The Florida Senate

20.02  Declaration of policy.

20.03  Definitions.

20.04  Structure of executive branch.

20.05  Heads of departments; powers and duties.

20.051  Review of programs.

20.052  Advisory bodies, commissions, boards; establishment.

20.055  Agency inspectors general.

20.057  Interagency agreements to delete duplication of inspections.

20.06  Method of reorganization.

20.10  Department of State.

20.11  Department of Legal Affairs.

20.121  Department of Financial Services.

20.14  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

20.15  Department of Education.

20.165  Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

20.18  Department of Community Affairs.

20.19  Department of Children and Family Services.

20.195  Department of Children and Family Services Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

20.201  Department of Law Enforcement.

20.21  Department of Revenue.

20.22  Department of Management Services.

20.23  Department of Transportation.

20.24  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

20.255  Department of Environmental Protection.

20.2551  Citizen support organizations; use of property; audit; public records; partnerships.

20.2553  Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

20.28  State Board of Administration.

20.29  Department of Citrus.

20.315  Department of Corrections.

20.316  Department of Juvenile Justice.

20.317  Department of the Lottery.

20.32  Parole Commission.

20.331  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

20.3315  Florida Forever Program Trust Fund of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

20.34  Governmental Reorganization Act of 1969; effect on rules.

20.37  Department of Veterans' Affairs.

20.41  Department of Elderly Affairs.

20.42  Agency for Health Care Administration.

20.425  Agency for Health Care Administration Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

20.43  Department of Health.

20.435  Department of Health; trust funds.

20.50  Agency for Workforce Innovation.

20.505  Administrative Trust Fund of the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

20.02  Declaration of policy.--

(1)  The State Constitution contemplates the separation of powers within state government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government. The legislative branch has the broad purpose of determining policies and programs and reviewing program performance. The executive branch has the purpose of executing the programs and policies adopted by the Legislature and of making policy recommendations to the Legislature. The judicial branch has the purpose of determining the constitutional propriety of the policies and programs and of adjudicating any conflicts arising from the interpretation or application of the laws.

(2)  Within constitutional limitations, the agencies that compose the executive branch must be consolidated into no more than 25 departments, exclusive of those specifically provided for or authorized in the State Constitution, consistent with executive capacity to administer effectively at all levels. The agencies in the executive branch should be integrated into one of the departments of the executive branch to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness as intended by s. 6, Art. IV of the State Constitution.

(3)  Structural reorganization must be a continuing process through careful executive and legislative appraisal of the placement of proposed new programs and the coordination of existing programs in response to public needs.

(4)  The responsibility within the executive branch of government for the implementation of programs and policies must be clearly fixed and ascertainable.

(5)  Departments must be organized along functional or program lines.

(6)  The management and coordination of state services must be improved and overlapping activities eliminated.

(7)  When a reorganization of state government abolishes positions, the individuals affected, when otherwise qualified, must be given priority consideration for any new positions created by reorganization or for other vacant positions in state government.

History.--s. 2, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 94-235.

20.03  Definitions.--To provide uniform nomenclature throughout the structure of the executive branch, the following definitions apply:

(1)  "Cabinet" means collectively the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture, as specified in s. 4, Art. IV of the State Constitution.

(2)  "Department" means the principal administrative unit within the executive branch of state government.

(3)  "Examining and licensing board" means a board authorized to grant and revoke licenses to engage in regulated occupations.

(4)  "Head of the department" means the individual or board in charge of the department.

(5)  "Secretary" means an individual who is appointed by the Governor to head a department and who is not otherwise named in the constitution.

(6)  "Executive director" means the chief administrative employee or officer of a department headed by a board or by the Governor and the Cabinet.

(7)  "Council" or "advisory council" means an advisory body created by specific statutory enactment and appointed to function on a continuing basis for the study of the problems arising in a specified functional or program area of state government and to provide recommendations and policy alternatives.

(8)  "Committee" or "task force" means an advisory body created without specific statutory enactment for a time not to exceed 1 year or created by specific statutory enactment for a time not to exceed 3 years and appointed to study a specific problem and recommend a solution or policy alternative with respect to that problem. Its existence terminates upon the completion of its assignment.

(9)  "Coordinating council" means an interdepartmental advisory body created by law to coordinate programs and activities for which one department has primary responsibility but in which one or more other departments have an interest.

(10)  "Commission," unless otherwise required by the State Constitution, means a body created by specific statutory enactment within a department, the office of the Governor, or the Executive Office of the Governor and exercising limited quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial powers, or both, independently of the head of the department or the Governor.

(11)  "Agency," as the context requires, means an official, officer, commission, authority, council, committee, department, division, bureau, board, section, or another unit or entity of government.

(12)  "Board of trustees," except with reference to the board created in chapter 253, means a board created by specific statutory enactment and appointed to function adjunctively to a department, the Governor, or the Executive Office of the Governor to administer public property or a public program.

History.--s. 3, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 82-46; s. 5, ch. 83-217; s. 2, ch. 94-235; s. 3, ch. 2000-258.

20.04  Structure of executive branch.--The executive branch of state government is structured as follows:

(1)  The department is the principal administrative unit of the executive branch. Each department must bear a title beginning with the words "State of Florida" and continuing with "Department of _____."

(2)  For field operations, departments may establish district or area offices that combine division, bureau, section, and subsection functions.

(3)  For their internal structure, all departments, except for the Department of Financial Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Management Services, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Transportation, must adhere to the following standard terms:

(a)  The principal unit of the department is the "division." Each division is headed by a "director."

(b)  The principal unit of the division is the "bureau." Each bureau is headed by a "chief."

(c)  The principal unit of the bureau is the "section." Each section is headed by an "administrator."

(d)  If further subdivision is necessary, sections may be divided into "subsections," which are headed by "supervisors."

(4)  Within the Department of Children and Family Services there are organizational units called "program offices," headed by program directors.

(5)  Within the Department of Corrections the principal policy and program development unit of the department is the "office." Each "office" is headed by a director.

(6)  Within the Department of Transportation the principal policy and program development unit of the department is the "office." Each "office" is headed by a director.

(7)(a)  Unless specifically authorized by law, the head of a department may not reallocate duties and functions specifically assigned by law to a specific unit of the department. Those functions or agencies assigned generally to the department without specific designation to a unit of the department may be allocated and reallocated to a unit of the department at the discretion of the head of the department.

(b)  Within the limitations of this subsection, the head of the department may recommend the establishment of additional divisions, bureaus, sections, and subsections of the department to promote efficient and effective operation of the department. However, additional divisions, or offices in the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Transportation, may be established only by specific statutory enactment. New bureaus, sections, and subsections of departments may be initiated by a department and established as recommended by the Department of Management Services and approved by the Executive Office of the Governor, or may be established by specific statutory enactment.

(c)  For the purposes of such recommendations and approvals, the Department of Management Services and the Executive Office of the Governor, respectively, must adopt and apply specific criteria for assessing the appropriateness of all reorganization requests from agencies. The criteria must be applied to future agency requests for reorganization and must be used to review the appropriateness of bureaus currently in existence. Any current bureau that does not meet the criteria for a bureau must be reorganized into a section or other appropriate unit.

(8)  The Executive Office of the Governor must maintain a current organizational chart of each agency of the executive branch, which must identify all divisions, bureaus, units, and subunits of the agency. Agencies must submit such organizational charts in accordance with guidelines established by the Executive Office of the Governor.

History.--s. 4, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-384; s. 1, ch. 75-48; s. 5, ch. 75-49; s. 1, ch. 75-275; s. 2, ch. 77-147; s. 2, ch. 78-95; s. 1, ch. 79-3; ss. 28, 61, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 83-230; s. 11, ch. 85-318; s. 1, ch. 88-215; s. 1, ch. 88-235; s. 1, ch. 88-290; s. 2, ch. 91-158; s. 7, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 3, ch. 94-235; ss. 1, 15, ch. 95-272; ss. 2, 3, ch. 96-403; s. 1, ch. 97-287; s. 2, ch. 97-296; s. 3, ch. 99-155; s. 1, ch. 2000-139; s. 1, ch. 2002-404; s. 67, ch. 2003-261.

20.05  Heads of departments; powers and duties.--

(1)  Each head of a department, except as otherwise provided by law, must:

(a)  Plan, direct, coordinate, and execute the powers, duties, and functions vested in that department or vested in a division, bureau, or section of that department; powers and duties assigned or transferred to a division, bureau, or section of the department must not be construed to limit this authority and this responsibility;

(b)  Have authority, without being relieved of responsibility, to execute any of the powers, duties, and functions vested in the department or in any administrative unit thereof through administrative units and through assistants and deputies designated by the head of the department from time to time, unless the head of the department is explicitly required by law to perform the same without delegation;

(c)  Compile annually a comprehensive program budget reporting all program and fiscal matters related to the operation of his or her department, including each program, subprogram, and activity, and other matters as required by law;

(d)  Reimburse the members of advisory bodies, commissions, and boards of trustees for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with s. 112.061;

(e)  Subject to the requirements of chapter 120, exercise existing authority to adopt rules pursuant and limited to the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the department;

(f)  Exercise authority on behalf of the department to accept gifts, grants, bequests, loans, and endowments for purposes consistent with the powers, duties, and functions of the department. All such funds must be deposited in the State Treasury and appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes for which they were received by the department;

(g)  If a department is under the direct supervision of a board, including a board consisting of the Governor and Cabinet, however designated, employ an executive director to serve at its pleasure; and

(h)  Make recommendations concerning more effective internal structuring of the department to the Legislature. Unless otherwise required by law, such recommendations must be provided to the Legislature at least 30 days before the first day of the regular session at which they are to be considered, when practicable.

(2)  The appointment of a secretary appointed by the Governor to serve as the head of a department must be confirmed by the Senate.

(3)  The Governor may assign the Lieutenant Governor, without Senate confirmation, the duty of serving as the head of any one department, the head of which is a secretary appointed by the Governor, notwithstanding any qualifications for appointment as secretary of the department.

(4)  Each head of a department may require any officer or employee of the department to give a bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties. The head of a department may determine the amount of the bond and must approve the bond. In determining the amount of the bond, the head of the department may consider the amount of money or property likely to be in custody of the officer or employee at any one time. The premiums for the bonds must be paid out of the funds of the department.

History.--s. 5, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 74-256; s. 8, ch. 77-104; s. 4, ch. 94-235; s. 1314, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 98-34.

20.051  Review of programs.--

(1)  To achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness of government as intended by s. 6, Art. IV of the State Constitution, and to promote quality management and accountability as required in s. 19, Art. III of the State Constitution, all programs, functions, and entities must be reviewed by the executive and the legislative branches. The review must identify and examine the purpose of each program, function, or entity to ensure that each program, function, or entity is administered in the most effective and efficient manner possible, and to assess the public benefit derived from the program, function, or entity. Reviews must determine whether the function, program, or entity:

(a)  Serves an identifiable purpose that benefits the public and accomplishes the purpose for which it was created;

(b)  Operates efficiently and effectively within its statutory framework, and whether there are any statutory changes that would likely increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the function, program, or entity;

(c)  Is necessary to the public health, safety, or welfare, and what would be the effect of its abolition;

(d)  Serves a beneficial purpose to state agencies in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations of the state;

(e)  Directly or indirectly increases or decreases the costs of any goods or services, and whether any identified increase in cost is more harmful to the state than any of the harm that could occur absent the function, program, or entity;

(f)  Is situated within an organizational structure that promotes its efficient and effective administration and does not duplicate activities conducted in other agencies of the state; and

(g)  Could be assigned to another state agency or to private enterprise, and if so, the most efficient way of doing so.

(2)  Unless other criteria are specifically provided by law, any review of a function, program, or entity scheduled for repeal by law must be conducted in accordance with the criteria specified in subsection (1). In conducting a review of a function, program, or entity scheduled for repeal, the presumption is in favor of the repeal. The need for or benefits derived from a program, function, or entity subject to repeal and prior review must be compelling as measured by these criteria for the function, program, or entity to be continued.

History.--s. 5, ch. 94-235.

20.052  Advisory bodies, commissions, boards; establishment.--Each advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or any other collegial body created by specific statutory enactment as an adjunct to an executive agency must be established, evaluated, or maintained in accordance with the following provisions:

(1)  It may be created only when it is found to be necessary and beneficial to the furtherance of a public purpose.

(2)  It must be terminated by the Legislature when it is no longer necessary and beneficial to the furtherance of a public purpose. The executive agency to which the advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body is made an adjunct must advise the Legislature at the time the advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body ceases to be essential to the furtherance of a public purpose.

(3)  The Legislature and the public must be kept informed of the numbers, purposes, memberships, activities, and expenses of advisory bodies, commissions, boards of trustees, and other collegial bodies established as adjuncts to executive agencies.

(4)  An advisory body, commission, board of trustees, and other collegial body may not be created or reestablished unless:

(a)  It meets a statutorily defined purpose;

(b)  Its powers and responsibilities conform with the definitions for governmental units in s. 20.03;

(c)  Its members, unless expressly provided otherwise in the State Constitution, are appointed for 4-year staggered terms; and

(d)  Its members, unless expressly provided otherwise by specific statutory enactment, serve without additional compensation or honorarium, and are authorized to receive only per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

(5)(a)  The private citizen members of an advisory body that is adjunct to an executive agency must be appointed by the Governor, the head of the department, the executive director of the department, or a Cabinet officer.

(b)  The private citizen members of a commission or board of trustees that is adjunct to an executive agency must be appointed by the Governor unless otherwise provided by law, must be confirmed by the Senate, and must be subject to the dual-office-holding prohibition of s. 5(a), Art. II of the State Constitution.

(c)  Unless an exemption is otherwise specifically provided by law, all meetings of an advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body adjunct to an executive agency are public meetings under s. 286.011. Minutes, including a record of all votes cast, must be maintained for all meetings.

(d)  If an advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body that is adjunct to an executive agency is abolished, its records must be appropriately stored, within 30 days after the effective date of its abolition, by the executive agency to which it was adjunct, and any property assigned to it must be reclaimed by the executive agency. The advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body may not perform any activities after the effective date of its abolition.

(6)  This section does not affect the right to institute or prosecute any cause of action by or against an abolished advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body that was adjunct to an executive agency if the cause of the action accrued before the date it was abolished. Any cause of action pending on the date the advisory body, commission, board of trustees, or other collegial body is abolished, or instituted thereafter, must be prosecuted or defended in the name of the state by the Department of Legal Affairs.

History.--s. 6, ch. 94-235.

20.055  Agency inspectors general.--

(1)  For the purposes of this section:

(a)  "State agency" means each department created pursuant to this chapter, and also includes the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Military Affairs, the ¹Board of Regents, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, the Office of Financial Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the state courts system.

(b)  "Agency head" means the Governor, a Cabinet officer, a secretary as defined in s. 20.03(5), or an executive director as defined in s. 20.03(6). It also includes the chair of the Public Service Commission, the Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, the Director of the Office of Financial Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, and the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.

(2)  The Office of Inspector General is hereby established in each state agency to provide a central point for coordination of and responsibility for activities that promote accountability, integrity, and efficiency in government. It shall be the duty and responsibility of each inspector general, with respect to the state agency in which the office is established, to:

(a)  Advise in the development of performance measures, standards, and procedures for the evaluation of state agency programs.

(b)  Assess the reliability and validity of the information provided by the state agency on performance measures and standards, and make recommendations for improvement, if necessary, prior to submission of those measures and standards to the Executive Office of the Governor pursuant to ²s. 216.0166(1).

(c)  Review the actions taken by the state agency to improve program performance and meet program standards and make recommendations for improvement, if necessary.

(d)  Provide direction for, supervise, and coordinate audits, investigations, and management reviews relating to the programs and operations of the state agency, except that when the inspector general does not possess the qualifications specified in subsection (4), the director of auditing shall conduct such audits.

(e)  Conduct, supervise, or coordinate other activities carried out or financed by that state agency for the purpose of promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in, its programs and operations.

(f)  Keep such agency head informed concerning fraud, abuses, and deficiencies relating to programs and operations administered or financed by the state agency, recommend corrective action concerning fraud, abuses, and deficiencies, and report on the progress made in implementing corrective action.

(g)  Ensure effective coordination and cooperation between the Auditor General, federal auditors, and other governmental bodies with a view toward avoiding duplication.

(h)  Review, as appropriate, rules relating to the programs and operations of such state agency and make recommendations concerning their impact.

(i)  Ensure that an appropriate balance is maintained between audit, investigative, and other accountability activities.

(3)(a)  The inspector general shall be appointed by the agency head. For agencies under the direction of the Governor, the appointment shall be made after notifying the Governor in writing, at least 7 days prior to an offer of employment, of the agency head's intention to hire the inspector general.

(b)  Each inspector general shall report to and be under the general supervision of the agency head and shall not be subject to supervision by any other employee of the state agency. The inspector general shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation.

(c)  An inspector general may be removed from office by the agency head. For agencies under the direction of the Governor, the agency head shall notify the Governor, in writing, of the intention to terminate the inspector general at least 7 days prior to the removal. For state agencies under the direction of the Governor and Cabinet, the agency head shall notify the Governor and Cabinet in writing of the intention to terminate the inspector general at least 7 days prior to the removal.

(d)  The agency head shall not prevent or prohibit the inspector general or director of auditing from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation.

(4)  To ensure that state agency audits are performed in accordance with applicable auditing standards, the inspector general or the director of auditing within the inspector general's office shall possess the following qualifications:

(a)  A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, or with a major in business which includes five courses in accounting, and 5 years of experience as an internal auditor or independent postauditor, electronic data processing auditor, accountant, or any combination thereof. The experience shall at a minimum consist of audits of units of government or private business enterprises, operating for profit or not for profit; or

(b)  A master's degree in accounting, business administration, or public administration from an accredited college or university and 4 years of experience as required in paragraph (a); or

(c)  A certified public accountant license issued pursuant to chapter 473 or a certified internal audit certificate issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors or earned by examination, and 4 years of experience as required in paragraph (a).

(5)  In carrying out the auditing duties and responsibilities of this act, each inspector general shall review and evaluate internal controls necessary to ensure the fiscal accountability of the state agency. The inspector general shall conduct financial, compliance, electronic data processing, and performance audits of the agency and prepare audit reports of his or her findings. The scope and assignment of the audits shall be determined by the inspector general; however, the agency head may at any time direct the inspector general to perform an audit of a special program, function, or organizational unit. The performance of the audit shall be under the direction of the inspector general, except that if the inspector general does not possess the qualifications specified in subsection (4), the director of auditing shall perform the functions listed in this subsection.

(a)  Such audits shall be conducted in accordance with the current Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and subsequent Internal Auditing Standards or Statements on Internal Auditing Standards published by the Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc., or, where appropriate, in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards. All audit reports issued by internal audit staff shall include a statement that the audit was conducted pursuant to the appropriate standards.

(b)  Audit workpapers and reports shall be public records to the extent that they do not include information which has been made confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) pursuant to law. However, when the inspector general or a member of the staff receives from an individual a complaint or information that falls within the definition provided in s. 112.3187(5), the name or identity of the individual shall not be disclosed to anyone else without the written consent of the individual, unless the inspector general determines that such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the audit or investigation.

(c)  The inspector general and the staff shall have access to any records, data, and other information of the state agency he or she deems necessary to carry out his or her duties. The inspector general is also authorized to request such information or assistance as may be necessary from the state agency or from any federal, state, or local government entity.

(d)  At the conclusion of each audit, the inspector general shall submit preliminary findings and recommendations to the person responsible for supervision of the program function or operational unit who shall respond to any adverse findings within 20 working days after receipt of the tentative findings. Such response and the inspector general's rebuttal to the response shall be included in the final audit report.

(e)  The inspector general shall submit the final report to the agency head and to the Auditor General.

(f)  The Auditor General, in connection with the independent postaudit of the same agency pursuant to s. 11.45, shall give appropriate consideration to internal audit reports and the resolution of findings therein. The Legislative Auditing Committee may inquire into the reasons or justifications for failure of the agency head to correct the deficiencies reported in internal audits that are also reported by the Auditor General and shall take appropriate action.

(g)  The inspector general shall monitor the implementation of the state agency's response to any report on the state agency issued by the Auditor General or by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. No later than 6 months after the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability publishes a report on the state agency, the inspector general shall provide a written response to the agency head on the status of corrective actions taken. The Inspector General shall file a copy of such response with the Legislative Auditing Committee.

(h)  The inspector general shall develop long-term and annual audit plans based on the findings of periodic risk assessments. The plan, where appropriate, should include postaudit samplings of payments and accounts. The plan shall show the individual audits to be conducted during each year and related resources to be devoted to the respective audits. The Chief Financial Officer, to assist in fulfilling the responsibilities for examining, auditing, and settling accounts, claims, and demands pursuant to s. 17.03(1), and examining, auditing, adjusting, and settling accounts pursuant to s. 17.04, may utilize audits performed by the inspectors general and internal auditors. For state agencies under the Governor, the audit plans shall be submitted to the Governor's Chief Inspector General. The plan shall be submitted to the agency head for approval. A copy of the approved plan shall be submitted to the Auditor General.

(6)  In carrying out the investigative duties and responsibilities specified in this section, each inspector general shall initiate, conduct, supervise, and coordinate investigations designed to detect, deter, prevent, and eradicate fraud, waste, mismanagement, misconduct, and other abuses in state government. For these purposes, each state agency shall:

(a)  Receive complaints and coordinate all activities of the agency as required by the Whistle-blower's Act pursuant to ss. 112.3187-112.31895.

(b)  Receive and consider the complaints which do not meet the criteria for an investigation under the Whistle-blower's Act and conduct, supervise, or coordinate such inquiries, investigations, or reviews as the inspector general deems appropriate.

(c)  Report expeditiously to the Department of Law Enforcement or other law enforcement agencies, as appropriate, whenever the inspector general has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of criminal law.

(d)  Conduct investigations and other inquiries free of actual or perceived impairment to the independence of the inspector general or the inspector general's office. This shall include freedom from any interference with investigations and timely access to records and other sources of information.

(e)  Submit in a timely fashion final reports on investigations conducted by the inspector general to the agency head, except for whistle-blower's investigations, which shall be conducted and reported pursuant to s. 112.3189.

(7)  Each inspector general shall, not later than September 30 of each year, prepare an annual report summarizing the activities of the office during the immediately preceding state fiscal year. The final report shall be furnished to the agency head. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to:

(a)  A description of activities relating to the development, assessment, and validation of performance measures.

(b)  A description of significant abuses and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations of the agency disclosed by investigations, audits, reviews, or other activities during the reporting period.

(c)  A description of the recommendations for corrective action made by the inspector general during the reporting period with respect to significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies identified.

(d)  The identification of each significant recommendation described in previous annual reports on which corrective action has not been completed.

(e)  A summary of each audit and investigation completed during the reporting period.

(8)  Each agency inspector general shall, to the extent both necessary and practicable, include on his or her staff individuals with electronic data processing auditing experience.

History.--ss. 1, 2, ch. 86-131; s. 1, ch. 87-30; ss. 1, 4, ch. 90-247; s. 18, ch. 91-282; s. 2, ch. 91-285; s. 7, ch. 94-235; s. 1, ch. 94-340; s. 1315, ch. 95-147; s. 8, ch. 95-153; s. 8, ch. 95-312; s. 5, ch. 96-406; s. 15, ch. 98-73; s. 62, ch. 99-245; s. 2, ch. 2001-124; s. 21, ch. 2001-266; s. 68, ch. 2003-261.

¹Note.--Abolished by s. 3, ch. 2001-170.

²Note.--Repealed by s. 61, ch. 2000-371.

20.057  Interagency agreements to delete duplication of inspections.--

(1)  The Governor shall direct any department, the head of which is an officer or board appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor, to enter into an interagency agreement that will eliminate duplication of inspections among the departments that inspect the same type of facility or structure. Parties to the agreement may include departments which are headed by a Cabinet officer, the Governor and Cabinet, or a collegial body. The agreement shall:

(a)  Authorize agents of one department to conduct inspections required to be performed by another department.

(b)  Specify that agents of the department conducting the inspection have all powers relative to the inspection as the agents of the department on whose behalf the inspection is being conducted.

(c)  Require that agents of the department conducting the inspection have sufficient knowledge of statutory and administrative inspection requirements to conduct a proper inspection.

(d)  Specify that the departments which have entered into the agreement may neither charge nor accept any funds with respect to duties performed under the agreement which are in excess of the direct costs of conducting such inspections.

Before taking effect, an agreement entered into under this section must be approved by the Governor. Inspections conducted under an agreement shall be deemed sufficient for enforcement purposes pursuant to the agreement or as otherwise provided by law.

(2)  No later than 60 days prior to the beginning of the regular session, the Governor shall make an annual report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding interagency agreements. The report shall identify each interagency agreement entered into under this section, and, for each agreement, shall describe the duplication eliminated, provide data that measures the effectiveness of inspections conducted under the interagency agreement, and estimate the cost savings that have resulted from the agreement. The report shall also describe obstacles encountered by any department in attempting to develop an interagency agreement and in performing duties resulting from an interagency agreement and shall recommend appropriate remedial legislative action.

History.--s. 10, ch. 91-429.

20.06  Method of reorganization.--The executive branch of state government shall be reorganized by transferring the specified agencies, programs, and functions to other specified departments, commissions, or offices. Such a transfer does not affect the validity of any judicial or administrative proceeding pending on the day of the transfer, and any agency or department to which are transferred the powers, duties, and functions relating to the pending proceeding must be substituted as a party in interest for the proceeding. The transfers provided herein are intended to supplement but not supplant the requirements of s. 6, Art. III of the State Constitution. The definitions provided in s. 20.03 apply to this section, and the types of transfers are defined as follows:

(1)  TYPE ONE TRANSFER.--A type one transfer is the transferring intact of an existing agency or department so that the agency or department becomes a unit of another agency or a department. Any agency or department transferred to another agency or department by a type one transfer will exercise its powers, duties, and functions as prescribed by law, subject to review and approval by, and under the direct supervision of, the head of the agency or department to which the transfer is made, unless otherwise provided by law. Any agency or department transferred by a type one transfer has all its statutory powers, duties, and functions, and its records, personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds transferred to the agency or department to which it is transferred. The transfer of segregated funds must be made in such manner that the relation between program and revenue source as provided by law is retained. Unless otherwise provided by law, the administrative rules of any agency or department involved in the transfer which are in effect immediately before the transfer remain in effect until specifically changed in the manner provided by law.

(2)  TYPE TWO TRANSFER.--A type two transfer is the merging into another agency or department of an existing agency or department or a program, activity, or function thereof or, if certain identifiable units or subunits, programs, activities, or functions are removed from the existing agency or department, or are abolished, it is the merging into an agency or department of the existing agency or department with the certain identifiable units or subunits, programs, activities, or functions removed therefrom or abolished.

(a)  Any agency or department or a program, activity, or function thereof transferred by a type two transfer has all its statutory powers, duties, and functions, and its records, personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds, except those transferred elsewhere or abolished, transferred to the agency or department to which it is transferred, unless otherwise provided by law. The transfer of segregated funds must be made in such a manner that the relation between program and revenue source as provided by law is retained.

(b)  Unless otherwise provided by law, the head of the agency or department to which an existing agency or department or a program, activity, or function thereof is transferred is authorized to establish units or subunits to which the agency or department is assigned, and to assign administrative authority for identifiable programs, activities, or functions, to the extent authorized in this chapter.

(c)  Unless otherwise provided by law, the administrative rules of any agency or department involved in the transfer which are in effect immediately before the transfer remain in effect until specifically changed in the manner provided by law.

History.--s. 6, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 79-36; s. 12, ch. 94-235.

20.10  Department of State.--There is created a Department of State.

(1)  The head of the Department of State is the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary of State shall perform the functions conferred by the State Constitution upon the custodian of state records.

(2)  The following divisions of the Department of State are established:

(a)  Division of Elections.

(b)  Division of Historical Resources.

(c)  Division of Corporations.

(d)  Division of Library and Information Services.

(e)  Division of Cultural Affairs.

(f)  Division of Administration.

(3)  The Department of State may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer the provisions of law conferring duties upon the department.

History.--s. 10, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-329; s. 3, ch. 71-355; s. 1, ch. 74-272; s. 15, ch. 75-22; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 77-122; s. 3, ch. 79-164; s. 1, ch. 80-391; s. 3, ch. 86-163; s. 4, ch. 2000-258; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2001-75; s. 2, ch. 2002-295.

20.11  Department of Legal Affairs.--There is created a Department of Legal Affairs. The head of the Department of Legal Affairs is the Attorney General.

History.--s. 11, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, ch. 77-105.

¹20.121  Department of Financial Services.--There is created a Department of Financial Services.

(1)  DEPARTMENT HEAD.--The head of the Department of Financial Services is the Chief Financial Officer.

(2)  DIVISIONS.--The Department of Financial Services shall consist of the following divisions:

(a)  The Division of Accounting and Auditing, which shall include the following bureau and office:

1.  The Bureau of Unclaimed Property.

2.  The Office of Fiscal Integrity which shall function as a criminal justice agency for purposes of ss. 943.045-943.08 and shall have a separate budget. The office may conduct investigations within or outside this state as the bureau deems necessary to aid in the enforcement of this section. If during an investigation the office has reason to believe that any criminal law of this state has or may have been violated, the office shall refer any records tending to show such violation to state or federal law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies and shall provide investigative assistance to those agencies as required.

(b)  The Division of State Fire Marshal.

(c)  The Division of Risk Management.

(d)  The Division of Treasury, which shall include a Bureau of Deferred Compensation responsible for administering the Government Employees Deferred Compensation Plan established under s. 112.215 for state employees.

(e)  The Division of Insurance Fraud.

(f)  The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation.

(g)  The Division of Insurance Agents and Agency Services.

(h)  The Division of Consumer Services, which shall include a Bureau of Funeral and Cemetery Services.

1.  The Division of Consumer Services shall perform the following functions concerning products or services regulated by the Department of Financial Services or by either office of the Financial Services Commission:

a.  Receive inquiries and complaints from consumers;

b.  Prepare and disseminate such information as the department deems appropriate to inform or assist consumers;

c.  Provide direct assistance and advocacy for consumers who request such assistance or advocacy;

d.  With respect to apparent or potential violations of law or applicable rules by a person or entity licensed by the department or by either office of the commission, report such apparent or potential violation to the appropriate division of the department or office of the commission, which may take such further action as it deems appropriate.

2.  Any person licensed or issued a certificate of authority by the department or by the Office of Insurance Regulation shall respond, in writing, to the Division of Consumer Services within 20 days after receipt of a written request for information from the division concerning a consumer complaint. The response must address the issues and allegations raised in this complaint. The division may, in its discretion, impose an administrative penalty for failure to comply with this subparagraph in an amount up to $2,500 per violation upon any entity licensed by the department or the Office of Insurance Regulation and $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second violation and up to $1,000 per violation thereafter upon any individual licensed by the department or the Office of Insurance Regulation.

3.  The department may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this paragraph.

4.  The powers, duties, and responsibilities expressed or granted in this paragraph shall not limit the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Department of Financial Services, the Financial Services Commission, the Office of Insurance Regulation, or the Office of Financial Regulation set forth elsewhere in the Florida Statutes.

(i)  The Division of Workers' Compensation.

(j)  The Division of Administration.

(k)  The Division of Legal Services.

(l)  The Division of Information Systems.

(m)  The Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate.

(3)  FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION.--Effective January 7, 2003, there is created within the Department of Financial Services the Financial Services Commission, composed of the Governor, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture, which shall for purposes of this section be referred to as the commission. Commission members shall serve as agency head of the Financial Services Commission. The commission shall be a separate budget entity and shall be exempt from the provisions of s. 20.052. Commission action shall be by majority vote consisting of at least three affirmative votes. The commission shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by the Department of Financial Services in any manner, including purchasing, transactions involving real or personal property, personnel, or budgetary matters.

(a)  Structure.--The major structural unit of the commission is the office. Each office shall be headed by a director. The following offices are established:

1.  The Office of Insurance Regulation, which shall be responsible for all activities concerning insurers and other risk bearing entities, including licensing, rates, policy forms, market conduct, claims, adjusters, issuance of certificates of authority, solvency, viatical settlements, premium financing, and administrative supervision, as provided under the insurance code or chapter 636. The head of the Office of Insurance Regulation is the Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation.

2.  The Office of Financial Regulation, which shall be responsible for all activities of the Financial Services Commission relating to the regulation of banks, credit unions, other financial institutions, finance companies, and the securities industry. The head of the office is the Director of the Office of Financial Regulation. The Office of Financial Regulation shall include a Bureau of Financial Investigations, which shall function as a criminal justice agency for purposes of ss. 943.045-943.08 and shall have a separate budget. The bureau may conduct investigations within or outside this state as the bureau deems necessary to aid in the enforcement of this section. If, during an investigation, the office has reason to believe that any criminal law of this state has or may have been violated, the office shall refer any records tending to show such violation to state or federal law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies and shall provide investigative assistance to those agencies as required.

(b)  Organization.--The commission shall establish by rule any additional organizational structure of the offices. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide the commission with the flexibility to organize the offices in any manner they determine appropriate to promote both efficiency and accountability.

(c)  Powers.--Commission members shall serve as the agency head for purposes of rulemaking under ss. 120.536-120.565 by the commission and all subunits of the commission. Each director is agency head for purposes of final agency action under chapter 120 for all areas within the regulatory authority delegated to the director's office.

(d)  Appointment and qualifications of directors.--The commission shall appoint or remove each director by a majority vote consisting of at least three affirmative votes, with both the Governor and the Chief Financial Officer on the prevailing side. The minimum qualifications of the directors are as follows:

1.  Prior to appointment as director, the Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation must have had, within the previous 10 years, at least 5 years of responsible private sector experience working full time in areas within the scope of the subject matter jurisdiction of the Office of Insurance Regulation or at least 5 years of experience as a senior examiner or other senior employee of a state or federal agency having regulatory responsibility over insurers or insurance agencies.

2.  Prior to appointment as director, the Director of the Office of Financial Regulation must have had, within the previous 10 years, at least 5 years of responsible private sector experience working full time in areas within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Office of Financial Regulation or at least 5 years of experience as a senior examiner or other senior employee of a state or federal agency having regulatory responsibility over financial institutions, finance companies, or securities companies.

(e)  Administrative support.--The offices shall have a sufficient number of attorneys, examiners, investigators, other professional personnel to carry out their responsibilities and administrative personnel as determined annually in the appropriations process. The Department of Financial Services shall provide administrative and information systems support to the offices.

(f)  Records retention schedules.--The commission and the offices may destroy general correspondence files and also any other records that they deem no longer necessary to preserve in accordance with retention schedules and destruction notices established under rules of the Division of Library and Information Services, records and information management program, of the Department of State. Such schedules and notices relating to financial records of the commission and offices shall be subject to the approval of the Auditor General.

(g)  Records storage.--The commission and offices may photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce on film such documents and records as they may select, in such manner that each page will be exposed in exact conformity with the original. After reproduction and filing, original documents and records may be destroyed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (f).

(4)  Effective January 7, 2003, the rules of the Department of Banking and Finance and of the Department of Insurance that were in effect on January 6, 2003, shall become rules of the Department of Financial Services or the Financial Services Commission as is appropriate to the corresponding regulatory or constitutional function and shall remain in effect until specifically amended or repealed in the manner provided by law.

History.--s. 2, ch. 2002-404; s. 4, ch. 2002-404; s. 69, ch. 2003-261.

¹Note.--

A.  Section 1980, ch. 2003-261, provides that "[t]his act and chapter 2002-404, Laws of Florida, shall not affect the validity of any administrative or judicial action involving the Department of Banking and Finance or the Department of Insurance occurring prior to, or pending on, January 7, 2003, and the Department of Financial Services or the Financial Services Commission, or the respective office, as appropriate, shall be substituted as a party in interest on any such pending action."

B.  Section 1981, ch. 2003-261, provides that "[a]ny certificate of authority, license, form, rate, or other filing or action that was approved or authorized by the Department of Insurance or the Department of Banking and Finance, or that was otherwise lawfully in use prior to January 7, 2003, may continue to be used or be effective as originally authorized or permitted, until the Chief Financial Officer, the Department of Financial Services, the Financial Service Commission, or either of the respective offices, otherwise prescribes."

20.14  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.--There is created a Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(1)  The head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(2)  The following divisions of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are established:

(a)  Administration.

(b)  Agricultural Environmental Services.

(c)  Animal Industry.

(d)  Aquaculture.

(e)  Consumer Services.

(f)  Dairy Industry.

(g)  Food Safety.

(h)  Forestry.

(i)  Fruit and Vegetables.

(j)  Licensing.

(k)  Marketing and Development.

(l)  Plant Industry.

(m)  Standards.

(3)  Bureaus may be established as deemed necessary to promote efficient and effective operation of the department, pursuant to s. 20.04.

History.--s. 14, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-309; s. 1, ch. 71-196; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 77-108; s. 9, ch. 81-259; s. 1, ch. 84-165; s. 1, ch. 92-291; s. 9, ch. 99-245; s. 49, ch. 2001-89; s. 3, ch. 2002-295.

20.15  Department of Education.--There is created a Department of Education.

(1)  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.--In accordance with s. 2, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the State Board of Education is a body corporate and must supervise the system of free public education as is provided by law. The State Board of Education is the head of the Department of Education.

(2)  COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.--The Commissioner of Education is appointed by the State Board of Education and serves as the Executive Director of the Department of Education.

(3)  DIVISIONS.--The following divisions of the Department of Education are established:

(a)  Division of Community Colleges.

(b)  Division of Public Schools.

(c)  Division of Colleges and Universities.

¹(d)  Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

(e)  Division of Blind Services.

(4)  DIRECTORS.--The directors of all divisions shall be appointed by the commissioner subject to approval by the state board.

(5)  POWERS AND DUTIES.--The State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education shall assign to the divisions such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to ensure the greatest possible coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of education for students in K-20 education.

(6)  COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES.--Notwithstanding anything contained in law to the contrary, the commissioner shall appoint all members of all councils and committees of the Department of Education, except the Commission for Independent Education and the Education Practices Commission.

(7)  BOARDS.--Notwithstanding anything contained in law to the contrary, all members of the university and community college boards of trustees must be appointed according to chapter 1001.

History.--s. 15, ch. 69-106; s. 33, ch. 75-48; s. 1, ch. 75-302; ss. 2, 3, ch. 77-123; s. 1, ch. 77-259; s. 104, ch. 79-222; s. 1, ch. 81-56; s. 10, ch. 81-259; s. 9, ch. 83-326; s. 106, ch. 84-336; s. 25, ch. 86-225; s. 1, ch. 87-76; s. 4, ch. 91-45; s. 1, ch. 91-182; s. 13, ch. 94-232; s. 1316, ch. 95-147; s. 51, ch. 95-280; ss. 2, 3, ch. 95-327; s. 72, ch. 97-190; s. 7, ch. 97-307; s. 14, ch. 98-281; s. 26, ch. 98-421; ss. 2, 42, ch. 99-240; s. 21, ch. 99-398; s. 52, ch. 2000-165; s. 2, ch. 2000-301; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321; s. 4, ch. 2001-60; s. 1, ch. 2002-22; s. 881, ch. 2002-387.

¹Note.--Section 34, ch. 2002-22, provides that "[b]efore the 2005 Regular Session of the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall conduct a review of and prepare a report on the progress of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Education."

Note.--Paragraph (3)(e) former s. 20.171(5)(c).

20.165  Department of Business and Professional Regulation.--There is created a Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

(1)  The head of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation. The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2)  The following divisions of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation are established:

(a)  Division of Administration.

(b)  Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

(c)  Division of Certified Public Accounting.

1.  The director of the division shall be appointed by the secretary of the department, subject to approval by a majority of the Board of Accountancy.

2.  The offices of the division shall be located in Gainesville.

(d)  Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes.

(e)  Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

(f)  Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.

(g)  Division of Professions.

(h)  Division of Real Estate.

1.  The director of the division shall be appointed by the secretary of the department, subject to approval by a majority of the Florida Real Estate Commission.

2.  The offices of the division shall be located in Orlando.

(i)  Division of Regulation.

(j)  Division of Technology, Licensure, and Testing.

(3)  The secretary shall appoint a director for each division established within this section. Each division director shall directly administer the division and shall be responsible to the secretary. The secretary may appoint deputy and assistant secretaries as necessary to aid the secretary in fulfilling the secretary's statutory obligations.

(4)(a)  The following boards are established within the Division of Professions:

1.  Board of Architecture and Interior Design, created under part I of chapter 481.

2.  Florida Board of Auctioneers, created under part VI of chapter 468.

3.  Barbers' Board, created under chapter 476.

4.  Florida Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board, created under part XII of chapter 468.

5.  Construction Industry Licensing Board, created under part I of chapter 489.

6.  Board of Cosmetology, created under chapter 477.

7.  Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board, created under part II of chapter 489.

8.  Board of Employee Leasing Companies, created under part XI of chapter 468.

9.  Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, created under chapter 470.

10.  Board of Landscape Architecture, created under part II of chapter 481.

11.  Board of Pilot Commissioners, created under chapter 310.

12.  Board of Professional Engineers, created under chapter 471.

13.  Board of Professional Geologists, created under chapter 492.

14.  Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, created under chapter 472.

15.  Board of Veterinary Medicine, created under chapter 474.

(b)  The following board and commission are established within the Division of Real Estate:

1.  Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, created under part II of chapter 475.

2.  Florida Real Estate Commission, created under part I of chapter 475.

(c)  The following board is established within the Division of Certified Public Accounting:

1.  Board of Accountancy, created under chapter 473.

(5)  The members of each board established pursuant to subsection (4) shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Consumer members on the board shall be appointed pursuant to subsection (6). Members shall be appointed for 4-year terms, and such terms shall expire on October 31. However, a term of less than 4 years may be utilized to ensure that:

(a)  No more than two members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of seven or eight members.

(b)  No more than 3 members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of 9 to 12 members.

(c)  No more than 5 members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of 13 or more members.

A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve on the board until such time as a replacement is appointed. A vacancy on the board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. No member may serve for more than the remaining portion of a previous member's unexpired term, plus two consecutive 4-year terms of the member's own appointment thereafter.

(6)  Each board with five or more members shall have at least two consumer members who are not, and have never been, members or practitioners of the profession regulated by such board or of any closely related profession. Each board with fewer than five members shall have at least one consumer member who is not, and has never been, a member or practitioner of the profession regulated by such board or of any closely related profession.

(7)  No board, with the exception of joint coordinatorships, shall be transferred from its present location unless authorized by the Legislature in the General Appropriations Act.

(8)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department is authorized to establish uniform application forms and certificates of licensure for use by the divisions within the department. Nothing in this subsection authorizes the department to vary any substantive requirements, duties, or eligibilities for licensure or certification as provided by law.

(9)(a)  All employees authorized by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco shall have access to, and shall have the right to inspect, premises licensed by the division, to collect taxes and remit them to the officers entitled to them, and to examine the books and records of all licensees. The authorized employees shall require of each licensee strict compliance with the laws of this state relating to the transaction of such business.

(b)  All employees certified under chapter 943 as law enforcement officers shall have felony arrest powers under s. 901.15(11) and shall have all the powers of deputy sheriffs to:

1.  Investigate, enforce, and prosecute, throughout the state, violations and violators of:

a.  Parts I and II of chapter 210; part VII of chapter 559; and chapters 561-569; and the rules promulgated thereunder, as well as other state laws which the division, all state law enforcement officers, or beverage enforcement agents are specifically authorized to enforce.

b.  All other state laws, provided that the employee exercises the powers of a deputy sheriff, only after consultation and in coordination with the appropriate local sheriff's office, and only if the violation could result in an administrative proceeding against a license or permit issued by the division.

2.  Enforce all criminal laws of the state within specified jurisdictions when the division is a party to a written mutual aid agreement with a state agency, sheriff, or municipal police department, or when the division participates in the Florida Mutual Aid Plan during a declared state emergency.

History.--s. 4, ch. 93-220; s. 1, ch. 94-119; s. 2, ch. 94-218; s. 1, ch. 95-346; s. 9, ch. 96-403; s. 1, ch. 97-162; s. 9, ch. 99-254.

20.18  Department of Community Affairs.--There is created a Department of Community Affairs.

(1)  The head of the Department of Community Affairs is the Secretary of Community Affairs. The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2)  The following units of the Department of Community Affairs are established:

(a)  Division of Emergency Management.

(b)  Division of Housing and Community Development.

(c)  Division of Community Planning.

(3)  Unless otherwise provided by law, the Secretary of Community Affairs shall appoint the directors or executive directors of any commission or council assigned to the department, who shall serve at his or her pleasure as provided for division directors in s. 110.205. The appointment or termination by the secretary will be done with the advice and consent of the commission or council; and the director or executive director may employ, subject to departmental rules and procedures, such personnel as may be authorized and necessary.

(4)  In addition to its other powers, duties, and functions, the department shall, under the general supervision of the secretary and the Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Community Services, assist and encourage the development of state programs by the various departments for the productive use of human resources, and the department shall work with other state agencies in order that together they might:

(a)  Effect the coordination, by the responsible agencies of the state, of the vocational, technical, and adult educational programs of the state in order to provide the maximum use and meaningful employment of persons completing courses of study from such programs;

(b)  Assist the ¹Department of Commerce in the development of employment opportunities; and

(c)  Improve the enforcement of special district reporting requirements and the communication among state agencies that receive mandatory reports from special districts.

(5)  The role of state government required by part I of chapter 421 (Housing Authorities Law), chapter 422 (Housing Cooperation Law), and chapter 423 (tax exemption of housing authorities) is the responsibility of the Department of Community Affairs; and the department is the agency of state government responsible for the state's role in housing and urban development.

(6)  The department is the agency of state government responsible for collection and analysis of information on energy resources in this state, for coordination of the energy conservation programs of state agencies, and for coordination of the development, review, and implementation of state energy policy. The energy program responsibilities of the department set forth in this subsection shall be carried out by the Office of the Secretary of Community Affairs until such time as the secretary determines that such responsibilities should be redistributed within the various divisions of the department and submits a report to the Legislature with respect thereto.

History.--s. 18, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 71-137; ss. 2, 3, ch. 74-285; ss. 1, 2, ch. 74-307; s. 2, ch. 75-151; s. 7, ch. 75-210; s. 9, ch. 77-104; s. 1, ch. 77-330; s. 4, ch. 78-323; s. 5, ch. 79-7; s. 1, ch. 79-10; s. 1, ch. 79-65; s. 4, ch. 79-164; s. 47, ch. 79-190; s. 7, ch. 79-261; s. 2, ch. 80-61; ss. 1, 2, ch. 81-298; ss. 1, 4, ch. 82-46; s. 4, ch. 82-387; s. 2, ch. 83-55; s. 2, ch. 83-85; s. 3, ch. 83-174; s. 2, ch. 83-265; s. 2, ch. 84-241; s. 1, ch. 87-172; s. 32, ch. 88-376; s. 31, ch. 89-169; s. 1, ch. 91-113; s. 82, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 98-176; s. 4, ch. 2000-342.

¹Note.--Section 20.17, which created the Department of Commerce, was repealed by s. 3, ch. 96-320.

20.19  Department of Children and Family Services.--There is created a Department of Children and Family Services.

(1)  MISSION AND PURPOSE.--

(a)  The mission of the Department of Children and Family Services is to work in partnership with local communities to ensure the safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of the people served.

(b)  The department shall develop a strategic plan for fulfilling its mission and establish a set of measurable goals, objectives, performance standards, and quality assurance requirements to ensure that the department is accountable to the people of Florida.

(c)  To the extent allowed by law and within specific appropriations, the department shall deliver services by contract through private providers.

(2)  SECRETARY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; DEPUTY SECRETARY.--

(a)  The head of the department is the Secretary of Children and Family Services. The secretary is appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

(b)  The secretary shall appoint a deputy secretary who shall act in the absence of the secretary. The deputy secretary is directly responsible to the secretary, performs such duties as are assigned by the secretary, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary.

¹(c)1.  The secretary shall appoint an Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health. The assistant secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and must have expertise in both areas of responsibility.

2.  The secretary shall appoint a Program Director for Substance Abuse and a Program Director for Mental Health who have the requisite expertise and experience in their respective fields to head the state's substance abuse and mental health programs.

a.  Each program director shall have line authority over all district substance abuse and mental health program management staff.

b.  The assistant secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each district or region administrator, which must be approved by the secretary or the secretary's designee, describing the working relationships within each geographic area.

c.  The mental health institutions shall report to the Program Director for Mental Health.

d.  Each program director shall have direct control over the program's budget and contracts for services. Support staff necessary to manage budget and contracting functions within the department shall be placed under the supervision of the program directors.

(d)  The secretary has the authority and responsibility to ensure that the mission of the department is fulfilled in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

(3)  PROGRAM DIRECTORS.--The secretary shall appoint program directors who serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The secretary may delegate to the program directors responsibilities for the management, policy, program, and fiscal functions of the department.

(4)  PROGRAM OFFICES AND SUPPORT OFFICES.--

(a)  The department is authorized to establish program offices and support offices, each of which shall be headed by a director or other management position who shall be appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the secretary.

(b)  The following program offices are established:

1.  Adult Services.

2.  Child Care Services.

3.  Developmental Disabilities.

4.  Economic Self-Sufficiency Services.

5.  Family Safety.

¹6.  Mental Health.

7.  Refugee Services.

¹8.  Substance Abuse.

(c)  Program offices and support offices may be consolidated, restructured, or rearranged by the secretary, in consultation with the Executive Office of the Governor, provided any such consolidation, restructuring, or rearranging is capable of meeting functions and activities and achieving outcomes as delineated in state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. The secretary may appoint additional managers and administrators as he or she determines are necessary for the effective management of the department.

(5)  SERVICE DISTRICTS.--

(a)  The department shall plan and administer its programs of family services through service districts and subdistricts composed of the following counties:

1.  District 1.--Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties.

2.  District 2, Subdistrict A.--Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, and Gulf Counties.

3.  District 2, Subdistrict B.--Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor Counties.

4.  District 3.--Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Union, Bradford, Putnam, and Alachua Counties.

5.  District 4.--Baker, Nassau, Duval, Clay, and St. Johns Counties.

6.  District 5.--Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

7.  District 6.--Hillsborough and Manatee Counties.

8.  District 7, Subdistrict A.--Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties.

9.  District 7, Subdistrict B.--Brevard County.

10.  District 8, Subdistrict A.--Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.

11.  District 8, Subdistrict B.--Charlotte, Lee, Glades, Hendry, and Collier Counties.

12.  District 9.--Palm Beach County.

13.  District 10.--Broward County.

14.  District 11, Subdistrict A.--Miami-Dade County.

15.  District 11, Subdistrict B.--Monroe County.

16.  District 12.--Flagler and Volusia Counties.

17.  District 13.--Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, and Lake Counties.

18.  District 14.--Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties.

19.  District 15.--Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties.

²(b)1.  The secretary shall appoint a district administrator for each of the service districts. The district administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and shall perform such duties as assigned by the secretary. Subject to the approval of the secretary, such duties shall include transferring up to 10 percent of the total district budget, the provisions of ss. 216.292 and 216.351 notwithstanding.

2.  For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only, the transfer authority provided in this subsection must be specifically appropriated in the 2003-2004 General Appropriations Act and shall be pursuant to the requirements of s. 216.292. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2004.

(c)  Each fiscal year the secretary shall, in consultation with the relevant employee representatives, develop projections of the number of child abuse and neglect cases and shall include in the department's legislative budget request a specific appropriation for funds and positions for the next fiscal year in order to provide an adequate number of full-time equivalent:

1.  Child protection investigation workers so that caseloads do not exceed the Child Welfare League Standards by more than two cases; and

2.  Child protection case workers so that caseloads do not exceed the Child Welfare League Standards by more than two cases.

(6)  COMMUNITY ALLIANCES.--

(a)  The department shall, in consultation with local communities, establish a community alliance of the stakeholders, community leaders, client representatives and funders of human services in each county to provide a focal point for community participation and governance of community-based services. An alliance may cover more than one county when such arrangement is determined to provide for more effective representation. The community alliance shall represent the diversity of the community.

(b)  The duties of the community alliance shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1.  Joint planning for resource utilization in the community, including resources appropriated to the department and any funds that local funding sources choose to provide.

2.  Needs assessment and establishment of community priorities for service delivery.

3.  Determining community outcome goals to supplement state-required outcomes.

4.  Serving as a catalyst for community resource development.

5.  Providing for community education and advocacy on issues related to delivery of services.

6.  Promoting prevention and early intervention services.

(c)  The department shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the formation of each community alliance builds on the strengths of the existing community human services infrastructure.

(d)  The initial membership of the community alliance in a county shall be composed of the following:

1.  The district administrator.

2.  A representative from county government.

3.  A representative from the school district.

4.  A representative from the county United Way.

5.  A representative from the county sheriff's office.

6.  A representative from the circuit court corresponding to the county.

7.  A representative from the county children's board, if one exists.

(e)  At any time after the initial meeting of the community alliance, the community alliance shall adopt bylaws and may increase the membership of the alliance to include the state attorney for the judicial circuit in which the community alliance is located, or his or her designee, the public defender for the judicial circuit in which the community alliance is located, or his or her designee, and other individuals and organizations who represent funding organizations, are community leaders, have knowledge of community-based service issues, or otherwise represent perspectives that will enable them to accomplish the duties listed in paragraph (b), if, in the judgment of the alliance, such change is necessary to adequately represent the diversity of the population within the community alliance service districts.

(f)  Members of the community alliances shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061. Payment may also be authorized for preapproved child care expenses or lost wages for members who are consumers of the department's services and for preapproved child care expenses for other members who demonstrate hardship.

(g)  Members of a community alliance are subject to the provisions of part III of chapter 112, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.

(h)  Actions taken by a community alliance must be consistent with department policy and state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

(i)  Alliance members shall annually submit a disclosure statement of services interests to the department's inspector general. Any member who has an interest in a matter under consideration by the alliance must abstain from voting on that matter.

(j)  All alliance meetings are open to the public pursuant to s. 286.011 and the public records provision of s. 119.07(1).

(7)  PROTOTYPE REGION.--

(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the department may consolidate the management and administrative structure or function of the geographic area that includes the counties in the sixth, twelfth, and thirteenth judicial circuits as defined in s. 26.021. The department shall evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation of the prototype region and upon a determination that there has been a demonstrated improvement in management and oversight of services or cost savings from more efficient administration of services, the secretary may consolidate management and administration of additional areas of the state. Any such additional consolidation shall comply with the provisions of subsection (5) unless legislative authorization to the contrary is provided.

(b)  Within the prototype region, the budget transfer authority defined in paragraph (5)(b) shall apply to the consolidated geographic area.

(c)  The department is authorized to contract for children's services with a lead agency in each county of the prototype area, except that the lead agency contract may cover more than one county when it is determined that such coverage will provide more effective or efficient services. The duties of the lead agency shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1.  Directing and coordinating the program and children's services within the scope of its contract.

2.  Providing or contracting for the provision of core services, including intake and eligibility, assessment, service planning, and case management.

3.  Creating a service provider network capable of delivering the services contained in client service plans, which shall include identifying the necessary services, the necessary volume of services, and possible utilization patterns and negotiating rates and expectations with providers.

4.  Managing and monitoring of provider contracts and subcontracts.

5.  Developing and implementing an effective bill payment mechanism to ensure all providers are paid in a timely fashion.

6.  Providing or arranging for administrative services necessary to support service delivery.

7.  Utilizing departmentally approved training and meeting departmentally defined credentials and standards.

8.  Providing for performance measurement in accordance with the department's quality assurance program and providing for quality improvement and performance measurement.

9.  Developing and maintaining effective interagency collaboration to optimize service delivery.

10.  Ensuring that all federal and state reporting requirements are met.

11.  Operating a consumer complaint and grievance process.

12.  Ensuring that services are coordinated and not duplicated with other major payors, such as the local schools and Medicaid.

13.  Any other duties or responsibilities defined in s. 409.1671 related to community-based care.

(8)  CONSULTATION WITH COUNTIES ON MANDATED PROGRAMS.--It is the intent of the Legislature that when county governments are required by law to participate in the funding of programs, the department shall consult with designated representatives of county governments in developing policies and service delivery plans for those programs.

(9)  PROCUREMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.--Nothing contained in chapter 287 shall require competitive bids for health services involving examination, diagnosis, or treatment.

History.--s. 19, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, ch. 70-441; ss. 1, 4, ch. 71-213; s. 1, ch. 73-99; s. 1, ch. 73-114; s. 1, ch. 74-107; ss. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 29, 31, 32, 34, ch. 75-48; ss. 1, 2, ch. 76-115; s. 1, ch. 77-174; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 77-212; s. 4, ch. 78-323; s. 2, ch. 79-10; s. 1, ch. 79-26; s. 63, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 79-265; ss. 1, 2, 5, ch. 79-287; s. 8, ch. 80-187; s. 1, ch. 80-202; s. 8, ch. 80-374; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 81-83; ss. 7, 8, 9, ch. 81-184; ss. 1, 4, 5, ch. 81-237; s. 12, ch. 81-259; s. 1, ch. 81-290; ss. 1, 4, ch. 82-46; ss. 1, 2, ch. 82-100; s. 5, ch. 82-213; s. 1, ch. 83-89; ss. 1, 11, ch. 83-177; s. 1, ch. 83-181; s. 2, ch. 83-215; s. 3, ch. 83-216; s. 2, ch. 83-230; ss. 2, 3, ch. 83-265; ss. 13, 17, ch. 84-226; s. 3, ch. 85-80; s. 1, ch. 85-270; s. 1, ch. 86-66; s. 1, ch. 86-220; ss. 1, 2, ch. 87-140; s. 2, ch. 88-235; s. 9, ch. 88-337; s. 15, ch. 88-398; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 89-1; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 89-92; s. 4, ch. 89-215; s. 2, ch. 89-296; s. 2, ch. 90-247; s. 1, ch. 90-339; s. 1, ch. 91-14; s. 1, ch. 91-158; s. 5, ch. 91-429; ss. 9, 110, ch. 92-33; s. 3, ch. 92-58; s. 1, ch. 92-174; s. 1, ch. 93-200; s. 3, ch. 94-124; s. 7, ch. 94-209; s. 1317, ch. 95-147; s. 9, ch. 95-153; s. 50, ch. 96-175; s. 5, ch. 96-403; s. 6, ch. 97-237; s. 28, ch. 97-286; s. 1, ch. 98-25; s. 1, ch. 98-137; s. 1, ch. 98-280; s. 120, ch. 98-403; s. 5, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 99-7; s. 2, ch. 2000-135; s. 2, ch. 2000-139; s. 4, ch. 2000-158; s. 1, ch. 2001-68; s. 1, ch. 2002-63; s. 5, ch. 2003-279; s. 29, ch. 2003-399.

¹Note.--

A.  Section 3, ch. 2003-279, provides that "[s]ection 20.19(2)(c), Florida Statutes, as created by this act, and section 20.19(4)(b)6. and 8., Florida Statutes, shall expire on October 1, 2006, unless reviewed and reenacted by the Legislature before that date."

B.  Sections 6 and 10, ch. 2003-279, provide that "[e]xcept as otherwise provided, this act shall be implemented within available resources."

²Note.--

A.  Section 29, ch. 2003-399, amended paragraph (5)(b) "[i]n order to implement Specific Appropriation 242 of the 2003-2004 General Appropriations Act." Some proviso language relating to this appropriation was vetoed. See ch. 2003-397, the 2003-2004 General Appropriations Act.

B.  Section 92, ch. 2003-399, provides that "[a] section of this act that implements a specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso language in the 2003-2004 General Appropriations Act is void if the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso language is vetoed. A section of this act that implements more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of specifically identified proviso language in the 2003-2004 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso language are vetoed." Not all specific portions of specifically identified proviso language relating to the amendment of s. 20.19(5)(b) were vetoed.

20.195  Department of Children and Family Services Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.--

(1)  The Department of Children and Family Services Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund is created within that department. Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of funds disbursed, by nonoperating transfer, from the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund in amounts equal to the annual appropriations made from this trust fund.

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any unencumbered balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year and any encumbered balance remaining undisbursed on December 31 of the same calendar year shall revert to the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund.

History.--s. 1, ch. 99-199; s. 2, ch. 2000-10; s. 70, ch. 2003-261.

20.201  Department of Law Enforcement.--

(1)  There is created a Department of Law Enforcement. The head of the department is the Governor and Cabinet. The executive director of the department shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of three members of the Cabinet and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and Cabinet. The executive director may establish a command, operational, and administrative services structure to assist, manage, and support the department in operating programs and delivering services.

(2)  The following programs of the Department of Law Enforcement are established:

(a)  Criminal Justice Investigations and Forensic Science Program.

(b)  Criminal Justice Information Program.

(c)  Criminal Justice Professionalism Program.

(d)  Capitol Police.

History.--ss. 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, ch. 74-386; s. 11, ch. 77-104; s. 2, ch. 77-111; s. 1, ch. 78-347; s. 19, ch. 81-24; s. 2, ch. 87-30; s. 5, ch. 89-3; s. 1, ch. 98-94; s. 1, ch. 2002-21.

20.21  Department of Revenue.--There is created a Department of Revenue.

(1)  The head of the Department of Revenue is the Governor and Cabinet.

(2)(a)  The administrative responsibilities of the Department of Revenue are to plan, organize, and control the administrative support services for the department. Administrative functions include, but are not limited to, finance and accounting, revenue accounting, personnel, and office services.

(b)  The ad valorem tax responsibilities of the department are to carry out the relevant provisions of ad valorem tax law. Ad valorem tax functions include, but are not limited to, ad valorem administration, assessment standards and review, central property valuation, and field operations.

(c)  The audit responsibilities of the department are to plan, organize, administer, and control tax auditing activities. Audit functions include, but are not limited to, audit selection and standards development for those taxes collected by the department. The standards development function shall include development of standard audit criteria and provision of functional direction to field audit staff.

(d)  The collection and enforcement responsibilities of the department are to conduct tax collection and enforcement activities. Collection and enforcement functions include, but are not limited to, investigative services and central and field operations.

(e)  The information systems and services responsibilities of the department are to develop, maintain, and manage all information systems for tax return processing and taxpayer registration activities. Information systems and services functions include, but are not limited to, automation of all information systems.

(f)  The taxpayer assistance responsibilities of the department are to render advice to department personnel and the public on tax matters. Taxpayer assistance functions include, but are not limited to, the preparation of departmental rules for all taxes, the rendition of opinions pursuant to s. 213.22, and the provision of informal assistance to the public on tax matters.

(g)  The tax processing responsibilities of the department include, but are not limited to, receipts processing, tax returns processing, license registration, and taxpayer registration.

(h)  The child support enforcement responsibilities of the department include the administration of the child support enforcement program established by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq.

(3)  The position of taxpayers' rights advocate is created within the Department of Revenue. The taxpayers' rights advocate shall be appointed by and report to the executive director of the department. The responsibilities of the taxpayers' rights advocate include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a)  Facilitating the resolution of taxpayer complaints and problems which have not been resolved through normal administrative channels within the department, including any taxpayer complaints regarding unsatisfactory treatment of taxpayers by employees of the department.

(b)  Issuing a stay action on behalf of a taxpayer who has suffered or is about to suffer irreparable loss as a result of action by the department.

(4)  Necessary legal services, pursuant to chapter 16, including litigation shall be provided to the Department of Revenue by the Department of Legal Affairs, except for the establishment of paternity or support obligations, and the modification, enforcement, and collection of support obligations, for which legal services may be provided under a contract entered into by the Department of Revenue as the Title IV-D agency.

(5)  Notwithstanding any other law, the department may process taxes, fines, or license or regulatory fees for the benefit of any other state agency. Such processing may be done only pursuant to a written agreement between the department and the agency requesting this service.

(6)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 110.123, relating to the state group insurance program, the department may pay, or participate in the payment of, premiums for health, accident, and life insurance for its full-time out-of-state employees, pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, and such payments shall be in addition to the regular salaries of such full-time out-of-state employees.

History.--s. 21, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-266; s. 1, ch. 75-211; s. 1, ch. 77-102; ss. 1, 2, ch. 78-390; s. 3, ch. 79-10; s. 2, ch. 80-391; s. 1, ch. 81-50; s. 11, ch. 84-170; s. 1, ch. 86-124; s. 31, ch. 90-203; s. 1, ch. 91-112; s. 17, ch. 92-315; s. 4, ch. 94-124; ss. 2, 16, ch. 95-272; s. 2, ch. 97-287.

20.22  Department of Management Services.--There is created a Department of Management Services.

(1)  The head of the Department of Management Services is the Secretary of Management Services, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2)  The following divisions and programs within the Department of Management Services are established:

(a)  Facilities Program.

(b)  State Technology Office.

(c)  Workforce Program.

(d)1.  Support Program.

2.  Federal Property Assistance Program.

(e)  Administration Program.

(f)  Division of Administrative Hearings.

(g)  Division of Retirement.

(h)  Division of State Group Insurance.

(3)  The State Technology Office shall operate and manage the Technology Resource Center.

(4)  The duties of the Chief Labor Negotiator shall be determined by the Secretary of Management Services, and must include, but need not be limited to, the representation of the Governor as the public employer in collective bargaining negotiations pursuant to the provisions of chapter 447.

History.--s. 22, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, ch. 70-146; s. 1, ch. 71-43; s. 2, ch. 71-286; s. 1, ch. 74-256; ss. 1, 2, ch. 75-70; s. 1, ch. 76-247; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 77-112; s. 5, ch. 83-92; s. 3, ch. 84-274; s. 25, ch. 85-349; s. 1, ch. 91-54; s. 4, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 4, ch. 94-113; s. 1, ch. 94-226; s. 20, ch. 94-249; s. 2, ch. 94-340; s. 1, ch. 97-92; s. 3, ch. 97-296; s. 6, ch. 99-2; s. 2, ch. 99-7; s. 1, ch. 99-255; s. 1, ch. 99-399; s. 1, ch. 2001-261.

20.23  Department of Transportation.--There is created a Department of Transportation which shall be a decentralized agency.

(1)(a)  The head of the Department of Transportation is the Secretary of Transportation. The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor from among three persons nominated by the Florida Transportation Commission and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(b)  The secretary shall be a proven, effective administrator who by a combination of education and experience shall clearly possess a broad knowledge of the administrative, financial, and technical aspects of the development, operation, and regulation of transportation systems and facilities or comparable systems and facilities.

(c)  The secretary shall provide to the Florida Transportation Commission or its staff, such assistance, information, and documents as are requested by the commission or its staff to enable the commission to fulfill its duties and responsibilities.

(d)  The secretary shall appoint two assistant secretaries who shall be directly responsible to the secretary and who shall perform such duties as are assigned by the secretary. The secretary may delegate to any assistant secretary the authority to act in the absence of the secretary.

(e)  Any secretary appointed after July 5, 1989, and the assistant secretaries shall be exempt from the provisions of part III of chapter 110 and shall receive compensation commensurate with their qualifications and competitive with compensation for comparable responsibility in the private sector.

(2)(a)1.  The Florida Transportation Commission is hereby created and shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. Members of the commission shall serve terms of 4 years each.

2.  Members shall be appointed in such a manner as to equitably represent all geographic areas of the state. Each member must be a registered voter and a citizen of the state. Each member of the commission must also possess business managerial experience in the private sector.

3.  A member of the commission shall represent the transportation needs of the state as a whole and may not subordinate the needs of the state to those of any particular area of the state.

4.  The commission is assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation for administrative and fiscal accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise function independently of the control and direction of the department.

(b)  The commission shall have the primary functions to:

1.  Recommend major transportation policies for the Governor's approval, and assure that approved policies and any revisions thereto are properly executed.

2.  Periodically review the status of the state transportation system including highway, transit, rail, seaport, intermodal development, and aviation components of the system and recommend improvements therein to the Governor and the Legislature.

3.  Perform an in-depth evaluation of the annual department budget request, the Florida Transportation Plan, and the tentative work program for compliance with all applicable laws and established departmental policies. Except as specifically provided in s. 339.135(4)(c)2., (d), and (f), the commission may not consider individual construction projects, but shall consider methods of accomplishing the goals of the department in the most effective, efficient, and businesslike manner.

4.  Monitor the financial status of the department on a regular basis to assure that the department is managing revenue and bond proceeds responsibly and in accordance with law and established policy.

5.  Monitor on at least a quarterly basis, the efficiency, productivity, and management of the department, using performance and production standards developed by the commission pursuant to s. 334.045.

6.  Perform an in-depth evaluation of the factors causing disruption of project schedules in the adopted work program and recommend to the Legislature and the Governor methods to eliminate or reduce the disruptive effects of these factors.

7.  Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature improvements to the department's organization in order to streamline and optimize the efficiency of the department. In reviewing the department's organization, the commission shall determine if the current district organizational structure is responsive to Florida's changing economic and demographic development patterns. The initial report by the commission must be delivered to the Governor and Legislature by December 15, 2000, and each year thereafter, as appropriate. The commission may retain such experts as are reasonably necessary to effectuate this subparagraph, and the department shall pay the expenses of such experts.

(c)  The commission or a member thereof may not enter into the day-to-day operation of the department and is specifically prohibited from taking part in:

1.  The awarding of contracts.

2.  The selection of a consultant or contractor or the prequalification of any individual consultant or contractor. However, the commission may recommend to the secretary standards and policies governing the procedure for selection and prequalification of consultants and contractors.

3.  The selection of a route for a specific project.

4.  The specific location of a transportation facility.

5.  The acquisition of rights-of-way.

6.  The employment, promotion, demotion, suspension, transfer, or discharge of any department personnel.

7.  The granting, denial, suspension, or revocation of any license or permit issued by the department.

(d)1.  The chair of the commission shall be selected by the commission members and shall serve a 1-year term.

2.  The commission shall hold a minimum of 4 regular meetings annually, and other meetings may be called by the chair upon giving at least 1 week's notice to all members and the public pursuant to chapter 120. Other meetings may also be held upon the written request of at least four other members of the commission, with at least 1 week's notice of such meeting being given to all members and the public by the chair pursuant to chapter 120. Emergency meetings may be held without notice upon the request of all members of the commission. At each meeting of the commission, the secretary or his or her designee shall submit a report of major actions taken by him or her as the official representative of the department.

3.  A majority of the membership of the commission constitutes a quorum at any meeting of the commission. An action of the commission is not binding unless the action is taken pursuant to an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, but not fewer than four members of the commission at a meeting held pursuant to subparagraph 2., and the vote is recorded in the minutes of that meeting.

4.  The chair shall cause to be made a complete record of the proceedings of the commission, which record shall be open for public inspection.

(e)  The meetings of the commission shall be held in the central office of the department in Tallahassee unless the chair determines that special circumstances warrant meeting at another location.

(f)  Members of the commission are entitled to per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.

(g)  A member of the commission may not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, franchise, privilege, or other benefit granted or awarded by the department during the term of his or her appointment and for 2 years after the termination of such appointment.

(h)  The commission shall appoint an executive director and assistant executive director, who shall serve under the direction, supervision, and control of the commission. The executive director, with the consent of the commission, shall employ such staff as are necessary to perform adequately the functions of the commission, within budgetary limitations. All employees of the commission are exempt from part II of chapter 110 and shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The salaries and benefits of all employees of the commission shall be set in accordance with the Selected Exempt Service; provided, however, that the commission shall have complete authority for fixing the salary of the executive director and assistant executive director.

(i)  The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the department, but such budget shall be submitted to the Governor along with the budget of the department.

(3)(a)  The central office shall establish departmental policies, rules, procedures, and standards and shall monitor the implementation of such policies, rules, procedures, and standards in order to ensure uniform compliance and quality performance by the districts and central office units that implement transportation programs. Major transportation policy initiatives or revisions shall be submitted to the commission for review.

(b)  The secretary shall appoint an Assistant Secretary for Transportation Development and Operations and an Assistant Secretary for Transportation Support.

(c)  The following offices are established and shall be headed by a manager, each of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The positions shall be classified at a level equal to a division director:

1.  The Office of Administration;

2.  The Office of Planning and Environmental Management;

3.  The Office of Design;

4.  The Office of Highway Operations;

5.  The Office of Right-of-Way;

6.  The Office of Toll Operations;

7.  The Office of Information Systems;

8.  The Office of Motor Carrier Compliance;

9.  The Office of Management and Budget;

10.  The Office of Comptroller;

11.  The Office of Construction;

12.  The Office of Maintenance; and

13.  The Office of Materials.

(d)  Other offices may be established in accordance with s. 20.04(7). The heads of such offices are exempt from part II of chapter 110. No office or organization shall be created at a level equal to or higher than a division without specific legislative authority.

(e)  The secretary shall appoint an inspector general pursuant to s. 20.055 who shall be directly responsible to the secretary and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

(f)  The secretary shall appoint a general counsel who shall be directly responsible to the secretary. The general counsel is responsible for all legal matters of the department. The department may employ as many attorneys as it deems necessary to advise and represent the department in all transportation matters.

(g)  The secretary shall appoint a state transportation development administrator. This position shall be classified at a level equal to a deputy assistant secretary.

(h)  The secretary shall appoint a state transportation operations administrator. This position shall be classified at a level equal to a deputy assistant secretary.

(i)  The secretary shall appoint a state public transportation and modal administrator. This position shall be classified at a level equal to a deputy assistant secretary.

(4)(a)  The operations of the department shall be organized into seven districts, each headed by a district secretary and a turnpike enterprise, headed by an executive director. The district secretaries and the turnpike executive director shall be registered professional engineers in accordance with the provisions of chapter 471 or, in lieu of professional engineer registration, a district secretary or turnpike executive director may hold an advanced degree in an appropriate related discipline, such as a Master of Business Administration. The headquarters of the districts shall be located in Polk, Columbia, Washington, Broward, Volusia, Dade, and Hillsborough Counties. The headquarters of the turnpike enterprise shall be located in Orange County. In order to provide for efficient operations and to expedite the decisionmaking process, the department shall provide for maximum decentralization to the districts.

(b)  Each district secretary may appoint a district director for transportation development, a district director for transportation operations, and a district director for transportation support or, until July 1, 2005, each district secretary may appoint a district director for planning and programming, a district director for production, a district director for operations, and a district director for administration. These positions are exempt from part II of chapter 110.

(c)  Within each district, offices shall be established for managing major functional responsibilities of the department. The heads of these offices shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110.

(d)  The district director for the Fort Myers Urban Office of the Department of Transportation is responsible for developing the 5-year Transportation Plan for Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties. The Fort Myers Urban Office also is responsible for providing policy, direction, local government coordination, and planning for those counties.

(e)1.  The responsibility for the turnpike system shall be delegated by the secretary to the executive director of the turnpike enterprise, who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The executive director shall report directly to the secretary, and the turnpike enterprise shall operate pursuant to ss. 338.22-338.241.

2.  To facilitate the most efficient and effective management of the turnpike enterprise, including the use of best business practices employed by the private sector, the turnpike enterprise, except as provided in s. 287.055, shall be exempt from departmental policies, procedures, and standards, subject to the secretary having the authority to apply any such policies, procedures, and standards to the turnpike enterprise from time to time as deemed appropriate.

(5)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 110.205, the Department of Management Services is authorized to exempt positions within the Department of Transportation which are comparable to positions within the Senior Management Service pursuant to s. 110.205(2)(j) or positions which are comparable to positions in the Selected Exempt Service under s. 110.205(2)(m).

(6)  The department is authorized to contract with local governmental entities and with the private sector if the department first determines that:

(a)  Consultants can do the work at less cost than state employees;

(b)  State employees can do the work at less cost, but sufficient positions have not been approved by the Legislature as requested in the department's most recent legislative budget request;

(c)  The work requires specialized expertise, and it would not be economical for the state to acquire, and then maintain, the expertise after the work is done;

(d)  The workload is at a peak level, and it would not be economical to acquire, and then keep, extra personnel after the workload decreases; or

(e)  The use of such entities is clearly in the public's best interest.

Such contracts shall require compliance with applicable federal and state laws, and clearly specify the product or service to be provided.

History.--s. 23, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, 4, 5, ch. 72-186; s. 1, ch. 77-44; s. 1, ch. 77-273; s. 1, ch. 78-90; s. 4, ch. 79-10; s. 1, ch. 81-209; s. 1, ch. 84-309; s. 7, ch. 85-180; s. 1, ch. 86-243; ss. 1, 2, ch. 87-360; s. 2, ch. 88-215; s. 25, ch. 88-557; s. 8, ch. 89-301; s. 40, ch. 90-136; s. 2, ch. 90-192; s. 14, ch. 90-227; s. 1, ch. 91-418; s. 5, ch. 91-429; ss. 151, 152, ch. 92-152; s. 8, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 4, ch. 94-237; s. 1318, ch. 95-147; s. 10, ch. 95-153; s. 1, ch. 95-257; s. 2, ch. 97-280; s. 4, ch. 98-34; s. 7, ch. 99-2; ss. 1, 66, ch. 99-385; s. 1, ch. 2000-266; s. 1, ch. 2000-325; s. 1, ch. 2001-43; s. 7, ch. 2002-1; s. 1, ch. 2002-20; s. 5, ch. 2003-286.

20.24  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.--There is created a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

(1)  The head of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is the Governor and Cabinet.

(2)  The following divisions, and bureaus within the divisions, of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles are established:

(a)  Division of the Florida Highway Patrol.

(b)  Division of Driver Licenses.

(c)  Division of Motor Vehicles.

1.  Bureau of Motor Vehicle Inspection.

History.--s. 24, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 76-281; s. 5, ch. 79-10; s. 64, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 79-324.

20.255  Department of Environmental Protection.--There is created a Department of Environmental Protection.

(1)  The head of the Department of Environmental Protection shall be a secretary, who shall be appointed by the Governor, with the concurrence of three or more members of the Cabinet. The secretary shall be confirmed by the Florida Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2)(a)  There shall be three deputy secretaries who are to be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The secretary may assign any deputy secretary the responsibility to supervise, coordinate, and formulate policy for any division, office, or district. The following special offices are established and headed by managers, each of whom is to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary:

1.  Office of Chief of Staff,

2.  Office of General Counsel,

3.  Office of Inspector General,

4.  Office of External Affairs,

5.  Office of Legislative and Government Affairs, and

6.  Office of Greenways and Trails.

(b)  There shall be six administrative districts involved in regulatory matters of waste management, water resource management, wetlands, and air resources, which shall be headed by managers, each of whom is to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary. Divisions of the department may have one assistant or two deputy division directors, as required to facilitate effective operation.

The managers of all divisions and offices specifically named in this section and the directors of the six administrative districts are exempt from part II of chapter 110 and are included in the Senior Management Service in accordance with s. 110.205(2)(j).

(3)  The following divisions of the Department of Environmental Protection are established:

(a)  Division of Administrative Services.

(b)  Division of Air Resource Management.

(c)  Division of Water Resource Management.

(d)  Division of Law Enforcement.

(e)  Division of Resource Assessment and Management.

(f)  Division of Waste Management.

(g)  Division of Recreation and Parks.

(h)  Division of State Lands, the director of which is to be appointed by the secretary of the department, subject to confirmation by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.

In order to ensure statewide and intradepartmental consistency, the department's divisions shall direct the district offices and bureaus on matters of interpretation and applicability of the department's rules and programs.

(4)  Law enforcement officers of the Department of Environmental Protection who meet the provisions of s. 943.13 are constituted law enforcement officers of this state with full power to investigate and arrest for any violation of the laws of this state, and the rules of the department and the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. The general laws applicable to investigations, searches, and arrests by peace officers of this state apply to such law enforcement officers.

(5)  Records and documents of the Department of Environmental Protection shall be retained by the department as specified in record retention schedules established under the general provisions of chapters 119 and 257. Further, the department is authorized to:

(a)  Destroy, or otherwise dispose of, those records and documents in conformity with the approved retention schedules.

(b)  Photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce such records and documents on film, as authorized and directed by the approved retention schedules, whereby each page will be exposed in exact conformity with the original records and documents retained in compliance with the provisions of this section. Photographs or microphotographs in the form of film or print of any records, made in compliance with the provisions of this section, shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs or microphotographs. The impression of the seal of the Department of Environmental Protection on a certificate made by the department and signed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection entitles the certificate to be received in all courts and in all proceedings in this state and is prima facie evidence of all factual matters set forth in the certificate. A certificate may relate to one or more records as set forth in the certificate or in a schedule attached to the certificate.

(6)  The Department of Environmental Protection may require that bond be given by any employee of the department, payable to the Governor of the state and the Governor's successor in office, for the use and benefit of those whom it concerns, in such penal sums and with such good and sufficient surety or sureties as are approved by the department, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the employee.

(7)  There is created as a part of the Department of Environmental Protection an Environmental Regulation Commission. The commission shall be composed of seven residents of this state appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. In making appointments, the Governor shall provide reasonable representation from all sections of the state. Membership shall be representative of agriculture, the development industry, local government, the environmental community, lay citizens, and members of the scientific and technical community who have substantial expertise in the areas of the fate and transport of water pollutants, toxicology, epidemiology, geology, biology, environmental sciences, or engineering. The Governor shall appoint the chair, and the vice chair shall be elected from among the membership. All appointments shall be for 4-year terms. The Governor may at any time fill a vacancy for the unexpired term. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be paid travel and per diem as provided in s. 112.061 while in the performance of their official duties. Administrative, personnel, and other support services necessary for the commission shall be furnished by the department.

History.--ss. 3, 4, ch. 93-213; ss. 1, 5, ch. 94-356; s. 1319, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-295; s. 3, ch. 96-410; s. 21, ch. 97-95; s. 1, ch. 98-146; s. 8, ch. 99-245; s. 7, ch. 2000-133; s. 1, ch. 2000-197; s. 8, ch. 2002-1.

20.2551  Citizen support organizations; use of property; audit; public records; partnerships.--

(1)  DEFINITIONS.--For the purposes of this section, a "citizen support organization" means an organization which is:

(a)  A Florida corporation not for profit incorporated under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of State;

(b)  Organized and operated to conduct programs and activities; raise funds; request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of money; acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, securities, funds, objects of value, or other property, real or personal; and make expenditures to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the Department of Environmental Protection or individual units of the department. The citizen support organization may not receive funds from the department or the Florida Marine Research Institute by grant, gift, or contract unless specifically authorized by the Legislature;

(c)  Determined by the appropriate division of the Department of Environmental Protection to be consistent with the goals of the department and in the best interests of the state; and

(d)  Approved in writing by the department to operate for the direct or indirect benefit of the individual units of the department. Such approval shall be given in a letter of agreement from the department.

(2)  USE OF PROPERTY.--

(a)  The department may permit, without charge, appropriate use of fixed property and facilities of the department by a citizen support organization subject to the provisions of this section. Such use shall be directly in keeping with the approved purposes of the citizen support organization and may not be made at times or places that would unreasonably interfere with normal department operations.

(b)  The department may prescribe by rule any condition with which a citizen support organization shall comply in order to use fixed property or facilities of the department.

(c)  The department shall not permit the use of any fixed property or facilities by a citizen support organization which does not provide equal membership and employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.

(3)  ANNUAL AUDIT.--Each citizen support organization shall provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981.

(4)  PUBLIC RECORDS.--All records of the citizen support organization constitute public records for the purposes of chapter 119.

(5)  PARTNERSHIPS.--

(a)  The Legislature recognizes that many of the lands managed by the department need a variety of facilities to enhance the use and potential of such lands and that many of the department's programs are of interest to, and could benefit from the support of, local citizen groups. Such facilities and programs include, but are not limited to, improved access, camping areas, picnicking shelters, management offices and facilities, environmental education facilities and programs, and cleanup and restoration projects. The need for such facilities and programs has exceeded the ability of the state to provide funding in a timely manner with available moneys. The Legislature finds it to be in the public interest to provide incentives for partnerships with private entities whose intent is the production of additional revenues to help enhance the use and potential of state property and environmental programs and projects funded by the department.

(b)  The Legislature may annually appropriate funds, to be used as matching funds in conjunction with private donations, for capital improvement facilities development on state lands or the enhancement of department sponsored environmental programs or projects of local interest to citizen support organizations formed under this section. Citizen support organizations organized and operating for the benefit of the department may acquire private donations pursuant to this section, and matching state funds for approved projects or programs may be provided in accordance with this subsection. The department is authorized to properly recognize and honor a private donor by placing a plaque or other appropriate designation noting the contribution to project or program facilities or by naming project or program facilities after the person or organization that provided matching funds.

History.--s. 2, ch. 88-353; s. 196, ch. 94-356; s. 2, ch. 96-389; s. 3, ch. 96-395; s. 2, ch. 97-205; s. 2, ch. 2000-197; s. 22, ch. 2001-266.

Note.--Former s. 370.0205.

20.2553  Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund.--

(1)  The Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund is created within the Department of Environmental Protection. The department may deposit into the trust fund receipts and revenues received as a result of federal criminal, administrative, or civil forfeiture proceedings and receipts and revenues received from federal asset-sharing programs. The trust fund is exempt from the service charges imposed by s. 215.20.

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

History.--s. 1, ch. 98-390; s. 2, ch. 99-109; s. 2, ch. 2001-65.

20.28  State Board of Administration.--The State Board of Administration, continued by s. 9, Art. XII of the State Constitution, retains all of its powers, duties, and functions as prescribed by law.

History.--s. 28, ch. 69-106; s. 7, ch. 79-10.

20.29  Department of Citrus.--The State Citrus Commission, created under chapter 601, is continued and renamed the Department of Citrus.

(1)  The head of the Department of Citrus is the board, established by s. 601.04, and said board is hereby named the "Florida Citrus Commission."

(2)  All of the powers, duties, and functions of the Florida Citrus Commission are continued in the board, as head of the department. The board shall derive all of its powers, duties, and functions from chapter 601.

(3)  All of the personnel, records, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations and other funds are continued with the Department of Citrus as presently held.

History.--s. 29, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 79-10.

20.315  Department of Corrections.--There is created a Department of Corrections.

(1)  PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Department of Corrections is to protect the public through the incarceration and supervision of offenders and to rehabilitate offenders through the application of work, programs, and services. The goals of the department shall be:

(a)  To protect society by providing incarceration that will support the intentions of established criminal law.

(b)  To ensure that inmates work while they are incarcerated and that the department makes every effort to collect restitution and other monetary assessments from inmates while they are incarcerated or under supervision.

(c)  To work in partnerships with local communities to further efforts toward crime prevention.

(d)  To provide a safe and humane environment for offenders and staff in which rehabilitation is possible. This should include the protection of the offender from victimization within the institution and the development of a system of due process, where applicable.

(e)  To provide appropriate supervision for offenders released on community supervision, based on public safety risks and offender needs, and, in conjunction with the judiciary, public safety agencies, and local communities, develop safe, community-based alternatives.

(f)  To provide programs, which may include academic, vocational, and treatment, to incarcerated offenders and supervised offenders which will prepare them for occupations available in the community.

(g)  To provide library services at correctional institutions, which includes general and law library services.

(h)  To provide judges with effective evaluative tools and information for use in sentencing decisions.

(i)  To provide the level of security in institutions commensurate with the custody requirements and management needs of inmates.

(j)  To ensure that the rights and needs of crime victims are recognized and met, including the need for the victim to be timely notified of the release or escape of an inmate.

(2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--It is the intent of the Legislature that:

(a)  The department focus its attention on the removal of barriers that could prevent the inmate's successful return to society while supervising and incarcerating offenders at a level of security commensurate with the danger they present to the public.

(b)  The department work in partnership with communities in the construction of facilities and the development of programs to offenders.

(c)  The department develop a comprehensive program for the treatment of youthful offenders and other special needs offenders committed to the department, including female, elderly, and disabled offenders.

(d)  The department pursue partnerships with other governmental entities and private industry for the purpose of furthering mutual goals and expanding work and educational opportunities for offenders.

(3)  SECRETARY OF CORRECTIONS.--The head of the Department of Corrections is the Secretary of Corrections. The secretary is appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The secretary is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the corrections system of the state. The secretary shall ensure that the programs and services of the department are administered in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, with established program standards, and consistent with legislative intent. The secretary shall identify the need for and recommend funding for the secure and efficient operation of the state correctional system.

(a)  The secretary shall appoint a deputy secretary. The deputy secretary shall be directly responsible to the secretary and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

(b)  The secretary shall appoint a general counsel and an inspector general, who are exempt from part II of chapter 110 and are included in the Senior Management Service.

(c)  The secretary may appoint assistant secretaries, directors, or other such persons that he or she deems are necessary to accomplish the mission and goals of the department, including, but not limited to, the following areas of program responsibility:

1.  Security and institutional operations, which shall provide inmate work programs, offender programs, security administration, emergency operations response, and operational oversight of the regions.

2.  Health services, which shall be headed by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459, or a professionally trained health care administrator with progressively responsible experience in health care administration. This individual shall be responsible for the delivery of health services to offenders within the system and shall have direct professional authority over such services.

3.  Community corrections, which shall provide for coordination of community alternatives to incarceration and operational oversight of community corrections regions.

4.  Administrative services, which shall provide budget and accounting services within the department, including the construction and maintenance of correctional institutions, human resource management, research, planning and evaluation, and technology.

5.  Program, transition, and postrelease services, which shall provide for the direct management and supervision of all departmental programs, including the coordination and delivery of education and job training to the offenders in the custody of the department. In addition, this program shall provide for the direct management and supervision of all programs that furnish transition assistance to inmates who are or have recently been in the custody of the department, including the coordination, facilitation, and contract management of prerelease and postrelease transition services provided by governmental and private providers, including faith-based service groups.

(4)  REGIONS.--The department shall plan and administer its program of services for community corrections, security, and institutional operations through regions.

(5)  ANNUAL REPORTING.--The department shall report annually to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives recounting its activities and making recommendations for improvements to the performance of the department.

(6)  FLORIDA CORRECTIONS COMMISSION.--

(a)1.  The Florida Corrections Commission is hereby created. The primary focus of the commission shall be on corrections; however, in those instances in which the policies of other components of the criminal justice system affect corrections, the commission shall advise and make recommendations.

2.  The commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. Members of the commission shall serve terms of 4 years each. Members must be appointed in such a manner as to equitably represent all geographic areas of the state. Each member of the commission must be a citizen and registered voter of the state. A member of the commission shall represent the public safety needs of the state as a whole and may not subordinate the needs of the state to those of any particular area of the state. The commission's membership should, to the extent possible, contain persons who are knowledgeable about construction, health care, information technology, education, business, food services, law, and inmate and youthful offender rehabilitation and services.

3.  The commission is assigned to the office of the Secretary of Corrections for administrative and fiscal accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise function independently of the control and direction of the Department of Corrections.

(b)  The primary functions of the commission are to:

1.  Recommend major correctional policies for the Governor's approval, and assure that approved policies and any revisions thereto are properly executed.

2.  Periodically review the status of the state correctional system and recommend improvements therein to the Governor and the Legislature.

3.  Annually perform an in-depth review of community-based intermediate sanctions and recommend to the Governor and the Legislature intergovernmental approaches through the Community Corrections Partnership Act for planning and implementing such sanctions and programs.

4.  Perform an in-depth evaluation of the annual budget request of the Department of Corrections, the comprehensive correctional master plan, and the tentative construction program for compliance with all applicable laws and established departmental policies. The commission may not consider individual construction projects, but shall consider methods of accomplishing the department's goals in the most effective, efficient, and businesslike manner.

5.  Routinely monitor the financial status of the Department of Corrections to assure that the department is managing revenue and any applicable bond proceeds responsibly and in accordance with law and established policy.

6.  Evaluate, at least quarterly, the efficiency, productivity, and management of the Department of Corrections, using performance and production standards developed by the department under former subsection (18).

7.  Provide public education on corrections and criminal justice issues.

8.  Report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor by November 1 of each year.

(c)  The commission or a member thereof may not enter into the day-to-day operation of the Department of Corrections and is specifically prohibited from taking part in:

1.  The awarding of contracts by the department.

2.  The selection by the department of a consultant or contractor or the prequalification by the department of any individual consultant or contractor. However, the commission may recommend to the Secretary of Corrections standards and policies governing the procedure for selection and prequalification of consultants and contractors.

3.  The selection by the department of a county for a specific project.

4.  The selection by the department of a specific location for a correctional facility.

5.  The employment, promotion, demotion, suspension, transfer, or discharge of any departmental personnel.

6.  The enforcement of minimum standards for any county or municipal detention facility.

(d)1.  The chair of the commission shall be selected by the members for a term of 1 year.

2.  The commission shall hold a minimum of four regular meetings annually, and other meetings may be called by the chair upon giving at least 7 days' notice to all members and the public pursuant to chapter 120. Meetings may also be held upon the written request of at least four members, upon at least 7 days' notice of such meeting being given to all members and the public by the chair pursuant to chapter 120. Emergency meetings may be held without notice upon the request of all members. The meetings of the commission shall be held in the central office of the Department of Corrections in Tallahassee unless the chair determines that special circumstances warrant meeting at another location.

3.  A majority of the membership of the commission constitutes a quorum at any meeting of the commission. An action of the commission is not binding unless the action is taken pursuant to an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, but not fewer than four members of the commission must be present, and the vote must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

4.  The chair shall cause to be made a complete record of the proceedings of the commission, which record shall be open for public inspection.

(e)  The commission shall appoint an executive director and an assistant executive director, who shall serve under the direction, supervision, and control of the commission. The executive director, with the consent of the commission, shall employ such staff as are necessary to perform adequately the functions of the commission, within budgetary limitations. All employees of the commission are exempt from part II of chapter 110 and serve at the pleasure of the commission. The salaries and benefits of all employees of the commission shall be set in accordance with the Selected Exempt Service rules; however, the commission shall have complete authority for fixing the salaries of the executive director and the assistant executive director. The executive director and staff of the Task Force for Review of the Criminal Justice and Corrections System, created under chapter 93-404, Laws of Florida, shall serve as the staff for the commission until the commission hires an executive director.

(f)  Members of the commission are entitled to per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.

(g)  A member of the commission may not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, franchise, privilege, or other benefit granted or awarded by the department during the term of his or her appointment and for 2 years after the termination of that appointment.

(h)  The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the department, but such budget shall be submitted to the Governor along with the budget of the department.

(7)  DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS.--

(a)  The secretary shall develop and submit annually to the Legislature a comprehensive departmental budget request.

(b)  The department, consistent with chapter 216, may transfer, as necessary, funds and positions among budget entities to realign appropriations with the revised budget entity designations. Such authorized revisions must be consistent with the intent of the approved operating budget. The department shall periodically review the appropriateness of the budget entity designations and the adequacy of its delegated authority to transfer funds between entities and submit the reviews to the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. To fulfill this responsibility, the secretary shall have the authority to review, amend, and approve the annual budget requests of all departmental activities.

(8)  PLACEMENT OF OFFENDERS.--The department shall classify its programs according to the character and range of services available for its clients. The department shall place each offender in the program or facility most appropriate to the offender's needs, subject to budgetary limitations and the availability of space.

(9)  DISCHARGE FROM COMMITMENT.--When the law grants to an agent, officer, or administrator of the Department of Corrections the authority to make a discharge from commitment, such authority shall be vested in the Secretary of Corrections or in any agent who, in his or her discretion, the secretary may authorize.

(10)  FORM OF COMMITMENT; NOTICE OF PAROLE VIOLATION.--All commitments shall state the statutory authority therefor. The Secretary of Corrections shall have the authority to prescribe the form to be used for commitments. Nothing in this act shall be construed to abridge the authority and responsibility of the Parole Commission with respect to the granting and revocation of parole. The Department of Corrections shall notify the Parole Commission of all violations of parole conditions and provide reports connected thereto as may be requested by the commission. The commission shall have the authority to issue orders dealing with supervision of specific parolees, and such orders shall be binding on all parties.

(11)  SINGLE INFORMATION AND RECORDS SYSTEM.--There shall be only one offender-based information and records system maintained by the Department of Corrections for the joint use of the department and the Parole Commission. This data system is managed through the Justice Data Center, which is hereby transferred to the department under this act pursuant to a type two transfer authorized under s. 20.06(2). The department shall develop and maintain, in consultation with the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council under s. 943.08, such offender-based information system designed to serve the needs of both the department and the Parole Commission. The department shall notify the commission of all violations of parole and the circumstances thereof.

(12)  TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY.--All statutory functions of the department not otherwise herein assigned to a specific unit of the department are assigned generally to the department and may be allocated and reallocated by the secretary to an authorized unit of the department.

(13)  PURCHASE OF SERVICES.--Whenever possible, the department, in accordance with the established program objectives and performance criteria, may contract for the provision of services by counties, municipalities, nonprofit corporations, and other entities capable of providing needed services, if services so provided are more cost-efficient, cost-effective, or timely than those provided by the department or available to it under existing law.

History.--ss. 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, ch. 75-49; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 78-53; s. 4, ch. 78-323; s. 6, ch. 79-7; s. 65, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 82-46; s. 1, ch. 82-171; s. 3, ch. 83-85; s. 2, ch. 83-265; s. 1, ch. 85-330; s. 6, ch. 85-340; s. 16, ch. 86-183; s. 1, ch. 87-224; s. 1, ch. 87-298; ss. 1, 28, 84, ch. 88-122; s. 3, ch. 90-247; s. 67, ch. 91-45; s. 2, ch. 91-281; s. 3, ch. 92-173; s. 2, ch. 92-310; s. 7, ch. 93-262; s. 1, ch. 94-117; s. 8, ch. 94-209; s. 1320, ch. 95-147; s. 8, ch. 95-325; s. 1, ch. 96-278; s. 6, ch. 96-388; s. 9, ch. 97-194; ss. 20, 21, ch. 98-136; s. 3, ch. 98-251; s. 8, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 99-271; s. 5, ch. 2001-60; s. 1, ch. 2001-110.

20.316  Department of Juvenile Justice.--There is created a Department of Juvenile Justice.

(1)  SECRETARY OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.--

(a)  The head of the Department of Juvenile Justice is the Secretary of Juvenile Justice. The secretary of the department shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(b)  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the delivery of all programs and services within the juvenile justice continuum. For purposes of this section, the term "juvenile justice continuum" means all children-in-need-of-services programs; families-in-need-of-services programs; other prevention, early intervention, and diversion programs; detention centers and related programs and facilities; community-based residential commitment and nonresidential programs; and delinquency institutions provided or funded by the department.

(c)  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice shall:

1.  Ensure that juvenile justice continuum programs and services are implemented according to legislative intent; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; statewide program standards; and performance objectives by reviewing and monitoring regional and circuit program operations and providing technical assistance to those programs.

2.  Identify the need for and recommend the funding and implementation of an appropriate mix of programs and services within the juvenile justice continuum, including prevention, diversion, nonresidential and residential commitment programs, training schools, and conditional release programs and services, with an overlay of educational, vocational, alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services where appropriate.

3.  Provide for program research, development, and planning.

4.  Develop staffing and workload standards and coordinate staff development and training.

5.  Develop budget and resource allocation methodologies and strategies.

6.  Establish program policies and rules and ensure that those policies and rules encourage cooperation, collaboration, and information sharing with community partners in the juvenile justice system to the extent authorized by law.

7.  Develop funding sources external to state government.

8.  Obtain, approve, monitor, and coordinate research and program development grants.

9.  Enter into contracts.

10.  Monitor all state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities that are designed to prevent juvenile crime, delinquency, gang membership, or status offense behaviors and all state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities that are designed to prevent a child from becoming a "child in need of services," as defined in chapter 984, in order to effect the goals and policies of the State Comprehensive Plan regarding children and regarding governmental efficiency, and in order to determine:

a.  The number of youth served by such state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities;

b.  The number of youth who complete such state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities;

c.  The number and percentage of youth who are referred for delinquency while participating in such state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities;

d.  The number and percentage of youth who are referred for delinquency within 6 months after completing such state-funded programs, grants, appropriations, or activities.

(2)  DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS.--The following programs are established within the Department of Juvenile Justice:

(a)  Prevention and Victim Services.

(b)  Intake and Detention.

(c)  Residential and Correctional Facilities.

(d)  Probation and Community Corrections.

(e)  Administration.

The secretary may establish assistant secretary positions and a chief of staff position as necessary to administer the requirements of this section.

(3)  JUVENILE JUSTICE OPERATING CIRCUITS.--The department shall plan and administer its programs through a substate structure that conforms to the boundaries of the judicial circuits prescribed in s. 26.021. A county may seek placement in a juvenile justice operating circuit other than as prescribed in s. 26.021 for participation in the Prevention and Victim Services Program and the Probation and Community Corrections Program by making a request of the chief circuit judge in each judicial circuit affected by such request. Upon a showing that geographic proximity, community identity, or other legitimate concern for efficiency of operations merits alternative placement, each affected chief circuit judge may authorize the execution of an interagency agreement specifying the alternative juvenile justice operating circuit in which the county is to be placed and the basis for the alternative placement. Upon the execution of said interagency agreement by each affected chief circuit judge, the secretary may administratively place a county in an alternative juvenile justice operating circuit pursuant to the agreement.

(4)  INFORMATION SYSTEMS.--

(a)  The Department of Juvenile Justice shall develop, in consultation with the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council under s. 943.08, a juvenile justice information system which shall provide information concerning the department's activities and programs.

(b)  In establishing the computing and network infrastructure for the development of the information system, the department shall develop a system design to set the direction for the information system. That design shall include not only department system requirements but also data exchange requirements of other state and local juvenile justice system organizations.

(c)  The department shall implement a distributed system architecture which shall be defined in its agency strategic plan.

(d)  The management information system shall, at a minimum:

1.  Facilitate case management of juveniles referred to or placed in the department's custody.

2.  Provide timely access to current data and computing capacity to support ¹outcome evaluation, legislative oversight, the Juvenile Justice Estimating Conference, and other research.

3.  Provide automated support to the quality assurance and program review functions.

4.  Provide automated support to the contract management process.

5.  Provide automated support to the facility operations management process.

6.  Provide automated administrative support to increase efficiency, provide the capability of tracking expenditures of funds by the department or contracted service providers that are eligible for federal reimbursement, and reduce forms and paperwork.

7.  Facilitate connectivity, access, and utilization of information among various state agencies, and other state, federal, local, and private agencies, organizations, and institutions.

8.  Provide electronic public access to juvenile justice information, which is not otherwise made confidential by law or exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).

9.  Provide a system for the training of information system users and user groups.

(e)  The department shall aggregate, on a quarterly and an annual basis, the program information, demographic, program utilization rate, and statistical data of the youth served into a descriptive report and shall disseminate the quarterly and annual reports to substantive committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(f)  The department shall provide an annual report on the juvenile justice information system to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council. The council shall review and forward the report, along with its comments, to the appropriate substantive and appropriations committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate delineating the development status of the system and other information necessary for funding policy formulation.

(g)  The department shall include in its annual budget request a comprehensive summary of costs involved in the establishment of the information system and cost savings associated with its implementation. The budget request must also include a complete inventory of staff, equipment, and facility resources for development and maintenance of the system.

History.--s. 1, ch. 94-209; s. 1321, ch. 95-147; ss. 2, 30, ch. 95-267; s. 7, ch. 96-388; s. 29, ch. 97-286; s. 4, ch. 98-251; s. 2, ch. 98-280; s. 9, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 2000-135; s. 5, ch. 2000-158; s. 6, ch. 2001-60; s. 1, ch. 2001-125; s. 2, ch. 2001-185.

¹Note.--As amended by s. 1, ch. 2001-125. The amendment by s. 2, ch. 2001-185, deleted the words "outcome evaluation."

20.317  Department of the Lottery.--There is created a Department of the Lottery.

(1)(a)  The head of the Department of the Lottery is the Secretary of the Department of the Lottery. The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor subject to the confirmation of the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The compensation of the secretary shall be set annually by executive order of the Governor.

(b)  It is the intent of the Legislature that, prior to appointing a secretary of the department, the Governor conduct a thorough search to find the most qualified appointee available. In conducting such search, the Governor shall emphasize such considerations as business management experience, marketing experience, computer experience, and lottery management experience.

(2)  Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the secretary may create divisions and bureaus within the department and allocate the various functions of the department among such divisions and bureaus. However, in order to promote and protect the integrity of and the public confidence in the state lottery, there is created a Division of Security within the department.

(3)  The headquarters of the department shall be located in Tallahassee. However, the department may establish such regional offices throughout the state as the secretary deems necessary to the efficient operation of the state lottery.

History.--s. 4, ch. 87-65.

20.32  Parole Commission.--

(1)  The Parole and Probation Commission, authorized by s. 8(c), Art. IV, State Constitution of 1968, is continued and renamed the Parole Commission. The commission retains its powers, duties, and functions with respect to the granting and revoking of parole and shall exercise powers, duties, and functions relating to investigations of applications for clemency as directed by the Governor and the Cabinet.

(2)  All powers, duties, and functions relating to the appointment of the Parole Commission as provided in s. 947.02 or s. 947.021 shall be exercised and performed by the Governor and the Cabinet. Except as provided in s. 947.021, each appointment shall be made from among the first three eligible persons on the list of the persons eligible for said position.

(3)  The commission may require any employee of the commission to give a bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties. The commission may determine the amount of the bond and must approve the bond. In determining the amount of the bond, the commission may consider the amount of money or property likely to be in custody of the officer or employee at any one time. The premiums for the bonds must be paid out of the funds of the commission.

History.--s. 33, ch. 69-106; s. 33, ch. 83-131; s. 36, ch. 86-183; s. 7, ch. 88-122; ss. 15, 16, ch. 89-531; s. 20, ch. 90-337; s. 320, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 1, ch. 93-2; s. 16, ch. 96-422; s. 5, ch. 98-34.

20.331  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.--

(1)  The Legislature, recognizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as being specifically authorized by the State Constitution under s. 9, Art. IV, grants rights and privileges to the commission, as contemplated by s. 6, Art. IV of the State Constitution, equal to those of departments established under this chapter, while preserving its constitutional designation and title as a commission.

(2)  The head of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the commission appointed by the Governor as provided for in s. 9, Art. IV of the State Constitution.

(3)  The following administrative units are established within the commission:

(a)  Division of Administrative Services.

(b)  Division of Law Enforcement.

(c)  Division of Freshwater Fisheries.

(d)  Division of Marine Fisheries.

(e)  Division of Wildlife.

(f)  Florida Marine Research Institute.

The bureaus and offices of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission existing on February 1, 1999, are established within the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Effective July 1, 2003, there is created within the commission an Office of Boating and Waterways with duties and responsibilities as provided in subsection (5).

(4)(a)  To aid the commission in the implementation of its constitutional and statutory duties, the Legislature authorizes the commission to appoint, fix the salary of, and at its pleasure, remove a person, not a member of the commission, as the executive director. The executive director shall be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061, incurred in the discharge of official duties. The executive director shall maintain headquarters and reside in Tallahassee.

(b)  Each new executive director must be confirmed by the Senate during the legislative session immediately following his or her hiring by the commission.

(5)  In further exercise of its duties, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

(a)  Shall assign to the Division of Freshwater Fisheries and the Division of Marine Fisheries such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to ensure compliance with the laws and rules governing the management, protection, conservation, improvement, and expansion of Florida's freshwater aquatic life and marine life resources.

(b)  Shall assign to the Division of Wildlife such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to ensure compliance with the laws and rules governing the management, protection, conservation, improvement, and expansion of Florida's wildlife resources.

(c)  Shall assign to the Division of Law Enforcement such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to ensure enforcement of the laws and rules governing the management, protection, conservation, improvement, and expansion of Florida's wildlife resources, freshwater aquatic life resources, and marine life resources. In performance of their duties as sworn law enforcement officers for the State of Florida, the division's officers also shall assist in the enforcement of all general environmental laws remaining under the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Protection.

(d)  Shall assign to the Florida Marine Research Institute such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to accomplish its mission. It shall be the mission of the Florida Marine Research Institute to:

1.  Serve as the primary source of research and technical information and expertise on the status of Florida's saltwater resources;

2.  Monitor the status and health of saltwater habitat, marine life, and wildlife;

3.  Develop and implement restoration techniques for marine habitat and enhancement of saltwater plant and animal populations;

4.  Respond and provide critical technical support for marine catastrophes including oil spills, ship groundings, major marine species die-offs, hazardous spills, and natural disaster;

5.  Identify and monitor marine toxic red tides and their impacts, and provide technical support for state and local public health concerns; and

6.  Provide state and local governments with estuarine, marine, coastal technical information and research results.

(e)  Shall assign to the Office of Boating and Waterways such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to manage and promote the use of state waterways for safe and enjoyable boating. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, oversight and coordination of waterway markers on state waters, providing boating education and boating safety programs, improving boating access, coordinating the removal of derelict vessels from state waters, economic development initiatives to promote boating in the state, and coordinating the submission of state comments on marine events.

(6)(a)  Shall implement a system of adequate due process procedures to be accorded to any party, as defined in s. 120.52, whose substantial interests will be affected by any action of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the performance of its constitutional duties or responsibilities.

(b)  The Legislature encourages the commission to incorporate in its process the provisions of s. 120.54(3)(c) when adopting rules in the performance of its constitutional duties or responsibilities.

(c)  The commission shall follow the provisions of chapter 120 when adopting rules in the performance of its statutory duties or responsibilities. For purposes of this subsection, statutory duties or responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.  Research and management responsibilities for marine species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, including, but not limited to, manatees and marine turtles;

2.  Establishment and enforcement of boating safety regulations;

3.  Land acquisition;

4.  Enforcement and collection of fees for all recreational and commercial hunting or fishing licenses or permits;

5.  Aquatic plant removal using fish as a biological control agent;

6.  Enforcement of penalties for violations of commission rules, including, but not limited to, the seizure and forfeiture of vessels and other equipment used to commit those violations;

7.  Establishment of free fishing days;

8.  Regulation of off-road vehicles on state lands;

9.  Establishment and coordination of a statewide hunter safety course;

10.  Establishment of programs and activities to develop and distribute public education materials;

11.  Police powers of wildlife and marine officers;

12.  Establishment of citizen support organizations to provide assistance, funding, and promotional support for programs of the commission;

13.  Creation of the Voluntary Authorized Hunter Identification Program; and

14.  Regulation of required clothing of persons hunting deer.

(7)  Comments submitted by the commission to a permitting agency for applications for permits, licenses, or authorizations impacting the commission's jurisdiction must be based on credible, factual scientific data, and must be received by the permitting agency within the time specified by applicable statutes or rules, or within 30 days, whichever is shorter. Comments provided by the commission are not binding on any permitting agency. Comments by the commission shall be considered for consistency with the Florida Coastal Management Program and ss. 373.428 and 380.23. Should a permitting agency use the commission's comments as a condition of denial, approval, or modification of a proposed permit, license, or authorization, any party to an administrative proceeding involving such proposed action may require the commission to join as a party in determining the validity of the condition. In any action where the commission is joined as a party, the commission shall only bear the actual cost of defending the validity of the credible, factual scientific data used as a basis for its comments.

(8)  Shall acquire, in the name of the state, lands and waters suitable for the protection, improvement, and restoration of marine life, wildlife resources, and freshwater aquatic life resources by purchase, lease, gift, or otherwise, using state, federal, or other sources of funding. Lands acquired under this section shall be managed for recreation and other multiple-use activities that do not impede the commission's ability to perform its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and duties.

(9)  May require any employee of the commission to give a bond for the faithful performance of duties. The commission may determine the amount of the bond and must approve the bond. In determining the amount of the bond, the commission may consider the amount of money or property likely to be in custody of the officer or employee at any one time. The premiums for the bond must be paid out of the funds of the commission.

History.--s. 1, ch. 99-245; s. 4, ch. 2000-151; s. 3, ch. 2000-197; s. 7, ch. 2001-60; s. 2, ch. 2003-156.

20.3315  Florida Forever Program Trust Fund of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.--

(1)  There is created a Florida Forever Program Trust Fund within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to carry out the duties of the commission under the Florida Forever Act as specified in s. 259.105(3)(g). The trust fund shall receive funds pursuant to s. 259.105(3)(g).

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

¹(3)  Pursuant to the provisions of s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution, the trust fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 2004. Prior to its scheduled termination, the trust fund shall be reviewed as provided in s. 215.3206(1) and (2).

History.--s. 1, ch. 2000-280; s. 2, ch. 2001-25; s. 8, ch. 2001-60.

¹Note.--Repealed July 1, 2004, by s. 2, ch. 2001-25.

20.34  Governmental Reorganization Act of 1969; effect on rules.--Except when it is inconsistent with the other provisions of this chapter, all rules and regulations of the agencies involved in this reorganization that are in effect on June 30, 1969, shall remain in effect until they are specifically altered, amended or revoked in the manner provided by law.

History.--s. 36, ch. 69-106.

20.37  Department of Veterans' Affairs.--There is created a Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(1)  The head of the department is the Governor and Cabinet. The executive director of the department shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of three members of the Cabinet and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and Cabinet.

(2)  The following divisions, and bureaus within these divisions, of the Department of Veterans' Affairs are established:

(a)  Division of Administration and Public Information.

1.  Bureau of Information and Research.

(b)  Division of Veterans' Benefits and Assistance.

1.  Bureau of Veteran Claims Services.

2.  Bureau of Veteran Field Services.

3.  Bureau of State Approving for Veterans' Training.

History.--s. 13, ch. 88-290; s. 2, ch. 99-255.

20.41  Department of Elderly Affairs.--There is created a Department of Elderly Affairs.

(1)  The head of the department is the Secretary of Elderly Affairs. The secretary must be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The secretary shall administer the affairs of the department and may employ assistants, professional staff, and other employees as necessary to discharge the powers and duties of the department.

(2)  The department shall plan and administer its programs and services through planning and service areas as designated by the department.

(3)  The department shall maintain its headquarters in Tallahassee.

(4)  The department shall administer the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council, created by s. 400.0067, and the local long-term care ombudsman councils, created by s. 400.0069 and shall, as required by s. 712 of the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, ensure that both the state and local long-term care ombudsman councils operate in compliance with the Older Americans Act.

(5)  The department shall be the state unit on aging as defined in the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, and shall exercise all responsibilities pursuant to that act.

(6)  In accordance with the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, the department shall designate and contract with area agencies on aging in each of the department's planning and service areas. Area agencies on aging shall ensure a coordinated and integrated provision of long-term care services to the elderly and shall ensure the provision of prevention and early intervention services. The department shall have overall responsibility for information system planning. The department shall ensure, through the development of equipment, software, data, and connectivity standards, the ability to share and integrate information collected and reported by the area agencies in support of their contracted obligations to the state.

(7)  The department shall contract with the governing body, hereafter referred to as the "board," of an area agency on aging to fulfill programmatic and funding requirements. The board shall be responsible for the overall direction of the agency's programs and services and shall ensure that the agency is administered in accordance with the terms of its contract with the department, legal requirements, established agency policy, and effective management principles. The board shall also ensure the accountability of the agency to the local communities included in the planning and service area of the agency.

(8)  The area agency on aging board shall, in consultation with the secretary, appoint a chief executive officer, hereafter referred to as the "executive director," to whom shall be delegated responsibility for agency management and for implementation of board policy, and who shall be accountable for the agency's performance.

(9)  Area agencies on aging are subject to chapter 119, relating to public records, and, when considering any contracts requiring the expenditure of funds, are subject to ss. 286.011-286.012, relating to public meetings.

History.--s. 1, ch. 91-115; s. 17, ch. 93-177; s. 13, ch. 94-235; s. 45, ch. 95-418; s. 30, ch. 97-286; s. 5, ch. 99-377; s. 15, ch. 99-393; s. 203, ch. 99-397; s. 119, ch. 2000-349; s. 39, ch. 2000-367; s. 9, ch. 2002-1; s. 19, ch. 2002-223.

20.42  Agency for Health Care Administration.--

(1)  There is created a department that, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 20.04(1), shall be called the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(2)  The head of the department is the Secretary of Health Care Administration, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of and report to the Governor.

(3)  The department shall be the chief health policy and planning entity for the state. The department is responsible for health facility licensure, inspection, and regulatory enforcement; investigation of consumer complaints related to health care facilities and managed care plans; the implementation of the certificate of need program; the operation of the State Center for Health Statistics; the administration of the Medicaid program; the administration of the contracts with the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation; the certification of health maintenance organizations and prepaid health clinics as set forth in part III of chapter 641; and any other duties prescribed by statute or agreement.

History.--s. 1, ch. 92-33; s. 2, ch. 93-129; s. 3, ch. 94-218; s. 10, ch. 96-403; s. 2, ch. 97-92; s. 1, ch. 98-89; s. 8, ch. 2000-209; s. 2, ch. 2000-305.

20.425  Agency for Health Care Administration Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.--

(1)  The Agency for Health Care Administration Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund is created within the agency. Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of funds disbursed, by nonoperating transfer, from the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund in amounts equal to the annual appropriations made from this trust fund.

(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any unencumbered balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year and any encumbered balance remaining undisbursed on December 31 of the same calendar year shall revert to the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund.

History.--s. 1, ch. 99-195; s. 2, ch. 2000-58; s. 71, ch. 2003-261.

20.43  Department of Health.--There is created a Department of Health.

(1)  The purpose of the Department of Health is to promote and protect the health of all residents and visitors in the state through organized state and community efforts, including cooperative agreements with counties. The department shall:

(a)  Prevent to the fullest extent possible, the occurrence and progression of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and disabilities.

(b)  Maintain a constant surveillance of disease occurrence and accumulate health statistics necessary to establish disease trends and to design health programs.

(c)  Conduct special studies of the causes of diseases and formulate preventive strategies.

(d)  Promote the maintenance and improvement of the environment as it affects public health.

(e)  Promote the maintenance and improvement of health in the residents of the state.

(f)  Provide leadership, in cooperation with the public and private sectors, in establishing statewide and community public health delivery systems.

(g)  Provide health care and early intervention services to infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and high-risk perinatal patients who are at risk for disabling conditions or have chronic illnesses.

(h)  Provide services to abused and neglected children through child protection teams and sexual abuse treatment programs.

(i)  Develop working associations with all agencies and organizations involved and interested in health and health care delivery.

(j)  Analyze trends in the evolution of health systems, and identify and promote the use of innovative, cost-effective health delivery systems.

(k)  Serve as the statewide repository of all aggregate data accumulated by state agencies related to health care; analyze that data and issue periodic reports and policy statements, as appropriate; require that all aggregated data be kept in a manner that promotes easy utilization by the public, state agencies, and all other interested parties; provide technical assistance as required; and work cooperatively with the state's higher education programs to promote further study and analysis of health care systems and health care outcomes.

(l)  Include in the department's strategic plan developed under ¹s. 186.021 an assessment of current health programs, systems, and costs; projections of future problems and opportunities; and recommended changes that are needed in the health care system to improve the public health.

(m)  Regulate health practitioners, to the extent authorized by the Legislature, as necessary for the preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

(2)  The head of the Department of Health is the Secretary of Health and State Health Officer. The secretary must be a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has advanced training or extensive experience in public health administration. The secretary is appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

(3)  The following divisions of the Department of Health are established:

(a)  Division of Administration.

(b)  Division of Environmental Health.

(c)  Division of Disease Control.

(d)  Division of Family Health Services.

(e)  Division of Children's Medical Services Network.

(f)  Division of Emergency Medical Services and Community Health Resources.

(g)  Division of Medical Quality Assurance, which is responsible for the following boards and professions established within the division:

1.  The Board of Acupuncture, created under chapter 457.

2.  The Board of Medicine, created under chapter 458.

3.  The Board of Osteopathic Medicine, created under chapter 459.

4.  The Board of Chiropractic Medicine, created under chapter 460.

5.  The Board of Podiatric Medicine, created under chapter 461.

6.  Naturopathy, as provided under chapter 462.

7.  The Board of Optometry, created under chapter 463.

8.  The Board of Nursing, created under part I of chapter 464.

9.  Nursing assistants, as provided under part II of chapter 464.

10.  The Board of Pharmacy, created under chapter 465.

11.  The Board of Dentistry, created under chapter 466.

12.  Midwifery, as provided under chapter 467.

13.  The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, created under part I of chapter 468.

14.  The Board of Nursing Home Administrators, created under part II of chapter 468.

15.  The Board of Occupational Therapy, created under part III of chapter 468.

16.  Respiratory therapy, as provided under part V of chapter 468.

17.  Dietetics and nutrition practice, as provided under part X of chapter 468.

18.  The Board of Athletic Training, created under part XIII of chapter 468.

19.  The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists, created under part XIV of chapter 468.

20.  Electrolysis, as provided under chapter 478.

21.  The Board of Massage Therapy, created under chapter 480.

22.  The Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, created under part III of chapter 483.

23.  Medical physicists, as provided under part IV of chapter 483.

24.  The Board of Opticianry, created under part I of chapter 484.

25.  The Board of Hearing Aid Specialists, created under part II of chapter 484.

26.  The Board of Physical Therapy Practice, created under chapter 486.

27.  The Board of Psychology, created under chapter 490.

28.  School psychologists, as provided under chapter 490.

29.  The Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, created under chapter 491.

(h)  Division of Children's Medical Services Prevention and Intervention.

(i)  Division of Information Resource Management.

(j)  Division of Health Awareness and Tobacco.

(4)(a)  The members of each board within the department shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Consumer members on the board shall be appointed pursuant to paragraph (b). Members shall be appointed for 4-year terms, and such terms shall expire on October 31. However, a term of less than 4 years may be used to ensure that:

1.  No more than two members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of seven or eight members.

2.  No more than 3 members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of 9 to 12 members.

3.  No more than 5 members' terms expire during the same calendar year for boards consisting of 13 or more members.

A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve on the board until such time as a replacement is appointed. A vacancy on the board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. No member may serve for more than the remaining portion of a previous member's unexpired term, plus two consecutive 4-year terms of the member's own appointment thereafter.

(b)  Each board with five or more members shall have at least two consumer members who are not, and have never been, members or practitioners of the profession regulated by such board or of any closely related profession. Each board with fewer than five members shall have at least one consumer member who is not, and has never been, a member or practitioner of the profession regulated by such board or of any closely related profession.

(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department is authorized to establish uniform application forms and certificates of licensure for use by the boards within the department. Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the department to vary any substantive requirements, duties, or eligibilities for licensure or certification as provided by law.

(5)  The department shall plan and administer its public health programs through its county health departments and may, for administrative purposes and efficient service delivery, establish up to 15 service areas to carry out such duties as may be prescribed by the secretary. The boundaries of the service areas shall be the same as, or combinations of, the service districts of the Department of Children and Family Services established in s. 20.19 and, to the extent practicable, shall take into consideration the boundaries of the jobs and education regional boards.

(6)  The secretary and division directors are authorized to appoint ad hoc advisory committees as necessary. The issue or problem that the ad hoc committee shall address, and the timeframe within which the committee is to complete its work, shall be specified at the time the committee is appointed. Ad hoc advisory committees shall include representatives of groups or entities affected by the issue or problem that the committee is asked to examine. Members of ad hoc advisory committees shall receive no compensation, but may, within existing departmental resources, receive reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

(7)  To protect and improve the public health, the department may use state or federal funds to:

(a)  Provide incentives, including, but not limited to, the promotional items listed in paragraph (b), food and including food coupons, and payment for travel expenses, for encouraging healthy lifestyle and disease prevention behaviors and patient compliance with medical treatment, such as tuberculosis therapy and smoking cessation programs. Such incentives shall be intended to cause individuals to take action to improve their health. Any incentive for food, food coupons, or travel expenses may not exceed the limitations in s. 112.061.

(b)  Plan and conduct health education campaigns for the purpose of protecting or improving public health. The department may purchase promotional items, such as, but not limited to, t-shirts, hats, sports items such as water bottles and sweat bands, calendars, nutritional charts, baby bibs, growth charts, and other items printed with health promotion messages, and advertising, such as space on billboards or in publications or radio or television time, for health information and promotional messages that recognize that the following behaviors, among others, are detrimental to public health: unprotected sexual intercourse, other than with one's spouse; cigarette and cigar smoking, use of smokeless tobacco products, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; alcohol consumption or other substance abuse during pregnancy; alcohol abuse or other substance abuse; lack of exercise and poor diet and nutrition habits; and failure to recognize and address a genetic tendency to suffer from sickle-cell anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. For purposes of activities under this paragraph, the Department of Health may establish requirements for local matching funds or in-kind contributions to create and distribute advertisements, in either print or electronic format, which are concerned with each of the targeted behaviors, establish an independent evaluation and feedback system for the public health communication campaign, and monitor and evaluate the efforts to determine which of the techniques and methodologies are most effective.

(c)  Plan and conduct promotional campaigns to recruit health professionals to be employed by the department or to recruit participants in departmental programs for health practitioners, such as scholarship, loan repayment, or volunteer programs. To this effect the department may purchase promotional items and advertising.

(8)  The department may hold copyrights, trademarks, and service marks and enforce its rights with respect thereto, except such authority does not extend to any public records relating to the department's responsibilities for health care practitioners regulated under part II of chapter 455.

History.--s. 8, ch. 96-403; s. 7, ch. 97-237; s. 2, ch. 97-261; s. 160, ch. 97-264; s. 1, ch. 97-273; s. 3, ch. 98-137; ss. 12, 250, ch. 98-166; s. 121, ch. 98-403; s. 9, ch. 99-349; ss. 2, 139, ch. 99-397; s. 12, ch. 2000-139; s. 81, ch. 2000-318; s. 50, ch. 2000-349; s. 1, ch. 2000-367; s. 45, ch. 2002-400.

¹Note.--"Strategic plans" in s. 186.021 were redesignated "long-range program plans" by s. 42, ch. 2000-371.

20.435  Department of Health; trust funds.--

(1)  The following trust funds are hereby created, to be administered by the Department of Health:

(a)  Administrative Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of regulatory fees such as those pertaining to the licensing, permitting, and inspection of septic tanks, food hygiene, onsite sewage, Superfund compliance, solid waste management, tanning facilities, mobile home and recreational vehicle park inspection, other departmental regulatory and health care programs, and indirect earnings from grants. Funds shall be used for the purpose of supporting the regulatory activities of the department and for other such purposes as may be appropriate and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(b)  Federal Grants Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of grants and funding from the Federal Government and funds from the Medicaid program. Funds shall be used for the purposes of providing health and support services to department clients, supporting regulatory activities of the department, and funding disease surveillance and for other such purposes as may be appropriate and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(c)  Grants and Donations Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of restricted contractual revenue from public or private sources such as receipts from Medicaid, funds from federal environmental laws such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Superfund, funds from other health and environmental programs, and funds from private sources such as foundations. Funds shall be used for the purpose of supporting the activities of the department and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(d)  Medical Quality Assurance Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of fees and fines related to the licensing of health care professionals. Funds shall be used for the purpose of providing administrative support for the regulation of health care professionals and for other such purposes as may be appropriate and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(e)  Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of receipts from third-party payors of health care services such as Medicare and Medicaid. Funds shall be used for the purpose of providing health care services to department clients and for other such purposes as may be appropriate and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(f)  Social Services Block Grant Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of federal social services block grant funds. Funds shall be used for the purpose of providing health care and support services to department clients and for other such purposes as may be appropriate and shall be expended only pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the department's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(g)  Department of Health Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of funds disbursed, by nonoperating transfer, from the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund in amounts equal to the annual appropriations made from this trust fund.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any unencumbered balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year and any encumbered balance remaining undisbursed on December 31 of the same calendar year shall revert to the Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund.

(h)  Biomedical Research Trust Fund.

1.  Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of funds deposited pursuant to s. 215.5601. Funds shall be used for the purposes of the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program as specified in s. 215.5602. The trust fund is exempt from the service charges imposed by s. 215.20.

2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

3.  The trust fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 2004.

(2)  Prior to its scheduled termination pursuant to the provisions of s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution, each trust fund listed in subsection (1) shall be reviewed as provided in s. 215.3206(1) and (2).

History.--s. 1, ch. 97-112; s. 1, ch. 97-113; s. 1, ch. 97-114; s. 1, ch. 97-115; s. 1, ch. 97-116; s. 1, ch. 97-119; s. 1, ch. 99-196; s. 2, ch. 2000-38; s. 2, ch. 2000-39; s. 2, ch. 2000-45; s. 2, ch. 2000-46; s. 2, ch. 2000-47; s. 2, ch. 2000-50; s. 2, ch. 2000-54; s. 1, ch. 2000-307; s. 2, ch. 2001-73; s. 10, ch. 2002-1; s. 72, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2003-414.

20.50  Agency for Workforce Innovation.--There is created the Agency for Workforce Innovation within the Department of Management Services. The agency shall be a separate budget entity, and the director of the agency shall be the agency head for all purposes. The agency shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by the Department of Management Services in any manner, including, but not limited to, personnel, purchasing, transactions involving real or personal property, and budgetary matters.

(1)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall ensure that the state appropriately administers federal and state workforce funding by administering plans and policies of Workforce Florida, Inc., under contract with Workforce Florida, Inc. The operating budget and midyear amendments thereto must be part of such contract.

(a)  All program and fiscal instructions to regional workforce boards shall emanate from the agency pursuant to plans and policies of Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Florida, Inc., shall be responsible for all policy directions to the regional boards.

(b)  Unless otherwise provided by agreement with Workforce Florida, Inc., administrative and personnel policies of the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall apply.

(2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall be the designated administrative agency for receipt of federal workforce development grants and other federal funds, and shall carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned by the Governor under each federal grant assigned to the agency. The agency shall be a separate budget entity and shall expend each revenue source as provided by federal and state law and as provided in plans developed by and agreements with Workforce Florida, Inc. The agency shall prepare and submit as a separate budget entity a unified budget request for workforce development, in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in conjunction with, Workforce Florida, Inc., and its board. The head of the agency is the director of Workforce Innovation, who shall be appointed by the Governor. Accountability and reporting functions of the agency shall be administered by the director or his or her designee. Included in these functions are budget management, financial management, audit, performance management standards and controls, assessing outcomes of service delivery, and financial administration of workforce programs pursuant to s. 445.004(5) and (9). Within the agency's overall organizational structure, the agency shall include the following offices which shall have the specified responsibilities:

(a)  The Office of Workforce Services shall administer the unemployment compensation program, the Rapid Response program, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, the Alien Labor Certification program, and any other programs that are delivered directly by agency staff rather than through the one-stop delivery system. The office shall be directed by the Deputy Director for Workforce Services, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director.

(b)  The Office of Program Support and Accountability shall administer state merit system program staff within the workforce service delivery system, pursuant to policies of Workforce Florida, Inc. The office shall be responsible for delivering services through the one-stop delivery system and for ensuring that participants in welfare transition programs receive case management services, diversion assistance, support services, including subsidized child care and transportation services, Medicaid services, and transition assistance to enable them to succeed in the workforce. The office shall also be responsible for program quality assurance, grants and contract management, contracting, financial management, and reporting. The office shall be directed by the Deputy Director for Program Support and Accountability, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director. The office shall be responsible for:

1.  Establishing monitoring, quality assurance, and quality improvement systems that routinely assess the quality and effectiveness of contracted programs and services.

2.  Annual review of each regional workforce board and administrative entity to ensure adequate systems of reporting and control are in place, and monitoring, quality assurance, and quality improvement activities are conducted routinely, and corrective action is taken to eliminate deficiencies.

(c)  The Office of Agency Support Services shall be responsible for procurement, human resource services, and information services including delivering information on labor markets, employment, occupations, and performance, and shall implement and maintain information systems that are required for the effective operation of the one-stop delivery system and the school readiness services system, including, but not limited to, those systems described in s. 445.009. The office will be under the direction of the Deputy Director for Agency Support Services, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director. The office shall be responsible for establishing:

1.  Information systems and controls that report reliable, timely and accurate fiscal and performance data for assessing outcomes, service delivery, and financial administration of workforce programs pursuant to s. 445.004(5) and (9).

2.  Information systems that support service integration and case management by providing for case tracking for participants in welfare transition programs.

3.  Information systems that support school readiness services.

(d)  The Unemployment Appeals Commission, authorized by s. 443.012, shall not be subject to the control, supervision, or direction by the Agency for Workforce Innovation in the performance of its powers and duties but shall receive any and all support and assistance from the agency that may be required for the performance of its duties.

(3)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall serve as the designated agency for purposes of each federal workforce development grant assigned to it for administration. The agency shall carry out the duties assigned to it by the Governor, under the terms and conditions of each grant. The agency shall have the level of authority and autonomy necessary to be the designated recipient of each federal grant assigned to it, and shall disperse such grants pursuant to the plans and policies of Workforce Florida, Inc. The director may, upon delegation from the Governor and pursuant to agreement with Workforce Florida, Inc., sign contracts, grants, and other instruments as necessary to execute functions assigned to the agency. Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the following federal grants and other funds are assigned for administration to the Agency for Workforce Innovation:

(a)  Programs authorized under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-220, except for programs funded directly by the United States Department of Labor under Title I, s. 167.

(b)  Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss. 49 et seq.

(c)  Welfare-to-work grants administered by the United States Department of Labor under Title IV, s. 403, of the Social Security Act, as amended.

(d)  Activities authorized under Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, 2 U.S.C. ss. 2271 et seq., and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program.

(e)  Activities authorized under chapter 41 of Title 38 U.S.C., including job counseling, training, and placement for veterans.

(f)  Employment and training activities carried out under the Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9901 et seq.

(g)  Employment and training activities carried out under funds awarded to this state by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(h)  Designated state and local program expenditures under part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act for welfare transition workforce services associated with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program.

(i)  Programs authorized under the National and Community Service Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. ss. 12501 et seq., and the Service-America programs, the National Service Trust programs, the Civilian Community Corps, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the American Conservation and Youth Service Corps, and the Points of Light Foundation programs, if such programs are awarded to the state.

(j)  The Unemployment Compensation program provided pursuant to chapter 443.

(k)  Other programs funded by federal or state appropriations, as determined by the Legislature in the General Appropriations Act or by law.

(4)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall provide or contract for training for employees of administrative entities and case managers of any contracted providers to ensure they have the necessary competencies and skills to provide adequate administrative oversight and delivery of the full array of client services pursuant to s. 445.004(5)(b). Training requirements include, but are not limited to:

(a)  Minimum skills, knowledge, and abilities required for each classification of program personnel utilized in the regional workforce boards' service delivery plans.

(b)  Minimum requirements for development of a regional workforce board supported personnel training plan to include preservice and inservice components.

(c)  Specifications or criteria under which any regional workforce board may award bonus points or otherwise give preference to competitive service provider applications that provide minimum criteria for assuring competent case management, including, but not limited to, maximum caseload per case manager, current staff turnover rate, minimum educational or work experience requirements, and a differentiated compensation plan based on the competency levels of personnel.

(d)  Minimum skills, knowledge, and abilities required for contract management, including budgeting, expenditure, and performance information related to service delivery and financial administration, monitoring, quality assurance and improvement, and standards of conduct for employees of regional workforce boards and administrative entities specifically related to carrying out contracting responsibilities.

History.--s. 53, ch. 2000-165; s. 9, ch. 2001-60; s. 3, ch. 2002-194.

20.505  Administrative Trust Fund of the Agency for Workforce Innovation.--

(1)  The Administrative Trust Fund is created within the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

(2)  Funds shall be used for the purpose of supporting the administrative functions of the agency as required by law, pursuant to legislative appropriation or an approved amendment to the agency's operating budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216.

(3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.

(4)  Pursuant to the provisions of s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution, the trust fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated on July 1, 2005. Prior to its scheduled termination, the trust fund shall be reviewed as provided in s. 215.3206(1) and (2).

History.--s. 1, ch. 2001-138.