House Bill 2399

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HB 2399

        By the Committee on Business Development & International
    Trade and Representative Bradley





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to workforce innovation;

  3         amending s. 14.2015, F.S.; providing additional

  4         duties of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  5         Economic Development within the Executive

  6         Office of the Governor with respect to

  7         workforce development; requiring that the

  8         office cooperate and contract with the

  9         Workforce Development Board in performing

10         certain functions; amending s. 216.136, F.S.;

11         redesignating the Occupational Forecasting

12         Conference as the "Workforce Estimating

13         Conference"; specifying additional duties of

14         the conference with respect to developing

15         forecasts for employment demands and

16         occupational trends; amending s. 239.115, F.S.;

17         providing for a response fund to be used to

18         provide customized training for businesses;

19         providing for remaining balances to carry over;

20         providing for performance funds to be

21         distributed to certain workforce programs;

22         conforming provisions to changes made by the

23         act; amending s. 239.229, F.S.; requiring the

24         Department of Education to update certain

25         vocational, adult, and community education

26         programs; amending s. 239.514, F.S., relating

27         to the Workforce Development Capitalization

28         Incentive Grant Program; conforming provisions

29         to changes made by the act; amending s.

30         240.209, F.S.; requiring that the Board of

31         Regents consider industry-driven competencies

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  1         in certain program reviews; amending s.

  2         240.311, F.S.; requiring the State Board of

  3         Community Colleges to identify training

  4         programs for broadband digital media

  5         specialists; requiring such programs be added

  6         to lists for demand occupations under certain

  7         circumstances; amending s. 240.3341, F.S.;

  8         encouraging community colleges to establish

  9         incubator facilities for digital media content

10         and technology development; amending s.

11         240.40207, F.S., relating to the Florida Gold

12         Seal Vocational Scholars award; conforming

13         provisions to changes made by the act; creating

14         s. 240.710, F.S.; requiring the Board of

15         Regents to create a Digital Media Education

16         Coordination Group; providing membership;

17         providing purposes; requiring development of a

18         plan; requiring submission of plans to the

19         Legislature by a time certain; amending s.

20         288.046, F.S., relating to quick-response

21         training; deleting a reference to targeted

22         industrial clusters; amending s. 288.047, F.S.;

23         revising provisions relating to quick-response

24         training for economic development; deleting

25         provisions relating to a Quick-Response

26         Advisory Committee; providing additional

27         responsibilities of Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

28         relating to economic development training;

29         revising responsibilities of the Department of

30         Education; deleting authority for Enterprise

31         Florida, Inc., to procure certain equipment;

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  1         providing for applying certain matching funds

  2         to certain private-sector support requirements;

  3         requiring cooperation and coordination between

  4         the Workforce Development Board and Enterprise

  5         Florida, Inc.; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.;

  6         correcting a cross reference; amending s.

  7         288.9951, F.S.; redesignating one-stop career

  8         centers as the "one-stop delivery system";

  9         providing for the system to be the state's

10         primary strategy for providing

11         workforce-development services; requiring the

12         Workforce Development Board to review the

13         delivery of employment services and report to

14         the Governor and Legislature; amending s.

15         288.9952, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

16         the board of directors; providing duties of the

17         board of directors; specifying programs to be

18         supervised by the Workforce Development Board;

19         requiring reports and measures of outcomes;

20         providing for the Workforce Development Board

21         to develop the state's workforce-development

22         strategy; authorizing the granting of charters

23         to regional workforce boards; creating s.

24         288.99521, F.S.; requiring the chairperson of

25         the Workforce Development Board to establish

26         the First Jobs/First Wages Council, the Better

27         Jobs/Better Wages Council, and the High

28         Skills/High Wages Council; providing for

29         council members; providing for the councils to

30         advise the board of directors of the Workforce

31         Development Board and make recommendations for

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  1         implementing workforce strategies; creating s.

  2         288.99522, F.S.; requiring the Workforce

  3         Development Board to develop a strategic plan

  4         for workforce development; requiring updates of

  5         the plan; requiring a marketing plan as part of

  6         the strategic plan; providing for performance

  7         measures and contract guidelines; creating s.

  8         288.99523, F.S.; providing principles for

  9         developing and managing information technology

10         for the workforce system; requiring the sharing

11         of information between agencies within the

12         workforce system; creating s. 288.99524, F.S.;

13         requiring the Workforce Development Board to

14         implement a workforce information system,

15         subject to legislative appropriation;

16         specifying information systems to be included;

17         providing requirements for procurement and

18         validation services; requiring that the system

19         be compatible with the state's information

20         system; creating s. 288.99525, F.S.; providing

21         for a small business workforce service

22         initiative; requiring the Workforce Development

23         Board to establish a program for support

24         services to small businesses, subject to

25         legislative appropriation; specifying eligible

26         uses of funds under the program; providing

27         program criteria; defining the term "small

28         business" for purposes of the program; amending

29         s. 288.9953, F.S.; redesignating the regional

30         workforce development boards as the "regional

31         workforce boards"; providing requirements for

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  1         contracts with an organization or individual

  2         represented on the board; requiring the

  3         workforce boards to establish certain

  4         committees; specifying that regional workforce

  5         boards and their entities are not state

  6         agencies; providing for procurement procedures;

  7         providing for a limitation on terms of board

  8         members; requiring the designation of a

  9         chairman; providing an eligibility requirement;

10         amending s. 288.9956, F.S.; revising provisions

11         implementing the federal Workforce Investment

12         Act of 1998 to conform to changes made by the

13         act; revising the investment act principles;

14         revising funding requirements; deleting

15         obsolete provisions; amending s. 443.151, F.S.;

16         conforming provisions to changes made by the

17         act; amending s. 443.231, F.S.; conforming

18         provisions to changes made by the act;

19         requiring the Workforce Development Board to

20         report to the Legislature on its programs and

21         on-the-job training; requiring the Workforce

22         Development Board to make recommendations for

23         improving the programs and decreasing costs;

24         amending ss. 446.40, 446.41, 446.42, 446.43,

25         and 446.44, F.S.; redesignating the Rural

26         Manpower Services Program as the "Rural

27         Workforce Services Program"; providing

28         appropriations; requiring the Workforce

29         Development Board to reserve funds for digital

30         media industry training; providing direction on

31         training; amending ss. 239.249, 288.9950,

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  1         288.9953, 288.9954, 288.9957, 288.9958,

  2         288.9959, 411.01, 413.82, 414.028, 414.055,

  3         414.065, 414.20, and 414.223, F.S., to conform;

  4         requiring the Workforce Development Board to

  5         develop a plan by a time certain for the use of

  6         certain funds to enhance workforce of digital

  7         media related industries; providing direction

  8         on plan development; requiring Enterprise

  9         Florida, Inc., to convene a broadband digital

10         media industries group; requiring

11         identification, designation, and priority of

12         digital media sector in sector strategy;

13         requiring Enterprise Florida, Inc., to contract

14         for establishment of a digital media incubator;

15         providing contract requirements; providing an

16         appropriation; requiring industry participation

17         in funding; providing direction for incubator

18         location; requiring ITFlorida, in cooperation

19         with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to prepare a

20         marketing plan promoting the state to digital

21         media industries; providing for severability;

22         providing effective dates.

23

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

25

26         Section 1.  Paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), and (i)

27  of subsection (2) of section 14.2015, Florida Statutes, are

28  amended to read:

29         14.2015  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

30  Development; creation; powers and duties.--

31

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  1         (2)  The purpose of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  2  Economic Development is to assist the Governor in working with

  3  the Legislature, state agencies, business leaders, and

  4  economic development professionals to formulate and implement

  5  coherent and consistent policies and strategies designed to

  6  provide economic opportunities for all Floridians.  To

  7  accomplish such purposes, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  8  Economic Development shall:

  9         (b)  Monitor the activities of public-private

10  partnerships and state agencies in order to avoid duplication

11  and promote coordinated and consistent implementation of

12  programs in areas including, but not limited to, tourism;

13  international trade and investment; business recruitment,

14  creation, retention, and expansion; workforce development;

15  minority and small business development; and rural community

16  development. As part of its responsibilities under this

17  paragraph, the office shall work with Enterprise Florida,

18  Inc., and the Workforce Development Board to ensure that, to

19  the maximum extent possible, there are direct linkages between

20  the economic development and workforce development goals and

21  strategies of the state.

22         (c)  Facilitate the direct involvement of the Governor

23  and the Lieutenant Governor in economic development and

24  workforce development projects designed to create, expand, and

25  retain Florida businesses and to recruit worldwide business,

26  as well as in other job-creating efforts.

27         (d)  Assist the Governor, in cooperation with

28  Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Workforce Development Board, and

29  the Florida Commission on Tourism, in preparing an annual

30  report to the Legislature on the state of the business climate

31  in Florida and on the state of economic development in Florida

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  1  which will include the identification of problems and the

  2  recommendation of solutions.  This report shall be submitted

  3  to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

  4  Representatives, the Senate Minority Leader, and the House

  5  Minority Leader by January 1 of each year, and it shall be in

  6  addition to the Governor's message to the Legislature under

  7  the State Constitution and any other economic reports required

  8  by law.

  9         (e)  Plan and conduct at least one meeting per calendar

10  year of leaders in business, government, education, workforce

11  development, and economic development called by the Governor

12  to address the business climate in the state, develop a common

13  vision for the economic future of the state, and identify

14  economic development efforts to fulfill that vision.

15         (g)  Serve as contract administrator for the state with

16  respect to contracts with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the

17  Workforce Development Board, the Florida Commission on

18  Tourism, and all direct-support organizations under this act,

19  excluding those relating to tourism.  To accomplish the

20  provisions of this act and applicable provisions of chapter

21  288, and notwithstanding the provisions of part I of chapter

22  287, the office shall enter into specific contracts with

23  Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Workforce Development Board, the

24  Florida Commission on Tourism, and other appropriate

25  direct-support organizations. Such contracts may be multiyear

26  and shall include specific performance measures for each year.

27         (i)  Prepare and submit as a separate budget entity a

28  unified budget request for tourism, trade, and economic

29  development in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in

30  conjunction with, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and its boards,

31  the Workforce Development Board, the Florida Commission on

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  1  Tourism and its direct-support organization, the Florida Black

  2  Business Investment Board, the Office of the Film

  3  Commissioner, and the direct-support organization created to

  4  promote the sports industry.

  5         Section 2.  Subsection (10) of section 216.136, Florida

  6  Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

  8  principals.--

  9         (10)  WORKFORCE ESTIMATING OCCUPATIONAL FORECASTING

10  CONFERENCE.--

11         (a)  Duties.--

12         1.  The Workforce Estimating Occupational Forecasting

13  Conference shall develop such official information on the

14  workforce development system planning process as it relates to

15  the personnel needs of current, new, and emerging industries

16  as the conference determines is needed by the state planning

17  and budgeting system.  Such information must include at least:

18  short-term and long-term forecasts of employment demand for

19  high-skills/high-wage jobs by occupation and industry;

20  relative wage forecasts among those occupations; and estimates

21  of the supply of trained and qualified individuals available

22  for employment in those occupations.

23         2.  The Workforce Estimating Conference shall review

24  data concerning the local and regional demands for short-term

25  and long-term employment in high-skills/high-wage jobs, as

26  well as other jobs, which data is generated through surveys

27  conducted as part of the state's Internet-based job-matching

28  and labor-market information system authorized under s.

29  288.99524. The conference shall consider such data in

30  developing its forecasts for statewide employment demand,

31  including reviewing the local and regional data for common

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  1  trends and conditions among localities or regions which may

  2  warrant inclusion of a particular occupation on the statewide

  3  occupational forecasting list developed by the conference.

  4  Based upon its review of such survey data, the conference

  5  shall also make recommendations semiannually to the Workforce

  6  Development Board on additions or deletions to lists of

  7  locally targeted occupations approved by the Workforce

  8  Development Board.

  9         (b)  Principals.--The Commissioner of Education, the

10  president of the Workforce Development Board, the Executive

11  Office of the Governor, the director of the Office of Tourism,

12  Trade, and Economic Development, the Secretary of Labor, and

13  the coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic

14  Research, or their designees, are the principals of the

15  Workforce Estimating Occupational Forecasting Conference.  The

16  Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee,

17  shall preside over the sessions of the conference. In

18  fulfilling the responsibilities of the conference, the

19  principals shall seek the participation and advice of

20  nonprincipals who have expertise in workforce development,

21  economic development, and education matters at the state,

22  regional, and local levels, including, but not limited to, the

23  Executive Director of the State Board of Community Colleges;

24  the Chancellor of the State University System; a

25  representative of the Independent Colleges and Universities of

26  Florida, Inc.; a representative of the Florida Association of

27  Postsecondary Schools and Colleges; and the president of

28  Enterprise Florida, Inc., or their designees. The principals

29  shall convene at least two sessions of the conference each

30  fiscal year.

31

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  1         Section 3.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) and

  2  subsections (7) and (9) of section 239.115, Florida Statutes,

  3  are amended to read:

  4         239.115  Funds for operation of adult general education

  5  and vocational education programs.--

  6         (4)  The Florida Workforce Development Education Fund

  7  is created to provide performance-based funding for all

  8  workforce development programs, whether the programs are

  9  offered by a school district or a community college. Funding

10  for all workforce development education programs must be from

11  the Workforce Development Education Fund and must be based on

12  cost categories, performance output measures, and performance

13  outcome measures. This subsection takes effect July 1, 1999.

14         (c)  The performance outcome measures for programs

15  funded through the Workforce Development Education Fund are

16  associated with placement and retention of students after

17  reaching a completion point or completing a program of study.

18  These measures include placement or retention in employment

19  that is related to the program of study; placement into or

20  retention in employment in an occupation on the Workforce

21  Estimating Occupational Forecasting Conference list of

22  high-wage, high-skill occupations with sufficient openings;

23  and placement and retention of WAGES clients or former WAGES

24  clients in employment. Continuing postsecondary education at a

25  level that will further enhance employment is a performance

26  outcome for adult general education programs. Placement and

27  retention must be reported pursuant to ss. 229.8075 and

28  239.233.

29         (7)(a)  Beginning in fiscal year 1999-2000, a school

30  district or a community college that provides workforce

31  development education funded through the Workforce Development

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  1  Education Fund shall receive funds in accordance with

  2  distributions for base and performance funding established by

  3  the Legislature in the General Appropriations Act, pursuant to

  4  the following conditions:

  5         1.(a)  Base funding shall not exceed 85 percent of the

  6  current fiscal year total Workforce Development Education Fund

  7  allocation, which shall be distributed by the Legislature in

  8  the General Appropriations Act based on a maximum of 85

  9  percent of the institution's prior year total allocation from

10  base and performance funds.

11         2.(b)  Performance funding shall be at least 15 percent

12  of the current fiscal year total Workforce Development

13  Education Fund allocation, which shall be distributed by the

14  Legislature in the General Appropriations Act based on the

15  previous fiscal year's achievement of output and outcomes in

16  accordance with formulas adopted pursuant to subsection (9).

17  Performance funding must incorporate payments for at least

18  three levels of placements that reflect wages and workforce

19  demand. Payments for completions must not exceed 60 percent of

20  the payments for placement. For fiscal year 1999-2000, school

21  districts and community colleges shall be awarded funds

22  pursuant to this paragraph based on performance output data

23  generated for fiscal year 1998-1999 and performance outcome

24  data available in that year.

25         3.(c)  If a local educational agency achieves a level

26  of performance sufficient to generate a full allocation as

27  authorized by the workforce development funding formula, the

28  agency may earn performance incentive funds as appropriated

29  for that purpose in a General Appropriations Act. If

30  performance incentive funds are funded and awarded, these

31  funds must be added to the local educational agency's prior

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  1  year total allocation from the Workforce Development Education

  2  Fund and shall be used to calculate the following year's base

  3  funding.

  4         (b)  A response fund is established to assist school

  5  districts and community colleges in responding to the needs of

  6  new and expanding businesses and thereby strengthening the

  7  state's workforce and economy. The response fund shall be

  8  funded in the General Appropriations Act or it shall be

  9  constituted by up to 5 percent of each community college's and

10  school district's annual total allocation from the Workforce

11  Development Education Fund. A school district or community

12  college may expend funds from the response fund without regard

13  to performance criteria set forth in subparagraph (a)2. The

14  school district or community college shall use its response

15  fund to provide customized training for businesses which

16  satisfies the requirements of s. 288.047. Balances remaining

17  in the response fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not

18  revert to the general fund, but shall be carried over for 1

19  additional year and used for the purpose of serving incumbent

20  worker training needs of area businesses with fewer than 100

21  employees. Priority shall be given to businesses that must

22  increase or upgrade their use of technology to remain

23  competitive.

24         (9)  The Department of Education, the State Board of

25  Community Colleges, and the Workforce Development Board Jobs

26  and Education Partnership shall provide the Legislature with

27  recommended formulas, criteria, timeframes, and mechanisms for

28  distributing performance funds. The commissioner shall

29  consolidate the recommendations and develop a consensus

30  proposal for funding. The Legislature shall adopt a formula

31  and distribute the performance funds to the Division of

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  1  Community Colleges and the Division of Workforce Development

  2  through the General Appropriations Act. These recommendations

  3  shall be based on formulas that would discourage

  4  low-performing or low-demand programs and encourage through

  5  performance-funding awards:

  6         (a)  Programs that prepare people to enter high-wage

  7  occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating

  8  Occupational Forecasting Conference created by s. 216.136 and

  9  other programs as approved by the Jobs and Education

10  Partnership. At a minimum, performance incentives shall be

11  calculated for adults who reach completion points or complete

12  programs that lead to specified high-wage employment and to

13  their placement in that employment.

14         (b)  Programs that successfully prepare adults who are

15  eligible for public assistance, economically disadvantaged,

16  disabled, not proficient in English, or dislocated workers for

17  high-wage occupations.  At a minimum, performance incentives

18  shall be calculated at an enhanced value for the completion of

19  adults identified in this paragraph and job placement of such

20  adults upon completion. In addition, adjustments may be made

21  in payments for job placements for areas of high unemployment.

22         (c)  Programs that are specifically designed to be

23  consistent with the workforce needs of private enterprise and

24  regional economic-development strategies, as defined in

25  guidelines set by the Workforce Development Board. The

26  Workforce Development Board shall develop guidelines to

27  identify such needs and strategies based on localized research

28  of private employers and economic-development practitioners.

29         (d)(c)  Programs identified by the Workforce

30  Development Board Jobs and Education Partnership as increasing

31  the effectiveness and cost efficiency of education.

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  1         Section 4.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

  2  239.229, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         239.229  Vocational standards.--

  4         (2)

  5         (c)  Department of Education accountability for career

  6  education includes, but is not limited to:

  7         1.  The provision of timely, accurate technical

  8  assistance to school districts and community colleges.

  9         2.  The provision of timely, accurate information to

10  the State Board for Career Education, the Legislature, and the

11  public.

12         3.  The development of policies, rules, and procedures

13  that facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability

14  standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within

15  the department.

16         4.  The development of program standards and

17  industry-driven benchmarks for vocational, adult, and

18  community education programs, which must be updated every 3

19  years. The standards must include technical, academic, and

20  workplace skills; viability of distance learning for

21  instruction; and work/learn cycles that are responsive to

22  business and industry.

23         5.  Overseeing school district and community college

24  compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

25         6.  Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the

26  technical component of workforce development programs and

27  secondary vocational job-preparatory programs are uniform and

28  designed to provide a graduate of high quality who is capable

29  of entering the workforce on an equally competitive basis

30  regardless of the institution of choice.

31

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  1         Section 5.  Subsection (3) of section 239.514, Florida

  2  Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         239.514  Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive

  4  Grant Program.--The Legislature recognizes that the need for

  5  school districts and community colleges to be able to respond

  6  to emerging local or statewide economic development needs is

  7  critical to the workforce development system. The Workforce

  8  Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program is created

  9  to provide grants to school districts and community colleges

10  on a competitive basis to fund some or all of the costs

11  associated with the creation or expansion of workforce

12  development programs that serve specific employment workforce

13  needs.

14         (3)  The commission shall give highest priority to

15  programs that train people to enter high-skill, high-wage

16  occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating

17  occupational forecasting Conference and other programs

18  approved by the Jobs and Education Partnership; programs that

19  train people to enter occupations on the WAGES list; or

20  programs that train for the workforce adults who are eligible

21  for public assistance, economically disadvantaged, disabled,

22  not proficient in English, or dislocated workers. The

23  commission shall consider the statewide geographic dispersion

24  of grant funds in ranking the applications and shall give

25  priority to applications from education agencies that are

26  making maximum use of their workforce development funding by

27  offering high-performing, high-demand programs.

28         Section 6.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section

29  240.209, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         240.209  Board of Regents; powers and duties.--

31         (5)  The Board of Regents is responsible for:

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  1         (b)  Coordinating with the Postsecondary Education

  2  Planning Commission the programs, including doctoral programs,

  3  to be reviewed every 5 years or whenever the board determines

  4  that the effectiveness or efficiency of a program is

  5  jeopardized.  The board shall define the indicators of quality

  6  and the criteria for program review for every program.  Such

  7  indicators shall include need, student demand, industry-driven

  8  competencies for advanced technology and related programs, and

  9  resources available to support continuation. The results of

10  the program reviews shall be tied to the university budget

11  requests.

12         Section 7.  Subsections (4) through (8) of section

13  240.311, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5)

14  through (9), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added

15  to said section to read:

16         240.311  State Board of Community Colleges; powers and

17  duties.--

18         (4)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall

19  identify, using the Critical Jobs Initiative, the occupational

20  forecasting process, or any other compatible mechanism, a

21  collection of programs designed to train broadband digital

22  media specialists.  Programs identified by the board shall be

23  added to the statewide lists for demand occupations, if they

24  meet the high-skill/high-wage criteria as established by the

25  Workforce Estimating Conference created by s. 216.136.

26         Section 8.  Subsection (5) is added to section

27  240.3341, Florida Statutes, to read:

28         240.3341  Incubator facilities for small business

29  concerns.--

30         (5) Community colleges are encouraged to establish

31  incubator facilities through which emerging small businesses

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  1  supportive of development of content and technology for

  2  digital broadband media and digital broadcasting may be

  3  served.

  4         Section 9.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

  5  240.40207, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  6         240.40207  Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars

  7  award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is

  8  created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

  9  to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational

10  preparation by high school students who wish to continue their

11  education.

12         (1)  A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal

13  Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general

14  eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures

15  Scholarship Program and the student:

16         (a)  Completes the secondary school portion of a

17  sequential program of studies that requires at least three

18  secondary school vocational credits taken over at least 2

19  academic years, and is continued in a planned, related

20  postsecondary education program. If the student's school does

21  not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the

22  student must complete a job-preparatory career education

23  program selected by the Workforce Estimating Occupational

24  Forecasting Conference or the Workforce Development Board of

25  Enterprise Florida for its ability to provide high-wage

26  employment in an occupation with high potential for employment

27  opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for

28  any of the three required vocational credits.

29         Section 10.  Section 240.710, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31         240.710  Digital Media Education Coordination Group.--

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  1         (1)  The Board of Regents shall create a Digital Media

  2  Education Coordination Group composed of representatives of

  3  the universities within the State University System that shall

  4  work in conjunction with the State Board of Community Colleges

  5  and the Articulation Coordinating Committee on the development

  6  of a plan to enhance Florida's ability to meet the current and

  7  future workforce needs of the digital media industry.  The

  8  following purposes of the group shall be included in its plan

  9  development process:

10         (a)  Coordinate the use of existing academic programs,

11  research, and faculty resources to promote the development of

12  a digital media industry in this state.

13         (b)  Address strategies to improve opportunities for

14  interdisciplinary study and research within the emerging field

15  of digital media through the development of tracts in existing

16  degree programs, new interdisciplinary degree programs, and

17  interdisciplinary research centers.

18         (c)  Address the sharing of resources among

19  universities in such a way as to allow a student to take

20  courses from multiple departments or multiple educational

21  institutions in pursuit of competency, certification, and

22  degrees in digital information and media technology.

23         (2)  Where practical, private accredited institutions

24  of higher learning in this state should be encouraged to

25  participate.

26         (3)  In addition to the elements of the plan governed

27  by the purposes described in subsection (1), the plan shall

28  include, to the maximum extent practical, the coordination of

29  educational resources to be provided by distance learning and

30  shall facilitate to the maximum extent possible articulation

31  and transfer of credits between community colleges and the

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  1  state universities.  The plan shall address student enrollment

  2  in affected programs with emphasis on enrollment beginning as

  3  early as the fall term of 2001.

  4         (4)  The Digital Media Education Coordination Group

  5  shall submit its plan to the President of the Senate and the

  6  Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than January

  7  1, 2001.

  8         Section 11.  Section 288.046, Florida Statutes, is

  9  amended to read:

10         288.046  Quick-response training; legislative

11  intent.--The Legislature recognizes the importance of

12  providing a skilled workforce for attracting new industries

13  and retaining and expanding existing businesses and industries

14  in this state.  It is the intent of the Legislature that a

15  program exist to meet the short-term, immediate,

16  workforce-skill needs of such businesses and industries.  It

17  is further the intent of the Legislature that funds provided

18  for the purposes of s. 288.047 be expended on businesses and

19  industries that support the state's economic development

20  goals, particularly high value-added businesses in Florida's

21  Targeted Industrial Clusters or businesses that locate in and

22  provide jobs in the state's distressed urban and rural areas,

23  and that instruction funded pursuant to s. 288.047 lead to

24  permanent, quality employment opportunities.

25         Section 12.  Section 288.047, Florida Statutes, is

26  amended to read:

27         288.047  Quick-response training for economic

28  development.--

29         (1)  The Quick-Response Training Program is created to

30  meet the workforce-skill needs of existing, new, and expanding

31  industries.  The program shall be administered by Enterprise

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  1  Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department of

  2  Education. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall adopt guidelines

  3  for the administration of this program. Enterprise Florida,

  4  Inc., shall provide technical services and shall identify

  5  businesses that seek services through the program. The

  6  Department of Education shall provide services related to the

  7  development and implementation of instructional programs.

  8         (2)(a)  A Quick-Response Advisory Committee, composed

  9  of the director of the Division of Workforce Development of

10  the Department of Education; the director of the Division of

11  Community Colleges of the Department of Education; and the

12  director of the Division of Jobs and Benefits of the

13  Department of Labor and Employment Security, or their

14  respective designees, and four private sector members, shall

15  review training funded through this program and shall provide

16  policy advice to Enterprise Florida, Inc., in the

17  implementation of this program.  The committee shall elect a

18  chair from among its members. Members of the committee may

19  receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as

20  provided in s. 112.061.

21         (b)  The four private sector members appointed to the

22  Quick-Response Advisory Committee must be selected from a

23  slate of nominees submitted by the board of directors of

24  Enterprise Florida, Inc.  The president of Enterprise Florida,

25  Inc., shall appoint private sector members from this slate for

26  terms of 4 years, except that in making the initial

27  appointments, the president shall appoint members for

28  staggered terms, one for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 4

29  years, respectively.  To the maximum extent possible, the

30  president shall select private sector members who are

31  representative of diverse industries and regions of the state.

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  1  The importance of minority representation must be considered

  2  when making appointments for each private sector position.

  3  Private sector members may be removed for cause.  Absence from

  4  three consecutive meetings results in the automatic removal of

  5  a private sector member.

  6         (c)  The Quick-Response Advisory Committee shall meet

  7  at the call of its chair, at the request of a majority of the

  8  membership, at the request of Enterprise Florida, Inc., or at

  9  times prescribed by its rules.  The committee shall serve to

10  advise Enterprise Florida, Inc., regarding the administration

11  of the Quick-Response Training Program.

12         (2)(3)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall ensure that

13  instruction funded pursuant to this section is not available

14  through the local community college or, school district, or

15  private industry council and that the instruction promotes

16  economic development by providing specialized training

17  entry-level skills to new workers or retraining for

18  supplemental skills to current employees to meet changing

19  skill requirements caused by new technology or new product

20  lines and to prevent potential layoffs whose job descriptions

21  are changing. Such funds may not be expended to subsidize the

22  ongoing staff development program of any business or industry

23  or to provide training for instruction related to retail

24  businesses or to reimburse businesses for trainee wages. Funds

25  made available pursuant to this section may not be expended in

26  connection with the relocation of a business from one

27  community to another community in this state unless Enterprise

28  Florida, Inc., determines that without such relocation the

29  business will move outside this state or determines that the

30  business has a compelling economic rationale for the

31  relocation which creates additional jobs.

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  1         (3)(4)  Requests for funding through the Quick-Response

  2  Training Program may be produced through inquiries from a

  3  specific business or industry, inquiries from a school

  4  district director of career education or community college

  5  occupational dean on behalf of a business or industry, or

  6  through official state or local economic development efforts.

  7  In allocating funds for the purposes of the program,

  8  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall establish criteria for

  9  approval of requests for funding and shall select the entity

10  that provides the most efficient, cost-effective instruction

11  meeting such criteria. Program funds may be allocated to any

12  area technical center, community college, or state university.

13  Program funds may be allocated to private postsecondary

14  institutions only upon a review that includes, but is not

15  limited to, accreditation and licensure documentation and

16  prior approval by Enterprise Florida, Inc. a majority of the

17  advisory committee. Instruction funded through the program

18  must terminate when participants demonstrate competence at the

19  level specified in the request; however, the grant term

20  instruction may not exceed 24 18 months.  Costs and

21  expenditures for the Quick-Response Training Program must be

22  documented and separated from those incurred by the training

23  provider.

24         (4)(5)  For the first 6 months of each fiscal year,

25  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall set aside 30 percent of the

26  amount appropriated for the Quick-Response Training Program by

27  the Legislature to fund instructional programs for businesses

28  located in an enterprise zone or brownfield area to instruct

29  residents of an enterprise zone. Any unencumbered funds

30  remaining undisbursed from this set-aside at the end of the

31

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  1  6-month period may be used to provide funding for any program

  2  qualifying for funding pursuant to this section.

  3         (5)(6)  Prior to the allocation of funds for any

  4  request pursuant to this section, Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  5  shall prepare a grant agreement between the business or

  6  industry requesting funds, the educational institution

  7  receiving funding through the program, and Enterprise Florida,

  8  Inc.  Such agreement must include, but is not limited to:

  9         (a)  An identification of the facility in which the

10  instruction will be conducted and the respective

11  responsibilities of the parties for paying costs associated

12  with facility use.

13         (b)  An identification of the equipment necessary to

14  conduct the program, the respective responsibilities of the

15  parties for paying costs associated with equipment purchase,

16  maintenance, and repair, as well as an identification of which

17  party owns the equipment upon completion of the instruction.

18         (a)(c)  An identification of the personnel necessary to

19  conduct the instructional program, the qualifications of such

20  personnel, and the respective responsibilities of the parties

21  for paying costs associated with the employment of such

22  personnel.

23         (b)(d)  An identification of the estimated length of

24  the instructional program.  Such program may not exceed 12

25  months of full-time instruction or 18 months of total

26  instruction.

27         (c)  An identification of all direct, training-related

28  costs, including tuition and fees, curriculum development,

29  books and classroom materials, and overhead or indirect costs,

30  not to exceed 5 percent of the grant amount.

31

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  1         (d)(e)  An identification of special program

  2  requirements that are not addressed otherwise in the

  3  agreement.

  4         (e)(f)  Permission to access information specific to

  5  the wages and performance of participants upon the completion

  6  of instruction for evaluation purposes.  Information which, if

  7  released, would disclose the identity of the person to whom

  8  the information pertains or disclose the identity of the

  9  person's employer is confidential and exempt from the

10  provisions of s. 119.07(1).  The agreement must specify that

11  any evaluations published subsequent to the instruction may

12  not identify the employer or any individual participant.

13         (6)(7)  For the purposes of this section, Enterprise

14  Florida, Inc., may accept grants of money, materials,

15  services, or property of any kind from any agency,

16  corporation, or individual.

17         (8)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., may procure equipment as

18  necessary to meet the purposes of this section. Title to and

19  control of such equipment is vested in the Department of

20  Education. Upon the conclusion of instruction, the Department

21  of Education may transfer title to the district school board,

22  community college district board of trustees, or Board of

23  Regents on behalf of a specific state university, where the

24  equipment is physically located.  The department may also

25  lease such equipment to the district school board, community

26  college district board of trustees, or Board of Regents for a

27  maximum of 1 year.  Such lease may provide for automatic

28  renewal.  Either party to a lease has the right to cancel the

29  lease upon a 60-day notice in writing. Any equipment for which

30  no title transfer or lease exists must be returned to a

31

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  1  warehouse reserve and be available for use by an instructional

  2  program in any area of the state.

  3         (7)(9)  In providing instruction pursuant to this

  4  section, materials that relate to methods of manufacture or

  5  production, potential trade secrets, business transactions, or

  6  proprietary information received, produced, ascertained, or

  7  discovered by employees of the respective departments,

  8  district school boards, community college district boards of

  9  trustees, or other personnel employed for the purposes of this

10  section is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.

11  119.07(1).  The state may seek copyright protection for all

12  instructional materials and ancillary written documents

13  developed wholly or partially with state funds as a result of

14  instruction provided pursuant to this section, except for

15  materials that are confidential and exempt from the provisions

16  of s. 119.07(1).

17         (8)(10)  There is created a Quick-Response Training

18  Program for Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency (WAGES)

19  participants. Enterprise Florida, Inc., may, at the discretion

20  of the State WAGES Emergency Response Team, award

21  quick-response training grants and develop applicable

22  guidelines for the training of participants in the WAGES

23  Program. In addition to a local economic development

24  organization, grants must be endorsed by the applicable local

25  WAGES coalition and regional workforce development board.

26         (a)  Training funded pursuant to this subsection may

27  not exceed 12 months, and may be provided by the local

28  community college, school district, regional workforce

29  development board, or the business employing the participant,

30  including on-the-job training. Training will provide

31

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  1  entry-level skills to new workers, including those employed in

  2  retail, who are participants in the WAGES Program.

  3         (b)  WAGES participants trained pursuant to this

  4  subsection must be employed at a wage not less than $6 $6.00

  5  per hour.

  6         (c)  Funds made available pursuant to this subsection

  7  may be expended in connection with the relocation of a

  8  business from one community to another community if approved

  9  by the State WAGES Emergency Response Team.

10         (9)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

11  eligible matching contributions received under the

12  Quick-Response Training Program under this section may be

13  counted toward the private-sector support of Enterprise

14  Florida, Inc., under s. 288.90151(5)(d).

15         (10)  The Workforce Development Board and Enterprise

16  Florida, Inc., shall ensure maximum coordination and

17  cooperation in administering this section, in such a manner

18  that any division of responsibility between the two

19  organizations which relates to marketing or administering the

20  Quick-Response Training Program is not apparent to a business

21  that inquires about or applies for funding under this section.

22  The organizations shall provide such a business with a single

23  point of contact for information and assistance.

24         Section 13.  Subsection (7) of section 288.0656,

25  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

26         288.0656  Rural Economic Development Initiative.--

27         (7)  REDI may recommend to the Governor up to three

28  rural areas of critical economic concern. A rural area of

29  critical economic concern must be a rural community, or a

30  region composed of such, that has been adversely affected by

31  an extraordinary economic event or a natural disaster or that

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  1  presents a unique economic development opportunity of regional

  2  impact that will create more than 1,000 jobs over a 5-year

  3  period. The Governor may by executive order designate up to

  4  three rural areas of critical economic concern which will

  5  establish these areas as priority assignments for REDI as well

  6  as to allow the Governor, acting through REDI, to waive

  7  criteria, requirements, or similar provisions of any economic

  8  development incentive. Such incentives shall include, but not

  9  be limited to: the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund

10  Program under s. 288.106, the Quick Response Training Program

11  under s. 288.047, the WAGES Quick Response Training Program

12  under s. 288.047(8)(10), transportation projects under s.

13  288.063, the brownfield redevelopment bonus refund under s.

14  288.107, and the rural job tax credit program under ss.

15  212.098 and 220.1895. Designation as a rural area of critical

16  economic concern under this subsection shall be contingent

17  upon the execution of a memorandum of agreement among the

18  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development; the

19  governing body of the county; and the governing bodies of any

20  municipalities to be included within a rural area of critical

21  economic concern. Such agreement shall specify the terms and

22  conditions of the designation, including, but not limited to,

23  the duties and responsibilities of the county and any

24  participating municipalities to take actions designed to

25  facilitate the retention and expansion of existing businesses

26  in the area, as well as the recruitment of new businesses to

27  the area.

28         Section 14.  Section 288.9951, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         288.9951  One-Stop delivery system Career Centers.--

31

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  1         (1)  The one-stop delivery system is Career Centers

  2  comprise the state's primary initial customer-service strategy

  3  delivery system for offering every Floridian access, through

  4  service sites or telephone or computer networks, to the

  5  following services:

  6         (a)  Job search, referral, and placement assistance.

  7         (b)  Career counseling and educational planning.

  8         (c)  Consumer reports on service providers.

  9         (d)  Recruitment and eligibility determination.

10         (e)  Support services, including child care and

11  transportation assistance to gain employment.

12         (f)  Employability skills training.

13         (g)  Adult education and basic skills training.

14         (h)  Technical training leading to a certification and

15  degree.

16         (i)  Claim filing for unemployment compensation

17  services.

18         (j)  Temporary income, health, nutritional, and housing

19  assistance.

20         (k)  Other appropriate and available workforce

21  development services.

22         (2)  In addition to the mandatory partners identified

23  in Pub. L. No. 105-220, Food Stamp Employment and Training,

24  Food Stamp work programs, and WAGES/TANF programs shall, upon

25  approval by the Governor of a transition plan prepared by the

26  Workforce Development Board in collaboration with the WAGES

27  Program State Board of Directors, participate as partners in

28  each One-Stop Career Center. Based on this plan, each partner

29  is prohibited from operating independently from a One-Stop

30  Career Center unless approved by the regional workforce

31  development board. Services provided by partners who are not

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  1  physically located in a One-Stop Career Center must be

  2  approved by the regional workforce development board.

  3         (2)(a)(3)  Subject to a process designed by the

  4  Workforce Development Board, and in compliance with Pub. L.

  5  No. 105-220, regional workforce development boards shall

  6  designate one-stop delivery system Career Center operators.

  7         (b)  A regional workforce board may not designate as

  8  its service provider any public or private entity that is

  9  eligible to provide training services under any state or

10  federal workforce program that is a mandatory or discretionary

11  partner in the region's one-stop delivery system. The

12  Workforce Development Board may waive this prohibition upon a

13  showing that, based upon the availability of potential,

14  qualified public or private entities in the region, such

15  prohibition would unduly impede the ability of the regional

16  workforce board to identify a service provider or fiscal

17  agent. As a condition of authorizing a regional workforce

18  board to designate such an entity as its service provider or

19  fiscal agent, the Workforce Development Board must require the

20  regional workforce board to demonstrate that safeguards are in

21  place to ensure that the service provider or fiscal agent will

22  not exercise an unfair competitive advantage or unfairly refer

23  or direct customers of the one-stop delivery system to

24  training programs provided by that service provider or fiscal

25  agent. A regional workforce development board may retain its

26  current one-stop delivery system Career Center operator

27  without further procurement action where the board has

28  established a one-stop delivery system Career Center that has

29  complied with federal and state law.

30         (3)(4)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any

31  memorandum of understanding in effect on June 30, 2000,

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  1  between a regional workforce board and the Department of Labor

  2  and Employment Security governing the delivery of workforce

  3  services shall remain in effect until September 30, 2000.

  4  Beginning October 1, 2000, any memorandum of understanding

  5  governing the delivery of workforce services must be

  6  performance-based effective July 1, 1999, regional workforce

  7  development boards shall enter into a memorandum of

  8  understanding with the Department of Labor and Employment

  9  Security for the delivery of employment services authorized by

10  Wagner-Peyser. For fiscal year 1999-2000, the memorandum of

11  understanding with the Department of Labor and Employment

12  Security must be performance-based, dedicating 15 percent of

13  the funds to performance payments. Performance payments shall

14  be based on performance measures developed by the Workforce

15  Development Board.

16         (a)  Unless otherwise required by federal law, at least

17  90 percent of the Wagner-Peyser funding must go into direct

18  customer service costs.

19         (b)  Employment services must be provided through the

20  one-stop delivery system Career Centers, under the guidance of

21  one-stop delivery system Career Center operators.

22         (4)(5)  One-stop delivery system Career Center partners

23  identified in subsection (2) shall enter into a memorandum of

24  understanding pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s.

25  121, with the regional workforce development board. Failure of

26  a local partner to participate cannot unilaterally block the

27  majority of partners from moving forward with their one-stop

28  delivery system Career Centers, and the Workforce Development

29  Board, pursuant to s. 288.9952(5)(4)(d), may make notification

30  of a local partner that fails to participate.

31

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  1         (5)(a)(6)  To the extent possible, core services, as

  2  defined by Pub. L. No. 105-220, shall be provided

  3  electronically, using utilizing existing systems and public

  4  libraries. These electronic systems shall be linked and

  5  integrated into a comprehensive service system to simplify

  6  access to core services by:

  7         1.  Maintaining staff to serve as the first point of

  8  contact with the public seeking access to employment services

  9  who are knowledgeable about each program housed in each

10  one-stop delivery system center as well as related services.

11  An initial determination of the programs for which a customer

12  is likely to be eligible and any referral for a more thorough

13  eligibility determination must be made at this first point of

14  contact.

15         2.  Establishing an automated, integrated intake

16  screening and eligibility process where customers will provide

17  information through a self-service intake process that may be

18  accessed by staff from any participating program.

19         (b)  To expand electronic capabilities, the Workforce

20  Development Board, working with regional workforce development

21  boards, shall develop a centralized help center to assist

22  regional workforce development boards in fulfilling core

23  services, minimizing the need for fixed-site one-stop delivery

24  system Career centers.

25         (c)  To the extent feasible, core services shall be

26  accessible through the Internet. Through this technology, core

27  services shall be made available at public libraries, schools,

28  community centers, kiosks, neighborhood facilities, and

29  satellite one-stop delivery system sites. Each regional

30  workforce board's web page shall serve as an access point for

31  contacting potential employees by integrating the placement

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  1  efforts of universities and private companies, including

  2  staffing-services firms, into the existing one-stop delivery

  3  system.

  4         (6)(7)  Intensive services and training provided

  5  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220, shall be provided to

  6  individuals through Intensive Service Accounts and Individual

  7  Training Accounts. The Workforce Development Board shall

  8  develop, by July 1, 1999, an implementation plan, including

  9  identification of initially eligible training providers,

10  transition guidelines, and criteria for use of these accounts.

11  Individual Training Accounts must be compatible with

12  Individual Development Accounts for education allowed in

13  federal and state welfare reform statutes.

14         (7)(8)(a)  Individual Training Accounts must be

15  expended on programs that prepare people to enter high-wage

16  occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating

17  Occupational Forecasting Conference created by s. 216.136, and

18  on other programs as approved by the Workforce Development

19  Board.

20         (b)  For each approved training program, regional

21  workforce development boards, in consultation with training

22  providers, shall establish a fair-market purchase price to be

23  paid through an Individual Training Account. The purchase

24  price must be based on prevailing costs and reflect local

25  economic factors, program complexity, and program benefits,

26  including time to beginning of training and time to

27  completion. The price shall ensure the fair participation of

28  public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions as

29  authorized service providers and shall prohibit the use of

30  unlawful remuneration to the student in return for attending

31

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  1  an institution. Unlawful remuneration does not include student

  2  financial assistance programs.

  3         (c)  The Workforce Development Board shall review

  4  Individual Training Account pricing schedules developed by

  5  regional workforce development boards and present findings and

  6  recommendations for process improvement to the President of

  7  the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by

  8  January 1, 2000.

  9         (d)  To the maximum extent possible, training providers

10  shall use funding sources other than the funding provided

11  under Pub. L. No. 105-220. A performance outcome related to

12  alternative financing obtained by the training provider shall

13  be established by the Workforce Development Board and used for

14  performance evaluation purposes. The performance evaluation

15  must take into consideration the number of alternative funding

16  sources.

17         (e)  Training services provided through Individual

18  Training Accounts must be performance-based, with successful

19  job placement triggering full payment.

20         (f)  The accountability measures to be used in

21  documenting competencies acquired by the participant during

22  training shall be literacy completion points and occupational

23  completion points. Literacy completion points refers to the

24  academic or workforce readiness competencies that qualify a

25  person for further basic education, vocational education, or

26  for employment. Occupational completion points refers to the

27  vocational competencies that qualify a person to enter an

28  occupation that is linked to a vocational program.

29         (8)(9)(a)  The Department of Management Services,

30  working with the Workforce Development Board, shall coordinate

31  among the agencies a plan for a One-Stop Career Center

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  1  Electronic Network made up of one-stop delivery system Career

  2  centers and other partner agencies that are operated by

  3  authorized public or private for-profit or not-for-profit

  4  agents. The plan shall identify resources within existing

  5  revenues to establish and support this electronic network for

  6  service delivery that includes Government Services Direct.

  7         (b)  The network shall assure that a uniform method is

  8  used to determine eligibility for and management of services

  9  provided by agencies that conduct workforce development

10  activities.  The Department of Management Services shall

11  develop strategies to allow access to the databases and

12  information management systems of the following systems in

13  order to link information in those databases with the one-stop

14  delivery system Career Centers:

15         1.  The Unemployment Compensation System of the

16  Department of Labor and Employment Security.

17         2.  The Job Service System of the Department of Labor

18  and Employment Security.

19         3.  The FLORIDA System and the components related to

20  WAGES, food stamps, and Medicaid eligibility.

21         4.  The Workers' Compensation System of the Department

22  of Labor and Employment Security.

23         5.  The Student Financial Assistance System of the

24  Department of Education.

25         6.  Enrollment in the public postsecondary education

26  system.

27

28  The systems shall be fully coordinated at both the state and

29  local levels by January 1, 2000.

30         Section 15.  Section 288.9952, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

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  1         288.9952  Workforce Development Board.--

  2         (1)  There is created within the not-for-profit

  3  corporate structure of Enterprise Florida, Inc., a

  4  not-for-profit public-private Workforce Development Board.

  5         (2)  The Workforce Development Board is the principal

  6  workforce organization for the state. The purpose of the

  7  Workforce Development Board is to design and implement

  8  strategies that help Floridians enter, remain in, and advance

  9  in the workplace, becoming more highly skilled and successful,

10  benefiting these Floridians, Florida businesses, and the

11  entire state, and to assist in developing the state's business

12  climate.

13         (3)(2)(a)  The Workforce Development Board shall be

14  governed by a 25-voting-member board of directors whose

15  membership and appointment must be consistent with Pub. L. No.

16  105-220, Title I, s. 111(b), and contain three representatives

17  of organized labor. Notwithstanding s. 114.05(1)(f) 114.05(f),

18  the Governor may appoint members of the current Workforce

19  Development Board to serve on the reconstituted board as

20  required by this section. By June 1, 1999, the Workforce

21  Development Board will provide to the Governor a transition

22  plan to incorporate the changes required by this act and Pub.

23  L. No. 105-220, specifying the timeframe and manner of changes

24  to the board. This plan shall govern the transition, unless

25  otherwise notified by the Governor. The importance of minority

26  and gender representation shall be considered when making

27  appointments to the board and the geographic representation of

28  board members shall also be considered. Additional members may

29  be appointed when necessary to conform to the requirements of

30  Pub. L. No. 105-220.

31

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  1         (b)  The board of directors of the Workforce

  2  Development Board shall be chaired by a board member

  3  designated by the Governor pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220.

  4         (c)  Private-sector members appointed by the Governor

  5  must be appointed for 4-year, staggered terms. Public-sector

  6  members appointed by the Governor must be appointed to 4-year

  7  terms. Members appointed by the Governor serve at the pleasure

  8  of the Governor.

  9         (d)  The Governor shall appoint members to the board of

10  directors of the Workforce Development Board within 30 days

11  after the receipt of nominations.

12         (e)  A member of the board of directors of the

13  Workforce Development Board may be removed by the Governor for

14  cause. Absence from three consecutive meetings results in

15  automatic removal. The chairperson chair of the Workforce

16  Development Board shall notify the Governor of such absences.

17         (f)  Representatives of businesses appointed to the

18  board of directors may not include providers of workforce

19  services.

20         (4)(3)(a)  The president of the Workforce Development

21  Board shall be hired by the president of Enterprise Florida,

22  Inc., and shall serve in the capacity of an executive director

23  and secretary of the Workforce Development Board.

24         (b)  The board of directors of the Workforce

25  Development Board shall meet at least quarterly and at other

26  times upon call of its chair.

27         (c)  A majority of the total current membership of the

28  board of directors of the Workforce Development Board

29  comprises a quorum of the board.

30         (d)  A majority of those voting is required to organize

31  and conduct the business of the Workforce Development board,

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  1  except that a majority of the entire board of directors of the

  2  Workforce Development Board is required to adopt or amend the

  3  operational plan.

  4         (e)  Except as delegated or authorized by the board of

  5  directors of the Workforce Development Board, individual

  6  members have no authority to control or direct the operations

  7  of the Workforce Development Board or the actions of its

  8  officers and employees, including the president.

  9         (f)  The board of directors of the Workforce

10  Development Board may delegate to its president those powers

11  and responsibilities it deems appropriate.

12         (f)(g)  Members of the board of directors of the

13  Workforce Development Board and its committees shall serve

14  without compensation, but these members, the president, and

15  all employees of the Workforce Development Board may be

16  reimbursed for all reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses,

17  as determined by the board of directors of Enterprise Florida,

18  Inc.

19         (g)(h)  The board of directors of the Workforce

20  Development Board may establish an executive committee

21  consisting of the chair and at least two additional board

22  members selected by the board of directors. The executive

23  committee and the president shall have such authority as the

24  board of directors of the Workforce Development Board

25  delegates to it, except that the board of directors may not

26  delegate to the executive committee authority to take action

27  that requires approval by a majority of the entire board of

28  directors.

29         (h)(i)  The chairperson board of directors of the

30  Workforce Development Board may appoint committees to fulfill

31  its responsibilities, to comply with federal requirements, or

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  1  to obtain technical assistance, and must incorporate members

  2  of regional workforce development boards into its structure.

  3  At a minimum, the chairperson shall establish the following

  4  standing committees: the First Jobs/First Wages Council, the

  5  Better Jobs/Better Wages Council, and the High Skills/High

  6  Wages Council. For purposes of Pub. L. No. 105-220, the First

  7  Jobs/First Wages Council shall serve as the state's youth

  8  council.

  9         (i)(j)  Each member of the board of directors of the

10  Workforce Development Board who is not otherwise required to

11  file a financial disclosure pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the

12  State Constitution or s. 112.3144 must file disclosure of

13  financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.

14         (5)(4)  The Workforce Development Board shall have all

15  the powers and authority, not explicitly prohibited by

16  statute, necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate

17  the purposes as determined by statute, Pub. L. No. 105-220,

18  and the Governor, as well as its functions, duties, and

19  responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the

20  following:

21         (a)  Serving as the state's Workforce Investment Board

22  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220. Unless otherwise required by

23  federal law, at least 90 percent of the workforce development

24  funding must go into direct customer service costs. Of the

25  allowable administrative overhead, appropriate amounts shall

26  be expended to procure independent job-placement evaluations.

27         (b)  Providing guidance with regard to workforce

28  development and supervising the expenditure, management, and

29  administration of funds for the following programs:

30         1.  Programs authorized under Title I of the Workforce

31  Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-220, with the

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  1  exception of programs funded directly by the United States

  2  Department of Labor under Title I, s. 167.

  3         2.  Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act of

  4  1933, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss. 49 et seq.

  5         3.  Welfare-to-work grants administered by the United

  6  States Department of Labor under Title IV, s. 403, of the

  7  Social Security Act, as amended.

  8         4.  Activities authorized under Title II of the Trade

  9  Act of 1974, as amended; 2 U.S.C. ss. 2271 et seq.; and the

10  Trade Adjustment Assistance Program.

11         5.  Activities authorized under 38 U.S.C., chapter 41,

12  including job counseling, training, and placement for

13  veterans.

14         6.  Employment and training activities carried out

15  under the Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.

16  9901 et seq.

17         7.  Employment and training activities carried out

18  under funds awarded to this state by the United States

19  Department of Housing and Urban Development.

20         8.  Welfare-transition services funded by the Temporary

21  Assistance for Needy Families Program, created under the

22  Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation

23  Act of 1996, as amended, Pub. L. No. 104-193, and Title IV, s.

24  403 of the Social Security Act, as amended.

25         9.  Apprenticeship services, provided under ss.

26  446.011-446.092.

27         10.  Displaced homemaker programs, provided under s.

28  446.50.

29         11.  The Florida Bonding Program, provided under Pub.

30  L. No. 97-300, s. 164(a)(1).

31

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  1         12.  The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program,

  2  provided under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, U.S.C. ss.

  3  2011-2032; the Food Security Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 99-198;

  4  and the Hunger Prevention Act, Pub. L. No. 100-435.

  5         13.  The Quick-Response Training Program, provided

  6  under ss. 288.046 and 288.047.

  7         14.  The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, provided under

  8  the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, Pub. L. No.

  9  105-277, and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-34.

10         15.  Offender-placement services, provided under ss.

11  944.707 and 944.708.

12         16.  Programs authorized under the National and

13  Community Service Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. ss. 12501 et seq.,

14  and the Service-America programs, the National Service Trust

15  programs, the Civilian Community Corps, the Corporation for

16  National and Community Service, the American Conservation and

17  Youth Service Corps, and the Points of Light Foundation

18  programs, if such programs are awarded to the state.

19         17.  Other programs funded by federal or state

20  appropriations, as determined by the Legislature in the

21  General Appropriations Act or by law.

22         (c)(b)  Contracting with public and private entities as

23  necessary to further the directives of this section. All

24  contracts executed by the Workforce Development Board must

25  include specific performance expectations and deliverables and

26  must specify administrative costs., except that any contract

27  made with an organization represented on the board of

28  directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., or on the board of

29  directors of the Workforce Development Board must be approved

30  by a two-thirds vote of the entire board of directors of the

31  Workforce Development Board, and, if applicable, the board

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  1  member representing such organization shall abstain from

  2  voting. No more than 65 percent of the dollar value of all

  3  contracts or other agreements entered into in any fiscal year,

  4  exclusive of grant programs, shall be made with an

  5  organization represented on the board of directors of

  6  Enterprise Florida, Inc., or the board of directors of the

  7  Workforce Development Board. An organization represented on

  8  the board of directors of the Workforce Development Board or

  9  on the board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., may not

10  enter into a contract to receive a state-funded economic

11  development incentive or similar grant unless such incentive

12  award is specifically endorsed by a two-thirds vote of the

13  entire board of directors of the Workforce Development Board.

14  The member of the board of directors of the Workforce

15  Development Board representing such organization, if

16  applicable, shall abstain from voting and refrain from

17  discussing the issue with other members of the board. No more

18  than 50 percent of the dollar value of grants issued by the

19  board in any fiscal year may go to businesses associated with

20  members of the board of directors of the Workforce Development

21  Board.

22         (c)  Providing an annual report to the board of

23  directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., by November 1 that

24  includes a copy of an annual financial and compliance audit of

25  its accounts and records conducted by an independent certified

26  public accountant and performed in accordance with rules

27  adopted by the Auditor General.

28         (d)  Notifying the Governor, the President of the

29  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of

30  noncompliance by agencies or obstruction of the board's

31  efforts by agencies. Upon such notification, the Executive

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  1  Office of the Governor shall assist agencies to bring them

  2  into compliance with board objectives.

  3         (e)  Ensuring that the state does not waste valuable

  4  training resources. Thus, the board shall direct that all

  5  resources, including equipment purchased for training

  6  Workforce Investment Act clients, be available for use at all

  7  times by eligible populations as first priority users. At

  8  times when eligible populations are not available, such

  9  resources shall be used for any other state authorized

10  education and training purpose.

11         (f)  Archiving records with the Bureau of Archives and

12  Records Management of the Division of Library and Information

13  Services of the Department of State.

14         (5)  Notwithstanding s. 216.351, to allow time for

15  documenting program performance, funds allocated for the

16  incentives in s. 239.249 must be carried forward to the next

17  fiscal year and must be awarded for the current year's

18  performance, unless federal law requires the funds to revert

19  at the year's end.

20         (6)  The Workforce Development Board may take action

21  that it deems necessary to achieve the purposes of this

22  section, including, but not limited to and consistent with the

23  policies of the board of directors of Enterprise Florida,

24  Inc., in partnership with private enterprises, public

25  agencies, and other organizations. The Workforce Development

26  Board shall advise and make recommendations to the board of

27  directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and through that board

28  of directors to the State Board of Education and the

29  Legislature concerning action needed to bring about the

30  following benefits to the state's social and economic

31  resources:

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  1         (a)  Creating a state employment, education, and

  2  training policy that ensures that programs to prepare workers

  3  are responsive to present and future business and industry

  4  needs and complement the initiatives of Enterprise Florida,

  5  Inc.

  6         (b)  Establishing a funding system that provides

  7  incentives to improve the outcomes of vocational education

  8  programs, and of registered apprenticeship and work-based

  9  learning programs, and that focuses resources on occupations

10  related to new or emerging industries that add greatly to the

11  value of the state's economy.

12         (c)  Implementing a comprehensive approach to the

13  education and training of target populations such as those who

14  have disabilities, are economically disadvantaged, receive

15  public assistance, are not proficient in English, or are

16  dislocated workers. This approach should ensure the effective

17  use of federal, state, local, and private resources in

18  reducing the need for public assistance.

19         (d)  Designating The designation of Institutes of

20  Applied Technology composed of public and private

21  postsecondary institutions working together with business and

22  industry to ensure that technical and vocational education

23  programs use the most advanced technology and instructional

24  methods available and respond to the changing needs of

25  business and industry. Of the funds reserved for activities of

26  the Workforce Investment Act at the state level, $500,000

27  shall be reserved for an institute of applied technology in

28  construction excellence, which shall be a demonstration

29  project on the development of such institutes. The institute,

30  once established, shall contract with the Workforce

31

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  1  Development Board to provide a coordinated approach to

  2  workforce development in this industry.

  3         (e)  Implementing a system to project and evaluate

  4  labor market supply and demand using the results of the

  5  Workforce Estimating Occupational Forecasting Conference

  6  created in s. 216.136 and the career education performance

  7  standards identified under s. 239.233.

  8         (f)  Reviewing A review of the performance of public

  9  programs that are responsible for economic development,

10  education, employment, and training. The review must include

11  an analysis of the return on investment of these programs.

12         (g)  Expanding the occupations identified by the

13  Workforce Estimating Conference to meet needs created by local

14  emergencies or plant closings or to capture occupations within

15  emerging industries.

16         (7)  By December 1 of each year, Enterprise Florida,

17  Inc., shall submit to the Governor, the President of the

18  Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the

19  Senate Minority Leader, and the House Minority Leader a

20  complete and detailed annual report by the Workforce

21  Development Board setting forth:

22         (a)  All audits, including the audit in subsection (8),

23  if conducted.

24         (b)  The operations and accomplishments of the

25  partnership including the programs or entities listed in

26  subsection (6).

27         (8)  The Auditor General may, pursuant to his or her

28  own authority or at the direction of the Legislative Auditing

29  Committee, conduct an audit of the Workforce Development Board

30  or the programs or entities created by the Workforce

31  Development Board.

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  1         (9)  The Workforce Development Board, in collaboration

  2  with the regional workforce development boards and appropriate

  3  state agencies and local public and private service providers,

  4  and in consultation with the Office of Program Policy Analysis

  5  and Government Accountability, shall establish uniform

  6  measures and standards to gauge the performance of the

  7  workforce development strategy. These measures and standards

  8  must be organized into three outcome tiers.

  9         (a)  The first tier of measures must be organized to

10  provide benchmarks for systemwide outcomes. The Workforce

11  Development Board must, in collaboration with the Office of

12  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability,

13  establish goals for the tier-one outcomes. Systemwide outcomes

14  may include employment in occupations demonstrating continued

15  growth in wages; continued employment after 3, 6, 12, and 24

16  months; reduction in and elimination of public assistance

17  reliance; job placement; employer satisfaction; and positive

18  return on investment of public resources.

19         (b)  The second tier of measures must be organized to

20  provide a set of benchmark outcomes for the initiatives of the

21  First Jobs/First Wages Council, the Better Jobs/Better Wages

22  Council, and the High Skills/High Wages Council One-Stop

23  Career Centers and for each of the strategic components of the

24  workforce development strategy. A set of standards and

25  measures must be developed for One-Stop Career Centers, youth

26  employment activities, WAGES, and High Skills/High Wages,

27  targeting the specific goals of each particular strategic

28  component. Cost per entered employment, earnings at placement,

29  retention in employment, job placement, and entered employment

30  rate must be included among the performance outcome measures.

31

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  1         1.  Appropriate measures for One-Stop Career Centers

  2  may include direct job placements at minimum wage, at a wage

  3  level established by the Occupational Forecasting Conference,

  4  and at a wage level above the level established by the

  5  Occupational Forecasting Conference.

  6         2.  Appropriate measures for youth employment

  7  activities may include the number of students enrolling in and

  8  completing work-based programs, including apprenticeship

  9  programs; job placement rate; job retention rate; wage at

10  placement; and wage growth.

11         3.  WAGES measures may include job placement rate, job

12  retention rate, wage at placement, wage growth, reduction and

13  elimination of reliance on public assistance, and savings

14  resulting from reduced reliance on public assistance.

15         4.  High Skills/High Wages measures may include job

16  placement rate, job retention rate, wage at placement, and

17  wage growth.

18         (c)  The third tier of measures must be the operational

19  output measures to be used by the agency implementing

20  programs, and it may be specific to federal requirements. The

21  tier-three measures must be developed by the agencies

22  implementing programs, and the Workforce Development Board may

23  be consulted in this effort. Such measures must be reported to

24  the Workforce Development Board by the appropriate

25  implementing agency.

26         (d)  Regional differences must be reflected in the

27  establishment of performance goals and may include job

28  availability, unemployment rates, average worker wage, and

29  available employable population. All performance goals must be

30  derived from the goals, principles, and strategies established

31  in the Workforce Florida Act of 1996.

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  1         (e)  Job placement must be reported pursuant to s.

  2  229.8075. Positive outcomes for providers of education and

  3  training must be consistent with ss. 239.233 and 239.245.

  4         (f)  The uniform measures of success that are adopted

  5  by the Workforce Development Board or the regional workforce

  6  development boards must be developed in a manner that provides

  7  for an equitable comparison of the relative success or failure

  8  of any service provider in terms of positive outcomes.

  9         (g)  By December 1 October 15 of each year, the

10  Workforce Development Board shall provide the Legislature with

11  a report detailing the performance of Florida's workforce

12  development system, as reflected in the three-tier measurement

13  system. Additionally, this report must benchmark Florida

14  outcomes, at all tiers, against other states that collect data

15  similarly.

16         (10)  The workforce-development strategy for the state

17  shall be designed by the Workforce Development Board and shall

18  be centered around the strategies of First Jobs/First Wages,

19  Better Jobs/Better Wages, and High Skills/High Wages.

20         (a)  First Jobs/First Wages is the state's strategy to

21  promote successful entry into the workforce through education

22  and workplace experience that lead to self-sufficiency and

23  career advancement. The components of the strategy include

24  efforts that enlist business, education, and community support

25  for students to achieve long-term career goals, ensuring that

26  young people have the academic and occupational skills

27  required to succeed in the workplace.

28         (b)  Better Jobs/Better Wages is the state's strategy

29  for assisting employers in upgrading or updating the skills of

30  their employees and for assisting incumbent workers in

31  improving their performance in their current jobs or acquiring

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  1  the education or training needed to secure a better job with

  2  better wages.

  3         (c)  High Skills/High Wages is the state's strategy for

  4  aligning education and training programs with high-paying,

  5  high-demand occupations that advance individuals' careers,

  6  build a more skilled workforce, and enhance Florida's efforts

  7  to attract and expand job-creating business.

  8         (11)  The workforce development system shall use a

  9  charter-process approach aimed at encouraging local design and

10  control of service delivery and targeted activities. The

11  Workforce Development Board shall be responsible for granting

12  charters to regional workforce boards that have a membership

13  consistent with the requirements of federal and state law and

14  that have developed a plan consistent with the state's

15  workforce-development strategy. The plan must specify methods

16  for allocating the resources and programs in a manner that

17  eliminates unwarranted duplication, minimizes administrative

18  costs, meets the existing job-market demands and the

19  job-market demands resulting from successful

20  economic-development activities, ensures access to quality

21  workforce-development services for all Floridians, and

22  maximizes successful outcomes. As part of the charter process,

23  the Workforce Development Board shall establish incentives for

24  effective coordination of federal and state programs, outline

25  rewards for successful job placements, and institute

26  collaborative approaches among local service providers. Local

27  decisionmaking and control shall be important components for

28  inclusion in this charter application. All charters granted by

29  the Workforce Development Board must include specific

30  performance expectations.

31

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  1         Section 16.  Sections 288.99521, 288.99522, 288.99523,

  2  288.99524, and 288.99525, Florida Statutes, are created to

  3  read:

  4         288.99521  First Jobs/First Wages Council, Better

  5  Jobs/Better Wages Council, and High Skills/High Wages Council

  6  of the Workforce Development Board.--

  7         (1)  The chairperson of the Workforce Development Board

  8  shall establish by October 1, 2000, and shall maintain at

  9  least until September 30, 2002, three standing councils, which

10  shall be known as the First Jobs/First Wages Council, the

11  Better Jobs/Better Wages Council, and the High Skills/High

12  Wages Council.

13         (a)  The chairperson of the Workforce Development Board

14  shall determine the number of members to serve on each

15  council.

16         (b)  Each council shall be composed of individuals

17  appointed by the chairperson of the Workforce Development

18  Board from the membership of the board of directors and

19  individuals from outside the Workforce Development Board who

20  possess relevant experience or expertise in the subject area

21  of the council. A majority of the membership of each council

22  must be members of the board of directors of the Workforce

23  Development Board.

24         (c)  The chairperson of the Workforce Development Board

25  shall name a chairperson for each council from among the

26  members of the council who are also members of the board of

27  directors.

28         (d)  Each council may meet at the call of its

29  chairperson or at the direction of the board of directors of

30  the Workforce Development Board, but shall meet at least

31  quarterly.

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  1         (2)  The First Jobs/First Wages Council shall develop

  2  strategies for approval by the board of directors of the

  3  Workforce Development Board which promote the successful entry

  4  of individuals, including young people and adults working for

  5  the first time, into the workforce. The council shall advise

  6  the board of directors and make recommendations on

  7  implementing programs and expending funds in support of such

  8  youth workforce strategies. The council shall serve as the

  9  state's youth council for purposes of Pub. L. No. 105-220.

10         (3)  The Better Jobs/Better Wages Council shall develop

11  strategies for approval by the board of directors of the

12  Workforce Development Board which promote the ability of adult

13  workers to build careers by obtaining and retaining jobs with

14  potential for advancement over time. The mission of the

15  council includes developing strategies that promote the

16  ability of participants in the welfare-transition program to

17  succeed in the workforce and avoid a return to dependence upon

18  cash assistance from the government. The council shall advise

19  the board of directors and make recommendations on

20  implementing programs and expending funds in support of such

21  adult workforce strategies.

22         (4)  The High Skills/High Wages Council shall develop

23  strategies for approval by the board of directors of the

24  Workforce Development Board which align the education and

25  training programs with high-paying, high-demand occupations

26  that advance individuals' careers, build a more skilled

27  workforce, and enhance the state's efforts to attract and

28  expand job-creating businesses. The council shall advise the

29  board of directors and make recommendations on implementing

30  programs and expending funds in support of such

31  high-skills/high-wages strategies.

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  1         (5)  Prior to the 2002 legislative session, the board

  2  of directors of the Workforce Development Board shall report

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

  4  of the House of Representatives on the contribution of the

  5  councils toward fulfilling the goals of the Workforce

  6  Development Board. The report must include recommendations on

  7  whether the councils should be continued and on any proposed

  8  legislative action concerning the councils.

  9         288.99522  Strategic plan for workforce development.--

10         (1)  The Workforce Development Board, in conjunction

11  with state and local partners in the workforce system, shall

12  develop a strategic plan for workforce, with the goal of

13  producing skilled employees for employers in the state. The

14  strategic plan shall be submitted to the Governor, the

15  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

16  Representatives by February 1, 2001. The strategic plan shall

17  be updated or modified by January 1 of each year thereafter,

18  unless the board of directors of the Workforce Development

19  Board determines that updates or modifications are not

20  necessary, in which case the Workforce Development Board shall

21  notify the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the

22  Speaker of the House of Representatives of such determination.

23  The plan must include, but need not be limited to, strategies

24  for:

25         (a)  Fulfilling the workforce system goals and

26  strategies prescribed in s. 288.9952.

27         (b)  Aggregating, integrating, and leveraging workforce

28  system resources.

29         (c)  Coordinating the activities of federal, state, and

30  local workforce system partners.

31

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  1         (d)  Addressing the workforce needs of small

  2  businesses.

  3         (e)  Fostering the participation of rural communities

  4  and distressed urban cores in the workforce system.

  5         (2)  As a component of the strategic plan required

  6  under this section, the Workforce Development Board shall

  7  develop a workforce marketing plan, with the goal of educating

  8  individuals inside and outside the state about the employment

  9  market and employment conditions in the state. The marketing

10  plan must include, but need not be limited to, strategies for:

11         (a)  Distributing information to secondary and

12  postsecondary education institutions about the diversity of

13  businesses in the state, specific clusters of businesses or

14  business sectors in the state, and occupations by industry

15  which are in demand by employers in the state.

16         (b)  Distributing information about and promoting use

17  of the Internet-based job-matching and labor-market

18  information system authorized under s. 288.99524.

19         (c)  Coordinating with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

20  ensure that workforce marketing efforts complement the

21  economic development marketing efforts of the state.

22         (3)  The strategic plan must include performance

23  measures, standards, measurement criteria, and contract

24  guidelines in the following areas with respect to participants

25  in the welfare-transition program:

26         (a)  Work-participation rates, by type of activity.

27         (b)  Caseload trends.

28         (c)  Recidivism.

29         (d)  Participation in diversion and relocation

30  assistance programs.

31         (e)  Employment retention.

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  1         (f)  Wage growth.

  2         (g)  Other issues identified by the board of directors

  3  of the Workforce Development Board.

  4         (4)  The strategic plan must include criteria for

  5  allocating workforce resources to regional workforce boards.

  6  With respect to allocating funds to serve customers of the

  7  welfare-transition program, such criteria may include

  8  weighting factors that indicate the relative degree of

  9  difficulty associated with securing and retaining employment

10  placements for specific subsets of the welfare-transition

11  caseload.

12         (5)(a)  The strategic plan must include a

13  performance-based payment structure to be used for all

14  welfare-transition program customers which takes into account:

15         1.  The degree of difficulty associated with placement

16  and retention.

17         2.  The quality of the placement with respect to

18  salary, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.

19         3.  The employee's retention in the placement.

20         (b)  The payment structure must provide that a minimum

21  of 15 percent of the total amount of the contract for services

22  be reserved until receipt of evidence of satisfactory

23  performance under the contract.

24         288.99523  Workforce system information technology;

25  principles and information sharing.--

26         (1)  The following principles shall guide the

27  development and management of workforce system information

28  resources:

29         (a)  Workforce system entities should be committed to

30  information sharing.

31

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  1         (b)  Cooperative planning by workforce-system entities

  2  is a prerequisite for the effective development of systems to

  3  enable the sharing of data.

  4         (c)  Workforce-system entities should maximize public

  5  access to data while complying with legitimate security,

  6  privacy, and confidentiality requirements.

  7         (d)  When the capture of data for the mutual benefit of

  8  workforce-system entities can be accomplished, the costs for

  9  capturing, managing, and disseminating those data should be

10  shared.

11         (e)  The redundant capture of data should, insofar as

12  possible, be eliminated.

13         (f)  Only data that are auditable, or that otherwise

14  can be determined to be accurate, valid, and reliable, should

15  be maintained in workforce-information systems.

16         (g)  The design of workforce-information systems should

17  support technological flexibility for users without

18  compromising system integration or data integrity, be based

19  upon open standards, and use platform-independent technologies

20  to the fullest extent possible.

21         (2)  Information that is essential to the integrated

22  delivery of services through the one-stop delivery system must

23  be shared between partner agencies within the workforce system

24  to the full extent permitted under state and federal law. In

25  order to enable the full integration of services for a

26  specific workforce-system customer, that customer must be

27  offered the opportunity to provide written consent prior to

28  sharing any information concerning that customer between the

29  workforce-system partners which is subject to confidentiality

30  under state or federal law.

31         288.99524  Workforce information systems.--

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  1         (1)  The Workforce Development Board shall implement,

  2  subject to legislative appropriation, automated information

  3  systems that are necessary for the efficient and effective

  4  operation and management of the workforce-development system.

  5  These information systems shall include, but need not be

  6  limited to, the following:

  7         (a)  An integrated management system for the one-stop

  8  service delivery system, which includes, at a minimum, common

  9  registration and intake, screening for needs and benefits,

10  case planning and tracking, training-benefits management,

11  service and training provider management, performance

12  reporting, executive information and reporting, and customer

13  satisfaction tracking and reporting.

14         (b)  An automated job-matching information system that

15  is accessible to employers, job seekers, and other users via

16  the Internet, and that includes, at a minimum:

17         1.  Skill-match information, including skill-gap

18  analysis; resume creation; job-order creation; skill tests;

19  job search by area, employer type, and employer name; and

20  training-provider linkage.

21         2.  Job-market information based on surveys, including

22  local, state, regional, and national occupational and

23  job-availability information.

24         3.  Service-provider information, including education

25  and training providers, child care facilities and related

26  information, health and social service agencies, and other

27  providers of services that would be useful to job seekers.

28         (2)  In procuring workforce information systems, the

29  Workforce Development Board shall employ competitive

30  processes, including requests for proposals, competitive

31  negotiation, and other competitive processes, to ensure that

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  1  the procurement results in the most cost-effective investment

  2  of state funds.

  3         (3)  The Workforce Development Board may procure

  4  independent verification and validation services associated

  5  with developing and implementing any workforce information

  6  system.

  7         (4)  The Workforce Development Board shall coordinate

  8  development and implementation of workforce information

  9  systems with the state's Chief Information Officer in the

10  State Technology Office to ensure compatibility with the

11  state's information system strategy and enterprise

12  architecture.

13         288.99525  Small business workforce service

14  initiative.--

15         (1)  Subject to legislative appropriation, the

16  Workforce Development Board shall establish a program to

17  encourage regional workforce development boards to establish

18  one-stop delivery systems that maximize the provision of

19  workforce and human-resource support services to small

20  businesses. Under the program, a regional workforce board may

21  apply, on a competitive basis, for funds to support the

22  provision of such services to small businesses through the

23  region's one-stop delivery system.

24         (2)  Eligible uses of funds under this program include,

25  but are not limited to:

26         (a)  Identifying common training needs among small

27  businesses.

28         (b)  Developing curriculum to address common training

29  needs among small businesses.

30         (c)  Facilitating the provision of training services

31  for such small businesses through eligible training providers.

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  1         (d)  Assisting small businesses to identify incentives

  2  and complete applications or other paperwork associated with

  3  such incentives.

  4         (e)  Establishing a single point of contact for the

  5  provision of preemployment and postemployment services to

  6  small businesses.

  7         (3)  The Workforce Development Board shall establish

  8  guidelines governing the administration of this program and

  9  shall establish criteria to be used in evaluating applications

10  for funding. Such criteria must include, but need not be

11  limited to, a showing that the regional board has in place a

12  detailed plan for establishing a one-stop delivery system

13  designed to meet the workforce needs of small businesses and

14  for leveraging other funding sources in support of such

15  activities.

16         (4)  For purposes of this section, the term "small

17  business" means an independently owned and operated business

18  concern that employs 30 or fewer permanent full-time employees

19  and that, together with its affiliates, has a net worth of not

20  more than $3 million and an average net income, after federal

21  income taxes and excluding any carryover losses, of not more

22  than $2 million for the preceding 2 years.

23         Section 17.  Section 288.9953, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         288.9953  Regional Workforce Development Boards.--

26         (1)  One regional workforce development board shall be

27  appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall

28  serve as the local workforce investment board pursuant to Pub.

29  L. No. 105-220. The membership of the board shall be

30  consistent with Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 117(b), and

31  contain three representatives of organized labor. No person

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  1  appointed to the board may serve more than two consecutive

  2  terms.  Each regional workforce board shall appoint a

  3  chairperson.  Any person appointed as chairperson must have,

  4  at a minimum, an earned university degree in the area of

  5  education or business. The importance of minority and gender

  6  representation shall be considered when making appointments to

  7  the board. If the regional workforce board enters into a

  8  contract with an organization or individual represented on the

  9  board of directors, the contract must be approved by a

10  two-thirds vote of the entire board, and the board member who

11  could benefit financially from the transaction must abstain

12  from voting on the contract. A board member must disclose any

13  such conflict in a manner that is consistent with the

14  procedures outlined in s. 112.3143. A member of a regional

15  workforce development board may not vote on a matter under

16  consideration by the board regarding the provision of services

17  by such member, or by an entity that such member represents;

18  vote on a matter that would provide direct financial benefit

19  to such member or the immediate family of such member; or

20  engage in any other activity determined by the Governor to

21  constitute a conflict of interest as specified in the state

22  plan.

23         (2)  The Workforce Development Board will determine the

24  timeframe and manner of changes to the regional workforce

25  development boards as required by this chapter act and Pub. L.

26  No. 105-220.

27         (3)  The Workforce Development Board shall assign staff

28  to meet with each regional workforce development board

29  annually to review the board's performance and to certify that

30  the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal

31  law.

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  1         (4)  In addition to the duties and functions specified

  2  by the Workforce Development Board and by the interlocal

  3  agreement approved by the local county or city governing

  4  bodies, the regional workforce development board shall have

  5  the following responsibilities:

  6         (a)  Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan

  7  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 118.

  8         (b)  Conclude agreements necessary to designate the

  9  fiscal agent and service provider administrative entity. A

10  public or private entity that makes a majority of the

11  appointments to a regional workforce board may not serve as

12  the board's service provider. The Workforce Development Board

13  may waive this prohibition upon a showing that, based upon the

14  availability of potential, qualified public or private

15  entities in the region, such prohibition would unduly impede

16  the ability of the regional workforce board to identify a

17  service provider or fiscal agent. As a condition of

18  authorizing a regional workforce board to designate the local

19  governmental unit or a council of government consortium as the

20  board's service provider, the Workforce Development Board must

21  require the regional workforce board to demonstrate that a

22  fair and competitive process was used to select the service

23  provider.

24         (c)  Complete assurances required for the Workforce

25  Development Board charter process and provide ongoing

26  oversight related to administrative costs, duplicated

27  services, career counseling, economic development, equal

28  access, compliance and accountability, and performance

29  outcomes.

30         (d)  Oversee the one-stop delivery system Career

31  Centers in its local area.

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  1         (5)  The Workforce Development Board shall implement a

  2  training program for the regional workforce development boards

  3  to familiarize board members with the state's workforce

  4  development goals and strategies. The regional workforce

  5  development board shall designate all local service providers

  6  and shall not transfer this authority to a third party.  In

  7  order to exercise independent oversight, the regional

  8  workforce development board shall not be a direct provider of

  9  intake, assessment, eligibility determinations, or other

10  direct provider services.

11         (6)  Regional workforce development boards may appoint

12  local committees to obtain technical assistance on issues of

13  importance, including those issues affecting older workers.

14         (7)  Each regional workforce development board shall

15  establish by October 1, 2000, and shall maintain at least

16  until September 30, 2002, a high skills/high wages committee

17  consisting of at least five private-sector business

18  representatives appointed in consultation with local chambers

19  of commerce by the primary county economic-development

20  organization within the region, as identified by Enterprise

21  Florida, Inc.; a representative of each primary county

22  economic-development organization within the region;,

23  including the regional workforce development board chairperson

24  chair; the presidents of all community colleges within the

25  board's region; those district school superintendents with

26  authority for conducting postsecondary educational programs

27  within the region; and two representatives a representative

28  from a nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions

29  institution that are is an authorized individual training

30  account providers provider within the region, appointed by the

31  chairperson of the regional workforce board. The business

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  1  representatives appointed by the primary county

  2  economic-development organizations other than the board chair

  3  need not be members of the regional workforce development

  4  board and shall represent those industries that are of primary

  5  importance to the region's current and future economy. In a

  6  multicounty region, each primary county economic-development

  7  organization within the region shall appoint at least one

  8  business representative and shall consult with the other

  9  primary county economic-development organizations within the

10  region to make joint appointments when necessary.

11         (a)  At least annually During fiscal year 1999-2000,

12  each high skills/high wages committee shall submit, quarterly,

13  recommendations to the Workforce Development Board related to:

14         1.  Policies to enhance the responsiveness of high

15  skills/high wages programs in its region to business and

16  economic development opportunities.

17         2.  Integrated use of state education and federal

18  workforce development funds to enhance the training and

19  placement of designated population individuals with local

20  businesses and industries.

21         (b)  The committees shall also make reports to the

22  Workforce Development Board annually, on dates specified by

23  the Workforce Development Board that identify occupations in

24  the region deemed critical to business retention, expansion,

25  and recruitment activities, based on guidelines set by the

26  Workforce Development Board. Such guidelines shall include

27  research of the workforce needs of private employers in the

28  region, in consultation with local chambers of commerce and

29  economic-development organizations. Occupations identified

30  pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered by the

31  Workforce Development Board for inclusion in the region's

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  1  targeted occupation list. After fiscal year 1999-2000, the

  2  Workforce Development Board has the discretion to decrease the

  3  frequency of reporting by the high skills/high wages

  4  committees, but the committees shall meet and submit any

  5  recommendations at least annually.

  6         (c)  Annually, the Workforce Development Board shall

  7  compile all the recommendations of the high skills/high wages

  8  committees, research their feasibility, and make

  9  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

10  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

11         (8)  Each regional workforce board shall establish a

12  better jobs/better wages committee consisting of at least five

13  members. Initial appointments to this committee shall include

14  at least three members of the local WAGES coalition,

15  established pursuant to chapter 96-175, Laws of Florida.

16         (9)  Each regional workforce board shall establish a

17  first jobs/first wages committee consisting of at least five

18  members. This committee shall serve as the youth council for

19  purposes of Pub. L. No. 105-220.

20         (10)  The importance of minority and gender

21  representation shall be considered when appointments are made

22  to any committee established by the regional workforce board.

23         (11)  For purposes of procurement, regional workforce

24  boards and their administrative entities are not state

25  agencies, but the boards and their administrative entities

26  must comply with state procurement laws and procedures until

27  the Workforce Development Board adopts the provisions or

28  alternative procurement procedures that meet the requirements

29  of federal law. All contracts executed by regional workforce

30  boards must include specific performance expectations and

31  deliverables.

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  1         Section 18.  Section 288.9956, Florida Statutes, is

  2  amended to read:

  3         288.9956  Implementation of the federal Workforce

  4  Investment Act of 1998.--

  5         (1)  WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT PRINCIPLES.--The state's

  6  approach to implementing the federal Workforce Investment Act

  7  of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-220, should have six elements:

  8         (a)  Streamlining Services.--Florida's employment and

  9  training programs must be coordinated and consolidated at

10  locally managed one-stop delivery system Career centers.

11         (b)  Empowering Individuals.--Eligible participants

12  will make informed decisions, choosing the qualified training

13  program that best meets their needs.

14         (c)  Universal Access.--Through a one-stop delivery

15  system Career Centers, every Floridian will have access to

16  employment services.

17         (d)  Increased Accountability.--The state, localities,

18  and training providers will be held accountable for their

19  performance.

20         (e)  Local Board and Private Sector Leadership.--Local

21  boards will focus on strategic planning, policy development,

22  and oversight of the local system, choosing local managers to

23  direct the operational details of their one-stop delivery

24  system center Career Centers.

25         (f)  Local Flexibility and Integration.--Localities

26  will have exceptional flexibility to build on existing

27  reforms. Unified planning will free local groups from

28  conflicting micromanagement, while waivers and WorkFlex will

29  allow local innovations.

30         (2)  FIVE-YEAR PLAN.--The Workforce Development Board

31  shall prepare and submit a 5-year plan, which includes

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  1  secondary vocational education, to fulfill the early

  2  implementation requirements of Pub. L. No. 105-220 and

  3  applicable state statutes. Mandatory federal partners and

  4  optional federal partners, including the WAGES Program State

  5  Board of Directors, shall be fully involved in designing the

  6  plan's one-stop delivery Career Center system strategy. The

  7  plan shall detail a process to clearly define each program's

  8  statewide duties and role relating to the system. Any optional

  9  federal partner may immediately choose to fully integrate its

10  program's plan with this plan, which shall, notwithstanding

11  any other state provisions, fulfill all their state planning

12  and reporting requirements as they relate to the one-stop

13  delivery system Career Centers. The plan shall detail a

14  process that would fully integrate all federally mandated and

15  optional partners by the second year of the plan. All optional

16  federal program partners in the planning process shall be

17  mandatory participants in the second year of the plan.

18         (3)  FUNDING.--

19         (a)  Title I, Workforce Investment Act of 1998 funds;

20  Wagner-Peyser funds; and NAFTA/Trade Act funds will be

21  expended based on the Workforce Development Board's 5-year

22  plan. The plan shall outline and direct the method used to

23  administer and coordinate various funds and programs that are

24  operated by various agencies. The following provisions shall

25  also apply to these funds:

26         1.  At least 50 percent of the Title I funds for Adults

27  and Dislocated Workers that are passed through to regional

28  workforce development boards shall be allocated to Individual

29  Training Accounts unless a regional workforce development

30  board obtains a waiver from the Workforce Development Board.

31  Tuition, fees, and performance-based incentive awards paid in

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  1  compliance with Florida's Performance-Based Incentive Fund

  2  Program qualify as an Individual Training Account expenditure,

  3  as do other programs developed by regional workforce

  4  development boards in compliance with the Workforce

  5  Development Board's policies.

  6         2.  Fifteen percent of Title I funding shall be

  7  retained at the state level and shall be dedicated to state

  8  administration and used to design, develop, induce, and fund

  9  innovative Individual Training Account pilots, demonstrations,

10  and programs. Of such funds retained at the state level, $2

11  million shall be reserved for the Incumbent Worker Training

12  Program created under subparagraph 3. Eligible state

13  administration costs include the costs of: funding for of the

14  Workforce Development board and Workforce Development Board's

15  staff; operating fiscal, compliance, and management

16  accountability systems through the Workforce Development

17  Board; conducting evaluation and research on workforce

18  development activities; and providing technical and capacity

19  building assistance to regions at the direction of the

20  Workforce Development Board. Notwithstanding s. 288.9952, such

21  administrative costs shall not exceed 25 percent of these

22  funds. An amount not to exceed 75 Seventy percent of these

23  funds shall be allocated to Individual Training Accounts and

24  other workforce development strategies for: the Minority

25  Teacher Education Scholars program, the Certified Teacher-Aide

26  program, the Self-Employment Institute, and other Individual

27  training Accounts designed and tailored by the Workforce

28  Development Board, including, but not limited to, programs for

29  incumbent workers, displaced homemakers, nontraditional

30  employment, empowerment zones, and enterprise zones. The

31  Workforce Development Board shall design, adopt, and fund

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  1  Individual Training Accounts for distressed urban and rural

  2  communities. The remaining 5 percent shall be reserved for the

  3  Incumbent Worker Training Program.

  4         3.  The Incumbent Worker Training Program is created

  5  for the purpose of providing grant funding for continuing

  6  education and training of incumbent employees at existing

  7  Florida businesses. The program will provide reimbursement

  8  grants to businesses that pay for preapproved, direct,

  9  training-related costs.

10         a.  The Incumbent Worker Training Program will be

11  administered by a private business organization, known as the

12  grant administrator, under contract with the Workforce

13  Development Board. The Workforce Development Board, at its

14  discretion, may contract with a private business organization

15  to serve as grant administrator.

16         b.  To be eligible for the program's grant funding, a

17  business must have been in operation in Florida for a minimum

18  of 1 year prior to the application for grant funding; have at

19  least one full-time employee; demonstrate financial viability;

20  and be current on all state tax obligations. Priority for

21  funding shall be given to businesses with 25 employees or

22  fewer, businesses in rural areas, businesses in distressed

23  inner-city areas, businesses in a qualified targeted industry,

24  or businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant

25  upgrade in employee skills, or businesses whose grant

26  proposals represent a significant layoff-avoidance strategy.

27         c.  All costs reimbursed by the program must be

28  preapproved by the grant administrator. The program will not

29  reimburse businesses for trainee wages, the purchase of

30  capital equipment, or the purchase of any item or service that

31  may possibly be used outside the training project. A business

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  1  approved for a grant may be reimbursed for preapproved,

  2  direct, training-related costs including tuition and fees;

  3  books and classroom materials; and overhead or indirect

  4  administrative costs not to exceed 5 percent of the grant

  5  amount.

  6         d.  A business that is selected to receive grant

  7  funding must provide a matching contribution to the training

  8  project, including but not limited to, wages paid to trainees

  9  or the purchase of capital equipment used in the training

10  project; must sign an agreement with the grant administrator

11  to complete the training project as proposed in the

12  application; must keep accurate records of the project's

13  implementation process; and must submit monthly or quarterly

14  reimbursement requests with required documentation.

15         e.  All Incumbent Worker Training Program grant

16  projects shall be performance-based with specific measurable

17  performance outcomes, including completion of the training

18  project and job retention. The grant administrator shall

19  withhold the final payment to the grantee until a final grant

20  report is submitted and all performance criteria specified in

21  the grant contract have been achieved.

22         f.  The Workforce Development Board is authorized to

23  establish guidelines necessary to implement the Incumbent

24  Worker Training Program.

25         g.  No more than 10 percent of the Incumbent Worker

26  Training Program's total appropriation may be used for

27  overhead or indirect administrative purposes.

28         h.  The grant administrator shall is required to submit

29  a report to the Workforce Development Board and the

30  Legislature on the financial and general operations of the

31  Incumbent Worker Training Program. Such report will be due

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  1  before October December 1 of any fiscal year for which the

  2  program is funded by the Legislature.

  3         4.  At least 50 percent of Rapid Response funding shall

  4  be dedicated to Intensive Services Accounts and Individual

  5  Training Accounts for dislocated workers and incumbent workers

  6  who are at risk of dislocation. The Workforce Development

  7  Board shall also maintain an Emergency Preparedness Fund from

  8  Rapid Response funds which will immediately issue Intensive

  9  Service Accounts and Individual Training Accounts as well as

10  other federally authorized assistance to eligible victims of

11  natural or other disasters. At the direction of the Governor,

12  for events that qualify under federal law, these Rapid

13  Response funds shall be released to regional workforce

14  development boards for immediate use. Funding shall also be

15  dedicated to maintain a unit at the state level to respond to

16  Rapid Response emergencies around the state, to work with

17  state emergency management officials, and to work with

18  regional workforce development boards. All Rapid Response

19  funds must be expended based on a plan developed by the

20  Workforce Development Board and approved by the Governor.

21         (b)  The administrative entity for Title I, Workforce

22  Investment Act of 1998 funds, and Rapid Response activities,

23  will be determined by the Workforce Development Board, except

24  that the administrative entity for Rapid Response for fiscal

25  year 1999-2000 must be the Department of Labor and Employment

26  Security. The administrative entity will provide services

27  through a contractual agreement with the Workforce Development

28  Board. The terms and conditions of the agreement may include,

29  but are not limited to, the following:

30         1.  All policy direction to regional workforce

31  development boards regarding Title I programs and Rapid

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  1  Response activities shall emanate from the Workforce

  2  Development Board.

  3         2.  Any policies by a state agency acting as an

  4  administrative entity which may materially impact local

  5  workforce boards, local governments, or educational

  6  institutions must be adopted promulgated under chapter 120.

  7         3.  The administrative entity will operate under a

  8  procedures manual, approved by the Workforce Development

  9  Board, addressing: financial services including cash

10  management, accounting, and auditing; procurement; management

11  information system services; and federal and state compliance

12  monitoring, including quality control.

13         4.  State Career Service employees in the Department of

14  Labor and Employment Security may be leased or assigned to the

15  administrative entity to provide administrative and

16  professional functions.

17         (4)  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPTIONS AND REQUIRED

18  MODIFICATIONS.--

19         (a)  The Workforce Development Board may provide

20  indemnification from audit liabilities to regional workforce

21  development boards that act in full compliance with state law

22  and the board's policies.

23         (b)  The Workforce Development Board may negotiate and

24  settle all outstanding issues with the United States

25  Department of Labor relating to decisions made by the

26  Workforce Development Board and the Legislature with regard to

27  the Job Training Partnership Act, making settlements and

28  closing out all JTPA program year grants before the repeal of

29  the act June 30, 2000.

30         (c)  The Workforce Development Board may make

31  modifications to the state's plan, policies, and procedures to

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  1  comply with federally mandated requirements that in its

  2  judgment must be complied with to maintain funding provided

  3  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220. The board shall notify in

  4  writing the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the

  5  Speaker of the House of Representatives within 30 days after

  6  of any such changes or modifications.

  7         (5)  The Department of Labor and Employment Security

  8  shall phase-down JTPA duties before the federal program is

  9  abolished July 1, 2000. Outstanding accounts and issues shall

10  be promptly closed out after this date.

11         (6)  LONG-TERM CONSOLIDATION OF WORKFORCE

12  DEVELOPMENT.--

13         (a)  The Workforce Development Board may recommend

14  workforce-related divisions, bureaus, units, programs, duties,

15  commissions, boards, and councils that can be eliminated,

16  consolidated, or privatized.

17         (b)  By December 31, 1999, the Office of Program Policy

18  Analysis and Government Accountability shall review the

19  workforce development system, identifying divisions, bureaus,

20  units, programs, duties, commissions, boards, and councils

21  that could be eliminated, consolidated, or privatized. The

22  office shall submit preliminary findings by December 31, 1999,

23  and its final report and recommendations by January 31, 2000,

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

25  Representatives.  As part of the report, the Office of Program

26  Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall

27  specifically identify, by funding stream, indirect,

28  administrative, management information system, and overhead

29  costs of the Department of Labor and Employment Security.

30         (7)  TERMINATION OF SET-ASIDE.--For those state and

31  federal set-asides terminated by the federal Workforce

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  1  Investment Act of 1998, the Department of Education, the

  2  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development within the

  3  Executive Office of the Governor, and the Department of Elder

  4  Affairs shall keep all unexpended JTPA 123 (Education

  5  Coordination), JTPA III (Dislocated Workers), or JTPA IIA

  6  (Services for Older Adults) funds to closeout their education

  7  and coordination activities. The Workforce Development Board

  8  shall develop guidelines under which the departments may

  9  negotiate with the regional workforce development boards to

10  provide continuation of activities and services currently

11  conducted with the JTPA Section 123 or JTPA IIA funds.

12         Section 19.  The Workforce Development Board of

13  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall reserve up to $1 million of

14  fiscal year 2000-2001 funds dedicated for Incumbent Worker

15  Training for the digital media industry.  Training may be

16  provided by public or private training providers for broadband

17  digital media jobs listed on the Occupational Forecast List

18  developed by the Workforce Estimating Conference or the

19  Targeted Occupations List of the Workforce Development Board.

20  Programs that operate outside the normal semester time periods

21  and coordinate the use of industry and public resources should

22  be given priority status for such reserved funds.

23         Section 20.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section

24  443.151, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         443.151  Procedure concerning claims.--

26         (8)  BILINGUAL REQUIREMENTS.--

27         (b)  The division shall ensure that one-stop delivery

28  system centers jobs and benefits offices and appeals bureaus

29  in counties subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)

30  prominently post notices in the appropriate languages that

31

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  1  translators are available in those centers offices and

  2  bureaus.

  3         Section 21.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section

  4  443.231, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         443.231  Florida Training Investment Program.--The

  6  Florida Training Investment Program is designed to extend

  7  additional benefit eligibility to dislocated workers

  8  throughout Florida who have lost their jobs, have limited

  9  marketable skills, and enroll in vocational training intended

10  to lead to employment in a recognized occupation for which

11  there is labor market demand. Pursuant thereto:

12         (6)  PROCEDURE.--

13         (d)  A determination or redetermination will become

14  final unless the claimant files, by mail or in person at the

15  local one-stop delivery system center jobs and benefits

16  office, an appeal of a determination or redetermination within

17  20 calendar days after the mailing of the Notice of

18  Determination or Redetermination to the claimant's last known

19  address, or if such notice is not mailed, within 20 calendar

20  days after the date of delivery of such notice. Appeals by

21  mail shall be considered filed when postmarked by the United

22  States Postal Service.

23         Section 22.  Section 446.40, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         446.40  Rural Workforce Manpower Services Act; short

26  title.--Sections 446.40-446.44 may shall be cited as the

27  "Rural Workforce Manpower Services Act."

28         Section 23.  Section 446.41, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         446.41  Legislative intent with respect to rural

31  workforce manpower training and development; establishment of

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  1  Rural Workforce Manpower Services Program.--In order that the

  2  state may achieve its full economic and social potential,

  3  consideration must be given to rural workforce manpower

  4  training and development to enable its rural citizens as well

  5  as urban citizens to develop their maximum capacities and

  6  participate productively in our society.  It is, therefore,

  7  the policy of the state to make available those services

  8  needed to assist individuals and communities in rural areas to

  9  improve their quality of life. It is with a great sense of

10  urgency that a Rural Workforce Manpower Services Program is

11  established within the Division of Jobs and Benefits of the

12  Department of Labor and Employment Security to provide equal

13  access to all workforce manpower training programs available

14  to rural as well as urban areas.

15         Section 24.  Section 446.42, Florida Statutes, is

16  amended to read:

17         446.42  General purpose of Rural Workforce Manpower

18  Services Program.--A trained labor force is an essential

19  ingredient for industrial as well as agricultural growth.

20  Therefore, it shall be the general responsibility of the Rural

21  Workforce Manpower Services Program to provide rural business

22  and potential rural businesses with the employment and

23  workforce manpower training services and resources necessary

24  to train and retain Florida's rural workforce.

25         Section 25.  Section 446.43, Florida Statutes, is

26  amended to read:

27         446.43  Scope and coverage of Rural Workforce Manpower

28  Services Program.--The scope of the area to be covered by the

29  Rural Workforce Manpower Services Program will include all

30  counties of the state not classified as standard metropolitan

31  statistical areas (SMSA) by the United States Department of

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  1  Labor Manpower Administration. Florida's designated SMSA labor

  2  areas include: Broward, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough,

  3  Pinellas, Leon, Orange, and Palm Beach Counties.

  4         Section 26.  Section 446.44, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         446.44  Duties of Rural Workforce Manpower Services

  7  Program.--It shall be the direct responsibility of the Rural

  8  Workforce Manpower Services Program to promote and deliver all

  9  employment and workforce manpower services and resources to

10  the rural undeveloped and underdeveloped counties of the state

11  in an effort to:

12         (1)  Slow down out-migration of untrained rural

13  residents to the state's overcrowded large metropolitan

14  centers.

15         (2)  Assist Enterprise Florida, Inc., the department's

16  Economic Development Division in attracting light,

17  pollution-free industry to the rural counties.

18         (3)  Improve the economic status of the impoverished

19  rural residents.

20         (4)  Provide present and new industry with the

21  workforce manpower training resources necessary for them to

22  train the untrained rural workforce toward gainful employment.

23         (5)  Develop rural workforce manpower programs that

24  which will be evaluated, planned, and implemented through

25  communications and planning with appropriate:

26         (a)  Departments of state and federal governments.

27         (b)  Units of Enterprise Florida, Inc. Divisions,

28  bureaus, or sections of the Department of Commerce.

29         (c)  Agencies and organizations of the public and

30  private sectors at the state, regional, and local levels.

31

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  1         Section 27.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and

  2  subsection (11) of section 239.249, Florida Statutes, are

  3  amended to read:

  4         239.249  Market-driven, performance-based incentive

  5  funding for vocational and technical education programs.--

  6         (3)  In any year in which the Legislature designates

  7  funds for performance-based incentive funding for vocational

  8  and technical education programs provided by school districts

  9  or community colleges, the Division of Workforce Development

10  shall provide the Jobs and Education Partnership with

11  recommended formulae, criteria, timeframes, and mechanisms for

12  distributing funds. The partnership shall adopt a formula and

13  advise the Division of Community Colleges and the Division of

14  Workforce Development of the expected incentive award earnings

15  of school districts or colleges. The partnership shall base

16  these calculations on formulae that would provide incentive

17  awards or grants for:

18         (a)  Programs that prepare people to enter high-wage

19  occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating

20  Occupational Forecasting Conference created by s. 216.136 and

21  other programs as approved by the Jobs and Education

22  Partnership. Local school district superintendents, community

23  college presidents, and private industry councils shall

24  receive the Workforce Estimating Occupational Forecasting

25  Conference results for their respective geographic areas to

26  assess local applicability. At a minimum, performance

27  incentives shall be calculated for people who complete

28  programs that lead to specified high-wage employment and their

29  placement in that employment. Leavers with marketable skills

30  may also be calculated for the purposes of this paragraph.

31  Baseline information for these calculations shall be based

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  1  upon institutional information compiled by the Florida

  2  Education and Training Placement Information Program for the

  3  1992-1993 school year. The baseline information calculated for

  4  the purposes of this paragraph shall be adjusted for a

  5  3-percent annual increase in productivity beginning in

  6  1995-1996.

  7         (11)  The Jobs and Education Partnership may add

  8  occupations to the list of recommendations produced by the

  9  Workforce Estimating Occupational Forecasting Conference if

10  the Quick-Response Advisory Committee recommends them as

11  emerging occupations according to s. 288.047.

12         Section 28.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) and

13  subsection (5) of section 288.9950, Florida Statutes, are

14  amended to read:

15         288.9950  Workforce Florida Act of 1996.--

16         (3)  These principles should guide the state's efforts:

17         (g)  Job training curricula must be developed in

18  concert with the input and needs of existing employers and

19  businesses, and must consider the anticipated demand for

20  targeted job opportunities, as specified by the Workforce

21  Estimating Occupational Forecasting Conference under s.

22  216.136.

23         (5)  The workforce development system shall utilize a

24  charter process approach aimed at encouraging local design and

25  control of service delivery and targeted activities.  The

26  Workforce Development Board shall be responsible for granting

27  charters to regional workforce development boards that have a

28  membership consistent with the requirements of federal and

29  state law and that have developed a plan consistent with the

30  state's workforce development strategy. The plan shall specify

31  methods for allocating the resources and programs in a manner

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  1  that eliminates unwarranted duplication, minimizes

  2  administrative costs, meets the existing job market demands

  3  and the job market demands resulting from successful economic

  4  development activities, ensures access to quality workforce

  5  development services for all Floridians, and maximizes

  6  successful outcomes.  As part of the charter process, the

  7  Workforce Development Board shall establish incentives for

  8  effective coordination of federal and state programs, outline

  9  rewards for successful job placements, and institute

10  collaborative approaches among local service providers.  Local

11  decisionmaking and control shall be important components for

12  inclusion in this charter application.

13         Section 29.  Subsections (1), (3), (4), (5), and (7) of

14  section 288.9953, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         288.9953  Regional Workforce Development Boards.--

16         (1)  One regional workforce development board shall be

17  appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall

18  serve as the local workforce investment board pursuant to Pub.

19  L. No. 105-220. The membership of the board shall be

20  consistent with Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 117(b), and

21  contain three representatives of organized labor. A member of

22  a regional workforce development board may not vote on a

23  matter under consideration by the board regarding the

24  provision of services by such member, or by an entity that

25  such member represents; vote on a matter that would provide

26  direct financial benefit to such member or the immediate

27  family of such member; or engage in any other activity

28  determined by the Governor to constitute a conflict of

29  interest as specified in the state plan.

30         (3)  The Workforce Development Board shall assign staff

31  to meet with each regional workforce development board

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  1  annually to review the board's performance and to certify that

  2  the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal

  3  law.

  4         (4)  In addition to the duties and functions specified

  5  by the Workforce Development Board and by the interlocal

  6  agreement approved by the local county or city governing

  7  bodies, the regional workforce development board shall have

  8  the following responsibilities:

  9         (a)  Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan

10  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 118.

11         (b)  Conclude agreements necessary to designate the

12  fiscal agent and administrative entity.

13         (c)  Complete assurances required for the Workforce

14  Development Board charter process and provide ongoing

15  oversight related to administrative costs, duplicated

16  services, career counseling, economic development, equal

17  access, compliance and accountability, and performance

18  outcomes.

19         (d)  Oversee the one-stop delivery system Career

20  Centers in its local area.

21         (5)  The Workforce Development Board shall implement a

22  training program for the regional workforce development boards

23  to familiarize board members with the state's workforce

24  development goals and strategies. The regional workforce

25  development board shall designate all local service providers

26  and shall not transfer this authority to a third party.  In

27  order to exercise independent oversight, the regional

28  workforce development board shall not be a direct provider of

29  intake, assessment, eligibility determinations, or other

30  direct provider services.

31

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  1         (7)  Each regional workforce development board shall

  2  establish a high skills/high wages committee consisting of

  3  five private-sector business representatives, including the

  4  regional workforce development board chair; the presidents of

  5  all community colleges within the board's region; those

  6  district school superintendents with authority for conducting

  7  postsecondary educational programs within the region; and a

  8  representative from a nonpublic postsecondary educational

  9  institution that is an authorized individual training account

10  provider within the region. The business representatives other

11  than the board chair need not be members of the regional

12  workforce development board.

13         (a)  During fiscal year 1999-2000, each high

14  skills/high wages committee shall submit, quarterly,

15  recommendations to the Workforce Development Board related to:

16         1.  Policies to enhance the responsiveness of high

17  skills/high wages programs in its region to business and

18  economic development opportunities.

19         2.  Integrated use of state education and federal

20  workforce development funds to enhance the training and

21  placement of designated population individuals with local

22  businesses and industries.

23         (b)  After fiscal year 1999-2000, the Workforce

24  Development Board has the discretion to decrease the frequency

25  of reporting by the high skills/high wages committees, but the

26  committees shall meet and submit any recommendations at least

27  annually.

28         (c)  Annually, the Workforce Development Board shall

29  compile all the recommendations of the high skills/high wages

30  committees, research their feasibility, and make

31

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  1  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

  2  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

  3         Section 30.  Section 288.9954, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         288.9954  Consultation, consolidation, and

  6  coordination.--The Workforce Development Board and the WAGES

  7  Program State Board of Directors shall consult with each other

  8  in developing each of their statewide implementation plans and

  9  strategies. The regional workforce development boards and

10  local WAGES coalitions may elect to consolidate into one board

11  provided that the consolidated board membership complies with

12  the requirements of Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 117(b),

13  and with any other law delineating the membership requirements

14  for either of the separate boards. The regional workforce

15  development boards and local WAGES coalitions shall

16  collaboratively coordinate, to the maximum extent possible,

17  the local services and activities provided by and through each

18  of these boards and coalitions and their designated local

19  service providers.

20         Section 31.  Subsections (2), (3), and (6) of section

21  288.9957, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

22         288.9957  Florida Youth Workforce Council.--

23         (2)  The Florida Youth Workforce Council shall oversee

24  the development of regional youth workforce councils, as a

25  subgroup of each regional workforce development board, which

26  will be responsible for developing required local plans

27  relating to youth, recommending providers of youth activities

28  to be awarded grants by the regional workforce development

29  board, conducting oversight of these providers, and

30  coordinating youth activities in the region.

31

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  1         (3)  Resources awarded to regions for youth activities

  2  shall fund community activities including the Minority Teacher

  3  Education Scholars program, the Certified Teacher-Aide

  4  program, and the "About Face" program of the Department of

  5  Military Affairs, as well as other programs designed and

  6  tailored by the regional youth workforce council and regional

  7  workforce development board.

  8         (6)  Ten percent of youth funds allocated under Pub. L.

  9  No. 105-220 to the regional workforce development boards shall

10  be used to leverage public schools' dropout-prevention funds

11  through performance payments for outcomes specified by the

12  Workforce Development Board.

13         Section 32.  Subsection (1) of section 288.9958,

14  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

15         288.9958  Employment, Occupation, and Performance

16  Information Coordinating Committee.--

17         (1)  By July 15, 1999, the chairman of the Workforce

18  Development Board shall appoint an Employment, Occupation, and

19  Performance Information Coordinating Committee, which shall

20  assemble all employment, occupational, and performance

21  information from workforce development partners into a single

22  integrated informational system. The committee shall include

23  representatives from the Bureau of Labor Market and

24  Performance Information, Florida Education and Training

25  Placement Information Program, and the Workforce Estimating

26  State Occupational Forecasting Conference, as well as other

27  public or private members with information expertise.

28         Section 33.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

29  288.9959, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         288.9959  Operational Design and Technology Procurement

31  Committee.--

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  1         (1)  The chairman of the Workforce Development Board

  2  shall appoint an Operational Design and Technology Procurement

  3  Committee, which shall assemble representatives from the

  4  regional workforce development boards, board staff, and the

  5  staff of the WAGES State Board of Directors to design and

  6  develop a model operational design and technology procurement

  7  strategy for the one-stop delivery system Career Centers to

  8  ensure that services from region to region are consistent for

  9  customers, that customer service technology is compatible, and

10  that procurement expenditures, where possible, are aggregated

11  to obtain economies and efficiencies.

12         (2)  The committee shall initially focus on designing a

13  uniform intake procedure for the all one-stop delivery system

14  Career Centers; on the design and delivery of customer reports

15  on eligible training providers; on the design of Intensive

16  Services Accounts, Individual Training Accounts, and

17  Individual Development Accounts; on enhancing availability of

18  electronic one-stop delivery system Career Center core

19  services; and on the development of one-stop delivery system

20  Career Center model operating procedures.

21         Section 34.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section

22  411.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

23         411.01  Florida Partnership for School Readiness;

24  school readiness coalitions.--

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

26         (a)  School readiness coalitions.--

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

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

29  join with another county to form a multicounty coalition,

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

31  coalition, or demonstrate to the partnership its ability to

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  1  effectively and efficiently implement its plan as a

  2  single-county coalition and meet all required performance

  3  standards and outcome measures.

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

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

  6         a.  A Department of Children and Family Services

  7  district administrator.

  8         b.  A district superintendent of schools.

  9         c.  A regional workforce development board chair or

10  director, where applicable.

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

12  designee.

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

14  board chair or executive director, if applicable.

15         f.  A child care licensing agency head.

16         g.  One member appointed by a Department of Children

17  and Family Services district administrator.

18         h.  One member appointed by a board of county

19  commissioners.

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

21         j.  A central child care agency administrator.

22         k.  A Head Start director.

23         l.  A representative of private child care providers.

24         m.  A representative of faith-based child care

25  providers.

26

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

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

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

30  meet this requirement a coalition must appoint additional

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

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  1  a chamber of commerce or economic development council within

  2  the geographic area of the coalition.

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

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

  5  coalition meetings, but that representative will have no

  6  voting privileges.

  7         4.  The school readiness coalition shall replace the

  8  district interagency coordinating council required under s.

  9  230.2305.

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

11  provisions in part III of chapter 112.

12         6.  Multicounty coalitions shall include representation

13  from each county.

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

15  must be staggered.

16         Section 35.  Subsection (6) of section 413.82, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         413.82  Definitions.--As used in ss. 413.81-413.93, the

19  term:

20         (6)  "Region" means a service area for a regional

21  workforce development board established by the Workforce

22  Development Board.

23         Section 36.  The introductory paragraph, paragraph (a)

24  of subsection (1), subsection (2), paragraph (d) of subsection

25  (4), and subsection (5) of section 414.028, Florida Statutes,

26  are amended to read:

27         414.028  Local WAGES coalitions.--The WAGES Program

28  State Board of Directors shall create and charter local WAGES

29  coalitions to plan and coordinate the delivery of services

30  under the WAGES Program at the local level. The boundaries of

31  the service area for a local WAGES coalition shall conform to

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  1  the boundaries of the service area for the regional workforce

  2  development board established under the Enterprise Florida

  3  workforce development board. The local delivery of services

  4  under the WAGES Program shall be coordinated, to the maximum

  5  extent possible, with the local services and activities of the

  6  local service providers designated by the regional workforce

  7  development boards.

  8         (1)(a)  Each local WAGES coalition must have a minimum

  9  of 11 members, of which at least one-half must be from the

10  business community. The composition of the coalition

11  membership must generally reflect the racial, gender, and

12  ethnic diversity of the community as a whole. All members

13  shall be appointed to 3-year terms. The membership of each

14  coalition must include:

15         1.  Representatives of the principal entities that

16  provide funding for the employment, education, training, and

17  social service programs that are operated in the service area,

18  including, but not limited to, representatives of local

19  government, the regional workforce development board, and the

20  United Way.

21         2.  A representative of the health and human services

22  board.

23         3.  A representative of a community development board.

24         4.  Three representatives of the business community who

25  represent a diversity of sizes of businesses.

26         5.  Representatives of other local planning,

27  coordinating, or service-delivery entities.

28         6.  A representative of a grassroots community or

29  economic development organization that serves the poor of the

30  community.

31

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  1         (2)  A local WAGES coalition and a regional workforce

  2  development board may be combined into one board if the

  3  membership complies with subsection (1), and if the membership

  4  of the combined board meets the requirements of Pub. L. No.

  5  105-220, s. 117(b)(2), and with any law delineating the

  6  membership requirements for the regional workforce development

  7  boards.

  8         (4)  Each local WAGES coalition shall perform the

  9  planning, coordination, and oversight functions specified in

10  the statewide implementation plan, including, but not limited

11  to:

12         (d)  In cooperation with the regional workforce

13  development board, coordinating the implementation of the

14  one-stop delivery system career centers.

15         (5)  By October 1, 1998, local WAGES coalitions shall

16  deliver through the one-stop delivery system career centers,

17  the full continuum of services provided under the WAGES

18  Program, including services that are provided at the point of

19  application. Local WAGES coalitions may not determine an

20  individual's eligibility for temporary cash assistance, and

21  all education and training shall be provided through

22  agreements with regional workforce development boards.

23         Section 37.  Section 414.055, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         414.055  One-stop delivery system career centers.--

26         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that one-stop

27  delivery system career centers developed by community

28  coalitions or public/private partnerships that involve the

29  business community, educational institutions, governmental

30  entities, and community-based organizations should be the

31  principal service-delivery mechanism for services associated

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  1  with the WAGES Program, employment services, and workforce

  2  development.

  3         (2)  Local WAGES coalitions and regional workforce

  4  boards must coordinate the planning and implementation of

  5  one-stop delivery system career centers and services so as to

  6  avoid unnecessary duplication of services and facilities.

  7         (3)  If a one-stop delivery system career center as

  8  described in subsection (1) has been established, neither the

  9  Department of Children and Family Services nor the Department

10  of Labor and Employment Security may establish a one-stop

11  delivery system career center to serve the same population or

12  geographic area. The Department of Children and Family

13  Services and the Department of Labor and Employment Security

14  must assign to the established one-stop delivery system career

15  center the number and classification of staff which is

16  appropriate and necessary for effective operation of the

17  one-stop delivery system career center.

18         (4)  Staff of the Division of Jobs and Benefits of the

19  Department of Labor and Employment Security, staff of the

20  Department of Children and Family Services, and staff of other

21  public and private agencies and institutions shall deliver

22  services to applicants for and participants in the WAGES

23  Program at one-stop delivery system career centers.

24         (5)  At the one-stop delivery system career centers,

25  staff of the Department of Children and Family Services shall:

26         (a)  Accept applications and determine or redetermine

27  the eligibility of a family to participate in the WAGES

28  Program.

29         (b)  Accept applications and determine or redetermine

30  the eligibility of an individual or family to receive

31

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  1  subsidized child care or emergency assistance, including

  2  housing assistance.

  3         (c)  Assess need and arrange for providing diversion

  4  assistance or emergency assistance.

  5         (6)  At the one-stop delivery system career centers,

  6  local WAGES coalitions shall assign a participant in the WAGES

  7  Program to approved work activities.

  8         Section 38.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) and

  9  paragraph (a) of subsection (10) of section 414.065, Florida

10  Statutes, are amended to read:

11         414.065  Work requirements.--

12         (1)  WORK ACTIVITIES.--The following activities may be

13  used individually or in combination to satisfy the work

14  requirements for a participant in the WAGES Program:

15         (g)  Vocational education or training.--Vocational

16  education or training is education or training designed to

17  provide participants with the skills and certification

18  necessary for employment in an occupational area. Vocational

19  education or training may be used as a primary program

20  activity for participants when it has been determined that the

21  individual has demonstrated compliance with other phases of

22  program participation and successful completion of the

23  vocational education or training is likely to result in

24  employment entry at a higher wage than the participant would

25  have been likely to attain without completion of the

26  vocational education or training. Vocational education or

27  training may be combined with other program activities and

28  also may be used to upgrade skills or prepare for a higher

29  paying occupational area for a participant who is employed.

30         1.  Unless otherwise provided in this section,

31  vocational education shall not be used as the primary program

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  1  activity for a period which exceeds 12 months. The 12-month

  2  restriction applies to instruction in a career education

  3  program and does not include remediation of basic skills,

  4  including English language proficiency, if remediation is

  5  necessary to enable a WAGES participant to benefit from a

  6  career education program. Any necessary remediation must be

  7  completed before a participant is referred to vocational

  8  education as the primary work activity. In addition, use of

  9  vocational education or training shall be restricted to the

10  limitation established in federal law. Vocational education

11  included in a program leading to a high school diploma shall

12  not be considered vocational education for purposes of this

13  section.

14         2.  When possible, a provider of vocational education

15  or training shall use funds provided by funding sources other

16  than the department or the local WAGES coalition. Either

17  department may provide additional funds to a vocational

18  education or training provider only if payment is made

19  pursuant to a performance-based contract. Under a

20  performance-based contract, the provider may be partially paid

21  when a participant completes education or training, but the

22  majority of payment shall be made following the participant's

23  employment at a specific wage or job retention for a specific

24  duration. Performance-based payments made under this

25  subparagraph are limited to education or training for targeted

26  occupations identified by the Workforce Estimating

27  Occupational Forecasting Conference under s. 216.136, or other

28  programs identified by the Workforce Development Board as

29  beneficial to meet the needs of designated groups, such as

30  WAGES participants, who are hard to place. If the contract

31  pays the full cost of training, the community college or

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  1  school district may not report the participants for other

  2  state funding, except that the college or school district may

  3  report WAGES clients for performance incentives or bonuses

  4  authorized for student enrollment, completion, and placement.

  5         (10)  USE OF CONTRACTS.--The department and local WAGES

  6  coalitions shall provide work activities, training, and other

  7  services, as appropriate, through contracts. In contracting

  8  for work activities, training, or services, the following

  9  applies:

10         (a)  All education and training provided under the

11  WAGES Program shall be provided through agreements with

12  regional workforce development boards.

13         Section 39.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

14  414.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

15         414.20  Other support services.--Support services shall

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

17  complying with work activity requirements outlined in s.

18  414.065. If resources do not permit the provision of needed

19  support services, the department and the local WAGES coalition

20  may prioritize or otherwise limit provision of support

21  services. This section does not constitute an entitlement to

22  support services. Lack of provision of support services may be

23  considered as a factor in determining whether good cause

24  exists for failing to comply with work activity requirements

25  but does not automatically constitute good cause for failing

26  to comply with work activity requirements, and does not affect

27  any applicable time limit on the receipt of temporary cash

28  assistance or the provision of services under this chapter.

29  Support services shall include, but need not be limited to:

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

31  provided to any participant when the assistance is needed to

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  1  comply with work activity requirements or employment

  2  requirements, including transportation to and from a child

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

  4  advance or through reimbursement paid against receipts or

  5  invoices. Transportation services may include, but are not

  6  limited to, cooperative arrangements with the following:

  7  public transit providers; community transportation

  8  coordinators designated under chapter 427; school districts;

  9  churches and community centers; donated motor vehicle

10  programs, van pools, and ridesharing programs; small

11  enterprise developments and entrepreneurial programs that

12  encourage WAGES participants to become transportation

13  providers; public and private transportation partnerships; and

14  other innovative strategies to expand transportation options

15  available to program participants.

16         (b)  Transportation disadvantaged funds as defined in

17  chapter 427 do not include WAGES support services funds or

18  funds appropriated to assist persons eligible under the Job

19  Training Partnership Act.  It is the intent of the Legislature

20  that local WAGES coalitions and regional workforce development

21  boards consult with local community transportation

22  coordinators designated under chapter 427 regarding the

23  availability and cost of transportation services through the

24  coordinated transportation system prior to contracting for

25  comparable transportation services outside the coordinated

26  system.

27         Section 40.  The introductory paragraph and subsections

28  (2), (3), and (4) of section 414.223, Florida Statutes, are

29  amended to read:

30         414.223  Retention Incentive Training Accounts.--To

31  promote job retention and to enable upward job advancement

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  1  into higher skilled, higher paying employment, the WAGES

  2  Program State Board of Directors, the Workforce Development

  3  Board, regional workforce development boards, and local WAGES

  4  coalitions may jointly assemble, from postsecondary education

  5  institutions, a list of programs and courses for WAGES

  6  participants who have become employed which promote job

  7  retention and advancement.

  8         (2)  RITAs may pay for tuition, fees, educational

  9  materials, coaching and mentoring, performance incentives,

10  transportation to and from courses, child care costs during

11  education courses, and other such costs as the regional

12  workforce development boards determine are necessary to effect

13  successful job retention and advancement.

14         (3)  Regional workforce development boards shall retain

15  only those courses that continue to meet their performance

16  standards as established in their local plan.

17         (4)  Regional workforce development boards shall report

18  annually to the Legislature on the measurable retention and

19  advancement success of each program provider and the

20  effectiveness of RITAs, making recommendations for any needed

21  changes or modifications.

22         Section 41.  The Workforce Development Board of

23  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall by August 31, 2000, develop a

24  plan for the use of Targeted Assistance to Needy Families

25  funds, Workforce Investment Act funds, Quick Response funds,

26  Incumbent Worker Training funds, and other training-related

27  resources to enhance the workforce of digital media-related

28  industries.  The plan must provide the industries with a

29  program to train and assess the status of industry workforce

30  readiness for the digital era and shall be done in conjunction

31  with the broadcast and cable industries.

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  1         Section 42.  The Workforce Development Board shall

  2  submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2001,

  3  regarding joint programs, nonjoint programs, and other

  4  programs that provide formalized on-the-job training for

  5  skilled trades. The report must include recommendations for

  6  improving the efficiency of the programs, decreasing the cost

  7  of the programs, improving or retaining current practices

  8  regarding admission requirements, reducing the duration of the

  9  programs, and increasing the number of persons who

10  successfully complete the programs.

11         Section 43.  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall convene an

12  organizational meeting for industries involved in broadband

13  digital media to organize and facilitate future activities of

14  associated industry groups or facilitate the ongoing

15  activities of a similar group.  Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

16  shall make all necessary preparations to identify and

17  designate a digital media sector as part of its sector

18  strategy and identify the sector as a priority recruitment and

19  retention set of industries.

20         Section 44.  (1)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall award

21  a contract for the establishment of a digital media incubator

22  to encourage companies developing content and technology for

23  digital broadband media and digital broadcasting to locate and

24  grow their businesses in this state.  Qualifications of an

25  applicant for a contract as a digital media incubator shall at

26  a minimum include the following:

27         (a)  Demonstrated expertise in developing content and

28  technology for digital broadband media and digital

29  broadcasting.

30         (b)  Demonstrated ability in venture capital

31  fundraising.

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  1         (c)  Demonstrated expertise in the development of

  2  digital media businesses.

  3         (d)  Demonstrated ability in coordinating public and

  4  private educational institutions and business entities in

  5  digital technology joint business ventures.  The awarding of

  6  the contract shall follow the procedures outlined in chapter

  7  287, Florida Statutes.

  8         (2)  There is appropriated the sum of $2 million from

  9  the General Revenue Fund to Enterprise Florida, Inc., for the

10  purpose of providing operational and investment seed funding

11  to encourage the financial and strategic participation of

12  venture capital firms, corporate and institutional sponsors,

13  and targeted start-up companies in the establishment of the

14  digital incubator.  Initial state investment in the incubator

15  must be matched with contributions from the industry with

16  participating industry partners including, but not limited to,

17  venture capitalists, digital media manufacturers, and digital

18  media content providers.

19         (3)  Maximized leveraging of funds must be a priority

20  consideration in the location of the digital media incubator.

21  Consideration shall be given to colocation of the incubator

22  with an existing state-of-the-art media lab or an upgraded or

23  newly created media lab funded through the Digital Media

24  Education Infrastructure Fund in the Office of Tourism, Trade,

25  and Economic Development.

26         Section 45.  ITFlorida, in consultation with Enterprise

27  Florida, Inc., shall develop a marketing plan to promote the

28  state as digital-media friendly, as a digital-media ready

29  environment, and as a national leader in the development and

30  distribution of broadband digital media content, technology,

31  and education.  The marketing plan shall identify critical

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  1  roles for various public and private partners and establish a

  2  marketing timeline and goals.  The plan shall be completed by

  3  December 31, 2000.

  4         Section 46.  If any provision of this act or its

  5  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the

  6  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of

  7  the act which can be given effect without the invalid

  8  provision or application, and to this end the provisions of

  9  this act are severable.

10         Section 47.  (1)  For the small business workforce

11  service initiative established pursuant to s. 288.99525,

12  Florida Statutes, the sum of $1 million in nonrecurring

13  general revenue is appropriated to the Office of Tourism,

14  Trade, and Economic Development in the Executive Office of the

15  Governor for the Workforce Development Board.

16         (2)  For the workforce information systems required by

17  s. 288.99524, Florida Statutes, the sum of $20 million is

18  appropriated from nonrecurring Temporary Assistance for Needy

19  Families funds to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

20  Development in the Executive Office of the Governor for the

21  Workforce Development Board.

22         Section 48.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

23  act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

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  1            *****************************************

  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      Revises various provisions of law relating to workforce
  4    innovation. Provides additional duties of the Office of
      Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development within the
  5    Executive Office of the Governor with respect to
      workforce development. Redesignates the Occupational
  6    Forecasting Conference as the "Workforce Estimating
      Conference" and specifies additional duties of the
  7    conference with respect to developing forecasts for
      employment demands and occupational trends. Provides for
  8    funding customized training for businesses. Requires the
      Department of Education to update vocational, adult, and
  9    community education programs. Requires the State Board of
      Community Colleges to identify and recommend training
10    programs for broadband digital media specialists.
      Encourages community colleges to establish incubator
11    facilities for digital media content and technology
      development. Requires the Board of Regents to create a
12    Digital Media Education Coordination Group. Redesignates
      one-stop career centers as the "one-stop delivery system"
13    and provides for the system to be the state's primary
      strategy for providing workforce-development services.
14    Requires the Workforce Development Board to establish the
      First Jobs/First Wages Council, the Better Jobs/Better
15    Wages Council, and the High Skills/High Wages Council and
      provides for the councils to advise the board of
16    directors of the Workforce Development Board and make
      recommendations for implementing workforce strategies.
17    Requires the Workforce Development Board to develop a
      strategic plan for workforce development and requires a
18    marketing plan as part of the strategic plan. Provides
      principles for developing and managing information
19    technology for the workforce system and requires the
      sharing of information between agencies within the
20    workforce system. Requires the Workforce Development
      Board to implement a workforce information system.
21    Provides for a small business workforce service
      initiative and requires the Workforce Development Board
22    to establish a program for support services to small
      businesses. Redesignates regional workforce development
23    boards as "regional workforce boards." Redesignates the
      Rural Manpower Services Program as the "Rural Workforce
24    Services Program." Requires the Workforce Development
      Board to reserve funds for digital media industry
25    training. Requires the Workforce Development Board to
      develop a plan to enhance workforce of digital media
26    related industries. Requires Enterprise Florida, Inc., to
      convene a broadband digital media industries group,
27    requires identification, designation, and priority of
      digital media sector in sector strategy, and requires
28    Enterprise Florida, Inc., to contract for establishment
      of a digital media incubator. Requires ITFlorida to
29    prepare a marketing plan promoting the state to digital
      media industries. See bill for details.
30

31

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