| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Family Readiness Program; creating |
| 3 | s. 250.5206, F.S.; creating the Family Readiness Program |
| 4 | within the Department of Military Affairs; providing |
| 5 | purpose of the program; providing for program funding and |
| 6 | use of program funds; specifying eligible services and |
| 7 | eligible program recipients; providing procedure with |
| 8 | respect to requests for assistance and award of funds |
| 9 | under the program; providing for monthly audit reviews of |
| 10 | the program; providing for annual reports; providing |
| 11 | rulemaking authority of the Department of Military |
| 12 | Affairs; providing an appropriation; providing an |
| 13 | effective date. |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 16 |
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| 17 | Section 1. Section 250.5206, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 18 | to read: |
| 19 | 250.5206 Family Readiness Program.--The Department of |
| 20 | Military Affairs shall establish a state Family Readiness |
| 21 | Program headed by a program director and based on the United |
| 22 | States Department of Defense National Guard and Reserve Family |
| 23 | Readiness Strategic Plan 2004-2005 initiative. |
| 24 | (1) PROGRAM PURPOSE.--The purpose of the program shall be |
| 25 | to provide need-based assistance to families of service members |
| 26 | of the Florida National Guard and United States Reserve Forces, |
| 27 | including the Coast Guard Reserves, who are on active duty |
| 28 | serving in the Global War on Terrorism and who are federally |
| 29 | deployed or participating in state operations for homeland |
| 30 | defense. |
| 31 | (2) FUNDING.--Implementation of the program is subject to |
| 32 | appropriations expressly provided for this purpose. |
| 33 | (3) ELIGIBLE SERVICES.--Program funds may be used in |
| 34 | emergency situations to purchase critically needed services, |
| 35 | including, but not limited to, reasonable living expenses, |
| 36 | housing, vehicles, equipment or renovations necessary to meet |
| 37 | disability needs, and health care. |
| 38 | (4) ELIGIBILITY.--Eligible recipients shall include |
| 39 | persons designated as beneficiaries on the United States |
| 40 | Department of Defense Form 93, or who are otherwise dependents |
| 41 | of eligible service members, and who are residents of the State |
| 42 | of Florida. |
| 43 | (5) REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE; REVIEW; AWARDS.--Requests for |
| 44 | assistance shall be validated and assessed at the local level by |
| 45 | a federal Family Center Support Specialist stationed at a state |
| 46 | armory or at a reserve facility by a designated official. |
| 47 | Recommendations subsequent to assessment and validation shall be |
| 48 | forwarded to the program director, who shall review the |
| 49 | recommendations for eligibility, appropriateness, and |
| 50 | sufficiency of documentation. The Adjutant General or his or |
| 51 | her designee shall receive the recommendations from the program |
| 52 | director and is authorized to award funds pursuant to |
| 53 | subsections (3) and (4). |
| 54 | (6) AUDITS.--The inspector general of the department shall |
| 55 | conduct a monthly audit review of the program. |
| 56 | (7) ANNUAL REPORT.--The department shall maintain |
| 57 | sufficient data to provide an annual report to the Governor and |
| 58 | the Legislature on the families served under the program, the |
| 59 | types of services provided, and the allocation of funds spent. |
| 60 | (8) RULES.--The department is authorized to adopt rules |
| 61 | necessary to implement this program, including procedures for |
| 62 | applying for assistance, qualifying services, and criteria for |
| 63 | eligibility. |
| 64 | Section 2. The sum of $5 million, which includes $10,000 |
| 65 | in operating capital outlay and authorizes 3 other-personal- |
| 66 | service positions, is appropriated for fiscal year 2005-2006 |
| 67 | from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Military |
| 68 | Affairs for the Family Readiness Program to provide need-based |
| 69 | assistance to the family members eligible under s. 250.5206, |
| 70 | Florida Statutes. |
| 71 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |