Senate Bill sb1224

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224

    By Senator Rich





    34-884-06                                               See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to Prosperity Campaigns;

  3         creating s. 445.057, F.S.; establishing the

  4         Prosperity Campaign Office to be

  5         administratively housed in Workforce Florida,

  6         Inc.; providing duties of the office; providing

  7         for establishment of the Florida Prosperity

  8         Campaign Council; providing membership and

  9         responsibilities; providing for meetings and

10         reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses;

11         requiring development of financial literacy

12         instruction to be included in high school life

13         management skills coursework; encouraging each

14         Prosperity Campaign to perform certain

15         activities, including connecting low-wage

16         workers to economic benefits programs and

17         offering additional services; providing

18         reporting requirements; providing for repeal

19         unless reviewed and saved from repeal; amending

20         s. 1003.43, F.S., relating to general

21         requirements for high school graduation;

22         requiring financial literacy instruction to be

23         part of the life management skills credit

24         requirement; providing an effective date.

25  

26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

27  

28         Section 1.  Section 445.057, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         445.057  Prosperity Campaigns.--

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224
    34-884-06                                               See HB




 1         (1)  There is established the Prosperity Campaign

 2  Office which shall be administratively housed in Workforce

 3  Florida, Inc. The office is directed to coordinate established

 4  Prosperity Campaigns in the state, foster the establishment of

 5  new campaigns in designated regional workforce areas and

 6  assist in the development of their programs, coordinate with

 7  the Internal Revenue Service in providing programs for

 8  low-wage workers, and work closely with Prosperity Campaign

 9  offices in other states.

10         (2)  The office shall assist the Florida Prosperity

11  Campaign Council, which shall be established and composed of

12  the following members:

13         (a)  Four individuals, each representing a different

14  Prosperity Campaign in the state, appointed by the Governor.

15         (b)  One member of the Greater Miami Prosperity

16  Campaign.

17         (c)  One member of the Senate appointed by the

18  President of the Senate.

19         (d)  One member of the House of Representatives

20  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

21         (e)  The Chief Financial Officer or his or her

22  designee.

23         (f)  One representative from the Florida Bankers

24  Association.

25         (g)  One representative from the Florida Institute of

26  CPAs.

27         (h)  One representative from the Florida Credit Union

28  League.

29         (i)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her

30  designee.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224
    34-884-06                                               See HB




 1         (j)  One representative from the Florida League of

 2  Cities.

 3         (k)  One representative from the Florida Association of

 4  Counties.

 5         (l)  One representative from the Florida Association of

 6  Realtors.

 7         (m)  One representative from United Way of Florida.

 8         (n)  One representative from Leadership Florida.

 9         (o)  One representative from the Florida Chamber of

10  Commerce.

11         (p)  One representative from a nonprofit or

12  community-based, low-wage worker organization.

13         (q)  One representative from the Florida Jump$tart

14  Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

15         (3)  The members of the council shall be appointed to

16  serve 2-year terms beginning July 1, 2006. A vacancy on the

17  council shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term

18  in the same manner as the original appointment.

19         (4)  The council shall meet each quarter of the year or

20  upon the call of the chair. Annually, at the meeting in the

21  first quarter, officers consisting of a chair, vice chair, and

22  secretary shall be elected. Each officer shall serve until a

23  successor is elected. No officer shall serve more than 2

24  consecutive years in the same office.

25         (5)  Members of the council shall serve without

26  compensation, but are entitled to be reimbursed for per diem

27  and travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061.

28         (6)  The council's responsibilities shall include, but

29  not be limited to:

30         (a)  Assisting in the development of Prosperity

31  Campaigns throughout the state.

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224
    34-884-06                                               See HB




 1         (b)  Coordinating with Prosperity Campaigns to assist

 2  in the development of new programs.

 3         (c)  Developing implementation plans for new programs

 4  using the best practices of existing and new in-state and

 5  out-of-state Prosperity Campaigns.

 6         (d)  Coordinating financial literacy classes or

 7  programs within each Prosperity Campaign.

 8         (e)  Working with businesses and agencies to develop a

 9  package of services for citizens participating in Prosperity

10  Campaigns.

11         (f)  Working with the Department of Education in

12  developing financial literacy instruction to be part of the

13  life management skills course pursuant to s. 1003.43. The

14  financial literacy instruction must focus on the importance of

15  financial management, savings, investments, credit scores, and

16  other relevant subjects. Community colleges and state

17  universities are encouraged to use financial literacy

18  information in student orientation programs.

19         (g)  Performing other activities deemed necessary by

20  the council or directed by Workforce Florida, Inc.

21         (7)  Each Prosperity Campaign is encouraged to perform

22  the following activities, but shall not be limited to such

23  activities:

24         (a)  Educating citizens about available economic

25  benefits programs and the importance of wise financial

26  decisionmaking.

27         (b)  Connecting low-wage workers to economic benefits

28  programs, including, but not limited to, the Earned Income Tax

29  Credit and the Childcare Tax Credit.

30         (c)  Offering free tax preparation services, economic

31  benefits screening, and other related services.

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224
    34-884-06                                               See HB




 1         (d)  Providing information to businesses to enable them

 2  to distribute economic benefits information to current and new

 3  employees.

 4         (e)  Performing other activities deemed necessary by

 5  the council.

 6         (8)  By June 30, 2007, and annually thereafter, the

 7  council shall report to the Governor, the President of the

 8  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the

 9  effectiveness of the council, detailing the progress made in

10  establishing new Prosperity Campaigns, including barriers to

11  establishing new Prosperity Campaigns, how the barriers were

12  overcome, the partners involved and their roles, and

13  recommendations for the future. The report shall also contain

14  information on existing Prosperity Campaigns, including, but

15  not limited to, constituents served and funds received.

16         (9)  This section expires July 1, 2010, unless reviewed

17  and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

18         Section 2.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section

19  1003.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

20         1003.43  General requirements for high school

21  graduation.--

22         (1)  Graduation requires successful completion of

23  either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12

24  or an International Baccalaureate curriculum. The 24 credits

25  shall be distributed as follows:

26         (i)  One-half credit in life management skills to

27  include instruction in financial literacy focused on the

28  importance of financial management, savings, investments,

29  credit scores, and other relevant subjects; consumer

30  education;, positive emotional development;, marriage and

31  relationship skill-based education;, nutrition;, parenting

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    Florida Senate - 2006                                  SB 1224
    34-884-06                                               See HB




 1  skills;, prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection

 2  and acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other sexually

 3  transmissible diseases;, benefits of sexual abstinence and

 4  consequences of teenage pregnancy;, information and

 5  instruction on breast cancer detection and breast

 6  self-examination;, cardiopulmonary resuscitation;, drug

 7  education;, and the hazards of smoking.

 8  

 9  District school boards may award a maximum of one-half credit

10  in social studies and one-half elective credit for student

11  completion of nonpaid voluntary community or school service

12  work. Students choosing this option must complete a minimum of

13  75 hours of service in order to earn the one-half credit in

14  either category of instruction. Credit may not be earned for

15  service provided as a result of court action. District school

16  boards that approve the award of credit for student volunteer

17  service shall develop guidelines regarding the award of the

18  credit, and school principals are responsible for approving

19  specific volunteer activities. A course designated in the

20  Course Code Directory as grade 9 through grade 12 that is

21  taken below the 9th grade may be used to satisfy high school

22  graduation requirements or Florida Academic Scholars award

23  requirements as specified in a district school board's student

24  progression plan. A student shall be granted credit toward

25  meeting the requirements of this subsection for equivalent

26  courses, as identified pursuant to s. 1007.271(6), taken

27  through dual enrollment.

28         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

29  

30  

31  

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