Senate Bill 0366er

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  1

  2         An act relating to school readiness; creating

  3         s. 411.01, F.S.; establishing the Florida

  4         Partnership for School Readiness for purposes

  5         of administering the School Readiness Program;

  6         providing legislative intent; providing for the

  7         program to be phased in; providing

  8         responsibilities and duties of the partnership;

  9         providing membership and meeting requirements;

10         providing that members are subject to certain

11         ethics requirements; authorizing partnership

12         members to be reimbursed for per diem and

13         travel expenses; providing for hiring certain

14         employees; requiring that the partnership

15         prepare a system for measuring school

16         readiness; specifying objectives to be measured

17         by such system; requiring that the partnership

18         adopt performance standards and measures;

19         requiring the partnership to make

20         recommendations to the Governor and the State

21         Board of Education; requiring reports to the

22         Legislature; authorizing the partnership to

23         adopt rules; requiring the establishment of

24         school readiness coalitions; specifying

25         services to be provided by the coalitions;

26         requiring coalitions to develop reimbursement

27         schedules; providing for designation and

28         approval of a fiscal agent; providing for

29         grants to be provided to coalitions to develop

30         school readiness plans; providing requirements

31         for school readiness plans; providing for


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  1         incentive bonuses to be awarded; requiring

  2         evaluations and an annual report; providing

  3         eligibility criteria; providing for parental

  4         choice with respect to child care arrangements

  5         and payments; providing for evaluation and

  6         performance measures; providing requirements

  7         for funding school readiness programs;

  8         requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis

  9         and Government Accountability to make certain

10         reports; providing responsibility for

11         implementation; creating s. 229.567, F.S.;

12         requiring the Department of Education to adopt

13         the school readiness uniform screening

14         developed by the Florida Partnership for School

15         Readiness and to require their use by the

16         school districts; amending s. 216.136, F.S.;

17         creating the School Readiness Program

18         Estimating Conference; requiring the conference

19         to develop estimates and forecasts of students

20         eligible for school readiness programs;

21         specifying the principals of the conference;

22         amending s. 414.026, F.S.; requiring the

23         chairperson of the Florida Partnership for

24         School Readiness to serve on the WAGES Program

25         State Board of Directors; amending s. 624.91,

26         F.S.; providing legislative intent that the

27         Florida Healthy Kids Corporation work

28         cooperatively with the School Readiness

29         Program; amending s. 411.222, F.S.; abolishing

30         the State Coordinating Council for Early

31         Childhood Services; establishing the State


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  1         Coordinating Council for School Readiness

  2         Programs; requiring the State Coordinating

  3         Council for Early Childhood Services to submit

  4         a final report; repealing s. 411.222(4), F.S.,

  5         relating to the State Coordinating Council for

  6         Early Childhood Services; amending s. 240.115,

  7         F.S.; requiring that the Commissioner of

  8         Education establish a career path for

  9         school-readiness-related professions;

10         authorizing the Governor to transfer funds;

11         requiring that the Florida Partnership for

12         School Readiness recommend appropriations and

13         positions; authorizing the Inter-University

14         Consortium of Child and Family Studies to

15         develop a model to demonstrate best practices;

16         providing that the act does not impede the

17         state's ability to receive federal funds;

18         providing an appropriation; providing effective

19         dates.

20

21         WHEREAS, the voters of the State of Florida, in the

22  November 1998 General Election, amended Section 1 of Article

23  IX of the State Constitution to state that it is "a paramount

24  duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education

25  of all children residing within its borders," and

26         WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the primacy of

27  parents as their children's first teachers and the importance

28  of children entering the education system ready to learn, and

29         WHEREAS, the Legislature seeks to assist parents by

30  providing opportunities for the state's at-risk

31  birth-to-kindergarten population to enhance their chances for


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  1  educational success by participating in quality school

  2  readiness programs that can better prepare them for school,

  3  NOW, THEREFORE,

  4

  5  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  6

  7         Section 1.  Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, is

  8  created to read:

  9         411.01  Florida Partnership for School Readiness;

10  school readiness coalitions.--

11         (1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the

12  "School Readiness Act."

13         (2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--

14         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that school readiness

15  programs increase children's chances of achieving future

16  educational success and becoming productive members of

17  society. It is the intent of the Legislature that such

18  programs be developmentally appropriate, research-based,

19  involve parents as their child's first teacher, serve as

20  preventive measures for children at risk of future school

21  failure, enhance the educational readiness of eligible

22  children, and support family education. Each school readiness

23  program shall provide the elements necessary to prepare

24  at-risk children for school, including health screening and

25  referral and an appropriate educational program.

26         (b)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school

27  readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis

28  to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and

29  become financially self-sufficient.

30         (c)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school

31  readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build


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  1  upon existing services and work in cooperation with other

  2  programs for young children, and that school readiness

  3  programs be coordinated and funding integrated to achieve full

  4  effectiveness.

  5         (d)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the

  6  administrative staff at the state level for school readiness

  7  programs be kept to the minimum necessary to carry out the

  8  duties of the Florida Partnership for School Readiness, as the

  9  school readiness programs are to be locally designed,

10  operated, and managed, with the Florida Partnership for School

11  Readiness adopting a system for measuring school readiness;

12  developing school readiness program performance standards,

13  outcome measurements, and data design and review; and

14  approving and reviewing local school readiness coalitions and

15  plans.

16         (e)  It is the intent of the Legislature that

17  appropriations for combined school readiness programs shall

18  not be less than the programs would receive in any fiscal year

19  on an uncombined basis.

20         (f)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the

21  school readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction

22  with the district school systems. However, it is also the

23  intent of the Legislature that the school readiness program

24  not be construed as part of the system of free public schools

25  but rather as a separate program for children under the age of

26  kindergarten eligibility, funded separately from the system of

27  free public schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale,

28  and providing an integrated and seamless system of school

29  readiness services for the state's birth-to-kindergarten

30  population.

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  1         (g)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the

  2  federal child care income tax credit be preserved for school

  3  readiness programs.

  4         (3)  SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.--The school readiness

  5  program shall be phased in on a coalition-by-coalition basis.

  6  Each coalition's school readiness program shall have available

  7  to it funding from all the coalition's early education and

  8  child care programs that are funded with state, federal,

  9  lottery, or local funds, including but not limited to Florida

10  First Start programs, Even-Start literacy programs,

11  prekindergarten early intervention programs, Head Start

12  programs, programs offered by public and private providers of

13  child care, migrant prekindergarten programs, Title I

14  programs, subsidized child care programs, and teen parent

15  programs, together with any additional funds appropriated or

16  obtained for purposes of this section.  These programs and

17  their funding streams shall be components of the coalition's

18  integrated school readiness program, with the goal of

19  preparing children for success in school.

20         (4)  FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOL READINESS.--

21         (a)  There is created the Florida Partnership for

22  School Readiness with responsibility for adopting and

23  maintaining coordinated programmatic, administrative, and

24  fiscal policies and standards for all school readiness

25  programs, while allowing a wide range of programmatic

26  flexibility and differentiation. The partnership is assigned

27  to the Executive Office of the Governor for administrative

28  purposes.

29         (b)1.  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness

30  shall include the Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee,

31  the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of Children and


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  1  Family Services, the Secretary of Health, the chairperson of

  2  the Child Care Executive Partnership Board, and the

  3  chairperson of the WAGES Program State Board of Directors.

  4         2.  The partnership shall also include 10 members of

  5  the public who shall be business, community, and civic leaders

  6  in the state who are not elected to public office. These

  7  members and their families must not be providers in the early

  8  education and child care industry. The members must be

  9  geographically and demographically representative of the

10  state. Each member shall be appointed by the Governor. Eight

11  of the members shall be appointed from a list of 10 nominees,

12  of which five must be submitted by the President of the Senate

13  and five must be submitted by the Speaker of the House of

14  Representatives. Members shall be appointed to 4-year terms of

15  office. However, of the initial appointees, two shall be

16  appointed to 1-year terms, two shall be appointed to 2-year

17  terms, three shall be appointed to 3-year terms, and three

18  shall be appointed to 4-year terms. The members of the

19  partnership shall elect a chairperson annually from the

20  nongovernmental members of the partnership. Any vacancy on the

21  partnership shall be filled in the same manner as the original

22  appointment.

23         (c)  The partnership shall meet at least quarterly but

24  may meet as often as it deems necessary to carry out its

25  duties and responsibilities. Members of the partnership shall

26  participate without proxy at the quarterly meetings. The

27  partnership may take official action by a majority vote of the

28  members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.

29  The partnership shall hold its first meeting by October 1,

30  1999.

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  1         (d)  Members of the partnership are subject to the

  2  ethics provisions in part III of chapter 112, and no member

  3  may derive any financial benefit from the funds administered

  4  by the Florida Partnership for School Readiness.

  5         (e)  Members of the partnership shall serve without

  6  compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem

  7  and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their

  8  duties as provided in s. 112.061, and reimbursement for other

  9  reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses.

10         (f)  For the purposes of tort liability, the members of

11  the partnership and its employees shall be governed by s.

12  768.28.

13         (g)  The partnership shall appoint an executive

14  director to serve at its pleasure who shall perform the duties

15  assigned to him or her by the partnership. The executive

16  director shall be responsible for hiring, subject to the

17  approval of the partnership, all employees and staff members,

18  who shall serve under his or her direction and control.

19         (h)  For purposes of administration of the Federal

20  Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99,

21  the partnership may be designated by the Governor as the Lead

22  Agency, and if so designated shall comply with the Lead Agency

23  responsibilities pursuant to federal law.

24         (i)  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness is

25  the principal organization responsible for the enhancement of

26  school readiness for the state's children, and shall:

27         1.  Be responsible for the prudent use of all public

28  and private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual

29  requirements.

30         2.  Provide final approval and periodic review of

31  coalitions and plans.


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  1         3.  Provide leadership for enhancement of school

  2  readiness in this state by aggressively establishing a unified

  3  approach to the state's efforts toward enhancement of school

  4  readiness. In support of this effort, the partnership may

  5  develop and implement specific strategies that address the

  6  state's school readiness programs.

  7         4.  Safeguard the effective use of federal, state,

  8  local, and private resources to achieve the highest possible

  9  level of school readiness for the state's children.

10         5.  Provide technical assistance to coalitions.

11         6.  Assess gaps in service.

12         7.  Provide technical assistance to counties that form

13  a multicounty coalition.

14         8.a.  By July 1, 2000, adopt a system for measuring

15  school readiness that provides objective data regarding the

16  expectations for school readiness, and establish a method for

17  collecting the data and guidelines for using the data. The

18  measurement, the data collection, and the use of the data must

19  serve the statewide school readiness goal. The criteria for

20  determining which data to collect should be the usefulness of

21  the data to state policymakers and local program

22  administrators in administering programs and allocating state

23  funds, and must include the tracking of school readiness

24  system information back to individual school readiness

25  programs to assist in determining program effectiveness.

26         b.  By December 31, 2000, the partnership shall also

27  adopt a system for evaluating the performance of students

28  through the third grade to compare the performance of those

29  who participated in school readiness programs with the

30  performance of students who did not participate in school

31


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  1  readiness programs in order to identify strategies for

  2  continued successful student performance.

  3         9.  By June 1, 2000, develop and adopt performance

  4  standards and outcome measures.

  5         10.  In consultation with the Postsecondary Education

  6  Planning Commission and the Education Standards Commission,

  7  assess the expertise of public and private Florida

  8  postsecondary institutions in the areas of infant and toddler

  9  developmental research; the related curriculum of training,

10  career, and academic programs; and the status of articulation

11  among those programs. Based on this assessment, the

12  partnership shall provide recommendations to the Governor and

13  the Legislature for postsecondary program improvements to

14  enhance school readiness initiatives.

15         (j)  The partnership may adopt rules necessary to

16  administer the provisions of this section which relate to

17  preparing and implementing the system for school readiness,

18  collecting data, approving local school readiness coalitions

19  and plans, providing a method whereby a coalition can serve

20  two or more counties, awarding incentives to coalitions, and

21  issuing waivers.

22         (k)  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall

23  have all powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this

24  section, including, but not limited to, the power to receive

25  and accept grants, loans, or advances of funds from any public

26  or private agency and to receive and accept from any source

27  contributions of money, property, labor, or any other thing of

28  value, to be held, used, and applied for the purposes of this

29  section.

30         (l)  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall

31  be an independent, nonpartisan body and shall not be


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  1  identified or affiliated with any one agency, program, or

  2  group.

  3         (m)  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall

  4  have a budget, shall be financed through an annual

  5  appropriation made for this purpose in the General

  6  Appropriations Act, and shall be subject to compliance audits

  7  and annual financial audits by the Auditor General.

  8         (n)  The partnership shall coordinate the efforts

  9  toward school readiness in this state and provide independent

10  policy analyses and recommendations to the Governor, the State

11  Board of Education, and the Legislature.

12         (o)  By July 1, 2000, the partnership shall prepare and

13  submit to the State Board of Education a system for measuring

14  school readiness. The system must include a uniform screening,

15  which shall provide objective data regarding the following

16  expectations for school readiness which shall include, at a

17  minimum:

18         1.  The child's immunizations and other health

19  requirements as necessary, including appropriate vision and

20  hearing screening and examinations.

21         2.  The child's physical development.

22         3.  The child's compliance with rules, limitations, and

23  routines.

24         4.  The child's ability to perform tasks.

25         5.  The child's interactions with adults.

26         6.  The child's interactions with peers.

27         7.  The child's ability to cope with challenges.

28         8.  The child's self-help skills.

29         9.  The child's ability to express his or her needs.

30         10.  The child's verbal communication skills.

31         11.  The child's problem-solving skills.


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  1         12.  The child's following of verbal directions.

  2         13.  The child's demonstration of curiosity,

  3  persistence, and exploratory behavior.

  4         14.  The child's interest in books and other printed

  5  materials.

  6         15.  The child's paying attention to stories.

  7         16.  The child's participation in art and music

  8  activities.

  9         17.  The child's ability to identify colors, geometric

10  shapes, letters of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and

11  temporal relationships.

12         (p)  The partnership shall prepare a plan for

13  implementing the system for measuring school readiness in such

14  a way that all children in this state will undergo the uniform

15  screening established by the partnership when they enter

16  kindergarten. Children who enter public school for the first

17  time in first grade must undergo a uniform screening approved

18  by the partnership for use in first grade. Because children

19  with disabilities may not be able to meet all of the

20  identified expectations for school readiness, the plan for

21  measuring school readiness shall incorporate mechanisms for

22  recognizing the potential variations in expectations for

23  school readiness when serving children with disabilities and

24  shall provide for communities to serve children with

25  disabilities.

26         (q)  The partnership shall recommend to the Governor,

27  the Commissioner of Education, and the State Board of

28  Education rules, and revisions or repeal of rules, which would

29  increase the effectiveness of programs that prepare children

30  for school.

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  1         (r)  The partnership shall conduct studies and planning

  2  activities related to the overall improvement and

  3  effectiveness of school-readiness measures.

  4         (s)  By February 1, 2000, the partnership shall work

  5  with the Office of the Comptroller for electronic funds

  6  transfer.

  7         (t)  By February 1, 2000, the partnership shall present

  8  to the Legislature a plan for combining funding streams for

  9  school readiness programs into a School Readiness Trust Fund.

10         (u)  The partnership shall establish procedures for

11  performance-based budgeting in school readiness programs.

12         (v)  The partnership shall submit an annual report of

13  its activities to the Governor, the executive director of the

14  Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, the President of the Senate,

15  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority

16  leaders of both houses of the Legislature. In addition, the

17  partnership's reports and recommendations shall be made

18  available to the State Board of Education, other appropriate

19  state agencies and entities, district school boards, central

20  agencies for child care, and county health departments. The

21  annual report must provide an analysis of school readiness

22  activities across the state, including the number of children

23  who were served in the programs and the number of children who

24  were ready for school.

25         (w)  The partnership shall work with school readiness

26  coalitions to increase parents' training for and involvement

27  in their children's preschool education and to provide family

28  literacy activities and programs.

29

30  To ensure that the system for measuring school readiness is

31  comprehensive and appropriate statewide, as the system is


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  1  developed and implemented, the partnership must consult with

  2  representatives of district school systems, providers of

  3  public and private child care, health care providers, large

  4  and small employers, experts in education for children with

  5  disabilities, and experts in child development.

  6         (5)  CREATION OF SCHOOL READINESS COALITIONS.--

  7         (a)  School readiness coalitions.--

  8         1.  If a coalition's plan would serve less than 400

  9  birth-to-kindergarten age children, the coalition must either

10  join with another county to form a multi-county coalition,

11  enter an agreement with a fiscal agent to serve more than one

12  coalition, or demonstrate to the partnership its ability to

13  effectively and efficiently implement its plan as a

14  single-county coalition and meet all required performance

15  standards and outcome measures.

16         2.  Each coalition shall have at least 18 but not more

17  than 25 members and such members must include the following:

18         a.  A Department of Children and Family Services

19  district administrator.

20         b.  A district superintendent of schools.

21         c.  A regional workforce development board chair or

22  director, where applicable.

23         d.  A county health department director or his or her

24  designee.

25         e.  A children's services council or juvenile welfare

26  board chair or executive director, if applicable.

27         f.  A child care licensing agency head.

28         g.  One member appointed by a Department of Children

29  and Family Services district administrator.

30         h.  One member appointed by a board of county

31  commissioners.


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  1         i.  One member appointed by a district school board.

  2         j.  A central child care agency administrator.

  3         k.  A Head Start director.

  4         l.  A representative of private child care providers.

  5         m.  A representative of faith-based child care

  6  providers.

  7

  8  More than one-third of the coalition members must be from the

  9  private sector, and neither they nor their families may earn

10  an income from the early education and child care industry. To

11  meet this requirement a coalition must appoint additional

12  members from a list of nominees presented to the coalition by

13  a chamber of commerce or economic development council within

14  the geographic area of the coalition.

15         3.  No member of a coalition may appoint a designee to

16  act in his or her place. A member may send a representative to

17  coalition meetings, but that representative will have no

18  voting privileges.

19         4.  The school readiness coalition shall replace the

20  district interagency coordinating council required under s.

21  230.2305.

22         5.  Members of the coalition are subject to the ethics

23  provisions in part III of chapter 112.

24         6.  Multicounty coalitions shall include representation

25  from each county.

26         7.  The terms of all appointed members of the coalition

27  must be staggered.

28         (b)  Program participation.--The school readiness

29  program shall be established for children from birth to 5

30  years of age or until the child enters kindergarten. The

31  program shall be administered by the school readiness


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  1  coalition. Within funding limitations, the school readiness

  2  coalition, along with all providers, shall make reasonable

  3  efforts to accommodate the needs of children for extended-day

  4  and extended-year services without compromising the quality of

  5  the program.

  6         (c)  Program expectations.--

  7         1.  The school readiness program must meet the

  8  following expectations:

  9         a.  The program must prepare preschool children to

10  enter kindergarten ready to learn, as measured by criteria

11  established by the Florida Partnership for School Readiness.

12         b.  The program must provide extended-day and

13  extended-year services to the maximum extent possible to meet

14  the needs of parents who work.

15         c.  There must be coordinated staff development and

16  teaching opportunities.

17         d.  There must be expanded access to community services

18  and resources for families to help achieve economic

19  self-sufficiency.

20         e.  There must be a single point of entry and unified

21  waiting list.

22         f.  As long as funding or eligible populations do not

23  decrease, the program must serve at least as many children as

24  were served prior to implementation of the program.

25         g.  There must be a community plan to address the needs

26  of all eligible children.

27         h.  The program must meet all state licensing

28  guidelines, where applicable.

29         2.  The school readiness coalition must implement a

30  comprehensive program of readiness services that enhance the

31  cognitive, social, and physical development of children to


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  1  achieve the performance standards and outcome measures

  2  specified by the partnership.  At a minimum, these programs

  3  must contain the following elements:

  4         a.  Developmentally appropriate curriculum.

  5         b.  A character development program to develop basic

  6  values.

  7         c.  An age-appropriate assessment of each child's

  8  development.

  9         d.  A pretest administered to children when they enter

10  a program and a posttest administered to children when they

11  leave the program.

12         e.  An appropriate staff-to-child ratio.

13         f.  A healthful and safe environment.

14         g.  A resource and referral network to assist parents

15  in making an informed choice.

16         (d)  Implementation.--

17         1.  The school readiness program is to be phased in.

18  Until the coalition implements its plan, the county shall

19  continue to receive the services identified in subsection (3)

20  through the various agencies that would be responsible for

21  delivering those services under current law.  Plan

22  implementation is subject to approval of the coalition and the

23  plan by the Florida Partnership for School Readiness.

24         2.  Each school readiness coalition shall develop a

25  plan for implementing the school readiness program to meet the

26  requirements of this section and the performance standards and

27  outcome measures established by the partnership. The plan must

28  include a written description of the role of the program in

29  the coalition's effort to meet the first state education goal,

30  readiness to start school, including a description of the plan

31  to involve the prekindergarten early intervention programs,


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  1  Head Start Programs, programs offered by public or private

  2  providers of child care, preschool programs for children with

  3  disabilities, programs for migrant children, Title I programs,

  4  subsidized child care programs, and teen parent programs. The

  5  plan must also demonstrate how the program will ensure that

  6  each 3-year-old and 4-year-old child in a publicly funded

  7  school readiness program receives scheduled activities and

  8  instruction designed to prepare children to enter kindergarten

  9  ready to learn. Prior to implementation of the program, the

10  school readiness coalition must submit the plan to the

11  partnership for approval.  The partnership may approve the

12  plan, reject the plan, or approve the plan with conditions.

13  The plan shall be reviewed, revised, and approved biennially.

14         3.  The plan for the school readiness program must

15  include the following minimum standards and provisions:

16         a.  A sliding fee scale establishing a co-payment for

17  parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for

18  all program providers, to be implemented and reflected in each

19  program's budget.

20         b.  A choice of settings and locations in licensed,

21  registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be

22  provided to parents.

23         c.  Instructional staff who have completed the training

24  course as required in s. 402.305(2)(d)1., as well as staff who

25  have additional training or credentials as required by the

26  respective program provider. The plan must provide a method

27  for assuring the qualifications of all personnel in all

28  program settings.

29         d.  Specific eligibility priorities for children within

30  the coalition's county pursuant to subsection (6).

31


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  1         e.  Performance standards and outcome measures

  2  established by the partnership or alternatively, standards and

  3  outcome measures to be used until such time as the partnership

  4  adopts such standards and outcome measures.

  5         f.  Reimbursement rates that have been developed by the

  6  coalition.

  7         g.  Systems support services, including a central

  8  agency, child care resource and referral, eligibility

  9  determinations, training of providers, and parent support and

10  involvement.

11         h.  Direct enhancement services to families and

12  children. System support and direct enhancement services shall

13  be in addition to payments for the placement of children in

14  school readiness programs.

15         i.  A business plan, which must include the contract

16  with a school readiness agent if the coalition is not a

17  legally established corporate entity. Coalitions may contract

18  with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multiple-county

19  services, and such contracts may be part of the coalition's

20  business plan.

21         j.  Strategies to meet the needs of unique populations,

22  such as migrant workers.

23

24  As part of the plan, the coalition may request the Governor to

25  apply for a waiver to allow the coalition to administer the

26  Head Start Program to accomplish the purposes of the school

27  readiness program.  If any school readiness plan can

28  demonstrate that specific statutory goals can be achieved more

29  effectively by using procedures that require modification of

30  existing rules, policies, or procedures, a request for a

31  waiver to the partnership may be made as part of the plan.


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  1  Upon review, the partnership may grant the proposed

  2  modification.

  3         4.  Persons with an early childhood teaching

  4  certificate may provide support and supervision to other staff

  5  in the school readiness program.

  6         5.  The coalition may not implement its plan until it

  7  submits the plan to and receives approval from the

  8  partnership. Once the plan has been approved, the plan and the

  9  services provided under the plan shall be controlled by the

10  coalition rather than by the state agencies or departments.

11  The plan shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at

12  least biennially.

13         6.  The following statutes will not apply to local

14  coalitions with approved plans: ss. 125.901(2)(a)3.,

15  228.061(1) and (2), 230.2306, 411.204, 411.221, 411.222, and

16  411.232. To facilitate innovative practices and to allow local

17  establishment of school readiness programs, a school readiness

18  coalition may apply to the Governor and Cabinet for a waiver

19  of, and the Governor and Cabinet may waive, any of the

20  provisions of ss. 230.2303, 230.2305, 230.23166, 402.3015,

21  411.223, and 411.232, if the waiver is necessary for

22  implementation of the coalition's school readiness plan.

23         7.  Two or more counties may join for the purpose of

24  planning and implementing a school readiness program.

25         8.  A coalition may, subject to approval of the

26  partnership as part of the coalition's plan, receive

27  subsidized child care funds for all children eligible for any

28  federal subsidized child care program and be the provider of

29  the program services.

30

31


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  1         9.  Coalitions are authorized to enter into multiparty

  2  contracts with multi-county service providers in order to meet

  3  the needs of unique populations such as migrant workers.

  4         (e)  Reimbursement rate.--Each coalition shall develop

  5  a reimbursement rate schedule that encompasses all programs

  6  funded by that coalition.  The reimbursement rate schedule

  7  must take into consideration the relevant market rate, must

  8  include the projected number of children to be served, and

  9  must be submitted to the partnership for information. Informal

10  childcare arrangements shall be reimbursed at not more than 50

11  percent of the rate developed for family childcare.

12         (f)  Requirements relating to fiscal agents.--If the

13  local coalition is not a legally established corporate entity,

14  the coalition must designate a fiscal agent, which may be a

15  public entity or a private nonprofit organization. The fiscal

16  agent shall be required to provide financial and

17  administrative services pursuant to a contract or agreement

18  with the school readiness coalition. The fiscal agent may not

19  provide direct early education or child care services,

20  however, a fiscal agent may provide such services upon written

21  request of the coalition to the partnership and upon the

22  approval of such request by the partnership. The cost of the

23  financial and administrative services shall be negotiated

24  between the fiscal agent and the school readiness coalition.

25  If the fiscal agent is a provider of early education and care

26  programs, the contract must specify that the fiscal agent will

27  act on policy direction from the coalition and will not

28  receive policy direction from its own corporate board

29  regarding disbursal of coalition funds. The fiscal agent shall

30  disburse funds in accordance with the approved coalition

31  school readiness plan and based on billing and disbursement


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  1  procedures approved by the partnership. The fiscal agent must

  2  conform to all data-reporting requirements established by the

  3  partnership.

  4         (g)  Coalition initiation grants; incentive bonuses.--

  5         1.  School readiness coalitions that are approved by

  6  the Florida Partnership for School Readiness by January 1,

  7  2000, shall be eligible for a $50,000 initiation grant to

  8  support the school readiness coalition in developing its

  9  school readiness plan.

10         2.  School readiness coalitions that are approved by

11  the Florida Partnership for School Readiness by March 1, 2000,

12  shall be eligible for a $25,000 initiation grant to support

13  the school readiness coalition in developing its school

14  readiness plan.

15         3.  School readiness coalitions that have their plans

16  approved by July 1, 2000, shall receive funding from the

17  Florida Partnership for School Readiness in fiscal year

18  2000-2001, and each year thereafter.

19         4.  Upon approval by the Florida Partnership for School

20  Readiness of any coalition's plan that clearly shows

21  enhancement in the quality and standards of the school

22  readiness program without diminishing the number of children

23  served in the program, the partnership shall award the

24  coalition an incentive bonus, subject to appropriation.

25         5.  In fiscal year 2000-2001, and each year thereafter,

26  any increases in funding for school readiness programs shall

27  be administered through school readiness coalitions.

28         6.  In fiscal year 2001-2002, the Florida Partnership

29  for School Readiness shall request proposals from government

30  agencies and nonprofit corporations for the development and

31


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  1  operation of a school readiness coalition in each county that

  2  does not have an approved coalition by March 1, 2001.

  3         (h)  Evaluation and annual report.--Each school

  4  readiness coalition shall conduct an evaluation of the

  5  effectiveness of the school readiness program, including

  6  performance standards and outcome measures, and shall provide

  7  an annual report and fiscal statement to the Florida

  8  Partnership for School Readiness. This report must conform to

  9  the content and format specifications set by the Florida

10  Partnership for School Readiness. The partnership must include

11  an analysis of the coalition reports in its annual report.

12         (6)  PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--The school readiness program

13  shall be established for children under the age of

14  kindergarten eligibility. Priority for participation in the

15  school readiness program shall be given to children who meet

16  one or more of the following criteria:

17         (a)  Children under the age of kindergarten eligibility

18  who are:

19         1.  Children determined to be at risk of abuse,

20  neglect, or exploitation and who are currently clients of the

21  Children and Family Services Program Office of the Department

22  of Children and Family Services.

23         2.  Children at risk of welfare dependency, including

24  economically disadvantaged children, children of participants

25  in the WAGES program, children of migrant farmworkers, and

26  children of teen parents.

27         3.  Children of working families whose family income

28  does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

29         (b)  Three-year-old children and 4-year-old children

30  who may not be economically disadvantaged but who have

31  disabilities, have been served in a specific part-time or


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  1  combination of part-time exceptional education programs with

  2  required special services, aids, or equipment, and were

  3  previously reported for funding part time with the Florida

  4  Education Finance Program as exceptional students.

  5         (c)  Economically disadvantaged children, children with

  6  disabilities, and children at risk of future school failure,

  7  from birth to 4 years of age, who are served at home through

  8  home visitor programs and intensive parent education programs

  9  such as the Florida First Start Program.

10         (d)  Children who meet federal and state requirements

11  for eligibility for the migrant preschool program but who do

12  not meet the criteria of economically disadvantaged.

13

14  An "economically disadvantaged" child means a child whose

15  family income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty

16  level. Notwithstanding any change in a family's economic

17  status, but subject to additional family contributions in

18  accordance with the sliding fee scale, a child who meets the

19  eligibility requirements upon initial registration for the

20  program shall be considered eligible until the child reaches

21  kindergarten age.

22         (7)  PARENTAL CHOICE.--

23         (a)  The school readiness program shall provide

24  parental choice pursuant to a purchase service order that

25  ensures, to the maximum extent possible, flexibility in school

26  readiness programs and payment arrangements. According to

27  federal regulations requiring parental choice, a parent may

28  choose an informal child-care arrangement. The purchase order

29  must bear the name of the beneficiary and the program provider

30  and, when redeemed, must bear the signature of both the

31  beneficiary and an authorized representative of the provider.


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  1         (b)  If it is determined that a provider has provided

  2  any cash to the beneficiary in return for receiving the

  3  purchase order, the coalition or its fiscal agent shall refer

  4  the matter to the Division of Public Assistance Fraud for

  5  investigation.

  6         (c)  The Office of the Comptroller shall establish an

  7  electronic transfer system for the disbursement of funds in

  8  accordance with this subsection. School readiness coalitions

  9  shall fully implement the electronic funds transfer system

10  within 2 years after plan approval unless a waiver is obtained

11  from the partnership.

12         (8)  STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.--All publicly funded

13  school readiness programs shall be required to meet the

14  performance standards and outcome measures developed and

15  approved by the partnership. The Office of Program Policy

16  Analysis and Government Accountability shall provide

17  consultation to the partnership in the development of the

18  measures and standards. These performance standards and

19  outcome measures shall be adopted by June 1, 2000, and shall

20  be applicable on a state-wide basis.

21         (9)  FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.--

22         (a)  It is the intent of this section to establish an

23  integrated and quality seamless service delivery system for

24  all publicly funded early education and child care programs

25  operating in this state.

26         (b)  All state funds budgeted for a county for the

27  programs specified in subsection (3), along with the pro rata

28  share of the state administrative costs of those programs in

29  the amount as determined by the partnership, all federal funds

30  and required local matching funds for a county for programs

31  specified in subsection (3), and any additional funds


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  1  appropriated or obtained for purposes of this section, shall

  2  be transferred for the benefit of the coalition for

  3  implementation of its plan, including the hiring of staff to

  4  effectively operate the coalition's school readiness program.

  5  As part of plan approval and periodic plan review, the

  6  partnership shall require that administrative costs be kept to

  7  the minimum necessary for efficient and effective

  8  administration of the plan, but total administrative

  9  expenditures shall not exceed 5 percent unless specifically

10  waived by the partnership.  The partnership shall annually

11  report to the Legislature any problems relating to

12  administrative costs.

13         (c)  By February 15, 2000, the partnership shall

14  present to the Legislature recommendations for combining

15  funding streams for school readiness programs into a School

16  Readiness Trust Fund.  These recommendations must include

17  recommendations for the inclusion or noninclusion of

18  prekindergarten disabilities programs and funding.

19         (d)  The partnership shall annually distribute all

20  eligible funds as block grants to assist coalitions in

21  integrating services and funding to develop a quality service

22  delivery system. Subject to appropriation, the partnership may

23  also provide financial awards to coalitions demonstrating

24  success in merging and integrating funding streams to serve

25  children and school readiness programs.

26         (e)  State funds appropriated for the school readiness

27  program may not be used for the construction of new facilities

28  or the purchase of buses. By February 15, 2000, the

29  partnership shall present to the Legislature recommendations

30  for providing necessary transportation services for school

31  readiness programs.


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  1         (f)  All cost savings and all revenues received through

  2  a mandatory sliding fee scale shall be used to help fund the

  3  local school readiness program.

  4         (10)  REPORTS.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis

  5  and Government Accountability shall assess the implementation,

  6  efficiency, and outcomes of the school readiness program and

  7  report its findings to the President of the Senate and the

  8  Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2002.

  9  Subsequent reviews shall be conducted at the direction of the

10  Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.

11         (11)  CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.--In the event of a

12  conflict between the provisions of this section and federal

13  requirements, the federal requirements shall control.

14         Section 2.  Section 229.567, Florida Statutes, is

15  created to read:

16         229.567  School readiness uniform screening.--The

17  Department of Education shall adopt the school readiness

18  uniform screening developed by the Florida Partnership for

19  School Readiness, and shall require that all school districts

20  administer the kindergarten uniform screening to each

21  kindergarten student in the district school system upon the

22  student's entry into kindergarten. Children who enter public

23  school for the first time in first grade must undergo a

24  uniform screening approved by the partnership for use in first

25  grade.

26         Section 3.  Subsection (11) is added to section

27  216.136, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:

28         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

29  principals.--

30         (11)  SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--

31         (a)  Duties.--


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  1         1.  The School Readiness Program Estimating Conference

  2  shall develop such estimates and forecasts of the number of

  3  individuals eligible for school readiness programs in

  4  accordance with the standards of eligibility established by

  5  state or federal statute or administrative rule as the

  6  conference determines are needed to support the state

  7  planning, budgeting, and appropriations processes.

  8         2.  In addition, the School Readiness Program

  9  Estimating Conference shall estimate the unduplicated count of

10  children who are eligible for services under the school

11  readiness program.

12         3.  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall

13  provide information on needs and waiting lists for school

14  readiness program services requested by the School Readiness

15  Program Estimating Conference or individual conference

16  principals in a timely manner.

17         (b)  Principals.--The Executive Office of the Governor,

18  the Director of Economic and Demographic Research, and

19  professional staff who have forecasting expertise from the

20  Florida Partnership for School Readiness, the Department of

21  Children and Family Services, the Department of Education, the

22  Senate, and the House of Representatives, or their designees,

23  are the principals of the School Readiness Program Estimating

24  Conference. The principal representing the Executive Office of

25  the Governor shall preside over sessions of the conference.

26         Section 4.  Subsection (2) of section 414.026, Florida

27  Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

28         414.026  WAGES Program State Board of Directors.--

29         (2)(a)  The board of directors shall be composed of the

30  following members:

31


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  1         1.  The Commissioner of Education, or the

  2  commissioner's designee.

  3         2.  The Secretary of Children and Family Services.

  4         3.  The Secretary of Health.

  5         4.  The Secretary of Labor and Employment Security.

  6         5.  The Secretary of Community Affairs.

  7         6.  The Secretary of Transportation, or the secretary's

  8  designee.

  9         7.  The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

10  Economic Development.

11         8.  The chairperson of the Florida Partnership for

12  School Readiness.

13         9.8.  The president of the Enterprise Florida workforce

14  development board, established under s. 288.9620.

15         10.9.  The chief executive officer of the Florida

16  Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, established under s.

17  288.1226.

18         11.10.  Nine members appointed by the Governor, as

19  follows:

20         a.  Six members shall be appointed from a list of ten

21  nominees, of which five must be submitted by the President of

22  the Senate and five must be submitted by the Speaker of the

23  House of Representatives. The list of five nominees submitted

24  by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

25  Representatives must each contain at least three individuals

26  employed in the private sector, two of whom must have

27  management experience. One of the five nominees submitted by

28  the President of the Senate and one of the five nominees

29  submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives must

30  be an elected local government official who shall serve as an

31  ex officio nonvoting member.


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  1         b.  Three members shall be at-large members appointed

  2  by the Governor.

  3         c.  Of the nine members appointed by the Governor, at

  4  least six must be employed in the private sector and of these,

  5  at least five must have management experience.

  6

  7  The members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to

  8  4-year, staggered terms. Within 60 days after a vacancy occurs

  9  on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy of a member

10  appointed from the nominees submitted by the President of the

11  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the

12  remainder of the unexpired term from one nominee submitted by

13  the President of the Senate and one nominee submitted by the

14  Speaker of the House of Representatives. Within 60 days after

15  a vacancy of a member appointed at-large by the Governor

16  occurs on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy for

17  the remainder of the unexpired term. The composition of the

18  board must generally reflect the racial, gender, and ethnic

19  diversity of the state as a whole.

20         (b)  The board of directors shall annually elect a

21  chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor.

22  The board of directors shall meet at least once each quarter.

23  A member appointed by the Governor may not authorize a

24  designee to attend a meeting of the board in place of the

25  member. The Governor may remove an appointed member for cause,

26  and an absence from three consecutive meetings results in

27  automatic removal, unless the member is excused by the

28  chairperson.

29         (c)  Members of the board shall serve without

30  compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem

31  and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.


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  1         Section 5.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

  2  624.91, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

  3         624.91  The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Act.--

  4         (2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--

  5         (a)  The Legislature finds that increased access to

  6  health care services could improve children's health and

  7  reduce the incidence and costs of childhood illness and

  8  disabilities among children in this state. Many children do

  9  not have comprehensive, affordable health care services

10  available.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the

11  Florida Healthy Kids Corporation provide comprehensive health

12  insurance coverage to such children. The corporation is

13  encouraged to cooperate with any existing health service

14  programs funded by the public or the private sector and to

15  work cooperatively with the Florida Partnership for School

16  Readiness.

17         Section 6.  Subsection (4) of section 411.222, Florida

18  Statutes, is amended to read:

19         411.222  Intraagency and interagency coordination;

20  creation of offices; responsibilities; memorandum of

21  agreement; creation of coordinating council;

22  responsibilities.--

23         (Substantial rewording of subsection. See

24         s. 411.222(4), F.S., for present text.)

25         (4)  STATE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR SCHOOL READINESS

26  PROGRAMS.--

27         (a)  Creation; intent.--The State Coordinating Council

28  for School Readiness Programs is established to ensure

29  coordination among the programs that serve preschool children

30  in order to support the first state education goal, readiness

31  to start school; to facilitate communication, cooperation, and


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  1  the maximum use of resources; and to promote high standards

  2  for all programs that serve preschool children in this state.

  3  It is the intent of the Legislature that the coordinating

  4  council be an independent nonpartisan body and not be

  5  identified or affiliated with any one agency, program, or

  6  group.

  7         (b)  Membership.--The council shall be composed of the

  8  following 15 members:

  9         1.  The seven current members of the 1998-1999 State

10  Coordinating Council Executive Committee.

11         2.  Eight additional members, appointed by the

12  executive committee, including a representative of each of the

13  following:  subsidized child care programs; prekindergarten

14  early intervention programs; Head Start programs; health care

15  programs; private providers; faith-based providers; programs

16  for children with disabilities; and parents of preschool

17  children.

18         (c)  Term.--The State Coordinating Council for School

19  Readiness Programs shall terminate on July 1, 2002.

20         (d)  Organization.--

21         1.  The council shall adopt internal organizational

22  procedures or bylaws necessary for the efficient operation of

23  the council. The council may establish committees that are

24  responsible for conducting specific council programs and

25  activities.

26         2.  The council shall have a budget and be financed

27  through an annual appropriation made for this purpose in the

28  General Appropriations Act. Council members are entitled to

29  reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in

30  s. 112.061 while carrying out official business of the

31  council. When appropriate, parent representatives shall


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  1  receive a stipend for child care costs incurred while

  2  attending council meetings. For administrative purposes only,

  3  the council is assigned to the Florida Partnership for School

  4  Readiness.

  5         3.  The coordinating council shall hold quarterly

  6  meetings that are open to the public, and the public shall be

  7  given the opportunity to comment at each such meeting. The

  8  coordinating council shall notify persons of the date, time,

  9  and place of each quarterly meeting upon request.

10         (e)  Duties.--The coordinating council shall recommend

11  to the Florida Partnership for School Readiness methods for

12  coordinating public and private school readiness programs and

13  procedures to facilitate communication, cooperation, and the

14  maximum use of resources to achieve the first state education

15  goal, readiness to start school. In addition, the council

16  shall:

17         1.  Advise the Florida Partnership for School Readiness

18  concerning criteria for grant proposal guidelines, the review

19  of plans and proposals, and eligibility for services of school

20  readiness programs.

21         2.  Recommend to the Florida Partnership for School

22  Readiness methods to increase the involvement of public and

23  private partnerships in school readiness programs in order to

24  maximize the availability of federal funds and to effectively

25  use available resources through cooperative funding and

26  coordinated services.

27         (f)  Reporting requirements.--The coordinating council

28  shall submit its final report to the Florida Partnership for

29  School Readiness by July 1, 2002.

30         Section 7.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (4) of

31  section 411.222, Florida Statutes, is repealed.


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    1999 Legislature           CS for CS/SB's 366 & 382 and SB 708
                                                     2nd Engrossed


  1         Section 8.  Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of

  2  section 240.115, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:

  3         240.115  Articulation agreement; acceleration

  4  mechanisms.--

  5         (1)

  6         (e)  The Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with

  7  the Florida Partnership for School Readiness, the

  8  Postsecondary Education Planning Commission, and the Education

  9  Standards Commission, shall conduct a statewide assessment to

10  determine the extent and nature of instruction for those who

11  work or are training to work in the fields of child care and

12  early childhood education, as well as an assessment of the

13  market demand for individuals trained at various levels. Based

14  on this assessment, the Articulation Coordinating Committee

15  shall establish an articulated career path for school

16  readiness-related professions, which shall lead from

17  entry-level employment in child care and early childhood

18  education to a baccalaureate degree. The career path shall

19  provide for the articulation of:

20         1.  Vocational credit to college credit for associate

21  in science degrees;

22         2.  Credit earned in associate in science or associate

23  in arts degree programs to credit in baccalaureate degree

24  programs;

25         3.  Credit awarded by public and private institutions;

26  and

27         4.  Credit for experiential learning associated with

28  minimum training requirements for employment. The Articulation

29  Coordinating Committee shall ensure that the articulation of

30  such credit does not jeopardize the receiving institution's

31  accreditation status.


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    ENROLLED

    1999 Legislature           CS for CS/SB's 366 & 382 and SB 708
                                                     2nd Engrossed


  1

  2  Before the printing of the catalog for the fall semester 2002,

  3  the articulation agreement must guarantee the statewide

  4  articulation of appropriate coursework as established in the

  5  career path.

  6         Section 9.  In accordance with the provisions of

  7  chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Governor is authorized to

  8  transfer funds from the relevant state departments or agencies

  9  to the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to fund local

10  school readiness coalitions during the phase-in period.

11         Section 10.  The Florida Partnership for School

12  Readiness shall recommend to the Legislature by February 15,

13  2000, whether the current appropriations and positions for

14  Department of Children and Family Services contract managers

15  and Department of Education Prekindergarten Early Intervention

16  and School Readiness personnel should be phased out, or

17  transferred in whole or in part to the partnership to provide

18  for school readiness program staffing. If, before such time as

19  its own staff is in place, the Florida Partnership for School

20  Readiness needs staff assistance in reviewing and approving

21  local coalition plans, the Department of Children and Family

22  Services and the Department of Education shall provide such

23  staff assistance.

24         Section 11.  Subject to appropriation by the

25  Legislature, the Inter-University Consortium on Child and

26  Family Studies is authorized to design and develop the concept

27  for a child care and development center, which may be used as

28  a model for demonstrating best practices in children's

29  readiness for school.

30         Section 12.  This act is not intended to impede or

31  curtail the state's ability to receive federal funds.


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    ENROLLED

    1999 Legislature           CS for CS/SB's 366 & 382 and SB 708
                                                     2nd Engrossed


  1         Section 13.  The recurring sum of $330,000 is

  2  appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Executive

  3  Office of the Governor for the purpose of implementing this

  4  act in fiscal year 1999-2000.

  5         Section 14.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

  6  this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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