CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1358
Amendment No. 1
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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11 The Committee on Children and Families recommended the
12 following amendment:
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14 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
15 Delete everything after the enacting clause
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17 and insert:
18 Section 1. (1) For purposes of this act, "program"
19 means:
20 (a) Any state program funded under part A of Title IV
21 of the Social Security Act, as amended by section 103(a) of
22 Title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
23 Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-193.
24 (b) Any other program established or modified under
25 Title I or Title II of the Personal Responsibility and Work
26 Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that permits contracts
27 with organizations or permits certificates, vouchers, or other
28 forms of disbursement to be provided to beneficiaries as a
29 means of providing assistance.
30 (c) Any other state program or policy initiative that
31 provides direct assistance to individuals or families.
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1358
Amendment No. 1
1 (2) Any agency of this state or political subdivision
2 of this state may contract with religious organizations or
3 allow religious organizations to accept certificates,
4 vouchers, or other forms of disbursement under any program, on
5 the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider without
6 impairing the religious character of such organizations.
7 (3) Any religious organization is eligible as a
8 contractor, on the same basis as any other nongovernmental
9 organization, to provide assistance or to accept certificates,
10 vouchers, or other forms of disbursement under any program.
11 Any agency of this state or any political subdivision of this
12 state receiving funds under any program may not discriminate
13 against any organization that is or applies to be a contractor
14 to provide assistance, or which accepts certificates,
15 vouchers, or other forms of disbursement, on the basis that
16 the organization has a religious character.
17 (4)(a) A religious organization that has contracted
18 with any agency of this state or any political subdivision of
19 this state under a program, or which accepts certificates,
20 vouchers, or other forms of disbursement described in
21 subsection (1), shall retain its independence from state and
22 local governments, including such organization's control over
23 the definition, development, practice, and expression of its
24 religious beliefs.
25 (b) An agency of this state or any political
26 subdivision of this state may not require a religious
27 organization to alter its form of internal governance or
28 remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols to be
29 eligible to contract to provide assistance, or to accept
30 certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement, funded
31 under a program.
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1358
Amendment No. 1
1 (5) Each agency which administers any program
2 described in this section shall prepare a plan to implement
3 this section and, no later than September 1, 1999, and shall
4 submit a copy of the plan to the Governor, the President of
5 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
6 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
7 law.
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11 And the title is amended as follows:
12 Delete everything before the enacting clause
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14 and insert:
15 A bill to be entitled
16 An act relating to state contracts with
17 religious organizations; providing a
18 definition; authorizing certain agencies to
19 contract with religious organizations under
20 certain programs or allow religious
21 organizations to accept certificates, vouchers,
22 or other forms of disbursement under certain
23 programs; specifying eligibility of religious
24 organizations; providing certain protections
25 for religious organizations; requiring certain
26 agencies to prepare implementation plans and
27 submit the plans to the Governor and the
28 Legislature; providing an effective date.
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30 WHEREAS, state government should engage Florida's
31 religious organizations to enhance care for the needy and fill
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SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1358
Amendment No. 1
1 hollow hearts, and
2 WHEREAS, government must have qualities of the spirit,
3 and
4 WHEREAS, the federal Personal Responsibility and Work
5 Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 specifically authorized
6 states to administer and provide services under specific
7 programs through contracts with charitable, religious, or
8 private organizations, and
9 WHEREAS, health care facilities operated by or
10 affiliated with religious organizations have been effective
11 partners in the provision of public health services for many
12 years without interfering with the religious liberties of
13 Floridians, and
14 WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to engage Florida's
15 churches, synagogues, other religious congregations, and
16 spiritual entrepreneurs to enhance care for the needy, NOW,
17 THEREFORE,
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