HB 1419

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to children's promise zones; amending s.
3	409.147, F.S.; renaming "children's zones" as "children's
4	promise zones"; revising legislative findings and intent
5	and policy and purpose; revising definitions; requiring
6	the governing body to establish a children's promise zone
7	planning team; providing powers and responsibilities of
8	the planning team; revising provisions relating to the
9	strategic community plan; providing for additional focus
10	areas; renaming and extending duration of the Magic City
11	Children's Zone, Inc., pilot project; providing for the
12	corporation to be administered by the Department of
13	Children and Family Services; revising composition of the
14	board of directors and election and duties of officers;
15	providing for the department to enter into a contract with
16	a not-for-profit corporation to implement the children's
17	promise zone program; authorizing the Ounce of Prevention
18	Fund of Florida, Inc., to retain certain interest earnings
19	to finance project activities; requiring annual
20	documentation of interest earnings and expenditures;
21	providing an effective date.
22
23	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25	Section 1.  Section 409.147, Florida Statutes, is amended
26	to read:
27	409.147  Children's promise zones.--
28	(1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.--
29	(a)  The Legislature finds that:
30	1.  There are neighborhoods in the state where the
31	infrastructure and opportunities that middle-class communities
32	take for granted are nonexistent or so marginal that they are
33	ineffective.
34	2.  Children living in these neighborhoods are not read to
35	by an adult on a regular basis and attend a prekindergarten
36	education program at a much lower rate than children in other
37	communities. These children experience below-average performance
38	on standardized tests and graduate from high school and attend
39	college in fewer numbers. Most of these children are living in
40	poverty and are eligible for the free or reduced-price school
41	lunch program.
42	3.  Children in these neighborhoods often suffer from high
43	rates of asthma, a higher risk of lead poisoning, and inadequate
44	health care, and they are routinely exposed to violence and
45	crime.
46	4.  In spite of these obstacles, these neighborhoods are
47	many times home to strong individuals and institutions that are
48	committed to making a difference in the lives of children and
49	their families.
50	(b)  It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to
51	assist disadvantaged areas within the state in creating a high
52	quality, neighborhood-based, comprehensive, coordinated
53	community-based service network that develops, coordinates, and
54	provides quality education, accessible health care, youth
55	development programs, opportunities for employment, and safe and
56	affordable housing combined with efforts to rebuild the basic
57	fabric of the community for children, young adults, and their
58	families living within the its boundaries of such a community.
59	(2)  POLICY AND PURPOSE.--It is the policy of this state to
60	provide the necessary means to assist local communities, the
61	children, young adults, and their families who live in those
62	communities, and the private sector in creating a sound
63	educational, social, and economic environment. To achieve this
64	objective, the state intends to provide investments sufficient
65	to encourage community partners to commit financial and other
66	resources to severely disadvantaged areas. The purpose of this
67	section is to establish a process that clearly identifies the
68	severely disadvantaged areas and provides guidance for
69	developing a new social service paradigm that systematically
70	coordinates programs and focuses on integrating previously
71	compartmentalized approaches to early childhood, education,
72	health care, after-school services, parenting education, college
73	preparation, and neighborhood revitalization that address the
74	critical needs of children and their families and for directing
75	efforts to rebuild the basic infrastructure of the community.
76	The Legislature, therefore, declares the creation of children's
77	promise zones, through the collaborative efforts of government
78	and the private sector, to be a public purpose. Over time, each
79	designated children's promise zone will create a pipeline of
80	accessible, linked, best-practice programs, and high-quality
81	schools for neighborhood children and young adults, starting
82	before birth and ending with college graduation. The pipeline
83	shall include additional programs to support parents, families,
84	and the larger community.
85	(3)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
86	(a)  "Governing body" means the commission or other
87	legislative body charged with governing a county or
88	municipality.
89	(b)  "The Ounce" means the Ounce of Prevention Fund of
90	Florida, Inc.
91	(c)  "Planning team" means a children's zone planning team
92	established under this section.
93	(c)(d)  "Resident" means a person who lives or operates a
94	small community-based business or organization within the
95	boundaries of the children's promise zone.
96	(4)  CHILDREN'S PROMISE ZONE NOMINATING PROCESS.--A county
97	or municipality, or a county and one or more municipalities
98	together, may apply to the Ounce to designate an area as a
99	children's promise zone after the governing body:
100	(a)  Adopts a resolution that:
101	1.  Finds that an area exists in such county or
102	municipality, or in the county and one or more municipalities,
103	that chronically exhibits extreme and unacceptable levels of
104	poverty, unemployment, physical deterioration, as well as
105	limited access to quality educational, health care, and social
106	services.
107	2.  Determines that the rehabilitation, conservation, or
108	redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of the area is
109	necessary in the interest of improving the health, wellness,
110	education, living conditions, and livelihoods of the children
111	and their families who live in the county or municipality.
112	3.  Determines that the revitalization of the area can
113	occur only if the state and the private sector invest resources
114	to improve infrastructure and the provision of services.
115	(b)  Establishes a children's promise zone planning team as
116	provided in subsection (5).
117	(c)  Develops and adopts a strategic community plan as
118	provided in subsection (6).
119	(d)  Creates a corporation not for profit as provided in
120	subsection (7).
121	(5)  CHILDREN'S PROMISE ZONE PLANNING TEAM.--
122	(a)  After the governing body adopts the resolution
123	described in subsection (4), the county or municipality shall
124	establish a children's promise zone planning team.
125	(b)  The planning team shall include residents, parents,
126	teachers, business leaders, and other key stakeholders
127	representatives from community-based organizations and other
128	community institutions. At least half of the members of the
129	planning team must be residents.
130	(c)  The planning team shall:
131	1.  Develop a planning process that sets the direction for,
132	builds a commitment to, and develops the capacity to realize the
133	children's promise zone concept.
134	2.  Develop a vision of what the children's promise zone
135	will look like when the challenges, problems, and opportunities
136	in the children's zone are successfully addressed.
137	3.  Identify important opportunities, strengths,
138	challenges, and problems in the children's promise zone.
139	4.  Develop a strategic community plan consisting of goals,
140	objectives, tasks, the designation of responsible parties, the
141	identification of resources needed, timelines for implementation
142	of the plan, and procedures for monitoring outcomes. The
143	strategic community plan shall serve as the foundation for the
144	work of the children's promise zone and evaluation of the plan
145	shall measure program performance based on the stated objectives
146	and outcomes. The evaluation shall provide feedback to
147	stakeholders within the community regarding the programs,
148	information on which to base program modifications and
149	enhancements, and results-oriented indicators of success.
150	5.  Develop a program that seeks to provide children living
151	in poverty with every possible chance to succeed through the
152	combined development of high-quality, comprehensive,
153	coordinated, neighborhood-based programs for children, young
154	adults, and parents, combined with efforts to rebuild the fabric
155	of the community.
156	(d)  The planning team shall designate working groups to
157	specifically address each of the following focus areas:
158	1.  Early development and care of children.
159	2.  Education of children and youth.
160	3.  Health and wellness.
161	4.  Youth support.
162	5.  Parent and guardian support.
163	6.  Adult education, training, and jobs.
164	7.  Community safety.
165	8.  Housing and community development.
166	9.  Elder affairs.
167	10.  Faith community.
168	11.  Arts and culture.
169	12.  Evaluation.
170	13.  Marketing and communication.
171	14.  Fundraising and development.
172	(6)  CHILDREN'S PROMISE ZONE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY
173	PLAN.--After the governing body adopts the resolution described
174	in subsection (4), the working groups shall develop objectives
175	and identify strategies for each focus area. The objectives,
176	specified by focus area, for a working group may include, but
177	not be limited to:
178	(a)  Early development and care of children.
179	1.  Providing resources to enable every child to be
180	adequately nurtured during the first 3 years of life.
181	2.  Ensuring that all schools are ready for children and
182	all children are ready for school.
183	3.  Facilitating enrollment in half-day or full-day
184	prekindergarten for all 3-year-old and 4-year-old children.
185	4.  Strengthening parent and guardian relationships with
186	care providers.
187	5.  Providing support and education for families and child
188	care providers.
189	(b)  Education of children and youth.
190	1.  Increasing the level and degree of accountability of
191	persons who are responsible for the development and well-being
192	of all children in the children's promise zone.
193	2.  Changing the structure and function of schools to
194	increase the quality and amount of time spent on instruction and
195	increase programmatic options and offerings.
196	3.  Creating a safe and respectful environment for student
197	learning.
198	4.  Identifying and supporting points of alignment between
199	the children's promise zone community plan and the school
200	district's strategic plan.
201	(c)  Health and wellness.
202	1.  Facilitating enrollment of all eligible children in the
203	Florida Kidcare program and providing full access to high-
204	quality drug and alcohol treatment services.
205	2.  Eliminating health disparities between racial and
206	cultural groups, including improving outcomes and increasing
207	interventions.
208	3.  Providing fresh, good quality, affordable, and
209	nutritious food within the children's zone.
210	4.  Providing all children in the children's zone with
211	access to safe structured and unstructured recreation.
212	(d)  Youth support.
213	1.  Increasing the high school graduation rate.
214	2.  Increasing enrollment in postsecondary educational
215	programs.
216	3.2.  Increasing leadership development and employment
217	opportunities for youth.
218	(e)  Parent and guardian support.
219	1.  Increasing parent and adult literacy.
220	2.  Expanding access for parents to critical resources,
221	such as jobs, transportation, day care, and after-school care.
222	3.  Improving the effectiveness of the ways in which
223	support systems communicate and collaborate with parents and the
224	ways in which parents communicate and collaborate with support
225	systems.
226	4.  Making the services of the Healthy Families Florida
227	program available to provide multiyear support to expectant
228	parents and persons caring for infants and toddlers.
229	(f)  Adult education, training, and jobs.
230	1.  Creating job opportunities for adults that lead to
231	career development.
232	2.  Establishing a career and technical school, or a
233	satellite of such a school in the children's zone, which
234	includes a one-stop career center.
235	(g)  Community safety.
236	1.  Providing a safe environment for all children at home,
237	in school, and in the community.
238	2.  Eliminating the economic, political, and social forces
239	that lead to a lack of safety within the family, the community,
240	schools, and institutional structures.
241	3.  Assessing policies and practices, including sentencing,
242	incarceration, detention, and data reporting, in order to reduce
243	youth violence, crime, and recidivism.
244	(h)  Housing and community development.
245	1.  Strengthening the residential real estate market.
246	2.  Building on existing efforts to promote socioeconomic
247	diversity when developing a comprehensive land use strategic
248	plan.
249	3.  Promoting neighborhood beautification strategies.
250	(i)  Elder affairs.
251	1.  Identifying elder residents who are primary caregivers
252	for younger children.
253	2.  Improving the ability of elders to engage with the
254	school system.
255	3.  Ensuring that elders are aware of the many legal
256	options for relationships with children in their care, including
257	guardianship, adoption, kinship care, and becoming a foster
258	parent.
259	(j)  Faith community.
260	1.  Encouraging churches to institute "One Church, One
261	Child" programming as part of their social mission to increase
262	the number of foster children who are adopted in the children's
263	promise zone.
264	2.  Empowering churches with the capacity to provide
265	quality human services and technical assistance in grant writing
266	and program management.
267	3.  Encouraging churches to extend their ministries to
268	hard-to-reach populations.
269	(k)  Arts and culture.
270	1.  Strengthening arts and music programs for children and
271	young adults throughout the zone.
272	2.  Encouraging businesses, professional sports
273	organizations, and civic leaders to sponsor the attendance of
274	youth at special events in the children's promise zone.
275	3.  Increasing the exposure of the youth to other cultures
276	through travel and observation.
277	(l)  Evaluation.
278	1.  Facilitating the evaluation as developed by the
279	external evaluation team.
280	2.  Developing the capacity of member organizations to
281	conduct evaluations.
282	3.  Increasing the capability of member organizations to
283	collect and manage data.
284	4.  Assisting in the assessment needs, strengths, and
285	capacities of member organizations.
286	5.  Assisting in the development of ongoing sustainability
287	strategies.
288	(m)  Marketing and communication.
289	1.  Developing a marketing plan.
290	2.  Beginning the process of brand development.
291	3.  Developing community outreach plan goals and
292	objectives.
293	(n)  Fundraising and development.
294	1.  Developing fundraising goals and an overall development
295	strategy for a sustained 10-year outlook.
296	2.  Identifying potential donors.
297	3.  Outlining specific benefits to the community and the
298	economy of the children's promise zone.
299	(7)  CHILDREN'S PROMISE ZONE CORPORATION.--After the
300	governing body adopts the resolution described in subsection
301	(4), the county or municipality shall create a corporation not
302	for profit which shall be registered, incorporated, organized,
303	and operated in compliance with chapter 617. The purpose of the
304	corporation is to facilitate fundraising, to secure broad
305	community ownership of the children's promise zone, and, if the
306	area selected by the governing body is designated as a
307	children's promise zone, to:
308	(a)  Begin to transfer responsibility for planning from the
309	planning team to the corporation.
310	(b)  Begin the implementation and governance of the
311	children's zone community plan.
312	(8)  CREATION OF MIAMI MAGIC CITY CHILDREN'S PROMISE ZONE,
313	INC., PILOT PROJECT.--
314	(a)  There is created within the Liberty City neighborhood
315	in Miami-Dade County a 10-year pilot project zone that, by
316	November 1, 2009 2008, shall be managed by an entity organized
317	as a corporation not for profit which shall be registered,
318	incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with chapter
319	617. The corporation shall be known as the Miami Magic City
320	Children's Promise Zone, Inc., and shall be administratively
321	housed within the Department of Children and Family Services
322	Belafonte Tacolcy Center. However, Miami Magic City Children's
323	Promise Zone, Inc., is not subject to control, supervision, or
324	direction by the Department of Children and Family Services
325	Belafonte Tacolcy Center in any manner. The Legislature
326	determines, however, that public policy dictates that the
327	corporation operate in the most open and accessible manner
328	consistent with its public purpose. Therefore, the Legislature
329	specifically declares that the corporation is subject to chapter
330	119, relating to public records, chapter 286, relating to public
331	meetings and records, and chapter 287, relating to procurement
332	of commodities or contractual services.
333	(b)  This pilot project zone is designed to encompass an
334	area that is large enough to include all of the necessary
335	components of community life, including, but not limited to,
336	schools, places of worship, recreational facilities, commercial
337	areas, and common space, yet small enough to allow programs and
338	services to reach every willing member of the neighborhood.
339	Therefore, the geographic boundaries of the pilot project zone
340	are:
341	1.  Northwest 79th Street to the north;
342	2.  Northwest 36th Street to the south;
343	3.  North Miami Avenue to the east; and
344	4.  Northwest 27th Avenue to the west.
345	(c)1.  The corporation shall be governed by a 30-member 15-
346	member board of directors, which. The board of directors shall
347	consist of the following members:
348	a.  The district administrator for Miami-Dade County from
349	the Department of Children and Family Services or his or her
350	designee.
351	b.  The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools
352	or his or her designee.
353	c.  A representative from the Miami-Dade office of the
354	state attorney who works in child support enforcement.
355	d.  A representative from the Miami-Dade County Health
356	Department's Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade.
357	e.  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation or
358	his or her designee.
359	f.  The circuit coordinator from the Department of Juvenile
360	Justice or his or her designee.
361	g.  A representative from the Greater Miami Chamber of
362	Commerce.
363	h.  A representative from the Miami-Dade Chamber of
364	Commerce.
365	i.  A representative from the Haitian-American Chamber of
366	Commerce of Florida.
367	j.  The mayor of Miami-Dade County or his or her designee.
368	k.  A representative from the United Way of Miami-Dade.
369	l.  A representative from the Liberty Square Housing
370	Projects, appointed by the chair of the resident council.
371	m.  The director of the City of Miami Neighborhood
372	Enhancement Team or his or her designee.
373	n.  The executive director of the Jessie Trice Community
374	Health Center.
375	o.  A representative from the Public Health Trust at
376	Jackson Memorial Hospital.
377	p.  A representative from the City of Miami Police
378	Department North District, to be chosen by the commander.
379	q.  A representative from the Early Learning Coalition of
380	Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.
381	r.  The executive director of Habitat for Humanity or his
382	or her designee.
383	s.  The Mayor of the City of Miami or his or her designee.
384	t.  The Chief Executive Officer or President of the
385	Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County or his or her designee.
386	u.  A judge, to be appointed by the chief judge of the
387	juvenile division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
388	v.  A representative from the Healthy Families Florida
389	program, to be chosen by the executive director.
390	w.  A representative from the local Healthy Start
391	coalition.
392	x.  The executive director of the Miami-Dade Affordable
393	Housing Foundation or his or her designee.
394	y.  Six members that include residents and representatives
395	of local businesses, faith-based organizations, and nonprofit
396	organizations.
397	a.  The chief executive officer of the Belafonte Tacolcy
398	Center.
399	b.  The executive director of the Carrie P. Meek
400	Entrepreneurial Education Center, Miami-Dade College.
401	c.  The director of the Parks and Recreation Department of
402	the City of Miami.
403	d.  The director of the Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.
404	e.  The chief executive officer of the Urban League of
405	Greater Miami.
406	f.  The director of the Liberty City Service Partnership.
407	g.  The regional superintendent of the Miami-Dade County
408	Public Schools.
409	h.  The president of the Student Government Association of
410	Northwestern High School.
411	i.  The president of the Student Government Association of
412	Edison High School.
413	j.  The president of the Parent Teacher Student Association
414	of Northwestern High School.
415	k.  The president of the Parent Teacher Student Association
416	of Edison High School.
417	l.  Four members from the local private business sector, to
418	be appointed by a majority vote of the members designated in
419	sub-subparagraphs a.-k., all of whom must have significant
420	experience in one of the focus areas specified in subsection
421	(6).
422	2.  All members of the board of directors shall be
423	appointed no later than 90 days following the incorporation of
424	the Miami Magic City Children's Promise Zone, Inc., and:
425	a.  Eleven Members initially appointed pursuant to this
426	paragraph shall each serve a 2-year 4-year term.
427	b.  The remaining initial four appointees shall each serve
428	a 2-year term.
429	c.  Each member appointed thereafter shall serve a 4-year
430	term.
431	b.d.  A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in which
432	the original appointment was made, and a member appointed to
433	fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of that term.
434	c.e.  A member may not serve more than 8 years in
435	consecutive terms.
436	3.  The board of directors shall biennially annually elect
437	a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among the board's
438	members. The members may, by a vote of 16 eight members, remove
439	a member from the position of chairperson or vice chairperson
440	before the expiration of his or her term as chairperson or vice
441	chairperson. His or her successor shall be elected to serve for
442	the balance of the term of the chairperson or vice chairperson
443	who was removed.
444	4.  The board of directors shall meet at least four times
445	each year upon the call of the chairperson, at the request of
446	the vice chairperson, or at the request of a majority of the
447	membership. A majority of the membership constitutes a quorum.
448	The board of directors may take official action by a majority
449	vote of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is
450	present. The board may conduct its meetings through
451	teleconferences or other similar means.
452	5.  A member of the board of directors may be removed by a
453	majority of the membership. Absence from three consecutive
454	meetings results in automatic removal.
455	6.  Each member of the board of directors shall serve
456	without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for per
457	diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061 while in the
458	performance of his or her duties.
459	7.  The corporation shall create a standing advisory board
460	to assist in any part of its delegated duties. The membership of
461	the standing advisory board shall reflect the expertise
462	necessary for the implementation of the children's zone pilot
463	project.
464	8.  The board of directors has the power and duty to:
465	a.  Adopt articles of incorporation and bylaws necessary to
466	govern its activities.
467	b.  Begin to transfer responsibility for planning from the
468	children's zone planning team to the corporation.
469	c.  Begin the implementation and governance of the
470	children's zone community plan.
471	d.  Enter into a contract with a management consultant who
472	has experience working with social service and educational
473	entities for the purpose of developing a 10-year comprehensive
474	business plan to carry out the provisions of this section.
475	(d)  Miami Magic City Children's Promise Zone, Inc., shall
476	submit an annual report to the President of the Senate and the
477	Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 31, 2010
478	2009, and by January 31 of each year thereafter, which shall
479	include a comprehensive and detailed report of its operations,
480	activities, and accomplishments for the prior year as well as
481	its goals for the current year. The initial report shall also
482	include information concerning the status of the development of
483	a business plan.
484	(9)  IMPLEMENTATION.--In order to implement The
485	implementation of this section, the Department of Children and
486	Family Services shall contract is contingent upon a specific
487	appropriation to provide a grant for a 3-year period for the
488	purpose of implementing this section, which includes contracting
489	with a not-for-profit corporation for the development of a
490	business plan and for the evaluation, fiscal management, and
491	oversight of the Miami Magic City Children's Promise Zone, Inc.,
492	pilot project.
493	(10)  OUNCE INTEREST EARNINGS.--Notwithstanding s.
494	216.181(16)(b), the Ounce may retain any interest earned on
495	advances to expend on the children's promise zone activities.
496	The department shall develop reporting requirements that require
497	the Ounce to document the interest earnings and associated
498	expenditures on an annual basis.
499	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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