The Florida Senate

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, as provided in the General Appropriations Act, 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)(a)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation is the administrative agency designated for receipt of federal workforce development grants and other federal funds. The agency shall administer the duties and responsibilities assigned by the Governor under each federal grant assigned to the agency. The agency 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 may serve as contract administrator for Workforce Florida, Inc., contracts pursuant to s. 445.004(5) as directed by Workforce Florida, Inc.

(b)  The agency shall prepare and submit 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.

(c)  The agency shall include the following offices within its organizational structure:

1.  The Office of Unemployment Compensation Services;

2.  The Office of Workforce Program Support;

3.  The Office of Early Learning, which shall administer the school readiness system in accordance with s. 411.01 and the operational requirements of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program in accordance with part V of chapter 1002. The office shall be directed by the Deputy Director for Early Learning, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director; and

4.  The Office of Agency Support Services.

The director of the agency may establish the positions of assistant director and deputy director to administer the requirements and functions of the agency. In addition, the director may organize and structure the offices of the agency to best meet the goals and objectives of the agency as provided in s. 20.04

(d)  The Unemployment Appeals Commission, authorized by s. 443.012, is not subject to 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 is 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 Agency for Workforce Innovation shall administer 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 may 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.

(5)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall have an official seal by which its records, orders, and proceedings are authenticated. The seal shall be judicially noticed.

History.--s. 53, ch. 2000-165; s. 9, ch. 2001-60; s. 3, ch. 2002-194; s. 4, ch. 2004-484; s. 1, ch. 2005-255.