1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to the Family Readiness Program; creating |
3 | s. 250.5206, F.S.; creating the Family Readiness Program |
4 | within the Department of Military Affairs; providing |
5 | purpose of the program; providing for program funding and |
6 | use of program funds; specifying eligible services and |
7 | eligible program recipients; providing procedure with |
8 | respect to requests for assistance and award of funds |
9 | under the program; providing for monthly audit reviews of |
10 | the program; providing for annual reports; providing |
11 | rulemaking authority of the Department of Military |
12 | Affairs; providing an appropriation; providing an |
13 | effective date. |
14 |
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15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
16 |
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17 | Section 1. Section 250.5206, Florida Statutes, is created |
18 | to read: |
19 | 250.5206 Family Readiness Program.--The Department of |
20 | Military Affairs shall establish a state Family Readiness |
21 | Program headed by a program director and based on the United |
22 | States Department of Defense National Guard and Reserve Family |
23 | Readiness Strategic Plan 2004-2005 initiative. |
24 | (1) PROGRAM PURPOSE.--The purpose of the program shall be |
25 | to provide need-based assistance to families of service members |
26 | of the Florida National Guard and United States Reserve Forces, |
27 | including the Coast Guard Reserves, who are on active duty |
28 | serving in the Global War on Terrorism and who are federally |
29 | deployed or participating in state operations for homeland |
30 | defense. |
31 | (2) FUNDING.--Implementation of the program is subject to |
32 | appropriations expressly provided for this purpose. |
33 | (3) ELIGIBLE SERVICES.--Program funds may be used in |
34 | emergency situations to purchase critically needed services, |
35 | including, but not limited to, reasonable living expenses, |
36 | housing, vehicles, equipment or renovations necessary to meet |
37 | disability needs, and health care. |
38 | (4) ELIGIBILITY.--Eligible recipients shall include |
39 | persons designated as beneficiaries on the United States |
40 | Department of Defense Form 93, or who are otherwise dependents |
41 | of eligible service members, and who are residents of the State |
42 | of Florida. |
43 | (5) REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE; REVIEW; AWARDS.--Requests for |
44 | assistance shall be validated and assessed at the local level by |
45 | a federal Family Center Support Specialist stationed at a state |
46 | armory or at a reserve facility by a designated official. |
47 | Recommendations subsequent to assessment and validation shall be |
48 | forwarded to the program director, who shall review the |
49 | recommendations for eligibility, appropriateness, and |
50 | sufficiency of documentation. The Adjutant General or his or |
51 | her designee shall receive the recommendations from the program |
52 | director and is authorized to award funds pursuant to |
53 | subsections (3) and (4). |
54 | (6) AUDITS.--The inspector general of the department shall |
55 | conduct a monthly audit review of the program. |
56 | (7) ANNUAL REPORT.--The department shall maintain |
57 | sufficient data to provide an annual report to the Governor and |
58 | the Legislature on the families served under the program, the |
59 | types of services provided, and the allocation of funds spent. |
60 | (8) RULES.--The department is authorized to adopt rules |
61 | necessary to implement this program, including procedures for |
62 | applying for assistance, qualifying services, and criteria for |
63 | eligibility. |
64 | Section 2. The sum of $5 million, which includes $10,000 |
65 | in operating capital outlay and authorizes 3 other-personal- |
66 | service positions, is appropriated for fiscal year 2005-2006 |
67 | from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Military |
68 | Affairs for the Family Readiness Program to provide need-based |
69 | assistance to the family members eligible under s. 250.5206, |
70 | Florida Statutes. |
71 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |