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



                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2072

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 912788

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  Senator Lawson moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 45, between lines 11 and 12,

15

16  insert:

17         Section 44.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1)

18  and subsections (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9) of section

19  163.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

20         163.05  Small County Technical Assistance Program.--

21         (1)  Among small counties, the Legislature finds that:

22         (a)  The percentage of the population of small counties

23  residing in the unincorporated areas is relatively high based

24  on the United States Decennial Census of 2000 and increased

25  substantially between 1980 and 1990.

26         (c)  Fiscal shortfalls persist even though 12 13 of the

27  small counties levied the maximum ad valorem millage

28  authorized in their jurisdictions in 2001 1990 and an

29  additional 15 13 small counties levied between 8 and 10 mills.

30         (4)  The Commissioner of Agriculture Comptroller shall

31  enter into contracts with program providers who shall:

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2072

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 912788





  1         (a)  Be a foundation that meets the requirements for

  2  nonprofit status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue

  3  Code with a governing board which includes in its membership

  4  county commissioners and professional staff of the county

  5  public agency or private, nonprofit corporation, association,

  6  or entity.

  7         (b)  Have substantial and documented experience working

  8  closely with county governments in providing both educational

  9  and technical assistance.

10         (c)(b)  Use existing resources, services, and

11  information that are available from state or local agencies,

12  universities, or the private sector.

13         (d)(c)  Seek and accept funding from any public or

14  private source.

15         (d)  Annually submit information to assist the

16  Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in

17  preparing a performance review that will include an analysis

18  of the effectiveness of the program.

19         (e)  Assist small counties in developing alternative

20  revenue sources.

21         (f)  Provide assistance to small counties in the areas

22  such as of financial management, accounting, investing,

23  purchasing, planning and budgeting, debt issuance, public

24  management, management systems, computers and information

25  technology, economic and community development, and public

26  safety management.

27         (g)  Provide for an annual independent financial audit

28  of the program.

29         (h)  In each county served, conduct a needs assessment

30  upon which the assistance provided for that county will be

31  designed.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2072

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 912788





  1         (5)(a)  The Commissioner of Agriculture Comptroller

  2  shall issue a request for proposals to provide assistance to

  3  small counties. The request for proposals shall be required no

  4  more frequently than every third year beginning with fiscal

  5  year 2004-2005. All contracts in existence on the effective

  6  date of this act between the Comptroller and any other party

  7  with respect to the Small County Technical Assistance Program

  8  may be accepted by the Commissioner of Agriculture as the

  9  party in interest and said contracts shall remain in full

10  force and effect according to their terms. At the request of

11  the Comptroller, the Legislative Committee on

12  Intergovernmental Relations shall assist in the preparation of

13  the request for proposals.

14         (b)  The Commissioner of Agriculture Comptroller shall

15  review each contract proposal submitted.

16         (c)  The Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental

17  Relations shall review each contract proposal and submit to

18  the Comptroller, in writing, advisory comments and

19  recommendations, citing with specificity the reasons for its

20  recommendations.

21         (c)(d)  The Commissioner of Agriculture Comptroller and

22  the council shall consider the following factors in reviewing

23  contract proposals:

24         1.  The demonstrated capacity of the provider to

25  conduct needs assessments and implement the program as

26  proposed.

27         2.  The number of small counties to be served under the

28  proposal.

29         3.  The cost of the program as specified in a proposed

30  budget.

31         4.  The short-term and long-term benefits of the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2072

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 912788





  1  assistance to small counties.

  2         5.  The form and extent to which existing resources,

  3  services, and information that are available from state and

  4  local agencies, universities, and the private sector will be

  5  used by the provider under the contract.

  6         (6)  A decision of the Commissioner of Agriculture

  7  Comptroller to award a contract under this section is final

  8  and shall be in writing with a copy provided to the

  9  Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.

10         (7)  The Comptroller may enter into contracts and

11  agreements with other state and local agencies and with any

12  person, association, corporation, or entity other than the

13  program providers, for the purpose of administering this

14  section.

15         (7)(8)  The Commissioner of Agriculture Comptroller

16  shall provide fiscal oversight to ensure that funds expended

17  for the program are used in accordance with the contracts

18  entered into pursuant to subsection (4) and shall conduct a

19  performance review of the program as may be necessary to

20  ensure that the goals and objectives of the program are being

21  met.

22         (9)  The Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental

23  Relations shall annually conduct a performance review of the

24  program. The findings of the review shall be presented in a

25  report submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

26  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the

27  Comptroller by January 15 of each year.

28         Section 45.  Specific Appropriation 2252 in the

29  2002-2003 General Appropriations Act is hereby repealed and an

30  identical amount is hereby appropriated to the Department of

31  Agriculture and Consumer Services from the General Revenue

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 2072

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 912788





  1  Fund for the purposes of this act.

  2         Section 46.  Sections 44 and 45 shall take effect June

  3  30, 2002.

  4

  5  (Redesignate subsequent sections.)

  6

  7

  8  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

  9  And the title is amended as follows:

10         On page 6, line 1, after the second semicolon

11

12  insert:

13         amending s. 163.05, F.S.; revising legislative

14         findings; providing criteria for contracts

15         between the Commissioner of Agriculture and

16         program providers; deleting responsibilities of

17         the Comptroller and the Legislative Committee

18         on Intergovernmental Relations; authorizing the

19         Commissioner of Agriculture to award contracts

20         to provide assistance to small counties;

21         requiring the Commissioner of Agriculture to

22         provide fiscal oversight and performance

23         reviews; providing an appropriation.

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