| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Family Readiness Program; amending |
| 3 | s. 250.5206, F.S.; expanding purpose, eligibility, and |
| 4 | annual report provisions of the Family Readiness Program |
| 5 | within the Department of Military Affairs; providing an |
| 6 | effective date. |
| 7 |
|
| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
|
| 10 | Section 1. Section 250.5206, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 11 | to read: |
| 12 | 250.5206 Family Readiness Program.--The Department of |
| 13 | Military Affairs shall establish the a state Family Readiness |
| 14 | Program headed by a program director and based on the United |
| 15 | States Department of Defense National Guard and Reserve Family |
| 16 | Readiness Strategic Plan 2004-2005 initiative. |
| 17 | (1) PROGRAM PURPOSE.--The purpose of the program is shall |
| 18 | be to provide need-based financial assistance to eligible |
| 19 | families of servicemembers of the Florida National Guard and |
| 20 | United States Reserve Forces, including the Coast Guard |
| 21 | Reserves, who are on active duty serving in the Global War on |
| 22 | Terrorism and who are federally deployed or participating in |
| 23 | state operations for homeland defense, and eligible families of |
| 24 | such servicemembers. |
| 25 | (2) FUNDING.--Implementation of the program is subject to |
| 26 | appropriations expressly provided for this purpose. |
| 27 | (3) ELIGIBLE SERVICES.--Program funds may be used in |
| 28 | emergency situations to purchase critically needed services, |
| 29 | including, but not limited to, reasonable living expenses, |
| 30 | housing, vehicles, equipment or renovations necessary to meet |
| 31 | disability needs, and health care. |
| 32 | (4) ELIGIBILITY.-- |
| 33 | (a) The following persons are eligible to receive |
| 34 | financial assistance from the Family Readiness Program: |
| 35 | 1. Florida residents who are members of the Florida |
| 36 | National Guard and United States Reserve Forces, including the |
| 37 | Coast Guard Reserves, who are on active duty serving in the |
| 38 | Global War on Terrorism and who are federally deployed or |
| 39 | participating in state operations for homeland defense; and |
| 40 | 2. Florida residents who are designated as beneficiaries |
| 41 | on the United States Department of Defense Form 93, or who are |
| 42 | otherwise dependents, of a servicemember eligible under |
| 43 | subparagraph 1. and who are family members of such |
| 44 | servicemember. |
| 45 | (b) An eligible person may request financial assistance |
| 46 | from the Family Readiness Program for 120 days following |
| 47 | termination of the eligible servicemember's military orders for |
| 48 | qualifying service and return to home of record. Eligible |
| 49 | recipients shall include persons designated as beneficiaries on |
| 50 | the United States Department of Defense Form 93, or who are |
| 51 | otherwise dependents of eligible servicemembers, and who are |
| 52 | residents of the State of Florida. The period of eligibility to |
| 53 | request assistance from the fund continues for 120 days |
| 54 | following termination of the service member's military orders |
| 55 | for qualifying service and return to home of record. |
| 56 | (5) REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE; REVIEW; AWARDS.--Requests for |
| 57 | assistance shall be validated and assessed at the local level by |
| 58 | a federal Family Center Support Specialist stationed at a state |
| 59 | armory or at a reserve facility by a designated official. |
| 60 | Recommendations subsequent to assessment and validation shall be |
| 61 | forwarded to the program director, who shall review the |
| 62 | recommendations for eligibility, appropriateness, and |
| 63 | sufficiency of documentation. The Adjutant General or his or her |
| 64 | designee shall receive the recommendations from the program |
| 65 | director and is authorized to award funds pursuant to |
| 66 | subsections (3) and (4). |
| 67 | (6) AUDITS.--The inspector general of the department shall |
| 68 | conduct a semiannual review and an annual audit of the program. |
| 69 | (7) ANNUAL REPORT.-- The department shall maintain |
| 70 | sufficient data to provide an annual report to the Governor and |
| 71 | the Legislature on the servicemembers and families served under |
| 72 | the program, the types of services provided, and the allocation |
| 73 | of funds spent. |
| 74 | (8) RULES.--The department is authorized to adopt rules |
| 75 | necessary to implement this program, including procedures for |
| 76 | applying for assistance, qualifying services, and criteria for |
| 77 | eligibility. |
| 78 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |