Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1762
By Senator Rouson
16-01244A-24 20241762__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Resilient Communities Grant
3 Program; creating s. 394.6571, F.S.; creating the
4 program within the Department of Children and
5 Families; providing the purpose of the program;
6 providing legislative intent; authorizing counties and
7 municipalities to apply for participation in the
8 program; requiring counties and municipalities to work
9 with the local managing entity before applying to
10 participate in the program; authorizing counties and
11 municipalities to establish committees to develop
12 certain strategic goals and benchmarks; requiring the
13 Florida Certification Board and managing entities to
14 develop criteria for the review of submitted
15 applications and award grant funding; providing that
16 the certification may include certain criteria;
17 providing for the award of grants to certified
18 counties or municipalities, subject to the
19 availability of state funds; specifying that program
20 funding is contingent upon legislative appropriation;
21 providing an effective date.
22
23 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25 Section 1. Section 394.6571, Florida Statutes, is created
26 to read:
27 394.6571 Resilient Communities Grant Program.—
28 (1) CREATION AND PURPOSE.—The Resilient Communities Grant
29 Program is created within the Department of Children and
30 Families. The purpose of the program is to help provide
31 resilient and supportive communities in which individuals
32 struggling with substance use and mental health challenges can
33 obtain comprehensive, integrated services through fostering
34 greater coordination and collaboration among local stakeholders
35 and service providers. Through the establishment of the grant
36 program, the Legislature intends to empower individuals in
37 recovery, engage community functions to further support such
38 individuals, and reduce the stigma associated with substance use
39 and mental health challenges in order to yield a safer,
40 healthier, and more vibrant environment for all residents
41 throughout this state.
42 (2) PARTICIPATION.—A county or municipality may participate
43 in the grant program upon approval of an application submitted
44 which meets the criteria specified in subsection (3). Before
45 submitting an application, a county or municipality shall work
46 with the local managing entity, as defined in s. 394.9082(2),
47 and may organize committees of various community stakeholders to
48 develop strategic goals and benchmarks that the community hopes
49 to achieve through participation in the grant program and to
50 plan on how the county or municipality will spend grant funds if
51 approved for participation in the program.
52 (3) APPLICATION.—The Florida Certification Board shall work
53 with managing entities to develop criteria to be used to review
54 submitted applications and to select any counties or
55 municipalities that will be awarded a 3-year planning and
56 implementation grant.
57 (a) The certification developed by the Florida
58 Certification Board and the managing entities may include, but
59 is not limited to, the following criteria:
60 1. The percentage of schools with substance use programs.
61 2. The ratio of inpatient psychiatric beds per 100,000
62 individuals.
63 3. Availability of job training programs.
64 4. Availability of outpatient services.
65 5. The types of community support groups and recovery
66 housing programs present in the community.
67 6. Opportunities for life skills training in the community,
68 including, but not limited to, training on financial management,
69 credit repair, and seeking employment.
70 (b) A 3-year planning and implementation grant may be
71 awarded to a county or municipality, certified through their
72 local managing entity, subject to the availability of state
73 funds.
74 (4) FUNDING.—Funding for the grant program is contingent
75 upon legislative appropriation.
76 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.