The Florida Senate

1004.51  Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative; Community and Library Technology Access Partnership.--

(1)  CREATION.--There is created the Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative which shall be administered by the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the Community and Library Technology Access Partnership which shall be administered by the Division of Library and Information Services of the Department of State.

(2)  INTENT.--The purpose of the initiative is to promote community development in low-income communities through partnerships with not-for-profit community and faith-based organizations. The purpose of the partnership is to encourage public libraries eligible for e-rate discounted telecommunications services to partner with community and faith-based organizations to provide technology access and training to assist other state efforts to close the digital divide.

(3)  AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.--

(a)  Authorized activities of the initiative.--The Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University may conduct the following activities as part of the Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative:

1.  Create and operate training programs to enhance the professional skills of individuals in community and faith-based organizations.

2.  Create and operate a program to select and place students and recent graduates from business and related professional schools as interns with community and faith-based organizations for a period not to exceed 1 year, and provide stipends for such interns.

3.  Organize an annual conference for community and faith-based organizations to discuss and share information on best practices regarding issues relevant to the creation, operation, and sustainability of these organizations.

4.  Provide funding for the development of materials for courses on topics in the area of community development, and for research on economic, operational, and policy issues relating to community development.

5.  Provide financial assistance to community and faith-based organizations through small grants for partnerships with universities and the operation of programs to build strong communities and future community development leaders. The Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University shall develop selection criteria for awarding such grants which are based on the goals of the initiative.

The institute, to the maximum extent possible, shall leverage state funding for the initiative with any federal funding that the institute may receive to support similar community-based activities.

(b)  Authorized activities of the partnership.--The Division of Library and Information Services of the Department of State may conduct the following activities as part of the Community and Library Technology Access Partnership:

1.  Provide funding for e-rate eligible public libraries to provide technology access and training to community and faith-based organizations. Funding provided under this subparagraph must be for eligible public libraries in distressed communities in the state. The division shall consult with the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce to identify such communities and to develop criteria to be used in evaluating funding proposals. The division shall coordinate with the institute to ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, the division and the institute leverage their resources under the programs authorized by this section in order to focus efforts on addressing the most distressed communities in the state. The division shall include a representative of the institute on a review team to evaluate funding proposals under this subparagraph.

2.  Provide a method of assessment and outcome measurement for e-rate eligible public libraries to assess progress in closing the digital divide and in training for individuals to succeed in the emerging information economy.

(4)  ELIGIBILITY.--A community or faith-based organization receiving funding or other assistance under the Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative or the Community Library Technology Access Partnership must be a nonprofit organization holding a current exemption from federal taxation under s. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Funding under this section shall not be used for religious or sectarian purposes.

History.--s. 198, ch. 2002-387.