The Florida Senate

383.0113  Commission on Responsible Fatherhood; creation; membership; powers and duties.--There is created the Commission on Responsible Fatherhood in the Department of Children and Family Services.

(1)  The commission shall consist of not more than 25 members, as follows:

(a)  Seven members to be appointed by the Governor.

(b)  The executive director of the Florida Center for Children and Youth or the director's designee.

(c)  The executive director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence or the director's designee.

(d)  A judge, to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

(e)  A representative of Healthy Start, to be chosen by the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions.

(f)  Two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker.

(g)  Two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President.

(h)  A representative from the Florida Association of Deans and Directors of Schools and departments of social work from Florida colleges and universities.

(i)  A representative of the Florida chapter of the National Congress for Fathers and Children.

(j)  A representative of Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder (MAD DADS).

(k)  A representative of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar Association.

(l)  A representative of the American Association of Retired Persons.

(m)  A representative of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

(n)  A representative from the Florida Family Council.

(o)  Three additional members to be appointed by the other members of the commission based on specific needs.

(2)  Technical assistance will be provided to the commission by the following:

(a)  The Secretary of Children and Family Services, or the secretary's designee.

(b)  The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee.

(c)  The Secretary of Labor and Employment Security, or the secretary's designee.

(d)  The executive director of the Department of Revenue, or the director's designee. The designee shall have experience with child support enforcement programs.

(e)  A representative of The Parent Network of Florida.

(f)  A representative of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services.

Per diem and travel expenses for the individuals providing technical assistance is to be provided from the budgets of those agencies.

(3)  All members of the commission, other than the Governor's appointments and the commission's appointments, must be appointed within 30 days after ¹this section, s. 383.0112, and s. 383.0114 become law. The appointments of the Governor shall be made 30 days after the other appointments, to allow for the composition of the commission to be broadly reflective of the public. The chairperson and vice chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor. The commission is encouraged to appoint subcommittees, including regional subcommittees, that include citizens who are knowledgeable in a subject area but who are not members of the commission and who may not vote on the final report and recommendations of the commission, but may submit reports and recommendations for review by the commission and may be invited to testify to the commission by a member of the commission.

(4)  The commission shall hold its first meeting within 30 days after the appointments, except the Governor's and the commission's appointments, are made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed per diem and travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of members of the commission employed by the State of Florida are to be provided from the budgets of those employing agencies. Members of the commission who serve as members of the Legislature are to be reimbursed from the legislative budget.

(5)  The commission shall meet as the resources of the commission allow.

(6)  Subject to the availability of funds, the Department of Children and Family Services is directed to contract with one or more corporations, agencies, individuals, or governmental entities to accomplish the goals of ¹s. 383.0112 and this section. The Department of Children and Family Services must ensure that the corporations, agencies, individuals, or governmental entities, either separately or together, are able to provide staff support services and must have the research ability to carry out the purposes and responsibilities of the commission.

(7)  The commission shall have the authority to apply for grants and accept private contributions.

(8)  The commission is assigned to the Department of Children and Family Services for administrative and fiscal accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise function independently of the control, supervision, and direction of the department.

(9)  The Governor may remove any member of the commission for cause.

(10)  The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the department staff after it has been approved by the commission, but it shall be transmitted to the Governor along with the budget of the department.

History.--s. 68, ch. 96-175; s. 17, ch. 96-402; s. 75, ch. 99-8.

¹Note.--The ch. 96-175 version refers to "this act."