HB 1203

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to early learning; amending s. 39.0121,
3	F.S.; deleting an obsolete reference to the repealed
4	subsidized child care program; amending s. 39.202, F.S.;
5	replacing an obsolete reference to a repealed program with
6	an updated reference to the school readiness program;
7	authorizing county agencies responsible for licensure or
8	approval of child care providers to be granted access to
9	certain confidential reports and records in cases of child
10	abuse or neglect; amending s. 39.5085, F.S.; deleting an
11	obsolete reference to a repealed program; amending s.
12	383.14, F.S.; replacing obsolete references to the former
13	State Coordinating Council for School Readiness Programs
14	with updated references to the Agency for Workforce
15	Innovation; transferring, renumbering, and amending s.
16	402.25, F.S.; updating an obsolete reference to a repealed
17	program; deleting obsolete references relating to the
18	repealed prekindergarten early intervention program and
19	Florida First Start Program; amending s. 402.26, F.S.;
20	revising legislative intent; updating an obsolete
21	reference to a repealed program; amending s. 402.281,
22	F.S.; updating an obsolete reference to a former council;
23	requiring that the Department of Children and Family
24	Services consult with the Agency for Workforce Innovation
25	regarding the approval of accrediting associations for the
26	Gold Seal Quality Care program; transferring and
27	renumbering s. 402.3016, F.S., relating to Early Head
28	Start collaboration grants; transferring, renumbering, and
29	amending s. 402.3018, F.S.; transferring administration of
30	the statewide toll-free Warm-Line from the department to
31	the agency; conforming provisions; transferring,
32	renumbering, and amending s. 402.3051, F.S.; revising
33	procedures for child care market rate reimbursement and
34	child care grants; transferring authority to establish the
35	procedures from the department to the agency; directing
36	the agency to adopt a prevailing market rate schedule for
37	child care services; revising definitions; prohibiting the
38	schedule from interfering with parental choice;
39	authorizing the agency to enter into contracts and adopt
40	rules; amending s. 402.313, F.S.; deleting obsolete
41	provisions authorizing the department to license family
42	day care homes participating in a repealed program;
43	repealing ss. 402.3135 and 402.3145, F.S., relating to the
44	subsidized child care program case management program and
45	the subsidized child care transportation program; amending
46	s. 402.315, F.S.; revising provisions relating to fees
47	collected for child care facilities; amending s. 402.45,
48	F.S.; updating an obsolete reference relating to a former
49	council; directing the Department of Health to consult
50	with the agency regarding certain training provided for
51	contractors of the community resource mother or father
52	program; amending s. 409.1671, F.S.; clarifying that a
53	licensed foster home may be dually licensed as a child
54	care facility and receive certain payments for the same
55	child; deleting an obsolete reference to a repealed
56	program; amending s. 411.01, F.S.; revising provisions
57	relating to the School Readiness Act; revising legislative
58	intent; revising the duties and responsibilities of the
59	Agency for Workforce Innovation; deleting obsolete
60	provisions relating to procedures for merging early
61	learning coalitions; revising requirements for parental
62	choice; directing the agency to establish a formula for
63	allocating school readiness funds to each county;
64	providing for legislative notice and review of the
65	formula; amending s. 411.0101, F.S.; revising requirements
66	for services provided by the statewide child care resource
67	and referral network; updating obsolete references to
68	repealed programs; amending s. 411.0102, F.S.; revising
69	provisions relating to the Child Care Executive
70	Partnership Act; updating obsolete references to repealed
71	programs; deleting provisions relating to the duties of
72	each early coalition board; amending s. 411.203, F.S.;
73	deleting an obsolete reference to a repealed program;
74	conforming provisions; amending s. 411.221, F.S.; updating
75	an obsolete reference to a former council; amending ss.
76	445.024, 445.030, 490.014, and 491.014, F.S.; deleting
77	obsolete references to repealed programs; conforming
78	provisions to the repeal of the subsidized child care case
79	management program; amending ss. 1002.53, 1002.55,
80	1002.67, and 1002.71, F.S.; revising provisions relating
81	to the eligibility requirements for private
82	prekindergarten providers; conforming provisions to
83	changes made by the act; amending s. 1009.64, F.S.;
84	deleting an obsolete reference to a repealed program;
85	providing an effective date.
86
87	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
88
89	Section 1.  Subsection (7) of section 39.0121, Florida
90	Statutes, is amended to read:
91	39.0121  Specific rulemaking authority.-Pursuant to the
92	requirements of s. 120.536, the department is specifically
93	authorized to adopt, amend, and repeal administrative rules
94	which implement or interpret law or policy, or describe the
95	procedure and practice requirements necessary to implement this
96	chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:
97	(7)  Federal funding requirements and procedures; foster
98	care and adoption subsidies; and subsidized independent living;
99	and subsidized child care.
100	Section 2.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
101	39.202, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
102	39.202  Confidentiality of reports and records in cases of
103	child abuse or neglect.-
104	(2)  Except as provided in subsection (4), access to such
105	records, excluding the name of the reporter which shall be
106	released only as provided in subsection (5), shall be granted
107	only to the following persons, officials, and agencies:
108	(a)  Employees, authorized agents, or contract providers of
109	the department, the Department of Health, the Agency for Persons
110	with Disabilities, or county agencies responsible for carrying
111	out:
112	1.  Child or adult protective investigations;
113	2.  Ongoing child or adult protective services;
114	3.  Early intervention and prevention services;
115	4.  Healthy Start services;
116	5.  Licensure or approval of adoptive homes, foster homes,
117	child care facilities, facilities licensed under chapter 393, or
118	family day care homes or informal child care providers who
119	receive school readiness subsidized child care funding, or other
120	homes used to provide for the care and welfare of children; or
121	6.  Services for victims of domestic violence when provided
122	by certified domestic violence centers working at the
123	department's request as case consultants or with shared clients.
124
125	Also, employees or agents of the Department of Juvenile Justice
126	responsible for the provision of services to children, pursuant
127	to chapters 984 and 985.
128	Section 3.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section
129	39.5085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
130	39.5085  Relative Caregiver Program.-
131	(2)
132	(f)  Within available funding, the Relative Caregiver
133	Program shall provide relative caregivers with family support
134	and preservation services, flexible funds in accordance with s.
135	409.165, subsidized child care, and other available services in
136	order to support the child's safety, growth, and healthy
137	development. Children living with relative caregivers who are
138	receiving assistance under this section shall be eligible for
139	Medicaid coverage.
140	Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection
141	(2) of section 383.14, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
142	383.14  Screening for metabolic disorders, other hereditary
143	and congenital disorders, and environmental risk factors.-
144	(1)  SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.-To help ensure access to the
145	maternal and child health care system, the Department of Health
146	shall promote the screening of all newborns born in Florida for
147	metabolic, hereditary, and congenital disorders known to result
148	in significant impairment of health or intellect, as screening
149	programs accepted by current medical practice become available
150	and practical in the judgment of the department. The department
151	shall also promote the identification and screening of all
152	newborns in this state and their families for environmental risk
153	factors such as low income, poor education, maternal and family
154	stress, emotional instability, substance abuse, and other high-
155	risk conditions associated with increased risk of infant
156	mortality and morbidity to provide early intervention,
157	remediation, and prevention services, including, but not limited
158	to, parent support and training programs, home visitation, and
159	case management. Identification, perinatal screening, and
160	intervention efforts shall begin prior to and immediately
161	following the birth of the child by the attending health care
162	provider. Such efforts shall be conducted in hospitals,
163	perinatal centers, county health departments, school health
164	programs that provide prenatal care, and birthing centers, and
165	reported to the Office of Vital Statistics.
166	(b)  Postnatal screening.-A risk factor analysis using the
167	department's designated risk assessment instrument shall also be
168	conducted as part of the medical screening process upon the
169	birth of a child and submitted to the department's Office of
170	Vital Statistics for recording and other purposes provided for
171	in this chapter. The department's screening process for risk
172	assessment shall include a scoring mechanism and procedures that
173	establish thresholds for notification, further assessment,
174	referral, and eligibility for services by professionals or
175	paraprofessionals consistent with the level of risk. Procedures
176	for developing and using the screening instrument, notification,
177	referral, and care coordination services, reporting
178	requirements, management information, and maintenance of a
179	computer-driven registry in the Office of Vital Statistics which
180	ensures privacy safeguards must be consistent with the
181	provisions and plans established under chapter 411, Pub. L. No.
182	99-457, and this chapter. Procedures established for reporting
183	information and maintaining a confidential registry must include
184	a mechanism for a centralized information depository at the
185	state and county levels. The department shall coordinate with
186	existing risk assessment systems and information registries. The
187	department must ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the
188	screening information registry is integrated with the
189	department's automated data systems, including the Florida On-
190	line Recipient Integrated Data Access (FLORIDA) system. Tests
191	and screenings must be performed by the State Public Health
192	Laboratory, in coordination with Children's Medical Services, at
193	such times and in such manner as is prescribed by the department
194	after consultation with the Genetics and Infant Screening
195	Advisory Council and the Agency for Workforce Innovation State
196	Coordinating Council for School Readiness Programs.
197	(2)  RULES.-After consultation with the Genetics and
198	Newborn Screening Advisory Council, the department shall adopt
199	and enforce rules requiring that every newborn in this state
200	shall, prior to becoming 1 week of age, be subjected to a test
201	for phenylketonuria and, at the appropriate age, be tested for
202	such other metabolic diseases and hereditary or congenital
203	disorders as the department may deem necessary from time to
204	time. After consultation with the Agency for Workforce
205	Innovation State Coordinating Council for School Readiness
206	Programs, the department shall also adopt and enforce rules
207	requiring every newborn in this state to be screened for
208	environmental risk factors that place children and their
209	families at risk for increased morbidity, mortality, and other
210	negative outcomes. The department shall adopt such additional
211	rules as are found necessary for the administration of this
212	section and s. 383.145, including rules providing definitions of
213	terms, rules relating to the methods used and time or times for
214	testing as accepted medical practice indicates, rules relating
215	to charging and collecting fees for the administration of the
216	newborn screening program authorized by this section, rules for
217	processing requests and releasing test and screening results,
218	and rules requiring mandatory reporting of the results of tests
219	and screenings for these conditions to the department.
220	Section 5.  Section 402.25, Florida Statutes, is
221	transferred, renumbered as section 411.0106, Florida Statutes,
222	and amended to read:
223	411.0106 402.25  Infants and toddlers in state-funded
224	education and care programs; brain development activities.-Each
225	state-funded education and care program for children from birth
226	to 5 years of age must provide activities to foster brain
227	development in infants and toddlers. A program must provide an
228	environment that helps children attain the performance standards
229	adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation under s.
230	411.01(4)(d)8. and must be rich in language and music and filled
231	with objects of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to
232	stimulate visual, tactile, auditory, and linguistic senses in
233	the children and must include classical music and at least 30
234	minutes of reading to the children each day. A program may be
235	offered through an existing early childhood program such as
236	Healthy Start, the Title I program, the school readiness program
237	contracted or directly operated subsidized child care, the
238	prekindergarten early intervention program, Florida First Start,
239	the Head Start program, or a private child care program. A
240	program must provide training for the infants' and toddlers'
241	parents including direct dialogue and interaction between
242	teachers and parents demonstrating the urgency of brain
243	development in the first year of a child's life. Family day care
244	centers are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this
245	section.
246	Section 6.  Subsection (5) of section 402.26, Florida
247	Statutes, is amended to read:
248	402.26  Child care; legislative intent.-
249	(5)  It is the further intent of the Legislature to provide
250	and make accessible child care opportunities for children at
251	risk, economically disadvantaged children, and other children
252	traditionally disenfranchised from society. In achieving this
253	intent, the Legislature shall develop early learning programs a
254	subsidized child care system, a range of child care options,
255	support services, and linkages with other programs to fully meet
256	the child care needs of this population.
257	Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 402.281, Florida
258	Statutes, is amended to read:
259	402.281  Gold Seal Quality Care program.-
260	(2)  In developing the Gold Seal Quality Care program
261	standards, the department shall consult with the Department of
262	Education, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Florida Head
263	Start Directors Association, the Florida Association of Child
264	Care Management, the Florida Family Day Care Association, the
265	Florida Children's Forum, the State Coordinating Council for
266	School Readiness Programs, the Early Childhood Association of
267	Florida, the National Association for Child Development
268	Education, providers receiving exemptions under s. 402.316, and
269	parents, for the purpose of approving the accrediting
270	associations.
271	Section 8.  Section 402.3016, Florida Statutes, is
272	transferred and renumbered as section 411.0104, Florida
273	Statutes.
274	Section 9.  Section 402.3018, Florida Statutes, is
275	transferred, renumbered as section 411.01015, Florida Statutes,
276	and amended to read:
277	411.01015 402.3018  Consultation to child care centers and
278	family day care homes regarding health, developmental,
279	disability, and special needs issues.-
280	(1)  Contingent upon specific appropriations, the Agency
281	for Workforce Innovation shall administer department is directed
282	to contract with the statewide resource information and referral
283	agency for a statewide toll-free Warm-Line for the purpose of
284	providing assistance and consultation to child care centers and
285	family day care homes regarding health, developmental,
286	disability, and special needs issues of the children they are
287	serving, particularly children with disabilities and other
288	special needs.
289	(2)  The purpose of the Warm-Line is to provide advice to
290	child care personnel concerning strategies, curriculum, and
291	environmental adaptations that allow a child with a disability
292	or special need to derive maximum benefit from the child care
293	services experience.
294	(3)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation department shall
295	annually inform child care centers and family day care homes of
296	the availability of this service through the child care resource
297	and referral network under s. 411.0101, on an annual basis.
298	(4)  Contingent upon specific appropriations, the Agency
299	for Workforce Innovation department shall expand, or contract
300	for the expansion of, the Warm-Line to maintain at least one
301	Warm-Line site in each early learning coalition service area
302	from one statewide site to one Warm-Line site in each child care
303	resource and referral agency region.
304	(5)  Each regional Warm-Line shall provide assistance and
305	consultation to child care centers and family day care homes
306	regarding health, developmental, disability, and special needs
307	issues of the children they are serving, particularly children
308	with disabilities and other special needs. Regional Warm-Line
309	staff shall provide onsite technical assistance, when requested,
310	to assist child care centers and family day care homes with
311	inquiries relative to the strategies, curriculum, and
312	environmental adaptations the child care centers and family day
313	care homes may need as they serve children with disabilities and
314	other special needs.
315	Section 10.  Section 402.3051, Florida Statutes, is
316	transferred, renumbered as section 411.01013, Florida Statutes,
317	and amended to read:
318	(Substantial rewording of section. See
319	s. 402.3051, F.S., for present text.)
320	411.01013  Prevailing market rate schedule.-
321	(1)  As used in this section, the term:
322	(a)  "Market rate" means the price that a child care
323	provider charges for daily, weekly, or monthly child care
324	services.
325	(b)  "Prevailing market rate" means the annually determined
326	75th percentile of a reasonable frequency distribution of the
327	market rate in a predetermined geographic market at which child
328	care providers charge a person for child care services.
329	(2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall establish
330	procedures for the adoption of a prevailing market rate
331	schedule. The schedule must include, at a minimum, county-by-
332	county rates:
333	(a)  At the prevailing market rate, plus the maximum rate,
334	for child care providers that hold a Gold Seal Quality Care
335	designation under s. 402.281.
336	(b)  At the prevailing market rate for child care providers
337	that do not hold a Gold Seal Quality Care designation.
338	(3)  The prevailing market rate schedule, at a minimum,
339	must:
340	(a)  Differentiate rates by the type of child care
341	provider, including, but not limited to, a child care facility
342	licensed under s. 402.305, a public or nonpublic school exempt
343	from licensure under s. 402.3025, a faith-based child care
344	facility exempt from licensure under s. 402.316, a large family
345	child care home licensed under s. 402.3131, a family day care
346	home licensed or registered under s. 402.313, or an after-school
347	program that is not defined as child care under rules adopted
348	pursuant to s. 402.3045.
349	(b)  Differentiate rates by the type of child care services
350	provided for children with special needs or risk categories,
351	infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and school-age
352	children.
353	(c)  Differentiate rates between full-time and part-time
354	child care services.
355	(d)  Consider discounted rates for child care services for
356	multiple children in a single family.
357	(4)  The prevailing market rate schedule may not interfere
358	with the parental choice of child care providers under s.
359	411.01, regardless of available funding for the school readiness
360	program. The prevailing market rate schedule must be based
361	exclusively on the prices charged for child care services.
362	(5)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may contract with
363	one or more qualified entities to administer this section and
364	provide support and technical assistance for child care
365	providers.
366	(6)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may adopt rules
367	pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this
368	section.
369	Section 11.  Subsection (1) of section 402.313, Florida
370	Statutes, is amended to read:
371	402.313  Family day care homes.-
372	(1)  Family day care homes shall be licensed under this act
373	if they are presently being licensed under an existing county
374	licensing ordinance, if they are participating in the subsidized
375	child care program, or if the board of county commissioners
376	passes a resolution that family day care homes be licensed. If
377	no county authority exists for the licensing of a family day
378	care home, the department shall have the authority to license
379	family day care homes under contract for the purchase-of-service
380	system in the subsidized child care program.
381	(a)  If not subject to license, family day care homes shall
382	register annually with the department, providing the following
383	information:
384	1.  The name and address of the home.
385	2.  The name of the operator.
386	3.  The number of children served.
387	4.  Proof of a written plan to provide at least one other
388	competent adult to be available to substitute for the operator
389	in an emergency. This plan shall include the name, address, and
390	telephone number of the designated substitute.
391	5.  Proof of screening and background checks.
392	6.  Proof of successful completion of the 30-hour training
393	course, as evidenced by passage of a competency examination,
394	which shall include:
395	a.  State and local rules and regulations that govern child
396	care.
397	b.  Health, safety, and nutrition.
398	c.  Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.
399	d.  Child development, including typical and atypical
400	language development; and cognitive, motor, social, and self-
401	help skills development.
402	e.  Observation of developmental behaviors, including using
403	a checklist or other similar observation tools and techniques to
404	determine a child's developmental level.
405	f.  Specialized areas, including early literacy and
406	language development of children from birth to 5 years of age,
407	as determined by the department, for owner-operators of family
408	day care homes.
409	7.  Proof that immunization records are kept current.
410	8.  Proof of completion of the required continuing
411	education units or clock hours.
412	(b)  A family day care home not participating in the
413	subsidized child care program may volunteer to be licensed under
414	the provisions of this act.
415	(c)  The department may provide technical assistance to
416	counties and family day care home providers to enable counties
417	and family day care providers to achieve compliance with family
418	day care homes standards.
419	Section 12.  Sections 402.3135 and 402.3145, Florida
420	Statutes, are repealed.
421	Section 13.  Subsection (3) of section 402.315, Florida
422	Statutes, is amended to read:
423	402.315  Funding; license fees.-
424	(3)  The department shall collect a fee for any license it
425	issues for a child care facility, family day care home, or large
426	family child care home pursuant to ss. 402.305, 402.313, and
427	402.3131 s. 402.308.
428	(a)  For a child care facility licensed pursuant to s.
429	402.305, such fee shall be $1 per child based on the licensed
430	capacity of the facility, except that the minimum fee shall be
431	$25 per facility center and the maximum fee shall be $100 per
432	facility center.
433	(b)  For a family day care home registered pursuant to s.
434	402.313, such fee shall be $25.
435	(c)  For a family day care home licensed pursuant to s.
436	402.313, such fee shall be $50.
437	(d)  For a large family child care home licensed pursuant
438	to s. 402.3131, such fee shall be $60.
439	Section 14.  Subsection (6) of section 402.45, Florida
440	Statutes, is amended to read:
441	402.45  Community resource mother or father program.-
442	(6)  Individuals under contract to provide community
443	resource mother or father services shall participate in
444	preservice and ongoing training as determined by the Department
445	of Health in consultation with the Agency for Workforce
446	Innovation State Coordinating Council for School Readiness
447	Programs. A community resource mother or father shall not be
448	assigned a client caseload until all preservice training
449	requirements are completed.
450	Section 15.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
451	409.1671, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
452	409.1671  Foster care and related services; outsourcing.-
453	(5)
454	(c)  A foster home dually licensed home under this section
455	may shall be dually licensed as a child care facility under
456	chapter 402 and may eligible to receive both an out-of-home care
457	payment and, to the extent permitted under federal law, school
458	readiness funding a subsidized child care payment for the same
459	child pursuant to federal law. The department may adopt
460	administrative rules necessary to administer this paragraph.
461	Section 16.  Paragraphs (a), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of
462	subsection (2) and subsections (4) through (11) of section
463	411.01, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
464	411.01  School readiness programs; early learning
465	coalitions.-
466	(2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-
467	(a)  The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
468	programs increase children's chances of achieving future
469	educational success and becoming productive members of society.
470	It is the intent of the Legislature that the programs be
471	developmentally appropriate, research-based, involve the parent
472	parents as a their child's first teacher, serve as preventive
473	measures for children at risk of future school failure, enhance
474	the educational readiness of eligible children, and support
475	family education. Each school readiness program shall provide
476	the elements necessary to prepare at-risk children for school,
477	including health screening and referral and an appropriate
478	educational program.
479	(d)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
480	administrative staff at the state level for school readiness
481	programs be kept to the minimum necessary to administer the
482	duties of the Agency for Workforce Innovation and early learning
483	coalitions, as the school readiness programs are to be
484	regionally designed, operated, and managed, with the Agency for
485	Workforce Innovation developing school readiness program
486	performance standards and outcome measures and approving and
487	reviewing early learning coalitions and school readiness plans.
488	(e)  It is the intent of the Legislature that
489	appropriations for combined school readiness programs shall not
490	be less than the programs would receive in any fiscal year on an
491	uncombined basis.
492	(e)(f)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the school
493	readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction with the
494	district school systems. However, it is also the intent of the
495	Legislature that the school readiness program not be construed
496	as part of the system of free public schools but rather as a
497	separate program for children under the age of kindergarten
498	eligibility, funded separately from the system of free public
499	schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale, and providing
500	an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services
501	for the state's birth-to-kindergarten population.
502	(g)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the federal
503	child care income tax credit be preserved for school readiness
504	programs.
505	(f)(h)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school
506	readiness services shall be an integrated and seamless program
507	system of services with a developmentally appropriate education
508	component for the state's eligible birth-to-kindergarten
509	population described in subsection (6) and shall not be
510	construed as part of the seamless K-20 education system.
511	(4)  AGENCY FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION.-
512	(a)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall administer
513	school readiness programs at the state level and shall
514	coordinate with the early learning coalitions in providing
515	school readiness services on a full-day, full-year, full-choice
516	basis to the extent possible in order to enable parents to work
517	and be financially self-sufficient.
518	(b)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall:
519	1.  Coordinate the birth-to-kindergarten services for
520	children who are eligible under subsection (6) and the
521	programmatic, administrative, and fiscal standards under this
522	section for all public providers of school readiness programs.
523	2.  Continue to provide unified leadership for school
524	readiness through early learning coalitions.
525	2.3.  Focus on improving the educational quality of all
526	program providers participating in publicly funded school
527	readiness programs.
528	(c)  The Governor shall designate the Agency for Workforce
529	Innovation as the lead agency for purposes of administration of
530	the federal Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98
531	and 99, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation may be
532	designated by the Governor as the lead agency and, if so
533	designated, shall comply with the lead agency responsibilities
534	under federal law.
535	(d)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall:
536	1.  Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
537	private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
538	requirements.
539	2.  Provide final approval and every 2 years periodic
540	review of early learning coalitions and school readiness plans.
541	3.  Establish Provide leadership for the enhancement of
542	school readiness in this state by aggressively establishing a
543	unified approach to the state's efforts toward enhancement of
544	school readiness. In support of this effort, the Agency for
545	Workforce Innovation shall adopt may develop and implement
546	specific system support service strategies that address the
547	state's school readiness programs. An early learning coalition
548	shall amend its school readiness plan to conform to the specific
549	system support service strategies adopted by the Agency for
550	Workforce Innovation. System support services shall include, but
551	are not limited to:
552	a.  Child care resource and referral services;
553	b.  Warm-Line services;
554	c.  Eligibility determinations;
555	d.  Child performance standards;
556	e.  Child screening and assessment;
557	f.  Developmentally appropriate curricula;
558	g.  Health and safety requirements;
559	h.  Statewide data system requirements; and
560	i.  Rating and improvement systems.
561	4.  Safeguard the effective use of federal, state, local,
562	and private resources to achieve the highest possible level of
563	school readiness for the children in this state.
564	5.  Adopt a rule establishing criteria for the expenditure
565	of funds designated for the purpose of funding activities to
566	improve the quality of child care within the state in accordance
567	with s. 658G of the federal Child Care and Development Block
568	Grant Act.
569	6.5.  Provide technical assistance to early learning
570	coalitions in a manner determined by the Agency for Workforce
571	Innovation based upon information obtained by the agency from
572	various sources, including, but not limited to, public input,
573	government reports, private interest group reports, agency
574	monitoring visits, and coalition requests for service.
575	7.  In cooperation with the Department of Education and
576	early learning coalitions, coordinate with the Child Care
577	Services Program Office of the Department of Children and Family
578	Services to minimize duplicating interagency activities, health
579	and safety monitoring, and acquiring and composing data
580	pertaining to child care training and credentialing.
581	6.  Assess gaps in service.
582	7.  Provide technical assistance to counties that form a
583	multicounty region served by an early learning coalition.
584	8.  Develop and adopt performance standards and outcome
585	measures for school readiness programs. The performance
586	standards must address the age-appropriate progress of children
587	in the development of the school readiness skills required under
588	paragraph (j). The performance standards for children from birth
589	to 5 3 years of age in school readiness programs must be
590	integrated with the performance standards adopted by the
591	Department of Education for children in the Voluntary
592	Prekindergarten Education Program under s. 1002.67.
593	9.  Adopt a standard contract that must be used by the
594	coalitions when contracting with school readiness providers.
595	(e)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation may adopt rules
596	under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer the provisions of
597	law conferring duties upon the agency, including, but not
598	limited to, rules governing the administration of system support
599	services preparation and implementation of the school readiness
600	programs system, the collection of data, the approval of early
601	learning coalitions and school readiness plans, the provision of
602	a method whereby an early learning coalition may serve two or
603	more counties, the award of incentives to early learning
604	coalitions, child performance standards, child outcome measures,
605	and the issuance of waivers, and the implementation of the
606	state's Child Care and Development Fund Plan as approved by the
607	federal Administration for Children and Families.
608	(f)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall have all
609	powers necessary to administer this section, including, but not
610	limited to, the power to receive and accept grants, loans, or
611	advances of funds from any public or private agency and to
612	receive and accept from any source contributions of money,
613	property, labor, or any other thing of value, to be held, used,
614	and applied for purposes of this section.
615	(g)  Except as provided by law, the Agency for Workforce
616	Innovation may not impose requirements on a child care or early
617	childhood education provider that does not deliver services
618	under the a school readiness programs program or receive state
619	or federal funds under this section.
620	(h)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall have a
621	budget for the school readiness programs system, which shall be
622	financed through an annual appropriation made for purposes of
623	this section in the General Appropriations Act.
624	(i)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall coordinate
625	the efforts toward school readiness in this state and provide
626	independent policy analyses, data analyses, and recommendations
627	to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the
628	Legislature.
629	(j)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall require that
630	each early learning coalition's school readiness programs
631	program must, at a minimum, enhance the age-appropriate progress
632	of each child in attaining the performance standards adopted
633	under subparagraph (d)8. and in the development of the following
634	school readiness skills:
635	1.  Compliance with rules, limitations, and routines.
636	2.  Ability to perform tasks.
637	3.  Interactions with adults.
638	4.  Interactions with peers.
639	5.  Ability to cope with challenges.
640	6.  Self-help skills.
641	7.  Ability to express the child's needs.
642	8.  Verbal communication skills.
643	9.  Problem-solving skills.
644	10.  Following of verbal directions.
645	11.  Demonstration of curiosity, persistence, and
646	exploratory behavior.
647	12.  Interest in books and other printed materials.
648	13.  Paying attention to stories.
649	14.  Participation in art and music activities.
650	15.  Ability to identify colors, geometric shapes, letters
651	of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and temporal
652	relationships.
653
654	Within 30 days after enrollment The Agency for Workforce
655	Innovation shall also require that, before a child is enrolled
656	in the an early learning coalition's school readiness program,
657	the early learning coalition must ensure that the program
658	provider obtains information is obtained by the coalition or the
659	school readiness provider regarding the child's immunizations,
660	physical development, and other health requirements as
661	necessary, including appropriate vision and hearing screening
662	and examinations as required by s. 402.305(9) and as verified
663	pursuant to s. 402.311.
664	(k)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall conduct
665	studies and planning activities related to the overall
666	improvement and effectiveness of the outcome measures adopted by
667	the agency for school readiness programs and the specific system
668	support service strategies to address the state's school
669	readiness programs adopted by the Agency for Workforce
670	Innovation in accordance with subparagraph (d)3.
671	(l)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall monitor and
672	evaluate the performance of each early learning coalition in
673	administering the school readiness program, implementing the
674	coalition's school readiness plan, and administering the
675	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. These monitoring
676	and performance evaluations must include, at a minimum, onsite
677	monitoring of each coalition's finances, management, operations,
678	and programs.
679	(m)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall identify
680	best practices of early learning coalitions in order to improve
681	the outcomes of school readiness programs.
682	(m)(n)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall submit an
683	annual report of its activities conducted under this section to
684	the Governor, the executive director of the Florida Healthy Kids
685	Corporation, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
686	House of Representatives, and the minority leaders of both
687	houses of the Legislature. In addition, the Agency for Workforce
688	Innovation's reports and recommendations shall be made available
689	to the State Board of Education, the Florida Early Learning
690	Advisory Council and, other appropriate state agencies and
691	entities, district school boards, central agencies, and county
692	health departments. The annual report must provide an analysis
693	of school readiness activities across the state, including the
694	number of children who were served in the programs.
695	(n)(o)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall work with
696	the early learning coalitions to ensure availability of training
697	and support for parental increase parents' training for and
698	involvement in their children's early preschool education and to
699	provide family literacy activities and services programs.
700	(5)  CREATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS.-
701	(a)  Early learning coalitions.-
702	1.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall establish the
703	minimum number of children to be served by each early learning
704	coalition through the coalition's school readiness program. The
705	Agency for Workforce Innovation may only approve school
706	readiness plans in accordance with this minimum number. The
707	minimum number must be uniform for every early learning
708	coalition and must:
709	a.  Permit 31 30 or fewer coalitions to be established; and
710	b.  Require each coalition to serve at least 2,000 children
711	based upon the average number of all children served per month
712	through the coalition's school readiness program during the
713	previous 12 months.
714
715	The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt procedures for
716	merging early learning coalitions, including procedures for the
717	consolidation of merging coalitions, and for the early
718	termination of the terms of coalition members which are
719	necessary to accomplish the mergers. Each early learning
720	coalition must comply with the merger procedures and shall be
721	organized in accordance with this subparagraph by April 1, 2005.
722	By June 30, 2005, each coalition must complete the transfer of
723	powers, duties, functions, rules, records, personnel, property,
724	and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and
725	other funds to the successor coalition, if applicable.
726	2.  If an early learning coalition would serve fewer
727	children than the minimum number established under subparagraph
728	1., the coalition must merge with another county to form a
729	multicounty coalition. However, the Agency for Workforce
730	Innovation may authorize an early learning coalition to serve
731	fewer children than the minimum number established under
732	subparagraph 1., if:
733	a.  The coalition demonstrates to the Agency for Workforce
734	Innovation that merging with another county or multicounty
735	region contiguous to the coalition would cause an extreme
736	hardship on the coalition;
737	b.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation has determined
738	during the most recent annual review of the coalition's school
739	readiness plan, or through monitoring and performance
740	evaluations conducted under paragraph (4)(l), that the coalition
741	has substantially implemented its plan and substantially met the
742	performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the
743	agency; and
744	c.  The coalition demonstrates to the Agency for Workforce
745	Innovation the coalition's ability to effectively and
746	efficiently implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
747	Program.
748
749	If an early learning coalition fails or refuses to merge as
750	required by this subparagraph, the Agency for Workforce
751	Innovation may dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract
752	with a qualified entity to continue school readiness and
753	prekindergarten services in the coalition's county or
754	multicounty region until the agency reestablishes the coalition
755	and a new is reestablished through resubmission of a school
756	readiness plan is approved and approval by the agency.
757	3.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs 1. and
758	2., the early learning coalitions in Sarasota, Osceola, and
759	Santa Rosa Counties which were in operation on January 1, 2005,
760	are established and authorized to continue operation as
761	independent coalitions, and shall not be counted within the
762	limit of 30 coalitions established in subparagraph 1.
763	3.4.  Each early learning coalition shall be composed of at
764	least 15 18 members but not more than 30 35 members. The Agency
765	for Workforce Innovation shall adopt standards establishing
766	within this range the minimum and maximum number of members that
767	may be appointed to an early learning coalition. These standards
768	must include variations for a coalition serving a multicounty
769	region. Each early learning coalition must comply with these
770	standards.
771	4.5.  The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
772	members of each early learning coalition, who must each meet the
773	same qualifications as private sector business members appointed
774	by the coalition under subparagraph 6.7.
775	5.6.  Each early learning coalition must include the
776	following member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition,
777	each ex officio member position may be filled by multiple
778	nonvoting members but no more than one voting member shall be
779	seated per member position members:
780	a.  A Department of Children and Family Services circuit
781	district administrator or his or her designee who is authorized
782	to make decisions on behalf of the department.
783	b.  A district superintendent of schools or his or her
784	designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the
785	district, who shall be a nonvoting member.
786	c.  A regional workforce board executive director or his or
787	her designee.
788	d.  A county health department director or his or her
789	designee.
790	d.e.  A children's services council or juvenile welfare
791	board chair or executive director, if applicable, who shall be a
792	nonvoting member if the council or board is the fiscal agent of
793	the coalition or if the council or board contracts with and
794	receives funds from the coalition for any purpose other than
795	rent.
796	e.f.  An agency head of a local licensing agency as defined
797	in s. 402.302, where applicable.
798	f.g.  A president of a community college or his or her
799	designee.
800	g.h.  One member appointed by a board of county
801	commissioners or the governing board of a municipality.
802	i.  A central agency administrator, where applicable, who
803	shall be a nonvoting member.
804	h.j.  A Head Start director, who shall be a nonvoting
805	member.
806	i.k.  A representative of private for-profit child care
807	providers, including private for-profit family day care homes,
808	who shall be a nonvoting member.
809	j.l.  A representative of faith-based child care providers,
810	who shall be a nonvoting member.
811	k.m.  A representative of programs for children with
812	disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
813	Education Act, who shall be a nonvoting member.
814	6.7.  Including the members appointed by the Governor under
815	subparagraph 4.5., more than one-third of the members of each
816	early learning coalition must be private sector business members
817	who do not have, and none of whose relatives as defined in s.
818	112.3143 has, a substantial financial interest in the design or
819	delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
820	created under part V of chapter 1002 or the coalition's school
821	readiness program. To meet this requirement an early learning
822	coalition must appoint additional members from a list of
823	nominees submitted to the coalition by a chamber of commerce or
824	economic development council within the geographic region served
825	by the coalition. The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall
826	establish criteria for appointing private sector business
827	members. These criteria must include standards for determining
828	whether a member or relative has a substantial financial
829	interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
830	Prekindergarten Education Program or the coalition's school
831	readiness program.
832	7.8.  A majority of the voting membership of an early
833	learning coalition constitutes a quorum required to conduct the
834	business of the coalition. An early learning coalition board may
835	use any method of telecommunications to conduct meetings,
836	including establishing a quorum through telecommunications,
837	provided that the public is given proper notice of a
838	telecommunications meeting and reasonable access to observe and,
839	when appropriate, participate.
840	8.9.  A voting member of an early learning coalition may
841	not appoint a designee to act in his or her place, except as
842	otherwise provided in this paragraph. A voting member may send a
843	representative to coalition meetings, but that representative
844	does not have voting privileges. When a district administrator
845	for the Department of Children and Family Services appoints a
846	designee to an early learning coalition, the designee is the
847	voting member of the coalition, and any individual attending in
848	the designee's place, including the district administrator, does
849	not have voting privileges.
850	9.10.  Each member of an early learning coalition is
851	subject to ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. For purposes of
852	s. 112.3143(3)(a), each voting member is a local public officer
853	who must abstain from voting when a voting conflict exists.
854	10.11.  For purposes of tort liability, each member or
855	employee of an early learning coalition shall be governed by s.
856	768.28.
857	11.12.  An early learning coalition serving a multicounty
858	region must include representation from each county.
859	12.13.  Each early learning coalition shall establish terms
860	for all appointed members of the coalition. The terms must be
861	staggered and must be a uniform length that does not exceed 4
862	years per term. Coalition chairs shall be appointed for 4 years
863	in conjunction with their membership on the Early Learning
864	Advisory Council under s. 20.052. Appointed members may serve a
865	maximum of two consecutive terms. When a vacancy occurs in an
866	appointed position, the coalition must advertise the vacancy.
867	(b)  Limitation.-Except as provided by law, the early
868	learning coalitions may not impose requirements on a child care
869	or early childhood education provider that does not deliver
870	services under the school readiness programs or receive state,
871	federal, required maintenance of effort, or matching funds under
872	this section.
873	(b)  Program participation.-The school readiness program
874	shall be established for children from birth to the beginning of
875	the school year for which a child is eligible for admission to
876	kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. The
877	program shall be administered by the early learning coalition.
878	Within funding limitations, the early learning coalition, along
879	with all providers, shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate
880	the needs of children for extended-day and extended-year
881	services without compromising the quality of the program.
882	(c)  Program expectations.-
883	1.  The school readiness program must meet the following
884	expectations:
885	a.  The program must, at a minimum, enhance the age-
886	appropriate progress of each child in attaining the development
887	of the school readiness skills required under paragraph (4)(j),
888	as measured by the performance standards and outcome measures
889	adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
890	b.  The program must provide extended-day and extended-year
891	services to the maximum extent possible without compromising the
892	quality of the program to meet the needs of parents who work.
893	c.  The program There must provide a be coordinated
894	professional staff development system that supports the
895	achievement and maintenance of core competencies by school
896	readiness instructors in helping children attain the performance
897	standards and outcome measures adopted by the Agency for
898	Workforce Innovation and teaching opportunities.
899	d.  There must be expanded access to community services and
900	resources for families to help achieve economic self-
901	sufficiency.
902	e.  There must be a single point of entry and unified
903	waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term "single
904	point of entry" means an integrated information system that
905	allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school
906	readiness program at various locations throughout a the county
907	or multicounty region served by an early learning coalition,
908	that may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone
909	or through an Internet website, and that uses a unified waiting
910	list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the
911	school readiness program. The Agency for Workforce Innovation
912	shall establish through technology a single statewide
913	information system that each coalition must use for the purposes
914	of managing the integrates each early learning coalition's
915	single point of entry, tracking children's progress,
916	coordinating services among stakeholders, determining
917	eligibility, tracking child attendance, and streamlining
918	administrative processes for providers and early learning
919	coalitions and each coalition must use the statewide system.
920	f.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation must consider the
921	access of eligible children to the school readiness program, as
922	demonstrated in part by waiting lists, before approving a
923	proposed increase in payment rates submitted by an early
924	learning coalition. In addition, early learning coalitions shall
925	use school readiness funds made available due to enrollment
926	shifts from school readiness programs to the Voluntary
927	Prekindergarten Education Program for increasing the number of
928	children served in school readiness programs before increasing
929	payment rates.
930	g.  There must be a community plan to address the needs of
931	all eligible children.
932	g.h.  The program must meet all state licensing guidelines,
933	where applicable.
934	h.  The program must ensure that minimum standards for
935	child discipline practices are age-appropriate. Pursuant to s.
936	402.305(12) and as verified pursuant to s. 402.311, such
937	standards must provide that children not be subjected to
938	discipline that is severe, humiliating, or frightening and may
939	not be associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any
940	other form of physical punishment is prohibited.
941	2.  Each The early learning coalition must implement a
942	comprehensive program of school readiness services in accordance
943	with the rules adopted by the agency which that enhance the
944	cognitive, social, and physical development of children to
945	achieve the performance standards and outcome measures adopted
946	by the agency for Workforce Innovation. At a minimum, these
947	programs must contain the following system support service
948	elements:
949	a.  Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to
950	enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining
951	the performance standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce
952	Innovation under subparagraph (4)(d)8.
953	b.  A character development program to develop basic
954	values.
955	c.  An age-appropriate screening assessment of each child's
956	development.
957	d.  An age-appropriate assessment A pretest administered to
958	children when they enter a program and an age-appropriate
959	assessment a posttest administered to children when they leave
960	the program.
961	e.  An appropriate staff-to-children ratio, pursuant to s.
962	402.305(4) or s. 402.302(7) or (8), as applicable, and as
963	verified pursuant to s. 402.311.
964	f.  A healthy and safe environment pursuant to s.
965	401.305(5), (6), and (7), and as verified pursuant to s.
966	402.311.
967	g.  A resource and referral network established under s.
968	411.0101 to assist parents in making an informed choice and a
969	regional Warm-Line under s. 411.01015.
970
971	The Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Department of
972	Education, and early learning coalitions shall coordinate with
973	the Child Care Services Program Office of the Department of
974	Children and Family Services to minimize duplicating interagency
975	activities pertaining to acquiring and composing data for child
976	care training and credentialing.
977	(d)  Implementation.-
978	1.  An early learning coalition may not implement the
979	school readiness program until the coalition is authorized
980	through approval of the coalition's school readiness plan by the
981	Agency for Workforce Innovation.
982	2.  Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with one
983	another to implement a comprehensive program of school readiness
984	services which enhances the cognitive, social, physical, and
985	moral character of the children to achieve the performance
986	standards and outcome measures, helps families achieve economic
987	self-sufficiency, and reduces agency duplication. Such program
988	must contain, at a minimum, the following elements: develop a
989	plan for implementing
990	a.  Implement the school readiness program to meet the
991	requirements of this section and the system support services
992	performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the Agency
993	for Workforce Innovation.
994	b.  The plan must Demonstrate how the program will ensure
995	that each 3-year-old and 4-year-old child from birth through 5
996	years of age in a publicly funded school readiness program
997	receives scheduled activities and instruction designed to
998	enhance the age-appropriate progress of the children in
999	attaining the performance standards adopted by the Agency for
1000	Workforce Innovation under subparagraph (4)(d)8.
1001	c.  Ensure that the coalition has solicited and considered
1002	comments regarding the proposed school readiness plan from the
1003	local community.
1004
1005	Before implementing the school readiness program, the early
1006	learning coalition must submit the plan to the Agency for
1007	Workforce Innovation for approval. The Agency for Workforce
1008	Innovation may approve the plan, reject the plan, or approve the
1009	plan with conditions. The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall
1010	review school readiness plans at least every 2 years annually.
1011	3.  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation determines
1012	during the annual review of school readiness plans, or through
1013	monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under paragraph
1014	(4)(l), that an early learning coalition has not substantially
1015	implemented its plan, has not substantially met the performance
1016	standards and outcome measures adopted by the agency, or has not
1017	effectively administered the school readiness program or
1018	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, the Agency for
1019	Workforce Innovation may dissolve the coalition and temporarily
1020	contract with a qualified entity to continue school readiness
1021	and prekindergarten services in the coalition's county or
1022	multicounty region until the agency reestablishes the coalition
1023	and a new the coalition is reestablished through resubmission of
1024	a school readiness plan is approved in accordance with the rules
1025	adopted and approval by the agency.
1026	4.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt rules
1027	establishing criteria for the approval of school readiness
1028	plans. The criteria must be consistent with the system support
1029	services, performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by
1030	the agency and must require each approved plan to include the
1031	following minimum standards and provisions for the school
1032	readiness program:
1033	a.  A community plan that addresses the needs of all
1034	children and providers within the coalition's county or
1035	multicounty region.
1036	b.a.  A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for
1037	parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for
1038	all program providers, to be implemented and reflected in each
1039	program's budget.
1040	c.b.  A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
1041	registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be
1042	provided to parents.
1043	c.  Instructional staff who have completed the training
1044	course as required in s. 402.305(2)(d)1., as well as staff who
1045	have additional training or credentials as required by the
1046	Agency for Workforce Innovation. The plan must provide a method
1047	for assuring the qualifications of all personnel in all program
1048	settings.
1049	d.  Specific eligibility priorities for children within the
1050	early learning coalition's county or multicounty region in
1051	accordance with subsection (6).
1052	e.  Performance standards and outcome measures adopted by
1053	the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1054	f.  Payment rates adopted by the early learning coalitions
1055	coalition and approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1056	Payment rates may not have the effect of limiting parental
1057	choice or creating standards or levels of services that have not
1058	been expressly established authorized by the Legislature, unless
1059	the creation of such standards or levels of service is a
1060	precondition for the state's eligibility to receive federal
1061	funds available for early learning programs.
1062	g.  Systems support services, including a central agency,
1063	child care resource and referral, eligibility determinations,
1064	training of providers, and parent support and involvement.
1065	h.  Direct enhancement services for to families and
1066	children. System support and direct enhancement services shall
1067	be in addition to payments for the placement of children in
1068	school readiness programs. Direct enhancement services for
1069	families may include parent training and involvement activities
1070	and strategies to meet the needs of unique populations and local
1071	eligibility priorities. Enhancement services for children may
1072	include provider supports and professional development approved
1073	in the plan by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1074	i.  The business organization of the early learning
1075	coalition, which must include the coalition's articles of
1076	incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a
1077	corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a corporation
1078	or other business entity, the plan must include the contract
1079	with a fiscal agent. An early learning coalition may contract
1080	with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multicounty
1081	services, and these contracts may be part of the coalition's
1082	school readiness plan.
1083	j.  The implementation of locally developed quality
1084	programs in accordance with the requirements adopted by the
1085	agency under subparagraph (4)(d)5.
1086	j.  Strategies to meet the needs of unique populations,
1087	such as migrant workers.
1088
1089	As part of the school readiness plan, The Agency for Workforce
1090	Innovation early learning coalition may request the Governor to
1091	apply for a waiver to allow the coalition to administer the Head
1092	Start Program to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness
1093	program. If a school readiness plan demonstrates that specific
1094	statutory goals can be achieved more effectively by using
1095	procedures that require modification of existing rules,
1096	policies, or procedures, a request for a waiver to the Agency
1097	for Workforce Innovation may be submitted as part of the plan.
1098	Upon review, the Agency for Workforce Innovation may grant the
1099	proposed modification.
1100	5.  Persons with an early childhood teaching certificate
1101	may provide support and supervision to other staff in the school
1102	readiness program.
1103	6.  An early learning coalition may not implement its
1104	school readiness plan until it submits the plan to and receives
1105	approval from the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Once the plan
1106	is approved, the plan and the services provided under the plan
1107	shall be controlled by the early learning coalition. The plan
1108	shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least
1109	biennially. An early learning coalition may not implement the
1110	revisions until the coalition submits the revised plan to and
1111	receives approval from the Agency for Workforce Innovation. If
1112	the Agency for Workforce Innovation rejects a revised plan, the
1113	coalition must continue to operate under its prior approved
1114	plan.
1115	7.  Sections 125.901(2)(a)3., 411.221, and 411.232 do not
1116	apply to an early learning coalition with an approved school
1117	readiness programs plan. The Agency for Workforce Innovation To
1118	facilitate innovative practices and to allow the regional
1119	establishment of school readiness programs, an early learning
1120	coalition may apply to the Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of,
1121	and the Governor and Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of
1122	ss. 411.223, 411.232, and 1003.54, if the waiver is necessary
1123	for implementation of the coalition's school readiness programs
1124	plan.
1125	8.  Two or more early learning coalitions counties may join
1126	for purposes of planning and implementing a school readiness
1127	program.
1128	9.  An early learning coalition may, subject to approval by
1129	The Agency for Workforce Innovation as part of the coalition's
1130	school readiness plan, receive subsidized child care funds for
1131	all children eligible for any federal subsidized child care
1132	program.
1133	10.  An early learning coalition may enter into multiparty
1134	contracts with multicounty service providers in order to meet
1135	the needs of unique populations such as migrant workers.
1136	(e)  Requests for proposals; payment schedule.-
1137	1.  Each early learning coalition must comply with the
1138	procurement and expenditure procedures adopted by the Agency for
1139	Workforce Innovation, including, but not limited to, applying
1140	the procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal
1141	law for the expenditure of federal funds s. 287.057 for the
1142	procurement of commodities or contractual services from the
1143	funds described in paragraph (9)(d). The period of a contract
1144	for purchase of these commodities or contractual services,
1145	together with any renewal of the original contract, may not
1146	exceed 3 years.
1147	2.  Each early learning coalition shall adopt a payment
1148	schedule that encompasses all programs funded by the coalition
1149	under this section. The payment schedule must take into
1150	consideration the prevailing relevant market rate, must include
1151	the projected number of children to be served, and must be
1152	submitted for approval by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1153	Informal child care arrangements shall be reimbursed at not more
1154	than 50 percent of the rate adopted developed for a family day
1155	care home.
1156	(f)  Requirements relating to fiscal agents.-If an early
1157	learning coalition is not legally organized as a corporation or
1158	other business entity, the coalition must designate a fiscal
1159	agent, which may be a public entity, a private nonprofit
1160	organization, or a certified public accountant who holds a
1161	license under chapter 473. The fiscal agent must provide
1162	financial and administrative services under a contract with the
1163	early learning coalition. The fiscal agent may not provide
1164	direct early childhood education or child care services;
1165	however, a fiscal agent may provide those services upon written
1166	request of the early learning coalition to the Agency for
1167	Workforce Innovation and upon the approval of the request by the
1168	agency. The cost of the financial and administrative services
1169	shall be negotiated between the fiscal agent and the early
1170	learning coalition. If the fiscal agent is a provider of early
1171	childhood education and child care programs, the contract must
1172	specify that the fiscal agent shall act on policy direction from
1173	the early learning coalition and must not receive policy
1174	direction from its own corporate board regarding disbursal of
1175	the coalition's funds. The fiscal agent shall disburse funds in
1176	accordance with the early learning coalition's approved school
1177	readiness plan and based on billing and disbursement procedures
1178	approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The fiscal
1179	agent must conform to all data-reporting requirements
1180	established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1181	(f)(g)  Evaluation and annual report.-Each early learning
1182	coalition shall conduct an evaluation of its implementation the
1183	effectiveness of the school readiness program, including system
1184	support services, performance standards, and outcome measures,
1185	and shall provide an annual report and fiscal statement to the
1186	Agency for Workforce Innovation. This report must also include
1187	an evaluation of the effectiveness of its direct enhancement
1188	services and conform to the content and format specifications
1189	adopted set by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The Agency
1190	for Workforce Innovation must include an analysis of the early
1191	learning coalitions' reports in the agency's annual report.
1192	(6)  PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.-The Each early learning
1193	coalition's school readiness program is shall be established for
1194	children from birth to the beginning of the school year for
1195	which a child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a
1196	public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. or who are eligible for
1197	any federal subsidized child care program. Each early learning
1198	coalition shall give priority for participation in the school
1199	readiness program as follows:
1200	(a)  Priority shall be given first to a child from a family
1201	in which there is an adult receiving temporary cash assistance
1202	who is subject to federal work requirements.
1203	(b)  Priority shall be given next to a child who is
1204	eligible for a school readiness program but who has not yet
1205	entered children age 3 years to school, entry who is are served
1206	by the Family Safety Program Office of the Department of
1207	Children and Family Services or a community-based lead agency
1208	under chapter 39 or chapter 409, and for whom child care is
1209	needed to minimize risk of further abuse, neglect, or
1210	abandonment.
1211	(c)  Subsequent priority shall be given to a child Other
1212	eligible populations include children who meets meet one or more
1213	of the following criteria:
1214	1.(a)  A child who is younger than Children under the age
1215	of kindergarten eligibility and who are:
1216	1.  Children determined to be at risk of abuse, neglect, or
1217	exploitation who are currently clients of the Family Safety
1218	Program Office of the Department of Children and Family
1219	Services, but who are not otherwise given priority under this
1220	subsection.
1221	a.2.  Is Children at risk of welfare dependency, including
1222	an economically disadvantaged child children, a child children
1223	of a participant participants in the welfare transition program,
1224	a child of a migratory agricultural worker children of migrant
1225	farmworkers, or a child and children of a teen parent parents.
1226	b.3.  Is a member Children of a working family that is
1227	economically disadvantaged families whose family income does not
1228	exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
1229	c.4.  Children For whom financial assistance is provided
1230	through the state is paying a Relative Caregiver Program payment
1231	under s. 39.5085.
1232	2.(b)  A 3-year-old child or Three-year-old children and 4-
1233	year-old child children who may
1234	disadvantaged but who has a disability; has have disabilities,
1235	have been served in a specific part-time exceptional education
1236	program or a combination of part-time exceptional education
1237	programs with required special services, aids, or equipment;,
1238	and was were previously reported for funding part time under
1239	with the Florida Education Finance Program as an exceptional
1240	student students.
1241	3.(c)  An economically disadvantaged child children, a
1242	child children with a disability disabilities, or a child and
1243	children at risk of future school failure, from birth to 4 years
1244	of age, who is are served at home through a home visitor program
1245	programs and an intensive parent education program programs.
1246	4.(d)  A child Children who meets meet federal and state
1247	eligibility requirements for the migrant preschool program but
1248	who is do not meet the criteria of economically disadvantaged.
1249
1250	As used in this paragraph subsection, the term "economically
1251	disadvantaged" child means having a child whose family income
1252	that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
1253	Notwithstanding any change in a family's economic status, but
1254	subject to additional family contributions in accordance with
1255	the sliding fee scale, a child who meets the eligibility
1256	requirements upon initial registration for the program remains
1257	eligible until the beginning of the school year for which the
1258	child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public
1259	school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
1260	(7)  PARENTAL CHOICE.-
1261	(a)  As used in this subsection, the term "payment
1262	certificate" means a child care certificate as defined in 45
1263	C.F.R. s. 98.2.
1264	(b)  The school readiness program shall, in accordance with
1265	45 C.F.R. s. 98.30, provide parental choice through a payment
1266	certificate purchase service order that ensures, to the maximum
1267	extent possible, flexibility in the school readiness program
1268	programs and payment arrangements. According to federal
1269	regulations requiring parental choice, a parent may choose an
1270	informal child care arrangement. The payment certificate
1271	purchase order must bear the names name of the beneficiary and
1272	the program provider and, when redeemed, must bear the
1273	signatures signature of both the beneficiary and an authorized
1274	representative of the provider.
1275	(c)(b)  If it is determined that a provider has given
1276	provided any cash to the beneficiary in return for receiving a
1277	payment certificate the purchase order, the early learning
1278	coalition or its fiscal agent shall refer the matter to the
1279	Division of Public Assistance Fraud for investigation.
1280	(d)(c)  The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall
1281	establish an electronic transfer system for the disbursement of
1282	funds in accordance with this subsection. Each early learning
1283	coalition shall fully implement the electronic funds transfer
1284	system within 2 years after approval of the coalition's school
1285	readiness plan, unless a waiver is obtained from the Agency for
1286	Workforce Innovation.
1287	(8)  STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.-A program provider
1288	participating in the All school readiness program programs must
1289	meet the performance standards and outcome measures adopted by
1290	the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
1291	(9)  FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.-
1292	(a)  It is the intent of this section to establish an
1293	integrated and quality seamless service delivery system for all
1294	publicly funded early childhood education and child care
1295	programs operating in this state.
1296	(b)1.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall administer
1297	school readiness funds, plans, and policies and shall prepare
1298	and submit a unified budget request for the school readiness
1299	system in accordance with chapter 216.
1300	2.  All instructions to early learning coalitions for
1301	administering this section shall emanate from the Agency for
1302	Workforce Innovation in accordance with the policies of the
1303	Legislature.
1304	(c)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, subject to
1305	legislative notice and review under s. 216.177, shall establish
1306	recommend a formula for the allocation among the early learning
1307	coalitions of all state and federal school readiness funds
1308	provided for children participating in the public or private
1309	school readiness program, whether served by a public or private
1310	provider, programs based upon equity for each county and
1311	performance. The allocation formula must be submitted to the
1312	Governor, the chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee or
1313	its successor, and the chair of the House of Representatives
1314	Fiscal Council or its successor no later than January 1 of each
1315	year. If the Legislature specifies shall specify in the annual
1316	General Appropriations Act any changes to from the allocation
1317	formula, methodology for the prior fiscal year which must be
1318	used by the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall allocate funds
1319	as specified in allocating the appropriations provided in the
1320	General Appropriations Act.
1321	(d)  All state, federal, and required local maintenance-of-
1322	effort, or matching funds provided to an early learning
1323	coalition for purposes of this section shall be used by the
1324	coalition for implementation of its approved school readiness
1325	plan, including the hiring of staff to effectively operate the
1326	coalition's school readiness program. As part of plan approval
1327	and periodic plan review, The Agency for Workforce Innovation
1328	shall require that administrative costs be kept to the minimum
1329	necessary for efficient and effective administration of the
1330	school readiness plan, but total administrative expenditures
1331	must not exceed 5 percent unless specifically waived by the
1332	Agency for Workforce Innovation. The Agency for Workforce
1333	Innovation shall annually report to the Legislature any problems
1334	relating to administrative costs.
1335	(e)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall annually
1336	distribute, to a maximum extent practicable, all eligible funds
1337	provided under this section as block grants to the early
1338	learning coalitions in accordance with the terms and conditions
1339	specified by the agency.
1340	(f)  State funds appropriated for the school readiness
1341	program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
1342	or the purchase of buses. The Agency for Workforce Innovation
1343	shall present to the Legislature recommendations for providing
1344	necessary transportation services for school readiness programs.
1345	(g)  All cost savings and all revenues received through a
1346	mandatory sliding fee scale shall be used to help fund each
1347	early learning coalition's school readiness program.
1348	(10)  CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.-If In the event of a conflict
1349	exists between this section and federal requirements, the
1350	federal requirements shall control.
1351	(11)  PLACEMENTS.-Notwithstanding any other provision of
1352	this section to the contrary, the first children to be placed in
1353	the school readiness program shall be those from families
1354	receiving temporary cash assistance and subject to federal work
1355	requirements. Subsequent placements shall be made in accordance
1356	with subsection (6).
1357	Section 17.  Section 411.0101, Florida Statutes, is amended
1358	to read:
1359	411.0101  Child care and early childhood resource and
1360	referral.-
1361	(1)  As a part of the school readiness programs, the Agency
1362	for Workforce Innovation shall establish a statewide child care
1363	resource and referral network that is unbiased and provides
1364	referrals to families for child care. Preference shall be given
1365	to using the already established early learning coalitions as
1366	the child care resource and referral agencies agency. If an
1367	early learning coalition cannot comply with the requirements to
1368	offer the resource information component or does not want to
1369	offer that service, the early learning coalition shall select
1370	the resource and referral information agency for its county or
1371	multicounty region based upon a request for proposal pursuant to
1372	s. 411.01(5)(e)1.
1373	(2)  At least one child care resource and referral agency
1374	must be established in each early learning coalition's county or
1375	multicounty region. The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall
1376	adopt rules regarding accessibility of child care resource and
1377	referral services offered through child care resource and
1378	referral agencies in each county or multicounty region which
1379	include, at a minimum, required hours of operation, methods by
1380	which parents may request services, and child care resource and
1381	referral staff training requirements.
1382	(3)  Child care resource and referral agencies shall
1383	provide the following services:
1384	(a)(1)  Identification of existing public and private child
1385	care and early childhood education services, including child
1386	care services by public and private employers, and the
1387	development of a resource file of those services through the
1388	single statewide information system developed by the Agency for
1389	Workforce Innovation under s. 411.01(5)(c)1.e. These services
1390	may include family day care, public and private child care
1391	programs, the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, Head
1392	Start, the school readiness program prekindergarten early
1393	intervention programs, special education programs for
1394	prekindergarten handicapped children who have disabilities,
1395	services for children with developmental disabilities, full-time
1396	and part-time programs, before-school and after-school programs,
1397	vacation care programs, parent education, the WAGES Program, and
1398	related family support services. The resource file shall
1399	include, but not be limited to:
1400	1.(a)  Type of program.
1401	2.(b)  Hours of service.
1402	3.(c)  Ages of children served.
1403	4.(d)  Number of children served.
1404	5.(e)  Significant program information.
1405	6.(f)  Fees and eligibility for services.
1406	7.(g)  Availability of transportation.
1407	(b)(2)  The establishment of a referral process that which
1408	responds to parental need for information and that which is
1409	provided with full recognition of the confidentiality rights of
1410	parents. The resource and referral network programs shall make
1411	referrals to legally operating licensed child care facilities.
1412	Referrals may not shall be made to a an unlicensed child care
1413	facility that is operating illegally or arrangement only if
1414	there is no requirement that the facility or arrangement be
1415	licensed.
1416	(c)(3)  Maintenance of ongoing documentation of requests
1417	for service tabulated through the internal referral process
1418	through the single statewide information system. The following
1419	documentation of requests for service shall be maintained by the
1420	all child care resource and referral network agencies:
1421	1.(a)  Number of calls and contacts to the child care
1422	resource information and referral network agency component by
1423	type of service requested.
1424	2.(b)  Ages of children for whom service was requested.
1425	3.(c)  Time category of child care requests for each child.
1426	4.(d)  Special time category, such as nights, weekends, and
1427	swing shift.
1428	5.(e)  Reason that the child care is needed.
1429	6.(f)  Name of the employer and primary focus of the
1430	business.
1431	(d)(4)  Provision of technical assistance to existing and
1432	potential providers of child care services. This assistance may
1433	include:
1434	1.(a)  Information on initiating new child care services,
1435	zoning, and program and budget development and assistance in
1436	finding such information from other sources.
1437	2.(b)  Information and resources which help existing child
1438	care services providers to maximize their ability to serve
1439	children and parents in their community.
1440	3.(c)  Information and incentives that may which could help
1441	existing or planned child care services offered by public or
1442	private employers seeking to maximize their ability to serve the
1443	children of their working parent employees in their community,
1444	through contractual or other funding arrangements with
1445	businesses.
1446	(e)(5)  Assistance to families and employers in applying
1447	for various sources of subsidy including, but not limited to,
1448	the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, the school
1449	readiness program subsidized child care, Head Start,
1450	prekindergarten early intervention programs, Project
1451	Independence, private scholarships, and the federal child and
1452	dependent care tax credit.
1453	(6)  Assistance to state agencies in determining the market
1454	rate for child care.
1455	(f)(7)  Assistance in negotiating discounts or other
1456	special arrangements with child care providers.
1457	(8)  Information and assistance to local interagency
1458	councils coordinating services for prekindergarten handicapped
1459	children.
1460	(g)(9)  Assistance to families in identifying summer
1461	recreation camp and summer day camp programs, and in evaluating
1462	the health and safety qualities of summer recreation camp and
1463	summer day camp programs, and in evaluating the health and
1464	safety qualities of summer camp programs. Contingent upon
1465	specific appropriation, a checklist of important health and
1466	safety qualities that parents can use to choose their summer
1467	camp programs shall be developed and distributed in a manner
1468	that will reach parents interested in such programs for their
1469	children.
1470	(h)(10)  A child care facility licensed under s. 402.305
1471	and licensed and registered family day care homes must provide
1472	the statewide child care and resource and referral network
1473	agencies with the following information annually:
1474	1.(a)  Type of program.
1475	2.(b)  Hours of service.
1476	3.(c)  Ages of children served.
1477	4.(d)  Fees and eligibility for services.
1478	(4)(11)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt
1479	any rules necessary for the implementation and administration of
1480	this section.
1481	Section 18.  Subsection (3), paragraph (b) of subsection
1482	(4), and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (5) of section
1483	411.0102, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1484	411.0102  Child Care Executive Partnership Act; findings
1485	and intent; grant; limitation; rules.-
1486	(3)  There is created a body politic and corporate known as
1487	the Child Care Executive Partnership which shall establish and
1488	govern the Child Care Executive Partnership Program. The purpose
1489	of the Child Care Executive Partnership Program is to utilize
1490	state and federal funds as incentives for matching local funds
1491	derived from local governments, employers, charitable
1492	foundations, and other sources, so that Florida communities may
1493	create local flexible partnerships with employers. The Child
1494	Care Executive Partnership Program funds shall be used at the
1495	discretion of local communities to meet the needs of working
1496	parents. A child care purchasing pool shall be developed with
1497	the state, federal, and local funds to provide subsidies to low-
1498	income working parents whose family income does not exceed the
1499	allowable income for any federally subsidized child care program
1500	who are eligible for subsidized child care with a dollar-for-
1501	dollar match from employers, local government, and other
1502	matching contributions. The funds used from the child care
1503	purchasing pool must be used to supplement or extend the use of
1504	existing public or private funds.
1505	(4)  The Child Care Executive Partnership, staffed by the
1506	Agency for Workforce Innovation, shall consist of a
1507	representative of the Executive Office of the Governor and nine
1508	members of the corporate or child care community, appointed by
1509	the Governor.
1510	(b)  The Child Care Executive Partnership shall be chaired
1511	by a member chosen by a majority vote and shall meet at least
1512	quarterly and at other times upon the call of the chair. The
1513	Child Care Executive Partnership may use any method of
1514	telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a
1515	quorum through telecommunications, only if the public is given
1516	proper notice of a telecommunications meeting and reasonable
1517	access to observe and, when appropriate, participate.
1518	(5)
1519	(c)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, in conjunction
1520	with the Child Care Executive Partnership, shall develop
1521	procedures for disbursement of funds through the child care
1522	purchasing pools. In order to be considered for funding, an
1523	early learning coalition or the Agency for Workforce Innovation
1524	must commit to:
1525	1.  Matching the state purchasing pool funds on a dollar-
1526	for-dollar basis; and
1527	2.  Expending only those public funds which are matched by
1528	employers, local government, and other matching contributors who
1529	contribute to the purchasing pool. Parents shall also pay a fee,
1530	which may not shall be not less than the amount identified in
1531	the early learning coalition's school readiness program
1532	subsidized child care sliding fee scale.
1533	(d)  Each early learning coalition board shall be required
1534	to establish a community child care task force for each child
1535	care purchasing pool. The task force must be composed of
1536	employers, parents, private child care providers, and one
1537	representative from the local children's services council, if
1538	one exists in the area of the purchasing pool. The early
1539	learning coalition is expected to recruit the task force members
1540	from existing child care councils, commissions, or task forces
1541	already operating in the area of a purchasing pool. A majority
1542	of the task force shall consist of employers. Each task force
1543	shall develop a plan for the use of child care purchasing pool
1544	funds. The plan must show how many children will be served by
1545	the purchasing pool, how many will be new to receiving child
1546	care services, and how the early learning coalition intends to
1547	attract new employers and their employees to the program.
1548	Section 19.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section
1549	411.203, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1550	411.203  Continuum of comprehensive services.-The
1551	Department of Education and the Department of Health and
1552	Rehabilitative Services shall utilize the continuum of
1553	prevention and early assistance services for high-risk pregnant
1554	women and for high-risk and handicapped children and their
1555	families, as outlined in this section, as a basis for the
1556	intraagency and interagency program coordination, monitoring,
1557	and analysis required in this chapter. The continuum shall be
1558	the guide for the comprehensive statewide approach for services
1559	for high-risk pregnant women and for high-risk and handicapped
1560	children and their families, and may be expanded or reduced as
1561	necessary for the enhancement of those services. Expansion or
1562	reduction of the continuum shall be determined by intraagency or
1563	interagency findings and agreement, whichever is applicable.
1564	Implementation of the continuum shall be based upon applicable
1565	eligibility criteria, availability of resources, and interagency
1566	prioritization when programs impact both agencies, or upon
1567	single agency prioritization when programs impact only one
1568	agency. The continuum shall include, but not be limited to:
1569	(8)  SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL EXPECTANT PARENTS AND PARENTS
1570	OF HIGH-RISK CHILDREN.-
1571	(b)  Child care and early childhood programs, including,
1572	but not limited to, subsidized child care, licensed
1573	nonsubsidized child care facilities, family day care homes,
1574	therapeutic child care, Head Start, and preschool programs in
1575	public and private schools.
1576	Section 20.  Subsection (2) of section 411.221, Florida
1577	Statutes, is amended to read:
1578	411.221  Prevention and early assistance strategic plan;
1579	agency responsibilities.-
1580	(2)  The strategic plan and subsequent plan revisions shall
1581	incorporate and otherwise utilize, to the fullest extent
1582	possible, the evaluation findings and recommendations from
1583	intraagency, independent third-party, field projects, and
1584	reports issued by the Auditor General or the Office of Program
1585	Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, as well as the
1586	recommendations of the Agency for Workforce Innovation State
1587	Coordinating Council for School Readiness Programs.
1588	Section 21.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
1589	445.024, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1590	445.024  Work requirements.-
1591	(4)  PRIORITIZATION OF WORK REQUIREMENTS.-Regional
1592	workforce boards shall require participation in work activities
1593	to the maximum extent possible, subject to federal and state
1594	funding. If funds are projected to be insufficient to allow
1595	full-time work activities by all program participants who are
1596	required to participate in work activities, regional workforce
1597	boards shall screen participants and assign priority based on
1598	the following:
1599	(c)  A participant who has access to subsidized or
1600	unsubsidized child care services may be assigned priority for
1601	work activities.
1602
1603	Regional workforce boards may limit a participant's weekly work
1604	requirement to the minimum required to meet federal work
1605	activity requirements. Regional workforce boards may develop
1606	screening and prioritization procedures based on the allocation
1607	of resources, the availability of community resources, the
1608	provision of supportive services, or the work activity needs of
1609	the service area.
1610	Section 22.  Subsection (2) of section 445.030, Florida
1611	Statutes, is amended to read:
1612	445.030  Transitional education and training.-In order to
1613	assist former recipients of temporary cash assistance who are
1614	working or actively seeking employment in continuing their
1615	training and upgrading their skills, education, or training,
1616	support services may be provided for up to 2 years after the
1617	family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance. This
1618	section does not constitute an entitlement to transitional
1619	education and training. If funds are not sufficient to provide
1620	services under this section, the board of directors of Workforce
1621	Florida, Inc., may limit or otherwise prioritize transitional
1622	education and training.
1623	(2)  Regional workforce boards may authorize child care or
1624	other support services in addition to services provided in
1625	conjunction with employment. For example, a participant who is
1626	employed full time may receive subsidized child care services
1627	related to that employment and may also receive additional
1628	subsidized child care services in conjunction with training to
1629	upgrade the participant's skills.
1630	Section 23.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
1631	490.014, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1632	490.014  Exemptions.-
1633	(2)  No person shall be required to be licensed or
1634	provisionally licensed under this chapter who:
1635	(a)  Is a salaried employee of a government agency; a
1636	developmental disability facility or program; a, mental health,
1637	alcohol, or drug abuse facility operating under chapter 393,
1638	chapter 394, or chapter 397; the statewide subsidized child care
1639	program, subsidized child care case management program, or child
1640	care resource and referral network program operating under s.
1641	411.0101 pursuant to chapter 402; a child-placing or child-
1642	caring agency licensed pursuant to chapter 409; a domestic
1643	violence center certified pursuant to chapter 39; an accredited
1644	academic institution; or a research institution, if such
1645	employee is performing duties for which he or she was trained
1646	and hired solely within the confines of such agency, facility,
1647	or institution, so long as the employee is not held out to the
1648	public as a psychologist pursuant to s. 490.012(1)(a).
1649	Section 24.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
1650	491.014, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1651	491.014  Exemptions.-
1652	(4)  No person shall be required to be licensed,
1653	provisionally licensed, registered, or certified under this
1654	chapter who:
1655	(a)  Is a salaried employee of a government agency; a
1656	developmental disability facility or program; a, mental health,
1657	alcohol, or drug abuse facility operating under chapter 393,
1658	chapter 394, or chapter 397; the statewide subsidized child care
1659	program, subsidized child care case management program, or child
1660	care resource and referral network program operating under s.
1661	411.0101 pursuant to chapter 402; a child-placing or child-
1662	caring agency licensed pursuant to chapter 409; a domestic
1663	violence center certified pursuant to chapter 39; an accredited
1664	academic institution; or a research institution, if such
1665	employee is performing duties for which he or she was trained
1666	and hired solely within the confines of such agency, facility,
1667	or institution, so long as the employee is not held out to the
1668	public as a clinical social worker, mental health counselor, or
1669	marriage and family therapist.
1670	Section 25.  Subsection (5) of section 1002.53, Florida
1671	Statutes, is amended to read:
1672	1002.53  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
1673	eligibility and enrollment.-
1674	(5)  The early learning coalition shall provide each parent
1675	enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
1676	Program with a profile of every private prekindergarten provider
1677	and public school delivering the program within the coalition's
1678	county where the child is being enrolled or multicounty region.
1679	The profiles shall be provided to parents in a format prescribed
1680	by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The profiles must
1681	include, at a minimum, the following information about each
1682	provider and school:
1683	(a)  The provider's or school's services, curriculum,
1684	instructor credentials, and instructor-to-student ratio; and
1685	(b)  The provider's or school's kindergarten readiness rate
1686	calculated in accordance with s. 1002.69, based upon the most
1687	recent available results of the statewide kindergarten
1688	screening.
1689	Section 26.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
1690	1002.55, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) is
1691	added to that section, to read:
1692	1002.55  School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
1693	private prekindergarten providers.-
1694	(3)  To be eligible to deliver the prekindergarten program,
1695	a private prekindergarten provider must meet each of the
1696	following requirements:
1697	(b)  The private prekindergarten provider must:
1698	1.  Be accredited by an accrediting association that is a
1699	member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation,
1700	Advance Education, Inc. (AdvancED) the Commission on
1701	International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, or the Florida
1702	Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools and have written
1703	accreditation standards that meet or exceed the state's
1704	licensing requirements under s. 402.305, s. 402.313, or s.
1705	402.3131 and require at least one onsite visit to the provider
1706	or school before accreditation is granted;
1707	2.  Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation under
1708	s. 402.281; or
1709	3.  Be licensed under s. 402.305, s. 402.313, or s.
1710	402.3131 and demonstrate, before delivering the Voluntary
1711	Prekindergarten Education Program, as verified by the early
1712	learning coalition, that the provider meets each of the
1713	requirements of the program under this part, including, but not
1714	limited to, the requirements for credentials and background
1715	screenings of prekindergarten instructors under paragraphs (c)
1716	and (d), minimum and maximum class sizes under paragraph (f),
1717	prekindergarten director credentials under paragraph (g), and a
1718	developmentally appropriate curriculum under s. 1002.67(2)(b).
1719	(5)  Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(b), a private
1720	prekindergarten provider may not participate in the Voluntary
1721	Prekindergarten Education Program if the provider has child
1722	disciplinary policies that do not prohibit children from being
1723	subjected to discipline that is severe, humiliating,
1724	frightening, or associated with food, rest, toileting, spanking,
1725	or any other form of physical punishment as provided in s.
1726	402.305(12).
1727	Section 27.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
1728	1002.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1729	1002.67  Performance standards; curricula and
1730	accountability.-
1731	(3)
1732	(c)1.  If the kindergarten readiness rate of a private
1733	prekindergarten provider or public school falls below the
1734	minimum rate adopted by the State Board of Education as
1735	satisfactory under s. 1002.69(6), the early learning coalition
1736	or school district, as applicable, shall require the provider or
1737	school to submit an improvement plan for approval by the
1738	coalition or school district, as applicable, and to implement
1739	the plan.
1740	2.  If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
1741	fails to meet the minimum rate adopted by the State Board of
1742	Education as satisfactory under s. 1002.69(6) for 2 consecutive
1743	years, the early learning coalition or school district, as
1744	applicable, shall place the provider or school on probation and
1745	must require the provider or school to take certain corrective
1746	actions, including the use of a curriculum approved by the
1747	department under paragraph (2)(c).
1748	3.  A private prekindergarten provider or public school
1749	that is placed on probation must continue the corrective actions
1750	required under subparagraph 2., including the use of a
1751	curriculum approved by the department, until the provider or
1752	school meets the minimum rate adopted by the State Board of
1753	Education as satisfactory under s. 1002.69(6).
1754	4.  If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
1755	remains on probation for 2 consecutive years and fails to meet
1756	the minimum rate adopted by the State Board of Education as
1757	satisfactory under s. 1002.69(6), the Agency for Workforce
1758	Innovation shall require the early learning coalition or the
1759	Department of Education shall require the school district, as
1760	applicable, to remove, as applicable, the provider or school
1761	from eligibility to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten
1762	Education Program and receive state funds for the program.
1763	Section 28.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section
1764	1002.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1765	1002.71  Funding; financial and attendance reporting.-
1766	(6)
1767	(b)1.  Each private prekindergarten provider's and district
1768	school board's attendance policy must require the parent of each
1769	student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
1770	verify, each month, the student's attendance on the prior
1771	month's certified student attendance.
1772	2.  The parent must submit the verification of the
1773	student's attendance to the private prekindergarten provider or
1774	public school on forms prescribed by the Agency for Workforce
1775	Innovation. The forms must include, in addition to the
1776	verification of the student's attendance, a certification, in
1777	substantially the following form, that the parent continues to
1778	choose the private prekindergarten provider or public school in
1779	accordance with s. 1002.53 and directs that payments for the
1780	program be made to the provider or school:
1781
1782	VERIFICATION OF STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE
1783	AND CERTIFICATION OF PARENTAL CHOICE
1784
1785	I, ...(Name of Parent)..., swear (or affirm) that my
1786	child,...(Name of Student)..., attended the Voluntary
1787	Prekindergarten Education Program on the days listed above and
1788	certify that I continue to choose ...(Name of Provider or
1789	School)... to deliver the program for my child and direct that
1790	program funds be paid to the provider or school for my child.
1791
1792	...(Signature of Parent)...
1793	...(Date)...
1794
1795	3.  The private prekindergarten provider or public school
1796	must keep each original signed form for at least 2 years. Each
1797	private prekindergarten provider must permit the early learning
1798	coalition, and each public school must permit the school
1799	district, to inspect the original signed forms during normal
1800	business hours. The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt
1801	procedures for early learning coalitions and school districts to
1802	review the original signed forms against the certified student
1803	attendance. The review procedures shall provide for the use of
1804	selective inspection techniques, including, but not limited to,
1805	random sampling. Each early learning coalition and the school
1806	districts district must comply with the review procedures.
1807	Section 29.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
1808	1009.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1809	1009.64  Certified Education Paraprofessional Welfare
1810	Transition Program.-
1811	(4)  The agencies shall complete an implementation plan
1812	that addresses at least the following recommended components of
1813	the program:
1814	(b)  A budget for use of incentive funding to provide
1815	motivation to participants to succeed and excel. The budget for
1816	incentive funding includes:
1817	1.  Funds allocated by the Legislature directly for the
1818	program.
1819	2.  Funds that may be made available from the federal
1820	Workforce Investment Act based on client eligibility or
1821	requested waivers to make the clients eligible.
1822	3.  Funds made available by implementation strategies that
1823	would make maximum use of work supplementation funds authorized
1824	by federal law.
1825	4.  Funds authorized by strategies to lengthen
1826	participants' eligibility for federal programs such as Medicaid,
1827	subsidized child care services, and transportation.
1828
1829	Incentives may include a stipend during periods of college
1830	classroom training, a bonus and recognition for a high grade-
1831	point average, child care and prekindergarten services for
1832	children of participants, and services to increase a
1833	participant's ability to advance to higher levels of employment.
1834	Nonfinancial incentives should include providing a mentor or
1835	tutor, and service incentives should continue and increase for
1836	any participant who plans to complete the baccalaureate degree
1837	and become a certified teacher. Services may be provided in
1838	accordance with family choice by community colleges and school
1839	district career centers, through family service centers and
1840	full-service schools, or under contract with providers through
1841	central agencies.
1842	Section 30.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

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