HB 0517 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Child Advocacy Trust Fund; creating
3	the Child Advocacy Trust Fund within the Department of
4	Children and Family Services; providing for sources of
5	funds and purposes; requiring the development of an
6	allocation methodology for distributing funds deposited in
7	the trust fund; providing for funds to establish child
8	advocacy centers; providing for future legislative review
9	and termination or re-creation of the trust fund;
10	providing a contingent effective date.
11
12	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14	Section 1. Child Advocacy Trust Fund.--
15	(1)(a) The Child Advocacy Trust Fund is created within the
16	Department of Children and Family Services for the purpose of
17	receiving funds collected from the additional court cost imposed
18	in cases of certain crimes against minors under s. 938.10,
19	Florida Statutes. Funds shall be appropriated to the Department
20	of Children and Family Services for the specific purpose of
21	funding child advocacy centers. Funds shall be disbursed to the
22	Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc., as
23	established under s. 39.3035, Florida Statutes, for the purpose
24	of providing community-based services that augment, but that do
25	not duplicate, services provided by state agencies.
26	(b) The Board of Directors of the Florida Network of
27	Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc., shall retain 10 percent of
28	all revenues collected for network expenditures to provide funds
29	to match local contributions in communities establishing child
30	advocacy centers. The board of directors must develop funding
31	criteria and an allocation methodology that ensure an equitable
32	distribution of remaining funds among network participants. The
33	criteria and methodology must take into account factors that
34	include, but need not be limited to, the center's accreditation
35	status with respect to the National Children's Alliance, the
36	number of clients served, and the population of the area being
37	served by the child advocacy center.
38	(2) Pursuant to Section 19(f)(2), Article III of the State
39	Constitution, the trust fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be
40	terminated on July 1, 2008. Before its scheduled termination,
41	the trust fund shall be reviewed as provided in s. 215.3206(1)
42	and (2), Florida Statutes.
43	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004, if
44	House Bill 515 or similar legislation is adopted in the same
45	legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes law.