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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to correctional work programs; creating

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the Correctional Work Program Authority; assigning the

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authority to the Agency for Workforce Innovation for

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administrative purposes; providing a purpose for the

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authority; providing for membership of the authority;

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requiring that the authority meet by a specified date;

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requiring the authority to present a report to the

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Governor and the Legislature; specifying the content of

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the findings and the recommendations; providing for future

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expiration of provisions creating the authority; providing

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an effective date.

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

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     Section 1. Correctional Work Program Authority; creation;

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members; powers and duties.--

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     (1) There is created the Correctional Work Program

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Authority, which is assigned to the Agency for Workforce

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Innovation for administrative purposes. The work program

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authority is created to evaluate the correctional work programs

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operating in this state and to make findings and recommendations

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concerning changes to practices and laws pertaining to the

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correctional work program. The authority shall serve in an

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advisory capacity to the Legislature and the Governor.

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     (2) The authority shall be composed of eight persons

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including:

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     (a) A person appointed by the Governor;

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     (b) A Senator appointed by the President of the Senate;

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     (c) A Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House

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of Representatives;

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     (d) The Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's

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designee;

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     (e) The Chief Financial Officer, or the Chief Financial

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Officer's designee;

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     (f) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's

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designee;

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     (g) The Secretary of Corrections, or the secretary's

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designee; and

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     (h) The chairman of PRIDE Enterprises, Inc.

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     (3) The authority is not subject to control, supervision,

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or direction by the Agency for Workforce Innovation or the

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Department of Corrections. The chair of the authority shall be

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selected by the members.

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     (4) Members of the authority shall serve without

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compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and

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travel expenses, which shall be paid by the appointing entity.

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     (5) The authority shall hold its first meeting by September

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1, 2008.

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     (6) On or before January 15, 2009, the correctional work

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program authority shall report to the Governor, the President of

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

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its preliminary findings and recommendations.

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     (7) The preliminary findings and recommendations shall

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address:

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     (a) How the current correctional work program operates.

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     (b) Whether the goals and objectives of the correctional

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work program fulfill a mission of vocational training and

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rehabilitation for inmates.

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     (c) Whether the programs have helped to reduce recidivism

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and provide offenders with skills needed to return to society as

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productive citizens.

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     (d) Whether current work program opportunities are adequate

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in providing skills needed for the economic development of this

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state.

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     (e) Whether additional correctional work program

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opportunities could be created to fulfill job skill needs and

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workforce demands in this state.

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     (f) What services or deliverables are currently produced by

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the correctional work program, and what additional services or

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deliverables could be developed.

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     (g) Whether the Prison Industries Enhancement (PIE) program

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should be expanded to further the relationship between the

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correctional work program and private industry.

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     (h) Which entity is most appropriate to hold the federal

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PIE program certificate.

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     (i) What are reasonable expectations for growth of the

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correctional work program.

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     (j) What legal impediments exist that discourage growth of

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correctional programs.

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     (k) What changes in current practices the Department of

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Corrections can incorporate to assist the corporation in carrying

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out the mission of the correctional work program.

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     (8) This section expires June 30, 2009.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.