24 relating to community involvement, business involvement, and
25 local contributions. Unless otherwise provided for, the board
26 or its designated agents shall administer the award of funds
27 for each RECI element and must provide assurances that
28 projects are completed pursuant to project plans. RECI
29 elements include the following:
30 (a) WAGES Community Safety.--Funds may be awarded for
31 projects that increase the safety and reduce crime in RECI
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1 communities. Funds may be used to train and employ WAGES
2 Program participants in public safety jobs; establish security
3 businesses and services; train residents in safety practices
4 and organize safety networks; improve lighting, alarms, and
5 law enforcement equipment; improve the safety of homes,
6 buildings, and streets; and provide community police. Local
7 law enforcement agencies must be contributing partners in
8 safety projects. The Department of Community Affairs and the
9 Florida Department of Law Enforcement shall each assign a
10 representative to assist these communities with public safety
11 issues and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may
12 award public safety grants to these communities.
13 (b) WAGES Community Builders.--Funds may be awarded for
14 small community clean-up and enhancement projects that quickly
15 create visible improvements and for planning and
16 implementation of larger neighborhood revitalization and
17 economic development initiatives.
18 1. Funds for the WAGES Community Builders element may
19 be awarded for small community clean-up and enhancement
20 projects. Projects must include WAGES Program participants,
21 must last less than 3 weeks, and must be endorsed by the local
22 unit of government. Funding may not exceed $5,000 per project
23 without a waiver from the WAGES Program State Board of
24 Directors. The board shall enlist the Department of State's
25 Main Street program, Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc., and, if
26 approved by the Governor, the Florida National Guard, to
27 advise and assist with these projects and to redirect
28 resources to these communities.
29 2. Funds for the WAGES Community Builders element may
30 be awarded for the planning and implementation of large
31 neighborhood revitalization or economic development
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1 initiatives. Funding for planning projects may not exceed
2 $200,000, and may not, in total, exceed 20 percent of the
3 funds available for this element. Funding for implementation
4 projects may not in total exceed 20 percent of the funds
5 available for this element and must primarily leverage
6 federal, state, local, private, or foundation resources other
7 than those provided for in this section. Planning and
8 implementation projects must employ WAGES Program participants
9 from the RECI community to the greatest extent possible.
10 (c) WAGES Community Businesses.--Funds may be awarded
11 for small business-development projects, including
12 national-franchise attraction efforts, microloans, guaranteed
13 commercial loans, technical assistance, self-employment, and
14 business incubators at educational institutions. At least 95
15 percent of funds awarded for these projects must be for the
16 benefit of WAGES Program participants in RECI communities. The
17 WAGES Program State Board of Directors shall work with the
18 Comptroller to target the linked-deposit program under s.
19 290.0075 into these communities, and the Comptroller shall, to
20 the greatest extent deemed practical, implement that program
21 in RECI communities. Using funds appropriated for this
22 element, board, or its designated agent, shall also establish
23 a $10-million loan-loss reserve to encourage and guarantee
24 commercial loans made under this element, and shall develop a
25 tax-free bond fund to provide and expand the secondary loan
26 market for commercial loans made in RECI communities. The
27 board, or its designated agent, shall also approach and
28 propose joint ventures with national franchisers who agree to
29 train individuals for and partially underwrite new franchise
30 ventures in RECI communities.
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1 (d) WAGES Community Schools.--Funds may be awarded for
2 WAGES Community School projects that upgrade schools through
3 construction, repair, or renovation, or which provide training
4 and employment to WAGES Program participants to assist with
5 transportation, school services, and security. Schools
6 accepting this assistance must offer before-school,
7 after-school, and summer-school programs for students who are
8 WAGES Program participants.
9 (e) WAGES Community Partnerships.--Funds may be awarded
10 for WAGES Community Partnership projects to make payments of
11 tax credits to businesses that contribute to projects in RECI
12 communities which are eligible under the community
13 contribution tax credit program under ss. 220.183 and
14 624.5105. Business contributions must benefit WAGES Program
15 participants in these communities. Funds may equal 30 percent
16 of the business's contribution and may apply to contributions
17 of any size if adequate funds are available in this RECI
18 element. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
19 Development and the Department of Revenue shall assist the
20 WAGES Program State Board of Directors in administering such
21 tax credits. Projects may also match, up to a
22 dollar-for-dollar level, any foundation awards to RECI
23 communities which will improve job retention and reduce public
24 assistance dependency as determined by the WAGES Program State
25 Board of Directors.
26 (f) WAGES Community Redevelopment.--Funds may be
27 awarded for WAGES Community Redevelopment projects to
28 facilitate the planning, preparing, marketing, and financing
29 of residential, mixed-use, and commercial development
30 projects, as well as residential and business infrastructure
31 redevelopment projects in RECI communities. Projects that
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1 would mainly result in gentrification of the community, that
2 would not employ a preponderance of WAGES Program
3 participants, and that predominately create residences or
4 business sites that are beyond the anticipated income level of
5 working WAGES Program participants are not eligible.
6 1. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
7 Development shall administer projects under this paragraph and
8 shall develop criteria for the award of the funds. Funds
9 available under this element must be leveraged with federal,
10 state, and local resources, including, but not limited to,
11 those available through the local unit of government under the
12 Community Development Block Grant, section 108 loan guarantee
13 program, and through state agencies including the Department
14 of Community Affairs, the Department of Environmental
15 Protection, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
16 2. A redevelopment finance review team including the
17 WAGES Program State Board of Directors, the Office of Tourism,
18 Trade, and Economic Development, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the
19 appropriate local WAGES coalition, the appropriate local unit
20 of government, the Department of Community Affairs, the
21 Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida
22 Housing Finance Corporation shall review all project plans and
23 coordinate available resources, matching expenditures to
24 eligible and available revenues that may be invested in the
25 project. The team shall seek federal funding assistance in
26 these projects and may identify and recommend projects for
27 award under the WAGES Targeted Employment and WAGES
28 transportation projects established by law. The team shall
29 recommend appropriate projects to the State Board of
30 Administration for public investment. Their collaborative
31 project package shall constitute a recommended public
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1 financing commitment to induce private developers to finance
2 the remaining costs of the project. Notwithstanding s.
3 216.301, funds appropriated for the purpose of this paragraph
4 are not subject to reversion.
5 3. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
6 Development, based upon the recommendation from the team, may
7 award project funds to RECI communities for up to 30 percent
8 of the total project cost. In awarding funds, the office shall
9 consider factors including, but not limited to, the project's
10 direct employment of WAGES Program participants in planning,
11 development, or construction; eventual direct employment of
12 WAGES Program participants; residences or businesses to be
13 owned by WAGES Program participants; impact on retention in
14 employment of WAGES Program participants; impact on lowering
15 recidivism and dependency on public assistance programs;
16 demonstrated local public and private commitment; and the
17 potential to enhance and upgrade the community.
18 4. To facilitate timely response and induce the
19 development of site opportunities where a community-based or
20 private-sector partner exists, the Office of Tourism, Trade,
21 and Economic Development may award funds for infrastructure
22 feasibility studies, design and engineering activities,
23 project development and packaging, or other infrastructure
24 planning and preparation activities. Such funds may not exceed
25 $300,000 per project, and may not exceed 5 percent of the
26 total funding available under this paragraph.
27 5. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
28 Development shall pursue execution of a memorandum of
29 agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development
30 and other federal or state partners under which state funds
31 available through this element may be advanced, in excess of
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1 the prescribed state share, for a project that has received
2 from the department or partner a preliminary determination of
3 eligibility for financial support. State funds in excess of
4 the prescribed state share which are advanced pursuant to this
5 paragraph and a memorandum of agreement shall be reimbursed
6 when funds are awarded under an application for other
7 financing.
8 6. To facilitate development of prospective sites, the
9 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may award
10 funds for surveys, feasibility studies, project development,
11 packaging, marketing, and other activities related to the
12 identification, marketing, and preparation of sites of up to
13 $150,000. Such funds shall require a match from local sources
14 of 33 percent and the total grants awarded under this
15 subparagraph may not exceed 5 percent of the total funding
16 available under this paragraph.
17 (5) The Governor shall name by July 15, 2000, a
18 coordinator in the Office of Urban Opportunity with the
19 authority, established by executive order, to work with the
20 WAGES Program State Board of Directors to direct agency
21 assistance, solve problems, and commit resources to RECI
22 communities.
23 (6) By August 15, 2000, working with the Workforce
24 Development Board, the WAGES Program State Board of Directors
25 shall establish a center for community excellence, affiliated
26 with an educational institution or group of educational
27 institutions, which will provide research, consulting,
28 technical assistance, capacity building, training, and program
29 assistance services to RECI communities.
30 (7) FUNDING.--
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1 (a) To implement this act, the Department of Children
2 and Family Services may spend up to $50 million from Temporary
3 Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant funds
4 pursuant to criteria adopted by the WAGES Program State Board
5 of Directors.
6 (b) Any expenditure from the Temporary Assistance for
7 Needy Families block grant must be expended in accordance with
8 the requirements and limitations of Title IV of the Social
9 Security Act, as amended, or any other applicable federal
10 requirement or limitation in law. Prior to any expenditure of
11 such funds, the WAGES Program State Board of Directors and the
12 Secretary of Children and Family Services, or the secretary's
13 designee, shall certify that controls are in place to ensure
14 that such funds are expended and reported in accordance with
15 the requirements and limitations of federal law. Any entity to
16 which funds are awarded must obtain the required certification
17 prior to any expenditure of funds.
18 (c) Unexpended proceeds derived from a project
19 completed with the use of program funds, beyond the operating
20 costs and debt service, are restricted to further expenditures
21 within the element. Such unexpended proceeds may not be used
22 for purposes other than those authorized by this act.
23 (d) No more than 5 percent of the funds available under
24 this section may be used by the board or its designated agents
25 to administer and monitor the awards.
26 (e) Funds authorized under this section must augment
27 the existing efforts or resources of local communities rather
28 than offset or supplant them.
29 (8) The Governor shall notify the President of the
30 United States and the Florida Congressional Delegation of any
31 delays by the federal government that affect the prompt
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1 implementation of this section, and enlist their assistance in
2 resolution of such delays. By budget amendment, the Governor
3 shall identify and transfer funds to continue this initiative
4 on schedule, notwithstanding federal delays. With the
5 assistance of the Secretary of Children and Family Services
6 and the Attorney General, the Governor shall then explore
7 administrative and judicial options to gain reimbursement.
8 (9) MONITORING AND REPORTING.--
9 (a) The independent entity selected by the WAGES
10 Program State Board of Directors to certify compliance by the
11 14 communities identified under paragraph (2)(a) shall also
12 identify four other similar communities to serve as a control
13 group for RECI. The entity must measure performance trends in
14 the control group communities, the communities that applied
15 for RECI designation but were not selected, and the
16 communities selected to participate in RECI. The four control
17 communities shall be known only to the entity until the
18 completion of the initiative. The entity shall develop,
19 working with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
20 Government Accountability and the WAGES Program State Board of
21 Directors, criteria by October 1, 2000, to measure the impact
22 of the initiative. Such criteria must include the total
23 revenues generated and invested in RECI communities, and the
24 amount of revenue saved from the retention of WAGES Program
25 participants.
26 (b) In addition to a comprehensive final report due
27 February 15, 2003, the WAGES Program State Board of Directors
28 must report to the Governor and Legislature every 6 months
29 beginning January 1, 2001, on the progress of RECI. Reports
30 must include tangible impacts of the initiative. The final
31 report shall include recommendations relating to the potential
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1 development of a RECI program for communities in mid-sized
2 counties. The report must additionally recognize the three
3 most successful RECI communities and designate these
4 communities Florida's "come-back communities."
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
6 law.
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9 SENATE SUMMARY
10 Creates an economic redevelopment program, the Retention
Enhancing Communities Initiative, and provides for the
11 selection of communities that require the solicitation of
proposals to provide development in an attempt to reduce
12 recidivism in former WAGES Program participants and to
create new jobs for current participants. Provides for
13 the selection of participants in the program. Provides
for the appointment of liasons and a coordinator.
14 Provides guidelines, powers, and duties. Provides for
monitoring and reporting. Provides appropriations. (See
15 bill for details.)
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