House Bill hb1343
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1343
By Representative Stansel
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Small County Technical
3 Assistance Program; amending s. 163.05, F.S.;
4 revising legislative findings; providing
5 criteria for contracts between the Department
6 of Agriculture and Consumer Services and
7 program providers; deleting responsibilities of
8 the Comptroller and the Legislative Committee
9 on Intergovernmental Relations; authorizing the
10 department to award contracts to provide
11 assistance to small counties; requiring the
12 department to provide fiscal oversight;
13 requiring a report to the Governor, the
14 Legislature, and the department; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1)
20 and subsections (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9) of section
21 163.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
22 163.05 Small County Technical Assistance Program.--
23 (1) Among small counties, the Legislature finds that:
24 (a) The percentage of the population of small counties
25 residing in the unincorporated areas is relatively high
26 according to the United States Decennial Census of 2000 and
27 increased substantially between 1980 and 1990.
28 (c) Fiscal shortfalls persist even though 12 13 of the
29 small counties levied the maximum ad valorem millage
30 authorized in their jurisdictions in 2001 1990 and an
31 additional 15 13 small counties levied between 8 and 10 mills.
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1343
712-135-02
1 (4) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2 Services Comptroller shall enter into contracts with program
3 providers who shall:
4 (a) Be a foundation that meets the requirements for
5 nonprofit status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
6 Code with a governing board which includes in its membership
7 county commissioners and professional staff of the county
8 public agency or private, nonprofit corporation, association,
9 or entity.
10 (b) Have substantial, documented experience working
11 directly with and providing educational and technical
12 assistance to county governments.
13 (c)(b) Use existing resources, services, and
14 information that are available from state or local agencies,
15 universities, or the private sector.
16 (d)(c) Seek and accept funding from any public or
17 private source.
18 (e)(d) Annually submit information to assist the
19 Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in
20 preparing a performance review that will include an analysis
21 of the effectiveness of the program.
22 (f)(e) Assist small counties in developing alternative
23 revenue sources.
24 (g)(f) Provide assistance to small counties in the
25 areas such as of financial management, accounting, investing,
26 purchasing, planning and budgeting, debt issuance, public
27 management, management systems, computers and information
28 technology, economic and community development, and public
29 safety management.
30 (h)(g) Provide for an annual independent financial
31 audit of the program.
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1343
712-135-02
1 (i)(h) In each county served, conduct a needs
2 assessment upon which the assistance provided for that county
3 will be designed.
4 (5)(a) The Comptroller shall issue a request for
5 proposals to provide assistance to small counties. At the
6 request of the Comptroller, the Legislative Committee on
7 Intergovernmental Relations shall assist in the preparation of
8 the request for proposals.
9 (b) The Comptroller shall review each contract
10 proposal submitted.
11 (c) The Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental
12 Relations shall review each contract proposal and submit to
13 the Comptroller, in writing, advisory comments and
14 recommendations, citing with specificity the reasons for its
15 recommendations.
16 (d) The Comptroller and the council shall consider the
17 following factors in reviewing contract proposals:
18 1. The demonstrated capacity of the provider to
19 conduct needs assessments and implement the program as
20 proposed.
21 2. The number of small counties to be served under the
22 proposal.
23 3. The cost of the program as specified in a proposed
24 budget.
25 4. The short-term and long-term benefits of the
26 assistance to small counties.
27 5. The form and extent to which existing resources,
28 services, and information that are available from state and
29 local agencies, universities, and the private sector will be
30 used by the provider under the contract.
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1343
712-135-02
1 (5)(6) A decision of the Department of Agriculture and
2 Consumer Services Comptroller to award a contract under this
3 section is final and shall be in writing with a copy provided
4 to the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.
5 (7) The Comptroller may enter into contracts and
6 agreements with other state and local agencies and with any
7 person, association, corporation, or entity other than the
8 program providers, for the purpose of administering this
9 section.
10 (6)(8) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
11 Services Comptroller shall provide fiscal oversight to ensure
12 that funds expended for the program are used in accordance
13 with the contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (4).
14 (7)(9) The Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental
15 Relations shall annually conduct a performance review of the
16 program. The findings of the review shall be presented in a
17 report submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
18 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
19 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Comptroller by
20 January 15 of each year.
21 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.
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23 *****************************************
24 HOUSE SUMMARY
25
Revises provisions relating to the Small County Technical
26 Assistance Program. Revises legislative findings.
Provides criteria for contracts between the Department of
27 Agriculture and Consumer Services and program providers.
Deletes responsibilities of the Comptroller and the
28 Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.
Authorizes the department to award contracts to provide
29 assistance to small counties. Requires the department to
provide fiscal oversight. Requires a report to the
30 Governor, Legislature, and department.
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