Senate Bill 1462

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


    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 1462

    By Senator Webster





    12-961-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to volunteer and community

  3         service; creating the Florida Volunteer and

  4         Community Service Act; authorizing the

  5         Executive Office of the Governor to establish

  6         policies to promote volunteerism and community

  7         service; providing for assistance by the

  8         Florida Commission on Community Service;

  9         requiring a report by the commission; providing

10         an effective date.

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12         WHEREAS, the Legislature is placing an increasingly

13  high priority on citizen participation and volunteerism,

14  particularly at a time when community problems are becoming

15  increasingly complex, and

16         WHEREAS, it is important to encourage local community

17  leaders to implement strategies that expand civic

18  participation because volunteers represent a valuable and

19  much-needed asset within communities, and

20         WHEREAS, it is desirable to promote the concept and

21  practice of corporate citizenship, particularly in communities

22  where such initiatives are less developed, and

23         WHEREAS, there is a need to build the enthusiasm,

24  dedication, and combined expertise of individual citizens and

25  public and private systems to find new and creative ways to

26  effectively use volunteerism and community service as a

27  strategy to meet the challenges that the state's communities

28  face both now and in the future, NOW, THEREFORE,

29

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

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






    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 1462
    12-961-00




  1         Section 1.  Florida Volunteer and Community Service

  2  Act.--

  3         (1)  The Executive Office of the Governor may establish

  4  policies and procedures relating to the expenditure of funds

  5  to develop and facilitate initiatives from public agencies,

  6  educational institutions, private institutions, and

  7  individuals that establish and implement programs within their

  8  respective institutions or communities which have the effect

  9  of encouraging and rewarding volunteerism from their members.

10         (2)  The Executive Office of the Governor may establish

11  policies to:

12         (a)  Foster the alignment of community volunteer

13  resources with the stated goals of the state.

14         (b)  Implement policy and administrative changes that

15  encourage and enable individuals to participate in volunteer

16  and community service activities.

17         (c)  Encourage nonprofit agencies to interweave

18  volunteers into the fabric of their service delivery as a

19  means of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of their

20  services.

21         (d)  Support and promote volunteer service to all

22  persons as an effective means of addressing community needs

23  and fostering a collective commitment to lifelong community

24  service.

25         (e)  Recognize National Volunteer Week as a time to

26  encourage all persons in the state to participate in local

27  service projects.

28         (f)  Recognize the value of individual volunteers as

29  well as volunteer and service organizations and programs.

30         (g)  Honor and celebrate the success of volunteers.

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






    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 1462
    12-961-00




  1         (3)  The Florida Commission on Community Service shall

  2  annually submit a report on its findings related to the state

  3  of volunteerism to the Governor and members of the Cabinet.

  4         (4)  The Florida Commission on Community Service may

  5  assist any agency, institution, or individual by securing

  6  assistance in the form of grants, gifts, or funds from public

  7  or private sources to be used in the implementation of

  8  programs. The commission may also assist in securing training,

  9  technical assistance, and other support needed to accomplish

10  the intent of this act.

11         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

12  law.

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15                          SENATE SUMMARY

16    Authorizes the Executive Office of the Governor to
      establish policies to promote volunteerism and community
17    service in the state and to provide for assistance by the
      Florida Commission on Community Service.
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