Florida Senate - 2013                                    SB 1158
       
       
       
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       12-00507A-13                                          20131158__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Office of Faith-Based and
    3         Community Initiatives; creating the office within the
    4         Department of Economic Opportunity; directing the
    5         department to provide administrative and staff support
    6         services for the office; providing the duties of the
    7         office; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Office of Faith-Based and Community
   12  Initiatives.—
   13         (1) There is created the Office of Faith-Based and
   14  Community Initiatives within the Department of Economic
   15  Opportunity. Department staff shall provide administrative and
   16  staff support services for the office.
   17         (2) The office shall:
   18         (a) Promote and coordinate community service and volunteer
   19  participation in faith-based and community-based organizations
   20  throughout the state.
   21         (b) Identify and remove unnecessary administrative barriers
   22  to create greater access for partnership and enhance the
   23  capacity of faith-based and community-based organizations to
   24  implement successful programs.
   25         (c) Develop strategies to eliminate barriers to funding and
   26  other resource opportunities for faith-based and community-based
   27  organizations.
   28         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.