Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1578
       
       
        
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       
       15-00973D-23                                          20231578__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to Florida Children’s Initiatives;
    3         amending s. 409.147, F.S.; revising legislative
    4         findings; revising the definition of the term
    5         “resident”; revising the objectives for certain
    6         working groups; providing that the Florida Children’s
    7         Initiatives are administratively housed in the
    8         Department of Children and Families but are not
    9         subject to certain control, supervision, or direction
   10         by the department; clarifying provisions relating to a
   11         corporation established for a specified purpose;
   12         revising legislative intent; clarifying provisions
   13         relating to the creation, implementation, and
   14         operation of Florida Children’s Initiatives; providing
   15         an effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (d)
   20  of subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (4), paragraphs
   21  (a), (b), (d), and (g) of subsection (6), and subsections (7)
   22  through (14) of section 409.147, Florida Statutes, are amended
   23  to read:
   24         409.147 Florida Children’s Initiatives.—
   25         (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
   26         (a) The Legislature finds that:
   27         1. There are neighborhoods in the state where the
   28  infrastructure and opportunities that middle-class communities
   29  take for granted are nonexistent or so marginal that they are
   30  ineffective.
   31         2. In many instances, children living in these
   32  neighborhoods are not read to by an adult on a regular basis and
   33  attend a prekindergarten education program at a much lower rate
   34  than children in other communities. These children experience
   35  below-average performance on standardized tests and graduate
   36  from high school in fewer numbers. Most of these children are
   37  eligible for the free or reduced-price school lunch program.
   38         3. Children in these neighborhoods often suffer from high
   39  rates of asthma, a higher risk of lead poisoning, and inadequate
   40  health care, and they are routinely exposed to violence and
   41  crime.
   42         4. In spite of these obstacles, these neighborhoods are
   43  many times home to strong individuals and institutions that are
   44  committed to making a difference in the lives of children and
   45  their families.
   46         (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
   47         (d) “Resident” means a person who lives in or operates a
   48  small community-based business or organization within the
   49  boundaries of the children’s initiative.
   50         (4) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE NOMINATING PROCESS.—A county or
   51  municipality, or a county and one or more municipalities
   52  together, may apply to the Ounce to designate an area as a
   53  Florida Children’s Initiative after the governing body:
   54         (a) Adopts a resolution that:
   55         1. Finds that an area exists in such county or
   56  municipality, or in the county and one or more municipalities,
   57  that chronically exhibits extreme and unacceptable levels of
   58  poverty, unemployment, physical deterioration, as well as
   59  limited access to quality educational, health care, and social
   60  services.
   61         2. Determines that the rehabilitation, conservation, or
   62  redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of the area is
   63  necessary for in the interest of improving the health, wellness,
   64  education, living conditions, and livelihoods of the children
   65  and families who live in the county or municipality.
   66         3. Determines that the revitalization of the area can occur
   67  only if the state and the private sector invest resources to
   68  improve infrastructure and the provision of services.
   69         (6) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PLAN.—After
   70  the governing body adopts the resolution described in subsection
   71  (4), the working groups shall develop objectives and identify
   72  strategies for each focus area. The objectives, specified by
   73  focus area, for a working group may include, but not be limited
   74  to:
   75         (a) Early development and care of children.
   76         1. Providing resources to enable every child to be
   77  adequately nurtured during the first 3 years of life.
   78         2. Ensuring that all schools are ready for children and all
   79  children are ready for school by the time they reach
   80  kindergarten.
   81         3. Facilitating enrollment in half-day or full-day
   82  prekindergarten for all 3-year-old and 4-year-old children.
   83         4. Strengthening parent and guardian relationships with
   84  care providers.
   85         5. Providing support and education for families and child
   86  care providers.
   87         (b) Education of children and youth.
   88         1. Increasing the level and degree of knowledge and
   89  accountability of persons who are responsible for the
   90  development and well-being of all children in the Florida
   91  Children’s Initiatives Initiative.
   92         2. Transforming Changing the structure and function of
   93  schools to increase the quality and amount of time spent on
   94  instruction and increase programmatic options and offerings.
   95         3. Creating a safe and respectful environment for student
   96  learning.
   97         4. Identifying and supporting points of alignment between
   98  the children’s initiative community plan and the school
   99  district’s strategic plan.
  100         (d) Youth support.
  101         1. Increasing the high school graduation, postsecondary
  102  enrollment, and postsecondary completion rates among
  103  neighborhood youth rate.
  104         2. Increasing leadership development and employment
  105  opportunities for youth.
  106         (g) Community safety.
  107         1. Providing a safe environment for all children at home,
  108  in school, and in the community.
  109         2. Eliminating the economic, political, and social forces
  110  that lead to a lack of safety within the family, the community,
  111  schools, and institutional structures.
  112         3. Assessing policies and practices, including sentencing,
  113  incarceration, detention, and data reporting, in order to reduce
  114  youth incarceration, violence, crime, and recidivism.
  115         (7) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE CORPORATION.—
  116         (a) The Florida Children’s Initiatives as specified in
  117  subsections (9)-(13) are administratively housed within the
  118  Department of Children and Families. However, these initiatives
  119  are not subject to control, supervision, or direction by the
  120  Department of Children and Families or any department of the
  121  state.
  122         (b) After the governing body adopts the resolution
  123  described in subsection (4), establishes the planning team as
  124  provided in subsection (5), and develops and adopts the
  125  strategic community plan as provided in subsection (6), the
  126  county or municipality shall either identify an existing,
  127  qualified not-for-profit corporation, or create a not-for-profit
  128  corporation not for profit which shall be registered,
  129  incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with chapter
  130  617. The purpose of the corporation is to facilitate
  131  fundraising, to secure broad community ownership of the Florida
  132  Children’s Initiative, and, if the area selected by the
  133  governing body is designated as a Florida Children’s Initiative,
  134  to:
  135         1. Begin to transfer responsibility for planning from the
  136  planning team to the corporation.
  137         2. Begin the implementation and governance of the
  138  children’s initiative community plan.
  139         3. Update the strategic community plan every 5 years to
  140  reflect, at a minimum, the current status of the area served by
  141  the Florida Children’s Initiative; the goals, objectives, and
  142  strategies for each focus area; and the tasks required to
  143  implement the strategies for the upcoming year.
  144         (c)(b) The Ounce must provide technical assistance to the
  145  corporation to facilitate the achievement of the plans created
  146  under subsection (6).
  147         (8) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING STATE FUNDING.—Unless
  148  otherwise specified in the general appropriations act:
  149         (a) State funding for Florida Children’s Initiatives must
  150  be awarded through a performance-based contract that links
  151  payments to the achievement of outcomes directly related to the
  152  goals, objectives, strategies, and tasks outlined in the
  153  strategic community plan.
  154         (b) This act is intended to support the development of a
  155  network of Florida Children’s Initiatives sites in disadvantaged
  156  neighborhoods throughout this state. To that end, counties that
  157  do not currently have a Florida Children’s Initiative and are
  158  trying to establish an initiative have priority for designation
  159  by the Ounce funding available under this subsection.
  160         (9) CREATION OF MIAMI CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE, INC.—
  161         (a) There is created within the Liberty City neighborhood
  162  in Miami-Dade County a 10-year project called the Miami
  163  Children’s Initiative that shall be managed by an entity
  164  organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for profit which
  165  shall be registered, incorporated, organized, and operated in
  166  compliance with chapter 617 and this section. An entity may not
  167  be incorporated until the governing body has adopted the
  168  resolution described in subsection (4), has established the
  169  planning team as provided in subsection (5), and has developed
  170  and adopted the strategic community plan as provided in
  171  subsection (6). The corporation shall be known as The Miami
  172  Children’s Initiative, Inc., and shall be administratively
  173  housed within the Department of Children and Families. However,
  174  Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc., is not subject to control,
  175  supervision, or direction by the Department of Children and
  176  Families in any manner. The Legislature determines, however,
  177  that Public policy dictates that the Miami Children’s Initiative
  178  operates corporation operate in the most open and accessible
  179  manner consistent with its public purpose. Therefore, the
  180  Legislature specifically declares that the Miami Children’s
  181  Initiative the corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating
  182  to public records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and
  183  records, and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of
  184  commodities or contractual services.
  185         (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
  186  is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
  187  community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
  188  of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
  189  common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
  190  reach every willing member of the neighborhood.
  191         (10) CREATION OF THE NEW TOWN SUCCESS ZONE.—
  192         (a) There is created within the City of Jacksonville
  193  Council District 9 in Duval County a 10-year project called the
  194  New Town Success Zone that shall be managed by an entity
  195  organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for profit that is
  196  registered, incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance
  197  with chapter 617 and this section. The New Town Success Zone is
  198  not subject to control, supervision, or direction by any
  199  department of the state in any manner. The Legislature
  200  determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the New
  201  Town Success Zone operates corporation operate in the most open
  202  and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
  203  Therefore, the Legislature declares that the New Town Success
  204  Zone corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating to public
  205  records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and records,
  206  and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of commodities or
  207  contractual services.
  208         (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
  209  is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
  210  community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
  211  of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
  212  common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
  213  reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
  214  participate in the project.
  215         (11) CREATION OF THE ORLANDO PARRAMORE KIDZ ZONES ZONE.—
  216         (a) There is created within the City of Orlando in Orange
  217  County a 10-year project called the Orlando Kidz Zones managed
  218  by an entity organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for
  219  profit that is registered, incorporated, organized, and operated
  220  in compliance with chapter 617 and this section. The Parramore
  221  Kidz Zone program is not subject to the control, supervision, or
  222  direction of any department of the state. The Legislature
  223  determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the
  224  Orlando Kidz Zones operates corporation operate in the most open
  225  and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
  226  Therefore, the Legislature specifically declares that the
  227  Orlando Kidz Zones are corporation is subject to chapter 119,
  228  relating to public records, chapter 286, relating to public
  229  meetings and records, and chapter 287, relating to the
  230  procurement of commodities or contractual services.
  231         (b) This initiative is designed to encompass the Orlando
  232  neighborhoods of Parramore, Mercy Drive, and Englewood. All
  233  three of these neighborhoods are an area that is large enough to
  234  include all of the necessary components of community life,
  235  including, but not limited to, schools, places of worship,
  236  recreational facilities, commercial areas, and common space, yet
  237  small enough to allow programs and services to reach every
  238  member of the neighborhood who is willing to participate in the
  239  project.
  240         (12) CREATION OF THE TAMPA SULPHUR SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD OF
  241  PROMISE (SSNOP) SUCCESS ZONE.—
  242         (a) There is created within the City of Tampa in
  243  Hillsborough County a 10-year project called the Tampa Sulphur
  244  Springs Neighborhood of Promise (SSNOP) that shall be managed by
  245  an entity organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for
  246  profit that is registered, incorporated, organized, and operated
  247  in compliance with chapter 617 and this section. The Tampa SSNOP
  248  Success Zone is not subject to control, supervision, or
  249  direction by any department of the state in any manner. The
  250  Legislature determines, however, that Public policy dictates
  251  that the Tampa SSNOP operates corporation operate in the most
  252  open and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
  253  Therefore, the Legislature declares that the Tampa SSNOP
  254  corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating to public
  255  records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and records,
  256  and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of commodities or
  257  contractual services.
  258         (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
  259  is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
  260  community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
  261  of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
  262  common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
  263  reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
  264  participate in the project.
  265         (13) CREATION OF THE OVERTOWN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
  266  COALITION.—
  267         (a) There is created within the City of Miami in Miami-Dade
  268  County a 10-year project called the Overtown Children and Youth
  269  Coalition that shall be managed by an entity organized as a not
  270  for-profit corporation not for profit that is registered,
  271  incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with chapter
  272  617 and this section. The Overtown Children and Youth Coalition
  273  is not subject to control, supervision, or direction by any
  274  department of the state in any manner. The Legislature
  275  determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the
  276  Overtown Children and Youth Coalition operates corporation
  277  operate in the most open and accessible manner consistent with
  278  its public purpose. Therefore, the Legislature declares that the
  279  Overtown Children and Youth Coalition corporation is subject to
  280  chapter 119, relating to public records, chapter 286, relating
  281  to public meetings and records, and chapter 287, relating to the
  282  procurement of commodities or contractual services.
  283         (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
  284  is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
  285  community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
  286  of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
  287  common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
  288  reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
  289  participate in the project.
  290         (14) IMPLEMENTATION.—
  291         (a) The Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc., the New Town
  292  Success Zone, the Orlando Parramore Kidz Zones Zone, the Tampa
  293  SSNOP Success Zone, and the Overtown Children and Youth
  294  Coalition have been designated as Florida Children’s Initiatives
  295  consistent with the legislative intent and purpose of s. 16,
  296  chapter 2009-43, Laws of Florida, and as such shall each assist
  297  the disadvantaged areas of this the state in creating a
  298  community-based service network and programming that develops,
  299  coordinates, and provides quality education, accessible health
  300  care, youth development programs, opportunities for employment,
  301  and safe and affordable housing for children and families living
  302  within their boundaries.
  303         (b) In order to implement this section for the Florida
  304  Children’s Initiatives listed in this section Miami Children’s
  305  Initiative, Inc., the Department of Children and Families shall
  306  contract with a not-for-profit corporation, to work in
  307  collaboration with the governing body to adopt the resolution
  308  described in subsection (4), to establish the planning team as
  309  provided in subsection (5), and to develop and adopt the
  310  strategic community plan as provided in subsection (6). The not
  311  for-profit corporation is also responsible for the development
  312  of a strategic business plan and for the evaluation, fiscal
  313  management, and oversight of the Florida Children’s Initiatives
  314  Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc.
  315         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.