Florida Senate - 2016                   (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7040
       
       
        
       FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
       
       577-00796C-16                                         20167040pb
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the federal Workforce Innovation
    3         and Opportunity Act; amending ss. 20.60, 212.08,
    4         220.183, 250.10, 288.047, 290.0056, 322.34, 341.052,
    5         414.045, 414.065, 414.085, 414.095, 414.105, 414.106,
    6         414.295, 420.623, 420.624, 427.013, 427.0155,
    7         427.0157, 443.091, and 443.1116, F.S.; conforming
    8         provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
    9         445.003, F.S.; providing implementation of the federal
   10         Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act through a 4
   11         year plan; revising the requirements of the plan;
   12         deleting a provision authorizing an optional federal
   13         partner to fulfill certain state planning and
   14         reporting requirements; deleting a provision requiring
   15         all optional federal program partners to participate
   16         in the second year of the plan; providing for program
   17         administration; deleting certain eligibility
   18         requirements for businesses; deleting the authority of
   19         CareerSource Florida, Inc., to negotiate and settle
   20         certain issues with the United States Department of
   21         Labor; requiring CareerSource Florida, Inc., to enter
   22         into a memorandum with the Florida Department of
   23         Education to ensure compliance with the state plan for
   24         workforce development; conforming provisions to
   25         changes made by the act; amending s. 445.004, F.S.;
   26         specifying membership requirements for the
   27         CareerSource Florida, Inc., board of directors;
   28         revising the entities required to collaborate with
   29         CareerSource Florida, Inc., to establish certain
   30         performance accountability measures; revising
   31         requirements for the performance accountability
   32         measures; deleting references to outcome tiers for
   33         such measures; deleting a provision requiring certain
   34         job placement reporting; conforming provisions to
   35         changes made by the act; amending s. 445.006, F.S.;
   36         providing for the development of a state plan to
   37         include strategic and operational elements; deleting a
   38         requirement that the strategic plan be updated or
   39         modified each year; revising requirements for the
   40         strategic and operational plans; conforming provisions
   41         to changes made by the act; amending s. 445.007, F.S.;
   42         revising local workforce development board membership
   43         requirements; requiring CareerSource Florida, Inc., to
   44         establish regional planning areas subject to certain
   45         requirements by a certain date; requiring local
   46         workforce development boards and selected officials to
   47         prepare a regional workforce development plan;
   48         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   49         amending s. 445.0071, F.S.; conforming provisions to
   50         changes made by the act; amending s. 445.009, F.S.;
   51         requiring the local workforce development board to
   52         enter into a memorandum of understanding with each
   53         mandatory or optional partner detailing certain
   54         contributions; providing that costs will be allocated
   55         pursuant to a policy established by the Governor under
   56         certain circumstances; specifying the systems that may
   57         be accessed with the one-stop delivery system;
   58         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   59         amending ss. 445.014, 445.017, 445.021, 445.022,
   60         445.024, 445.025, 445.026, 445.030, 445.031, 445.048,
   61         445.051, 985.622, 1002.83, 1003.491, 1003.492,
   62         1003.493, 1003.4935, 1003.52, 1004.93, 1006.261, and
   63         1009.25, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
   64         by this act; providing an effective date.
   65          
   66  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   67  
   68         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
   69  20.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   70         20.60 Department of Economic Opportunity; creation; powers
   71  and duties.—
   72         (5) The divisions within the department have specific
   73  responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and
   74  goals of the department. Specifically:
   75         (c) The Division of Workforce Services shall:
   76         1. Prepare and submit a unified budget request for
   77  workforce development in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in
   78  conjunction with, CareerSource Florida, Inc., and its board.
   79         2. Ensure that the state appropriately administers federal
   80  and state workforce funding by administering plans and policies
   81  of CareerSource Florida, Inc., under contract with CareerSource
   82  Florida, Inc. The operating budget and midyear amendments
   83  thereto must be part of such contract.
   84         a. All program and fiscal instructions to local regional
   85  workforce development boards shall emanate from the Department
   86  of Economic Opportunity pursuant to plans and policies of
   87  CareerSource Florida, Inc., which shall be responsible for all
   88  policy directions to the local regional workforce development
   89  boards.
   90         b. Unless otherwise provided by agreement with CareerSource
   91  Florida, Inc., administrative and personnel policies of the
   92  Department of Economic Opportunity apply.
   93         3. Implement the state’s reemployment assistance program.
   94  The Department of Economic Opportunity shall ensure that the
   95  state appropriately administers the reemployment assistance
   96  program pursuant to state and federal law.
   97         4. Assist in developing the 5-year statewide strategic plan
   98  required by this section.
   99         Section 2. Paragraph (p) of subsection (5) of section
  100  212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  101         212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
  102  storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the
  103  rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
  104  storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
  105  are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
  106  chapter.
  107         (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.—
  108         (p) Community contribution tax credit for donations.—
  109         1. Authorization.—Persons who are registered with the
  110  department under s. 212.18 to collect or remit sales or use tax
  111  and who make donations to eligible sponsors are eligible for tax
  112  credits against their state sales and use tax liabilities as
  113  provided in this paragraph:
  114         a. The credit shall be computed as 50 percent of the
  115  person’s approved annual community contribution.
  116         b. The credit shall be granted as a refund against state
  117  sales and use taxes reported on returns and remitted in the 12
  118  months preceding the date of application to the department for
  119  the credit as required in sub-subparagraph 3.c. If the annual
  120  credit is not fully used through such refund because of
  121  insufficient tax payments during the applicable 12-month period,
  122  the unused amount may be included in an application for a refund
  123  made pursuant to sub-subparagraph 3.c. in subsequent years
  124  against the total tax payments made for such year. Carryover
  125  credits may be applied for a 3-year period without regard to any
  126  time limitation that would otherwise apply under s. 215.26.
  127         c. A person may not receive more than $200,000 in annual
  128  tax credits for all approved community contributions made in any
  129  one year.
  130         d. All proposals for the granting of the tax credit require
  131  the prior approval of the Department of Economic Opportunity.
  132         e. The total amount of tax credits which may be granted for
  133  all programs approved under this paragraph, s. 220.183, and s.
  134  624.5105 is $18.4 million in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, $21.4
  135  million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and $21.4 million in the
  136  2017-2018 fiscal year for projects that provide housing
  137  opportunities for persons with special needs or homeownership
  138  opportunities for low-income households or very-low-income
  139  households and $3.5 million annually for all other projects. As
  140  used in this paragraph, the term “person with special needs” has
  141  the same meaning as in s. 420.0004 and the terms “low-income
  142  person,” “low-income household,” “very-low-income person,” and
  143  “very-low-income household” have the same meanings as in s.
  144  420.9071.
  145         f. A person who is eligible to receive the credit provided
  146  in this paragraph, s. 220.183, or s. 624.5105 may receive the
  147  credit only under one section of the person’s choice.
  148         2. Eligibility requirements.—
  149         a. A community contribution by a person must be in the
  150  following form:
  151         (I) Cash or other liquid assets;
  152         (II) Real property;
  153         (III) Goods or inventory; or
  154         (IV) Other physical resources identified by the Department
  155  of Economic Opportunity.
  156         b. All community contributions must be reserved exclusively
  157  for use in a project. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term
  158  “project” means activity undertaken by an eligible sponsor which
  159  is designed to construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate
  160  housing that is affordable to low-income households or very-low
  161  income households; designed to provide housing opportunities for
  162  persons with special needs; designed to provide commercial,
  163  industrial, or public resources and facilities; or designed to
  164  improve entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for
  165  low-income persons. A project may be the investment necessary to
  166  increase access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural
  167  community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to
  168  chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, including projects that result in
  169  improvements to communications assets that are owned by a
  170  business. A project may include the provision of museum
  171  educational programs and materials that are directly related to
  172  a project approved between January 1, 1996, and December 31,
  173  1999, and located in an area which was in an enterprise zone
  174  designated pursuant to s. 290.0065 as of May 1, 2015. This
  175  paragraph does not preclude projects that propose to construct
  176  or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or very-low
  177  income households on scattered sites or housing opportunities
  178  for persons with special needs. With respect to housing,
  179  contributions may be used to pay the following eligible special
  180  needs, low-income, and very-low-income housing-related
  181  activities:
  182         (I) Project development impact and management fees for
  183  special needs, low-income, or very-low-income housing projects;
  184         (II) Down payment and closing costs for persons with
  185  special needs, low-income persons, and very-low-income persons;
  186         (III) Administrative costs, including housing counseling
  187  and marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community
  188  contribution, directly related to special needs, low-income, or
  189  very-low-income projects; and
  190         (IV) Removal of liens recorded against residential property
  191  by municipal, county, or special district local governments if
  192  satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the
  193  transfer of the property to a low-income person or very-low
  194  income person for the purpose of promoting home ownership.
  195  Contributions for lien removal must be received from a
  196  nonrelated third party.
  197         c. The project must be undertaken by an “eligible sponsor,”
  198  which includes:
  199         (I) A community action program;
  200         (II) A nonprofit community-based development organization
  201  whose mission is the provision of housing for persons with
  202  specials needs, low-income households, or very-low-income
  203  households or increasing entrepreneurial and job-development
  204  opportunities for low-income persons;
  205         (III) A neighborhood housing services corporation;
  206         (IV) A local housing authority created under chapter 421;
  207         (V) A community redevelopment agency created under s.
  208  163.356;
  209         (VI) A historic preservation district agency or
  210  organization;
  211         (VII) A local regional workforce development board;
  212         (VIII) A direct-support organization as provided in s.
  213  1009.983;
  214         (IX) An enterprise zone development agency created under s.
  215  290.0056;
  216         (X) A community-based organization incorporated under
  217  chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or
  218  scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  219  and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include
  220  affordable housing, economic development, or community
  221  development as the primary mission of the corporation;
  222         (XI) Units of local government;
  223         (XII) Units of state government; or
  224         (XIII) Any other agency that the Department of Economic
  225  Opportunity designates by rule.
  226  
  227  A contributing person may not have a financial interest in the
  228  eligible sponsor.
  229         d. The project must be located in an area which was in an
  230  enterprise zone designated pursuant to chapter 290 as of May 1,
  231  2015, or a Front Porch Florida Community, unless the project
  232  increases access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural
  233  community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to
  234  chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, but is physically located outside
  235  the designated rural zone boundaries. Any project designed to
  236  construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or
  237  very-low-income households or housing opportunities for persons
  238  with special needs is exempt from the area requirement of this
  239  sub-subparagraph.
  240         e.(I) If, during the first 10 business days of the state
  241  fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that
  242  provide housing opportunities for persons with special needs or
  243  homeownership opportunities for low-income households or very
  244  low-income households are received for less than the annual tax
  245  credits available for those projects, the Department of Economic
  246  Opportunity shall grant tax credits for those applications and
  247  grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis
  248  for subsequent eligible applications received before the end of
  249  the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10 business days of
  250  the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for
  251  projects that provide housing opportunities for persons with
  252  special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income
  253  households or very-low-income households are received for more
  254  than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the
  255  Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits
  256  for those applications as follows:
  257         (A) If tax credit applications submitted for approved
  258  projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total,
  259  the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit
  260  applications are approved.
  261         (B) If tax credit applications submitted for approved
  262  projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the
  263  amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-sub-sub
  264  subparagraph (A) shall be subtracted from the amount of
  265  available tax credits, and the remaining credits shall be
  266  granted to each approved tax credit application on a pro rata
  267  basis.
  268         (II) If, during the first 10 business days of the state
  269  fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other
  270  than those that provide housing opportunities for persons with
  271  special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income
  272  households or very-low-income households are received for less
  273  than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the
  274  Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant tax credits for
  275  those applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a
  276  first-come, first-served basis for subsequent eligible
  277  applications received before the end of the state fiscal year.
  278  If, during the first 10 business days of the state fiscal year,
  279  eligible tax credit applications for projects other than those
  280  that provide housing opportunities for persons with special
  281  needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income households
  282  or very-low-income households are received for more than the
  283  annual tax credits available for those projects, the Department
  284  of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits for those
  285  applications on a pro rata basis.
  286         3. Application requirements.—
  287         a. An eligible sponsor seeking to participate in this
  288  program must submit a proposal to the Department of Economic
  289  Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a
  290  description of the project, and the area in which the project is
  291  located, together with such supporting information as is
  292  prescribed by rule. The proposal must also contain a resolution
  293  from the local governmental unit in which the project is located
  294  certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and
  295  regulations.
  296         b. A person seeking to participate in this program must
  297  submit an application for tax credit to the Department of
  298  Economic Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a
  299  description of the project, and the type, value, and purpose of
  300  the contribution. The sponsor shall verify, in writing, the
  301  terms of the application and indicate its receipt of the
  302  contribution, and such verification must accompany the
  303  application for tax credit. The person must submit a separate
  304  tax credit application to the Department of Economic Opportunity
  305  for each individual contribution that it makes to each
  306  individual project.
  307         c. A person who has received notification from the
  308  Department of Economic Opportunity that a tax credit has been
  309  approved must apply to the department to receive the refund.
  310  Application must be made on the form prescribed for claiming
  311  refunds of sales and use taxes and be accompanied by a copy of
  312  the notification. A person may submit only one application for
  313  refund to the department within a 12-month period.
  314         4. Administration.—
  315         a. The Department of Economic Opportunity may adopt rules
  316  necessary to administer this paragraph, including rules for the
  317  approval or disapproval of proposals by a person.
  318         b. The decision of the Department of Economic Opportunity
  319  must be in writing, and, if approved, the notification shall
  320  state the maximum credit allowable to the person. Upon approval,
  321  the Department of Economic Opportunity shall transmit a copy of
  322  the decision to the department.
  323         c. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall
  324  periodically monitor all projects in a manner consistent with
  325  available resources to ensure that resources are used in
  326  accordance with this paragraph; however, each project must be
  327  reviewed at least once every 2 years.
  328         d. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall, in
  329  consultation with the statewide and regional housing and
  330  financial intermediaries, market the availability of the
  331  community contribution tax credit program to community-based
  332  organizations.
  333         5. Expiration.—This paragraph expires June 30, 2018;
  334  however, any accrued credit carryover that is unused on that
  335  date may be used until the expiration of the 3-year carryover
  336  period for such credit.
  337         Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
  338  220.183, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  339         220.183 Community contribution tax credit.—
  340         (2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—
  341         (c) The project must be undertaken by an “eligible
  342  sponsor,” defined here as:
  343         1. A community action program;
  344         2. A nonprofit community-based development organization
  345  whose mission is the provision of housing for persons with
  346  special needs or low-income or very-low-income households or
  347  increasing entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for
  348  low-income persons;
  349         3. A neighborhood housing services corporation;
  350         4. A local housing authority, created pursuant to chapter
  351  421;
  352         5. A community redevelopment agency, created pursuant to s.
  353  163.356;
  354         6. A historic preservation district agency or organization;
  355         7. A local regional workforce development board;
  356         8. A direct-support organization as provided in s.
  357  1009.983;
  358         9. An enterprise zone development agency created pursuant
  359  to s. 290.0056;
  360         10. A community-based organization incorporated under
  361  chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or
  362  scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  363  and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include
  364  affordable housing, economic development, or community
  365  development as the primary mission of the corporation;
  366         11. Units of local government;
  367         12. Units of state government; or
  368         13. Such other agency as the Department of Economic
  369  Opportunity may, from time to time, designate by rule.
  370  
  371  In no event shall a contributing business firm have a financial
  372  interest in the eligible sponsor.
  373         Section 4. Paragraph (l) of subsection (2) of section
  374  250.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  375         250.10 Appointment and duties of the Adjutant General.—
  376         (2) The Adjutant General shall:
  377         (l) Subject to annual appropriations, administer youth
  378  About Face programs and adult Forward March programs at sites to
  379  be selected by the Adjutant General. Both programs must provide
  380  schoolwork assistance, focusing on the skills needed to master
  381  basic high school competencies and functional life skills,
  382  including teaching students to work effectively in groups;
  383  providing basic instruction in computer skills; teaching basic
  384  problem-solving, decisionmaking, and reasoning skills; teaching
  385  how the business world and free enterprise work through computer
  386  simulations; and teaching home finance and budgeting and other
  387  daily living skills.
  388         1. About Face is a summer and year-round after-school life
  389  preparation program for economically disadvantaged and at-risk
  390  youths from 13 through 17 years of age. The program must provide
  391  training in academic study skills, and the basic skills that
  392  businesses require for employment consideration.
  393         2. Forward March is a job-readiness program for
  394  economically disadvantaged participants who are directed to
  395  Forward March by the local regional workforce development
  396  boards. The Forward March program shall provide training on
  397  topics that directly relate to the skills required for real
  398  world success. The program shall emphasize functional life
  399  skills, computer literacy, interpersonal relationships,
  400  critical-thinking skills, business skills, preemployment and
  401  work maturity skills, job-search skills, exploring careers
  402  activities, how to be a successful and effective employee, and
  403  some job-specific skills. The program also shall provide
  404  extensive opportunities for participants to practice generic job
  405  skills in a supervised work setting. Upon completion of the
  406  program, Forward March shall return participants to the local
  407  regional workforce development boards for placement in a job
  408  placement pool.
  409         Section 5. Subsection (8) of section 288.047, Florida
  410  Statutes, is amended to read:
  411         288.047 Quick-response training for economic development.—
  412         (8) The Quick-Response Training Program is created to
  413  provide assistance to participants in the welfare transition
  414  program. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may award quick-response
  415  training grants and develop applicable guidelines for the
  416  training of participants in the welfare transition program. In
  417  addition to a local economic development organization, grants
  418  must be endorsed by the applicable local regional workforce
  419  development board.
  420         (a) Training funded pursuant to this subsection may not
  421  exceed 12 months, and may be provided by the local community
  422  college, school district, local regional workforce development
  423  board, or the business employing the participant, including on
  424  the-job training. Training will provide entry-level skills to
  425  new workers, including those employed in retail, who are
  426  participants in the welfare transition program.
  427         (b) Participants trained pursuant to this subsection must
  428  be employed at a job paying at least $6 per hour.
  429         (c) Funds made available pursuant to this subsection may be
  430  expended in connection with the relocation of a business from
  431  one community to another if approved by CareerSource Florida,
  432  Inc.
  433         Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 290.0056, Florida
  434  Statutes, is amended to read:
  435         290.0056 Enterprise zone development agency.—
  436         (2) When the governing body creates an enterprise zone
  437  development agency, that body shall appoint a board of
  438  commissioners of the agency, which shall consist of not fewer
  439  than 8 or more than 13 commissioners. The governing body may
  440  appoint at least one representative from each of the following:
  441  the local chamber of commerce; local financial or insurance
  442  entities; local businesses and, where possible, businesses
  443  operating within the nominated area; the residents residing
  444  within the nominated area; nonprofit community-based
  445  organizations operating within the nominated area; the local
  446  regional workforce development board; the local code enforcement
  447  agency; and the local law enforcement agency. The terms of
  448  office of the commissioners shall be for 4 years, except that,
  449  in making the initial appointments, the governing body shall
  450  appoint two members for terms of 3 years, two members for terms
  451  of 2 years, and one member for a term of 1 year; the remaining
  452  initial members shall serve for terms of 4 years. A vacancy
  453  occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term.
  454  The importance of including individuals from the nominated area
  455  shall be considered in making appointments. Further, the
  456  importance of minority representation on the agency shall be
  457  considered in making appointments so that the agency generally
  458  reflects the gender and ethnic composition of the community as a
  459  whole.
  460         Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section
  461  322.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  462         322.34 Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled,
  463  or disqualified.—
  464         (9)
  465         (c) Notwithstanding s. 932.703(1)(c) or s. 932.7055, when
  466  the seizing agency obtains a final judgment granting forfeiture
  467  of the motor vehicle under this section, 30 percent of the net
  468  proceeds from the sale of the motor vehicle shall be retained by
  469  the seizing law enforcement agency and 70 percent shall be
  470  deposited in the General Revenue Fund for use by local regional
  471  workforce development boards in providing transportation
  472  services for participants of the welfare transition program. In
  473  a forfeiture proceeding under this section, the court may
  474  consider the extent that the family of the owner has other
  475  public or private means of transportation.
  476         Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 341.052, Florida
  477  Statutes, is amended to read:
  478         341.052 Public transit block grant program; administration;
  479  eligible projects; limitation.—
  480         (1) There is created a public transit block grant program
  481  which shall be administered by the department. Block grant funds
  482  shall only be provided to “Section 9” providers and “Section 18”
  483  providers designated by the United States Department of
  484  Transportation and community transportation coordinators as
  485  defined in chapter 427. Eligible providers must establish public
  486  transportation development plans consistent, to the maximum
  487  extent feasible, with approved local government comprehensive
  488  plans of the units of local government in which the provider is
  489  located. In developing public transportation development plans,
  490  eligible providers must solicit comments from local regional
  491  workforce development boards established under chapter 445. The
  492  development plans must address how the public transit provider
  493  will work with the appropriate local regional workforce
  494  development board to provide services to participants in the
  495  welfare transition program. Eligible providers must provide
  496  information to the local regional workforce development board
  497  serving the county in which the provider is located regarding
  498  the availability of transportation services to assist program
  499  participants.
  500         Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 414.045, Florida
  501  Statutes, is amended to read:
  502         414.045 Cash assistance program.—Cash assistance families
  503  include any families receiving cash assistance payments from the
  504  state program for temporary assistance for needy families as
  505  defined in federal law, whether such funds are from federal
  506  funds, state funds, or commingled federal and state funds. Cash
  507  assistance families may also include families receiving cash
  508  assistance through a program defined as a separate state
  509  program.
  510         (2) Oversight by the board of directors of CareerSource
  511  Florida, Inc., and the service delivery and financial planning
  512  responsibilities of the local regional workforce development
  513  boards apply to the families defined as work-eligible cases in
  514  paragraph (1)(a). The department shall be responsible for
  515  program administration related to families in groups defined in
  516  paragraph (1)(b), and the department shall coordinate such
  517  administration with the board of directors of CareerSource
  518  Florida, Inc., to the extent needed for operation of the
  519  program.
  520         Section 10. Paragraphs (a), (d), and (e) of subsection (4)
  521  of section 414.065, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  522         414.065 Noncompliance with work requirements.—
  523         (4) EXCEPTIONS TO NONCOMPLIANCE PENALTIES.—Unless otherwise
  524  provided, the situations listed in this subsection shall
  525  constitute exceptions to the penalties for noncompliance with
  526  participation requirements, except that these situations do not
  527  constitute exceptions to the applicable time limit for receipt
  528  of temporary cash assistance:
  529         (a) Noncompliance related to child care.—Temporary cash
  530  assistance may not be terminated for refusal to participate in
  531  work activities if the individual is a single parent caring for
  532  a child who has not attained 6 years of age, and the adult
  533  proves to the local regional workforce development board an
  534  inability to obtain needed child care for one or more of the
  535  following reasons, as defined in the Child Care and Development
  536  Fund State Plan required by 45 C.F.R. part 98:
  537         1. Unavailability of appropriate child care within a
  538  reasonable distance from the individual’s home or worksite.
  539         2. Unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care
  540  by a relative or under other arrangements.
  541         3. Unavailability of appropriate and affordable formal
  542  child care arrangements.
  543         (d) Noncompliance related to medical incapacity.—If an
  544  individual cannot participate in assigned work activities due to
  545  a medical incapacity, the individual may be excepted from the
  546  activity for a specific period, except that the individual shall
  547  be required to comply with the course of treatment necessary for
  548  the individual to resume participation. A participant may not be
  549  excused from work activity requirements unless the participant’s
  550  medical incapacity is verified by a physician licensed under
  551  chapter 458 or chapter 459, in accordance with procedures
  552  established by rule of the department. An individual for whom
  553  there is medical verification of limitation to participate in
  554  work activities shall be assigned to work activities consistent
  555  with such limitations. Evaluation of an individual’s ability to
  556  participate in work activities or development of a plan for work
  557  activity assignment may include vocational assessment or work
  558  evaluation. The department or a local regional workforce
  559  development board may require an individual to cooperate in
  560  medical or vocational assessment necessary to evaluate the
  561  individual’s ability to participate in a work activity.
  562         (e) Noncompliance related to outpatient mental health or
  563  substance abuse treatment.—If an individual cannot participate
  564  in the required hours of work activity due to a need to become
  565  or remain involved in outpatient mental health or substance
  566  abuse counseling or treatment, the individual may be exempted
  567  from the work activity for up to 5 hours per week, not to exceed
  568  100 hours per year. An individual may not be excused from a work
  569  activity unless a mental health or substance abuse professional
  570  recognized by the department or local regional workforce
  571  development board certifies the treatment protocol and provides
  572  verification of attendance at the counseling or treatment
  573  sessions each week.
  574         Section 11. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
  575  414.085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  576         414.085 Income eligibility standards.—
  577         (1) For purposes of program simplification and effective
  578  program management, certain income definitions, as outlined in
  579  the food assistance regulations at 7 C.F.R. s. 273.9, shall be
  580  applied to the temporary cash assistance program as determined
  581  by the department to be consistent with federal law regarding
  582  temporary cash assistance and Medicaid for needy families,
  583  except as to the following:
  584         (d) An incentive payment to a participant authorized by a
  585  local regional workforce development board may shall not be
  586  considered income.
  587         Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida
  588  Statutes, is amended to read:
  589         414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash
  590  assistance.—
  591         (1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet eligibility
  592  requirements of this section before receiving services or
  593  temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an
  594  applicant shall be required to register for work and engage in
  595  work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated by
  596  the local regional workforce development board, and may receive
  597  support services or child care assistance in conjunction with
  598  such requirement. The department shall make a determination of
  599  eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The
  600  department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary
  601  cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the
  602  food assistance eligibility process. Benefits may shall not be
  603  denied to an individual solely based on a felony drug
  604  conviction, unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to
  605  s. 893.135. To be eligible under this section, an individual
  606  convicted of a drug felony must be satisfactorily meeting the
  607  requirements of the temporary cash assistance program, including
  608  all substance abuse treatment requirements. Within the limits
  609  specified in this chapter, the state opts out of the provision
  610  of Pub. L. No. 104-193, s. 115, that eliminates eligibility for
  611  temporary cash assistance and food assistance for any individual
  612  convicted of a controlled substance felony.
  613         Section 13. Subsections (3) and (10) of section 414.105,
  614  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  615         414.105 Time limitations of temporary cash assistance.
  616  Except as otherwise provided in this section, an applicant or
  617  current participant shall receive temporary cash assistance for
  618  no more than a lifetime cumulative total of 48 months, unless
  619  otherwise provided by law.
  620         (3) The department, in cooperation with CareerSource
  621  Florida, Inc., shall establish a procedure for approving
  622  hardship exemptions and for reviewing hardship cases at least
  623  once every 2 years. Local Regional workforce development boards
  624  may assist in making these determinations.
  625         (10) A member of the staff of the local regional workforce
  626  development board shall interview and assess the employment
  627  prospects and barriers of each participant who is within 6
  628  months of reaching the 48-month time limit. The staff member
  629  shall assist the participant in identifying actions necessary to
  630  become employed before prior to reaching the benefit time limit
  631  for temporary cash assistance and, if appropriate, shall refer
  632  the participant for services that could facilitate employment.
  633         Section 14. Section 414.106, Florida Statutes, is amended
  634  to read:
  635         414.106 Exemption from public meetings law.—That portion of
  636  a meeting held by the department, CareerSource Florida, Inc., or
  637  a local regional workforce development board or local committee
  638  created pursuant to s. 445.007 at which personal identifying
  639  information contained in records relating to temporary cash
  640  assistance is discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b),
  641  Art. I of the State Constitution if the information identifies a
  642  participant, a participant’s family, or a participant’s family
  643  or household member.
  644         Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 414.295, Florida
  645  Statutes, is amended to read:
  646         414.295 Temporary cash assistance programs; public records
  647  exemption.—
  648         (1) Personal identifying information of a temporary cash
  649  assistance program participant, a participant’s family, or a
  650  participant’s family or household member, except for information
  651  identifying a parent who does not live in the same home as the
  652  child, which is held by the department, the Office of Early
  653  Learning, CareerSource Florida, Inc., the Department of Health,
  654  the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, or a
  655  local regional workforce development board or local committee
  656  created pursuant to s. 445.007 is confidential and exempt from
  657  s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
  658  Such confidential and exempt information may be released for
  659  purposes directly connected with:
  660         (a) The administration of the temporary assistance for
  661  needy families plan under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act,
  662  as amended, by the department, the Office of Early Learning,
  663  CareerSource Florida, Inc., the Department of Military Affairs,
  664  the Department of Health, the Department of Revenue, the
  665  Department of Education, a local regional workforce development
  666  board or local committee created pursuant to s. 445.007, or a
  667  school district.
  668         (b) The administration of the state’s plan or program
  669  approved under Title IV-B, Title IV-D, or Title IV-E of the
  670  Social Security Act, as amended, or under Title I, Title X,
  671  Title XIV, Title XVI, Title XIX, Title XX, or Title XXI of the
  672  Social Security Act, as amended.
  673         (c) An investigation, prosecution, or criminal, civil, or
  674  administrative proceeding conducted in connection with the
  675  administration of any of the plans or programs specified in
  676  paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a federal, state, or local
  677  governmental entity, upon request by that entity, if such
  678  request is made pursuant to the proper exercise of that entity’s
  679  duties and responsibilities.
  680         (d) The administration of any other state, federal, or
  681  federally assisted program that provides assistance or services
  682  on the basis of need, in cash or in kind, directly to a
  683  participant.
  684         (e) An audit or similar activity, such as a review of
  685  expenditure reports or financial review, conducted in connection
  686  with the administration of plans or programs specified in
  687  paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a governmental entity
  688  authorized by law to conduct such audit or activity.
  689         (f) The administration of the reemployment assistance
  690  program.
  691         (g) The reporting to the appropriate agency or official of
  692  information about known or suspected instances of physical or
  693  mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent
  694  treatment or maltreatment of a child or elderly person receiving
  695  assistance, if circumstances indicate that the health or welfare
  696  of the child or elderly person is threatened.
  697         (h) The administration of services to elderly persons under
  698  ss. 430.601-430.606.
  699         Section 16. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
  700  420.623, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  701         420.623 Local coalitions for the homeless.—
  702         (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The department shall establish local
  703  coalitions to plan, network, coordinate, and monitor the
  704  delivery of services to the homeless. Appropriate local groups
  705  and organizations involved in providing services for the
  706  homeless and interested business groups and associations shall
  707  be given an opportunity to participate in such coalitions,
  708  including, but not limited to:
  709         (e) Local Regional workforce development boards.
  710         Section 17. Subsection (8) of section 420.624, Florida
  711  Statutes, is amended to read:
  712         420.624 Local homeless assistance continuum of care.—
  713         (8) Continuum of care plans must promote participation by
  714  all interested individuals and organizations and may not exclude
  715  individuals and organizations on the basis of race, color,
  716  national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion.
  717  Faith-based organizations must be encouraged to participate. To
  718  the extent possible, these components should be coordinated and
  719  integrated with other mainstream health, social services, and
  720  employment programs for which homeless populations may be
  721  eligible, including Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance
  722  Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food
  723  Assistance Program, and services funded through the Mental
  724  Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant, the Workforce Innovation
  725  and Opportunity Investment Act, and the welfare-to-work grant
  726  program.
  727         Section 18. Subsection (27) of section 427.013, Florida
  728  Statutes, is amended to read:
  729         427.013 The Commission for the Transportation
  730  Disadvantaged; purpose and responsibilities.—The purpose of the
  731  commission is to accomplish the coordination of transportation
  732  services provided to the transportation disadvantaged. The goal
  733  of this coordination is to assure the cost-effective provision
  734  of transportation by qualified community transportation
  735  coordinators or transportation operators for the transportation
  736  disadvantaged without any bias or presumption in favor of
  737  multioperator systems or not-for-profit transportation operators
  738  over single operator systems or for-profit transportation
  739  operators. In carrying out this purpose, the commission shall:
  740         (27) Ensure that local community transportation
  741  coordinators work cooperatively with local regional workforce
  742  development boards established in chapter 445 to provide
  743  assistance in the development of innovative transportation
  744  services for participants in the welfare transition program.
  745         Section 19. Subsection (9) of section 427.0155, Florida
  746  Statutes, is amended to read:
  747         427.0155 Community transportation coordinators; powers and
  748  duties.—Community transportation coordinators shall have the
  749  following powers and duties:
  750         (9) Work cooperatively with local regional workforce
  751  development boards established in chapter 445 to provide
  752  assistance in the development of innovative transportation
  753  services for participants in the welfare transition program.
  754         Section 20. Subsection (7) of section 427.0157, Florida
  755  Statutes, is amended to read:
  756         427.0157 Coordinating boards; powers and duties.—The
  757  purpose of each coordinating board is to develop local service
  758  needs and to provide information, advice, and direction to the
  759  community transportation coordinators on the coordination of
  760  services to be provided to the transportation disadvantaged. The
  761  commission shall, by rule, establish the membership of
  762  coordinating boards. The members of each board shall be
  763  appointed by the metropolitan planning organization or
  764  designated official planning agency. The appointing authority
  765  shall provide each board with sufficient staff support and
  766  resources to enable the board to fulfill its responsibilities
  767  under this section. Each board shall meet at least quarterly and
  768  shall:
  769         (7) Work cooperatively with local regional workforce
  770  development boards established in chapter 445 to provide
  771  assistance in the development of innovative transportation
  772  services for participants in the welfare transition program.
  773         Section 21. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
  774  section 443.091, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  775         443.091 Benefit eligibility conditions.—
  776         (1) An unemployed individual is eligible to receive
  777  benefits for any week only if the Department of Economic
  778  Opportunity finds that:
  779         (b) She or he has completed the department’s online work
  780  registration and subsequently reports to the one-stop career
  781  center as directed by the local regional workforce development
  782  board for reemployment services. This requirement does not apply
  783  to persons who are:
  784         1. Non-Florida residents;
  785         2. On a temporary layoff;
  786         3. Union members who customarily obtain employment through
  787  a union hiring hall;
  788         4. Claiming benefits under an approved short-time
  789  compensation plan as provided in s. 443.1116; or
  790         5. Unable to complete the online work registration due to
  791  illiteracy, physical or mental impairment, a legal prohibition
  792  from using a computer, or a language impediment. If a person is
  793  exempted from the online work registration under this
  794  subparagraph, then the filing of his or her claim constitutes
  795  registration for work.
  796         (c) To make continued claims for benefits, she or he is
  797  reporting to the department in accordance with this paragraph
  798  and department rules. Department rules may not conflict with s.
  799  443.111(1)(b), which requires that each claimant continue to
  800  report regardless of any pending appeal relating to her or his
  801  eligibility or disqualification for benefits.
  802         1. For each week of unemployment claimed, each report must,
  803  at a minimum, include the name, address, and telephone number of
  804  each prospective employer contacted, or the date the claimant
  805  reported to a one-stop career center, pursuant to paragraph (d).
  806         2. The department shall offer an online assessment aimed at
  807  identifying an individual’s skills, abilities, and career
  808  aptitude. The skills assessment must be voluntary, and the
  809  department shall allow a claimant to choose whether to take the
  810  skills assessment. The online assessment shall be made available
  811  to any person seeking services from a local regional workforce
  812  development board or a one-stop career center.
  813         a. If the claimant chooses to take the online assessment,
  814  the outcome of the assessment shall be made available to the
  815  claimant, local regional workforce development board, and one
  816  stop career center. The department, local workforce development
  817  board, or one-stop career center shall use the assessment to
  818  develop a plan for referring individuals to training and
  819  employment opportunities. Aggregate data on assessment outcomes
  820  may be made available to CareerSource Florida, Inc., and
  821  Enterprise Florida, Inc., for use in the development of policies
  822  related to education and training programs that will ensure that
  823  businesses in this state have access to a skilled and competent
  824  workforce.
  825         b. Individuals shall be informed of and offered services
  826  through the one-stop delivery system, including career
  827  counseling, the provision of skill match and job market
  828  information, and skills upgrade and other training
  829  opportunities, and shall be encouraged to participate in such
  830  services at no cost to the individuals. The department shall
  831  coordinate with CareerSource Florida, Inc., the local workforce
  832  development boards, and the one-stop career centers to identify,
  833  develop, and use best practices for improving the skills of
  834  individuals who choose to participate in skills upgrade and
  835  other training opportunities. The department may contract with
  836  an entity to create the online assessment in accordance with the
  837  competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057. The online
  838  assessment must work seamlessly with the Reemployment Assistance
  839  Claims and Benefits Information System.
  840         Section 22. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
  841  443.1116, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  842         443.1116 Short-time compensation.—
  843         (5) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION
  844  BENEFITS.—
  845         (c) The department may not deny short-time compensation
  846  benefits to an individual who is otherwise eligible for these
  847  benefits for any week because such individual is participating
  848  in an employer-sponsored training or a training under the
  849  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act to improve
  850  job skills when the training is approved by the department.
  851         Section 23. Section 445.003, Florida Statutes, is amended
  852  to read:
  853         445.003 Implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation
  854  and Opportunity Investment Act of 1998.—
  855         (1) WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENT ACT
  856  PRINCIPLES.—The state’s approach to implementing the federal
  857  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act of 1998,
  858  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, should have six elements:
  859         (a) Streamlining services.—Florida’s employment and
  860  training programs must be coordinated and consolidated at
  861  locally managed one-stop delivery system centers.
  862         (b) Empowering individuals.—Eligible participants will make
  863  informed decisions, choosing the qualified training program that
  864  best meets their needs.
  865         (c) Universal access.—Through a one-stop delivery system,
  866  every Floridian will have access to employment services.
  867         (d) Increased accountability.—The state, localities, and
  868  training providers will be held accountable for their
  869  performance.
  870         (e) Local board and private sector leadership.—Local
  871  workforce development boards will focus on strategic planning,
  872  policy development, and oversight of the local system, choosing
  873  local managers to direct the operational details of their one
  874  stop delivery system centers.
  875         (f) Local flexibility and integration.—Localities will have
  876  exceptional flexibility to build on existing reforms. Unified
  877  planning will free local groups from conflicting
  878  micromanagement, while waivers and WorkFlex will allow local
  879  innovations.
  880         (2) FOUR-YEAR FIVE-YEAR PLAN.—CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
  881  shall prepare and submit a 4-year 5-year plan, consistent with
  882  the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
  883  which must include secondary career education, to fulfill the
  884  early implementation requirements of Pub. L. No. 105-220 and
  885  applicable state statutes. Mandatory and optional federal
  886  partners shall be fully involved in designing the plan’s one
  887  stop delivery system strategy. The plan must shall clearly
  888  define each program’s statewide duties and role relating to the
  889  system. Any optional federal partner may immediately choose to
  890  fully integrate its program’s plan with this plan, which shall,
  891  notwithstanding any other state provisions, fulfill all their
  892  state planning and reporting requirements as they relate to the
  893  one-stop delivery system. The plan must detail a process that
  894  would fully integrate all federally mandated and optional
  895  partners by the second year of the plan. All optional federal
  896  program partners in the planning process shall be mandatory
  897  participants in the second year of the plan.
  898         (3) FUNDING.—
  899         (a) Title I, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
  900  Investment Act of 1998 funds; Wagner-Peyser funds; and
  901  NAFTA/Trade Act funds will be expended based on the 4-year 5
  902  year plan of CareerSource Florida, Inc. The plan must shall
  903  outline and direct the method used to administer and coordinate
  904  various funds and programs that are operated by various
  905  agencies. The following provisions apply to these funds:
  906         1. At least 50 percent of the Title I funds for Adults and
  907  Dislocated Workers which are passed through to local regional
  908  workforce development boards shall be allocated to and expended
  909  on Individual Training Accounts unless a local regional
  910  workforce development board obtains a waiver from CareerSource
  911  Florida, Inc. Tuition, books, and fees of training providers and
  912  other training services prescribed and authorized by the
  913  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act of 1998
  914  qualify as Individual Training Account expenditures.
  915         2. Fifteen percent of Title I funding shall be retained at
  916  the state level and dedicated to state administration and shall
  917  be used to design, develop, induce, and fund innovative
  918  Individual Training Account pilots, demonstrations, and
  919  programs. Of such funds retained at the state level, $2 million
  920  shall be reserved for the Incumbent Worker Training Program
  921  created under subparagraph 3. Eligible state administration
  922  costs include the costs of: funding for the board and staff of
  923  CareerSource Florida, Inc.; operating fiscal, compliance, and
  924  management accountability systems through CareerSource Florida,
  925  Inc.; conducting evaluation and research on workforce
  926  development activities; and providing technical and capacity
  927  building assistance to local workforce development areas regions
  928  at the direction of CareerSource Florida, Inc. Notwithstanding
  929  s. 445.004, such administrative costs may not exceed 25 percent
  930  of these funds. An amount not to exceed 75 percent of these
  931  funds shall be allocated to Individual Training Accounts and
  932  other workforce development strategies for other training
  933  designed and tailored by CareerSource Florida, Inc., including,
  934  but not limited to, programs for incumbent workers, displaced
  935  homemakers, nontraditional employment, and enterprise zones.
  936  CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall design, adopt, and fund
  937  Individual Training Accounts for distressed urban and rural
  938  communities.
  939         3. The Incumbent Worker Training Program is created for the
  940  purpose of providing grant funding for continuing education and
  941  training of incumbent employees at existing Florida businesses.
  942  The program will provide reimbursement grants to businesses that
  943  pay for preapproved, direct, training-related costs.
  944         a. The Incumbent Worker Training Program will be
  945  administered by CareerSource Florida, Inc., which may, at its
  946  discretion, contract with a private business organization to
  947  serve as grant administrator.
  948         b. The program shall be administered pursuant to section
  949  134(d)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act To be
  950  eligible for the program’s grant funding, a business must have
  951  been in operation in Florida for a minimum of 1 year prior to
  952  the application for grant funding; have at least one full-time
  953  employee; demonstrate financial viability; and be current on all
  954  state tax obligations. Priority for funding shall be given to
  955  businesses with 25 employees or fewer, businesses in rural
  956  areas, businesses in distressed inner-city areas, businesses in
  957  a qualified targeted industry, businesses whose grant proposals
  958  represent a significant upgrade in employee skills, or
  959  businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff
  960  avoidance strategy.
  961         c. All costs reimbursed by the program must be preapproved
  962  by CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant administrator. The
  963  program may not reimburse businesses for trainee wages, the
  964  purchase of capital equipment, or the purchase of any item or
  965  service that may possibly be used outside the training project.
  966  A business approved for a grant may be reimbursed for
  967  preapproved, direct, training-related costs including tuition,
  968  fees, books and training materials, and overhead or indirect
  969  costs not to exceed 5 percent of the grant amount.
  970         d. A business that is selected to receive grant funding
  971  must provide a matching contribution to the training project,
  972  including, but not limited to, wages paid to trainees or the
  973  purchase of capital equipment used in the training project; must
  974  sign an agreement with CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant
  975  administrator to complete the training project as proposed in
  976  the application; must keep accurate records of the project’s
  977  implementation process; and must submit monthly or quarterly
  978  reimbursement requests with required documentation.
  979         e. All Incumbent Worker Training Program grant projects
  980  shall be performance-based with specific measurable performance
  981  outcomes, including completion of the training project and job
  982  retention. CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant
  983  administrator shall withhold the final payment to the grantee
  984  until a final grant report is submitted and all performance
  985  criteria specified in the grant contract have been achieved.
  986         f. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may establish guidelines
  987  necessary to implement the Incumbent Worker Training Program.
  988         g. No more than 10 percent of the Incumbent Worker Training
  989  Program’s total appropriation may be used for overhead or
  990  indirect purposes.
  991         4. At least 50 percent of Rapid Response funding shall be
  992  dedicated to Intensive Services Accounts and Individual Training
  993  Accounts for dislocated workers and incumbent workers who are at
  994  risk of dislocation. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall also
  995  maintain an Emergency Preparedness Fund from Rapid Response
  996  funds, which will immediately issue Intensive Service Accounts,
  997  Individual Training Accounts, and other federally authorized
  998  assistance to eligible victims of natural or other disasters. At
  999  the direction of the Governor, these Rapid Response funds shall
 1000  be released to local regional workforce development boards for
 1001  immediate use after events that qualify under federal law.
 1002  Funding shall also be dedicated to maintain a unit at the state
 1003  level to respond to Rapid Response emergencies and to work with
 1004  state emergency management officials and local regional
 1005  workforce development boards. All Rapid Response funds must be
 1006  expended based on a plan developed by CareerSource Florida,
 1007  Inc., and approved by the Governor.
 1008         (b) The administrative entity for Title I, Workforce
 1009  Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act of 1998 funds, and
 1010  Rapid Response activities is the Department of Economic
 1011  Opportunity, which shall provide direction to local regional
 1012  workforce development boards regarding Title I programs and
 1013  Rapid Response activities pursuant to the direction of
 1014  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1015         (4) FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPTIONS AND REQUIRED
 1016  MODIFICATIONS.—
 1017         (a) CareerSource Florida, Inc., may provide indemnification
 1018  from audit liabilities to local regional workforce development
 1019  boards that act in full compliance with state law and board
 1020  policy.
 1021         (b) CareerSource Florida, Inc., may negotiate and settle
 1022  all outstanding issues with the United States Department of
 1023  Labor relating to decisions made by CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1024  any predecessor workforce organization, and the Legislature with
 1025  regard to the Job Training Partnership Act, making settlements
 1026  and closing out all JTPA program year grants.
 1027         (b)(c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., may make modifications
 1028  to the state’s plan, policies, and procedures to comply with
 1029  federally mandated requirements that in its judgment must be
 1030  complied with to maintain funding provided pursuant to Pub. L.
 1031  No. 113-128 105-220. The board shall provide written notice to
 1032  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
 1033  the House of Representatives within 30 days after any such
 1034  changes or modifications.
 1035         (c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall enter into a
 1036  memorandum of understanding with the Florida Department of
 1037  Education to ensure that federally mandated requirements of Pub.
 1038  L. No. 113-128 are met and are in compliance with the state plan
 1039  for workforce development.
 1040         (5) LONG-TERM CONSOLIDATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
 1041  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may recommend workforce-related
 1042  divisions, bureaus, units, programs, duties, commissions,
 1043  boards, and councils for elimination, consolidation, or
 1044  privatization.
 1045         Section 24. Subsections (3), (4), (5), (9), (11), and (12)
 1046  of section 445.004, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1047         445.004 CareerSource Florida, Inc.; creation; purpose;
 1048  membership; duties and powers.—
 1049         (3)(a) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall be governed by a
 1050  board of directors, whose membership and appointment must be
 1051  consistent with Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 101(b) 105-220,
 1052  Title I, s. 111(b). Members described in Pub. L. No. 113-128,
 1053  Title I, s. 101(b)(1)(C)(iii)(I)(aa) 105-220, Title I, s.
 1054  111(b)(1)(C)(vi) shall be nonvoting members. The number of
 1055  directors shall be determined by the Governor, who shall
 1056  consider the importance of minority, gender, and geographic
 1057  representation in making appointments to the board. When the
 1058  Governor is in attendance, he or she shall preside at all
 1059  meetings of the board of directors.
 1060         (b) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1061  shall be chaired by a board member designated by the Governor
 1062  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. A member may not serve
 1063  more than two terms.
 1064         (c) Members appointed by the Governor may serve no more
 1065  than two terms and must be appointed for 3-year terms. However,
 1066  in order to establish staggered terms for board members, the
 1067  Governor shall appoint or reappoint one-third of the board
 1068  members for 1-year terms, one-third of the board members for 2
 1069  year terms, and one-third of the board members for 3-year terms
 1070  beginning July 1, 2016 2005. Subsequent appointments or
 1071  reappointments shall be for 3-year terms, except that a member
 1072  appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall be appointed to
 1073  serve only the remainder of the term of the member whom he or
 1074  she is replacing, and may be appointed for a subsequent 3-year
 1075  term. Private sector representatives of businesses, appointed by
 1076  the Governor pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, shall
 1077  constitute a majority of the membership of the board. Private
 1078  sector representatives shall be appointed from nominations
 1079  received by the Governor, including, but not limited to, those
 1080  nominations made by the President of the Senate and the Speaker
 1081  of the House of Representatives. Private sector appointments to
 1082  the board must be representative of the business community of
 1083  this state; no fewer than one-half of the appointments must be
 1084  representative of small businesses, and at least five members
 1085  must have economic development experience. Members appointed by
 1086  the Governor serve at the pleasure of the Governor and are
 1087  eligible for reappointment.
 1088         (d) The board must include the vice chairperson of the
 1089  board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and one member
 1090  representing each of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
 1091  Act partners, including the Division of Career and Adult
 1092  Education, and other entities representing programs identified
 1093  in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as determined
 1094  necessary.
 1095         (e)(d) A member of the board of directors of CareerSource
 1096  Florida, Inc., may be removed by the Governor for cause. Absence
 1097  from three consecutive meetings results in automatic removal.
 1098  The chair of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall notify the
 1099  Governor of such absences.
 1100         (f)(e) Representatives of businesses appointed to the board
 1101  of directors may not include providers of workforce services.
 1102         (4)(a) The president of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall
 1103  be hired by the board of directors of CareerSource Florida,
 1104  Inc., and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor in the
 1105  capacity of an executive director and secretary of CareerSource
 1106  Florida, Inc.
 1107         (b) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1108  shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon the call
 1109  of its chair. The board and its committees, subcommittees, or
 1110  other subdivisions may use any method of telecommunications to
 1111  conduct meetings, including establishing a quorum through
 1112  telecommunications, if the public is given proper notice of the
 1113  telecommunications meeting and is given reasonable access to
 1114  observe and, if appropriate, participate.
 1115         (c) A majority of the total current membership of the board
 1116  of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., constitutes a
 1117  quorum.
 1118         (d) A majority of those voting is required to organize and
 1119  conduct the business of the board, except that a majority of the
 1120  entire board of directors is required to adopt or amend the
 1121  bylaws.
 1122         (e) Except as delegated or authorized by the board of
 1123  directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., individual members have
 1124  no authority to control or direct the operations of CareerSource
 1125  Florida, Inc., or the actions of its officers and employees,
 1126  including the president.
 1127         (f) Members of the board of directors of CareerSource
 1128  Florida, Inc., and its committees serve without compensation,
 1129  but these members, the president, and the employees of
 1130  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may be reimbursed for all
 1131  reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses pursuant to s.
 1132  112.061.
 1133         (g) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1134  may establish an executive committee consisting of the chair and
 1135  at least six additional board members selected by the chair, one
 1136  of whom must be a representative of organized labor. The
 1137  executive committee and the president have such authority as the
 1138  board delegates to them, except that the board of directors may
 1139  not delegate to the executive committee authority to take action
 1140  that requires approval by a majority of the entire board of
 1141  directors.
 1142         (h) The chair may appoint committees to fulfill the board’s
 1143  responsibilities, to comply with federal requirements, or to
 1144  obtain technical assistance, and must incorporate members of
 1145  local regional workforce development boards into its structure.
 1146         (i) Each member of the board of directors who is not
 1147  otherwise required to file a financial disclosure pursuant to s.
 1148  8, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144 must file
 1149  disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.
 1150         (5) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall have all the powers
 1151  and authority not explicitly prohibited by statute which are
 1152  necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate its purposes
 1153  as determined by statute, Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, and the
 1154  Governor, as well as its functions, duties, and
 1155  responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the following:
 1156         (a) Serving as the state’s Workforce Development Investment
 1157  Board pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. Unless otherwise
 1158  required by federal law, at least 90 percent of workforce
 1159  development funding must go toward direct customer service.
 1160         (b) Providing oversight and policy direction to ensure that
 1161  the following programs are administered by the department in
 1162  compliance with approved plans and under contract with
 1163  CareerSource Florida, Inc.:
 1164         1. Programs authorized under Title I of the Workforce
 1165  Investment Innovation and Opportunity Act of 1998, Pub. L. No.
 1166  113-128 105-220, with the exception of programs funded directly
 1167  by the United States Department of Labor under Title I, s. 167.
 1168         2. Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933,
 1169  as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss. 49 et seq.
 1170         3. Activities authorized under Title II of the Trade Act of
 1171  2002, as amended, 19 U.S.C. ss. 2272 et seq., and the Trade
 1172  Adjustment Assistance Program.
 1173         4. Activities authorized under 38 U.S.C. chapter 41,
 1174  including job counseling, training, and placement for veterans.
 1175         5. Employment and training activities carried out under
 1176  funds awarded to this state by the United States Department of
 1177  Housing and Urban Development.
 1178         6. Welfare transition services funded by the Temporary
 1179  Assistance for Needy Families Program, created under the
 1180  Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
 1181  of 1996, as amended, Pub. L. No. 104-193, and Title IV, s. 403,
 1182  of the Social Security Act, as amended.
 1183         7. Displaced homemaker programs, provided under s. 446.50.
 1184         8. The Florida Bonding Program, provided under Pub. L. No.
 1185  97-300, s. 164(a)(1).
 1186         9. The Food Assistance Employment and Training Program,
 1187  provided under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. ss.
 1188  2011-2032; the Food Security Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 99-198;
 1189  and the Hunger Prevention Act, Pub. L. No. 100-435.
 1190         10. The Quick-Response Training Program, provided under ss.
 1191  288.046-288.047. Matching funds and in-kind contributions that
 1192  are provided by clients of the Quick-Response Training Program
 1193  shall count toward the requirements of s. 288.904, pertaining to
 1194  the return on investment from activities of Enterprise Florida,
 1195  Inc.
 1196         11. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, provided under the Tax
 1197  and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-277, and
 1198  the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-34.
 1199         12. Offender placement services, provided under ss.
 1200  944.707-944.708.
 1201         (c) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer
 1202  the provisions of this chapter which relate to implementing and
 1203  administering the programs listed in paragraph (b) as well as
 1204  rules related to eligible training providers and auditing and
 1205  monitoring subrecipients of the workforce system grant funds.
 1206         (d) Contracting with public and private entities as
 1207  necessary to further the directives of this section. All
 1208  contracts executed by CareerSource Florida, Inc., must include
 1209  specific performance expectations and deliverables. All
 1210  CareerSource Florida, Inc., contracts, including those
 1211  solicited, managed, or paid by the department pursuant to s.
 1212  20.60(5)(c) are exempt from s. 112.061, but shall be governed by
 1213  subsection (1).
 1214         (e) Notifying the Governor, the President of the Senate,
 1215  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of noncompliance
 1216  by the department or other agencies or obstruction of the
 1217  board’s efforts by such agencies. Upon such notification, the
 1218  Executive Office of the Governor shall assist agencies to bring
 1219  them into compliance with board objectives.
 1220         (f) Ensuring that the state does not waste valuable
 1221  training resources. The board shall direct that all resources,
 1222  including equipment purchased for training Workforce Innovation
 1223  and Opportunity Investment Act clients, be available for use at
 1224  all times by eligible populations as first priority users. At
 1225  times when eligible populations are not available, such
 1226  resources shall be used for any other state-authorized education
 1227  and training purpose. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may authorize
 1228  expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or
 1229  other tokens of recognition for performance by a local regional
 1230  workforce development board, its committees and subdivisions,
 1231  and other units of the workforce system. CareerSource Florida,
 1232  Inc., may also authorize expenditures for promotional items,
 1233  such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with messages promoting
 1234  the state’s workforce system to employers, job seekers, and
 1235  program participants. However, such expenditures are subject to
 1236  federal regulations applicable to the expenditure of federal
 1237  funds.
 1238         (g) Establishing a dispute resolution process for all
 1239  memoranda of understanding or other contracts or agreements
 1240  entered into between the department and local regional workforce
 1241  development boards.
 1242         (h) Archiving records with the Bureau of Archives and
 1243  Records Management of the Division of Library and Information
 1244  Services of the Department of State.
 1245         (9) CareerSource Florida, Inc., in collaboration with the
 1246  local regional workforce development boards and appropriate
 1247  state agencies and local public and private service providers
 1248  and in consultation with the Office of Program Policy Analysis
 1249  and Government Accountability, shall establish uniform
 1250  performance accountability measures that apply across the core
 1251  programs and standards to gauge the performance of the state and
 1252  local areas in achieving the workforce development strategy.
 1253  These measures and standards must be organized into three
 1254  outcome tiers.
 1255         (a) The performance accountability measures for the core
 1256  programs consist of the primary indicators of performance, any
 1257  additional indicators of performance, and a state-adjusted level
 1258  of performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113
 1259  128, Title I, s. 116(b) first tier of measures must be organized
 1260  to provide benchmarks for systemwide outcomes. CareerSource
 1261  Florida, Inc., shall, in collaboration with the Office of
 1262  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, establish
 1263  goals for the tier-one outcomes. Systemwide outcomes may include
 1264  employment in occupations demonstrating continued growth in
 1265  wages; continued employment after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months;
 1266  reduction in and elimination of public assistance reliance; job
 1267  placement; employer satisfaction; and positive return on
 1268  investment of public resources.
 1269         (b) The performance accountability measures for each local
 1270  area consist of the primary indicators of performance, any
 1271  additional indicators of performance, and a local level of
 1272  performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128.
 1273  The local level of performance is determined by the local board,
 1274  the chief elected official, and the Governor pursuant to Pub. L.
 1275  No. 113-128, Title I, s. 116(c) second tier of measures must be
 1276  organized to provide a set of benchmark outcomes for the
 1277  strategic components of the workforce development strategy. Cost
 1278  per entered employment, earnings at placement, retention in
 1279  employment, job placement, and entered employment rate must be
 1280  included among the performance outcome measures.
 1281         (c) Performance accountability measures shall be used to
 1282  generate performance reports pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128,
 1283  Title I, s. 116(d) The third tier of measures must be the
 1284  operational output measures to be used by the agency
 1285  implementing programs, which may be specific to federal
 1286  requirements. The tier-three measures must be developed by the
 1287  agencies implementing programs, which may consult with
 1288  CareerSource Florida, Inc., in this effort. Such measures must
 1289  be reported to CareerSource Florida, Inc., by the appropriate
 1290  implementing agency.
 1291         (d) Regional differences must be reflected in the
 1292  establishment of performance goals and may include job
 1293  availability, unemployment rates, average worker wage, and
 1294  available employable population.
 1295         (e) Job placement must be reported pursuant to s. 1008.39.
 1296  Positive outcomes for providers of education and training must
 1297  be consistent with ss. 1008.42 and 1008.43.
 1298         (d)(f) The performance accountability uniform measures of
 1299  success that are adopted by CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the
 1300  local regional workforce development boards must be developed in
 1301  a manner that provides for an equitable comparison of the
 1302  relative success or failure of any service provider in terms of
 1303  positive outcomes.
 1304         (g) By December 1 of each year, CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1305  shall provide the Legislature with a report detailing the
 1306  performance of Florida’s workforce development system, as
 1307  reflected in the three-tier measurement system. The report also
 1308  must benchmark Florida outcomes for all tiers as compared with
 1309  other states that collect data similarly.
 1310         (11) The workforce development system must use a charter
 1311  process approach aimed at encouraging local design and control
 1312  of service delivery and targeted activities. CareerSource
 1313  Florida, Inc., shall be responsible for granting charters to
 1314  local regional workforce development boards that have a
 1315  membership consistent with the requirements of federal and state
 1316  law and have developed a plan consistent with the state’s
 1317  workforce development strategy. The plan must specify methods
 1318  for allocating the resources and programs in a manner that
 1319  eliminates unwarranted duplication, minimizes administrative
 1320  costs, meets the existing job market demands and the job market
 1321  demands resulting from successful economic development
 1322  activities, ensures access to quality workforce development
 1323  services for all Floridians, allows for pro rata or partial
 1324  distribution of benefits and services, prohibits the creation of
 1325  a waiting list or other indication of an unserved population,
 1326  serves as many individuals as possible within available
 1327  resources, and maximizes successful outcomes. As part of the
 1328  charter process, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish
 1329  incentives for effective coordination of federal and state
 1330  programs, outline rewards for successful job placements, and
 1331  institute collaborative approaches among local service
 1332  providers. Local decisionmaking and control shall be important
 1333  components for inclusion in this charter application.
 1334         (12) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall enter into agreement
 1335  with Space Florida and collaborate with vocational institutes,
 1336  community colleges, colleges, and universities in this state, to
 1337  develop a workforce development strategy to implement the
 1338  workforce provisions of s. 331.3051.
 1339         Section 25. Section 445.006, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1340  to read:
 1341         445.006 State plan Strategic and operational plans for
 1342  workforce development.—
 1343         (1) STATE PLAN.—CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction
 1344  with state and local partners in the workforce system, shall
 1345  develop a state plan that produces an educated and skilled
 1346  workforce. The state plan must consist of strategic and
 1347  operational planning elements. The state plan shall be submitted
 1348  by the Governor to the United States Department of Labor
 1349  pursuant to the requirements of Pub. L. No. 113-128 strategic
 1350  plan that produces skilled employees for employers in the state.
 1351  The strategic plan shall be updated or modified by January 1 of
 1352  each year.
 1353         (2) STRATEGIC PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida,
 1354  Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the
 1355  workforce system, shall develop strategic planning elements,
 1356  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state
 1357  plan.
 1358         (a) The strategic planning elements of the state plan must
 1359  include, but need not be limited to, strategies for:
 1360         1.(a) Fulfilling the workforce system goals and strategies
 1361  prescribed in s. 445.004;
 1362         2.(b) Aggregating, integrating, and leveraging workforce
 1363  system resources;
 1364         3.(c) Coordinating the activities of federal, state, and
 1365  local workforce system partners;
 1366         4.(d) Addressing the workforce needs of small businesses;
 1367  and
 1368         5.(e) Fostering the participation of rural communities and
 1369  distressed urban cores in the workforce system.
 1370         (2) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish an
 1371  operational plan to implement the state strategic plan. The
 1372  operational plan shall be submitted to the Governor and the
 1373  Legislature along with the strategic plan and must reflect the
 1374  allocation of resources as appropriated by the Legislature to
 1375  specific responsibilities enumerated in law. As a component of
 1376  the operational plan required under this section, CareerSource
 1377  Florida, Inc., shall develop a workforce marketing plan, with
 1378  the goal of educating individuals inside and outside the state
 1379  about the employment market and employment conditions in the
 1380  state. The marketing plan must include, but need not be limited
 1381  to, strategies for:
 1382         (a) Distributing information to secondary and postsecondary
 1383  education institutions about the diversity of businesses in the
 1384  state, specific clusters of businesses or business sectors in
 1385  the state, and occupations by industry which are in demand by
 1386  employers in the state;
 1387         (b) Distributing information about and promoting use of the
 1388  Internet-based job matching and labor market information system
 1389  authorized under s. 445.011; and
 1390         (c) Coordinating with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to ensure
 1391  that workforce marketing efforts complement the economic
 1392  development marketing efforts of the state.
 1393         (3) The operational plan must include performance measures,
 1394  standards, measurement criteria, and contract guidelines in the
 1395  following areas with respect to participants in the welfare
 1396  transition program:
 1397         (a) Work participation rates, by type of activity;
 1398         (b) Caseload trends;
 1399         (c) Recidivism;
 1400         (d) Participation in diversion and relocation assistance
 1401  programs;
 1402         (e) Employment retention;
 1403         (f) Wage growth; and
 1404         (g) Other issues identified by the board of directors of
 1405  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1406         (b)(4) The strategic planning elements plan must include
 1407  criteria for allocating workforce resources to local regional
 1408  workforce development boards. With respect to allocating funds
 1409  to serve customers of the welfare transition program, such
 1410  criteria may include weighting factors that indicate the
 1411  relative degree of difficulty associated with securing and
 1412  retaining employment placements for specific subsets of the
 1413  welfare transition caseload.
 1414         (3) OPERATIONAL PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida,
 1415  Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the
 1416  workforce system, shall develop operational planning elements,
 1417  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state
 1418  plan.
 1419         (5)(a) The operational plan may include a performance-based
 1420  payment structure to be used for all welfare transition program
 1421  customers which takes into account:
 1422         1. The degree of difficulty associated with placement and
 1423  retention;
 1424         2. The quality of the placement with respect to salary,
 1425  benefits, and opportunities for advancement; and
 1426         3. The employee’s retention in the placement.
 1427         (b) The payment structure may provide for bonus payments of
 1428  up to 10 percent of the contract amount to providers that
 1429  achieve notable success in achieving contract objectives,
 1430  including, but not limited to, success in diverting families in
 1431  which there is an adult who is subject to work requirements from
 1432  receiving cash assistance and in achieving long-term job
 1433  retention and wage growth with respect to welfare transition
 1434  program customers. A service provider shall be paid a maximum of
 1435  one payment per service for each participant during any given 6
 1436  month period.
 1437         (6)(a) The operational plan must include strategies that
 1438  are designed to prevent or reduce the need for a person to
 1439  receive public assistance, including:
 1440         1. A teen pregnancy prevention component that includes, but
 1441  is not limited to, a plan for implementing the Teen Pregnancy
 1442  Prevention Community Initiative within each county of the
 1443  services area in which the teen birth rate is higher than the
 1444  state average;
 1445         2. A component that encourages community-based welfare
 1446  prevention and reduction initiatives that increase support
 1447  provided by noncustodial parents to their welfare-dependent
 1448  children and are consistent with program and financial
 1449  guidelines developed by CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the
 1450  Commission on Responsible Fatherhood. These initiatives may
 1451  include improved paternity establishment, work activities for
 1452  noncustodial parents, programs aimed at decreasing out-of
 1453  wedlock pregnancies, encouraging involvement of fathers with
 1454  their children which includes court-ordered supervised
 1455  visitation, and increasing child support payments;
 1456         3. A component that encourages formation and maintenance of
 1457  two-parent families through, among other things, court-ordered
 1458  supervised visitation;
 1459         4. A component that fosters responsible fatherhood in
 1460  families receiving assistance; and
 1461         5. A component that fosters the provision of services that
 1462  reduce the incidence and effects of domestic violence on women
 1463  and children in families receiving assistance.
 1464         (b) Specifications for welfare transition program services
 1465  that are to be delivered include, but are not limited to:
 1466         1. Initial assessment services prior to an individual being
 1467  placed in an employment service, to determine whether the
 1468  individual should be referred for relocation, up-front
 1469  diversion, education, or employment placement. Assessment
 1470  services shall be paid on a fixed unit rate and may not provide
 1471  educational or employment placement services.
 1472         2. Referral of participants to diversion and relocation
 1473  programs.
 1474         3. Preplacement services, including assessment, staffing,
 1475  career plan development, work orientation, and employability
 1476  skills enhancement.
 1477         4. Services necessary to secure employment for a welfare
 1478  transition program participant.
 1479         5. Services necessary to assist participants in retaining
 1480  employment, including, but not limited to, remedial education,
 1481  language skills, and personal and family counseling.
 1482         6. Desired quality of job placements with regard to salary,
 1483  benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
 1484         7. Expectations regarding job retention.
 1485         8. Strategies to ensure that transition services are
 1486  provided to participants for the mandated period of eligibility.
 1487         9. Services that must be provided to the participant
 1488  throughout an education or training program, such as monitoring
 1489  attendance and progress in the program.
 1490         10. Services that must be delivered to welfare transition
 1491  program participants who have a deferral from work requirements
 1492  but wish to participate in activities that meet federal
 1493  participation requirements.
 1494         11. Expectations regarding continued participant awareness
 1495  of available services and benefits.
 1496         Section 26. Section 445.007, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1497  to read:
 1498         445.007 Local Regional workforce development boards.—
 1499         (1) One regional workforce development board shall be
 1500  appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall
 1501  serve as the local workforce development investment board
 1502  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. The membership of the
 1503  board must shall be consistent with Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220,
 1504  Title I, s. 107(b) s. 117(b) but may not exceed the minimum
 1505  membership required in Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s.
 1506  117(b)(2)(A) and in this subsection. Upon approval by the
 1507  Governor, the chief elected official may appoint additional
 1508  members above the limit set by this subsection. If a public
 1509  education or training provider is represented on the board, a
 1510  representative of a private nonprofit provider and a
 1511  representative of a private for-profit provider must also be
 1512  appointed to the board. The board shall include one nonvoting
 1513  representative from a military installation if a military
 1514  installation is located within the region and the appropriate
 1515  military command or organization authorizes such representation.
 1516  It is the intent of the Legislature that membership of a
 1517  regional workforce board include persons who are current or
 1518  former recipients of welfare transition assistance as defined in
 1519  s. 445.002(2) or workforce services as provided in s. 445.009(1)
 1520  or that such persons be included as ex officio members of the
 1521  board or of committees organized by the board. The importance of
 1522  minority and gender representation shall be considered when
 1523  making appointments to the board. The board, its committees,
 1524  subcommittees, and subdivisions, and other units of the
 1525  workforce system, including units that may consist in whole or
 1526  in part of local governmental units, may use any method of
 1527  telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a
 1528  quorum through telecommunications, provided that the public is
 1529  given proper notice of the telecommunications meeting and
 1530  reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate, participate.
 1531  Local Regional workforce development boards are subject to
 1532  chapters 119 and 286 and s. 24, Art. I of the State
 1533  Constitution. If the local regional workforce development board
 1534  enters into a contract with an organization or individual
 1535  represented on the board of directors, the contract must be
 1536  approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a quorum having been
 1537  established, and the board member who could benefit financially
 1538  from the transaction must abstain from voting on the contract. A
 1539  board member must disclose any such conflict in a manner that is
 1540  consistent with the procedures outlined in s. 112.3143. Each
 1541  member of a local regional workforce development board who is
 1542  not otherwise required to file a full and public disclosure of
 1543  financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State
 1544  Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a statement of financial
 1545  interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. The executive director or
 1546  designated person responsible for the operational and
 1547  administrative functions of the local regional workforce
 1548  development board who is not otherwise required to file a full
 1549  and public disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 8,
 1550  Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a
 1551  statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.
 1552         (2)(a) The local regional workforce development board shall
 1553  elect a chair from among the representatives described in Pub.
 1554  L. No. 113-128 105-220, Title I, s. 107(b)(2)(A) s.
 1555  117(b)(2)(A)(i) to serve for a term of no more than 2 years and
 1556  shall serve no more than two terms.
 1557         (b) The Governor may remove a member of the board, the
 1558  executive director of the board, or the designated person
 1559  responsible for the operational and administrative functions of
 1560  the board for cause. As used in this paragraph, the term “cause”
 1561  includes, but is not limited to, engaging in fraud or other
 1562  criminal acts, incapacity, unfitness, neglect of duty, official
 1563  incompetence and irresponsibility, misfeasance, malfeasance,
 1564  nonfeasance, or lack of performance.
 1565         (3) The Department of Economic Opportunity, under the
 1566  direction of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall assign staff to
 1567  meet with each local regional workforce development board
 1568  annually to review the board’s performance and to certify that
 1569  the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal
 1570  law.
 1571         (4) In addition to the duties and functions specified by
 1572  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and by the interlocal agreement
 1573  approved by the local county or city governing bodies, the local
 1574  regional workforce development board shall have the following
 1575  responsibilities:
 1576         (a) Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan
 1577  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 108 105-220, Title
 1578  I, s. 118, and the provisions of this act.
 1579         (b) Conclude agreements necessary to designate the fiscal
 1580  agent and administrative entity. A public or private entity,
 1581  including an entity established pursuant to s. 163.01, which
 1582  makes a majority of the appointments to a local regional
 1583  workforce development board may serve as the board’s
 1584  administrative entity if approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1585  based upon a showing that a fair and competitive process was
 1586  used to select the administrative entity.
 1587         (c) Complete assurances required for the charter process of
 1588  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and provide ongoing oversight
 1589  related to administrative costs, duplicated services, career
 1590  counseling, economic development, equal access, compliance and
 1591  accountability, and performance outcomes.
 1592         (d) Oversee the one-stop delivery system in its local area.
 1593         (5) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall implement a training
 1594  program for the local regional workforce development boards to
 1595  familiarize board members with the state’s workforce development
 1596  goals and strategies.
 1597         (6) The local regional workforce development board shall
 1598  designate all local service providers and may not transfer this
 1599  authority to a third party. Consistent with the intent of the
 1600  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act, local
 1601  regional workforce development boards should provide the
 1602  greatest possible choice of training providers to those who
 1603  qualify for training services. A local regional workforce
 1604  development board may not restrict the choice of training
 1605  providers based upon cost, location, or historical training
 1606  arrangements. However, a board may restrict the amount of
 1607  training resources available to any one client. Such
 1608  restrictions may vary based upon the cost of training in the
 1609  client’s chosen occupational area. The local regional workforce
 1610  development board may be designated as a one-stop operator and
 1611  direct provider of intake, assessment, eligibility
 1612  determinations, or other direct provider services except
 1613  training services. Such designation may occur only with the
 1614  agreement of the chief elected official and the Governor as
 1615  specified in 29 U.S.C. s. 2832(f)(2). CareerSource Florida,
 1616  Inc., shall establish procedures by which a local regional
 1617  workforce development board may request permission to operate
 1618  under this section and the criteria under which such permission
 1619  may be granted. The criteria shall include, but need not be
 1620  limited to, a reduction in the cost of providing the permitted
 1621  services. Such permission shall be granted for a period not to
 1622  exceed 3 years for any single request submitted by the local
 1623  regional workforce development board.
 1624         (7) Local Regional workforce development boards shall adopt
 1625  a committee structure consistent with applicable federal law and
 1626  state policies established by CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1627         (8) The importance of minority and gender representation
 1628  shall be considered when appointments are made to any committee
 1629  established by the local regional workforce development board.
 1630         (9) For purposes of procurement, local regional workforce
 1631  development boards and their administrative entities are not
 1632  state agencies and are exempt from chapters 120 and 287. The
 1633  local regional workforce development boards shall apply the
 1634  procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law
 1635  and policies of the Department of Economic Opportunity and
 1636  CareerSource Florida, Inc., for the expenditure of federal,
 1637  state, and nonpass-through funds. The making or approval of
 1638  smaller, multiple payments for a single purchase with the intent
 1639  to avoid or evade the monetary thresholds and procedures
 1640  established by federal law and policies of the Department of
 1641  Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida, Inc., is grounds
 1642  for removal for cause. Local Regional workforce development
 1643  boards, their administrative entities, committees, and
 1644  subcommittees, and other workforce units may authorize
 1645  expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or
 1646  other tokens of recognition for performance by units of the
 1647  workforce system. Local Regional workforce development boards;
 1648  their administrative entities, committees, and subcommittees;
 1649  and other workforce units may authorize expenditures for
 1650  promotional items, such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with
 1651  messages promoting Florida’s workforce system to employers, job
 1652  seekers, and program participants. However, such expenditures
 1653  are subject to federal regulations applicable to the expenditure
 1654  of federal funds. All contracts executed by local regional
 1655  workforce development boards must include specific performance
 1656  expectations and deliverables.
 1657         (10) State and federal funds provided to the local regional
 1658  workforce development boards may not be used directly or
 1659  indirectly to pay for meals, food, or beverages for board
 1660  members, staff, or employees of local regional workforce
 1661  development boards, CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the
 1662  Department of Economic Opportunity except as expressly
 1663  authorized by state law. Preapproved, reasonable, and necessary
 1664  per diem allowances and travel expenses may be reimbursed. Such
 1665  reimbursement shall be at the standard travel reimbursement
 1666  rates established in s. 112.061 and shall be in compliance with
 1667  all applicable federal and state requirements. CareerSource
 1668  Florida, Inc., shall develop a statewide fiscal policy
 1669  applicable to the state board and all local regional workforce
 1670  development boards, to hold both the state and local regional
 1671  workforce development boards strictly accountable for adherence
 1672  to the policy and subject to regular and periodic monitoring by
 1673  the Department of Economic Opportunity, the administrative
 1674  entity for CareerSource Florida, Inc. Boards are prohibited from
 1675  expending state or federal funds for entertainment costs and
 1676  recreational activities for board members and employees as these
 1677  terms are defined by 2 C.F.R. part 230.
 1678         (11) To increase transparency and accountability, a local
 1679  regional workforce development board must comply with the
 1680  requirements of this section before contracting with a member of
 1681  the board or a relative, as defined in s. 112.3143(1)(c), of a
 1682  board member or of an employee of the board. Such contracts may
 1683  not be executed before or without the approval of CareerSource
 1684  Florida, Inc. Such contracts, as well as documentation
 1685  demonstrating adherence to this section as specified by
 1686  CareerSource Florida, Inc., must be submitted to the Department
 1687  of Economic Opportunity for review and recommendation according
 1688  to criteria to be determined by CareerSource Florida, Inc. Such
 1689  a contract must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a
 1690  quorum having been established; all conflicts of interest must
 1691  be disclosed before the vote; and any member who may benefit
 1692  from the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the
 1693  contract, must abstain from the vote. A contract under $25,000
 1694  between a local regional workforce development board and a
 1695  member of that board or between a relative, as defined in s.
 1696  112.3143(1)(c), of a board member or of an employee of the board
 1697  is not required to have the prior approval of CareerSource
 1698  Florida, Inc., but must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the
 1699  board, a quorum having been established, and must be reported to
 1700  the Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida,
 1701  Inc., within 30 days after approval. If a contract cannot be
 1702  approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., a review of the decision
 1703  to disapprove the contract may be requested by the local
 1704  regional workforce development board or other parties to the
 1705  disapproved contract.
 1706         (12) Each local regional workforce development board shall
 1707  develop a budget for the purpose of carrying out the duties of
 1708  the board under this section, subject to the approval of the
 1709  chief elected official. Each local regional workforce
 1710  development board shall submit its annual budget for review to
 1711  CareerSource Florida, Inc., no later than 2 weeks after the
 1712  chair approves the budget.
 1713         (13)By March 1, 2018, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall
 1714  establish regional planning areas in accordance with Pub. L. No.
 1715  113-128, Title I, s. 106(a)(2). Local workforce development
 1716  boards and chief elected officials within identified regional
 1717  planning areas shall prepare a regional workforce development
 1718  plan as required under Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s.
 1719  106(c)(2).
 1720         Section 27. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.0071,
 1721  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1722         445.0071 Florida Youth Summer Jobs Pilot Program.—
 1723         (4) GOVERNANCE.—
 1724         (a) The pilot program shall be administered by the local
 1725  regional workforce development board in consultation with
 1726  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1727         (b) The local regional workforce development board shall
 1728  report to CareerSource Florida, Inc., the number of at-risk and
 1729  disadvantaged children who enter the program, the types of work
 1730  activities they participate in, and the number of children who
 1731  return to school, go on to postsecondary school, or enter the
 1732  workforce full time at the end of the program. CareerSource
 1733  Florida, Inc., shall report to the Legislature by November 1 of
 1734  each year on the performance of the program.
 1735         (5) FUNDING.—
 1736         (a) The local regional workforce development board shall,
 1737  consistent with state and federal laws, use funds appropriated
 1738  specifically for the pilot program to provide youth wage
 1739  payments and educational enrichment activities. The local
 1740  regional workforce development board and local communities may
 1741  obtain private or state and federal grants or other sources of
 1742  funds in addition to any appropriated funds.
 1743         (b) Program funds shall be used as follows:
 1744         1. No less than 85 percent of the funds shall be used for
 1745  youth wage payments or educational enrichment activities. These
 1746  funds shall be matched on a one-to-one basis by each local
 1747  community that participates in the program.
 1748         2. No more than 2 percent of the funds may be used for
 1749  administrative purposes.
 1750         3. The remainder of the funds may be used for
 1751  transportation assistance, child care assistance, or other
 1752  assistance to enable a program participant to enter or remain in
 1753  the program.
 1754         (c) The local regional workforce development board shall
 1755  pay a participating employer an amount equal to one-half of the
 1756  wages paid to a youth participating in the program. Payments
 1757  shall be made monthly for the duration that the youth
 1758  participant is employed as documented by the employer and
 1759  confirmed by the local regional workforce development board.
 1760         Section 28. Subsections (2) through (7), paragraphs (b),
 1761  (c), and (d) of subsection (8), paragraph (b) of subsection (9),
 1762  and subsection (10) of section 445.009, Florida Statutes, are
 1763  amended to read:
 1764         445.009 One-stop delivery system.—
 1765         (2)(a) Subject to a process designed by CareerSource
 1766  Florida, Inc., and in compliance with Pub. L. No. 113-128 105
 1767  220, local regional workforce development boards shall designate
 1768  one-stop delivery system operators.
 1769         (b) A local regional workforce development board may
 1770  designate as its one-stop delivery system operator any public or
 1771  private entity that is eligible to provide services under any
 1772  state or federal workforce program that is a mandatory or
 1773  discretionary partner in the local workforce development area’s
 1774  region’s one-stop delivery system if approved by CareerSource
 1775  Florida, Inc., upon a showing by the local regional workforce
 1776  development board that a fair and competitive process was used
 1777  in the selection. As a condition of authorizing a local regional
 1778  workforce development board to designate such an entity as its
 1779  one-stop delivery system operator, CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 1780  must require the local regional workforce development board to
 1781  demonstrate that safeguards are in place to ensure that the one
 1782  stop delivery system operator will not exercise an unfair
 1783  competitive advantage or unfairly refer or direct customers of
 1784  the one-stop delivery system to services provided by that one
 1785  stop delivery system operator. A local regional workforce
 1786  development board may retain its current one-stop career center
 1787  operator without further procurement action if the board has an
 1788  established one-stop career center that has complied with
 1789  federal and state law.
 1790         (c) The local workforce development board must enter into a
 1791  memorandum of understanding with each mandatory or optional
 1792  partner participating in the one-stop delivery system which
 1793  details the partner’s required contribution to infrastructure
 1794  costs, as required by Pub. L. No. 113-128, s. 121(h). If the
 1795  local workforce development board and the one-stop partner are
 1796  unable to come to an agreement regarding infrastructure costs by
 1797  July 1, 2016, the costs shall be allocated pursuant to a policy
 1798  established by the Governor.
 1799         (3) Local Regional workforce development boards shall enter
 1800  into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of
 1801  Economic Opportunity for the delivery of employment services
 1802  authorized by the federal Wagner-Peyser Act. This memorandum of
 1803  understanding must be performance based.
 1804         (a) Unless otherwise required by federal law, at least 90
 1805  percent of the Wagner-Peyser funding must go into direct
 1806  customer service costs.
 1807         (b) Employment services must be provided through the one
 1808  stop delivery system, under the guidance of one-stop delivery
 1809  system operators. One-stop delivery system operators shall have
 1810  overall authority for directing the staff of the workforce
 1811  system. Personnel matters shall remain under the ultimate
 1812  authority of the department. However, the one-stop delivery
 1813  system operator shall submit to the department information
 1814  concerning the job performance of employees of the department
 1815  who deliver employment services. The department shall consider
 1816  any such information submitted by the one-stop delivery system
 1817  operator in conducting performance appraisals of the employees.
 1818         (c) The department shall retain fiscal responsibility and
 1819  accountability for the administration of funds allocated to the
 1820  state under the Wagner-Peyser Act. An employee of the department
 1821  who is providing services authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act
 1822  shall be paid using Wagner-Peyser Act funds.
 1823         (4) One-stop delivery system partners shall enter into a
 1824  memorandum of understanding pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105
 1825  220, Title I, s. 121, with the local regional workforce
 1826  development board. Failure of a local partner to participate
 1827  cannot unilaterally block the majority of partners from moving
 1828  forward with their one-stop delivery system, and CareerSource
 1829  Florida, Inc., pursuant to s. 445.004(5)(e), may make
 1830  notification of a local partner that fails to participate.
 1831         (5) To the extent possible, local regional workforce
 1832  development boards shall include as partners in the local one
 1833  stop delivery system entities that provide programs or
 1834  activities designed to meet the needs of homeless persons.
 1835         (6)(a) To the extent possible, core services, as defined by
 1836  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, shall be provided electronically,
 1837  using existing systems. These electronic systems shall be linked
 1838  and integrated into a comprehensive service system to simplify
 1839  access to core services by:
 1840         1. Maintaining staff to serve as the first point of contact
 1841  with the public seeking access to employment services who are
 1842  knowledgeable about each program located in each one-stop
 1843  delivery system center as well as related services. An initial
 1844  determination of the programs for which a customer is likely to
 1845  be eligible and any referral for a more thorough eligibility
 1846  determination must be made at this first point of contact; and
 1847         2. Establishing an automated, integrated intake screening
 1848  and eligibility process where customers will provide information
 1849  through a self-service intake process that may be accessed by
 1850  staff from any participating program.
 1851         (b) To expand electronic capabilities, CareerSource
 1852  Florida, Inc., working with local regional workforce development
 1853  boards, shall develop a centralized help center to assist local
 1854  regional workforce development boards in fulfilling core
 1855  services, minimizing the need for fixed-site one-stop delivery
 1856  system centers.
 1857         (c) To the extent feasible, core services shall be
 1858  accessible through the Internet. Through this technology, core
 1859  services shall be made available at public libraries, public and
 1860  private educational institutions, community centers, kiosks,
 1861  neighborhood facilities, and satellite one-stop delivery system
 1862  sites. Each local regional workforce development board’s web
 1863  page shall serve as a portal for contacting potential employees
 1864  by integrating the placement efforts of universities and private
 1865  companies, including staffing services firms, into the existing
 1866  one-stop delivery system.
 1867         (7) Intensive services and training provided pursuant to
 1868  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, shall be provided to individuals
 1869  through Intensive Service Accounts and Individual Training
 1870  Accounts. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall develop an
 1871  implementation plan, including identification of initially
 1872  eligible training providers, transition guidelines, and criteria
 1873  for use of these accounts. Individual Training Accounts must be
 1874  compatible with Individual Development Accounts for education
 1875  allowed in federal and state welfare reform statutes.
 1876         (8)
 1877         (b) For each approved training program, local regional
 1878  workforce development boards, in consultation with training
 1879  providers, shall establish a fair-market purchase price to be
 1880  paid through an Individual Training Account. The purchase price
 1881  must be based on prevailing costs and reflect local economic
 1882  factors, program complexity, and program benefits, including
 1883  time to beginning of training and time to completion. The price
 1884  shall ensure the fair participation of public and nonpublic
 1885  postsecondary educational institutions as authorized service
 1886  providers and shall prohibit the use of unlawful remuneration to
 1887  the student in return for attending an institution. Unlawful
 1888  remuneration does not include student financial assistance
 1889  programs.
 1890         (c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall periodically review
 1891  Individual Training Account pricing schedules developed by local
 1892  regional workforce development boards and present findings and
 1893  recommendations for process improvement to the President of the
 1894  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
 1895         (d) To the maximum extent possible, training providers
 1896  shall use funding sources other than the funding provided under
 1897  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall
 1898  develop a system to encourage the leveraging of appropriated
 1899  resources for the workforce system and shall report on such
 1900  efforts as part of the required annual report.
 1901         (9)
 1902         (b) The network shall assure that a uniform method is used
 1903  to determine eligibility for and management of services provided
 1904  by agencies that conduct workforce development activities. The
 1905  Department of Management Services shall develop strategies to
 1906  allow access to the databases and information management systems
 1907  of the following systems in order to link information in those
 1908  databases with the one-stop delivery system:
 1909         1. The Reemployment Assistance Program under chapter 443.
 1910         2. The public employment service described in s. 443.181.
 1911         3. The public assistance information system used by the
 1912  Department of Children and Families FLORIDA System and the
 1913  components related to temporary cash assistance, food
 1914  assistance, and Medicaid eligibility.
 1915         4. The Student Financial Assistance System of the
 1916  Department of Education.
 1917         5. Enrollment in the public postsecondary education system.
 1918         6. Other information systems determined appropriate by
 1919  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1920         (10) To the maximum extent feasible, the one-stop delivery
 1921  system may use private sector staffing services firms in the
 1922  provision of workforce services to individuals and employers in
 1923  the state. Local Regional workforce development boards may
 1924  collaborate with staffing services firms in order to facilitate
 1925  the provision of workforce services. Local Regional workforce
 1926  development boards may contract with private sector staffing
 1927  services firms to design programs that meet the employment needs
 1928  of the local workforce development area region. All such
 1929  contracts must be performance-based and require a specific
 1930  period of job tenure before prior to payment.
 1931         Section 29. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 445.014,
 1932  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1933         445.014 Small business workforce service initiative.—
 1934         (1) Subject to legislative appropriation, CareerSource
 1935  Florida, Inc., shall establish a program to encourage local
 1936  regional workforce development boards to establish one-stop
 1937  delivery systems that maximize the provision of workforce and
 1938  human-resource support services to small businesses. Under the
 1939  program, a local regional workforce development board may apply,
 1940  on a competitive basis, for funds to support the provision of
 1941  such services to small businesses through the local workforce
 1942  development area’s region’s one-stop delivery system.
 1943         (3) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish guidelines
 1944  governing the administration of this program and shall establish
 1945  criteria to be used in evaluating applications for funding. Such
 1946  criteria must include, but need not be limited to, a showing
 1947  that the local regional board has in place a detailed plan for
 1948  establishing a one-stop delivery system designed to meet the
 1949  workforce needs of small businesses and for leveraging other
 1950  funding sources in support of such activities.
 1951         Section 30. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
 1952  445.017, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1953         445.017 Diversion.—
 1954         (3) Before finding an applicant family eligible for up
 1955  front diversion services, the local regional workforce
 1956  development board must determine that all requirements of
 1957  eligibility for diversion services would likely be met.
 1958         (4) The local regional workforce development board shall
 1959  screen each family on a case-by-case basis for barriers to
 1960  obtaining or retaining employment. The screening shall identify
 1961  barriers that, if corrected, may prevent the family from
 1962  receiving temporary cash assistance on a regular basis.
 1963  Assistance to overcome a barrier to employment is not limited to
 1964  cash, but may include vouchers or other in-kind benefits.
 1965         (5) The family receiving up-front diversion must sign an
 1966  agreement restricting the family from applying for temporary
 1967  cash assistance for 3 months, unless an emergency is
 1968  demonstrated to the local regional workforce development board.
 1969  If a demonstrated emergency forces the family to reapply for
 1970  temporary cash assistance within 3 months after receiving a
 1971  diversion payment, the diversion payment shall be prorated over
 1972  an 8-month period and deducted from any temporary assistance for
 1973  which the family is eligible.
 1974         Section 31. Subsection (2) of section 445.021, Florida
 1975  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1976         445.021 Relocation assistance program.—
 1977         (2) The relocation assistance program shall involve five
 1978  steps by the local regional workforce development board, in
 1979  cooperation with the Department of Children and Families:
 1980         (a) A determination that the family is receiving temporary
 1981  cash assistance or that all requirements of eligibility for
 1982  diversion services would likely be met.
 1983         (b) A determination that there is a basis for believing
 1984  that relocation will contribute to the ability of the applicant
 1985  to achieve self-sufficiency. For example, the applicant:
 1986         1. Is unlikely to achieve economic self-sufficiency at the
 1987  current community of residence;
 1988         2. Has secured a job that provides an increased salary or
 1989  improved benefits and that requires relocation to another
 1990  community;
 1991         3. Has a family support network that will contribute to job
 1992  retention in another community;
 1993         4. Is determined, pursuant to criteria or procedures
 1994  established by the board of directors of CareerSource Florida,
 1995  Inc., to be a victim of domestic violence who would experience
 1996  reduced probability of further incidents through relocation; or
 1997         5. Must relocate in order to receive education or training
 1998  that is directly related to the applicant’s employment or career
 1999  advancement.
 2000         (c) Establishment of a relocation plan that includes such
 2001  requirements as are necessary to prevent abuse of the benefit
 2002  and provisions to protect the safety of victims of domestic
 2003  violence and avoid provisions that place them in anticipated
 2004  danger. The payment to defray relocation expenses shall be
 2005  determined based on criteria approved by the board of directors
 2006  of CareerSource Florida, Inc. Participants in the relocation
 2007  program shall be eligible for diversion or transitional
 2008  benefits.
 2009         (d) A determination, pursuant to criteria adopted by the
 2010  board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., that a
 2011  community receiving a relocated family has the capacity to
 2012  provide needed services and employment opportunities.
 2013         (e) Monitoring the relocation.
 2014         Section 32. Section 445.022, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2015  to read:
 2016         445.022 Retention Incentive Training Accounts.—To promote
 2017  job retention and to enable upward job advancement into higher
 2018  skilled, higher paying employment, the board of directors of
 2019  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the local regional workforce
 2020  development boards may assemble a list of programs and courses
 2021  offered by postsecondary educational institutions which may be
 2022  available to participants who have become employed to promote
 2023  job retention and advancement.
 2024         (1) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 2025  may establish Retention Incentive Training Accounts (RITAs) to
 2026  use Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant
 2027  funds specifically appropriated for this purpose. RITAs must
 2028  complement the Individual Training Account required by the
 2029  federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act of
 2030  1998, Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220.
 2031         (2) RITAs may pay for tuition, fees, educational materials,
 2032  coaching and mentoring, performance incentives, transportation
 2033  to and from courses, child care costs during education courses,
 2034  and other such costs as the local regional workforce development
 2035  boards determine are necessary to effect successful job
 2036  retention and advancement.
 2037         (3) Local Regional workforce development boards shall
 2038  retain only those courses that continue to meet their
 2039  performance standards as established in their local plan.
 2040         (4) Local Regional workforce development boards shall
 2041  report annually to the Legislature on the measurable retention
 2042  and advancement success of each program provider and the
 2043  effectiveness of RITAs, making recommendations for any needed
 2044  changes or modifications.
 2045         Section 33. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.024,
 2046  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2047         445.024 Work requirements.—
 2048         (4) PRIORITIZATION OF WORK REQUIREMENTS.—Local Regional
 2049  workforce development boards shall require participation in work
 2050  activities to the maximum extent possible, subject to federal
 2051  and state funding. If funds are projected to be insufficient to
 2052  allow full-time work activities by all program participants who
 2053  are required to participate in work activities, local regional
 2054  workforce development boards shall screen participants and
 2055  assign priority based on the following:
 2056         (a) In accordance with federal requirements, at least one
 2057  adult in each two-parent family shall be assigned priority for
 2058  full-time work activities.
 2059         (b) Among single-parent families, a family that has older
 2060  preschool children or school-age children shall be assigned
 2061  priority for work activities.
 2062         (c) A participant who has access to child care services may
 2063  be assigned priority for work activities.
 2064         (d) Priority may be assigned based on the amount of time
 2065  remaining until the participant reaches the applicable time
 2066  limit for program participation or may be based on requirements
 2067  of a case plan.
 2068  
 2069  Local Regional workforce development boards may limit a
 2070  participant’s weekly work requirement to the minimum required to
 2071  meet federal work activity requirements. Local Regional
 2072  workforce development boards may develop screening and
 2073  prioritization procedures based on the allocation of resources,
 2074  the availability of community resources, the provision of
 2075  supportive services, or the work activity needs of the service
 2076  area.
 2077         (5) USE OF CONTRACTS.—Local Regional workforce development
 2078  boards shall provide work activities, training, and other
 2079  services, as appropriate, through contracts. In contracting for
 2080  work activities, training, or services, the following applies:
 2081         (a) A contract must be performance-based. Payment shall be
 2082  tied to performance outcomes that include factors such as, but
 2083  not limited to, diversion from cash assistance, job entry, job
 2084  entry at a target wage, job retention, and connection to
 2085  transition services rather than tied to completion of training
 2086  or education or any other phase of the program participation
 2087  process.
 2088         (b) A contract may include performance-based incentive
 2089  payments that may vary according to the extent to which the
 2090  participant is more difficult to place. Contract payments may be
 2091  weighted proportionally to reflect the extent to which the
 2092  participant has limitations associated with the long-term
 2093  receipt of welfare and difficulty in sustaining employment. The
 2094  factors may include the extent of prior receipt of welfare, lack
 2095  of employment experience, lack of education, lack of job skills,
 2096  and other factors determined appropriate by the local regional
 2097  workforce development board.
 2098         (c) Notwithstanding the exemption from the competitive
 2099  sealed bid requirements provided in s. 287.057(3)(e) for certain
 2100  contractual services, each contract awarded under this chapter
 2101  must be awarded on the basis of a competitive sealed bid, except
 2102  for a contract with a governmental entity as determined by the
 2103  local regional workforce development board.
 2104         (d) Local Regional workforce development boards may
 2105  contract with commercial, charitable, or religious
 2106  organizations. A contract must comply with federal requirements
 2107  with respect to nondiscrimination and other requirements that
 2108  safeguard the rights of participants. Services may be provided
 2109  under contract, certificate, voucher, or other form of
 2110  disbursement.
 2111         (e) The administrative costs associated with a contract for
 2112  services provided under this section may not exceed the
 2113  applicable administrative cost ceiling established in federal
 2114  law. An agency or entity that is awarded a contract under this
 2115  section may not charge more than 7 percent of the value of the
 2116  contract for administration unless an exception is approved by
 2117  the local regional workforce development board. A list of any
 2118  exceptions approved must be submitted to the board of directors
 2119  of CareerSource Florida, Inc., for review, and the board may
 2120  rescind approval of the exception.
 2121         (f) Local Regional workforce development boards may enter
 2122  into contracts to provide short-term work experience for the
 2123  chronically unemployed as provided in this section.
 2124         (g) A tax-exempt organization under s. 501(c) of the
 2125  Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which receives funds under this
 2126  chapter must disclose receipt of federal funds on any
 2127  advertising, promotional, or other material in accordance with
 2128  federal requirements.
 2129         Section 34. Section 445.025, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2130  to read:
 2131         445.025 Other support services.—Support services shall be
 2132  provided, if resources permit, to assist participants in
 2133  complying with work activity requirements outlined in s.
 2134  445.024. If resources do not permit the provision of needed
 2135  support services, the local regional workforce development board
 2136  may prioritize or otherwise limit provision of support services.
 2137  This section does not constitute an entitlement to support
 2138  services. Lack of provision of support services may be
 2139  considered as a factor in determining whether good cause exists
 2140  for failing to comply with work activity requirements but does
 2141  not automatically constitute good cause for failing to comply
 2142  with work activity requirements, and does not affect any
 2143  applicable time limit on the receipt of temporary cash
 2144  assistance or the provision of services under chapter 414.
 2145  Support services shall include, but need not be limited to:
 2146         (1) TRANSPORTATION.—Transportation expenses may be provided
 2147  to any participant when the assistance is needed to comply with
 2148  work activity requirements or employment requirements, including
 2149  transportation to and from a child care provider. Payment may be
 2150  made in cash or tokens in advance or through reimbursement paid
 2151  against receipts or invoices. Transportation services may
 2152  include, but are not limited to, cooperative arrangements with
 2153  the following: public transit providers; community
 2154  transportation coordinators designated under chapter 427; school
 2155  districts; churches and community centers; donated motor vehicle
 2156  programs, van pools, and ridesharing programs; small enterprise
 2157  developments and entrepreneurial programs that encourage
 2158  participants to become transportation providers; public and
 2159  private transportation partnerships; and other innovative
 2160  strategies to expand transportation options available to program
 2161  participants.
 2162         (a) Local Regional workforce development boards may provide
 2163  payment for vehicle operational and repair expenses, including
 2164  repair expenditures necessary to make a vehicle functional;
 2165  vehicle registration fees; driver license fees; and liability
 2166  insurance for the vehicle for a period of up to 6 months.
 2167  Request for vehicle repairs must be accompanied by an estimate
 2168  of the cost prepared by a repair facility registered under s.
 2169  559.904.
 2170         (b) Transportation disadvantaged funds as defined in
 2171  chapter 427 do not include support services funds or funds
 2172  appropriated to assist persons eligible under the Workforce
 2173  Innovation and Opportunity Act Job Training Partnership Act. It
 2174  is the intent of the Legislature that local regional workforce
 2175  development boards consult with local community transportation
 2176  coordinators designated under chapter 427 regarding the
 2177  availability and cost of transportation services through the
 2178  coordinated transportation system before prior to contracting
 2179  for comparable transportation services outside the coordinated
 2180  system.
 2181         (2) ANCILLARY EXPENSES.—Ancillary expenses such as books,
 2182  tools, clothing, fees, and costs necessary to comply with work
 2183  activity requirements or employment requirements may be
 2184  provided.
 2185         (3) MEDICAL SERVICES.—A family that meets the eligibility
 2186  requirements for Medicaid shall receive medical services under
 2187  the Medicaid program.
 2188         (4) PERSONAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND THERAPY.—Counseling
 2189  may be provided to participants who have a personal or family
 2190  problem or problems caused by substance abuse that is a barrier
 2191  to compliance with work activity requirements or employment
 2192  requirements. In providing these services, local regional
 2193  workforce development boards shall use services that are
 2194  available in the community at no additional cost. If these
 2195  services are not available, local regional workforce development
 2196  boards may use support services funds. Personal or family
 2197  counseling not available through Medicaid may not be considered
 2198  a medical service for purposes of the required statewide
 2199  implementation plan or use of federal funds.
 2200         Section 35. Subsection (5) of section 445.026, Florida
 2201  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2202         445.026 Cash assistance severance benefit.—An individual
 2203  who meets the criteria listed in this section may choose to
 2204  receive a lump-sum payment in lieu of ongoing cash assistance
 2205  payments, provided the individual:
 2206         (5) Provides employment and earnings information to the
 2207  local regional workforce development board, so that the local
 2208  regional workforce development board can ensure that the
 2209  family’s eligibility for severance benefits can be evaluated.
 2210  
 2211  Such individual may choose to accept a one-time, lump-sum
 2212  payment of $1,000 in lieu of receiving ongoing cash assistance.
 2213  Such payment shall only count toward the time limitation for the
 2214  month in which the payment is made in lieu of cash assistance. A
 2215  participant choosing to accept such payment shall be terminated
 2216  from cash assistance. However, eligibility for Medicaid, food
 2217  assistance, or child care shall continue, subject to the
 2218  eligibility requirements of those programs.
 2219         Section 36. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 445.030,
 2220  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2221         445.030 Transitional education and training.—In order to
 2222  assist former recipients of temporary cash assistance who are
 2223  working or actively seeking employment in continuing their
 2224  training and upgrading their skills, education, or training,
 2225  support services may be provided for up to 2 years after the
 2226  family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance. This
 2227  section does not constitute an entitlement to transitional
 2228  education and training. If funds are not sufficient to provide
 2229  services under this section, the board of directors of
 2230  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may limit or otherwise prioritize
 2231  transitional education and training.
 2232         (2) Local Regional workforce development boards may
 2233  authorize child care or other support services in addition to
 2234  services provided in conjunction with employment. For example, a
 2235  participant who is employed full time may receive child care
 2236  services related to that employment and may also receive
 2237  additional child care services in conjunction with training to
 2238  upgrade the participant’s skills.
 2239         (4) A local Regional workforce development board may enter
 2240  into an agreement with an employer to share the costs relating
 2241  to upgrading the skills of participants hired by the employer.
 2242  For example, a local regional workforce development board may
 2243  agree to provide support services such as transportation or a
 2244  wage subsidy in conjunction with training opportunities provided
 2245  by the employer.
 2246         Section 37. Section 445.031, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2247  to read:
 2248         445.031 Transitional transportation.—In order to assist
 2249  former recipients of temporary cash assistance in maintaining
 2250  and sustaining employment or educational opportunities,
 2251  transportation may be provided, if funds are available, for up
 2252  to 2 years after the participant is no longer in the program.
 2253  This does not constitute an entitlement to transitional
 2254  transportation. If funds are not sufficient to provide services
 2255  under this section, local regional workforce development boards
 2256  may limit or otherwise prioritize transportation services.
 2257         (1) Transitional transportation must be job or education
 2258  related.
 2259         (2) Transitional transportation may include expenses
 2260  identified in s. 445.025, paid directly or by voucher, as well
 2261  as a vehicle valued at not more than $8,500 if the vehicle is
 2262  needed for training, employment, or educational purposes.
 2263         Section 38. Subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection
 2264  (4), and subsection (5) of section 445.048, Florida Statutes,
 2265  are amended to read:
 2266         445.048 Passport to Economic Progress program.—
 2267         (1) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
 2268  CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department
 2269  of Children and Families and the Department of Economic
 2270  Opportunity, shall implement a Passport to Economic Progress
 2271  program consistent with the provisions of this section.
 2272  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may designate local regional
 2273  workforce development boards to participate in the program.
 2274  Expenses for the program may come from appropriated revenues or
 2275  from funds otherwise available to a local regional workforce
 2276  development board which may be legally used for such purposes.
 2277  CareerSource Florida, Inc., must consult with the applicable
 2278  local regional workforce development boards and the applicable
 2279  local offices of the Department of Children and Families which
 2280  serve the program areas and must encourage community input into
 2281  the implementation process.
 2282         (4) INCENTIVES TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.—
 2283         (b) CareerSource Florida, Inc., in cooperation with the
 2284  Department of Children and Families and the Department of
 2285  Economic Opportunity, shall offer performance-based incentive
 2286  bonuses as a component of the Passport to Economic Progress
 2287  program. The bonuses do not represent a program entitlement and
 2288  are contingent on achieving specific benchmarks prescribed in
 2289  the self-sufficiency plan. If the funds appropriated for this
 2290  purpose are insufficient to provide this financial incentive,
 2291  the board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., may reduce
 2292  or suspend the bonuses in order not to exceed the appropriation
 2293  or may direct the local regional boards to use resources
 2294  otherwise given to the local workforce development board
 2295  regional workforce to pay such bonuses if such payments comply
 2296  with applicable state and federal laws.
 2297         (5) EVALUATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—CareerSource Florida,
 2298  Inc., in conjunction with the Department of Children and
 2299  Families, the Department of Economic Opportunity, and the local
 2300  regional workforce development boards, shall conduct a
 2301  comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the program
 2302  operated under this section. Evaluations and recommendations for
 2303  the program shall be submitted by CareerSource Florida, Inc., as
 2304  part of its annual report to the Legislature.
 2305         Section 39. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2), paragraph (d)
 2306  of subsection (4), and subsections (6) and (7) of section
 2307  445.051, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2308         445.051 Individual development accounts.—
 2309         (2) As used in this section, the term:
 2310         (b) “Qualified entity” means:
 2311         1. A not-for-profit organization described in s. 501(c)(3)
 2312  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and exempt
 2313  from taxation under s. 501(a) of such code; or
 2314         2. A state or local government agency acting in cooperation
 2315  with an organization described in subparagraph 1. For purposes
 2316  of this section, a local regional workforce development board is
 2317  a government agency.
 2318         (4)
 2319         (d) Eligible participants may receive matching funds for
 2320  contributions to the individual development account, pursuant to
 2321  the strategic plan for workforce development. When not
 2322  restricted to the contrary, matching funds may be paid from
 2323  state and federal funds under the control of the local regional
 2324  workforce development board, from local agencies, or from
 2325  private donations.
 2326         (6) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish procedures
 2327  for local regional workforce development boards to include in
 2328  their annual program and financial plan an application to offer
 2329  an individual development account program as part of their TANF
 2330  allocation. These procedures must include, but need not be
 2331  limited to, administrative costs permitted for the fiduciary
 2332  organization and policies relative to identifying the match
 2333  ratio and limits on the deposits for which the match will be
 2334  provided in the application process. CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
 2335  shall establish policies and procedures necessary to ensure that
 2336  funds held in an individual development account are not
 2337  withdrawn except for one or more of the qualified purposes
 2338  described in this section.
 2339         (7) Fiduciary organizations shall be the local regional
 2340  workforce development board or other community-based
 2341  organizations designated by the local regional workforce
 2342  development board to serve as intermediaries between individual
 2343  account holders and financial institutions holding accounts.
 2344  Responsibilities of such fiduciary organizations may include
 2345  marketing participation, soliciting matching contributions,
 2346  counseling program participants, and conducting verification and
 2347  compliance activities.
 2348         Section 40. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 2349  985.622, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2350         985.622 Multiagency plan for career and professional
 2351  education (CAPE).—
 2352         (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department
 2353  of Education shall, in consultation with the statewide Workforce
 2354  Development Youth Council, school districts, providers, and
 2355  others, jointly develop a multiagency plan for career and
 2356  professional education (CAPE) that establishes the curriculum,
 2357  goals, and outcome measures for CAPE programs in juvenile
 2358  justice education programs. The plan must be reviewed annually,
 2359  revised as appropriate, and include:
 2360         (a) Provisions for maximizing appropriate state and federal
 2361  funding sources, including funds under the Workforce Innovation
 2362  and Opportunity Act Workforce Investment Act and the Perkins
 2363  Act.
 2364         Section 41. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
 2365  1002.83, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2366         1002.83 Early learning coalitions.—
 2367         (4) Each early learning coalition must include the
 2368  following member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition,
 2369  each ex officio member position may be filled by multiple
 2370  nonvoting members but no more than one voting member shall be
 2371  seated per member position. If an early learning coalition has
 2372  more than one member representing the same entity, only one of
 2373  such members may serve as a voting member:
 2374         (c) A local regional workforce development board executive
 2375  director or his or her permanent designee.
 2376         Section 42. Subsections (2) and (3) and paragraph (b) of
 2377  subsection (4) of section 1003.491, Florida Statutes, are
 2378  amended to read:
 2379         1003.491 Florida Career and Professional Education Act.—The
 2380  Florida Career and Professional Education Act is created to
 2381  provide a statewide planning partnership between the business
 2382  and education communities in order to attract, expand, and
 2383  retain targeted, high-value industry and to sustain a strong,
 2384  knowledge-based economy.
 2385         (2) Each district school board shall develop, in
 2386  collaboration with local regional workforce development boards,
 2387  economic development agencies, and postsecondary institutions
 2388  approved to operate in the state, a strategic 3-year plan to
 2389  address and meet local and regional workforce demands. If
 2390  involvement of a local regional workforce development board or
 2391  an economic development agency in the strategic plan development
 2392  is not feasible, the local school board, with the approval of
 2393  the Department of Economic Opportunity, shall collaborate with
 2394  the most appropriate regional business leadership board. Two or
 2395  more school districts may collaborate in the development of the
 2396  strategic plan and offer career-themed courses, as defined in s.
 2397  1003.493(1)(b), or a career and professional academy as a joint
 2398  venture. The strategic plan must describe in detail provisions
 2399  for the efficient transportation of students, the maximum use of
 2400  shared resources, access to courses aligned to state curriculum
 2401  standards through virtual education providers legislatively
 2402  authorized to provide part-time instruction to middle school
 2403  students, and an objective review of proposed career and
 2404  professional academy courses and other career-themed courses to
 2405  determine if the courses will lead to the attainment of industry
 2406  certifications included on the Industry Certified Funding List
 2407  pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Each
 2408  strategic plan shall be reviewed, updated, and jointly approved
 2409  every 3 years by the local school district, local regional
 2410  workforce development boards, economic development agencies, and
 2411  state-approved postsecondary institutions.
 2412         (3) The strategic 3-year plan developed jointly by the
 2413  local school district, local regional workforce development
 2414  boards, economic development agencies, and state-approved
 2415  postsecondary institutions shall be constructed and based on:
 2416         (a) Research conducted to objectively determine local and
 2417  regional workforce needs for the ensuing 3 years, using labor
 2418  projections of the United States Department of Labor and the
 2419  Department of Economic Opportunity;
 2420         (b) Strategies to develop and implement career academies or
 2421  career-themed courses based on those careers determined to be
 2422  high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand;
 2423         (c) Strategies to provide shared, maximum use of private
 2424  sector facilities and personnel;
 2425         (d) Strategies that ensure instruction by industry
 2426  certified faculty and standards and strategies to maintain
 2427  current industry credentials and for recruiting and retaining
 2428  faculty to meet those standards;
 2429         (e) Strategies to provide personalized student advisement,
 2430  including a parent-participation component, and coordination
 2431  with middle grades to promote and support career-themed courses
 2432  and education planning as required under s. 1003.4156;
 2433         (f) Alignment of requirements for middle school career
 2434  planning under s. 1003.4156(1)(e), middle and high school career
 2435  and professional academies or career-themed courses leading to
 2436  industry certification or postsecondary credit, and high school
 2437  graduation requirements;
 2438         (g) Provisions to ensure that career-themed courses and
 2439  courses offered through career and professional academies are
 2440  academically rigorous, meet or exceed appropriate state-adopted
 2441  subject area standards, result in attainment of industry
 2442  certification, and, when appropriate, result in postsecondary
 2443  credit;
 2444         (h) Plans to sustain and improve career-themed courses and
 2445  career and professional academies;
 2446         (i) Strategies to improve the passage rate for industry
 2447  certification examinations if the rate falls below 50 percent;
 2448         (j) Strategies to recruit students into career-themed
 2449  courses and career and professional academies which include
 2450  opportunities for students who have been unsuccessful in
 2451  traditional classrooms but who are interested in enrolling in
 2452  career-themed courses or a career and professional academy.
 2453  School boards shall provide opportunities for students who may
 2454  be deemed as potential dropouts to enroll in career-themed
 2455  courses or participate in career and professional academies;
 2456         (k) Strategies to provide sufficient space within academies
 2457  to meet workforce needs and to provide access to all interested
 2458  and qualified students;
 2459         (l) Strategies to implement career-themed courses or career
 2460  and professional academy training that lead to industry
 2461  certification in juvenile justice education programs;
 2462         (m) Opportunities for high school students to earn weighted
 2463  or dual enrollment credit for higher-level career and technical
 2464  courses;
 2465         (n) Promotion of the benefits of the Gold Seal Bright
 2466  Futures Scholarship;
 2467         (o) Strategies to ensure the review of district pupil
 2468  progression plans and to amend such plans to include career
 2469  themed courses and career and professional academy courses and
 2470  to include courses that may qualify as substitute courses for
 2471  core graduation requirements and those that may be counted as
 2472  elective courses;
 2473         (p) Strategies to provide professional development for
 2474  secondary certified school counselors on the benefits of career
 2475  and professional academies and career-themed courses that lead
 2476  to industry certification; and
 2477         (q) Strategies to redirect appropriated career funding in
 2478  secondary and postsecondary institutions to support career
 2479  academies and career-themed courses that lead to industry
 2480  certification.
 2481         (4) The State Board of Education shall establish a process
 2482  for the continual and uninterrupted review of newly proposed
 2483  core secondary courses and existing courses requested to be
 2484  considered as core courses to ensure that sufficient rigor and
 2485  relevance is provided for workforce skills and postsecondary
 2486  education and aligned to state curriculum standards.
 2487         (b) The curriculum review committee shall review newly
 2488  proposed core courses electronically. Each proposed core course
 2489  shall be approved or denied within 30 days after submission by a
 2490  district school board or local regional workforce development
 2491  board. All courses approved as core courses for purposes of
 2492  middle school promotion and high school graduation shall be
 2493  immediately added to the Course Code Directory. Approved core
 2494  courses shall also be reviewed and considered for approval for
 2495  dual enrollment credit. The Board of Governors and the
 2496  Commissioner of Education shall jointly recommend an annual
 2497  deadline for approval of new core courses to be included for
 2498  purposes of postsecondary admissions and dual enrollment credit
 2499  the following academic year. The State Board of Education shall
 2500  establish an appeals process in the event that a proposed course
 2501  is denied which shall require a consensus ruling by the
 2502  Department of Economic Opportunity and the Commissioner of
 2503  Education within 15 days.
 2504         Section 43. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
 2505  1003.492, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2506         1003.492 Industry-certified career education programs.—
 2507         (3) The State Board of Education shall use the expertise of
 2508  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the Department of Agriculture
 2509  and Consumer Services to develop and adopt rules pursuant to ss.
 2510  120.536(1) and 120.54 for implementing an industry certification
 2511  process.
 2512         (a) For nonfarm occupations, industry certification must be
 2513  based upon the highest available national standards for specific
 2514  industry certification to ensure student skill proficiency and
 2515  to address emerging labor market and industry trends. A local
 2516  regional workforce development board or a school principal may
 2517  apply to CareerSource Florida, Inc., to request additions to the
 2518  approved list of industry certifications based on high-skill,
 2519  high-wage, and high-demand job requirements in the local
 2520  regional economy.
 2521         Section 44. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of subsection
 2522  (4) of section 1003.493, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2523         1003.493 Career and professional academies and career
 2524  themed courses.—
 2525         (1)(a) A “career and professional academy” is a research
 2526  based program that integrates a rigorous academic curriculum
 2527  with an industry-specific curriculum aligned directly to
 2528  priority workforce needs established by the local regional
 2529  workforce development board or the Department of Economic
 2530  Opportunity. Career and professional academies shall be offered
 2531  by public schools and school districts. The Florida Virtual
 2532  School is encouraged to develop and offer rigorous career and
 2533  professional courses as appropriate. Students completing career
 2534  and professional academy programs must receive a standard high
 2535  school diploma, the highest available industry certification,
 2536  and opportunities to earn postsecondary credit if the academy
 2537  partners with a postsecondary institution approved to operate in
 2538  the state.
 2539         (b) A “career-themed course” is a course, or a course in a
 2540  series of courses, that leads to an industry certification
 2541  identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List
 2542  pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
 2543  Career-themed courses have industry-specific curriculum aligned
 2544  directly to priority workforce needs established by the local
 2545  regional workforce development board or the Department of
 2546  Economic Opportunity. School districts shall offer at least two
 2547  career-themed courses, and each secondary school is encouraged
 2548  to offer at least one career-themed course. The Florida Virtual
 2549  School is encouraged to develop and offer rigorous career-themed
 2550  courses as appropriate. Students completing a career-themed
 2551  course must be provided opportunities to earn postsecondary
 2552  credit if the credit for the career-themed course can be
 2553  articulated to a postsecondary institution approved to operate
 2554  in the state.
 2555         (4) Each career and professional academy and secondary
 2556  school providing a career-themed course must:
 2557         (d) Provide instruction in careers designated as high
 2558  skill, high-wage, and high-demand by the local regional
 2559  workforce development board, the chamber of commerce, economic
 2560  development agencies, or the Department of Economic Opportunity.
 2561         Section 45. Subsection (1) of section 1003.4935, Florida
 2562  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2563         1003.4935 Middle grades career and professional academy
 2564  courses and career-themed courses.—
 2565         (1) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, each district
 2566  school board, in collaboration with local regional workforce
 2567  development boards, economic development agencies, and state
 2568  approved postsecondary institutions, shall include plans to
 2569  implement a career and professional academy or a career-themed
 2570  course, as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b), in at least one middle
 2571  school in the district as part of the strategic 3-year plan
 2572  pursuant to s. 1003.491(2). The strategic plan must provide
 2573  students the opportunity to transfer from a middle school career
 2574  and professional academy or a career-themed course to a high
 2575  school career and professional academy or a career-themed course
 2576  currently operating within the school district. Students who
 2577  complete a middle school career and professional academy or a
 2578  career-themed course must have the opportunity to earn an
 2579  industry certificate and high school credit and participate in
 2580  career planning, job shadowing, and business leadership
 2581  development activities.
 2582         Section 46. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 2583  1003.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2584         1003.52 Educational services in Department of Juvenile
 2585  Justice programs.—
 2586         (1) The Department of Education shall serve as the lead
 2587  agency for juvenile justice education programs, curriculum,
 2588  support services, and resources. To this end, the Department of
 2589  Education and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall each
 2590  designate a Coordinator for Juvenile Justice Education Programs
 2591  to serve as the point of contact for resolving issues not
 2592  addressed by district school boards and to provide each
 2593  department’s participation in the following activities:
 2594         (a) Training, collaborating, and coordinating with district
 2595  school boards, local regional workforce development boards, and
 2596  local youth councils, educational contract providers, and
 2597  juvenile justice providers, whether state operated or
 2598  contracted.
 2599  
 2600  Annually, a cooperative agreement and plan for juvenile justice
 2601  education service enhancement shall be developed between the
 2602  Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Education
 2603  and submitted to the Secretary of Juvenile Justice and the
 2604  Commissioner of Education by June 30. The plan shall include, at
 2605  a minimum, each agency’s role regarding educational program
 2606  accountability, technical assistance, training, and coordination
 2607  of services.
 2608         Section 47. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and paragraph
 2609  (e) of subsection (4) of section 1004.93, Florida Statutes, are
 2610  amended to read:
 2611         1004.93 Adult general education.—
 2612         (3)(a) Each district school board or Florida College System
 2613  institution board of trustees shall negotiate with the local
 2614  regional workforce development board for basic and functional
 2615  literacy skills assessments for participants in the welfare
 2616  transition employment and training programs. Such assessments
 2617  shall be conducted at a site mutually acceptable to the district
 2618  school board or Florida College System institution board of
 2619  trustees and the local regional workforce development board.
 2620         (4)
 2621         (e) A district school board or a Florida College System
 2622  institution board of trustees may negotiate a contract with the
 2623  local regional workforce development board for specialized
 2624  services for participants in the welfare transition program,
 2625  beyond what is routinely provided for the general public, to be
 2626  funded by the local regional workforce development board.
 2627         Section 48. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
 2628  1006.261, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2629         1006.261 Use of school buses for public purposes.—
 2630         (1)
 2631         (b) Each district school board may enter into agreements
 2632  with local regional workforce development boards for the
 2633  provision of transportation services to participants in the
 2634  welfare transition program. Agreements must provide for
 2635  reimbursement in full or in part for the proportionate share of
 2636  fixed and operating costs incurred by the district school board
 2637  attributable to the use of buses in accordance with the
 2638  agreement.
 2639         Section 49. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
 2640  1009.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2641         1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
 2642         (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
 2643  tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
 2644  provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
 2645  institution, or state university:
 2646         (e) A student enrolled in an employment and training
 2647  program under the welfare transition program. The local regional
 2648  workforce development board shall pay the state university,
 2649  Florida College System institution, or school district for costs
 2650  incurred for welfare transition program participants.
 2651         Section 50. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.