Senate Bill 1220er

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    ENROLLED

    2000 Legislature                        SB 1220, 1st Engrossed



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  2         An act relating to homelessness; creating the

  3         Commission on the Homeless within the Executive

  4         Office of the Governor; providing for

  5         membership of the commission; requiring the

  6         commission to review the problems of the

  7         homeless and propose solutions for reducing

  8         homelessness; requiring the commission to hold

  9         a specified number of public meetings;

10         providing requirements for a written report by

11         the commission; providing for commission

12         members to be reimbursed for travel and per

13         diem expenses; authorizing the commission to

14         employ an executive director; abolishing the

15         commission after a specified date; providing an

16         appropriation; providing an effective date.

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

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20         Section 1.  Commission on the Homeless.--

21         (1)(a)  The Commission on the Homeless is created

22  within the Executive Office of the Governor. The commission

23  shall be composed of 24 members, of which eight members shall

24  be appointed by the Governor, five members shall be appointed

25  by the President of the Senate, and five members shall be

26  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The

27  Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Children and Family

28  Services, the Secretary of Community Affairs, the Executive

29  Director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and the

30  Executive Director of the Housing Finance Corporation shall

31  personally serve as voting members of the commission. The


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    ENROLLED

    2000 Legislature                        SB 1220, 1st Engrossed



  1  Lieutenant Governor shall serve as chairperson of the

  2  commission.

  3         (b)  The appointments must be made within 30 days after

  4  the effective date of the act, and the commission shall hold

  5  its first meeting within 45 days after the effective date of

  6  the act. Any vacancy that occurs on the commission shall be

  7  filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

  8         (2)  Members of the commission are entitled to one vote

  9  each, and an action of the commission is not binding unless a

10  majority of the total number of votes that are cast are votes

11  in favor of the action. The commission may not take action

12  unless a majority of the commission members are present at a

13  meeting.

14         (3)  The commission shall review the problems of the

15  homeless in this state and propose solutions for reducing

16  homelessness and improving the provision of social services to

17  the homeless. The commission shall investigate the following

18  issues:

19         (a)  The causes leading to homelessness.

20         (b)  The provision of shelter and affordable housing

21  for the homeless.

22         (c)  The availability and provision of health care for

23  the homeless.

24         (d)  Services for homeless families and their children.

25         (e)  Mental health services for the homeless.

26         (f)  Crimes committed against the homeless.

27         (g)  Drug-treatment and prevention services for the

28  homeless.

29         (h)  The accessibility of the WAGES Program and other

30  entitlement programs to the homeless.

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    ENROLLED

    2000 Legislature                        SB 1220, 1st Engrossed



  1         (i)  The policies of the state and local governments

  2  with respect to the homeless.

  3         (j)  Ways in which current government programs could be

  4  adapted to better serve the needs of the homeless.

  5         (k)  Ways to assist the private sector in providing

  6  services for the homeless.

  7         (l)  National and state inclinations or tendencies of

  8  the homeless.

  9         (m)  Review the problems and propose solutions for

10  relieving homelessness among veterans.

11         (4)  The commission shall hold at least four public

12  hearings throughout the state to solicit input from the public

13  and appropriate experts on the problems of the homeless.

14         (5)  The commission shall, by January 1, 2001, provide

15  to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker

16  of the House of Representatives a written report that contains

17  specific recommendations for addressing the problems of the

18  homeless. The recommendations of the task force must include

19  proposed legislation.

20         (6)  Commission members shall not receive remuneration

21  for their services, but members other than public officers and

22  employees are entitled to reimbursement for travel and per

23  diem expenses in accordance with section 112.061, Florida

24  Statutes.

25         (7)  The commission may employ an executive director,

26  who shall receive supplemental financial and other assistance

27  from other agencies under the Governor's direct supervision.

28  The Executive Office of the Governor shall provide additional

29  assistance as appropriate.

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    ENROLLED

    2000 Legislature                        SB 1220, 1st Engrossed



  1         (8)  The commission shall continue in existence until

  2  its objectives are achieved, but not later than January 31,

  3  2001.

  4         Section 2.  The sum of $100,000 is appropriated from

  5  the General Revenue Fund to the Executive Office of the

  6  Governor for the purpose of paying the administrative expenses

  7  necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

  8         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  9  law.

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