Bill Text: FL S7040 | 2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Workforce Development
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2016-04-08 - Chapter No. 2016-216 [S7040 Detail]
Download: Florida-2016-S7040-Enrolled.html
ENROLLED 2016 Legislature CS for SB 7040, 1st Engrossed 20167040er 1 2 An act relating to workforce development; amending s. 3 20.60, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by 4 the act; amending s. 115.01, F.S.; authorizing a 5 county or state official to be granted leave of 6 absence from his or her office to serve in the 7 National Guard of any state; amending ss. 212.08, 8 220.183, and 250.10, F.S.; conforming provisions to 9 changes made by the act; amending s. 250.482, F.S.; 10 revising applicability of provisions with respect to 11 immunity from penalization by employers for National 12 Guard members ordered into state active duty; amending 13 s. 250.81, F.S.; revising legislative intent; amending 14 ss. 288.047, 290.0056, 322.34, 341.052, 414.045, 15 414.065, 414.085, 414.095, 414.105, 414.106, 414.295, 16 420.623, 420.624, 427.013, 427.0155, 427.0157, 17 433.091, and 443.1116, F.S.; conforming provisions to 18 changes made by the act; amending s. 445.003, F.S.; 19 providing implementation of the federal Workforce 20 Innovation and Opportunity Act through a 4-year plan; 21 revising the requirements of the plan; deleting a 22 provision authorizing an optional federal partner to 23 fulfill certain state planning and reporting 24 requirements; deleting a provision requiring all 25 optional federal program partners to participate in 26 the second year of the plan; providing for program 27 administration; deleting certain eligibility 28 requirements for businesses; deleting the authority of 29 CareerSource Florida, Inc., to negotiate and settle 30 certain issues with the United States Department of 31 Labor; requiring CareerSource Florida, Inc., to enter 32 into a memorandum with the Florida Department of 33 Education to ensure compliance with the state plan for 34 workforce development; conforming provisions to 35 changes made by the act; amending s. 445.004, F.S.; 36 specifying membership requirements for the 37 CareerSource Florida, Inc., board of directors; 38 revising the entities required to collaborate with 39 CareerSource Florida, Inc., to establish certain 40 performance accountability measures; revising 41 requirements for the performance accountability 42 measures; deleting references to outcome tiers for 43 such measures; deleting a provision requiring certain 44 job placement reporting; conforming provisions to 45 changes made by the act; amending s. 445.006, F.S.; 46 providing for the development of a state plan to 47 include strategic and operational elements; deleting a 48 requirement that the strategic plan be updated or 49 modified each year; revising requirements for the 50 strategic and operational plans; conforming provisions 51 to changes made by the act; amending s. 445.007, F.S.; 52 revising local workforce development board membership 53 requirements; authorizing CareerSource Florida, Inc., 54 to waive a certain board representative requirement 55 under certain circumstances; requiring CareerSource 56 Florida, Inc., to establish regional planning areas 57 subject to certain requirements by a certain date; 58 requiring local workforce development boards and 59 selected officials to prepare a regional workforce 60 development plan; conforming provisions to changes 61 made by the act; amending s. 445.0071, F.S.; 62 conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 63 amending s. 445.009, F.S.; requiring the local 64 workforce development board to enter into a memorandum 65 of understanding with each mandatory or optional 66 partner detailing certain contributions; providing 67 that costs will be allocated pursuant to a policy 68 established by the Governor under certain 69 circumstances; specifying the systems that may be 70 accessed with the one-stop delivery system; conforming 71 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 72 445.07, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to 73 consult with the Department of Economic Opportunity in 74 preparing, or contracting with an entity to prepare, 75 certain economic security reports; amending ss. 76 445.014, 445.016, 445.017, 445.021, 445.022, 445.024, 77 445.025, 445.026, 445.030, 445.031, 445.048, 445.051, 78 985.622, 1002.83, 1003.491, 1003.492, 1003.493, 79 1003.4935, 1003.52, 1004.93, 1006.261, and 1009.25, 80 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by this 81 act; providing an effective date. 82 83 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 84 85 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section 86 20.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 87 20.60 Department of Economic Opportunity; creation; powers 88 and duties.— 89 (5) The divisions within the department have specific 90 responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and 91 goals of the department. Specifically: 92 (c) The Division of Workforce Services shall: 93 1. Prepare and submit a unified budget request for 94 workforce development in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in 95 conjunction with, CareerSource Florida, Inc., and its board. 96 2. Ensure that the state appropriately administers federal 97 and state workforce funding by administering plans and policies 98 of CareerSource Florida, Inc., under contract with CareerSource 99 Florida, Inc. The operating budget and midyear amendments 100 thereto must be part of such contract. 101 a. All program and fiscal instructions to localregional102 workforce development boards shall emanate from the Department 103 of Economic Opportunity pursuant to plans and policies of 104 CareerSource Florida, Inc., which shall be responsible for all 105 policy directions to the localregionalworkforce development 106 boards. 107 b. Unless otherwise provided by agreement with CareerSource 108 Florida, Inc., administrative and personnel policies of the 109 Department of Economic Opportunity apply. 110 3. Implement the state’s reemployment assistance program. 111 The Department of Economic Opportunity shall ensure that the 112 state appropriately administers the reemployment assistance 113 program pursuant to state and federal law. 114 4. Assist in developing the 5-year statewide strategic plan 115 required by this section. 116 Section 2. Section 115.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to 117 read: 118 115.01 Leave of absence for military service.—Any county or 119 state official of the state, subject to the provisions and 120 conditions hereinafter set forth, may be granted leave of 121 absence from his or her office, to serve in the volunteer forces 122 of the United States, or in the National Guard of anythestate, 123 or in the regular Army or Navy of the United States, when the 124 same shall be called into active service of the United States 125 during war between the United States and a foreign government. 126 Section 3. Paragraph (p) of subsection (5) of section 127 212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 128 212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and 129 storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the 130 rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the 131 storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following 132 are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this 133 chapter. 134 (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.— 135 (p) Community contribution tax credit for donations.— 136 1. Authorization.—Persons who are registered with the 137 department under s. 212.18 to collect or remit sales or use tax 138 and who make donations to eligible sponsors are eligible for tax 139 credits against their state sales and use tax liabilities as 140 provided in this paragraph: 141 a. The credit shall be computed as 50 percent of the 142 person’s approved annual community contribution. 143 b. The credit shall be granted as a refund against state 144 sales and use taxes reported on returns and remitted in the 12 145 months preceding the date of application to the department for 146 the credit as required in sub-subparagraph 3.c. If the annual 147 credit is not fully used through such refund because of 148 insufficient tax payments during the applicable 12-month period, 149 the unused amount may be included in an application for a refund 150 made pursuant to sub-subparagraph 3.c. in subsequent years 151 against the total tax payments made for such year. Carryover 152 credits may be applied for a 3-year period without regard to any 153 time limitation that would otherwise apply under s. 215.26. 154 c. A person may not receive more than $200,000 in annual 155 tax credits for all approved community contributions made in any 156 one year. 157 d. All proposals for the granting of the tax credit require 158 the prior approval of the Department of Economic Opportunity. 159 e. The total amount of tax credits which may be granted for 160 all programs approved under this paragraph, s. 220.183, and s. 161 624.5105 is $18.4 million in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, $21.4 162 million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and $21.4 million in the 163 2017-2018 fiscal year for projects that provide housing 164 opportunities for persons with special needs or homeownership 165 opportunities for low-income households or very-low-income 166 households and $3.5 million annually for all other projects. As 167 used in this paragraph, the term “person with special needs” has 168 the same meaning as in s. 420.0004 and the terms “low-income 169 person,” “low-income household,” “very-low-income person,” and 170 “very-low-income household” have the same meanings as in s. 171 420.9071. 172 f. A person who is eligible to receive the credit provided 173 in this paragraph, s. 220.183, or s. 624.5105 may receive the 174 credit only under one section of the person’s choice. 175 2. Eligibility requirements.— 176 a. A community contribution by a person must be in the 177 following form: 178 (I) Cash or other liquid assets; 179 (II) Real property; 180 (III) Goods or inventory; or 181 (IV) Other physical resources identified by the Department 182 of Economic Opportunity. 183 b. All community contributions must be reserved exclusively 184 for use in a project. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term 185 “project” means activity undertaken by an eligible sponsor which 186 is designed to construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate 187 housing that is affordable to low-income households or very-low 188 income households; designed to provide housing opportunities for 189 persons with special needs; designed to provide commercial, 190 industrial, or public resources and facilities; or designed to 191 improve entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for 192 low-income persons. A project may be the investment necessary to 193 increase access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural 194 community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to 195 chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, including projects that result in 196 improvements to communications assets that are owned by a 197 business. A project may include the provision of museum 198 educational programs and materials that are directly related to 199 a project approved between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 200 1999, and located in an area which was in an enterprise zone 201 designated pursuant to s. 290.0065 as of May 1, 2015. This 202 paragraph does not preclude projects that propose to construct 203 or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or very-low 204 income households on scattered sites or housing opportunities 205 for persons with special needs. With respect to housing, 206 contributions may be used to pay the following eligible special 207 needs, low-income, and very-low-income housing-related 208 activities: 209 (I) Project development impact and management fees for 210 special needs, low-income, or very-low-income housing projects; 211 (II) Down payment and closing costs for persons with 212 special needs, low-income persons, and very-low-income persons; 213 (III) Administrative costs, including housing counseling 214 and marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community 215 contribution, directly related to special needs, low-income, or 216 very-low-income projects; and 217 (IV) Removal of liens recorded against residential property 218 by municipal, county, or special district local governments if 219 satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the 220 transfer of the property to a low-income person or very-low 221 income person for the purpose of promoting home ownership. 222 Contributions for lien removal must be received from a 223 nonrelated third party. 224 c. The project must be undertaken by an “eligible sponsor,” 225 which includes: 226 (I) A community action program; 227 (II) A nonprofit community-based development organization 228 whose mission is the provision of housing for persons with 229 specials needs, low-income households, or very-low-income 230 households or increasing entrepreneurial and job-development 231 opportunities for low-income persons; 232 (III) A neighborhood housing services corporation; 233 (IV) A local housing authority created under chapter 421; 234 (V) A community redevelopment agency created under s. 235 163.356; 236 (VI) A historic preservation district agency or 237 organization; 238 (VII) A localregionalworkforce development board; 239 (VIII) A direct-support organization as provided in s. 240 1009.983; 241 (IX) An enterprise zone development agency created under s. 242 290.0056; 243 (X) A community-based organization incorporated under 244 chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or 245 scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 246 and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include 247 affordable housing, economic development, or community 248 development as the primary mission of the corporation; 249 (XI) Units of local government; 250 (XII) Units of state government; or 251 (XIII) Any other agency that the Department of Economic 252 Opportunity designates by rule. 253 254 A contributing person may not have a financial interest in the 255 eligible sponsor. 256 d. The project must be located in an area which was in an 257 enterprise zone designated pursuant to chapter 290 as of May 1, 258 2015, or a Front Porch Florida Community, unless the project 259 increases access to high-speed broadband capability in a rural 260 community that had an enterprise zone designated pursuant to 261 chapter 290 as of May 1, 2015, but is physically located outside 262 the designated rural zone boundaries. Any project designed to 263 construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income households or 264 very-low-income households or housing opportunities for persons 265 with special needs is exempt from the area requirement of this 266 sub-subparagraph. 267 e.(I) If, during the first 10 business days of the state 268 fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that 269 provide housing opportunities for persons with special needs or 270 homeownership opportunities for low-income households or very 271 low-income households are received for less than the annual tax 272 credits available for those projects, the Department of Economic 273 Opportunity shall grant tax credits for those applications and 274 grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis 275 for subsequent eligible applications received before the end of 276 the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10 business days of 277 the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for 278 projects that provide housing opportunities for persons with 279 special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income 280 households or very-low-income households are received for more 281 than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the 282 Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits 283 for those applications as follows: 284 (A) If tax credit applications submitted for approved 285 projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total, 286 the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit 287 applications are approved. 288 (B) If tax credit applications submitted for approved 289 projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the 290 amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-sub-sub 291 subparagraph (A) shall be subtracted from the amount of 292 available tax credits, and the remaining credits shall be 293 granted to each approved tax credit application on a pro rata 294 basis. 295 (II) If, during the first 10 business days of the state 296 fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other 297 than those that provide housing opportunities for persons with 298 special needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income 299 households or very-low-income households are received for less 300 than the annual tax credits available for those projects, the 301 Department of Economic Opportunity shall grant tax credits for 302 those applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a 303 first-come, first-served basis for subsequent eligible 304 applications received before the end of the state fiscal year. 305 If, during the first 10 business days of the state fiscal year, 306 eligible tax credit applications for projects other than those 307 that provide housing opportunities for persons with special 308 needs or homeownership opportunities for low-income households 309 or very-low-income households are received for more than the 310 annual tax credits available for those projects, the Department 311 of Economic Opportunity shall grant the tax credits for those 312 applications on a pro rata basis. 313 3. Application requirements.— 314 a. An eligible sponsor seeking to participate in this 315 program must submit a proposal to the Department of Economic 316 Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a 317 description of the project, and the area in which the project is 318 located, together with such supporting information as is 319 prescribed by rule. The proposal must also contain a resolution 320 from the local governmental unit in which the project is located 321 certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and 322 regulations. 323 b. A person seeking to participate in this program must 324 submit an application for tax credit to the Department of 325 Economic Opportunity which sets forth the name of the sponsor, a 326 description of the project, and the type, value, and purpose of 327 the contribution. The sponsor shall verify, in writing, the 328 terms of the application and indicate its receipt of the 329 contribution, and such verification must accompany the 330 application for tax credit. The person must submit a separate 331 tax credit application to the Department of Economic Opportunity 332 for each individual contribution that it makes to each 333 individual project. 334 c. A person who has received notification from the 335 Department of Economic Opportunity that a tax credit has been 336 approved must apply to the department to receive the refund. 337 Application must be made on the form prescribed for claiming 338 refunds of sales and use taxes and be accompanied by a copy of 339 the notification. A person may submit only one application for 340 refund to the department within a 12-month period. 341 4. Administration.— 342 a. The Department of Economic Opportunity may adopt rules 343 necessary to administer this paragraph, including rules for the 344 approval or disapproval of proposals by a person. 345 b. The decision of the Department of Economic Opportunity 346 must be in writing, and, if approved, the notification shall 347 state the maximum credit allowable to the person. Upon approval, 348 the Department of Economic Opportunity shall transmit a copy of 349 the decision to the department. 350 c. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall 351 periodically monitor all projects in a manner consistent with 352 available resources to ensure that resources are used in 353 accordance with this paragraph; however, each project must be 354 reviewed at least once every 2 years. 355 d. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall, in 356 consultation with the statewide and regional housing and 357 financial intermediaries, market the availability of the 358 community contribution tax credit program to community-based 359 organizations. 360 5. Expiration.—This paragraph expires June 30, 2018; 361 however, any accrued credit carryover that is unused on that 362 date may be used until the expiration of the 3-year carryover 363 period for such credit. 364 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 365 220.183, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 366 220.183 Community contribution tax credit.— 367 (2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.— 368 (c) The project must be undertaken by an “eligible 369 sponsor,” defined here as: 370 1. A community action program; 371 2. A nonprofit community-based development organization 372 whose mission is the provision of housing for persons with 373 special needs or low-income or very-low-income households or 374 increasing entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for 375 low-income persons; 376 3. A neighborhood housing services corporation; 377 4. A local housing authority, created pursuant to chapter 378 421; 379 5. A community redevelopment agency, created pursuant to s. 380 163.356; 381 6. A historic preservation district agency or organization; 382 7. A localregionalworkforce development board; 383 8. A direct-support organization as provided in s. 384 1009.983; 385 9. An enterprise zone development agency created pursuant 386 to s. 290.0056; 387 10. A community-based organization incorporated under 388 chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or 389 scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 390 and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include 391 affordable housing, economic development, or community 392 development as the primary mission of the corporation; 393 11. Units of local government; 394 12. Units of state government; or 395 13. Such other agency as the Department of Economic 396 Opportunity may, from time to time, designate by rule. 397 398 In no event shall a contributing business firm have a financial 399 interest in the eligible sponsor. 400 Section 5. Paragraph (l) of subsection (2) of section 401 250.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 402 250.10 Appointment and duties of the Adjutant General.— 403 (2) The Adjutant General shall: 404 (l) Subject to annual appropriations, administer youth 405 About Face programs and adult Forward March programs at sites to 406 be selected by the Adjutant General. Both programs must provide 407 schoolwork assistance, focusing on the skills needed to master 408 basic high school competencies and functional life skills, 409 including teaching students to work effectively in groups; 410 providing basic instruction in computer skills; teaching basic 411 problem-solving, decisionmaking, and reasoning skills; teaching 412 how the business world and free enterprise work through computer 413 simulations; and teaching home finance and budgeting and other 414 daily living skills. 415 1. About Face is a summer and year-round after-school life 416 preparation program for economically disadvantaged and at-risk 417 youths from 13 through 17 years of age. The program must provide 418 training in academic study skills, and the basic skills that 419 businesses require for employment consideration. 420 2. Forward March is a job-readiness program for 421 economically disadvantaged participants who are directed to 422 Forward March by the localregionalworkforce development 423 boards. The Forward March program shall provide training on 424 topics that directly relate to the skills required for real 425 world success. The program shall emphasize functional life 426 skills, computer literacy, interpersonal relationships, 427 critical-thinking skills, business skills, preemployment and 428 work maturity skills, job-search skills, exploring careers 429 activities, how to be a successful and effective employee, and 430 some job-specific skills. The program also shall provide 431 extensive opportunities for participants to practice generic job 432 skills in a supervised work setting. Upon completion of the 433 program, Forward March shall return participants to the local 434regionalworkforce development boards for placement in a job 435 placement pool. 436 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 250.482, Florida 437 Statutes, is amended to read: 438 250.482 Troops ordered into state active service; not to be 439 penalized by employers and postsecondary institutions.— 440 (1) If a member of the National Guard is ordered into state 441 active duty pursuant to this chapter or into active duty as 442 defined by the law of any other state, a private or public 443 employer, or an employing or appointing authority of this state, 444 its counties, school districts, municipalities, political 445 subdivisions, career centers, community colleges, or 446 universities, may not discharge, reprimand, or in any other way 447 penalize such member because of his or her absence by reason of 448 state active duty. 449 Section 7. Section 250.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to 450 read: 451 250.81 Legislative intent.—It is the intent of the 452 Legislature that men and women who serve in the National Guard 453 of any stateFlorida National Guard, the United States Armed 454 Forces, and Armed Forces Reserves understand their rights under 455 applicable state and federal laws. Further, it is the intent of 456 the Legislature that Florida residents and businesses understand 457 the rights afforded to the men and women who volunteer their 458 time and sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms granted 459 by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of 460 Florida. 461 Section 8. Subsection (8) of section 288.047, Florida 462 Statutes, is amended to read: 463 288.047 Quick-response training for economic development.— 464 (8) The Quick-Response Training Program is created to 465 provide assistance to participants in the welfare transition 466 program. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may award quick-response 467 training grants and develop applicable guidelines for the 468 training of participants in the welfare transition program. In 469 addition to a local economic development organization, grants 470 must be endorsed by the applicable localregionalworkforce 471 development board. 472 (a) Training funded pursuant to this subsection may not 473 exceed 12 months, and may be provided by the local community 474 college, school district, localregionalworkforce development 475 board, or the business employing the participant, including on 476 the-job training. Training will provide entry-level skills to 477 new workers, including those employed in retail, who are 478 participants in the welfare transition program. 479 (b) Participants trained pursuant to this subsection must 480 be employed at a job paying at least $6 per hour. 481 (c) Funds made available pursuant to this subsection may be 482 expended in connection with the relocation of a business from 483 one community to another if approved by CareerSource Florida, 484 Inc. 485 Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 290.0056, Florida 486 Statutes, is amended to read: 487 290.0056 Enterprise zone development agency.— 488 (2) When the governing body creates an enterprise zone 489 development agency, that body shall appoint a board of 490 commissioners of the agency, which shall consist of not fewer 491 than 8 or more than 13 commissioners. The governing body may 492 appoint at least one representative from each of the following: 493 the local chamber of commerce; local financial or insurance 494 entities; local businesses and, where possible, businesses 495 operating within the nominated area; the residents residing 496 within the nominated area; nonprofit community-based 497 organizations operating within the nominated area; the local 498regionalworkforce development board; the local code enforcement 499 agency; and the local law enforcement agency. The terms of 500 office of the commissioners shall be for 4 years, except that, 501 in making the initial appointments, the governing body shall 502 appoint two members for terms of 3 years, two members for terms 503 of 2 years, and one member for a term of 1 year; the remaining 504 initial members shall serve for terms of 4 years. A vacancy 505 occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. 506 The importance of including individuals from the nominated area 507 shall be considered in making appointments. Further, the 508 importance of minority representation on the agency shall be 509 considered in making appointments so that the agency generally 510 reflects the gender and ethnic composition of the community as a 511 whole. 512 Section 10. Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section 513 322.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 514 322.34 Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, 515 or disqualified.— 516 (9) 517 (c) Notwithstanding s. 932.703(1)(c) or s. 932.7055, when 518 the seizing agency obtains a final judgment granting forfeiture 519 of the motor vehicle under this section, 30 percent of the net 520 proceeds from the sale of the motor vehicle shall be retained by 521 the seizing law enforcement agency and 70 percent shall be 522 deposited in the General Revenue Fund for use by localregional523 workforce development boards in providing transportation 524 services for participants of the welfare transition program. In 525 a forfeiture proceeding under this section, the court may 526 consider the extent that the family of the owner has other 527 public or private means of transportation. 528 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 341.052, Florida 529 Statutes, is amended to read: 530 341.052 Public transit block grant program; administration; 531 eligible projects; limitation.— 532 (1) There is created a public transit block grant program 533 which shall be administered by the department. Block grant funds 534 shall only be provided to “Section 9” providers and “Section 18” 535 providers designated by the United States Department of 536 Transportation and community transportation coordinators as 537 defined in chapter 427. Eligible providers must establish public 538 transportation development plans consistent, to the maximum 539 extent feasible, with approved local government comprehensive 540 plans of the units of local government in which the provider is 541 located. In developing public transportation development plans, 542 eligible providers must solicit comments from localregional543 workforce development boards established under chapter 445. The 544 development plans must address how the public transit provider 545 will work with the appropriate localregionalworkforce 546 development board to provide services to participants in the 547 welfare transition program. Eligible providers must provide 548 information to the localregionalworkforce development board 549 serving the county in which the provider is located regarding 550 the availability of transportation services to assist program 551 participants. 552 Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 414.045, Florida 553 Statutes, is amended to read: 554 414.045 Cash assistance program.—Cash assistance families 555 include any families receiving cash assistance payments from the 556 state program for temporary assistance for needy families as 557 defined in federal law, whether such funds are from federal 558 funds, state funds, or commingled federal and state funds. Cash 559 assistance families may also include families receiving cash 560 assistance through a program defined as a separate state 561 program. 562 (2) Oversight by the board of directors of CareerSource 563 Florida, Inc., and the service delivery and financial planning 564 responsibilities of the localregionalworkforce development 565 boards apply to the families defined as work-eligible cases in 566 paragraph (1)(a). The department shall be responsible for 567 program administration related to families in groups defined in 568 paragraph (1)(b), and the department shall coordinate such 569 administration with the board of directors of CareerSource 570 Florida, Inc., to the extent needed for operation of the 571 program. 572 Section 13. Paragraphs (a), (d), and (e) of subsection (4) 573 of section 414.065, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 574 414.065 Noncompliance with work requirements.— 575 (4) EXCEPTIONS TO NONCOMPLIANCE PENALTIES.—Unless otherwise 576 provided, the situations listed in this subsection shall 577 constitute exceptions to the penalties for noncompliance with 578 participation requirements, except that these situations do not 579 constitute exceptions to the applicable time limit for receipt 580 of temporary cash assistance: 581 (a) Noncompliance related to child care.—Temporary cash 582 assistance may not be terminated for refusal to participate in 583 work activities if the individual is a single parent caring for 584 a child who has not attained 6 years of age, and the adult 585 proves to the localregionalworkforce development board an 586 inability to obtain needed child care for one or more of the 587 following reasons, as defined in the Child Care and Development 588 Fund State Plan required by 45 C.F.R. part 98: 589 1. Unavailability of appropriate child care within a 590 reasonable distance from the individual’s home or worksite. 591 2. Unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care 592 by a relative or under other arrangements. 593 3. Unavailability of appropriate and affordable formal 594 child care arrangements. 595 (d) Noncompliance related to medical incapacity.—If an 596 individual cannot participate in assigned work activities due to 597 a medical incapacity, the individual may be excepted from the 598 activity for a specific period, except that the individual shall 599 be required to comply with the course of treatment necessary for 600 the individual to resume participation. A participant may not be 601 excused from work activity requirements unless the participant’s 602 medical incapacity is verified by a physician licensed under 603 chapter 458 or chapter 459, in accordance with procedures 604 established by rule of the department. An individual for whom 605 there is medical verification of limitation to participate in 606 work activities shall be assigned to work activities consistent 607 with such limitations. Evaluation of an individual’s ability to 608 participate in work activities or development of a plan for work 609 activity assignment may include vocational assessment or work 610 evaluation. The department or a localregionalworkforce 611 development board may require an individual to cooperate in 612 medical or vocational assessment necessary to evaluate the 613 individual’s ability to participate in a work activity. 614 (e) Noncompliance related to outpatient mental health or 615 substance abuse treatment.—If an individual cannot participate 616 in the required hours of work activity due to a need to become 617 or remain involved in outpatient mental health or substance 618 abuse counseling or treatment, the individual may be exempted 619 from the work activity for up to 5 hours per week, not to exceed 620 100 hours per year. An individual may not be excused from a work 621 activity unless a mental health or substance abuse professional 622 recognized by the department or localregionalworkforce 623 development board certifies the treatment protocol and provides 624 verification of attendance at the counseling or treatment 625 sessions each week. 626 Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 627 414.085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 628 414.085 Income eligibility standards.— 629 (1) For purposes of program simplification and effective 630 program management, certain income definitions, as outlined in 631 the food assistance regulations at 7 C.F.R. s. 273.9, shall be 632 applied to the temporary cash assistance program as determined 633 by the department to be consistent with federal law regarding 634 temporary cash assistance and Medicaid for needy families, 635 except as to the following: 636 (d) An incentive payment to a participant authorized by a 637 localregionalworkforce development board mayshallnot be 638 considered income. 639 Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida 640 Statutes, is amended to read: 641 414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash 642 assistance.— 643 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet eligibility 644 requirements of this section before receiving services or 645 temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an 646 applicant shall be required to register for work and engage in 647 work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated by 648 the localregionalworkforce development board, and may receive 649 support services or child care assistance in conjunction with 650 such requirement. The department shall make a determination of 651 eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The 652 department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary 653 cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the 654 food assistance eligibility process. Benefits mayshallnot be 655 denied to an individual solely based on a felony drug 656 conviction, unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to 657 s. 893.135. To be eligible under this section, an individual 658 convicted of a drug felony must be satisfactorily meeting the 659 requirements of the temporary cash assistance program, including 660 all substance abuse treatment requirements. Within the limits 661 specified in this chapter, the state opts out of the provision 662 of Pub. L. No. 104-193, s. 115, that eliminates eligibility for 663 temporary cash assistance and food assistance for any individual 664 convicted of a controlled substance felony. 665 Section 16. Subsections (3) and (10) of section 414.105, 666 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 667 414.105 Time limitations of temporary cash assistance. 668 Except as otherwise provided in this section, an applicant or 669 current participant shall receive temporary cash assistance for 670 no more than a lifetime cumulative total of 48 months, unless 671 otherwise provided by law. 672 (3) The department, in cooperation with CareerSource 673 Florida, Inc., shall establish a procedure for approving 674 hardship exemptions and for reviewing hardship cases at least 675 once every 2 years. LocalRegionalworkforce development boards 676 may assist in making these determinations. 677 (10) A member of the staff of the localregionalworkforce 678 development board shall interview and assess the employment 679 prospects and barriers of each participant who is within 6 680 months of reaching the 48-month time limit. The staff member 681 shall assist the participant in identifying actions necessary to 682 become employed beforeprior toreaching the benefit time limit 683 for temporary cash assistance and, if appropriate, shall refer 684 the participant for services that could facilitate employment. 685 Section 17. Section 414.106, Florida Statutes, is amended 686 to read: 687 414.106 Exemption from public meetings law.—That portion of 688 a meeting held by the department, CareerSource Florida, Inc., or 689 a localregionalworkforce development board or local committee 690 created pursuant to s. 445.007 at which personal identifying 691 information contained in records relating to temporary cash 692 assistance is discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), 693 Art. I of the State Constitution if the information identifies a 694 participant, a participant’s family, or a participant’s family 695 or household member. 696 Section 18. Subsection (1) of section 414.295, Florida 697 Statutes, is amended to read: 698 414.295 Temporary cash assistance programs; public records 699 exemption.— 700 (1) Personal identifying information of a temporary cash 701 assistance program participant, a participant’s family, or a 702 participant’s family or household member, except for information 703 identifying a parent who does not live in the same home as the 704 child, which is held by the department, the Office of Early 705 Learning, CareerSource Florida, Inc., the Department of Health, 706 the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, or a 707 localregionalworkforce development board or local committee 708 created pursuant to s. 445.007 is confidential and exempt from 709 s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. 710 Such confidential and exempt information may be released for 711 purposes directly connected with: 712 (a) The administration of the temporary assistance for 713 needy families plan under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, 714 as amended, by the department, the Office of Early Learning, 715 CareerSource Florida, Inc., the Department of Military Affairs, 716 the Department of Health, the Department of Revenue, the 717 Department of Education, a localregionalworkforce development 718 board or local committee created pursuant to s. 445.007, or a 719 school district. 720 (b) The administration of the state’s plan or program 721 approved under Title IV-B, Title IV-D, or Title IV-E of the 722 Social Security Act, as amended, or under Title I, Title X, 723 Title XIV, Title XVI, Title XIX, Title XX, or Title XXI of the 724 Social Security Act, as amended. 725 (c) An investigation, prosecution, or criminal, civil, or 726 administrative proceeding conducted in connection with the 727 administration of any of the plans or programs specified in 728 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a federal, state, or local 729 governmental entity, upon request by that entity, if such 730 request is made pursuant to the proper exercise of that entity’s 731 duties and responsibilities. 732 (d) The administration of any other state, federal, or 733 federally assisted program that provides assistance or services 734 on the basis of need, in cash or in kind, directly to a 735 participant. 736 (e) An audit or similar activity, such as a review of 737 expenditure reports or financial review, conducted in connection 738 with the administration of plans or programs specified in 739 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a governmental entity 740 authorized by law to conduct such audit or activity. 741 (f) The administration of the reemployment assistance 742 program. 743 (g) The reporting to the appropriate agency or official of 744 information about known or suspected instances of physical or 745 mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent 746 treatment or maltreatment of a child or elderly person receiving 747 assistance, if circumstances indicate that the health or welfare 748 of the child or elderly person is threatened. 749 (h) The administration of services to elderly persons under 750 ss. 430.601-430.606. 751 Section 19. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 752 420.623, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 753 420.623 Local coalitions for the homeless.— 754 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The department shall establish local 755 coalitions to plan, network, coordinate, and monitor the 756 delivery of services to the homeless. Appropriate local groups 757 and organizations involved in providing services for the 758 homeless and interested business groups and associations shall 759 be given an opportunity to participate in such coalitions, 760 including, but not limited to: 761 (e) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards. 762 Section 20. Subsection (8) of section 420.624, Florida 763 Statutes, is amended to read: 764 420.624 Local homeless assistance continuum of care.— 765 (8) Continuum of care plans must promote participation by 766 all interested individuals and organizations and may not exclude 767 individuals and organizations on the basis of race, color, 768 national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion. 769 Faith-based organizations must be encouraged to participate. To 770 the extent possible, these components should be coordinated and 771 integrated with other mainstream health, social services, and 772 employment programs for which homeless populations may be 773 eligible, including Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance 774 Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food 775 Assistance Program, and services funded through the Mental 776 Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant, the Workforce Innovation 777 and OpportunityInvestmentAct, and the welfare-to-work grant 778 program. 779 Section 21. Subsection (27) of section 427.013, Florida 780 Statutes, is amended to read: 781 427.013 The Commission for the Transportation 782 Disadvantaged; purpose and responsibilities.—The purpose of the 783 commission is to accomplish the coordination of transportation 784 services provided to the transportation disadvantaged. The goal 785 of this coordination is to assure the cost-effective provision 786 of transportation by qualified community transportation 787 coordinators or transportation operators for the transportation 788 disadvantaged without any bias or presumption in favor of 789 multioperator systems or not-for-profit transportation operators 790 over single operator systems or for-profit transportation 791 operators. In carrying out this purpose, the commission shall: 792 (27) Ensure that local community transportation 793 coordinators work cooperatively with localregionalworkforce 794 development boards established in chapter 445 to provide 795 assistance in the development of innovative transportation 796 services for participants in the welfare transition program. 797 Section 22. Subsection (9) of section 427.0155, Florida 798 Statutes, is amended to read: 799 427.0155 Community transportation coordinators; powers and 800 duties.—Community transportation coordinators shall have the 801 following powers and duties: 802 (9) Work cooperatively with localregionalworkforce 803 development boards established in chapter 445 to provide 804 assistance in the development of innovative transportation 805 services for participants in the welfare transition program. 806 Section 23. Subsection (7) of section 427.0157, Florida 807 Statutes, is amended to read: 808 427.0157 Coordinating boards; powers and duties.—The 809 purpose of each coordinating board is to develop local service 810 needs and to provide information, advice, and direction to the 811 community transportation coordinators on the coordination of 812 services to be provided to the transportation disadvantaged. The 813 commission shall, by rule, establish the membership of 814 coordinating boards. The members of each board shall be 815 appointed by the metropolitan planning organization or 816 designated official planning agency. The appointing authority 817 shall provide each board with sufficient staff support and 818 resources to enable the board to fulfill its responsibilities 819 under this section. Each board shall meet at least quarterly and 820 shall: 821 (7) Work cooperatively with localregionalworkforce 822 development boards established in chapter 445 to provide 823 assistance in the development of innovative transportation 824 services for participants in the welfare transition program. 825 Section 24. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of 826 section 443.091, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 827 443.091 Benefit eligibility conditions.— 828 (1) An unemployed individual is eligible to receive 829 benefits for any week only if the Department of Economic 830 Opportunity finds that: 831 (b) She or he has completed the department’s online work 832 registration and subsequently reports to the one-stop career 833 center as directed by the localregionalworkforce development 834 board for reemployment services. This requirement does not apply 835 to persons who are: 836 1. Non-Florida residents; 837 2. On a temporary layoff; 838 3. Union members who customarily obtain employment through 839 a union hiring hall; 840 4. Claiming benefits under an approved short-time 841 compensation plan as provided in s. 443.1116; or 842 5. Unable to complete the online work registration due to 843 illiteracy, physical or mental impairment, a legal prohibition 844 from using a computer, or a language impediment. If a person is 845 exempted from the online work registration under this 846 subparagraph, then the filing of his or her claim constitutes 847 registration for work. 848 (c) To make continued claims for benefits, she or he is 849 reporting to the department in accordance with this paragraph 850 and department rules. Department rules may not conflict with s. 851 443.111(1)(b), which requires that each claimant continue to 852 report regardless of any pending appeal relating to her or his 853 eligibility or disqualification for benefits. 854 1. For each week of unemployment claimed, each report must, 855 at a minimum, include the name, address, and telephone number of 856 each prospective employer contacted, or the date the claimant 857 reported to a one-stop career center, pursuant to paragraph (d). 858 2. The department shall offer an online assessment aimed at 859 identifying an individual’s skills, abilities, and career 860 aptitude. The skills assessment must be voluntary, and the 861 department shall allow a claimant to choose whether to take the 862 skills assessment. The online assessment shall be made available 863 to any person seeking services from a localregionalworkforce 864 development board or a one-stop career center. 865 a. If the claimant chooses to take the online assessment, 866 the outcome of the assessment shall be made available to the 867 claimant, localregionalworkforce development board, and one 868 stop career center. The department, local workforce development 869 board, or one-stop career center shall use the assessment to 870 develop a plan for referring individuals to training and 871 employment opportunities. Aggregate data on assessment outcomes 872 may be made available to CareerSource Florida, Inc., and 873 Enterprise Florida, Inc., for use in the development of policies 874 related to education and training programs that will ensure that 875 businesses in this state have access to a skilled and competent 876 workforce. 877 b. Individuals shall be informed of and offered services 878 through the one-stop delivery system, including career 879 counseling, the provision of skill match and job market 880 information, and skills upgrade and other training 881 opportunities, and shall be encouraged to participate in such 882 services at no cost to the individuals. The department shall 883 coordinate with CareerSource Florida, Inc., the local workforce 884 development boards, and the one-stop career centers to identify, 885 develop, and use best practices for improving the skills of 886 individuals who choose to participate in skills upgrade and 887 other training opportunities. The department may contract with 888 an entity to create the online assessment in accordance with the 889 competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057. The online 890 assessment must work seamlessly with the Reemployment Assistance 891 Claims and Benefits Information System. 892 Section 25. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section 893 443.1116, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 894 443.1116 Short-time compensation.— 895 (5) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION 896 BENEFITS.— 897 (c) The department may not deny short-time compensation 898 benefits to an individual who is otherwise eligible for these 899 benefits for any week because such individual is participating 900 in an employer-sponsored training or a training under the 901 Workforce Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentAct to improve 902 job skills when the training is approved by the department. 903 Section 26. Section 445.003, Florida Statutes, is amended 904 to read: 905 445.003 Implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation 906 and OpportunityInvestmentActof 1998.— 907 (1) WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITYINVESTMENTACT 908 PRINCIPLES.—The state’s approach to implementing the federal 909 Workforce Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentActof 1998, 910 Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220, should have six elements: 911 (a) Streamlining services.—Florida’s employment and 912 training programs must be coordinated and consolidated at 913 locally managed one-stop delivery system centers. 914 (b) Empowering individuals.—Eligible participants will make 915 informed decisions, choosing the qualified training program that 916 best meets their needs. 917 (c) Universal access.—Through a one-stop delivery system, 918 every Floridian will have access to employment services. 919 (d) Increased accountability.—The state, localities, and 920 training providers will be held accountable for their 921 performance. 922 (e) Local board and private sector leadership.—Local 923 workforce development boards will focus on strategic planning, 924 policy development, and oversight of the local system, choosing 925 local managers to direct the operational details of their one 926 stop delivery system centers. 927 (f) Local flexibility and integration.—Localities will have 928 exceptional flexibility to build on existing reforms. Unified 929 planning will free local groups from conflicting 930 micromanagement, while waivers and WorkFlex will allow local 931 innovations. 932 (2) FOUR-YEARFIVE-YEARPLAN.—CareerSource Florida, Inc., 933 shall prepare and submit a 4-year5-yearplan, consistent with 934 the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 935which must include secondary career education, to fulfill the936early implementation requirements of Pub. L. No. 105-220 and937applicable state statutes. Mandatory and optional federal 938 partners shall be fully involved in designing the plan’s one 939 stop delivery system strategy. The plan mustshallclearly 940 define each program’s statewide duties and role relating to the 941 system.Any optional federal partner may immediately choose to942fully integrate its program’s plan with this plan, which shall,943notwithstanding any other state provisions, fulfill all their944state planning and reporting requirements as they relate to the945one-stop delivery system.The plan must detail a process that 946 would fully integrate all federally mandated and optional 947 partnersby the second year of the plan. All optional federal948program partners in the planning process shall be mandatory949participants in the second year of the plan. 950 (3) FUNDING.— 951 (a) Title I, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 952InvestmentActof 1998funds; Wagner-Peyser funds; and 953 NAFTA/Trade Act funds will be expended based on the 4-year5954yearplan of CareerSource Florida, Inc. The plan mustshall955 outline and direct the method used to administer and coordinate 956 various funds and programs that are operated by various 957 agencies. The following provisions apply to these funds: 958 1. At least 50 percent of the Title I funds for Adults and 959 Dislocated Workers which are passed through to localregional960 workforce development boards shall be allocated to and expended 961 on Individual Training Accounts unless a localregional962 workforce development board obtains a waiver from CareerSource 963 Florida, Inc. Tuition, books, and fees of training providers and 964 other training services prescribed and authorized by the 965 Workforce Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentActof 1998966 qualify as Individual Training Account expenditures. 967 2. Fifteen percent of Title I funding shall be retained at 968 the state level and dedicated to state administration and shall 969 be used to design, develop, induce, and fund innovative 970 Individual Training Account pilots, demonstrations, and 971 programs. Of such funds retained at the state level, $2 million 972 shall be reserved for the Incumbent Worker Training Program 973 created under subparagraph 3. Eligible state administration 974 costs include the costs of:funding for the board and staff of 975 CareerSource Florida, Inc.; operating fiscal, compliance, and 976 management accountability systems through CareerSource Florida, 977 Inc.; conducting evaluation and research on workforce 978 development activities; and providing technical and capacity 979 building assistance to local workforce development areasregions980 at the direction of CareerSource Florida, Inc. Notwithstanding 981 s. 445.004, such administrative costs may not exceed 25 percent 982 of these funds. An amount not to exceed 75 percent of these 983 funds shall be allocated to Individual Training Accounts and 984 other workforce development strategies for other training 985 designed and tailored by CareerSource Florida, Inc., including, 986 but not limited to, programs for incumbent workers, displaced 987 homemakers, nontraditional employment, and enterprise zones. 988 CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall design, adopt, and fund 989 Individual Training Accounts for distressed urban and rural 990 communities. 991 3. The Incumbent Worker Training Program is created for the 992 purpose of providing grant funding for continuing education and 993 training of incumbent employees at existing Florida businesses. 994 The program will provide reimbursement grants to businesses that 995 pay for preapproved, direct, training-related costs. 996 a. The Incumbent Worker Training Program will be 997 administered by CareerSource Florida, Inc., which may, at its 998 discretion, contract with a private business organization to 999 serve as grant administrator. 1000 b. The program shall be administered pursuant to section 1001 134(d)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ActTo be1002eligible for the program’s grant funding, a business must have1003been in operation in Florida for a minimum of 1 year prior to1004the application for grant funding; have at least one full-time1005employee; demonstrate financial viability; and be current on all1006state tax obligations. Priority for funding shall be given to 1007 businesses with 25 employees or fewer, businesses in rural 1008 areas, businesses in distressed inner-city areas, businesses in 1009 a qualified targeted industry, businesses whose grant proposals 1010 represent a significant upgrade in employee skills, or 1011 businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff 1012 avoidance strategy. 1013 c. All costs reimbursed by the program must be preapproved 1014 by CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant administrator. The 1015 program may not reimburse businesses for trainee wages, the 1016 purchase of capital equipment, or the purchase of any item or 1017 service that may possibly be used outside the training project. 1018 A business approved for a grant may be reimbursed for 1019 preapproved, direct, training-related costs including tuition, 1020 fees, books and training materials, and overhead or indirect 1021 costs not to exceed 5 percent of the grant amount. 1022 d. A business that is selected to receive grant funding 1023 must provide a matching contribution to the training project, 1024 including, but not limited to, wages paid to trainees or the 1025 purchase of capital equipment used in the training project; must 1026 sign an agreement with CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant 1027 administrator to complete the training project as proposed in 1028 the application; must keep accurate records of the project’s 1029 implementation process; and must submit monthly or quarterly 1030 reimbursement requests with required documentation. 1031 e. All Incumbent Worker Training Program grant projects 1032 shall be performance-based with specific measurable performance 1033 outcomes, including completion of the training project and job 1034 retention. CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the grant 1035 administrator shall withhold the final payment to the grantee 1036 until a final grant report is submitted and all performance 1037 criteria specified in the grant contract have been achieved. 1038 f. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may establish guidelines 1039 necessary to implement the Incumbent Worker Training Program. 1040 g. No more than 10 percent of the Incumbent Worker Training 1041 Program’s total appropriation may be used for overhead or 1042 indirect purposes. 1043 4. At least 50 percent of Rapid Response funding shall be 1044 dedicated to Intensive Services Accounts and Individual Training 1045 Accounts for dislocated workers and incumbent workers who are at 1046 risk of dislocation. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall also 1047 maintain an Emergency Preparedness Fund from Rapid Response 1048 funds, which will immediately issue Intensive Service Accounts, 1049 Individual Training Accounts, and other federally authorized 1050 assistance to eligible victims of natural or other disasters. At 1051 the direction of the Governor, these Rapid Response funds shall 1052 be released to localregionalworkforce development boards for 1053 immediate use after events that qualify under federal law. 1054 Funding shall also be dedicated to maintain a unit at the state 1055 level to respond to Rapid Response emergencies and to work with 1056 state emergency management officials and localregional1057 workforce development boards. All Rapid Response funds must be 1058 expended based on a plan developed by CareerSource Florida, 1059 Inc., and approved by the Governor. 1060 (b) The administrative entity for Title I, Workforce 1061 Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentActof 1998funds, and 1062 Rapid Response activities is the Department of Economic 1063 Opportunity, which shall provide direction to localregional1064 workforce development boards regarding Title I programs and 1065 Rapid Response activities pursuant to the direction of 1066 CareerSource Florida, Inc. 1067 (4) FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPTIONS AND REQUIRED 1068 MODIFICATIONS.— 1069 (a) CareerSource Florida, Inc., may provide indemnification 1070 from audit liabilities to localregionalworkforce development 1071 boards that act in full compliance with state law and board 1072 policy. 1073(b) CareerSource Florida, Inc., may negotiate and settle1074all outstanding issues with the United States Department of1075Labor relating to decisions made by CareerSource Florida, Inc.,1076any predecessor workforce organization, and the Legislature with1077regard to the Job Training Partnership Act, making settlements1078and closing out all JTPA program year grants.1079 (b)(c)CareerSource Florida, Inc., may make modifications 1080 to the state’s plan, policies, and procedures to comply with 1081 federally mandated requirements that in its judgment must be 1082 complied with to maintain funding provided pursuant to Pub. L. 1083 No. 113-128105-220. The board shall provide written notice to 1084 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 1085 the House of Representatives within 30 days after any such 1086 changes or modifications. 1087 (c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall enter into a 1088 memorandum of understanding with the Florida Department of 1089 Education to ensure that federally mandated requirements of Pub. 1090 L. No. 113-128 are met and are in compliance with the state plan 1091 for workforce development. 1092 (5) LONG-TERM CONSOLIDATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 1093 CareerSource Florida, Inc., may recommend workforce-related 1094 divisions, bureaus, units, programs, duties, commissions, 1095 boards, and councils for elimination, consolidation, or 1096 privatization. 1097 Section 27. Subsections (3), (4), (5), (9), (11), and (12) 1098 of section 445.004, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1099 445.004 CareerSource Florida, Inc.; creation; purpose; 1100 membership; duties and powers.— 1101 (3)(a) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall be governed by a 1102 board of directors, whose membership and appointment must be 1103 consistent with Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 101(b)105-220,1104Title I, s.111(b). Members described in Pub. L. No. 113-128, 1105 Title I, s. 101(b)(1)(C)(iii)(I)(aa)105-220, Title I, s.1106111(b)(1)(C)(vi)shall be nonvoting members. The number of 1107 directors shall be determined by the Governor, who shall 1108 consider the importance of minority, gender, and geographic 1109 representation in making appointments to the board. When the 1110 Governor is in attendance, he or she shall preside at all 1111 meetings of the board of directors. 1112 (b) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., 1113 shall be chaired by a board member designated by the Governor 1114 pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220. A member may not serve 1115 more than two terms. 1116 (c) Members appointed by the Governor may serve no more 1117 than two terms and must be appointed for 3-year terms. However, 1118 in order to establish staggered terms for board members, the 1119 Governor shall appoint or reappoint one-third of the board 1120 members for 1-year terms, one-third of the board members for 2 1121 year terms, and one-third of the board members for 3-year terms 1122 beginning July 1, 20162005. Subsequent appointments or 1123 reappointments shall be for 3-year terms, except that a member 1124 appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall be appointed to 1125 serve only the remainder of the term of the member whom he or 1126 she is replacing, and may be appointed for a subsequent 3-year 1127 term. Private sector representatives of businesses, appointed by 1128 the Governor pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220, shall 1129 constitute a majority of the membership of the board. Private 1130 sector representatives shall be appointed from nominations 1131 received by the Governor, including, but not limited to, those 1132 nominations made by the President of the Senate and the Speaker 1133 of the House of Representatives. Private sector appointments to 1134 the board must be representative of the business community of 1135 this state; no fewer than one-half of the appointments must be 1136 representative of small businesses, and at least five members 1137 must have economic development experience. Members appointed by 1138 the Governor serve at the pleasure of the Governor and are 1139 eligible for reappointment. 1140 (d) The board must include the vice chairperson of the 1141 board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and one member 1142 representing each of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 1143 Act partners, including the Division of Career and Adult 1144 Education, and other entities representing programs identified 1145 in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as determined 1146 necessary. 1147 (e)(d)A member of the board of directors of CareerSource 1148 Florida, Inc., may be removed by the Governor for cause. Absence 1149 from three consecutive meetings results in automatic removal. 1150 The chair of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall notify the 1151 Governor of such absences. 1152 (f)(e)Representatives of businesses appointed to the board 1153 of directors may not include providers of workforce services. 1154 (4)(a) The president of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall 1155 be hired by the board of directors of CareerSource Florida, 1156 Inc., and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor in the 1157 capacity of an executive director and secretary of CareerSource 1158 Florida, Inc. 1159 (b) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., 1160 shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon the call 1161 of its chair. The board and its committees, subcommittees, or 1162 other subdivisions may use any method of telecommunications to 1163 conduct meetings, including establishing a quorum through 1164 telecommunications, if the public is given proper notice of the 1165 telecommunications meeting and is given reasonable access to 1166 observe and, if appropriate, participate. 1167 (c) A majority of the total current membership of the board 1168 of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., constitutes a 1169 quorum. 1170 (d) A majority of those voting is required to organize and 1171 conduct the business of the board, except that a majority of the 1172 entire board of directors is required to adopt or amend the 1173 bylaws. 1174 (e) Except as delegated or authorized by the board of 1175 directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., individual members have 1176 no authority to control or direct the operations of CareerSource 1177 Florida, Inc., or the actions of its officers and employees, 1178 including the president. 1179 (f) Members of the board of directors of CareerSource 1180 Florida, Inc., and its committees serve without compensation, 1181 but these members, the president, and the employees of 1182 CareerSource Florida, Inc., may be reimbursed for all 1183 reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses pursuant to s. 1184 112.061. 1185 (g) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., 1186 may establish an executive committee consisting of the chair and 1187 at least six additional board members selected by the chair, one 1188 of whom must be a representative of organized labor. The 1189 executive committee and the president have such authority as the 1190 board delegates to them, except that the board of directors may 1191 not delegate to the executive committee authority to take action 1192 that requires approval by a majority of the entire board of 1193 directors. 1194 (h) The chair may appoint committees to fulfill the board’s 1195 responsibilities, to comply with federal requirements, or to 1196 obtain technical assistance, and must incorporate members of 1197 localregionalworkforce development boards into its structure. 1198 (i) Each member of the board of directors who is not 1199 otherwise required to file a financial disclosure pursuant to s. 1200 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144 must file 1201 disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. 1202 (5) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall have all the powers 1203 and authority not explicitly prohibited by statute which are 1204 necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate its purposes 1205 as determined by statute, Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220, and the 1206 Governor, as well as its functions, duties, and 1207 responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the following: 1208 (a) Serving as the state’s Workforce DevelopmentInvestment1209 Board pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220. Unless otherwise 1210 required by federal law, at least 90 percent of workforce 1211 development funding must go toward direct customer service. 1212 (b) Providing oversight and policy direction to ensure that 1213 the following programs are administered by the department in 1214 compliance with approved plans and under contract with 1215 CareerSource Florida, Inc.: 1216 1. Programs authorized under Title I of the Workforce 1217InvestmentInnovation and Opportunity Actof 1998, Pub. L. No. 1218 113-128105-220, with the exception of programs funded directly 1219 by the United States Department of Labor under Title I, s. 167. 1220 2. Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, 1221 as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss. 49 et seq. 1222 3. Activities authorized under Title II of the Trade Act of 1223 2002, as amended, 19 U.S.C. ss. 2272 et seq., and the Trade 1224 Adjustment Assistance Program. 1225 4. Activities authorized under 38 U.S.C. chapter 41, 1226 including job counseling, training, and placement for veterans. 1227 5. Employment and training activities carried out under 1228 funds awarded to this state by the United States Department of 1229 Housing and Urban Development. 1230 6. Welfare transition services funded by the Temporary 1231 Assistance for Needy Families Program, created under the 1232 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 1233 of 1996, as amended, Pub. L. No. 104-193, and Title IV, s. 403, 1234 of the Social Security Act, as amended. 1235 7. Displaced homemaker programs, provided under s. 446.50. 1236 8. The Florida Bonding Program, provided under Pub. L. No. 1237 97-300, s. 164(a)(1). 1238 9. The Food Assistance Employment and Training Program, 1239 provided under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. ss. 1240 2011-2032; the Food Security Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 99-198; 1241 and the Hunger Prevention Act, Pub. L. No. 100-435. 1242 10. The Quick-Response Training Program, provided under ss. 1243 288.046-288.047. Matching funds and in-kind contributions that 1244 are provided by clients of the Quick-Response Training Program 1245 shall count toward the requirements of s. 288.904, pertaining to 1246 the return on investment from activities of Enterprise Florida, 1247 Inc. 1248 11. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, provided under the Tax 1249 and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-277, and 1250 the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-34. 1251 12. Offender placement services, provided under ss. 1252 944.707-944.708. 1253 (c) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer 1254the provisions ofthis chapter which relate to implementing and 1255 administering the programs listed in paragraph (b) as well as 1256 rules related to eligible training providers and auditing and 1257 monitoring subrecipients of the workforce system grant funds. 1258 (d) Contracting with public and private entities as 1259 necessary to further the directives of this section. All 1260 contracts executed by CareerSource Florida, Inc., must include 1261 specific performance expectations and deliverables. All 1262 CareerSource Florida, Inc., contracts, including those 1263 solicited, managed, or paid by the department pursuant to s. 1264 20.60(5)(c) are exempt from s. 112.061, but shall be governed by 1265 subsection (1). 1266 (e) Notifying the Governor, the President of the Senate, 1267 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of noncompliance 1268 by the department or other agencies or obstruction of the 1269 board’s efforts by such agencies. Upon such notification, the 1270 Executive Office of the Governor shall assist agencies to bring 1271 them into compliance with board objectives. 1272 (f) Ensuring that the state does not waste valuable 1273 training resources. The board shall direct that all resources, 1274 including equipment purchased for training Workforce Innovation 1275 and OpportunityInvestmentAct clients, be available for use at 1276 all times by eligible populations as first priority users. At 1277 times when eligible populations are not available, such 1278 resources shall be used for any other state-authorized education 1279 and training purpose. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may authorize 1280 expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or 1281 other tokens of recognition for performance by a localregional1282 workforce development board, its committees and subdivisions, 1283 and other units of the workforce system. CareerSource Florida, 1284 Inc., may also authorize expenditures for promotional items, 1285 such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with messages promoting 1286 the state’s workforce system to employers, job seekers, and 1287 program participants. However, such expenditures are subject to 1288 federal regulations applicable to the expenditure of federal 1289 funds. 1290 (g) Establishing a dispute resolution process for all 1291 memoranda of understanding or other contracts or agreements 1292 entered into between the department and localregionalworkforce 1293 development boards. 1294 (h) Archiving records with the Bureau of Archives and 1295 Records Management of the Division of Library and Information 1296 Services of the Department of State. 1297 (9) CareerSource Florida, Inc., in collaboration with the 1298 localregionalworkforce development boards and appropriate 1299 state agencies and local public and private service providers 1300and in consultation with the Office of Program Policy Analysis1301and Government Accountability, shall establish uniform 1302 performance accountability measures that apply across the core 1303 programsand standardsto gauge the performance of the state and 1304 local workforce development boards in achieving the workforce 1305 development strategy.These measures and standards must be1306organized into three outcome tiers.1307 (a) The performance accountability measures for the core 1308 programs consist of the primary indicators of performance, any 1309 additional indicators of performance, and a state-adjusted level 1310 of performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113 1311 128, Title I, s. 116(b)first tier of measures must be organized1312to provide benchmarks for systemwide outcomes.CareerSource1313Florida, Inc., shall, in collaboration with the Office of1314Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, establish1315goals for the tier-one outcomes. Systemwide outcomes may include1316employment in occupations demonstrating continued growth in1317wages; continued employment after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months;1318reduction in and elimination of public assistance reliance; job1319placement; employer satisfaction; and positive return on1320investment of public resources.1321 (b) The performance accountability measures for each local 1322 area consist of the primary indicators of performance, any 1323 additional indicators of performance, and a local level of 1324 performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128. 1325 The local level of performance is determined by the local board, 1326 the chief elected official, and the Governor pursuant to Pub. L. 1327 No. 113-128, Title I, s. 116(c)second tier of measures must be1328organized to provide a set of benchmark outcomes for the1329strategic components of the workforce development strategy.Cost1330per entered employment, earnings at placement, retention in1331employment, job placement, and entered employment rate must be1332included among the performance outcome measures.1333 (c) Performance accountability measures shall be used to 1334 generate performance reports pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, 1335 Title I, s. 116(d)The third tier of measures must be the1336operational output measures to be used by the agency1337implementing programs, which may be specific to federal1338requirements.The tier-three measures must be developed by the1339agencies implementing programs, which may consult with1340CareerSource Florida, Inc., in this effort. Such measures must1341be reported to CareerSource Florida, Inc., by the appropriate1342implementing agency.1343(d) Regional differences must be reflected in the1344establishment of performance goals and may include job1345availability, unemployment rates, average worker wage, and1346available employable population.1347(e) Job placement must be reported pursuant to s. 1008.39.1348Positive outcomes for providers of education and training must1349be consistent with ss. 1008.42 and 1008.43.1350 (d)(f)The performance accountabilityuniformmeasures of 1351 success that are adopted by CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the 1352 localregionalworkforce development boards must be developed in 1353 a manner that provides for an equitable comparison of the 1354 relative success or failure of any service provider in terms of 1355 positive outcomes. 1356(g) By December 1 of each year, CareerSource Florida, Inc.,1357shall provide the Legislature with a report detailing the1358performance of Florida’s workforce development system, as1359reflected in the three-tier measurement system. The report also1360must benchmark Florida outcomes for all tiers as compared with1361other states that collect data similarly.1362 (11) The workforce development system must use a charter 1363 process approach aimed at encouraging local design and control 1364 of service delivery and targeted activities. CareerSource 1365 Florida, Inc., shall be responsible for granting charters to 1366 localregionalworkforce development boards that have a 1367 membership consistent with the requirements of federal and state 1368 law and have developed a plan consistent with the state’s 1369 workforce development strategy. The plan must specify methods 1370 for allocating the resources and programs in a manner that 1371 eliminates unwarranted duplication, minimizes administrative 1372 costs, meets the existing job market demands and the job market 1373 demands resulting from successful economic development 1374 activities, ensures access to quality workforce development 1375 services for all Floridians, allows for pro rata or partial 1376 distribution of benefits and services, prohibits the creation of 1377 a waiting list or other indication of an unserved population, 1378 serves as many individuals as possible within available 1379 resources, and maximizes successful outcomes. As part of the 1380 charter process, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish 1381 incentives for effective coordination of federal and state 1382 programs, outline rewards for successful job placements, and 1383 institute collaborative approaches among local service 1384 providers. Local decisionmaking and control shall be important 1385 components for inclusion in this charter application. 1386 (12) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall enter into agreement 1387 with Space Florida and collaborate with vocational institutes, 1388 community colleges, colleges, and universities in this state,to 1389 develop a workforce development strategy to implement the 1390 workforce provisions of s. 331.3051. 1391 Section 28. Section 445.006, Florida Statutes, is amended 1392 to read: 1393 445.006 State planStrategic and operational plansfor 1394 workforce development.— 1395 (1) STATE PLAN.—CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction 1396 with state and local partners in the workforce system, shall 1397 develop a state plan that produces an educated and skilled 1398 workforce. The state plan must consist of strategic and 1399 operational planning elements. The state plan shall be submitted 1400 by the Governor to the United States Department of Labor 1401 pursuant to the requirements of Pub. L. No. 113-128strategic1402plan that produces skilled employees for employers in the state.1403The strategic plan shall be updated or modified by January 1 of1404each year. 1405 (2) STRATEGIC PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida, 1406 Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the 1407 workforce system, shall develop strategic planning elements, 1408 pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state 1409 plan. 1410 (a) The strategic planning elements of the state plan must 1411 include, but need not be limited to, strategies for: 1412 1.(a)Fulfilling the workforce system goals and strategies 1413 prescribed in s. 445.004; 1414 2.(b)Aggregating, integrating, and leveraging workforce 1415 system resources; 1416 3.(c)Coordinating the activities of federal, state, and 1417 local workforce system partners; 1418 4.(d)Addressing the workforce needs of small businesses; 1419 and 1420 5.(e)Fostering the participation of rural communities and 1421 distressed urban cores in the workforce system. 1422(2) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish an1423operational plan to implement the state strategic plan. The1424operational plan shall be submitted to the Governor and the1425Legislature along with the strategic plan and must reflect the1426allocation of resources as appropriated by the Legislature to1427specific responsibilities enumerated in law. As a component of1428the operational plan required under this section, CareerSource1429Florida, Inc., shall develop a workforce marketing plan, with1430the goal of educating individuals inside and outside the state1431about the employment market and employment conditions in the1432state. The marketing plan must include, but need not be limited1433to, strategies for:1434(a) Distributing information to secondary and postsecondary1435education institutions about the diversity of businesses in the1436state, specific clusters of businesses or business sectors in1437the state, and occupations by industry which are in demand by1438employers in the state;1439(b) Distributing information about and promoting use of the1440Internet-based job matching and labor market information system1441authorized under s. 445.011; and1442(c) Coordinating with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to ensure1443that workforce marketing efforts complement the economic1444development marketing efforts of the state.1445(3) The operational plan must include performance measures,1446standards, measurement criteria, and contract guidelines in the1447following areas with respect to participants in the welfare1448transition program:1449(a) Work participation rates, by type of activity;1450(b) Caseload trends;1451(c) Recidivism;1452(d) Participation in diversion and relocation assistance1453programs;1454(e) Employment retention;1455(f) Wage growth; and1456(g) Other issues identified by the board of directors of1457CareerSource Florida, Inc.1458 (b)(4)The strategic planning elementsplanmust include 1459 criteria for allocating workforce resources to localregional1460 workforce development boards. With respect to allocating funds 1461 to serve customers of the welfare transition program, such 1462 criteria may include weighting factors that indicate the 1463 relative degree of difficulty associated with securing and 1464 retaining employment placements for specific subsets of the 1465 welfare transition caseload. 1466 (3) OPERATIONAL PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida, 1467 Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the 1468 workforce system, shall develop operational planning elements, 1469 pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state 1470 plan. 1471(5)(a) The operational plan may include a performance-based1472payment structure to be used for all welfare transition program1473customers which takes into account:14741. The degree of difficulty associated with placement and1475retention;14762. The quality of the placement with respect to salary,1477benefits, and opportunities for advancement; and14783. The employee’s retention in the placement.1479(b) The payment structure may provide for bonus payments of1480up to 10 percent of the contract amount to providers that1481achieve notable success in achieving contract objectives,1482including, but not limited to, success in diverting families in1483which there is an adult who is subject to work requirements from1484receiving cash assistance and in achieving long-term job1485retention and wage growth with respect to welfare transition1486program customers. A service provider shall be paid a maximum of1487one payment per service for each participant during any given 61488month period.1489(6)(a) The operational plan must include strategies that1490are designed to prevent or reduce the need for a person to1491receive public assistance, including:14921. A teen pregnancy prevention component that includes, but1493is not limited to, a plan for implementing the Teen Pregnancy1494Prevention Community Initiative within each county of the1495services area in which the teen birth rate is higher than the1496state average;14972. A component that encourages community-based welfare1498prevention and reduction initiatives that increase support1499provided by noncustodial parents to their welfare-dependent1500children and are consistent with program and financial1501guidelines developed by CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the1502Commission on Responsible Fatherhood. These initiatives may1503include improved paternity establishment, work activities for1504noncustodial parents, programs aimed at decreasing out-of1505wedlock pregnancies, encouraging involvement of fathers with1506their children which includes court-ordered supervised1507visitation, and increasing child support payments;15083. A component that encourages formation and maintenance of1509two-parent families through, among other things, court-ordered1510supervised visitation;15114. A component that fosters responsible fatherhood in1512families receiving assistance; and15135. A component that fosters the provision of services that1514reduce the incidence and effects of domestic violence on women1515and children in families receiving assistance.1516(b) Specifications for welfare transition program services1517that are to be delivered include, but are not limited to:15181. Initial assessment services prior to an individual being1519placed in an employment service, to determine whether the1520individual should be referred for relocation, up-front1521diversion, education, or employment placement. Assessment1522services shall be paid on a fixed unit rate and may not provide1523educational or employment placement services.15242. Referral of participants to diversion and relocation1525programs.15263. Preplacement services, including assessment, staffing,1527career plan development, work orientation, and employability1528skills enhancement.15294. Services necessary to secure employment for a welfare1530transition program participant.15315. Services necessary to assist participants in retaining1532employment, including, but not limited to, remedial education,1533language skills, and personal and family counseling.15346. Desired quality of job placements with regard to salary,1535benefits, and opportunities for advancement.15367. Expectations regarding job retention.15378. Strategies to ensure that transition services are1538provided to participants for the mandated period of eligibility.15399. Services that must be provided to the participant1540throughout an education or training program, such as monitoring1541attendance and progress in the program.154210. Services that must be delivered to welfare transition1543program participants who have a deferral from work requirements1544but wish to participate in activities that meet federal1545participation requirements.154611. Expectations regarding continued participant awareness1547of available services and benefits.1548 Section 29. Section 445.007, Florida Statutes, is amended 1549 to read: 1550 445.007 LocalRegionalworkforce development boards.— 1551 (1) Oneregionalworkforce development board shall be 1552 appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall 1553 serve as the local workforce developmentinvestmentboard 1554 pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220. The membership of the 1555 board mustshallbe consistent with Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220, 1556 Title I, s. 107(b)s. 117(b) but may not exceed the minimum1557membership required in Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s.1558117(b)(2)(A) and in this subsection.Upon approval by the1559Governor, the chief elected official may appoint additional1560members above the limit set by this subsection.If a public 1561 education or training provider is represented on the board, a 1562 representative of a private educationnonprofit provider and a1563representative of a private for-profitprovider must also be 1564 appointed to the board. CareerSource Florida, Inc., may waive 1565 this requirement if requested by a local workforce development 1566 board if it is demonstrated that such representatives do not 1567 exist in the region.The board shall include one nonvoting1568representative from a military installation if a military1569installation is located within the region and the appropriate1570military command or organization authorizes such representation.1571It is the intent of the Legislature that membership of a1572regional workforce board include persons who are current or1573former recipients of welfare transition assistance as defined in1574s. 445.002(2) or workforce services as provided in s. 445.009(1)1575or that such persons be included as ex officio members of the1576board or of committees organized by the board.The importance of 1577 minority and gender representation shall be considered when 1578 making appointments to the board. The board, its committees, 1579 subcommittees, and subdivisions, and other units of the 1580 workforce system, including units that may consist in whole or 1581 in part of local governmental units, may use any method of 1582 telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a 1583 quorum through telecommunications, provided that the public is 1584 given proper notice of the telecommunications meeting and 1585 reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate, participate. 1586 LocalRegionalworkforce development boards are subject to 1587 chapters 119 and 286 and s. 24, Art. I of the State 1588 Constitution. If the localregionalworkforce development board 1589 enters into a contract with an organization or individual 1590 represented on the board of directors, the contract must be 1591 approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a quorum having been 1592 established, and the board member who could benefit financially 1593 from the transaction must abstain from voting on the contract. A 1594 board member must disclose any such conflict in a manner that is 1595 consistent with the procedures outlined in s. 112.3143. Each 1596 member of a localregionalworkforce development board who is 1597 not otherwise required to file a full and public disclosure of 1598 financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State 1599 Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a statement of financial 1600 interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. The executive director or 1601 designated person responsible for the operational and 1602 administrative functions of the localregionalworkforce 1603 development board who is not otherwise required to file a full 1604 and public disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 8, 1605 Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a 1606 statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. 1607 (2)(a) The localregionalworkforce development board shall 1608 elect a chair from among the representatives described in Pub. 1609 L. No. 113-128105-220, Title I, s. 107(b)(2)(A)s.1610117(b)(2)(A)(i)to serve for a term of no more than 2 years and 1611 shall serve no more than two terms. 1612 (b) The Governor may remove a member of the board, the 1613 executive director of the board, or the designated person 1614 responsible for the operational and administrative functions of 1615 the board for cause. As used in this paragraph, the term “cause” 1616 includes, but is not limited to, engaging in fraud or other 1617 criminal acts, incapacity, unfitness, neglect of duty, official 1618 incompetence and irresponsibility, misfeasance, malfeasance, 1619 nonfeasance, or lack of performance. 1620 (3) The Department of Economic Opportunity, under the 1621 direction of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall assign staff to 1622 meet with each localregionalworkforce development board 1623 annually to review the board’s performance and to certify that 1624 the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal 1625 law. 1626 (4) In addition to the duties and functions specified by 1627 CareerSource Florida, Inc., and by the interlocal agreement 1628 approved by the local county or city governing bodies, the local 1629regionalworkforce development board shall have the following 1630 responsibilities: 1631 (a) Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan 1632 pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 108105-220, Title1633I, s. 118,andthe provisions ofthis act. 1634 (b) Conclude agreements necessary to designate the fiscal 1635 agent and administrative entity. A public or private entity, 1636 including an entity established pursuant to s. 163.01, which 1637 makes a majority of the appointments to a localregional1638 workforce development board may serve as the board’s 1639 administrative entity if approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., 1640 based upon a showing that a fair and competitive process was 1641 used to select the administrative entity. 1642 (c) Complete assurances required for the charter process of 1643 CareerSource Florida, Inc., and provide ongoing oversight 1644 related to administrative costs, duplicated services, career 1645 counseling, economic development, equal access, compliance and 1646 accountability, and performance outcomes. 1647 (d) Oversee the one-stop delivery system in its local area. 1648 (5) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall implement a training 1649 program for the localregionalworkforce development boards to 1650 familiarize board members with the state’s workforce development 1651 goals and strategies. 1652 (6) The localregionalworkforce development board shall 1653 designate all local service providers and may not transfer this 1654 authority to a third party. Consistent with the intent of the 1655 Workforce Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentAct, local 1656regionalworkforce development boards should provide the 1657 greatest possible choice of training providers to those who 1658 qualify for training services. A localregionalworkforce 1659 development board may not restrict the choice of training 1660 providers based upon cost, location, or historical training 1661 arrangements. However, a board may restrict the amount of 1662 training resources available to any one client. Such 1663 restrictions may vary based upon the cost of training in the 1664 client’s chosen occupational area. The localregionalworkforce 1665 development board may be designated as a one-stop operator and 1666 direct provider of intake, assessment, eligibility 1667 determinations, or other direct provider services except 1668 training services. Such designation may occur only with the 1669 agreement of the chief elected official and the Governor as 1670 specified in 29 U.S.C. s. 2832(f)(2). CareerSource Florida, 1671 Inc., shall establish procedures by which a localregional1672 workforce development board may request permission to operate 1673 under this section and the criteria under which such permission 1674 may be granted. The criteria shall include, but need not be 1675 limited to, a reduction in the cost of providing the permitted 1676 services. Such permission shall be granted for a period not to 1677 exceed 3 years for any single request submitted by the local 1678regionalworkforce development board. 1679 (7) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards shall adopt 1680 a committee structure consistent with applicable federal law and 1681 state policies established by CareerSource Florida, Inc. 1682 (8) The importance of minority and gender representation 1683 shall be considered when appointments are made to any committee 1684 established by the localregionalworkforce development board. 1685 (9) For purposes of procurement, localregionalworkforce 1686 development boards and their administrative entities are not 1687 state agencies and are exempt from chapters 120 and 287. The 1688 localregionalworkforce development boards shall apply the 1689 procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law 1690 and policies of the Department of Economic Opportunity and 1691 CareerSource Florida, Inc., for the expenditure of federal, 1692 state, and nonpass-through funds. The making or approval of 1693 smaller, multiple payments for a single purchase with the intent 1694 to avoid or evade the monetary thresholds and procedures 1695 established by federal law and policies of the Department of 1696 Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida, Inc., is grounds 1697 for removal for cause. LocalRegionalworkforce development 1698 boards, their administrative entities, committees, and 1699 subcommittees, and other workforce units may authorize 1700 expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or 1701 other tokens of recognition for performance by units of the 1702 workforce system. LocalRegionalworkforce development boards; 1703 their administrative entities, committees, and subcommittees; 1704 and other workforce units may authorize expenditures for 1705 promotional items, such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with 1706 messages promoting Florida’s workforce system to employers, job 1707 seekers, and program participants. However, such expenditures 1708 are subject to federal regulations applicable to the expenditure 1709 of federal funds. All contracts executed by localregional1710 workforce development boards must include specific performance 1711 expectations and deliverables. 1712 (10) State and federal funds provided to the localregional1713 workforce development boards may not be used directly or 1714 indirectly to pay for meals, food, or beverages for board 1715 members, staff, or employees of localregionalworkforce 1716 development boards, CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the 1717 Department of Economic Opportunity except as expressly 1718 authorized by state law. Preapproved, reasonable, and necessary 1719 per diem allowances and travel expenses may be reimbursed. Such 1720 reimbursement shall be at the standard travel reimbursement 1721 rates established in s. 112.061 and shall be in compliance with 1722 all applicable federal and state requirements. CareerSource 1723 Florida, Inc., shall develop a statewide fiscal policy 1724 applicable to the state board and all localregionalworkforce 1725 development boards, to hold both the state and localregional1726 workforce development boards strictly accountable for adherence 1727 to the policy and subject to regular and periodic monitoring by 1728 the Department of Economic Opportunity, the administrative 1729 entity for CareerSource Florida, Inc. Boards are prohibited from 1730 expending state or federal funds for entertainment costs and 1731 recreational activities for board members and employees as these 1732 terms are defined by 2 C.F.R. part 230. 1733 (11) To increase transparency and accountability, a local 1734regionalworkforce development board must comply with the 1735 requirements of this section before contracting with a member of 1736 the board or a relative, as defined in s. 112.3143(1)(c), of a 1737 board member or of an employee of the board. Such contracts may 1738 not be executed before or without the approval of CareerSource 1739 Florida, Inc. Such contracts, as well as documentation 1740 demonstrating adherence to this section as specified by 1741 CareerSource Florida, Inc., must be submitted to the Department 1742 of Economic Opportunity for review and recommendation according 1743 to criteria to be determined by CareerSource Florida, Inc. Such 1744 a contract must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a 1745 quorum having been established; all conflicts of interest must 1746 be disclosed before the vote; and any member who may benefit 1747 from the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the 1748 contract, must abstain from the vote. A contract under $25,000 1749 between a localregionalworkforce development board and a 1750 member of that board or between a relative, as defined in s. 1751 112.3143(1)(c), of a board member or of an employee of the board 1752 is not required to have the prior approval of CareerSource 1753 Florida, Inc., but must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the 1754 board, a quorum having been established, and must be reported to 1755 the Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida, 1756 Inc., within 30 days after approval. If a contract cannot be 1757 approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., a review of the decision 1758 to disapprove the contract may be requested by the local 1759regionalworkforce development board or other parties to the 1760 disapproved contract. 1761 (12) Each localregionalworkforce development board shall 1762 develop a budget for the purpose of carrying out the duties of 1763 the board under this section, subject to the approval of the 1764 chief elected official. Each localregionalworkforce 1765 development board shall submit its annual budget for review to 1766 CareerSource Florida, Inc., no later than 2 weeks after the 1767 chair approves the budget. 1768 (13) By March 1, 2018, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall 1769 establish regional planning areas in accordance with Pub. L. No. 1770 113-128, Title I, s. 106(a)(2). Local workforce development 1771 boards and chief elected officials within identified regional 1772 planning areas shall prepare a regional workforce development 1773 plan as required under Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 1774 106(c)(2). 1775 Section 30. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.0071, 1776 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1777 445.0071 Florida Youth Summer Jobs Pilot Program.— 1778 (4) GOVERNANCE.— 1779 (a) The pilot program shall be administered by the local 1780regionalworkforce development board in consultation with 1781 CareerSource Florida, Inc. 1782 (b) The localregionalworkforce development board shall 1783 report to CareerSource Florida, Inc., the number of at-risk and 1784 disadvantaged children who enter the program, the types of work 1785 activities they participate in, and the number of children who 1786 return to school, go on to postsecondary school, or enter the 1787 workforce full time at the end of the program. CareerSource 1788 Florida, Inc., shall report to the Legislature by November 1 of 1789 each year on the performance of the program. 1790 (5) FUNDING.— 1791 (a) The localregionalworkforce development board shall, 1792 consistent with state and federal laws, use funds appropriated 1793 specifically for the pilot program to provide youth wage 1794 payments and educational enrichment activities. The local 1795regionalworkforce development board and local communities may 1796 obtain private or state and federal grants or other sources of 1797 funds in addition to any appropriated funds. 1798 (b) Program funds shall be used as follows: 1799 1. No less than 85 percent of the funds shall be used for 1800 youth wage payments or educational enrichment activities. These 1801 funds shall be matched on a one-to-one basis by each local 1802 community that participates in the program. 1803 2. No more than 2 percent of the funds may be used for 1804 administrative purposes. 1805 3. The remainder of the funds may be used for 1806 transportation assistance, child care assistance, or other 1807 assistance to enable a program participant to enter or remain in 1808 the program. 1809 (c) The localregionalworkforce development board shall 1810 pay a participating employer an amount equal to one-half of the 1811 wages paid to a youth participating in the program. Payments 1812 shall be made monthly for the duration that the youth 1813 participant is employed as documented by the employer and 1814 confirmed by the localregionalworkforce development board. 1815 Section 31. Subsections (2) through (7), paragraphs (b), 1816 (c), and (d) of subsection (8), paragraph (b) of subsection (9), 1817 and subsection (10) of section 445.009, Florida Statutes, are 1818 amended to read: 1819 445.009 One-stop delivery system.— 1820 (2)(a) Subject to a process designed by CareerSource 1821 Florida, Inc., and in compliance with Pub. L. No. 113-1281051822220, localregionalworkforce development boards shall designate 1823 one-stop delivery system operators. 1824 (b) A localregionalworkforce development board may 1825 designate as its one-stop delivery system operator any public or 1826 private entity that is eligible to provide services under any 1827 state or federal workforce program that is a mandatory or 1828 discretionary partner in the local workforce development area’s 1829region’sone-stop delivery system if approved by CareerSource 1830 Florida, Inc., upon a showing by the localregionalworkforce 1831 development board that a fair and competitive process was used 1832 in the selection. As a condition of authorizing a localregional1833 workforce development board to designate such an entity as its 1834 one-stop delivery system operator, CareerSource Florida, Inc., 1835 must require the localregionalworkforce development board to 1836 demonstrate that safeguards are in place to ensure that the one 1837 stop delivery system operator will not exercise an unfair 1838 competitive advantage or unfairly refer or direct customers of 1839 the one-stop delivery system to services provided by that one 1840 stop delivery system operator. A localregionalworkforce 1841 development board may retain its current one-stop career center 1842 operator without further procurement action if the board has an 1843 established one-stop career center that has complied with 1844 federal and state law. 1845 (c) The local workforce development board must enter into a 1846 memorandum of understanding with each mandatory or optional 1847 partner participating in the one-stop delivery system which 1848 details the partner’s required contribution to infrastructure 1849 costs, as required by Pub. L. No. 113-128, s. 121(h). If the 1850 local workforce development board and the one-stop partner are 1851 unable to come to an agreement regarding infrastructure costs by 1852 July 1, 2017, the costs shall be allocated pursuant to a policy 1853 established by the Governor. 1854 (3) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards shall enter 1855 into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of 1856 Economic Opportunity for the delivery of employment services 1857 authorized by the federal Wagner-Peyser Act. This memorandum of 1858 understanding must be performance based. 1859 (a) Unless otherwise required by federal law, at least 90 1860 percent of the Wagner-Peyser funding must go into direct 1861 customer service costs. 1862 (b) Employment services must be provided through the one 1863 stop delivery system, under the guidance of one-stop delivery 1864 system operators. One-stop delivery system operators shall have 1865 overall authority for directing the staff of the workforce 1866 system. Personnel matters shall remain under the ultimate 1867 authority of the department. However, the one-stop delivery 1868 system operator shall submit to the department information 1869 concerning the job performance of employees of the department 1870 who deliver employment services. The department shall consider 1871 any such information submitted by the one-stop delivery system 1872 operator in conducting performance appraisals of the employees. 1873 (c) The department shall retain fiscal responsibility and 1874 accountability for the administration of funds allocated to the 1875 state under the Wagner-Peyser Act. An employee of the department 1876 who is providing services authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act 1877 shall be paid using Wagner-Peyser Act funds. 1878 (4) One-stop delivery system partners shall enter into a 1879 memorandum of understanding pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-1281051880220, Title I, s. 121, with the localregionalworkforce 1881 development board. Failure of a local partner to participate 1882 cannot unilaterally block the majority of partners from moving 1883 forward with their one-stop delivery system, and CareerSource 1884 Florida, Inc., pursuant to s. 445.004(5)(e), may make 1885 notification of a local partner that fails to participate. 1886 (5) To the extent possible, localregionalworkforce 1887 development boards shall include as partners in the local one 1888 stop delivery system entities that provide programs or 1889 activities designed to meet the needs of homeless persons. 1890 (6)(a) To the extent possible, core services, as defined by 1891 Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220, shall be provided electronically, 1892 using existing systems. These electronic systems shall be linked 1893 and integrated into a comprehensive service system to simplify 1894 access to core services by: 1895 1. Maintaining staff to serve as the first point of contact 1896 with the public seeking access to employment services who are 1897 knowledgeable about each program located in each one-stop 1898 delivery system center as well as related services. An initial 1899 determination of the programs for which a customer is likely to 1900 be eligible and any referral for a more thorough eligibility 1901 determination must be made at this first point of contact; and 1902 2. Establishing an automated, integrated intake screening 1903 and eligibility process where customers will provide information 1904 through a self-service intake process that may be accessed by 1905 staff from any participating program. 1906 (b) To expand electronic capabilities, CareerSource 1907 Florida, Inc., working with localregionalworkforce development 1908 boards, shall develop a centralized help center to assist local 1909regionalworkforce development boards in fulfilling core 1910 services, minimizing the need for fixed-site one-stop delivery 1911 system centers. 1912 (c) To the extent feasible, core services shall be 1913 accessible through the Internet. Through this technology, core 1914 services shall be made available at public libraries, public and 1915 private educational institutions, community centers, kiosks, 1916 neighborhood facilities, and satellite one-stop delivery system 1917 sites. Each localregionalworkforce development board’s web 1918 page shall serve as a portal for contacting potential employees 1919 by integrating the placement efforts of universities and private 1920 companies, including staffing services firms, into the existing 1921 one-stop delivery system. 1922 (7) Intensive services and training provided pursuant to 1923 Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220,shall be provided to individuals 1924 through Intensive Service Accounts and Individual Training 1925 Accounts. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall develop an 1926 implementation plan, including identification of initially 1927 eligible training providers, transition guidelines, and criteria 1928 for use of these accounts. Individual Training Accounts must be 1929 compatible with Individual Development Accounts for education 1930 allowed in federal and state welfare reform statutes. 1931 (8) 1932 (b) For each approved training program, localregional1933 workforce development boards, in consultation with training 1934 providers, shall establish a fair-market purchase price to be 1935 paid through an Individual Training Account. The purchase price 1936 must be based on prevailing costs and reflect local economic 1937 factors, program complexity, and program benefits, including 1938 time to beginning of training and time to completion. The price 1939 shall ensure the fair participation of public and nonpublic 1940 postsecondary educational institutions as authorized service 1941 providers and shall prohibit the use of unlawful remuneration to 1942 the student in return for attending an institution. Unlawful 1943 remuneration does not include student financial assistance 1944 programs. 1945 (c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall periodically review 1946 Individual Training Account pricing schedules developed by local 1947regionalworkforce development boards and present findings and 1948 recommendations for process improvement to the President of the 1949 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 1950 (d) To the maximum extent possible, training providers 1951 shall use funding sources other than the funding provided under 1952 Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall 1953 develop a system to encourage the leveraging of appropriated 1954 resources for the workforce system and shall report on such 1955 efforts as part of the required annual report. 1956 (9) 1957 (b) The network shall assure that a uniform method is used 1958 to determine eligibility for and management of services provided 1959 by agencies that conduct workforce development activities. The 1960 Department of Management Services shall develop strategies to 1961 allow access to the databases and information management systems 1962 of the following systems in order to link information in those 1963 databases with the one-stop delivery system: 1964 1. The Reemployment Assistance Program under chapter 443. 1965 2. The public employment service described in s. 443.181. 1966 3. The public assistance information system used by the 1967 Department of Children and FamiliesFLORIDA Systemand the 1968 components related to temporary cash assistance, food 1969 assistance, and Medicaid eligibility. 1970 4. The Student Financial Assistance System of the 1971 Department of Education. 1972 5. Enrollment in the public postsecondary education system. 1973 6. Other information systems determined appropriate by 1974 CareerSource Florida, Inc. 1975 (10) To the maximum extent feasible, the one-stop delivery 1976 system may use private sector staffing services firms in the 1977 provision of workforce services to individuals and employers in 1978 the state. LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may 1979 collaborate with staffing services firms in order to facilitate 1980 the provision of workforce services. LocalRegionalworkforce 1981 development boards may contract with private sector staffing 1982 services firms to design programs that meet the employment needs 1983 of the local workforce development arearegion. All such 1984 contracts must be performance-based and require a specific 1985 period of job tenure beforeprior topayment. 1986 Section 32. Subsection (1) of section 445.07, Florida 1987 Statutes, is amended to read: 1988 445.07 Economic security report of employment and earning 1989 outcomes.— 1990 (1) Beginning December 31, 2013, and annually thereafter, 1991 the Department of Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the 1992 Department of Education, shall prepare, or contract with an 1993 entity to prepare, an economic security report of employment and 1994 earning outcomes for degrees or certificates earned at public 1995 postsecondary educational institutions. 1996 Section 33. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 445.014, 1997 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1998 445.014 Small business workforce service initiative.— 1999 (1) Subject to legislative appropriation, CareerSource 2000 Florida, Inc., shall establish a program to encourage local 2001regionalworkforce development boards to establish one-stop 2002 delivery systems that maximize the provision of workforce and 2003 human-resource support services to small businesses. Under the 2004 program, a localregionalworkforce development board may apply, 2005 on a competitive basis, for funds to support the provision of 2006 such services to small businesses through the local workforce 2007 development area’sregion’sone-stop delivery system. 2008 (3) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish guidelines 2009 governing the administration of this program and shall establish 2010 criteria to be used in evaluating applications for funding. Such 2011 criteria must include, but need not be limited to, a showing 2012 that the local workforce developmentregionalboard has in place 2013 a detailed plan for establishing a one-stop delivery system 2014 designed to meet the workforce needs of small businesses and for 2015 leveraging other funding sources in support of such activities. 2016 Section 34. Subsection (3) of section 445.016, Florida 2017 Statutes, is amended to read: 2018 445.016 Untried Worker Placement and Employment Incentive 2019 Act.— 2020 (3) Incentive payments may be made to for-profit or not 2021 for-profit agents selected by localregionalworkforce 2022 development boards who successfully place untried workers in 2023 full-time employment for 6 months with an employer after the 2024 employee successfully completes a probationary placement of no 2025 more than 6 months with that employer. Full-time employment that 2026 includes health care benefits will receive an additional 2027 incentive payment. 2028 Section 35. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section 2029 445.017, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2030 445.017 Diversion.— 2031 (3) Before finding an applicant family eligible for up 2032 front diversion services, the localregionalworkforce 2033 development board must determine that all requirements of 2034 eligibility for diversion services would likely be met. 2035 (4) The localregionalworkforce development board shall 2036 screen each family on a case-by-case basis for barriers to 2037 obtaining or retaining employment. The screening shall identify 2038 barriers that, if corrected, may prevent the family from 2039 receiving temporary cash assistance on a regular basis. 2040 Assistance to overcome a barrier to employment is not limited to 2041 cash, but may include vouchers or other in-kind benefits. 2042 (5) The family receiving up-front diversion must sign an 2043 agreement restricting the family from applying for temporary 2044 cash assistance for 3 months, unless an emergency is 2045 demonstrated to the localregionalworkforce development board. 2046 If a demonstrated emergency forces the family to reapply for 2047 temporary cash assistance within 3 months after receiving a 2048 diversion payment, the diversion payment shall be prorated over 2049 an 8-month period and deducted from any temporary assistance for 2050 which the family is eligible. 2051 Section 36. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 445.021, 2052 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2053 445.021 Relocation assistance program.— 2054 (2) The relocation assistance program shall involve five 2055 steps by the localregionalworkforce development board, in 2056 cooperation with the Department of Children and Families: 2057 (a) A determination that the family is receiving temporary 2058 cash assistance or that all requirements of eligibility for 2059 diversion services would likely be met. 2060 (b) A determination that there is a basis for believing 2061 that relocation will contribute to the ability of the applicant 2062 to achieve self-sufficiency. For example, the applicant: 2063 1. Is unlikely to achieve economic self-sufficiency at the 2064 current community of residence; 2065 2. Has secured a job that provides an increased salary or 2066 improved benefits and that requires relocation to another 2067 community; 2068 3. Has a family support network that will contribute to job 2069 retention in another community; 2070 4. Is determined, pursuant to criteria or procedures 2071 established by the board of directors of CareerSource Florida, 2072 Inc., to be a victim of domestic violence who would experience 2073 reduced probability of further incidents through relocation; or 2074 5. Must relocate in order to receive education or training 2075 that is directly related to the applicant’s employment or career 2076 advancement. 2077 (c) Establishment of a relocation plan that includes such 2078 requirements as are necessary to prevent abuse of the benefit 2079 and provisions to protect the safety of victims of domestic 2080 violence and avoid provisions that place them in anticipated 2081 danger. The payment to defray relocation expenses shall be 2082 determined based on criteria approved by the board of directors 2083 of CareerSource Florida, Inc. Participants in the relocation 2084 program shall be eligible for diversion or transitional 2085 benefits. 2086 (d) A determination, pursuant to criteria adopted by the 2087 board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., that a 2088 community receiving a relocated family has the capacity to 2089 provide needed services and employment opportunities. 2090 (e) Monitoring the relocation. 2091 (3) A family receiving relocation assistance for reasons 2092 other than domestic violence must sign an agreement restricting 2093 the family from applying for temporary cash assistance for a 2094 period of 6 months, unless an emergency is demonstrated to the 2095 localregionalworkforce development board. If a demonstrated 2096 emergency forces the family to reapply for temporary cash 2097 assistance within such period, after receiving a relocation 2098 assistance payment, repayment must be made on a prorated basis 2099 and subtracted from any regular payment of temporary cash 2100 assistance for which the applicant may be eligible. 2101 Section 37. Section 445.022, Florida Statutes, is amended 2102 to read: 2103 445.022 Retention Incentive Training Accounts.—To promote 2104 job retention and to enable upward job advancement into higher 2105 skilled, higher paying employment, the board of directors of 2106 CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the localregionalworkforce 2107 development boards may assemble a list of programs and courses 2108 offered by postsecondary educational institutions which may be 2109 available to participants who have become employed to promote 2110 job retention and advancement. 2111 (1) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., 2112 may establish Retention Incentive Training Accounts (RITAs) to 2113 use Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant 2114 funds specifically appropriated for this purpose. RITAs must 2115 complement the Individual Training Account required by the 2116 federal Workforce Innovation and OpportunityInvestmentActof21171998, Pub. L. No. 113-128105-220. 2118 (2) RITAs may pay for tuition, fees, educational materials, 2119 coaching and mentoring, performance incentives, transportation 2120 to and from courses, child care costs during education courses, 2121 and other such costs as the localregionalworkforce development 2122 boards determine are necessary to effect successful job 2123 retention and advancement. 2124 (3) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards shall 2125 retain only those courses that continue to meet their 2126 performance standards as established in their local plan. 2127 (4) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards shall 2128 report annually to the Legislature on the measurable retention 2129 and advancement success of each program provider and the 2130 effectiveness of RITAs, making recommendations for any needed 2131 changes or modifications. 2132 Section 38. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.024, 2133 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2134 445.024 Work requirements.— 2135 (4) PRIORITIZATION OF WORK REQUIREMENTS.—LocalRegional2136 workforce development boards shall require participation in work 2137 activities to the maximum extent possible, subject to federal 2138 and state funding. If funds are projected to be insufficient to 2139 allow full-time work activities by all program participants who 2140 are required to participate in work activities, localregional2141 workforce development boards shall screen participants and 2142 assign priority based on the following: 2143 (a) In accordance with federal requirements, at least one 2144 adult in each two-parent family shall be assigned priority for 2145 full-time work activities. 2146 (b) Among single-parent families, a family that has older 2147 preschool children or school-age children shall be assigned 2148 priority for work activities. 2149 (c) A participant who has access to child care services may 2150 be assigned priority for work activities. 2151 (d) Priority may be assigned based on the amount of time 2152 remaining until the participant reaches the applicable time 2153 limit for program participation or may be based on requirements 2154 of a case plan. 2155 2156 LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may limit a 2157 participant’s weekly work requirement to the minimum required to 2158 meet federal work activity requirements. LocalRegional2159 workforce development boards may develop screening and 2160 prioritization procedures based on the allocation of resources, 2161 the availability of community resources, the provision of 2162 supportive services, or the work activity needs of the service 2163 area. 2164 (5) USE OF CONTRACTS.—LocalRegionalworkforce development 2165 boards shall provide work activities, training, and other 2166 services, as appropriate, through contracts. In contracting for 2167 work activities, training, or services, the following applies: 2168 (a) A contract must be performance-based. Payment shall be 2169 tied to performance outcomes that include factors such as, but 2170 not limited to, diversion from cash assistance, job entry, job 2171 entry at a target wage, job retention, and connection to 2172 transition services rather than tied to completion of training 2173 or education or any other phase of the program participation 2174 process. 2175 (b) A contract may include performance-based incentive 2176 payments that may vary according to the extent to which the 2177 participant is more difficult to place. Contract payments may be 2178 weighted proportionally to reflect the extent to which the 2179 participant has limitations associated with the long-term 2180 receipt of welfare and difficulty in sustaining employment. The 2181 factors may include the extent of prior receipt of welfare, lack 2182 of employment experience, lack of education, lack of job skills, 2183 and other factors determined appropriate by the localregional2184 workforce development board. 2185 (c) Notwithstanding the exemption from the competitive 2186 sealed bid requirements provided in s. 287.057(3)(e) for certain 2187 contractual services, each contract awarded under this chapter 2188 must be awarded on the basis of a competitive sealed bid, except 2189 for a contract with a governmental entity as determined by the 2190 localregionalworkforce development board. 2191 (d) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may 2192 contract with commercial, charitable, or religious 2193 organizations. A contract must comply with federal requirements 2194 with respect to nondiscrimination and other requirements that 2195 safeguard the rights of participants. Services may be provided 2196 under contract, certificate, voucher, or other form of 2197 disbursement. 2198 (e) The administrative costs associated with a contract for 2199 services provided under this section may not exceed the 2200 applicable administrative cost ceiling established in federal 2201 law. An agency or entity that is awarded a contract under this 2202 section may not charge more than 7 percent of the value of the 2203 contract for administration unless an exception is approved by 2204 the localregionalworkforce development board. A list of any 2205 exceptions approved must be submitted to the board of directors 2206 of CareerSource Florida, Inc., for review, and the board may 2207 rescind approval of the exception. 2208 (f) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may enter 2209 into contracts to provide short-term work experience for the 2210 chronically unemployed as provided in this section. 2211 (g) A tax-exempt organization under s. 501(c) of the 2212 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which receives funds under this 2213 chapter must disclose receipt of federal funds on any 2214 advertising, promotional, or other material in accordance with 2215 federal requirements. 2216 Section 39. Section 445.025, Florida Statutes, is amended 2217 to read: 2218 445.025 Other support services.—Support services shall be 2219 provided, if resources permit, to assist participants in 2220 complying with work activity requirements outlined in s. 2221 445.024. If resources do not permit the provision of needed 2222 support services, the localregionalworkforce development board 2223 may prioritize or otherwise limit provision of support services. 2224 This section does not constitute an entitlement to support 2225 services. Lack of provision of support services may be 2226 considered as a factor in determining whether good cause exists 2227 for failing to comply with work activity requirements but does 2228 not automatically constitute good cause for failing to comply 2229 with work activity requirements, and does not affect any 2230 applicable time limit on the receipt of temporary cash 2231 assistance or the provision of services under chapter 414. 2232 Support services shall include, but need not be limited to: 2233 (1) TRANSPORTATION.—Transportation expenses may be provided 2234 to any participant when the assistance is needed to comply with 2235 work activity requirements or employment requirements, including 2236 transportation to and from a child care provider. Payment may be 2237 made in cash or tokens in advance or through reimbursement paid 2238 against receipts or invoices. Transportation services may 2239 include, but are not limited to, cooperative arrangements with 2240 the following: public transit providers; community 2241 transportation coordinators designated under chapter 427; school 2242 districts; churches and community centers; donated motor vehicle 2243 programs, van pools, and ridesharing programs; small enterprise 2244 developments and entrepreneurial programs that encourage 2245 participants to become transportation providers; public and 2246 private transportation partnerships; and other innovative 2247 strategies to expand transportation options available to program 2248 participants. 2249 (a) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may provide 2250 payment for vehicle operational and repair expenses, including 2251 repair expenditures necessary to make a vehicle functional; 2252 vehicle registration fees; driver license fees; and liability 2253 insurance for the vehicle for a period of up to 6 months. 2254 Request for vehicle repairs must be accompanied by an estimate 2255 of the cost prepared by a repair facility registered under s. 2256 559.904. 2257 (b) Transportation disadvantaged funds as defined in 2258 chapter 427 do not include support services funds or funds 2259 appropriated to assist persons eligible under the Workforce 2260 Innovation and Opportunity ActJob Training Partnership Act. It 2261 is the intent of the Legislature that localregionalworkforce 2262 development boards consult with local community transportation 2263 coordinators designated under chapter 427 regarding the 2264 availability and cost of transportation services through the 2265 coordinated transportation system beforeprior tocontracting 2266 for comparable transportation services outside the coordinated 2267 system. 2268 (2) ANCILLARY EXPENSES.—Ancillary expenses such as books, 2269 tools, clothing, fees, and costs necessary to comply with work 2270 activity requirements or employment requirements may be 2271 provided. 2272 (3) MEDICAL SERVICES.—A family that meets the eligibility 2273 requirements for Medicaid shall receive medical services under 2274 the Medicaid program. 2275 (4) PERSONAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND THERAPY.—Counseling 2276 may be provided to participants who have a personal or family 2277 problem or problems caused by substance abuse that is a barrier 2278 to compliance with work activity requirements or employment 2279 requirements. In providing these services, localregional2280 workforce development boards shall use services that are 2281 available in the community at no additional cost. If these 2282 services are not available, localregionalworkforce development 2283 boards may use support services funds. Personal or family 2284 counseling not available through Medicaid may not be considered 2285 a medical service for purposes of the required statewide 2286 implementation plan or use of federal funds. 2287 Section 40. Subsection (5) of section 445.026, Florida 2288 Statutes, is amended to read: 2289 445.026 Cash assistance severance benefit.—An individual 2290 who meets the criteria listed in this section may choose to 2291 receive a lump-sum payment in lieu of ongoing cash assistance 2292 payments, provided the individual: 2293 (5) Provides employment and earnings information to the 2294 localregionalworkforce development board, so that the local 2295regionalworkforce development board can ensure that the 2296 family’s eligibility for severance benefits can be evaluated. 2297 2298 Such individual may choose to accept a one-time, lump-sum 2299 payment of $1,000 in lieu of receiving ongoing cash assistance. 2300 Such payment shall only count toward the time limitation for the 2301 month in which the payment is made in lieu of cash assistance. A 2302 participant choosing to accept such payment shall be terminated 2303 from cash assistance. However, eligibility for Medicaid, food 2304 assistance, or child care shall continue, subject to the 2305 eligibility requirements of those programs. 2306 Section 41. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 445.030, 2307 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2308 445.030 Transitional education and training.—In order to 2309 assist former recipients of temporary cash assistance who are 2310 working or actively seeking employment in continuing their 2311 training and upgrading their skills, education, or training, 2312 support services may be provided for up to 2 years after the 2313 family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance. This 2314 section does not constitute an entitlement to transitional 2315 education and training. If funds are not sufficient to provide 2316 services under this section, the board of directors of 2317 CareerSource Florida, Inc., may limit or otherwise prioritize 2318 transitional education and training. 2319 (2) LocalRegionalworkforce development boards may 2320 authorize child care or other support services in addition to 2321 services provided in conjunction with employment. For example, a 2322 participant who is employed full time may receive child care 2323 services related to that employment and may also receive 2324 additional child care services in conjunction with training to 2325 upgrade the participant’s skills. 2326 (4) A localRegionalworkforce development board may enter 2327 into an agreement with an employer to share the costs relating 2328 to upgrading the skills of participants hired by the employer. 2329 For example, a localregionalworkforce development board may 2330 agree to provide support services such as transportation or a 2331 wage subsidy in conjunction with training opportunities provided 2332 by the employer. 2333 Section 42. Section 445.031, Florida Statutes, is amended 2334 to read: 2335 445.031 Transitional transportation.—In order to assist 2336 former recipients of temporary cash assistance in maintaining 2337 and sustaining employment or educational opportunities, 2338 transportation may be provided, if funds are available, for up 2339 to 2 years after the participant is no longer in the program. 2340 This does not constitute an entitlement to transitional 2341 transportation. If funds are not sufficient to provide services 2342 under this section, localregionalworkforce development boards 2343 may limit or otherwise prioritize transportation services. 2344 (1) Transitional transportation must be job or education 2345 related. 2346 (2) Transitional transportation may include expenses 2347 identified in s. 445.025, paid directly or by voucher, as well 2348 as a vehicle valued at not more than $8,500 if the vehicle is 2349 needed for training, employment, or educational purposes. 2350 Section 43. Subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection 2351 (4), and subsection (5) of section 445.048, Florida Statutes, 2352 are amended to read: 2353 445.048 Passport to Economic Progress program.— 2354 (1) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, 2355 CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department 2356 of Children and Families and the Department of Economic 2357 Opportunity, shall implement a Passport to Economic Progress 2358 program consistent withthe provisions ofthis section. 2359 CareerSource Florida, Inc., may designate localregional2360 workforce development boards to participate in the program. 2361 Expenses for the program may come from appropriated revenues or 2362 from funds otherwise available to a localregionalworkforce 2363 development board which may be legally used for such purposes. 2364 CareerSource Florida, Inc., must consult with the applicable 2365 localregionalworkforce development boards and the applicable 2366 local offices of the Department of Children and Families which 2367 serve the program areas and must encourage community input into 2368 the implementation process. 2369 (4) INCENTIVES TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.— 2370 (b) CareerSource Florida, Inc., in cooperation with the 2371 Department of Children and Families and the Department of 2372 Economic Opportunity, shall offer performance-based incentive 2373 bonuses as a component of the Passport to Economic Progress 2374 program. The bonuses do not represent a program entitlement and 2375 are contingent on achieving specific benchmarks prescribed in 2376 the self-sufficiency plan. If the funds appropriated for this 2377 purpose are insufficient to provide this financial incentive, 2378 the board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., may reduce 2379 or suspend the bonuses in order not to exceed the appropriation 2380 or may direct the local workforce developmentregionalboards to 2381 use resources otherwise given to the local workforce development 2382 boardregional workforceto pay such bonuses if such payments 2383 comply with applicable state and federal laws. 2384 (5) EVALUATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—CareerSource Florida, 2385 Inc., in conjunction with the Department of Children and 2386 Families, the Department of Economic Opportunity, and the local 2387regionalworkforce development boards, shall conduct a 2388 comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the program 2389 operated under this section. Evaluations and recommendations for 2390 the program shall be submitted by CareerSource Florida, Inc., as 2391 part of its annual report to the Legislature. 2392 Section 44. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2), paragraph (d) 2393 of subsection (4), and subsections (6) and (7) of section 2394 445.051, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2395 445.051 Individual development accounts.— 2396 (2) As used in this section, the term: 2397 (b) “Qualified entity” means: 2398 1. A not-for-profit organization described in s. 501(c)(3) 2399 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and exempt 2400 from taxation under s. 501(a) of such code; or 2401 2. A state or local government agency acting in cooperation 2402 with an organization described in subparagraph 1. For purposes 2403 of this section, a localregionalworkforce development board is 2404 a government agency. 2405 (4) 2406 (d) Eligible participants may receive matching funds for 2407 contributions to the individual development account, pursuant to 2408 the strategic plan for workforce development. When not 2409 restricted to the contrary, matching funds may be paid from 2410 state and federal funds under the control of the localregional2411 workforce development board, from local agencies, or from 2412 private donations. 2413 (6) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish procedures 2414 for localregionalworkforce development boards to include in 2415 their annual program and financial plan an application to offer 2416 an individual development account program as part of their TANF 2417 allocation. These procedures must include, but need not be 2418 limited to, administrative costs permitted for the fiduciary 2419 organization and policies relative to identifying the match 2420 ratio and limits on the deposits for which the match will be 2421 provided in the application process. CareerSource Florida, Inc., 2422 shall establish policies and procedures necessary to ensure that 2423 funds held in an individual development account are not 2424 withdrawn except for one or more of the qualified purposes 2425 described in this section. 2426 (7) Fiduciary organizations shall be the localregional2427 workforce development board or other community-based 2428 organizations designated by the localregionalworkforce 2429 development board to serve as intermediaries between individual 2430 account holders and financial institutions holding accounts. 2431 Responsibilities of such fiduciary organizations may include 2432 marketing participation, soliciting matching contributions, 2433 counseling program participants, and conducting verification and 2434 compliance activities. 2435 Section 45. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 2436 985.622, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2437 985.622 Multiagency plan for career and professional 2438 education (CAPE).— 2439 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department 2440 of Education shall, in consultation with the statewide Workforce 2441 Development Youth Council, school districts, providers, and 2442 others, jointly develop a multiagency plan for career and 2443 professional education (CAPE) that establishes the curriculum, 2444 goals, and outcome measures for CAPE programs in juvenile 2445 justice education programs. The plan must be reviewed annually, 2446 revised as appropriate, and include: 2447 (a) Provisions for maximizing appropriate state and federal 2448 funding sources, including funds under the Workforce Innovation 2449 and Opportunity ActWorkforce Investment Actand the Perkins 2450 Act. 2451 Section 46. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 2452 1002.83, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2453 1002.83 Early learning coalitions.— 2454 (4) Each early learning coalition must include the 2455 following member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition, 2456 each ex officio member position may be filled by multiple 2457 nonvoting members but no more than one voting member shall be 2458 seated per member position. If an early learning coalition has 2459 more than one member representing the same entity, only one of 2460 such members may serve as a voting member: 2461 (c) A localregionalworkforce development board executive 2462 director or his or her permanent designee. 2463 Section 47. Subsections (2) and (3) and paragraph (b) of 2464 subsection (4) of section 1003.491, Florida Statutes, are 2465 amended to read: 2466 1003.491 Florida Career and Professional Education Act.—The 2467 Florida Career and Professional Education Act is created to 2468 provide a statewide planning partnership between the business 2469 and education communities in order to attract, expand, and 2470 retain targeted, high-value industry and to sustain a strong, 2471 knowledge-based economy. 2472 (2) Each district school board shall develop, in 2473 collaboration with localregionalworkforce development boards, 2474 economic development agencies, and postsecondary institutions 2475 approved to operate in the state, a strategic 3-year plan to 2476 address and meet local and regional workforce demands. If 2477 involvement of a localregionalworkforce development board or 2478 an economic development agency in the strategic plan development 2479 is not feasible, the local school board, with the approval of 2480 the Department of Economic Opportunity, shall collaborate with 2481 the most appropriate regional business leadership board. Two or 2482 more school districts may collaborate in the development of the 2483 strategic plan and offer career-themed courses, as defined in s. 2484 1003.493(1)(b), or a career and professional academy as a joint 2485 venture. The strategic plan must describe in detail provisions 2486 for the efficient transportation of students, the maximum use of 2487 shared resources, access to courses aligned to state curriculum 2488 standards through virtual education providers legislatively 2489 authorized to provide part-time instruction to middle school 2490 students, and an objective review of proposed career and 2491 professional academy courses and other career-themed courses to 2492 determine if the courses will lead to the attainment of industry 2493 certifications included on the Industry Certified Funding List 2494 pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Each 2495 strategic plan shall be reviewed, updated, and jointly approved 2496 every 3 years by the local school district, localregional2497 workforce development boards, economic development agencies, and 2498 state-approved postsecondary institutions. 2499 (3) The strategic 3-year plan developed jointly by the 2500 local school district, localregionalworkforce development 2501 boards, economic development agencies, and state-approved 2502 postsecondary institutions shall be constructed and based on: 2503 (a) Research conducted to objectively determine local and 2504 regional workforce needs for the ensuing 3 years, using labor 2505 projections of the United States Department of Labor and the 2506 Department of Economic Opportunity; 2507 (b) Strategies to develop and implement career academies or 2508 career-themed courses based on those careers determined to be 2509 high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand; 2510 (c) Strategies to provide shared, maximum use of private 2511 sector facilities and personnel; 2512 (d) Strategies that ensure instruction by industry 2513 certified faculty and standards and strategies to maintain 2514 current industry credentials and for recruiting and retaining 2515 faculty to meet those standards; 2516 (e) Strategies to provide personalized student advisement, 2517 including a parent-participation component, and coordination 2518 with middle grades to promote and support career-themed courses 2519 and education planning as required under s. 1003.4156; 2520 (f) Alignment of requirements for middle school career 2521 planning under s. 1003.4156(1)(e), middle and high school career 2522 and professional academies or career-themed courses leading to 2523 industry certification or postsecondary credit, and high school 2524 graduation requirements; 2525 (g) Provisions to ensure that career-themed courses and 2526 courses offered through career and professional academies are 2527 academically rigorous, meet or exceed appropriate state-adopted 2528 subject area standards, result in attainment of industry 2529 certification, and, when appropriate, result in postsecondary 2530 credit; 2531 (h) Plans to sustain and improve career-themed courses and 2532 career and professional academies; 2533 (i) Strategies to improve the passage rate for industry 2534 certification examinations if the rate falls below 50 percent; 2535 (j) Strategies to recruit students into career-themed 2536 courses and career and professional academies which include 2537 opportunities for students who have been unsuccessful in 2538 traditional classrooms but who are interested in enrolling in 2539 career-themed courses or a career and professional academy. 2540 School boards shall provide opportunities for students who may 2541 be deemed as potential dropouts to enroll in career-themed 2542 courses or participate in career and professional academies; 2543 (k) Strategies to provide sufficient space within academies 2544 to meet workforce needs and to provide access to all interested 2545 and qualified students; 2546 (l) Strategies to implement career-themed courses or career 2547 and professional academy training that lead to industry 2548 certification in juvenile justice education programs; 2549 (m) Opportunities for high school students to earn weighted 2550 or dual enrollment credit for higher-level career and technical 2551 courses; 2552 (n) Promotion of the benefits of the Gold Seal Bright 2553 Futures Scholarship; 2554 (o) Strategies to ensure the review of district pupil 2555 progression plans and to amend such plans to include career 2556 themed courses and career and professional academy courses and 2557 to include courses that may qualify as substitute courses for 2558 core graduation requirements and those that may be counted as 2559 elective courses; 2560 (p) Strategies to provide professional development for 2561 secondary certified school counselors on the benefits of career 2562 and professional academies and career-themed courses that lead 2563 to industry certification; and 2564 (q) Strategies to redirect appropriated career funding in 2565 secondary and postsecondary institutions to support career 2566 academies and career-themed courses that lead to industry 2567 certification. 2568 (4) The State Board of Education shall establish a process 2569 for the continual and uninterrupted review of newly proposed 2570 core secondary courses and existing courses requested to be 2571 considered as core courses to ensure that sufficient rigor and 2572 relevance is provided for workforce skills and postsecondary 2573 education and aligned to state curriculum standards. 2574 (b) The curriculum review committee shall review newly 2575 proposed core courses electronically. Each proposed core course 2576 shall be approved or denied within 30 days after submission by a 2577 district school board or localregionalworkforce development 2578 board. All courses approved as core courses for purposes of 2579 middle school promotion and high school graduation shall be 2580 immediately added to the Course Code Directory. Approved core 2581 courses shall also be reviewed and considered for approval for 2582 dual enrollment credit. The Board of Governors and the 2583 Commissioner of Education shall jointly recommend an annual 2584 deadline for approval of new core courses to be included for 2585 purposes of postsecondary admissions and dual enrollment credit 2586 the following academic year. The State Board of Education shall 2587 establish an appeals process in the event that a proposed course 2588 is denied which shall require a consensus ruling by the 2589 Department of Economic Opportunity and the Commissioner of 2590 Education within 15 days. 2591 Section 48. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 2592 1003.492, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2593 1003.492 Industry-certified career education programs.— 2594 (3) The State Board of Education shall use the expertise of 2595 CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the Department of Agriculture 2596 and Consumer Services to develop and adopt rules pursuant to ss. 2597 120.536(1) and 120.54 for implementing an industry certification 2598 process. 2599 (a) For nonfarm occupations, industry certification must be 2600 based upon the highest available national standards for specific 2601 industry certification to ensure student skill proficiency and 2602 to address emerging labor market and industry trends. A local 2603regionalworkforce development board or a school principal may 2604 apply to CareerSource Florida, Inc., to request additions to the 2605 approved list of industry certifications based on high-skill, 2606 high-wage, and high-demand job requirements in the local 2607regionaleconomy. 2608 Section 49. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of subsection 2609 (4) of section 1003.493, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2610 1003.493 Career and professional academies and career 2611 themed courses.— 2612 (1)(a) A “career and professional academy” is a research 2613 based program that integrates a rigorous academic curriculum 2614 with an industry-specific curriculum aligned directly to 2615 priority workforce needs established by the localregional2616 workforce development board or the Department of Economic 2617 Opportunity. Career and professional academies shall be offered 2618 by public schools and school districts. The Florida Virtual 2619 School is encouraged to develop and offer rigorous career and 2620 professional courses as appropriate. Students completing career 2621 and professional academy programs must receive a standard high 2622 school diploma, the highest available industry certification, 2623 and opportunities to earn postsecondary credit if the academy 2624 partners with a postsecondary institution approved to operate in 2625 the state. 2626 (b) A “career-themed course” is a course, or a course in a 2627 series of courses, that leads to an industry certification 2628 identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List 2629 pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. 2630 Career-themed courses have industry-specific curriculum aligned 2631 directly to priority workforce needs established by the local 2632regionalworkforce development board or the Department of 2633 Economic Opportunity. School districts shall offer at least two 2634 career-themed courses, and each secondary school is encouraged 2635 to offer at least one career-themed course. The Florida Virtual 2636 School is encouraged to develop and offer rigorous career-themed 2637 courses as appropriate. Students completing a career-themed 2638 course must be provided opportunities to earn postsecondary 2639 credit if the credit for the career-themed course can be 2640 articulated to a postsecondary institution approved to operate 2641 in the state. 2642 (4) Each career and professional academy and secondary 2643 school providing a career-themed course must: 2644 (d) Provide instruction in careers designated as high 2645 skill, high-wage, and high-demand by the localregional2646 workforce development board, the chamber of commerce, economic 2647 development agencies, or the Department of Economic Opportunity. 2648 Section 50. Subsection (1) of section 1003.4935, Florida 2649 Statutes, is amended to read: 2650 1003.4935 Middle grades career and professional academy 2651 courses and career-themed courses.— 2652 (1) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, each district 2653 school board, in collaboration with localregionalworkforce 2654 development boards, economic development agencies, and state 2655 approved postsecondary institutions, shall include plans to 2656 implement a career and professional academy or a career-themed 2657 course, as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b), in at least one middle 2658 school in the district as part of the strategic 3-year plan 2659 pursuant to s. 1003.491(2). The strategic plan must provide 2660 students the opportunity to transfer from a middle school career 2661 and professional academy or a career-themed course to a high 2662 school career and professional academy or a career-themed course 2663 currently operating within the school district. Students who 2664 complete a middle school career and professional academy or a 2665 career-themed course must have the opportunity to earn an 2666 industry certificate and high school credit and participate in 2667 career planning, job shadowing, and business leadership 2668 development activities. 2669 Section 51. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 2670 1003.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2671 1003.52 Educational services in Department of Juvenile 2672 Justice programs.— 2673 (1) The Department of Education shall serve as the lead 2674 agency for juvenile justice education programs, curriculum, 2675 support services, and resources. To this end, the Department of 2676 Education and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall each 2677 designate a Coordinator for Juvenile Justice Education Programs 2678 to serve as the point of contact for resolving issues not 2679 addressed by district school boards and to provide each 2680 department’s participation in the following activities: 2681 (a) Training, collaborating, and coordinating with district 2682 school boards, localregionalworkforce development boards, and 2683 local youth councils, educational contract providers, and 2684 juvenile justice providers, whether state operated or 2685 contracted. 2686 2687 Annually, a cooperative agreement and plan for juvenile justice 2688 education service enhancement shall be developed between the 2689 Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Education 2690 and submitted to the Secretary of Juvenile Justice and the 2691 Commissioner of Education by June 30. The plan shall include, at 2692 a minimum, each agency’s role regarding educational program 2693 accountability, technical assistance, training, and coordination 2694 of services. 2695 Section 52. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and paragraph 2696 (e) of subsection (4) of section 1004.93, Florida Statutes, are 2697 amended to read: 2698 1004.93 Adult general education.— 2699 (3)(a) Each district school board or Florida College System 2700 institution board of trustees shall negotiate with the local 2701regionalworkforce development board for basic and functional 2702 literacy skills assessments for participants in the welfare 2703 transition employment and training programs. Such assessments 2704 shall be conducted at a site mutually acceptable to the district 2705 school board or Florida College System institution board of 2706 trustees and the localregionalworkforce development board. 2707 (4) 2708 (e) A district school board or a Florida College System 2709 institution board of trustees may negotiate a contract with the 2710 localregionalworkforce development board for specialized 2711 services for participants in the welfare transition program, 2712 beyond what is routinely provided for the general public, to be 2713 funded by the localregionalworkforce development board. 2714 Section 53. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 2715 1006.261, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2716 1006.261 Use of school buses for public purposes.— 2717 (1) 2718 (b) Each district school board may enter into agreements 2719 with localregionalworkforce development boards for the 2720 provision of transportation services to participants in the 2721 welfare transition program. Agreements must provide for 2722 reimbursement in full or in part for the proportionate share of 2723 fixed and operating costs incurred by the district school board 2724 attributable to the use of buses in accordance with the 2725 agreement. 2726 Section 54. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 2727 1009.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2728 1009.25 Fee exemptions.— 2729 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of 2730 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that 2731 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System 2732 institution, or state university: 2733 (e) A student enrolled in an employment and training 2734 program under the welfare transition program. The localregional2735 workforce development board shall pay the state university, 2736 Florida College System institution, or school district for costs 2737 incurred for welfare transition program participants. 2738 Section 55. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.