CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.





                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2524, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  Senator Harris moved the following amendment:

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13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 20, line 13, through page 22, line 2, delete

15  those lines

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17  and insert:

18         Section 4.  Section 414.20, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         414.20  Other support services.--Support services shall

21  be provided, if resources permit, to assist participants in

22  complying with work activity requirements outlined in s.

23  414.065. If resources do not permit the provision of needed

24  support services, the department and the Department of Labor

25  and Employment Security may prioritize or otherwise limit

26  provision of support services. This section does not

27  constitute an entitlement to support services. Lack of

28  provision of support services may be considered as a factor in

29  determining whether good cause exists for failing to comply

30  with work activity requirements but does not automatically

31  constitute good cause for failing to comply with work activity

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2524, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  requirements, and does not affect any applicable time limit on

 2  the receipt of temporary cash assistance or the provision of

 3  services under this chapter. Support services shall include,

 4  but need not be limited to:

 5         (1)  TRANSPORTATION.--Transportation expenses may be

 6  provided to any participant when the assistance is needed to

 7  comply with work activity requirements or employment

 8  requirements, including transportation to and from a child

 9  care provider. Payment may be made in cash or tokens in

10  advance or through reimbursement paid against receipts or

11  invoices. Transportation services may include, but are not

12  limited to, cooperative arrangements with the following:

13  public transit providers; community transportation

14  coordinators designated under chapter 427; school districts,

15  churches and community centers; donated motor vehicle

16  programs, vanpools, and ridesharing programs; small enterprise

17  developments and entrepreneurial programs that encourage WAGES

18  participants to become transportation providers; public and

19  private transportation partnerships; and other innovative

20  strategies to expand transportation options available to

21  program participants.

22         (a)  Local WAGES coalitions are authorized to provide

23  payment for vehicle operational and repair expenses, including

24  repair expenditures necessary to make a vehicle functional;

25  vehicle registration fees; driver's license fees; and

26  liability insurance for the vehicle for a period of up to 6

27  months. Request for vehicle repairs must be accompanied by an

28  estimate of the cost prepared by a repair facility registered

29  under s. 559.904.

30         (b)  Transportation disadvantaged funds as defined in

31  chapter 427 do not include WAGES support services funds that

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2524, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  are used for the provision of transportation services for

 2  WAGES program participants. It is the intent of the

 3  Legislature that local WAGES coalitions consult with local

 4  community transportation coordinators designated under chapter

 5  427 regarding the availability and cost of transportation

 6  services through the coordinated transportation system prior

 7  to contracting for comparable transportation services outside

 8  the coordinated system.  Support services funds may also be

 9  used to develop transportation resources to expand

10  transportation options available to participants. These

11  services may include cooperative arrangements with local

12  transit authorities or school districts and small enterprise

13  development.

14         (2)  ANCILLARY EXPENSES.--Ancillary expenses such as

15  books, tools, clothing, fees, and costs necessary to comply

16  with work activity requirements or employment requirements may

17  be provided.

18         (3)  MEDICAL SERVICES.--A family that meets the

19  eligibility requirements for Medicaid shall receive medical

20  services under the Medicaid program.

21         (4)  PERSONAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND

22  THERAPY.--Counseling may be provided to participants who have

23  a personal or family problem or problems caused by substance

24  abuse that is a barrier to compliance with work activity

25  requirements or employment requirements. In providing these

26  services, the department and the Department of Labor and

27  Employment Security shall use services that are available in

28  the community at no additional cost. If these services are not

29  available, the department and the Department of Labor and

30  Employment Security may use support services funds. Personal

31  or family counseling not available through Medicaid may not be

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2524, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  considered a medical service for purposes of the required

 2  statewide implementation plan or use of federal funds.

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 5  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

 6  And the title is amended as follows:

 7         On page 2, lines 9 through 11, delete those lines

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 9  and insert:

10   amending s. 414.20, F.S.; clarifying transportation options

11  available to local WAGES coalitions to assist WAGES

12  participants; amending s. 414.105, F.S.; providing

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