Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1144
By Senator Burgess
23-01228-25 20251144__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Hope Florida program; creating
3 s. 14.37, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining
4 terms; establishing the Office of Hope Florida within
5 the Executive Office of the Governor; providing the
6 purpose of the office; providing for appointment of a
7 director of the office; specifying duties of the
8 office; specifying the functions of hope navigators
9 under the Hope Florida program; specifying eligibility
10 requirements for participation in the program;
11 specifying how individuals may request assistance
12 under the program; providing for participation in the
13 program by specified state agencies, subject to
14 certain requirements; requiring the Executive Office
15 of the Governor to designate agencies to perform
16 certain functions under the program; providing an
17 effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Section 14.37, Florida Statutes, is created to
22 read:
23 14.37 Hope Florida program.—
24 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish the
25 Hope Florida program to streamline access to support and
26 services to assist Floridians in need in reaching their full
27 potential within their local communities by holistically
28 coordinating care through hope navigators. Furthermore, the Hope
29 Florida program will break down traditional silos and establish
30 a seamless network of supports, managed more effectively through
31 a centralized system, composed of private businesses, nonprofit
32 entities, state agencies, and faith-based organizations to
33 achieve desired outcomes and sustain long-term results,
34 including greater self-sufficiency, community integration, and
35 the reduction of the participants’ sole reliance on government
36 programs. To this end, the Legislature intends for the Hope
37 Florida program to empower and assist Floridians in identifying
38 and achieving immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals and
39 removing barriers to goal achievement through the development
40 and implementation of a care plan in partnership with hope
41 navigators.
42 (2) As used in this section, the term:
43 (a) “Care plan” means a written tool that contains
44 information provided by the individual to develop and customize
45 actionable steps and corresponding timelines to achieve
46 immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals and address
47 barriers through direct connection to community resources and
48 opportunities to achieve their goals. Goals may include, but are
49 not limited to, those relating to mentorship and coaching, life
50 skills development, employment, educational obtainment,
51 community engagement and volunteerism, and addressing barriers
52 such as basic needs, transportation, and untreated medical and
53 behavioral health conditions.
54 (b) “Hope Florida Partner Network” means designated
55 organizations actively engaged in Hope Florida by providing
56 goods or services that directly support Hope Florida
57 participants’ goals and address identified barriers.
58 (c) “Hope Line” means a toll-free number used to serve as a
59 hotline for Hope Florida inquiries and referrals for individuals
60 and families in need of services.
61 (d) “Hope navigators” means individuals designated by a
62 Hope Florida participating agency to coordinate care and assist
63 participants and families seeking services through Hope Florida.
64 (3)(a) The Office of Hope Florida is established within the
65 Executive Office of the Governor. The primary purpose of the
66 office is to facilitate alignment and coordination of state
67 agencies participating in Hope Florida. The Governor shall
68 appoint a director of the Office of Hope Florida who shall serve
69 at the pleasure of the Governor.
70 (b) Duties of the office include, but are not limited to,
71 the following:
72 1. Establishing goals and strategies for Hope Florida.
73 2. Facilitating coordination and collaboration amongst
74 participating agencies to achieve the goals of the program.
75 3. Expanding the Hope Florida partner network to meet the
76 needs of participating Floridians.
77 4. Overseeing the Hope Florida Partner Network. The Hope
78 Florida Partner Network shall be composed of designated state
79 agencies, private-public partnerships, and nonprofit, private
80 sector, and faith-based organizations actively engaged in Hope
81 Florida by supporting and addressing the goals and barriers of
82 participants. To sustain the effectiveness of Hope Florida and
83 the partner network, the office shall continue to foster
84 development of both new and existing partnerships.
85 (4) The program shall utilize government agencies,
86 nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and the
87 private sector to serve families holistically in achieving self
88 sufficiency, maximizing community integration, and building a
89 prosperous future. Barriers to self-sufficiency may include, but
90 are not limited to, lack of stable employment, increased wages,
91 skills for greater independence, educational or training,
92 meeting basic needs, and stable housing. The program shall refer
93 participants requiring assistance with employment or vocational
94 training to CareerSource Florida, Inc., the local workforce
95 development boards, or other appropriate entities to prepare,
96 train, and place individuals in meaningful employment.
97 (5) The program shall use hope navigators as resources that
98 are embedded to serve as a catalyst and single point of contact
99 for participants by using participant information jointly to
100 develop and implement care plans and navigate and actively
101 leverage community-based supports and opportunities throughout
102 each step to create a sustainable network of supports to allow
103 participants to achieve their goals, overcome barriers, and
104 realize their full potential. Hope navigators shall assist
105 participants in identifying their personal goals, developing an
106 individualized plan for achieving immediate, intermediate, and
107 long-term goals, identifying and addressing barriers, and
108 actively connecting participants to community resources and
109 opportunities to achieve their goals.
110 (6)(a) In order to participate in Hope Florida, individuals
111 must be:
112 1. A resident of this state and a citizen of the United
113 States or a permanent resident alien of the United States, as
114 determined by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and
115 Immigration Services; and
116 2. Eighteen years of age or older or, if emancipated, 16
117 years of age or older. However, any unemancipated minor may
118 participate with the consent of his or her parent or guardian.
119 (b) Participation in Hope Florida is voluntary.
120 (c) Individuals may request assistance by calling the Hope
121 Line, requesting assistance through the Hope Florida website, or
122 through proactive outreach by a participating agency, and
123 referrals may be made on behalf of an individual by community
124 organizations to the Hope Line, Hope Florida website, or
125 participating state agency hope navigator.
126 (7)(a) State agencies shall participate in Hope Florida at
127 the direction of the Executive Office of the Governor. At a
128 minimum, the Department of Children and Families, the Agency for
129 Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Juvenile Justice,
130 the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, the Department of
131 Education, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the
132 Department of Corrections, the Division of Emergency Management,
133 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Commerce,
134 and the Department of Elderly Affairs shall participate in the
135 program.
136 (b) In order to use government resources more effectively
137 and efficiently, participating state agencies shall use existing
138 resources and personnel, to the extent possible, to operate Hope
139 Florida.
140 (c) Other public-private partners may participate in Hope
141 Florida, at the direction of the Executive Office of the
142 Governor, including, but not limited to, CareerSource Florida,
143 Inc., and Volunteer Florida, Inc.
144 (8) The Executive Office of the Governor shall designate
145 agencies to perform the following functions under the program:
146 (a) Operate the Hope Line, which must be available, at a
147 minimum, during business hours Monday through Friday.
148 (b) Develop and maintain a website for individuals to
149 connect with Hope Florida or to volunteer their time or donate
150 resources.
151 (c) Develop and maintain a Hope Florida case management
152 system that, at a minimum, conducts intake for Hope Florida
153 inquiries and referrals for individuals and families in need of
154 services. The case management system must be developed and
155 maintained by the responsible designated agency for purposes of
156 care planning functionality, closed loop referrals, and
157 tracking, at a minimum.
158 (d) Work with the Department of Commerce and CareerSource
159 Florida, Inc., to maintain a portal for designating employers as
160 “Hope Florida Employers.” Such portal must be integrated with
161 the Department of Commerce’s one-stop delivery system to ensure
162 all Floridians served through Hope Florida have access to
163 employment and training services.
164 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.