HB 599

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the Florida Faith-based and Community-
3based Advisory Council; creating s. 14.31, F.S.; providing
4legislative findings and intent; creating the Florida
5Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council within
6the Executive Office of the Governor for certain purposes;
7providing for council membership; providing for terms of
8members; providing for successor appointments; providing
9for meetings and organization of the council; specifying
10serving without compensation; providing for per diem and
11travel expenses; specifying required activities of the
12council; specifying restricted activities; requiring a
13report to the Governor and Legislature; providing for
14future repeal and abolition of the council; providing an
15effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19     Section 1.  Section 14.31, Florida Statutes, is created to
20read:
21     14.31  Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory
22Council.--
23     (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that:
24     (a)  Compassionate groups of individuals have selflessly
25aided this state in serving our most vulnerable residents and
26our most debilitated neighborhoods.
27     (b)  Inspired by faith and civic commitment, these
28organizations have accomplished much in changing the lives of
29thousands and resurrecting neighborhoods torn by the strife of
30crime and poverty.
31     (c)  It is essential that this state cooperate with these
32organizations in order to provide an opportunity to participate
33on an equal basis, regardless of each organization's
34orientation, whether faith-based or secular.
35     (2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--It is therefore the intent of the
36Legislature to recognize the contributions of these
37organizations and to encourage opportunities for faith-based and
38community-based organizations to work cooperatively with
39government entities in order to deliver services more
40effectively. The Legislature further intends that the purpose of
41the council is to advise the Governor and the Legislature on
42policies, priorities, and objectives for the state's
43comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and
44expand the work of faith-based, volunteer, and other community
45organizations to the full extent permitted by law.
46     (3)  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL.--
47     (a)  The Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory
48Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03, is
49established and assigned to the Executive Office of the
50Governor. The council shall be administratively housed within
51the Executive Office of the Governor.
52     (b)  The council shall consist of 25 members. Council
53members may include, but need not be limited to, representatives
54from various faiths, faith-based organizations, community-based
55organizations, foundations, corporations, and municipalities.
56     (c)  The council shall be composed of the following
57members:
58     1.  Seventeen members appointed by and serving at the
59pleasure of the Governor.
60     2.  Four members appointed by and serving at the pleasure
61of the President of the Senate.
62     3.  Four members appointed by and serving at the pleasure
63of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
64     (d)  Council members shall serve 4-year terms, except that
65the initial terms shall be staggered as follows:
66     1.  The Governor shall appoint six members for a term of 3
67years, six members for a term of 2 years, and five members for a
68term of 1 year.
69     2.  The President of the Senate shall appoint two members
70for a term of 3 years and two members for a term of 2 years.
71     3.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
72appoint two members for a term of 3 years and two members for a
73term of 2 years.
74     (e)  A vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the
75original appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the
76term.
77     (4)  MEETINGS; ORGANIZATION.--
78     (a)  The first meeting of the council shall be held no
79later than August 1, 2006. Thereafter, the council shall meet at
80least once per quarter per calendar year. Meetings may be held
81via teleconference or other electronic means.
82     (b)  The council shall annually elect from its membership
83one member to serve as chair of the council and one member to
84serve as vice chair.
85     (c)  Thirteen members of the council shall constitute a
86quorum.
87     (d)  Members of the council shall serve without
88compensation but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel
89expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
90     (5)  SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES.--The council shall review and
91recommend in a report to the Governor, the President of the
92Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
93     (a)  How faith-based and community-based organizations can
94best compete with other organizations for the delivery of state
95services, regardless of an organization's orientation, whether
96faith-based or secular.
97     (b)  How best to develop and coordinate activities of
98faith-based and community-based programs and initiatives,
99enhance such efforts in communities, and seek such resources,
100legislation, and regulatory relief as may be necessary to
101accomplish these objectives.
102     (c)  How best to ensure that state policy decisions take
103into account the capacity of faith-based and other community-
104based initiatives to assist in the achievement of state
105priorities.
106     (d)  How best to identify and promote best practices across
107state government relating to the delivery of services by faith-
108based and other community-based organizations.
109     (e)  How best to coordinate public awareness of faith-based
110and community nonprofit initiatives, such as demonstration pilot
111programs or projects, public-private partnerships, volunteerism,
112and special projects.
113     (f)  How best to encourage private charitable giving to
114support faith-based and community-based initiatives.
115     (g)  How best to bring concerns, ideas, and policy options
116to the Governor and Legislature for assisting, strengthening,
117and replicating successful faith-based and other community-based
118programs.
119     (h)  How best to develop and implement strategic
120initiatives to strengthen the institutions of families and
121communities in this state.
122     (i)  How best to showcase and herald innovative grassroots
123nonprofit organizations and civic initiatives.
124     (j)  How best to eliminate unnecessary legislative,
125regulatory, and other bureaucratic barriers that impede
126effective faith-based and other community-based efforts to
127address social problems.
128     (k)  How best to monitor implementation of state policy
129affecting faith-based and other community-based organizations.
130     (l)  How best to ensure that the efforts of faith-based and
131other community-based organizations meet objective criteria for
132performance and accountability.
133     (6)  RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES.--The council may not make any
134recommendation that conflicts with the Establishment Clause of
135the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or the
136public funding provision of s. 3, Art. I of the State
137Constitution.
138     (7)  REPORT.--By February 1 of each year, the council shall
139prepare a written report for the Governor, the President of the
140Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
141containing an accounting of its activities and recommended
142policies, priorities, and objectives for the state's
143comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and
144expand the work of faith-based, volunteer, and other community-
145based organizations to the full extent permitted by law.
146     (8)  EXPIRATION.--This section is repealed and the council
147is abolished June 30, 2011, unless reviewed and saved from
148repeal by the Legislature.
149     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.


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