House Bill 0379
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Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 379
By Representative Barreiro
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to handicapped and elderly
3 security assistance; providing a short title;
4 providing legislative intent; providing
5 definitions; providing for administration of
6 the handicapped and elderly security assistance
7 program by the Department of Community Affairs;
8 providing priorities for award of security
9 assistance grants; providing requirements for
10 grant applications; providing for review of
11 applications; providing for monitoring and
12 evaluation of security assistance grant
13 programs; providing for utilization of
14 donations and grants to implement the act;
15 providing for funding for operation of the
16 program; providing an effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Handicapped and Elderly Security Assistance
21 Act; legislative intent.--
22 (1) This act may be cited as the "Handicapped and
23 Elderly Security Assistance Act of 2000."
24 (2) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide the
25 means by which public and private nonprofit housing
26 authorities that own or operate housing projects for the
27 handicapped or elderly may apply for and receive financial
28 assistance, on a priority basis, which assistance will enable
29 the housing authorities to carry out crime prevention and
30 security programs designed to reduce the criminal
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1 victimization of, and the resultant fear of crime in,
2 residents of such housing projects.
3 Section 2. Definitions.--As used in this act, unless
4 the context otherwise requires, the term:
5 (1) "Anticrime services" or "services" includes, but
6 is not limited to, such services as security hardware
7 services, security lighting services, security guard services,
8 neighborhood watch programs, property identification services,
9 crime prevention information dissemination services, victim or
10 witness assistance services, and victim counseling services
11 aimed at alleviating the emotional and psychological trauma
12 which may accompany criminal victimization.
13 (2) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Community Assistance
14 of the Division of Housing and Community Development of the
15 Department of Community Affairs.
16 (3) "Elderly" describes a person who is 62 years of
17 age or older.
18 (4) "Handicapped" describes a person who:
19 (a) Has a physical or mental impairment which is
20 expected to be of long, continued, and indefinite duration and
21 which substantially impedes such person's ability to live
22 independently;
23 (b) Is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
24 activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
25 mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or
26 which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
27 period of not less than 12 months; or
28 (c) Is 55 years of age or older, is legally blind, and
29 is unable by reason of such blindness to engage in a gainful
30 activity requiring skills or abilities comparable to those of
31 any gainful activity in which such person has previously
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1 engaged with some regularity and over a substantial period of
2 time.
3 (5) "Housing authority" means any public or private
4 nonprofit housing authority, by whatever name known, that owns
5 or operates an eligible housing project.
6 (6) "Housing project" means:
7 (a) Any housing project owned or operated by a public
8 housing authority, 85 percent or more of the tenancy of which
9 housing project is made up of elderly or handicapped persons;
10 or
11 (b) Any private nonprofit housing project financed by
12 a mortgage loan that is made or insured by the United States
13 Department of Housing and Urban Development under s. 202 of
14 the Housing Act of 1959, as amended, or s. 236 of the National
15 Housing Act of 1934, as those sections apply to rental housing
16 programs for lower-income elderly and handicapped persons.
17 (7) "Target area" means the housing project for which
18 application is being made; the grounds associated with the
19 housing project; and the immediately surrounding area
20 contiguous to the housing project or within easy walking
21 distance of the housing project, not to exceed 1/4 mile in any
22 direction from the outer boundary of the housing project.
23 Section 3. Handicapped and elderly security assistance
24 program; administration; rules.--
25 (1) The Department of Community Affairs, through the
26 Bureau of Community Assistance, shall administer the
27 handicapped and elderly security assistance program
28 established under section 9, provide for review of all
29 applications for security assistance grants received under
30 this act, make final determinations with respect to the
31 issuance or denial of such grants, and provide for regular
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1 monitoring and evaluation of those projects for which grants
2 are awarded to ensure the efficacious use of moneys received
3 from the fund.
4 (2) To the extent that the department receives
5 completed applications from a county which collects surcharges
6 and costs pursuant to ss. 938.09 and 938.11, Florida Statutes,
7 and as consistent with the priorities for award of security
8 assistance grants contained in section 4, the department shall
9 approve grants to a county in an amount equal to that county's
10 contribution to the handicapped and elderly security
11 assistance program, less a pro rata portion of the
12 department's administrative costs.
13 (3) The Department of Community Affairs is authorized
14 to adopt all rules necessary to provide for the orderly
15 administration and implementation of this act, including rules
16 governing the approval or disapproval of applications for
17 security assistance grants.
18 Section 4. Handicapped and elderly security assistance
19 program objectives; priorities for award of security
20 assistance grants.--
21 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to enable
22 housing authorities that operate housing projects in this
23 state which serve the handicapped and the elderly to become
24 involved in activities that are designed to prevent criminal
25 activity against residents in such housing projects and reduce
26 such residents' fear of being criminally victimized in and
27 around their homes.
28 (2) In awarding security assistance grants to eligible
29 applicants under this act, the bureau shall establish
30 priorities based upon the following considerations:
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1 (a) The demonstrated need for such security
2 assistance, as evidenced by:
3 1. The crime rate in the target area, as compared to
4 the crime rate in contiguous and nearby areas, with particular
5 emphasis upon the percentage of crimes committed within the
6 preceding 5 years against the handicapped and the elderly,
7 when such a demographic breakdown is possible.
8 2. The unavailability of sufficient alternative
9 funding necessary to initiate or complete the activities as
10 the activities are envisioned in the proposed program design.
11 (b) The likelihood that alternative funding resources
12 will be available to partially fund the initial costs of the
13 proposed program or will become available to continue to fund
14 the program after it has become established.
15 (c) The submission by the applicant of a proposal for
16 the establishment of services within the framework of a
17 program design which:
18 1. Establishes new and innovative anticrime services
19 in the target area which are cost-effective and either have
20 future alternative funding possibilities or require initial
21 funding only, such as security hardware or equipment
22 purchases, or which strengthen or expand existing anticrime
23 services in the target area, when such services have proved
24 cost-effective within the current funding limitations for such
25 services and when it can be shown with reasonable certainty
26 that there is a need for such strengthening or expansion.
27 2. Places emphasis upon direct
28 crime-prevention-related services which do not duplicate
29 existing services available within the social service system.
30 3. Provides for the effective utilization of existing
31 services available within the social service system, when
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1 appropriate and practicable, in correlation with services to
2 be provided by the applicant.
3 4. Encourages the use of volunteers, when appropriate
4 and practicable.
5 5. Demonstrates cost-effectiveness.
6 6. Establishes measurable objectives and provides for
7 the establishment of an effective data collection system and a
8 method for the verification of service delivery.
9 7. Establishes the likelihood of the program having a
10 measurable, significant, and broad impact upon the handicapped
11 and elderly population within the target area, with respect to
12 crime prevention and the provision of security against crime.
13 8. Provides for the monitoring and evaluation of the
14 anticrime services that are to be provided by the applicant,
15 in accordance with requirements of the bureau.
16 Section 5. Applications for security assistance
17 grants; preparation and submission.--
18 (1) The bureau shall prepare, for dissemination to
19 potential applicants for security assistance grants upon
20 request, a booklet containing application forms and complete
21 instructions to applicants, including detailed guidelines for
22 preparation of applications for security assistance grants.
23 Pursuant thereto, the bureau shall develop and establish
24 requirements for the completion of such applications,
25 including requirements for the following components:
26 (a) General administrative information
27 component.--This component shall include general information
28 useful to the bureau in its deliberations, and it may include
29 such information and supplemental material as:
30 1. The name and address of the applicant;
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1 2. The name, address, and telephone number of the
2 contact person handling the application;
3 3. The name, address, and telephone number of the
4 proposed program director and any other authorized person who
5 will have authority for accounting, management of funds,
6 verification of expenditures, or preparation of reports
7 related to the program, if the proposed program director or
8 other authorized person is different from the person listed
9 under subparagraph 2.;
10 4. The title and a brief description, in 25 words or
11 less, of the proposed security program;
12 5. Photographs, a map, and a brief description of the
13 target area;
14 6. The estimated number of persons who will benefit
15 from the program;
16 7. The starting date for the program;
17 8. A narrative summary, in 200 words or less, of the
18 proposed security program; and
19 9. Any other similar information or supplemental
20 material that may be requested by the bureau.
21 (b) Program plan and supporting data component.--This
22 component shall include:
23 1. A narrative statement, in 200 words or less, of the
24 problem that the program is designed to alleviate, with
25 supporting data and documentation thereof;
26 2. A step-by-step plan for program development,
27 including a listing of planned activities and a timetable for
28 the program development;
29 3. Specification of measurable program objectives;
30 4. A plan for the monitoring and evaluation of the
31 program; and
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1 5. A listing of additional actual or potential
2 resources which may be available, or may become available, to
3 fund the program.
4 (c) Budget component.--This component shall include:
5 1. A listing of estimated costs, when applicable, for
6 indirect costs of the program and for personnel, professional
7 services including contract and consultant services, travel,
8 hardware and equipment, construction, and other operating
9 expenses of the program;
10 2. A budget narrative that contains justification for,
11 and an explanation of, the items shown in the listing
12 submitted under subparagraph 1.; that specifies criteria and
13 data used to arrive at estimates; and that provides such
14 further breakdown or detail of any budget figure as may be
15 needed to ensure understanding of the manner in which the
16 budget figure was computed; and
17 3. A fiscal questionnaire prepared by the bureau and
18 designed to provide additional relevant information directly
19 or indirectly related to the budget, which information will
20 assist the bureau in its deliberations, such as information
21 related to the selection and procurement methods to be
22 utilized by the applicant, further explanation as to any
23 additional actual or potential resources which may be
24 utilized, and so forth.
25 (d) Compliance component.--This component shall
26 specify all reporting requirements and all conditions and
27 restrictions applicable to the awarding and administration of
28 security assistance grants, to be acknowledged by the
29 notarized signature of the program director, or of the
30 authorized official who will have ultimate authority for
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1 accounting, management of funds, verification of expenditures,
2 and preparation of financial reports.
3 (2) Any housing authority that wishes to apply for a
4 security assistance grant under this act shall obtain from the
5 bureau an application booklet as described in subsection (1),
6 shall complete all sections of the application as required,
7 and shall provide any supporting information or material
8 required by the bureau pursuant to the application. Each
9 application shall be submitted to the bureau at least 60 days
10 prior to the requested starting date that is set forth in the
11 timetable of planned activities. Each application also shall
12 contain a resolution from the local governmental unit in which
13 the eligible housing project is located, which resolution
14 certifies that the proposed program is consistent with local
15 plans and regulations.
16 Section 6. Review of applications for security
17 assistance grants.--The bureau shall develop a numerical
18 scoring system based upon the priorities established in
19 accordance with section 4 to assess quantitatively each
20 application for a security assistance grant submitted to the
21 bureau. The Secretary of Community Affairs shall appoint a
22 five-member screening committee of qualified individuals who
23 are not associated with the bureau, which committee shall
24 programmatically and fiscally review every application
25 submitted and shall evaluate each such application utilizing
26 the numerical scoring system developed by the bureau. Any
27 application scoring below a preset score, as determined by the
28 bureau, shall be eliminated. Any remaining applications then
29 shall be submitted to a technical review by the bureau. Each
30 stage of the review process and procedures for final decision
31 on, and approval of, applications shall be in accordance with
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1 the criteria, and within the maximum funding levels,
2 established by the Department of Community Affairs.
3 Section 7. Monitoring and evaluation of security
4 assistance grant programs.--The Department of Community
5 Affairs, through the Bureau of Community Assistance, shall
6 monitor each program for which a security assistance grant is
7 awarded under this act, to ensure that resources are being
8 utilized in the manner proposed in the grant application as
9 approved.
10 Section 8. Implementation of this act; utilization of
11 donations and grants.--The Bureau of Community Assistance of
12 the Division of Housing and Community Development of the
13 Department of Community Affairs has the power to seek, and
14 make effective utilization of, such financial assistance as
15 may be available for the implementation of this act. Pursuant
16 to such power, the bureau may seek and accept, for any of its
17 purposes and functions under this act, any and all donations
18 and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, or
19 services, conditional or otherwise, from the Federal
20 Government or any local government, or any agency thereof, or
21 from any person, firm, association, foundation, or
22 corporation; and the bureau may receive, utilize, and dispose
23 of such donations and grants as provided in this act, subject
24 to the terms, conditions, and regulations governing such
25 donations, gifts, and grants.
26 Section 9. Handicapped and elderly security assistance
27 program.--There is created the handicapped and elderly
28 security assistance program, for the purpose of providing
29 assistance grants to eligible applicants as provided in this
30 act. The Department of Community Affairs, through its Bureau
31 of Community Assistance, shall administer the program. All
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1 necessary and proper expenses of the bureau incurred by the
2 operation of this section shall also be paid from funds
3 appropriated for the program.
4 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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7 HOUSE SUMMARY
8
Creates the "Handicapped and Elderly Security Assistance
9 Act of 2000." Provides definitions. Provides for
administration of a program of crime prevention
10 assistance to elderly and handicapped residents of
housing projects. Provides for security assistance grants
11 for anticrime services provided under the program.
Provides for administration of the program, including
12 review of grant applications and monitoring and
evaluation of services, by the Bureau of Community
13 Assistance of the Division of Housing and Community
Development of the Department of Community Affairs.
14 Provides for utilization of donations and grants to
implement the act, and for funding of the expenses of the
15 bureau.
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