HB 0559

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to prosperity campaigns; creating s.
3	445.057, F.S.; establishing the Prosperity Campaign Office
4	to be housed in Workforce Florida, Inc.; providing duties
5	of the office; providing for establishment of the Florida
6	Prosperity Campaign Council; providing membership and
7	responsibilities; requiring development and offering of a
8	high school financial literacy course; requiring each
9	Prosperity Campaign to connect low-wage workers to
10	economic benefits programs and to offer additional
11	services; providing an effective date.
12
13	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15	Section 1.  Section 445.057, Florida Statutes, is created
16	to read:
17	445.057  Prosperity Campaigns.--
18	(1)  There is established the Prosperity Campaign Office,
19	which shall be administratively housed in Workforce Florida,
20	Inc. The office is directed to coordinate established Prosperity
21	Campaigns in the state, foster the establishment of new
22	campaigns in designated regional workforce areas and assist in
23	the development of their programs, coordinate with the Internal
24	Revenue Service in providing programs for low-wage workers, and
25	work closely with prosperity campaign offices in other states.
26	(2)  The office shall be headed by the Florida Prosperity
27	Campaign Council which shall be composed of the following
28	members:
29	(a)  Five individuals each representing a different
30	Prosperity Campaign in the state, appointed by the Governor.
31	(b)  One member of the Senate appointed by the President of
32	the Senate.
33	(c)  One member of the House of Representatives appointed
34	by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
35	(d)  The Chief Financial Officer or his or her designee.
36	(e)  One representative from Workforce Florida, Inc.
37	(f)  One representative from the Florida Bankers
38	Association.
39	(g)  One representative from the Florida Institute of CPAs.
40	(h)  One representative from the Florida Council on
41	Economic Education.
42	(i)  One representative from the Florida Credit Union
43	League.
44	(j)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
45	(k)  The Executive Director of the Department of Revenue or
46	his or her designee.
47	(l)  One representative from the Florida League of Cities.
48	(m)  One representative from the Florida Association of
49	Counties.
50	(n)  One representative from the Florida Association of
51	Realtors.
52	(o)  One representative from United Way of Florida.
53	(p)  One representative from Leadership Florida.
54	(q)  One representative from the Florida Chamber of
55	Commerce.
56	(r)  One representative from AARP.
57	(s)  One representative from a faith-based organization.
58	(3)  The council's responsibilities shall include, but not
59	be limited to:
60	(a)  Assisting in the development of Prosperity Campaigns
61	throughout the state.
62	(b)  Coordinating with Prosperity Campaigns to assist in
63	the development of new programs.
64	(c)  Coordinating financial literacy classes or programs
65	within each Prosperity Campaign.
66	(d)  Working with businesses and agencies to develop a
67	package of services for citizens participating in Prosperity
68	Campaigns.
69	(e)  Working with the Department of Education in developing
70	a one-half-credit financial literacy course to be offered in
71	high schools by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. The
72	course must focus on the importance of financial management,
73	savings, investments, credit scores, and additional material as
74	suggested by the Florida Council on Economic Education and the
75	Florida Bankers Association.
76	(f)  Performing other activities deemed necessary by the
77	council or directed by Workforce Florida, Inc.
78	(4)  Each Prosperity Campaign shall:
79	(a)  Educate citizens about available economic benefits
80	programs and the importance of wise financial decisionmaking.
81	(b)  Connect low-wage workers to economic benefits
82	programs, including, but not limited to, the Earned Income Tax
83	Credit and the Childcare Tax Credit.
84	(c)  Offer free tax preparation services, economic benefits
85	screening, and other related services.
86	(d)  Provide information to businesses to enable them to
87	distribute economic benefits information to current and new
88	employees.
89	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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