Florida Senate - 2011                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SPB 7202
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 788566                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                   Comm: WD            .                                
                  04/01/2011           .                                
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       The Committee on Budget (Wise) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Substitute for Amendment (219010) (with title
    2  amendment)
    3  
    4         Delete lines 3721 - 3867
    5  and insert:
    6         Section 43. Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
    7  read:
    8         411.01 School readiness programs; early learning
    9  coalitions.—
   10         (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “School
   11  Readiness Act.”
   12         (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—
   13         (a) The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
   14  programs increase children’s chances of achieving future
   15  educational success and becoming productive members of society.
   16  It is the intent of the Legislature that the programs be
   17  developmentally appropriate, research-based, involve the parent
   18  as a child’s first teacher, serve as preventive measures for
   19  children at risk of future school failure, enhance the
   20  educational readiness of eligible children, and support family
   21  education. Each school readiness program shall provide the
   22  elements necessary to prepare at-risk children for school,
   23  including health screening and referral and an appropriate
   24  educational program.
   25         (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
   26  readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis
   27  to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and
   28  become financially self-sufficient.
   29         (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
   30  readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
   31  upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
   32  programs for young children, and that school readiness programs
   33  be coordinated to achieve full effectiveness.
   34         (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
   35  administrative staff for school readiness programs be kept to
   36  the minimum necessary to administer the duties of the Department
   37  of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation
   38  and early learning coalitions. The department Agency for
   39  Workforce Innovation shall adopt system support services at the
   40  state level to build a comprehensive early learning system. Each
   41  early learning coalition shall implement and maintain direct
   42  enhancement services at the local level, as approved in its
   43  school readiness plan by the Department of Children and Family
   44  Services Agency for Workforce Innovation, and ensure access to
   45  such services in all 67 counties.
   46         (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the school
   47  readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction with the
   48  district school systems. However, it is also the intent of the
   49  Legislature that the school readiness program not be construed
   50  as part of the system of free public schools but rather as a
   51  separate program for children under the age of kindergarten
   52  eligibility, funded separately from the system of free public
   53  schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale, and providing
   54  an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services
   55  for the state’s birth-to-kindergarten population.
   56         (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
   57  readiness services be an integrated and seamless program of
   58  services with a developmentally appropriate education component
   59  for the state’s eligible birth-to-kindergarten population
   60  described in subsection (6) and not be construed as part of the
   61  seamless K-20 education system.
   62         (3) PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS.
   63  This section does not:
   64         (a) Relieve parents and guardians of their own obligations
   65  to prepare their children for school; or
   66         (b) Create any obligation to provide publicly funded school
   67  readiness programs or services beyond those authorized by the
   68  Legislature.
   69         (4) DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY FOR
   70  WORKFORCE INNOVATION.—
   71         (a) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
   72  for Workforce Innovation shall administer school readiness
   73  programs at the state level and shall coordinate with the early
   74  learning coalitions in providing school readiness services on a
   75  full-day, full-year, full-choice basis to the extent possible in
   76  order to enable parents to work and be financially self
   77  sufficient.
   78         (b) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
   79  for Workforce Innovation shall:
   80         1. Coordinate the birth-to-kindergarten services for
   81  children who are eligible under subsection (6) and the
   82  programmatic, administrative, and fiscal standards under this
   83  section for all public providers of school readiness programs.
   84         2. Focus on improving the educational quality of all
   85  program providers participating in publicly funded school
   86  readiness programs.
   87         (c) The Governor shall designate the Department of Children
   88  and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation as the lead
   89  agency for administration of the federal Child Care and
   90  Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99, and the agency
   91  shall comply with the lead agency responsibilities under federal
   92  law.
   93         (d) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
   94  for Workforce Innovation shall:
   95         1. Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
   96  private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
   97  requirements.
   98         2. Provide final approval and every 2 years review early
   99  learning coalitions and school readiness plans.
  100         3. Establish a unified approach to the state’s efforts
  101  toward enhancement of school readiness. In support of this
  102  effort, the Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  103  for Workforce Innovation shall adopt specific system support
  104  services that address the state’s school readiness programs. An
  105  early learning coalition shall amend its school readiness plan
  106  to conform to the specific system support services adopted by
  107  the Department of Children and Family Services Agency for
  108  Workforce Innovation. Specific system support services shall
  109  include, but are not limited to:
  110         a. Child care resource and referral services;
  111         b. Warm-Line services;
  112         c. Eligibility determinations;
  113         d. Child performance standards;
  114         e. Child screening and assessment;
  115         f. Developmentally appropriate curricula;
  116         g. Health and safety requirements;
  117         h. Statewide data system requirements; and
  118         i. Rating and improvement systems.
  119         4. Safeguard the effective use of federal, state, local,
  120  and private resources to achieve the highest possible level of
  121  school readiness for the children in this state.
  122         5. Adopt a rule establishing criteria for the expenditure
  123  of funds designated for the purpose of funding activities to
  124  improve the quality of child care within the state in accordance
  125  with s. 658G of the federal Child Care and Development Block
  126  Grant Act.
  127         6. Provide technical assistance to early learning
  128  coalitions in a manner determined by the Agency for Workforce
  129  Innovation based upon information obtained by the agency from
  130  various sources, including, but not limited to, public input,
  131  government reports, private interest group reports, agency
  132  monitoring visits, and coalition requests for service.
  133         7. Coordinate In cooperation with the Department of
  134  Education and early learning coalitions, coordinate with the
  135  Child Care Services Program Office of the Department of Children
  136  and Family Services to minimize duplicating interagency
  137  activities, health and safety monitoring, and acquiring and
  138  composing data pertaining to child care training and
  139  credentialing.
  140         8. Develop and adopt performance standards and outcome
  141  measures for school readiness programs. The performance
  142  standards must address the age-appropriate progress of children
  143  in the development of school readiness skills. The performance
  144  standards for children from birth to 5 years of age in school
  145  readiness programs must be integrated with the performance
  146  standards adopted by the Department of Education for children in
  147  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under s.
  148  1002.67.
  149         9. Adopt a standard contract that must be used by the
  150  coalitions when contracting with school readiness providers.
  151         (e) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  152  for Workforce Innovation may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1)
  153  and 120.54 to administer the provisions of law conferring duties
  154  upon the department agency, including, but not limited to, rules
  155  governing the administration of system support services of
  156  school readiness programs, the collection of data, the approval
  157  of early learning coalitions and school readiness plans, the
  158  provision of a method whereby an early learning coalition may
  159  serve two or more counties, the award of incentives to early
  160  learning coalitions, child performance standards, child outcome
  161  measures, the issuance of waivers, and the implementation of the
  162  state’s Child Care and Development Fund Plan as approved by the
  163  federal Administration for Children and Families.
  164         (f) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  165  for Workforce Innovation shall have all powers necessary to
  166  administer this section, including, but not limited to, the
  167  power to receive and accept grants, loans, or advances of funds
  168  from any public or private agency and to receive and accept from
  169  any source contributions of money, property, labor, or any other
  170  thing of value, to be held, used, and applied for purposes of
  171  this section.
  172         (g) Except as provided by law, the Department of Children
  173  and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation may not
  174  impose requirements on a child care or early childhood education
  175  provider that does not deliver services under the school
  176  readiness programs or receive state or federal funds under this
  177  section.
  178         (h) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  179  for Workforce Innovation shall have a budget for school
  180  readiness programs, which shall be financed through an annual
  181  appropriation made for purposes of this section in the General
  182  Appropriations Act.
  183         (i) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  184  for Workforce Innovation shall coordinate the efforts toward
  185  school readiness in this state and provide independent policy
  186  analyses, data analyses, and recommendations to the Governor,
  187  the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
  188         (j) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  189  for Workforce Innovation shall require that school readiness
  190  programs, at a minimum, enhance the age-appropriate progress of
  191  each child in attaining the performance standards adopted under
  192  subparagraph (d)8. and in the development of the following
  193  school readiness skills:
  194         1. Compliance with rules, limitations, and routines.
  195         2. Ability to perform tasks.
  196         3. Interactions with adults.
  197         4. Interactions with peers.
  198         5. Ability to cope with challenges.
  199         6. Self-help skills.
  200         7. Ability to express the child’s needs.
  201         8. Verbal communication skills.
  202         9. Problem-solving skills.
  203         10. Following of verbal directions.
  204         11. Demonstration of curiosity, persistence, and
  205  exploratory behavior.
  206         12. Interest in books and other printed materials.
  207         13. Paying attention to stories.
  208         14. Participation in art and music activities.
  209         15. Ability to identify colors, geometric shapes, letters
  210  of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and temporal
  211  relationships.
  212  
  213  Within 30 days after enrollment in the school readiness program,
  214  the early learning coalition must ensure that the program
  215  provider obtains information regarding the child’s
  216  immunizations, physical health, and special dietary needs
  217  development, and other health requirements as necessary,
  218  including appropriate vision and hearing screening and
  219  examinations. For a program provider licensed by the Department
  220  of Children and Family Services, the provider’s compliance with
  221  s. 402.305(9), as verified pursuant to s. 402.311, shall satisfy
  222  this requirement. The standard contract for school readiness
  223  services shall require a program that is not licensed by the
  224  department to obtain information regarding a child’s
  225  immunizations, physical health, and special dietary needs.
  226         (k) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  227  for Workforce Innovation shall conduct studies and planning
  228  activities related to the overall improvement and effectiveness
  229  of the outcome measures adopted by the department agency for
  230  school readiness programs and the specific system support
  231  services to address the state’s school readiness programs
  232  adopted by the Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  233  for Workforce Innovation in accordance with subparagraph (d)3.
  234         (l) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  235  for Workforce Innovation shall monitor and evaluate the
  236  performance of each early learning coalition in administering
  237  the school readiness program, and implementing the coalition’s
  238  school readiness plan, and administering the Voluntary
  239  Prekindergarten Education Program. These monitoring and
  240  performance evaluations must include, at a minimum, onsite
  241  monitoring of each coalition’s finances, management, operations,
  242  and programs.
  243         (m) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  244  for Workforce Innovation shall submit an annual report of its
  245  activities conducted under this section to the Governor, the
  246  President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
  247  Representatives, and the minority leaders of both houses of the
  248  Legislature. In addition, the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s
  249  reports and recommendations shall be made available to the
  250  Florida Early Learning Advisory Council and other appropriate
  251  state agencies and entities. The annual report must provide an
  252  analysis of school readiness activities across the state,
  253  including the number of children who were served in the
  254  programs.
  255         (n) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  256  for Workforce Innovation shall work with the early learning
  257  coalitions to ensure availability of training and support for
  258  parental involvement in children’s early education and to
  259  provide family literacy activities and services.
  260         (5) CREATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS.—
  261         (a) Early learning coalitions.—
  262         1. Each early learning coalition shall maintain direct
  263  enhancement services at the local level and ensure access to
  264  such services in all 67 counties.
  265         2. The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  266  for Workforce Innovation shall establish the minimum number of
  267  children to be served by each early learning coalition through
  268  the coalition’s school readiness program. The Department of
  269  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation may
  270  only approve school readiness plans in accordance with this
  271  minimum number. The minimum number must be uniform for every
  272  early learning coalition and must:
  273         a. Permit 31 or fewer coalitions to be established; and
  274         b. Require each coalition to serve at least 2,000 children
  275  based upon the average number of all children served per month
  276  through the coalition’s school readiness program during the
  277  previous 12 months.
  278         3. If an early learning coalition would serve fewer
  279  children than the minimum number established under subparagraph
  280  2., the coalition must merge with another county to form a
  281  multicounty coalition. The Department of Children and Family
  282  Services Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt procedures
  283  for merging early learning coalitions, including procedures for
  284  the consolidation of merging coalitions, and for the early
  285  termination of the terms of coalition members which are
  286  necessary to accomplish the mergers. However, the Department of
  287  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation
  288  shall grant a waiver to an early learning coalition to serve
  289  fewer children than the minimum number established under
  290  subparagraph 2., if:
  291         a. The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  292  for Workforce Innovation has determined during the most recent
  293  review of the coalition’s school readiness plan, or through
  294  monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under paragraph
  295  (4)(l), that the coalition has substantially implemented its
  296  plan;
  297         b. The coalition demonstrates to the Department of Children
  298  and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation the
  299  coalition’s ability to effectively and efficiently implement the
  300  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; and
  301         c. The coalition demonstrates to the Department of Children
  302  and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation that the
  303  coalition can perform its duties in accordance with law.
  304  
  305  If an early learning coalition fails or refuses to merge as
  306  required by this subparagraph, the Department of Children and
  307  Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation may dissolve the
  308  coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified entity to
  309  continue school readiness and prekindergarten services in the
  310  coalition’s county or multicounty region until the department
  311  agency reestablishes the coalition and a new school readiness
  312  plan is approved by the department agency.
  313         4. Each early learning coalition shall be composed of at
  314  least 15 members but not more than 30 members. The Department of
  315  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation
  316  shall adopt standards establishing within this range the minimum
  317  and maximum number of members that may be appointed to an early
  318  learning coalition and procedures for identifying which members
  319  have voting privileges under subparagraph 6. These standards
  320  must include variations for a coalition serving a multicounty
  321  region. Each early learning coalition must comply with these
  322  standards.
  323         5. The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
  324  members of each early learning coalition, who must each meet the
  325  same qualifications as private sector business members appointed
  326  by the coalition under subparagraph 7.
  327         6. Each early learning coalition must include the following
  328  member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition, each ex
  329  officio member position may be filled by multiple nonvoting
  330  members but no more than one voting member shall be seated per
  331  member position. If an early learning coalition has more than
  332  one member representing the same entity, only one of such
  333  members may serve as a voting member:
  334         a. A Department of Children and Family Services circuit
  335  administrator or his or her designee who is authorized to make
  336  decisions on behalf of the department.
  337         b. A district superintendent of schools or his or her
  338  designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the
  339  district.
  340         c. A regional workforce board executive director or his or
  341  her designee.
  342         d. A county health department director or his or her
  343  designee.
  344         e. A children’s services council or juvenile welfare board
  345  chair or executive director, if applicable.
  346         f. An agency head of a local licensing agency as defined in
  347  s. 402.302, where applicable.
  348         g. A president of a community college or his or her
  349  designee.
  350         h. One member appointed by a board of county commissioners
  351  or the governing board of a municipality.
  352         i. A central agency administrator, where applicable.
  353         j. A Head Start director.
  354         k. A representative of private for-profit child care
  355  providers, including private for-profit family day care homes.
  356         l. A representative of faith-based child care providers.
  357         m. A representative of programs for children with
  358  disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
  359  Education Act.
  360         7. Including the members appointed by the Governor under
  361  subparagraph 5., more than one-third of the members of each
  362  early learning coalition must be private sector business members
  363  who do not have, and none of whose relatives as defined in s.
  364  112.3143 has, a substantial financial interest in the design or
  365  delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  366  created under part V of chapter 1002 or the coalition’s school
  367  readiness program. To meet this requirement an early learning
  368  coalition must appoint additional members. The Department of
  369  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation
  370  shall establish criteria for appointing private sector business
  371  members. These criteria must include standards for determining
  372  whether a member or relative has a substantial financial
  373  interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
  374  Prekindergarten Education Program or the coalition’s school
  375  readiness program.
  376         8. A majority of the voting membership of an early learning
  377  coalition constitutes a quorum required to conduct the business
  378  of the coalition. An early learning coalition board may use any
  379  method of telecommunications to conduct meetings, including
  380  establishing a quorum through telecommunications, provided that
  381  the public is given proper notice of a telecommunications
  382  meeting and reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate,
  383  participate.
  384         9. A voting member of an early learning coalition may not
  385  appoint a designee to act in his or her place, except as
  386  otherwise provided in this paragraph. A voting member may send a
  387  representative to coalition meetings, but that representative
  388  does not have voting privileges. When a district administrator
  389  for the Department of Children and Family Services appoints a
  390  designee to an early learning coalition, the designee is the
  391  voting member of the coalition, and any individual attending in
  392  the designee’s place, including the district administrator, does
  393  not have voting privileges.
  394         10. Each member of an early learning coalition is subject
  395  to ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. For purposes of s.
  396  112.3143(3)(a), each voting member is a local public officer who
  397  must abstain from voting when a voting conflict exists.
  398         11. For purposes of tort liability, each member or employee
  399  of an early learning coalition shall be governed by s. 768.28.
  400         12. An early learning coalition serving a multicounty
  401  region must include representation from each county.
  402         13. Each early learning coalition shall establish terms for
  403  all appointed members of the coalition. The terms must be
  404  staggered and must be a uniform length that does not exceed 4
  405  years per term. Coalition chairs shall be appointed for 4 years
  406  in conjunction with their membership on the Early Learning
  407  Advisory Council under s. 20.052. Appointed members may serve a
  408  maximum of two consecutive terms. When a vacancy occurs in an
  409  appointed position, the coalition must advertise the vacancy.
  410         (b) Limitation.—Except as provided by law, the early
  411  learning coalitions may not impose requirements on a child care
  412  or early childhood education provider that does not deliver
  413  services under the school readiness programs or receive state,
  414  federal, required maintenance of effort, or matching funds under
  415  this section.
  416         (c) Program expectations.—
  417         1. The school readiness program must meet the following
  418  expectations:
  419         a. The program must, at a minimum, enhance the age
  420  appropriate progress of each child in attaining the performance
  421  standards and outcome measures adopted by the Department of
  422  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation.
  423         b. The program must provide extended-day and extended-year
  424  services to the maximum extent possible without compromising the
  425  quality of the program to meet the needs of parents who work.
  426         c. The program must provide a coordinated professional
  427  development system that supports the achievement and maintenance
  428  of core competencies by school readiness instructors in helping
  429  children attain the performance standards and outcome measures
  430  adopted by the Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  431  for Workforce Innovation.
  432         d. There must be expanded access to community services and
  433  resources for families to help achieve economic self
  434  sufficiency.
  435         e. There must be a single point of entry and unified
  436  waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term “single
  437  point of entry” means an integrated information system that
  438  allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school
  439  readiness program at various locations throughout a county, that
  440  may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone or
  441  through an Internet website, and that uses a unified waiting
  442  list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the
  443  school readiness program. The Department of Children and Family
  444  Services Agency for Workforce Innovation shall establish through
  445  technology a single statewide information system that each
  446  coalition must use for the purposes of managing the single point
  447  of entry, tracking children’s progress, coordinating services
  448  among stakeholders, determining eligibility, tracking child
  449  attendance, and streamlining administrative processes for
  450  providers and early learning coalitions.
  451         f. The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  452  for Workforce Innovation must consider the access of eligible
  453  children to the school readiness program, as demonstrated in
  454  part by waiting lists, before approving a proposed increase in
  455  payment rates submitted by an early learning coalition. In
  456  addition, early learning coalitions shall use school readiness
  457  funds made available due to enrollment shifts from school
  458  readiness programs to the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  459  Program for increasing the number of children served in school
  460  readiness programs before increasing payment rates.
  461         g. The program must meet all state licensing guidelines,
  462  where applicable.
  463         h. The program must ensure that minimum standards for child
  464  discipline practices are age-appropriate. Such standards must
  465  provide that children not be subjected to discipline that is
  466  severe, humiliating, or frightening or discipline that is
  467  associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other
  468  form of physical punishment is prohibited.
  469         2. Each early learning coalition must implement a
  470  comprehensive program of school readiness services in accordance
  471  with the rules adopted by the department agency which enhance
  472  the cognitive, social, and physical development of children to
  473  achieve the performance standards and outcome measures. At a
  474  minimum, these programs must contain the following system
  475  support service elements:
  476         a. Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to
  477  enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining
  478  the performance standards adopted by the Department of Children
  479  and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation under
  480  subparagraph (4)(d)8.
  481         b. A character development program to develop basic values.
  482         c. An age-appropriate screening of each child’s
  483  development.
  484         d. An age-appropriate assessment administered to children
  485  when they enter a program and an age-appropriate assessment
  486  administered to children when they leave the program.
  487         e. An appropriate staff-to-children ratio, pursuant to s.
  488  402.305(4) or s. 402.302(7) or (8), as applicable, and as
  489  verified pursuant to s. 402.311, or pursuant to the standard
  490  contract requirements for a program that is not licensed by the
  491  Department of Children and Family Services.
  492         f. A healthy and safe environment pursuant to s.
  493  401.305(5), (6), and (7), as applicable, and as verified
  494  pursuant to s. 402.311.
  495         g. A resource and referral network established under s.
  496  411.0101 to assist parents in making an informed choice and a
  497  regional Warm-Line under s. 411.01015.
  498  
  499  The Department of Children and Family Services shall coordinate
  500  with Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Department of
  501  Education, and early learning coalitions shall coordinate with
  502  the Child Care Services Program Office of the Department of
  503  Children and Family Services to minimize duplicating interagency
  504  activities pertaining to acquiring and composing data for child
  505  care training and credentialing.
  506         (d) Implementation.—
  507         1. An early learning coalition may not implement the school
  508  readiness program until the coalition’s school readiness plan is
  509  approved by the Department of Children and Family Services
  510  Agency for Workforce Innovation.
  511         2. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with one
  512  another to implement a comprehensive program of school readiness
  513  services which enhances the cognitive, social, physical, and
  514  moral character of the children to achieve the performance
  515  standards and outcome measures and which helps families achieve
  516  economic self-sufficiency. Such program must contain, at a
  517  minimum, the following elements:
  518         a. Implement the school readiness program to meet the
  519  requirements of this section and the system support services,
  520  performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by the
  521  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  522  Innovation.
  523         b.  Demonstrate how the program will ensure that each child
  524  from birth through 5 years of age in a publicly funded school
  525  readiness program receives scheduled activities and instruction
  526  designed to enhance the age-appropriate progress of the children
  527  in attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
  528  agency under subparagraph (4)(d)8.
  529         c. Ensure that the coalition has solicited and considered
  530  comments regarding the proposed school readiness plan from the
  531  local community.
  532  
  533  Before implementing the school readiness program, the early
  534  learning coalition must submit the plan to the department agency
  535  for approval. The department agency may approve the plan, reject
  536  the plan, or approve the plan with conditions. The department
  537  agency shall review school readiness plans at least every 2
  538  years.
  539         3. If the Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  540  for Workforce Innovation determines during the review of school
  541  readiness plans, or through monitoring and performance
  542  evaluations conducted under paragraph (4)(l), that an early
  543  learning coalition has not substantially implemented its plan,
  544  has not substantially met the performance standards and outcome
  545  measures adopted by the department agency, or has not
  546  effectively administered the school readiness program or
  547  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, the department
  548  agency may dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract with
  549  a qualified entity to continue school readiness and
  550  prekindergarten services in the coalition’s county or
  551  multicounty region until the department agency reestablishes the
  552  coalition and a new school readiness plan is approved in
  553  accordance with the rules adopted by the department agency.
  554         4. The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  555  for Workforce Innovation shall adopt rules establishing criteria
  556  for the approval of school readiness plans. The criteria must be
  557  consistent with the system support services, performance
  558  standards, and outcome measures adopted by the department agency
  559  and must require each approved plan to include the following
  560  minimum standards for the school readiness program:
  561         a. A community plan that addresses the needs of all
  562  children and providers within the coalition’s county or
  563  multicounty region.
  564         b. A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for parents
  565  based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for all
  566  program providers and approved by the department.
  567         c. A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
  568  registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be
  569  provided to parents.
  570         d. Specific eligibility priorities for children in
  571  accordance with subsection (6).
  572         e. Performance standards and outcome measures adopted by
  573  the department agency.
  574         f. Payment rates adopted by the early learning coalitions
  575  and approved by the department agency. Payment rates may not
  576  have the effect of limiting parental choice or creating
  577  standards or levels of services that have not been expressly
  578  established by the Legislature, unless the creation of such
  579  standards or levels of service, which must be uniform throughout
  580  the state, has been approved by the Federal Government and
  581  result in the state being eligible to receive additional federal
  582  funds available for early learning on a statewide basis.
  583         g. Direct enhancement services for families and children.
  584  System support and direct enhancement services shall be in
  585  addition to payments for the placement of children in school
  586  readiness programs. Direct enhancement services for families may
  587  include parent training and involvement activities and
  588  strategies to meet the needs of unique populations and local
  589  eligibility priorities. Enhancement services for children may
  590  include provider supports and professional development approved
  591  in the plan by the Department of Children and Family Services
  592  Agency for Workforce Innovation.
  593         h. The business organization of the early learning
  594  coalition, which must include the coalition’s articles of
  595  incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a
  596  corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a corporation
  597  or other business entity, the plan must include the contract
  598  with a fiscal agent. An early learning coalition may contract
  599  with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multicounty
  600  services, and these contracts may be part of the coalition’s
  601  school readiness plan.
  602         i. The implementation of locally developed quality programs
  603  in accordance with the requirements adopted by the department
  604  agency under subparagraph (4)(d)5.
  605  
  606  The Department of Children and Family Services Agency for
  607  Workforce Innovation may request the Governor to apply for a
  608  waiver to allow the coalition to administer the Head Start
  609  Program to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness
  610  program.
  611         5. Persons with an early childhood teaching certificate may
  612  provide support and supervision to other staff in the school
  613  readiness program.
  614         6. An early learning coalition may not implement its school
  615  readiness plan until it submits the plan to and receives
  616  approval from the Department of Children and Family Services
  617  Agency for Workforce Innovation. Once the plan is approved, the
  618  plan and the services provided under the plan shall be
  619  controlled by the early learning coalition. The plan shall be
  620  reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least biennially. An
  621  early learning coalition may not implement the revisions until
  622  the coalition submits the revised plan to and receives approval
  623  from the department agency. If the department agency rejects a
  624  revised plan, the coalition must continue to operate under its
  625  prior approved plan.
  626         7. Section 125.901(2)(a)3. does not apply to school
  627  readiness programs. The Department of Children and Family
  628  Services Agency for Workforce Innovation may apply to the
  629  Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and
  630  Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of ss. 411.223 and
  631  1003.54, if the waiver is necessary for implementation of school
  632  readiness programs.
  633         8. Two or more early learning coalitions may join for
  634  purposes of planning and implementing a school readiness
  635  program.
  636         (e) Requests for proposals; payment schedule.—
  637         1. Each early learning coalition must comply with the
  638  procurement and expenditure procedures adopted by the Department
  639  of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation,
  640  including, but not limited to, applying the procurement and
  641  expenditure procedures required by federal law for the
  642  expenditure of federal funds.
  643         2. Each early learning coalition shall adopt a payment
  644  schedule that encompasses all programs funded under this
  645  section. The payment schedule must take into consideration the
  646  prevailing market rate, must include the projected number of
  647  children to be served, and must be submitted for approval by the
  648  department Agency for Workforce Innovation. Informal child care
  649  arrangements shall be reimbursed at not more than 50 percent of
  650  the rate adopted for a family day care home.
  651         (f) Evaluation and annual report.—Each early learning
  652  coalition shall conduct an evaluation of its implementation of
  653  the school readiness program, including system support services,
  654  performance standards, and outcome measures, and shall provide
  655  an annual report and fiscal statement to the Department of
  656  Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation.
  657  This report must also include an evaluation of the effectiveness
  658  of its direct enhancement services and conform to the content
  659  and format specifications adopted by the department Agency for
  660  Workforce Innovation. The department Agency for Workforce
  661  Innovation must include an analysis of the early learning
  662  coalitions’ reports in the department's agency’s annual report.
  663         (6) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.—The school readiness program is
  664  established for children from birth to the beginning of the
  665  school year for which a child is eligible for admission to
  666  kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. or who
  667  are eligible for any federal subsidized child care program. Each
  668  early learning coalition shall give priority for participation
  669  in the school readiness program as follows:
  670         (a) Priority shall be given first to a child from a family
  671  in which there is an adult receiving temporary cash assistance
  672  who is subject to federal work requirements.
  673         (b) Priority shall be given next to a child who is eligible
  674  for a school readiness program but who has not yet entered
  675  school, who is served by the Family Safety Program Office of the
  676  Department of Children and Family Services or a community-based
  677  lead agency under chapter 39 or chapter 409, and for whom child
  678  care is needed to minimize risk of further abuse, neglect, or
  679  abandonment.
  680         (c) Subsequent priority shall be given to a child who meets
  681  one or more of the following criteria:
  682         1. A child who is younger than the age of kindergarten
  683  eligibility and:
  684         a. Is at risk of welfare dependency, including an
  685  economically disadvantaged child, a child of a participant in
  686  the welfare transition program, a child of a migratory
  687  agricultural worker, or a child of a teen parent.
  688         b. Is a member of a working family that is economically
  689  disadvantaged.
  690         c. For whom financial assistance is provided through the
  691  Relative Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085.
  692         2. A 3-year-old child or 4-year-old child who may not be
  693  economically disadvantaged but who has a disability; has been
  694  served in a specific part-time exceptional education program or
  695  a combination of part-time exceptional education programs with
  696  required special services, aids, or equipment; and was
  697  previously reported for funding part time under the Florida
  698  Education Finance Program as an exceptional student.
  699         3. An economically disadvantaged child, a child with a
  700  disability, or a child at risk of future school failure, from
  701  birth to 4 years of age, who is served at home through a home
  702  visitor program and an intensive parent education program.
  703         4. A child who meets federal and state eligibility
  704  requirements for the migrant preschool program but who is not
  705  economically disadvantaged.
  706  
  707  As used in this paragraph, the term “economically disadvantaged”
  708  means having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of
  709  the federal poverty level. Notwithstanding any change in a
  710  family’s economic status, but subject to additional family
  711  contributions in accordance with the sliding fee scale, a child
  712  who meets the eligibility requirements upon initial registration
  713  for the program remains eligible until the beginning of the
  714  school year for which the child is eligible for admission to
  715  kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
  716         (7) PARENTAL CHOICE.—
  717         (a) Parental choice of child care providers shall be
  718  established, to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance
  719  with 45 C.F.R. s. 98.30.
  720         (b) As used in this subsection, the term “payment
  721  certificate” means a child care certificate as defined in 45
  722  C.F.R. s. 98.2.
  723         (c) The school readiness program shall, in accordance with
  724  45 C.F.R. s. 98.30, provide parental choice through a payment
  725  certificate that ensures, to the maximum extent possible,
  726  flexibility in the school readiness program and payment
  727  arrangements. The payment certificate must bear the names of the
  728  beneficiary and the program provider and, when redeemed, must
  729  bear the signatures of both the beneficiary and an authorized
  730  representative of the provider.
  731         (d) If it is determined that a provider has given any cash
  732  to the beneficiary in return for receiving a payment
  733  certificate, the early learning coalition or its fiscal agent
  734  shall refer the matter to the Department of Financial Services
  735  pursuant to s. 414.411 for investigation.
  736         (e) The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall
  737  establish an electronic transfer system for the disbursement of
  738  funds in accordance with this subsection. Each early learning
  739  coalition shall fully implement the electronic funds transfer
  740  system within 2 years after approval of the coalition’s school
  741  readiness plan, unless a waiver is obtained from the Department
  742  of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce Innovation.
  743         (8) STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.—A program provider
  744  participating in the school readiness program must meet the
  745  performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the
  746  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  747  Innovation.
  748         (9) FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.—
  749         (a) It is the intent of this section to establish an
  750  integrated and quality seamless service delivery system for all
  751  publicly funded early childhood education and child care
  752  programs operating in this state.
  753         (b) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  754  for Workforce Innovation shall administer school readiness
  755  funds, plans, and policies and shall prepare and submit a
  756  unified budget request for the school readiness system in
  757  accordance with chapter 216.
  758         2. All instructions to early learning coalitions for
  759  administering this section shall emanate from the department
  760  Agency for Workforce Innovation in accordance with the policies
  761  of the Legislature.
  762         (c) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  763  for Workforce Innovation, subject to legislative notice and
  764  review under s. 216.177, shall establish a formula for the
  765  allocation of all state and federal school readiness funds
  766  provided for children participating in the school readiness
  767  program, whether served by a public or private provider, based
  768  upon equity for each county. The allocation formula must be
  769  submitted to the Governor, the chair of the Senate Ways and
  770  Means Committee or its successor, and the chair of the House of
  771  Representatives Fiscal Council or its successor no later than
  772  January 1 of each year. If the Legislature specifies changes to
  773  the allocation formula, the Agency for Workforce Innovation
  774  shall allocate funds as specified in the General Appropriations
  775  Act.
  776         (d) All state, federal, and required local maintenance-of
  777  effort or matching funds provided to an early learning coalition
  778  for purposes of this section shall be used for implementation of
  779  its approved school readiness plan, including the hiring of
  780  staff to effectively operate the coalition’s school readiness
  781  program. As part of plan approval and periodic plan review, the
  782  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  783  Innovation shall require that administrative costs be kept to
  784  the minimum necessary for efficient and effective administration
  785  of the school readiness plan, but total administrative
  786  expenditures must not exceed 5 percent unless specifically
  787  waived by the department Agency for Workforce Innovation. The
  788  department Agency for Workforce Innovation shall annually report
  789  to the Legislature any problems relating to administrative
  790  costs.
  791         (e) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  792  for Workforce Innovation shall annually distribute, to a maximum
  793  extent practicable, all eligible funds provided under this
  794  section as block grants to the early learning coalitions in
  795  accordance with the terms and conditions specified by the
  796  department agency.
  797         (f) State funds appropriated for the school readiness
  798  program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
  799  or the purchase of buses.
  800         (g) All cost savings and all revenues received through a
  801  mandatory sliding fee scale shall be used to help fund each
  802  early learning coalition’s school readiness program.
  803         (10) CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.—If a conflict exists between
  804  this section and federal requirements, the federal requirements
  805  control.
  806         (11) SUBSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS.—Each school district shall
  807  make a list of all individuals currently eligible to act as a
  808  substitute teacher within the county pursuant to the rules
  809  adopted by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.35 available
  810  to an early learning coalition serving students within the
  811  school district. Child care facilities, as defined by s.
  812  402.302, may employ individuals listed as substitute instructors
  813  for the purpose of offering the school readiness program, the
  814  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, and all other
  815  legally operating child care programs.
  816         Section 44. Section 411.0102, Florida Statutes, is amended
  817  to read:
  818         411.0102 Child Care Executive Partnership Act; findings and
  819  intent; grant; limitation; rules.—
  820         (1) This section may be cited as the “Child Care Executive
  821  Partnership Act.”
  822         (2)(a) The Legislature finds that when private employers
  823  provide onsite child care or provide other child care benefits,
  824  they benefit by improved recruitment and higher retention rates
  825  for employees, lower absenteeism, and improved employee morale.
  826  The Legislature also finds that there are many ways in which
  827  private employers can provide child care assistance to
  828  employees: information and referral, vouchering, employer
  829  contribution to child care programs, and onsite care. Private
  830  employers can offer child care as part of a menu of employee
  831  benefits. The Legislature recognizes that flexible compensation
  832  programs providing a child care option are beneficial to the
  833  private employer through increased productivity, to the private
  834  employee in knowing that his or her children are being cared for
  835  in a safe and nurturing environment, and to the state in more
  836  dollars being available for purchasing power and investment.
  837         (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote
  838  public/private partnerships to ensure that the children of the
  839  state be provided safe and enriching child care at any time, but
  840  especially while parents work to remain self-sufficient. It is
  841  the intent of the Legislature that private employers be
  842  encouraged to participate in the future of this state by
  843  providing employee child care benefits. Further, it is the
  844  intent of the Legislature to encourage private employers to
  845  explore innovative ways to assist employees to obtain quality
  846  child care.
  847         (c) The Legislature further recognizes that many parents
  848  need assistance in paying the full costs of quality child care.
  849  The public and private sectors, by working in partnership, can
  850  promote and improve access to quality child care and early
  851  education for children of working families who need it.
  852  Therefore, a more formal mechanism is necessary to stimulate the
  853  establishment of public-private partnerships. It is the intent
  854  of the Legislature to expand the availability of scholarship
  855  options for working families by providing incentives for
  856  employers to contribute to meeting the needs of their employees’
  857  families through matching public dollars available for child
  858  care.
  859         (3) There is created a body politic and corporate known as
  860  the Child Care Executive Partnership which shall establish and
  861  govern the Child Care Executive Partnership Program. The purpose
  862  of the Child Care Executive Partnership Program is to utilize
  863  state and federal funds as incentives for matching local funds
  864  derived from local governments, employers, charitable
  865  foundations, and other sources so that Florida communities may
  866  create local flexible partnerships with employers. The Child
  867  Care Executive Partnership Program funds shall be used at the
  868  discretion of local communities to meet the needs of working
  869  parents. A child care purchasing pool shall be developed with
  870  the state, federal, and local funds to provide subsidies to low
  871  income working parents whose family income does not exceed the
  872  allowable income for any federally subsidized child care program
  873  with a dollar-for-dollar match from employers, local government,
  874  and other matching contributions. The funds used from the child
  875  care purchasing pool must be used to supplement or extend the
  876  use of existing public or private funds.
  877         (4) The Child Care Executive Partnership, staffed by the
  878  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  879  Innovation, shall consist of a representative of the Executive
  880  Office of the Governor and nine members of the corporate or
  881  child care community, appointed by the Governor.
  882         (a) Members shall serve for a period of 4 years, except
  883  that the representative of the Executive Office of the Governor
  884  shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
  885         (b) The Child Care Executive Partnership shall be chaired
  886  by a member chosen by a majority vote and shall meet at least
  887  quarterly and at other times upon the call of the chair. The
  888  Child Care Executive Partnership may use any method of
  889  telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a
  890  quorum through telecommunications, only if the public is given
  891  proper notice of a telecommunications meeting and reasonable
  892  access to observe and, when appropriate, participate.
  893         (c) Members shall serve without compensation, but may be
  894  reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses in accordance with
  895  s. 112.061.
  896         (d) The Child Care Executive Partnership shall have all the
  897  powers and authority, not explicitly prohibited by statute,
  898  necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this
  899  section, as well as the functions, duties, and responsibilities
  900  of the partnership, including, but not limited to, the
  901  following:
  902         1. Assisting in the formulation and coordination of the
  903  state’s child care policy.
  904         2. Adopting an official seal.
  905         3. Soliciting, accepting, receiving, investing, and
  906  expending funds from public or private sources.
  907         4. Contracting with public or private entities as
  908  necessary.
  909         5. Approving an annual budget.
  910         6. Carrying forward any unexpended state appropriations
  911  into succeeding fiscal years.
  912         7. Providing a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the
  913  House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate, on or
  914  before December 1 of each year.
  915         (5)(a) The Legislature shall annually determine the amount
  916  of state or federal low-income child care moneys which shall be
  917  used to create Child Care Executive Partnership Program child
  918  care purchasing pools in counties chosen by the Child Care
  919  Executive Partnership, provided that at least two of the
  920  counties have populations of no more than 300,000. The
  921  Legislature shall annually review the effectiveness of the child
  922  care purchasing pool program and reevaluate the percentage of
  923  additional state or federal funds, if any, which that can be
  924  used for the program’s expansion.
  925         (b) To ensure a seamless service delivery and ease of
  926  access for families, an early learning coalition or the
  927  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  928  Innovation shall administer the child care purchasing pool
  929  funds.
  930         (c) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  931  for Workforce Innovation, in conjunction with the Child Care
  932  Executive Partnership, shall develop procedures for disbursement
  933  of funds through the child care purchasing pools. In order to be
  934  considered for funding, an early learning coalition or the
  935  Department of Children and Family Services Agency for Workforce
  936  Innovation must commit to:
  937         1. Matching the state purchasing pool funds on a dollar
  938  for-dollar basis; and
  939         2. Expending only those public funds that which are matched
  940  by employers, local government, and other matching contributors
  941  who contribute to the purchasing pool. Parents shall also pay a
  942  fee, which may not be less than the amount identified in the
  943  early learning coalition’s school readiness program sliding fee
  944  scale.
  945         (d) Each early learning coalition shall establish a
  946  community child care task force for each child care purchasing
  947  pool. The task force must be composed of employers, parents,
  948  private child care providers, and one representative from the
  949  local children’s services council, if one exists in the area of
  950  the purchasing pool. The early learning coalition is expected to
  951  recruit the task force members from existing child care
  952  councils, commissions, or task forces already operating in the
  953  area of a purchasing pool. A majority of the task force shall
  954  consist of employers.
  955         (e) Each participating early learning coalition board shall
  956  develop a plan for the use of child care purchasing pool funds.
  957  The plan must show how many children will be served by the
  958  purchasing pool, how many will be new to receiving child care
  959  services, and how the early learning coalition intends to
  960  attract new employers and their employees to the program.
  961         (6) The Department of Children and Family Services Agency
  962  for Workforce Innovation shall adopt any rules necessary for the
  963  implementation and administration of this section.
  964  
  965  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  966         And the title is amended as follows:
  967         Delete line 285
  968  and insert:
  969         an electronic transfer benefit program; amending s.
  970         411.01, F.S.; providing for the school readiness
  971         programs to be administered by the Department of
  972         Children and Family Services rather than by the Agency
  973         for Workforce Innovation; revising legislative intent;
  974         amending s.