Senate Bill sb1844e2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to economic development;
3 creating s. 240.72, F.S.; creating the "Florida
4 Technology Development Act"; providing a
5 definition; providing purposes and objectives
6 of a center of excellence; defining terms;
7 creating the Emerging Technology Commission;
8 providing for membership, powers, and duties of
9 the commission; providing for Florida Research
10 Consortium, Inc., to report to the commission
11 regarding factors contributing to the success
12 of the creation of a center of excellence;
13 requiring the commission to develop and approve
14 criteria for evaluating proposals related to
15 the creation of centers of excellence;
16 requiring the commission to solicit such
17 proposals from state universities; requiring
18 the commission to submit recommended plans to
19 the State Board of Education for establishing
20 centers of excellence in the state; providing
21 for the State Board of Education to develop and
22 approve a final plan for establishing centers
23 of excellence in the state and authorize
24 expenditures for plan implementation; providing
25 commission reporting requirements; providing an
26 expiration date; providing an appropriation for
27 commission staff support and certain
28 administrative expenses; amending s. 159.705,
29 F.S.; specifying that certain entities may
30 operate a project located in a research and
31 development park and financed under the Florida
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 Industrial Development Financing Act; amending
2 s. 445.045, F.S.; reassigning responsibility
3 for development and maintenance of an
4 information technology promotion and workforce
5 recruitment website to Workforce Florida, Inc.;
6 requiring consistency and compatibility with
7 other information systems; authorizing
8 Workforce Florida, Inc., to secure website
9 services from outside entities; requiring
10 coordination of the information technology
11 website with other marketing, promotion, and
12 advocacy efforts; authorizing Workforce
13 Florida, Inc., to act through the Agency for
14 Workforce Innovation in fulfilling its
15 responsibilities related to the website;
16 directing the agency to provide services to
17 Workforce Florida, Inc.; authorizing a
18 demonstration program to be called Learning
19 Gateway; creating a steering committee;
20 providing for membership and appointment of
21 steering committee members; establishing duties
22 of the steering committee; authorizing
23 demonstration projects in specified counties;
24 authorizing designated agencies to provide
25 confidential information to such program;
26 providing for funding; providing a short title;
27 amending s. 125.0104, F.S.; providing that the
28 additional tax authorized for bonds for a
29 professional sports franchise facility, a
30 retained spring training franchise facility, or
31 a convention center, and for operation and
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 maintenance costs of a convention center, and
2 the additional tax authorized for bonds for
3 facilities for a new professional sports
4 franchise or a retained spring training
5 franchise, may also be used to promote and
6 advertise tourism; amending s. 240.2605, F.S.;
7 creating an account within the Trust Fund for
8 Major Gifts for the deposit of funds
9 appropriated as state match for qualified sales
10 tax exemptions that a certified business
11 designates for use by state universities and
12 community colleges to support research and
13 development projects requested by the certified
14 business pursuant to s. 212.08(5)(j), F.S.;
15 authorizing specified criteria to be used in a
16 presently required legislative review of
17 certain technology programs; providing for the
18 Office of Program Policy Analysis and
19 Government Accountability to conduct such
20 review; providing an effective date.
21
22 WHEREAS, the commercialization of technologies
23 developed in academic laboratories and research centers
24 through the application of new innovations is critical for
25 Florida to maintain a competitive economy, and
26 WHEREAS, the development of high-technology industries
27 in Florida, including artificial intelligence/human-centered
28 computing, information technology and communications,
29 biotechnology, bioinformatics, biomedical, electro-optics,
30 life science, nanotechnology, and computer simulation, is
31 critical to the long-term economic vitality of this state, and
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 WHEREAS, high-technology industries will further
2 diversify and strengthen the Florida economy and complement
3 industries already recognized as being critical to Florida's
4 economic health, and
5 WHEREAS, attracting leading scholars and researchers in
6 advanced and emerging technology disciplines to Florida's
7 universities is critical to building Florida's knowledge base,
8 and
9 WHEREAS, promoting collaboration among academic and
10 industrial researchers, scientists, and engineers is essential
11 to the process of commercializing knowledge gained through
12 applied research, and
13 WHEREAS, centers of excellence within, and in
14 collaboration with, the State University System would provide
15 an infrastructure for recruiting and retaining world-class
16 faculty, increasing the number of graduates in advanced and
17 emerging technology programs, increasing the amount of base
18 and applied research conducted in Florida, incubating new
19 companies, developing new educational and industrial
20 applications for such research, helping Florida's businesses
21 adopt emerging technologies, and developing a highly skilled,
22 high-wage workforce, NOW, THEREFORE,
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Section 240.72, Florida Statutes, is
27 created to read:
28 240.72 Florida Technology Development Act.--
29 (1) This section may be cited as the "Florida
30 Technology Development Act."
31
4
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (2) "Center of excellence," as used in this section,
2 means an organization of personnel, facilities, and equipment
3 established at or in collaboration with one or more
4 universities in Florida to accomplish the purposes and
5 objectives of this section. The purposes and objectives of a
6 center of excellence include:
7 (a) Identifying and pursuing opportunities for
8 university scholars, research center scientists and engineers,
9 and private businesses to form collaborative partnerships to
10 foster and promote the research required to develop
11 commercially promising, advanced, and innovative technologies
12 and to transfer those technologies to commercial sectors.
13 (b) Acquiring and leveraging public and private-sector
14 funding to provide the totality of funds, personnel,
15 facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to support
16 the research required to develop commercially promising,
17 advanced, and innovative technologies and to transfer those
18 technologies to commercial sectors.
19 (c) Recruiting and retaining world-class scholars,
20 high-performing students, and leading scientists and engineers
21 in technology disciplines to engage in research in this state
22 to develop commercially promising, advanced, and innovative
23 technologies.
24 (d) Enhancing and expanding technology curricula and
25 laboratory resources at universities and research centers in
26 this state.
27 (e) Increasing the number of high-performing students
28 in technology disciplines who graduate from universities in
29 this state and pursue careers in this state.
30 (f) Stimulating and supporting the inception, growth,
31 and diversification of technology-based businesses and
5
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 ventures in Florida and increasing employment opportunities
2 for the workforce needed to support such businesses.
3 (3) Subject to legislative appropriation, the Emerging
4 Technology Commission, or "commission," is created within the
5 Executive Office of the Governor to guide the establishment of
6 centers of excellence.
7 (a) The commission shall consist of five regular
8 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom the Governor
9 shall appoint as chair of the commission; two regular members
10 appointed by the President of the Senate; two regular members
11 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
12 before January 7, 2003, the Secretary of Education as an ex
13 officio nonvoting member; effective January 7, 2003, the
14 Commissioner of Education as an ex officio nonvoting member;
15 and, as ex officio nonvoting members, the member of the Senate
16 and the member of the House of Representatives who serve as
17 members of the Florida Research Consortium, Inc. The regular
18 members shall be business leaders, industrial researchers,
19 academic researchers, scientists, or engineers who have been
20 recognized as leaders in the state's emerging and advanced
21 technology sectors. Regular members must be appointed on or
22 before July 1, 2002.
23 (b) Members of the commission shall serve without
24 compensation but shall be entitled to receive per diem and
25 travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061 while in
26 performance of their duties.
27 (c) The Executive Office of the Governor shall provide
28 staff support for the activities of the commission and per
29 diem and travel expenses for commission members.
30 (4) By August 1, 2002, Florida Research Consortium,
31 Inc., shall provide a report to the commission which describes
6
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 in detail and prioritizes factors that contribute to the
2 success of the creation of centers of excellence. At a
3 minimum, the report should describe and prioritize the
4 following factors:
5 (a) Maturity of existing university programs relating
6 to a proposed center of excellence.
7 (b) Existing amount of university resources dedicated
8 to activities relating to a proposed center of excellence.
9 (c) Comprehensiveness and effectiveness of site plans
10 relating to a proposed center of excellence.
11 (d) Regional economic structure and climate.
12 (e) The degree to which a university proposed to house
13 a center of excellence identifies and seizes opportunities to
14 collaborate with other public or private entities for research
15 purposes.
16 (f) The presence of a comprehensive performance and
17 accountability measurement system.
18 (g) The use of an integrated research and development
19 strategy utilizing multiple levels of the educational system.
20 (h) The ability of a university proposed to house a
21 center of excellence to raise research funds and leverage
22 public and private investment dollars to support advanced and
23 emerging technological research and development projects.
24 (i) The degree to which a university proposed to house
25 a center of excellence transfers advanced and emerging
26 technologies from its laboratories to the commercial sector.
27 (j) The degree to which a university proposed to house
28 a center of excellence stimulates and supports new venture
29 creation.
30
31
7
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (k) The existence of a plan to enhance academic
2 curricula by improving communication between academia and
3 industry.
4 (l) The existence of a plan to increase the number,
5 quality, and retention rate of faculty, graduate students, and
6 eminent scholars in advanced and emerging technology-based
7 disciplines.
8 (m) The existence of a plan to increase the likelihood
9 of faculty, graduate students, and eminent scholars pursuing
10 private-sector careers in the state.
11 (n) Ability to provide capital facilities necessary to
12 support research and development.
13 (5) By September 15, 2002, the commission shall
14 develop and approve criteria for evaluating proposals
15 submitted under subsection (6). When developing such criteria,
16 the commission shall consider the report provided by Florida
17 Research Consortium, Inc., under subsection (4) and hold at
18 least two public hearings, at times and locations designated
19 by the chair of the commission, for the purpose of soliciting
20 expert testimony. By October 1, 2002, the commission shall
21 provide a list of such criteria to each university in the
22 State University System and to the State Technology Office for
23 publishing on the Internet within 24 hours after the office's
24 receipt of the list.
25 (6) Concurrent with the provision of the list of
26 criteria to the universities, the commission shall notify each
27 university, in writing, of the opportunity to submit to the
28 commission written proposals for establishing one or more
29 centers of excellence. Proposals must specifically address the
30 evaluation criteria developed by the commission and delineate
31 how funding would be used to develop one or more centers of
8
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 excellence. Proposals must be submitted to the commission by
2 December 1, 2002. Notwithstanding this deadline, the
3 commission, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of its
4 members, may accept a proposal submitted after the deadline.
5 (7) By February 1, 2003, the commission shall submit
6 to the State Board of Education a minimum of two, but no more
7 than five, recommended plans for the establishment of one or
8 more centers of excellence in the state. Recommended plans
9 must specifically address the evaluation criteria developed by
10 the commission and delineate how funding would be used to
11 develop one or more centers of excellence. When developing
12 such recommended plans, the commission shall consider the
13 university proposals submitted under subsection (6) and hold
14 at least three public hearings, at times and locations
15 designated by the chair of the commission, for the purpose of
16 soliciting expert testimony including, but not limited to,
17 viewing presentations of university proposals.
18 (8) By March 15, 2003, the State Board of Education
19 shall develop and approve a final plan for the establishment
20 of one or more centers of excellence in the state and
21 authorize expenditures for implementation of the plan. The
22 final plan must allocate at least $10 million to each center
23 of excellence established by the plan. When developing this
24 final plan, the board shall consider the commission's
25 recommended plans submitted under subsection (7) and hold at
26 least one public hearing for the purpose of soliciting expert
27 testimony. The final plan must include performance and
28 accountability measures that can be used to assess the
29 progress of plan implementation and the success of the centers
30 of excellence established under the final plan. By March 22,
31 2003, the board shall provide a copy of the final plan to the
9
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
2 House of Representatives.
3 (9) Beginning June 30, 2003, the commission shall
4 report quarterly, in writing, to the Commissioner of Education
5 on the progress of the implementation of the final plan
6 approved under subsection (8) and the success of the centers
7 of excellence established under that plan.
8 (10) This section expires July 1, 2004.
9 Section 2. The sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the
10 General Revenue Fund to the Executive Office of the Governor
11 for the 2002-2003 fiscal year for the purpose of providing
12 staff support to the Emerging Technology Commission and per
13 diem and travel expenses for commission members.
14 Section 3. Subsection (10) of section 159.705, Florida
15 Statutes, is amended to read:
16 159.705 Powers of the authority.--The authority is
17 authorized and empowered:
18 (10) Other provisions of law to the contrary
19 notwithstanding, to acquire by lease, without consideration,
20 purchase, or option any lands owned, administered, managed,
21 controlled, supervised, or otherwise protected by the state or
22 any of its agencies, departments, boards, or commissions for
23 the purpose of establishing a research and development park,
24 subject to being first designated a research and development
25 authority under the provisions of ss. 159.701-159.7095. The
26 authority may cooperate with state and local political
27 subdivisions and with private profit and nonprofit entities to
28 implement the public purposes set out in s. 159.701. Such
29 cooperation may include agreements for the use of the
30 resources of state and local political subdivisions, agencies,
31 or entities on a fee-for-service basis or on a cost-recovery
10
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
2 project that is located in a research and development park and
3 is financed under the provisions of the Florida Industrial
4 Development Financing Act may be operated by a research and
5 development authority, a state university, a Florida community
6 college, or a governmental agency if the purpose and operation
7 of the project is consistent with the purposes and policies
8 specified in ss. 159.701-159.7095.
9 Section 4. Section 445.045, Florida Statutes, is
10 amended to read:
11 445.045 Development of an Internet-based system for
12 information technology industry promotion and workforce
13 recruitment.--
14 (1) Workforce Florida, Inc., is responsible for
15 directing The Department of Labor and Employment Security
16 shall facilitate efforts to ensure the development and
17 maintenance of a website that promotes and markets the
18 information technology industry in this state. The website
19 shall be designed to inform the public concerning the scope of
20 the information technology industry in the state and shall
21 also be designed to address the workforce needs of the
22 industry. The website shall include, through links or actual
23 content, information concerning information technology
24 businesses in this state, including links to such businesses;
25 information concerning employment available at these
26 businesses; and the means by which a jobseeker may post a
27 resume on the website.
28 (2) Workforce Florida, Inc., The Department of Labor
29 and Employment Security shall coordinate with the State
30 Technology Office and the Agency for Workforce Innovation
31 Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida, Inc., to
11
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 ensure links, where feasible and appropriate, to existing job
2 information websites maintained by the state and state
3 agencies and to ensure that information technology positions
4 offered by the state and state agencies are posted on the
5 information technology website.
6 (3) Workforce Florida, Inc., shall ensure that the
7 website developed and maintained under this section is
8 consistent, compatible, and coordinated with the workforce
9 information systems required under s. 445.011, including, but
10 not limited to, the automated job-matching information system
11 for employers, job seekers, and other users.
12 (4)(a) Workforce Florida, Inc., shall coordinate
13 development and maintenance of the website under this section
14 with the state's Chief Information Officer in the State
15 Technology Office to ensure compatibility with the state's
16 information system strategy and enterprise architecture.
17 (b) Workforce Florida, Inc., may enter into an
18 agreement with the State Technology Office, the Agency for
19 Workforce Innovation, or any other public agency with the
20 requisite information technology expertise for the provision
21 of design, operating, or other technological services
22 necessary to develop and maintain the website.
23 (c) Workforce Florida, Inc., may procure services
24 necessary to implement the provisions of this section, if it
25 employs competitive processes, including requests for
26 proposals, competitive negotiation, and other competitive
27 processes to ensure that the procurement results in the most
28 cost-effective investment of state funds.
29 (5) In furtherance of the requirements of this section
30 that the website promote and market the information technology
31 industry by communicating information on the scope of the
12
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 industry in this state, Workforce Florida, Inc., shall
2 coordinate its efforts with the high-technology industry
3 marketing efforts of Enterprise Florida, Inc., under s.
4 288.911. Through links or actual content, the website
5 developed under this section shall serve as a forum for
6 distributing the marketing campaign developed by Enterprise
7 Florida, Inc., under s. 288.911. In addition, Workforce
8 Florida, Inc., shall solicit input from the not-for-profit
9 corporation created to advocate on behalf of the information
10 technology industry as an outgrowth of the Information Service
11 Technology Development Task Force created under chapter
12 99-354, Laws of Florida.
13 (6) In fulfilling its responsibilities under this
14 section, Workforce Florida, Inc., may enlist the assistance of
15 and act through the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The
16 agency is authorized and directed to provide the services that
17 Workforce Florida, Inc., and the agency consider necessary to
18 implement this section.
19 Section 5. Learning Gateway.--
20 (1) PROGRAM GOALS.--The Legislature authorizes a
21 3-year demonstration program, to be called the Learning
22 Gateway, the purpose of which is to provide parents access to
23 information, referral, and services to lessen the effects of
24 learning disabilities in children from birth to age 9.
25 Parental consent shall be required for initial contact and
26 referral for evaluation and services provided through the
27 Learning Gateway. Each pilot program must design and test an
28 integrated, community-based system to help parents identify
29 learning problems and access early-education and intervention
30 services in order to minimize or prevent learning
31 disabilities. The Learning Gateway must be available to
13
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 parents in the settings where they and their children live,
2 work, seek care, or study. The goals of the Learning Gateway
3 are to:
4 (a) Improve community awareness and education of
5 parents and practitioners about the warning signs or
6 precursors of learning problems and learning disabilities,
7 including disorders or delayed development in language,
8 attention, behavior, and social-emotional functioning,
9 including dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity
10 disorder, in children from birth through age 9.
11 (b) Improve access for children who are experiencing
12 early learning problems and their families to appropriate
13 programs, services, and supports through improved outreach and
14 referral processes among providers.
15 (c) Improve developmental monitoring and the
16 availability to parents of appropriate screening resources,
17 with emphasis on children from birth through age 9 who are at
18 high risk of having learning problems.
19 (d) Improve the availability to parents of appropriate
20 education and intervention programs, services, and supports to
21 address learning problems and learning disabilities.
22 (e) Identify gaps in the array of services and
23 supports so that an appropriate child-centered and
24 family-centered continuum of education and support would be
25 readily available in each community.
26 (f) Improve accountability of the system through
27 improved planning, integration, and collaboration among
28 providers and through outcome measurement in collaboration
29 with parents.
30 (2) LEARNING GATEWAY STEERING COMMITTEE.--
31
14
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (a) To ensure that parents of children with potential
2 learning problems and learning disabilities have access to the
3 appropriate necessary services and supports, an 18-member
4 steering committee is created. The steering committee is
5 assigned to the Department of Education for administrative
6 purposes.
7 (b) The duties of the Learning Gateway Steering
8 Committee are to provide policy development, consultation,
9 oversight, and support for the implementation of three
10 demonstration programs and to advise the agencies, the
11 Legislature, and the Governor on statewide implementation of
12 system components and issues and on strategies for continuing
13 improvement to the system.
14 (c) The steering committee shall direct the
15 administering agency of the Learning Gateway program to expend
16 the funds appropriated for the steering committee's use to
17 procure the products delineated in section 6 of this act
18 through contracts or other means. The steering committee and
19 the Learning Gateway pilot programs will provide information
20 and referral for services but will not provide direct services
21 to parents or children.
22 (d) The steering committee must include parents,
23 service providers, and representatives of the disciplines
24 relevant to diagnosis of and intervention in early learning
25 problems. The Governor shall appoint one member from the
26 private sector who has expertise in communications, management
27 or service provision, one member who has expertise in
28 children's vision, one member who has expertise in learning
29 disabilities, one member who has expertise in audiology, one
30 member who is a parent of a child eligible for services by the
31 Learning Gateway, and one provider of related diagnostic and
15
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 intervention services. The President of the Senate shall
2 appoint one member from the private sector who has expertise
3 in communications, management or service provision, one member
4 who has expertise in emergent literacy, one member who has
5 expertise in pediatrics, one member who has expertise in brain
6 development, one member who is a parent of a child eligible
7 for services by the Learning Gateway, and one member who is a
8 provider of related diagnostic and intervention services. The
9 Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one
10 member from the private sector who has expertise in
11 communications, management or service provision, one member
12 who has expertise in environmental health and allergies, one
13 member who has expertise in children's nutrition, one member
14 who has expertise in family medicine, one parent of a child
15 eligible for services by the Learning Gateway, and one member
16 who is a school psychologist providing diagnostic and
17 intervention services.
18 (e) To support and facilitate system improvements, the
19 steering committee must consult with representatives from the
20 Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Florida
21 Partnership for School Readiness, the Department of Children
22 and Family Services, the Agency for Health Care
23 Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the
24 Department of Corrections and the director of the Learning
25 Development and Evaluation Center of Florida Agricultural and
26 Mechanical University.
27 (f) Steering committee appointments must be made, and
28 the committee must hold its first meeting, within 90 days
29 after this act takes effect. Steering committee members shall
30 be appointed to serve a term of 3 years. The Governor shall
31 designate the chairman of the steering committee.
16
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (g) Steering committee members shall not receive
2 compensation for their services, but may receive reimbursement
3 for travel expenses incurred under section 112.061, Florida
4 Statutes.
5 (3) LEARNING GATEWAY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.--
6 (a) Within 90 days after its initial meeting, the
7 Learning Gateway Steering Committee shall accept proposals
8 from interagency consortia in Orange, Manatee, and St. Lucie
9 counties which comprise public and private providers,
10 community agencies, business representatives, and the local
11 school board in each county to serve as demonstration sites
12 for design and development of a system that addresses the
13 requirements in section 6 of this act. If there is no proposal
14 from one of the designated counties, the steering committee
15 may select another county to serve as a demonstration site by
16 majority vote.
17 (b) The proposals for demonstration projects must
18 provide a comprehensive and detailed description of the system
19 of care. The description of the proposed system of care must
20 clearly indicate the point of access for parents, integration
21 of services, linkages of providers, and additional array of
22 services required to address the needs of children and
23 families.
24 (c) The demonstration projects should ensure that the
25 system of care appropriately includes existing services to the
26 fullest extent possible and should determine additional
27 programs, services, and supports that would be necessary to
28 implement the requirements of this act.
29 (d) The projects, in conjunction with the steering
30 committee, shall determine what portion of the system can be
31
17
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 funded using existing funds, demonstration funds provided by
2 this act, and other available private and community funds.
3 (e) The demonstration projects shall recommend to the
4 steering committee the linking or combining of some or all of
5 the local planning bodies, including school readiness
6 coalitions, Healthy Start coalitions, Part C advisory
7 councils, Department of Children and Family Services community
8 alliances, and other boards or councils that have a primary
9 focus on services for children from birth to age 9, to the
10 extent allowed by federal regulations, if such changes would
11 improve coordination and reduce unnecessary duplication of
12 effort.
13 (f) Demonstration projects shall use public and
14 private partnerships, partnerships with faith-based
15 organizations, and volunteers, as appropriate, to enhance
16 accomplishment of the goals of the system.
17 (g) Addressing system components delineated in section
18 6 of this act, each demonstration project proposal must
19 include, at a minimum:
20 1. Protocols for requiring and receiving parental
21 consent for Learning Gateway services.
22 2. A method for establishing communication with
23 parents and coordination and planning processes within the
24 community.
25 3. Action steps for making appropriate linkages to
26 existing services within the community.
27 4. Procedures to determine gaps in services and
28 identify appropriate providers.
29 5. A lead agency to serve as the system access point,
30 or gateway.
31
18
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (h) As authorized under the budget authority of the
2 Department of Education, demonstration projects,
3 representative of the diversity of the communities in this
4 state, shall be established in Manatee, Orange, and St. Lucie
5 counties as local Learning Gateway sites and shall be
6 authorized to hire staff, establish office space, and contract
7 for administrative services as needed to implement the project
8 within the budget designated by the Legislature.
9 (i) The steering committee must approve, deny, or
10 conditionally approve a Learning Gateway proposal within 60
11 days after receipt of the proposal. If a proposal is
12 conditionally approved, the steering committee must assist the
13 Learning Gateway applicant to correct deficiencies in the
14 proposal by December 1, 2002. Funds must be available to a
15 pilot program 15 days after final approval of its proposal by
16 the steering committee. Funds must be available to all pilot
17 programs by January 1, 2003.
18 Section 6. Components of the Learning Gateway.--
19 (1) The Learning Gateway system consists of the
20 following components:
21 (a) Community education strategies and family-oriented
22 access.--
23 1. Each local demonstration project shall establish
24 the system access point, or gateway, by which parents can
25 receive information about available appropriate services. An
26 existing public or private agency or provider or new provider
27 may serve as the system gateway. The local Learning Gateway
28 should provide parents and caretakers with a single point of
29 access for screening, assessment, and referral for services
30 for children from birth through age 9. The demonstration
31 projects have the budgetary authority to hire appropriate
19
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 personnel to perform administrative functions. These staff
2 members must be knowledgeable about child development, early
3 identification of learning problems and learning disabilities,
4 family service planning, and services in the local area. Each
5 demonstration project must arrange for the following services
6 to be provided by existing service systems:
7 a. Conducting intake with families.
8 b. Conducting appropriate screening or referral for
9 such services.
10 c. Conducting needs/strengths-based family assessment.
11 d. Developing family resource plans.
12 e. Making referrals for needed services and assisting
13 families in the application process.
14 f. Providing service coordination as needed by
15 families.
16 g. Assisting families in establishing a medical home.
17 h. Conducting case management and transition planning
18 as necessary.
19 i. Monitoring performance of service providers against
20 appropriate standards.
21 2. The Learning Gateway Steering Committee and
22 demonstration projects shall designate a central information
23 and referral access phone number for parents in each pilot
24 community. This centralized phone number should be used to
25 increase public awareness and to improve access to local
26 supports and services for children from birth through age 9
27 and their families. The number should be highly publicized as
28 the primary source of information on services for young
29 children. The telephone staff should be trained and supported
30 to offer accurate and complete information and to make
31
20
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 appropriate referrals to existing public and private community
2 agencies.
3 3. In collaboration with local resources such as
4 Healthy Start, the demonstration projects shall develop
5 strategies for offering hospital visits or home visits by
6 trained staff to new mothers. The Learning Gateway Steering
7 Committee shall provide technical assistance to local
8 demonstration projects in developing brochures and other
9 materials to be distributed to parents of newborns.
10 4. In collaboration with other local resources, the
11 demonstration projects shall develop public awareness
12 strategies to disseminate information about developmental
13 milestones, precursors of learning problems and other
14 developmental delays, and the service system that is
15 available. The information should target parents of children
16 from birth through age 9 and should be distributed to parents,
17 health care providers, and caregivers of children from birth
18 through age 9. A variety of media should be used as
19 appropriate, such as print, television, radio, and a
20 community-based internet web site, as well as opportunities
21 such as those presented by parent visits to physicians for
22 well-child check-ups. The Learning Gateway Steering Committee
23 shall provide technical assistance to the local demonstration
24 projects in developing and distributing educational materials
25 and information.
26 a. Public awareness strategies targeting parents of
27 children from birth through age 5 shall be designed to provide
28 information to public and private preschool programs,
29 childcare providers, pediatricians, parents, and local
30 businesses and organizations. These strategies should include
31 information on the school readiness performance standards for
21
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 kindergarten adopted by the School Readiness Partnership
2 Board.
3 b. Public awareness strategies targeting parents of
4 children from ages 6 through 9 must be designed to disseminate
5 training materials and brochures to parents and public and
6 private school personnel, and must be coordinated with the
7 local school board and the appropriate school advisory
8 committees in the demonstration projects. The materials should
9 contain information on state and district proficiency levels
10 for grades K-3.
11 (b) Screening and developmental monitoring.--
12 1. In coordination with the Partnership for School
13 Readiness, the Department of Education, and the Florida
14 Pediatric Society, and using information learned from the
15 local demonstration projects, the Learning Gateway Steering
16 Committee shall establish guidelines for screening children
17 from birth through age 9. The guidelines should incorporate
18 recent research on the indicators most likely to predict early
19 learning problems, mild developmental delays, child-specific
20 precursors of school failure, and other related developmental
21 indicators in the domains of cognition; communication;
22 attention; perception; behavior; and social, emotional,
23 sensory, and motor functioning.
24 2. Based on the guidelines established by the steering
25 committee and in cooperation with the Florida Pediatric
26 Society, the steering committee shall adopt a comprehensive
27 checklist for child healthcare checkups and a corresponding
28 training package for physicians and other medical personnel in
29 implementing more effective screening for precursors of
30 learning problems, learning disabilities, and mild
31 developmental delays.
22
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 3. Using the screening guidelines developed by the
2 steering committee, local demonstration projects should engage
3 local physicians and other medical professionals in enhancing
4 the screening opportunities presented by immunization visits
5 and other well-child appointments, in accordance with the
6 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodicity Schedule.
7 4. Using the screening guidelines developed by the
8 steering committee, the demonstration projects shall develop
9 strategies to increase early identification of precursors to
10 learning problems and learning disabilities through providing
11 parents the option of improved screening and referral
12 practices within public and private early care and education
13 programs and K-3 public and private school settings.
14 Strategies may include training and technical assistance teams
15 to assist program providers and teachers. The program shall
16 collaborate appropriately with the school readiness
17 coalitions, local school boards, and other community resources
18 in arranging training and technical assistance for early
19 identification and screening with parental consent.
20 5. The demonstration project shall work with
21 appropriate local entities to reduce the duplication of
22 cross-agency screening in each demonstration project area.
23 Demonstration projects shall provide opportunities for public
24 and private providers of screening and assessment at each age
25 level to meet periodically to identify gaps or duplication of
26 efforts in screening practices.
27 6. Based on technical assistance and support provided
28 by the steering committee and in conjunction with the school
29 readiness coalitions and other appropriate entities,
30 demonstration projects shall develop a system to log the
31 number of children screened, assessed, and referred for
23
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 services. After development and testing, tracking should be
2 supported by a standard electronic data system for screening
3 and assessment information.
4 7. In conjunction with the technical assistance of the
5 steering committee, demonstration projects shall develop a
6 system for targeted screening. The projects should conduct a
7 needs assessment of existing services and programs where
8 targeted screening programs should be offered. Based on the
9 results of the needs assessment, the project shall develop
10 procedures within the demonstration community whereby periodic
11 developmental screening could be offered to parents of
12 children from birth through age 9 who are served by state
13 intervention programs or whose parents or caregivers are in
14 state intervention programs. Intervention programs for
15 children, parents, and caregivers include those administered
16 or funded by the:
17 a. Agency for Health Care Administration;
18 b. Department of Children and Family Services;
19 c. Department of Corrections and other criminal
20 justice programs;
21 d. Department of Education;
22 e. Department of Health; and
23 f. Department of Juvenile Justice.
24 8. When results of screening suggest developmental
25 problems, potential learning problems, or learning
26 disabilities, the intervention program shall inform the
27 child's parent of the results of the screening and shall offer
28 to refer the child to the Learning Gateway for coordination of
29 further assessment. If the parent chooses to have further
30 assessment, the Learning Gateway shall make referrals to the
31 appropriate entities within the service system.
24
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 9. The local Learning Gateway shall provide for
2 followup contact to all families whose children have been
3 found ineligible for services under Part B or Part C of the
4 IDEA to inform them of other services available in the county.
5 10. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each
6 agency participating in the Learning Gateway is authorized to
7 provide to a Learning Gateway program confidential information
8 exempt from disclosure under chapter 119, Florida Statutes,
9 regarding a developmental screening on any child participating
10 in the Learning Gateway who is or has been the subject of a
11 developmental screening within the jurisdiction of each
12 agency.
13 (c) Early education, services and supports.--
14 1. The demonstration projects shall develop a
15 conceptual model system of care that builds upon, integrates,
16 and fills the gaps in existing services. The model shall
17 indicate how qualified providers of family-based or
18 center-based interventions or public and private school
19 personnel may offer services in a manner consistent with the
20 standards established by their profession and by the standards
21 and criteria adopted by the steering committee and consistent
22 with effective and proven strategies. The specific services
23 and supports may include:
24 a. High-quality early education and care programs.
25 b. Assistance to parents and other caregivers, such as
26 home-based modeling programs for parents and play programs to
27 provide peer interactions.
28 c. Speech and language therapy that is
29 age-appropriate.
30 d. Parent education and training.
31
25
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 e. Comprehensive medical screening and referral with
2 biomedical interventions as necessary.
3 f. Referral as needed for family therapy, other mental
4 health services, and treatment programs.
5 g. Family support services as necessary.
6 h. Therapy for learning differences in reading and
7 math, and attention to subject material for children in grades
8 K-3.
9 i. Referral for Part B or Part C services as required.
10 j. Expanded access to community-based services for
11 parents.
12 k. Parental choice in the provision of services by
13 public and private providers.
14
15 The model shall include a statement of the cost of
16 implementing the model.
17 2. Demonstration projects shall develop strategies to
18 increase the use of appropriate intervention practices with
19 children who have learning problems and learning disabilities
20 within public and private early care and education programs
21 and K-3 public and private school settings. Strategies may
22 include training and technical assistance teams. Intervention
23 must be coordinated and must focus on providing effective
24 supports to children and their families within their regular
25 education and community environment. These strategies must
26 incorporate, as appropriate, school and district activities
27 related to the student's academic improvement plan and must
28 provide parents with greater access to community-based
29 services that should be available beyond the traditional
30 school day. Academic expectations for public school students
31 in grades K-3 must be based upon the local school board's
26
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 adopted proficiency levels. When appropriate, school personnel
2 shall consult with the local Learning Gateway to identify
3 other community resources for supporting the child and the
4 family.
5 3. The steering committee, in cooperation with the
6 Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of
7 Education, and the Florida Partnership for School Readiness,
8 shall identify the elements of an effective research-based
9 curriculum for early care and education programs.
10 4. The steering committee, in conjunction with the
11 demonstration projects, shall develop processes for
12 identifying and sharing promising practices and shall showcase
13 these programs and practices at a dissemination conference.
14 5. The steering committee shall establish processes
15 for facilitating state and local providers' ready access to
16 information and training concerning effective instructional
17 and behavioral practices and interventions based on advances
18 in the field and for encouraging researchers to regularly
19 guide practitioners in designing and implementing
20 research-based practices. The steering committee shall assist
21 the demonstration projects in conducting a conference for
22 participants in the three demonstration projects for the
23 dissemination of information on best practices and new
24 insights about early identification, education, and
25 intervention for children from birth through age 9. The
26 conference should be established so that continuing education
27 credits may be awarded to medical professionals, teachers, and
28 others for whom this is an incentive.
29 6. Demonstration projects shall investigate and may
30 recommend to the steering committee more effective resource
31 allocation and flexible funding strategies if such strategies
27
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 are in the best interest of the children and families in the
2 community. The Department of Education and other relevant
3 agencies shall assist the demonstration projects in securing
4 state and federal waivers as appropriate.
5 Section 7. Accountability.--
6 (1) The steering committee shall provide information
7 to the School Readiness Estimating Conference and the
8 Enrollment Conference for Public Schools regarding estimates
9 of the population of children from birth through age 9 who are
10 at risk of learning problems and learning disabilities.
11 (2) The steering committee, in conjunction with the
12 demonstration projects, shall develop accountability
13 mechanisms to ensure that the demonstration programs are
14 effective and that resources are used as efficiently as
15 possible. Accountability should be addressed through a
16 multilevel evaluation system, including measurement of
17 outcomes and operational indicators. Measurable outcomes must
18 be developed to address improved child development, improved
19 child health, and success in school. Indicators of system
20 improvements must be developed to address quality of programs
21 and integration of services. Agency monitoring of programs
22 shall include a review of child and family outcomes and system
23 effectiveness indicators with a specific focus on elimination
24 of unnecessary duplication of planning, screening, and
25 services.
26 (3) The steering committee shall oversee a formative
27 evaluation of the project during implementation, including
28 reporting short-term outcomes and system improvements. By
29 January 2005, the steering committee shall make
30 recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
31 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
28
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 Commissioner of Education related to the merits of expansion
2 of the demonstration projects.
3 (4) By January 1, 2005, the steering committee, in
4 conjunction with the demonstration projects, shall develop a
5 model county-level strategic plan to formalize the goals,
6 objectives, strategies, and intended outcomes of the
7 comprehensive system, and to support the integration and
8 efficient delivery of all services and supports for parents of
9 children from birth through age 9 who have learning problems
10 or learning disabilities. The model county-level strategic
11 plan must include, but need not be limited to, strategies to:
12 (a) Establish a system whereby parents can access
13 information about learning problems in young children and
14 receive services at their discretion;
15 (b) Improve early identification of those who are at
16 risk for learning problems and learning disabilities;
17 (c) Provide access to an appropriate array of services
18 within the child's natural environment or regular classroom
19 setting or specialized training in other settings;
20 (d) Improve and coordinate screening for children from
21 birth through age 9;
22 (e) Improve and coordinate services for children from
23 birth through age 9;
24 (f) Address training of professionals in effectively
25 identifying factors, across all domains, which place children
26 from birth through age 9 at risk of school failure and in
27 appropriate interventions for the learning differences;
28 (g) Provide appropriate support to families;
29 (h) Share best practices with caregivers and referral
30 sources;
31
29
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 (i) Address resource needs of the assessment and
2 intervention system; and
3 (j) Address development of implementation plans to
4 establish protocols for requiring and receiving parental
5 consent for services; to identify action steps, responsible
6 parties, and implementation schedules; and to ensure
7 appropriate alignment with agency strategic plans.
8 Section 8. The Legislature shall appropriate a sum of
9 money to fund the demonstration programs and shall authorize
10 selected communities to blend funding from existing programs
11 to the extent that this is advantageous to the community and
12 is consistent with federal requirements.
13 Section 9. Sections 9 and 10 of this act may be cited
14 as the "Tourism Industry Recovery Act of 2002."
15 Section 10. Paragraphs (l) and (n) of subsection (3)
16 of section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17 125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for
18 levying; authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.--
19 (3) TAXABLE PRIVILEGES; EXEMPTIONS; LEVY; RATE.--
20 (l) In addition to any other tax which is imposed
21 pursuant to this section, a county may impose up to an
22 additional 1-percent tax on the exercise of the privilege
23 described in paragraph (a) by majority vote of the governing
24 board of the county in order to:
25 1. Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance the
26 construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a professional
27 sports franchise facility, or the acquisition, construction,
28 reconstruction, or renovation of a retained spring training
29 franchise facility, either publicly owned and operated, or
30 publicly owned and operated by the owner of a professional
31 sports franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or
30
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the
2 planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of
3 such bonds.
4 2. Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance the
5 construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a convention
6 center, and to pay the planning and design costs incurred
7 prior to the issuance of such bonds.
8 3. Pay the operation and maintenance costs of a
9 convention center for a period of up to 10 years. Only
10 counties that have elected to levy the tax for the purposes
11 authorized in subparagraph 2. may use the tax for the purposes
12 enumerated in this subparagraph. Any county that elects to
13 levy the tax for the purposes authorized in subparagraph 2.
14 after July 1, 2000, may use the proceeds of the tax to pay the
15 operation and maintenance costs of a convention center for the
16 life of the bonds.
17 4. Promote and advertise tourism in the State of
18 Florida and nationally and internationally; however, if tax
19 revenues are expended for an activity, service, venue, or
20 event, the activity, service, venue, or event shall have as
21 one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as
22 evidenced by the promotion of the activity, service, venue, or
23 event to tourists.
24
25 The provision of paragraph (b) which prohibits any county
26 authorized to levy a convention development tax pursuant to s.
27 212.0305 from levying more than the 2-percent tax authorized
28 by this section, and the provisions of paragraphs (4)(a)-(d),
29 shall not apply to the additional tax authorized in this
30 paragraph. The effective date of the levy and imposition of
31 the tax authorized under this paragraph shall be the first day
31
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 of the second month following approval of the ordinance by the
2 governing board or the first day of any subsequent month as
3 may be specified in the ordinance. A certified copy of such
4 ordinance shall be furnished by the county to the Department
5 of Revenue within 10 days after approval of such ordinance.
6 (n) In addition to any other tax that is imposed under
7 this section, a county that has imposed the tax under
8 paragraph (l) may impose an additional tax that is no greater
9 than 1 percent on the exercise of the privilege described in
10 paragraph (a) by a majority plus one vote of the membership of
11 the board of county commissioners in order to:
12 1. Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance:
13 a.1. The construction, reconstruction, or renovation
14 of a facility either publicly owned and operated, or publicly
15 owned and operated by the owner of a professional sports
16 franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or
17 financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the
18 planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of
19 such bonds for a new professional sports franchise as defined
20 in s. 288.1162.
21 b.2. The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or
22 renovation of a facility either publicly owned and operated,
23 or publicly owned and operated by the owner of a professional
24 sports franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or
25 financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the
26 planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of
27 such bonds for a retained spring training franchise.
28 2. Promote and advertise tourism in the State of
29 Florida and nationally and internationally; however, if tax
30 revenues are expended for an activity, service, venue, or
31 event, the activity, service, venue, or event shall have as
32
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as
2 evidenced by the promotion of the activity, service, venue, or
3 event to tourists.
4
5 A county that imposes the tax authorized in this paragraph may
6 not expend any ad valorem tax revenues for the acquisition,
7 construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a that facility
8 for which tax revenues are used pursuant to subparagraph 1.
9 The provision of paragraph (b) which prohibits any county
10 authorized to levy a convention development tax pursuant to s.
11 212.0305 from levying more than the 2-percent tax authorized
12 by this section shall not apply to the additional tax
13 authorized by this paragraph in counties which levy convention
14 development taxes pursuant to s. 212.0305(4)(a). Subsection
15 (4) does not apply to the adoption of the additional tax
16 authorized in this paragraph. The effective date of the levy
17 and imposition of the tax authorized under this paragraph is
18 the first day of the second month following approval of the
19 ordinance by the board of county commissioners or the first
20 day of any subsequent month specified in the ordinance. A
21 certified copy of such ordinance shall be furnished by the
22 county to the Department of Revenue within 10 days after
23 approval of the ordinance.
24 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 240.2605,
25 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
26 240.2605 Trust Fund for Major Gifts.--
27 (1) There is established a Trust Fund for Major Gifts.
28 The purpose of the trust fund is to enable the Board of
29 Regents Foundation, each university, and New College to
30 provide donors with an incentive in the form of matching
31 grants for donations for the establishment of permanent
33
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 endowments and sales tax exemption matching funds received
2 pursuant to s. 212.08(5)(j), which must be invested, with the
3 proceeds of the investment used to support libraries and
4 instruction and research programs, as defined by procedure of
5 the State Board of Education Regents. All funds appropriated
6 for the challenge grants, new donors, major gifts, sales tax
7 exemption matching funds pursuant to s. 212.08(5)(j), or
8 eminent scholars program must be deposited into the trust fund
9 and invested pursuant to s. 18.125 until the State Board of
10 Education Regents allocates the funds to universities to match
11 private donations. Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to
12 s. 216.351, any undisbursed balance remaining in the trust
13 fund and interest income accruing to the portion of the trust
14 fund which is not matched and distributed to universities must
15 remain in the trust fund and be used to increase the total
16 funds available for challenge grants. Funds deposited in the
17 trust fund for the sales tax exemption matching program
18 authorized in s. 212.08(5)(j), and interest earnings thereon,
19 shall be maintained in a separate account within the Trust
20 Fund for Major Gifts, and may be used only to match qualified
21 sales tax exemptions that a certified business designates for
22 use by state universities and community colleges to support
23 research and development projects requested by the certified
24 business. The State Board of Education Regents may authorize
25 any university to encumber the state matching portion of a
26 challenge grant from funds available under s. 240.272.
27 Section 12. The legislative review required under
28 section 14 of chapter 93-187, Laws of Florida, shall be
29 conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
30 Government Accountability before December 1, 2002, using
31 applicable criteria under section 11.513(3), Florida Statutes.
34
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 1844 Second Engrossed
1 Section 13. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
2 law.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
35
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.