Florida Senate - 2016                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 7040
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì241658CÎ241658                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  02/04/2016           .                                
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       The Committee on Fiscal Policy (Bean) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 1252 - 2293
    4  and insert:
    5  local workforce development boards in achieving the workforce
    6  development strategy. These measures and standards must be
    7  organized into three outcome tiers.
    8         (a) The performance accountability measures for the core
    9  programs consist of the primary indicators of performance, any
   10  additional indicators of performance, and a state-adjusted level
   11  of performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113
   12  128, Title I, s. 116(b) first tier of measures must be organized
   13  to provide benchmarks for systemwide outcomes. CareerSource
   14  Florida, Inc., shall, in collaboration with the Office of
   15  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, establish
   16  goals for the tier-one outcomes. Systemwide outcomes may include
   17  employment in occupations demonstrating continued growth in
   18  wages; continued employment after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months;
   19  reduction in and elimination of public assistance reliance; job
   20  placement; employer satisfaction; and positive return on
   21  investment of public resources.
   22         (b) The performance accountability measures for each local
   23  area consist of the primary indicators of performance, any
   24  additional indicators of performance, and a local level of
   25  performance for each indicator pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128.
   26  The local level of performance is determined by the local board,
   27  the chief elected official, and the Governor pursuant to Pub. L.
   28  No. 113-128, Title I, s. 116(c) second tier of measures must be
   29  organized to provide a set of benchmark outcomes for the
   30  strategic components of the workforce development strategy. Cost
   31  per entered employment, earnings at placement, retention in
   32  employment, job placement, and entered employment rate must be
   33  included among the performance outcome measures.
   34         (c) Performance accountability measures shall be used to
   35  generate performance reports pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128,
   36  Title I, s. 116(d) The third tier of measures must be the
   37  operational output measures to be used by the agency
   38  implementing programs, which may be specific to federal
   39  requirements. The tier-three measures must be developed by the
   40  agencies implementing programs, which may consult with
   41  CareerSource Florida, Inc., in this effort. Such measures must
   42  be reported to CareerSource Florida, Inc., by the appropriate
   43  implementing agency.
   44         (d) Regional differences must be reflected in the
   45  establishment of performance goals and may include job
   46  availability, unemployment rates, average worker wage, and
   47  available employable population.
   48         (e) Job placement must be reported pursuant to s. 1008.39.
   49  Positive outcomes for providers of education and training must
   50  be consistent with ss. 1008.42 and 1008.43.
   51         (d)(f) The performance accountability uniform measures of
   52  success that are adopted by CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the
   53  local regional workforce development boards must be developed in
   54  a manner that provides for an equitable comparison of the
   55  relative success or failure of any service provider in terms of
   56  positive outcomes.
   57         (g) By December 1 of each year, CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
   58  shall provide the Legislature with a report detailing the
   59  performance of Florida’s workforce development system, as
   60  reflected in the three-tier measurement system. The report also
   61  must benchmark Florida outcomes for all tiers as compared with
   62  other states that collect data similarly.
   63         (11) The workforce development system must use a charter
   64  process approach aimed at encouraging local design and control
   65  of service delivery and targeted activities. CareerSource
   66  Florida, Inc., shall be responsible for granting charters to
   67  local regional workforce development boards that have a
   68  membership consistent with the requirements of federal and state
   69  law and have developed a plan consistent with the state’s
   70  workforce development strategy. The plan must specify methods
   71  for allocating the resources and programs in a manner that
   72  eliminates unwarranted duplication, minimizes administrative
   73  costs, meets the existing job market demands and the job market
   74  demands resulting from successful economic development
   75  activities, ensures access to quality workforce development
   76  services for all Floridians, allows for pro rata or partial
   77  distribution of benefits and services, prohibits the creation of
   78  a waiting list or other indication of an unserved population,
   79  serves as many individuals as possible within available
   80  resources, and maximizes successful outcomes. As part of the
   81  charter process, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish
   82  incentives for effective coordination of federal and state
   83  programs, outline rewards for successful job placements, and
   84  institute collaborative approaches among local service
   85  providers. Local decisionmaking and control shall be important
   86  components for inclusion in this charter application.
   87         (12) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall enter into agreement
   88  with Space Florida and collaborate with vocational institutes,
   89  community colleges, colleges, and universities in this state, to
   90  develop a workforce development strategy to implement the
   91  workforce provisions of s. 331.3051.
   92         Section 25. Section 445.006, Florida Statutes, is amended
   93  to read:
   94         445.006 State plan Strategic and operational plans for
   95  workforce development.—
   96         (1) STATE PLAN.—CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction
   97  with state and local partners in the workforce system, shall
   98  develop a state plan that produces an educated and skilled
   99  workforce. The state plan must consist of strategic and
  100  operational planning elements. The state plan shall be submitted
  101  by the Governor to the United States Department of Labor
  102  pursuant to the requirements of Pub. L. No. 113-128 strategic
  103  plan that produces skilled employees for employers in the state.
  104  The strategic plan shall be updated or modified by January 1 of
  105  each year.
  106         (2) STRATEGIC PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida,
  107  Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the
  108  workforce system, shall develop strategic planning elements,
  109  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state
  110  plan.
  111         (a) The strategic planning elements of the state plan must
  112  include, but need not be limited to, strategies for:
  113         1.(a) Fulfilling the workforce system goals and strategies
  114  prescribed in s. 445.004;
  115         2.(b) Aggregating, integrating, and leveraging workforce
  116  system resources;
  117         3.(c) Coordinating the activities of federal, state, and
  118  local workforce system partners;
  119         4.(d) Addressing the workforce needs of small businesses;
  120  and
  121         5.(e) Fostering the participation of rural communities and
  122  distressed urban cores in the workforce system.
  123         (2) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish an
  124  operational plan to implement the state strategic plan. The
  125  operational plan shall be submitted to the Governor and the
  126  Legislature along with the strategic plan and must reflect the
  127  allocation of resources as appropriated by the Legislature to
  128  specific responsibilities enumerated in law. As a component of
  129  the operational plan required under this section, CareerSource
  130  Florida, Inc., shall develop a workforce marketing plan, with
  131  the goal of educating individuals inside and outside the state
  132  about the employment market and employment conditions in the
  133  state. The marketing plan must include, but need not be limited
  134  to, strategies for:
  135         (a) Distributing information to secondary and postsecondary
  136  education institutions about the diversity of businesses in the
  137  state, specific clusters of businesses or business sectors in
  138  the state, and occupations by industry which are in demand by
  139  employers in the state;
  140         (b) Distributing information about and promoting use of the
  141  Internet-based job matching and labor market information system
  142  authorized under s. 445.011; and
  143         (c) Coordinating with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to ensure
  144  that workforce marketing efforts complement the economic
  145  development marketing efforts of the state.
  146         (3) The operational plan must include performance measures,
  147  standards, measurement criteria, and contract guidelines in the
  148  following areas with respect to participants in the welfare
  149  transition program:
  150         (a) Work participation rates, by type of activity;
  151         (b) Caseload trends;
  152         (c) Recidivism;
  153         (d) Participation in diversion and relocation assistance
  154  programs;
  155         (e) Employment retention;
  156         (f) Wage growth; and
  157         (g) Other issues identified by the board of directors of
  158  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
  159         (b)(4) The strategic planning elements plan must include
  160  criteria for allocating workforce resources to local regional
  161  workforce development boards. With respect to allocating funds
  162  to serve customers of the welfare transition program, such
  163  criteria may include weighting factors that indicate the
  164  relative degree of difficulty associated with securing and
  165  retaining employment placements for specific subsets of the
  166  welfare transition caseload.
  167         (3) OPERATIONAL PLANNING ELEMENTS.—CareerSource Florida,
  168  Inc., in conjunction with state and local partners in the
  169  workforce system, shall develop operational planning elements,
  170  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 102, for the state
  171  plan.
  172         (5)(a) The operational plan may include a performance-based
  173  payment structure to be used for all welfare transition program
  174  customers which takes into account:
  175         1. The degree of difficulty associated with placement and
  176  retention;
  177         2. The quality of the placement with respect to salary,
  178  benefits, and opportunities for advancement; and
  179         3. The employee’s retention in the placement.
  180         (b) The payment structure may provide for bonus payments of
  181  up to 10 percent of the contract amount to providers that
  182  achieve notable success in achieving contract objectives,
  183  including, but not limited to, success in diverting families in
  184  which there is an adult who is subject to work requirements from
  185  receiving cash assistance and in achieving long-term job
  186  retention and wage growth with respect to welfare transition
  187  program customers. A service provider shall be paid a maximum of
  188  one payment per service for each participant during any given 6
  189  month period.
  190         (6)(a) The operational plan must include strategies that
  191  are designed to prevent or reduce the need for a person to
  192  receive public assistance, including:
  193         1. A teen pregnancy prevention component that includes, but
  194  is not limited to, a plan for implementing the Teen Pregnancy
  195  Prevention Community Initiative within each county of the
  196  services area in which the teen birth rate is higher than the
  197  state average;
  198         2. A component that encourages community-based welfare
  199  prevention and reduction initiatives that increase support
  200  provided by noncustodial parents to their welfare-dependent
  201  children and are consistent with program and financial
  202  guidelines developed by CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the
  203  Commission on Responsible Fatherhood. These initiatives may
  204  include improved paternity establishment, work activities for
  205  noncustodial parents, programs aimed at decreasing out-of
  206  wedlock pregnancies, encouraging involvement of fathers with
  207  their children which includes court-ordered supervised
  208  visitation, and increasing child support payments;
  209         3. A component that encourages formation and maintenance of
  210  two-parent families through, among other things, court-ordered
  211  supervised visitation;
  212         4. A component that fosters responsible fatherhood in
  213  families receiving assistance; and
  214         5. A component that fosters the provision of services that
  215  reduce the incidence and effects of domestic violence on women
  216  and children in families receiving assistance.
  217         (b) Specifications for welfare transition program services
  218  that are to be delivered include, but are not limited to:
  219         1. Initial assessment services prior to an individual being
  220  placed in an employment service, to determine whether the
  221  individual should be referred for relocation, up-front
  222  diversion, education, or employment placement. Assessment
  223  services shall be paid on a fixed unit rate and may not provide
  224  educational or employment placement services.
  225         2. Referral of participants to diversion and relocation
  226  programs.
  227         3. Preplacement services, including assessment, staffing,
  228  career plan development, work orientation, and employability
  229  skills enhancement.
  230         4. Services necessary to secure employment for a welfare
  231  transition program participant.
  232         5. Services necessary to assist participants in retaining
  233  employment, including, but not limited to, remedial education,
  234  language skills, and personal and family counseling.
  235         6. Desired quality of job placements with regard to salary,
  236  benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
  237         7. Expectations regarding job retention.
  238         8. Strategies to ensure that transition services are
  239  provided to participants for the mandated period of eligibility.
  240         9. Services that must be provided to the participant
  241  throughout an education or training program, such as monitoring
  242  attendance and progress in the program.
  243         10. Services that must be delivered to welfare transition
  244  program participants who have a deferral from work requirements
  245  but wish to participate in activities that meet federal
  246  participation requirements.
  247         11. Expectations regarding continued participant awareness
  248  of available services and benefits.
  249         Section 26. Section 445.007, Florida Statutes, is amended
  250  to read:
  251         445.007 Local Regional workforce development boards.—
  252         (1) One regional workforce development board shall be
  253  appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall
  254  serve as the local workforce development investment board
  255  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. The membership of the
  256  board must shall be consistent with Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220,
  257  Title I, s. 107(b) s. 117(b) but may not exceed the minimum
  258  membership required in Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s.
  259  117(b)(2)(A) and in this subsection. Upon approval by the
  260  Governor, the chief elected official may appoint additional
  261  members above the limit set by this subsection. If a public
  262  education or training provider is represented on the board, a
  263  representative of a private nonprofit provider and a
  264  representative of a private for-profit provider must also be
  265  appointed to the board. The board shall include one nonvoting
  266  representative from a military installation if a military
  267  installation is located within the region and the appropriate
  268  military command or organization authorizes such representation.
  269  It is the intent of the Legislature that membership of a
  270  regional workforce board include persons who are current or
  271  former recipients of welfare transition assistance as defined in
  272  s. 445.002(2) or workforce services as provided in s. 445.009(1)
  273  or that such persons be included as ex officio members of the
  274  board or of committees organized by the board. The importance of
  275  minority and gender representation shall be considered when
  276  making appointments to the board. The board, its committees,
  277  subcommittees, and subdivisions, and other units of the
  278  workforce system, including units that may consist in whole or
  279  in part of local governmental units, may use any method of
  280  telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a
  281  quorum through telecommunications, provided that the public is
  282  given proper notice of the telecommunications meeting and
  283  reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate, participate.
  284  Local Regional workforce development boards are subject to
  285  chapters 119 and 286 and s. 24, Art. I of the State
  286  Constitution. If the local regional workforce development board
  287  enters into a contract with an organization or individual
  288  represented on the board of directors, the contract must be
  289  approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a quorum having been
  290  established, and the board member who could benefit financially
  291  from the transaction must abstain from voting on the contract. A
  292  board member must disclose any such conflict in a manner that is
  293  consistent with the procedures outlined in s. 112.3143. Each
  294  member of a local regional workforce development board who is
  295  not otherwise required to file a full and public disclosure of
  296  financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State
  297  Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a statement of financial
  298  interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. The executive director or
  299  designated person responsible for the operational and
  300  administrative functions of the local regional workforce
  301  development board who is not otherwise required to file a full
  302  and public disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 8,
  303  Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file a
  304  statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145.
  305         (2)(a) The local regional workforce development board shall
  306  elect a chair from among the representatives described in Pub.
  307  L. No. 113-128 105-220, Title I, s. 107(b)(2)(A) s.
  308  117(b)(2)(A)(i) to serve for a term of no more than 2 years and
  309  shall serve no more than two terms.
  310         (b) The Governor may remove a member of the board, the
  311  executive director of the board, or the designated person
  312  responsible for the operational and administrative functions of
  313  the board for cause. As used in this paragraph, the term “cause”
  314  includes, but is not limited to, engaging in fraud or other
  315  criminal acts, incapacity, unfitness, neglect of duty, official
  316  incompetence and irresponsibility, misfeasance, malfeasance,
  317  nonfeasance, or lack of performance.
  318         (3) The Department of Economic Opportunity, under the
  319  direction of CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall assign staff to
  320  meet with each local regional workforce development board
  321  annually to review the board’s performance and to certify that
  322  the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal
  323  law.
  324         (4) In addition to the duties and functions specified by
  325  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and by the interlocal agreement
  326  approved by the local county or city governing bodies, the local
  327  regional workforce development board shall have the following
  328  responsibilities:
  329         (a) Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan
  330  pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s. 108 105-220, Title
  331  I, s. 118, and the provisions of this act.
  332         (b) Conclude agreements necessary to designate the fiscal
  333  agent and administrative entity. A public or private entity,
  334  including an entity established pursuant to s. 163.01, which
  335  makes a majority of the appointments to a local regional
  336  workforce development board may serve as the board’s
  337  administrative entity if approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
  338  based upon a showing that a fair and competitive process was
  339  used to select the administrative entity.
  340         (c) Complete assurances required for the charter process of
  341  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and provide ongoing oversight
  342  related to administrative costs, duplicated services, career
  343  counseling, economic development, equal access, compliance and
  344  accountability, and performance outcomes.
  345         (d) Oversee the one-stop delivery system in its local area.
  346         (5) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall implement a training
  347  program for the local regional workforce development boards to
  348  familiarize board members with the state’s workforce development
  349  goals and strategies.
  350         (6) The local regional workforce development board shall
  351  designate all local service providers and may not transfer this
  352  authority to a third party. Consistent with the intent of the
  353  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act, local
  354  regional workforce development boards should provide the
  355  greatest possible choice of training providers to those who
  356  qualify for training services. A local regional workforce
  357  development board may not restrict the choice of training
  358  providers based upon cost, location, or historical training
  359  arrangements. However, a board may restrict the amount of
  360  training resources available to any one client. Such
  361  restrictions may vary based upon the cost of training in the
  362  client’s chosen occupational area. The local regional workforce
  363  development board may be designated as a one-stop operator and
  364  direct provider of intake, assessment, eligibility
  365  determinations, or other direct provider services except
  366  training services. Such designation may occur only with the
  367  agreement of the chief elected official and the Governor as
  368  specified in 29 U.S.C. s. 2832(f)(2). CareerSource Florida,
  369  Inc., shall establish procedures by which a local regional
  370  workforce development board may request permission to operate
  371  under this section and the criteria under which such permission
  372  may be granted. The criteria shall include, but need not be
  373  limited to, a reduction in the cost of providing the permitted
  374  services. Such permission shall be granted for a period not to
  375  exceed 3 years for any single request submitted by the local
  376  regional workforce development board.
  377         (7) Local Regional workforce development boards shall adopt
  378  a committee structure consistent with applicable federal law and
  379  state policies established by CareerSource Florida, Inc.
  380         (8) The importance of minority and gender representation
  381  shall be considered when appointments are made to any committee
  382  established by the local regional workforce development board.
  383         (9) For purposes of procurement, local regional workforce
  384  development boards and their administrative entities are not
  385  state agencies and are exempt from chapters 120 and 287. The
  386  local regional workforce development boards shall apply the
  387  procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law
  388  and policies of the Department of Economic Opportunity and
  389  CareerSource Florida, Inc., for the expenditure of federal,
  390  state, and nonpass-through funds. The making or approval of
  391  smaller, multiple payments for a single purchase with the intent
  392  to avoid or evade the monetary thresholds and procedures
  393  established by federal law and policies of the Department of
  394  Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida, Inc., is grounds
  395  for removal for cause. Local Regional workforce development
  396  boards, their administrative entities, committees, and
  397  subcommittees, and other workforce units may authorize
  398  expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or
  399  other tokens of recognition for performance by units of the
  400  workforce system. Local Regional workforce development boards;
  401  their administrative entities, committees, and subcommittees;
  402  and other workforce units may authorize expenditures for
  403  promotional items, such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with
  404  messages promoting Florida’s workforce system to employers, job
  405  seekers, and program participants. However, such expenditures
  406  are subject to federal regulations applicable to the expenditure
  407  of federal funds. All contracts executed by local regional
  408  workforce development boards must include specific performance
  409  expectations and deliverables.
  410         (10) State and federal funds provided to the local regional
  411  workforce development boards may not be used directly or
  412  indirectly to pay for meals, food, or beverages for board
  413  members, staff, or employees of local regional workforce
  414  development boards, CareerSource Florida, Inc., or the
  415  Department of Economic Opportunity except as expressly
  416  authorized by state law. Preapproved, reasonable, and necessary
  417  per diem allowances and travel expenses may be reimbursed. Such
  418  reimbursement shall be at the standard travel reimbursement
  419  rates established in s. 112.061 and shall be in compliance with
  420  all applicable federal and state requirements. CareerSource
  421  Florida, Inc., shall develop a statewide fiscal policy
  422  applicable to the state board and all local regional workforce
  423  development boards, to hold both the state and local regional
  424  workforce development boards strictly accountable for adherence
  425  to the policy and subject to regular and periodic monitoring by
  426  the Department of Economic Opportunity, the administrative
  427  entity for CareerSource Florida, Inc. Boards are prohibited from
  428  expending state or federal funds for entertainment costs and
  429  recreational activities for board members and employees as these
  430  terms are defined by 2 C.F.R. part 230.
  431         (11) To increase transparency and accountability, a local
  432  regional workforce development board must comply with the
  433  requirements of this section before contracting with a member of
  434  the board or a relative, as defined in s. 112.3143(1)(c), of a
  435  board member or of an employee of the board. Such contracts may
  436  not be executed before or without the approval of CareerSource
  437  Florida, Inc. Such contracts, as well as documentation
  438  demonstrating adherence to this section as specified by
  439  CareerSource Florida, Inc., must be submitted to the Department
  440  of Economic Opportunity for review and recommendation according
  441  to criteria to be determined by CareerSource Florida, Inc. Such
  442  a contract must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the board, a
  443  quorum having been established; all conflicts of interest must
  444  be disclosed before the vote; and any member who may benefit
  445  from the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the
  446  contract, must abstain from the vote. A contract under $25,000
  447  between a local regional workforce development board and a
  448  member of that board or between a relative, as defined in s.
  449  112.3143(1)(c), of a board member or of an employee of the board
  450  is not required to have the prior approval of CareerSource
  451  Florida, Inc., but must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the
  452  board, a quorum having been established, and must be reported to
  453  the Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida,
  454  Inc., within 30 days after approval. If a contract cannot be
  455  approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., a review of the decision
  456  to disapprove the contract may be requested by the local
  457  regional workforce development board or other parties to the
  458  disapproved contract.
  459         (12) Each local regional workforce development board shall
  460  develop a budget for the purpose of carrying out the duties of
  461  the board under this section, subject to the approval of the
  462  chief elected official. Each local regional workforce
  463  development board shall submit its annual budget for review to
  464  CareerSource Florida, Inc., no later than 2 weeks after the
  465  chair approves the budget.
  466         (13)By March 1, 2018, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall
  467  establish regional planning areas in accordance with Pub. L. No.
  468  113-128, Title I, s. 106(a)(2). Local workforce development
  469  boards and chief elected officials within identified regional
  470  planning areas shall prepare a regional workforce development
  471  plan as required under Pub. L. No. 113-128, Title I, s.
  472  106(c)(2).
  473         Section 27. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.0071,
  474  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  475         445.0071 Florida Youth Summer Jobs Pilot Program.—
  476         (4) GOVERNANCE.—
  477         (a) The pilot program shall be administered by the local
  478  regional workforce development board in consultation with
  479  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
  480         (b) The local regional workforce development board shall
  481  report to CareerSource Florida, Inc., the number of at-risk and
  482  disadvantaged children who enter the program, the types of work
  483  activities they participate in, and the number of children who
  484  return to school, go on to postsecondary school, or enter the
  485  workforce full time at the end of the program. CareerSource
  486  Florida, Inc., shall report to the Legislature by November 1 of
  487  each year on the performance of the program.
  488         (5) FUNDING.—
  489         (a) The local regional workforce development board shall,
  490  consistent with state and federal laws, use funds appropriated
  491  specifically for the pilot program to provide youth wage
  492  payments and educational enrichment activities. The local
  493  regional workforce development board and local communities may
  494  obtain private or state and federal grants or other sources of
  495  funds in addition to any appropriated funds.
  496         (b) Program funds shall be used as follows:
  497         1. No less than 85 percent of the funds shall be used for
  498  youth wage payments or educational enrichment activities. These
  499  funds shall be matched on a one-to-one basis by each local
  500  community that participates in the program.
  501         2. No more than 2 percent of the funds may be used for
  502  administrative purposes.
  503         3. The remainder of the funds may be used for
  504  transportation assistance, child care assistance, or other
  505  assistance to enable a program participant to enter or remain in
  506  the program.
  507         (c) The local regional workforce development board shall
  508  pay a participating employer an amount equal to one-half of the
  509  wages paid to a youth participating in the program. Payments
  510  shall be made monthly for the duration that the youth
  511  participant is employed as documented by the employer and
  512  confirmed by the local regional workforce development board.
  513         Section 28. Subsections (2) through (7), paragraphs (b),
  514  (c), and (d) of subsection (8), paragraph (b) of subsection (9),
  515  and subsection (10) of section 445.009, Florida Statutes, are
  516  amended to read:
  517         445.009 One-stop delivery system.—
  518         (2)(a) Subject to a process designed by CareerSource
  519  Florida, Inc., and in compliance with Pub. L. No. 113-128 105
  520  220, local regional workforce development boards shall designate
  521  one-stop delivery system operators.
  522         (b) A local regional workforce development board may
  523  designate as its one-stop delivery system operator any public or
  524  private entity that is eligible to provide services under any
  525  state or federal workforce program that is a mandatory or
  526  discretionary partner in the local workforce development area’s
  527  region’s one-stop delivery system if approved by CareerSource
  528  Florida, Inc., upon a showing by the local regional workforce
  529  development board that a fair and competitive process was used
  530  in the selection. As a condition of authorizing a local regional
  531  workforce development board to designate such an entity as its
  532  one-stop delivery system operator, CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
  533  must require the local regional workforce development board to
  534  demonstrate that safeguards are in place to ensure that the one
  535  stop delivery system operator will not exercise an unfair
  536  competitive advantage or unfairly refer or direct customers of
  537  the one-stop delivery system to services provided by that one
  538  stop delivery system operator. A local regional workforce
  539  development board may retain its current one-stop career center
  540  operator without further procurement action if the board has an
  541  established one-stop career center that has complied with
  542  federal and state law.
  543         (c) The local workforce development board must enter into a
  544  memorandum of understanding with each mandatory or optional
  545  partner participating in the one-stop delivery system which
  546  details the partner’s required contribution to infrastructure
  547  costs, as required by Pub. L. No. 113-128, s. 121(h). If the
  548  local workforce development board and the one-stop partner are
  549  unable to come to an agreement regarding infrastructure costs by
  550  July 1, 2017, the costs shall be allocated pursuant to a policy
  551  established by the Governor.
  552         (3) Local Regional workforce development boards shall enter
  553  into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of
  554  Economic Opportunity for the delivery of employment services
  555  authorized by the federal Wagner-Peyser Act. This memorandum of
  556  understanding must be performance based.
  557         (a) Unless otherwise required by federal law, at least 90
  558  percent of the Wagner-Peyser funding must go into direct
  559  customer service costs.
  560         (b) Employment services must be provided through the one
  561  stop delivery system, under the guidance of one-stop delivery
  562  system operators. One-stop delivery system operators shall have
  563  overall authority for directing the staff of the workforce
  564  system. Personnel matters shall remain under the ultimate
  565  authority of the department. However, the one-stop delivery
  566  system operator shall submit to the department information
  567  concerning the job performance of employees of the department
  568  who deliver employment services. The department shall consider
  569  any such information submitted by the one-stop delivery system
  570  operator in conducting performance appraisals of the employees.
  571         (c) The department shall retain fiscal responsibility and
  572  accountability for the administration of funds allocated to the
  573  state under the Wagner-Peyser Act. An employee of the department
  574  who is providing services authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act
  575  shall be paid using Wagner-Peyser Act funds.
  576         (4) One-stop delivery system partners shall enter into a
  577  memorandum of understanding pursuant to Pub. L. No. 113-128 105
  578  220, Title I, s. 121, with the local regional workforce
  579  development board. Failure of a local partner to participate
  580  cannot unilaterally block the majority of partners from moving
  581  forward with their one-stop delivery system, and CareerSource
  582  Florida, Inc., pursuant to s. 445.004(5)(e), may make
  583  notification of a local partner that fails to participate.
  584         (5) To the extent possible, local regional workforce
  585  development boards shall include as partners in the local one
  586  stop delivery system entities that provide programs or
  587  activities designed to meet the needs of homeless persons.
  588         (6)(a) To the extent possible, core services, as defined by
  589  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, shall be provided electronically,
  590  using existing systems. These electronic systems shall be linked
  591  and integrated into a comprehensive service system to simplify
  592  access to core services by:
  593         1. Maintaining staff to serve as the first point of contact
  594  with the public seeking access to employment services who are
  595  knowledgeable about each program located in each one-stop
  596  delivery system center as well as related services. An initial
  597  determination of the programs for which a customer is likely to
  598  be eligible and any referral for a more thorough eligibility
  599  determination must be made at this first point of contact; and
  600         2. Establishing an automated, integrated intake screening
  601  and eligibility process where customers will provide information
  602  through a self-service intake process that may be accessed by
  603  staff from any participating program.
  604         (b) To expand electronic capabilities, CareerSource
  605  Florida, Inc., working with local regional workforce development
  606  boards, shall develop a centralized help center to assist local
  607  regional workforce development boards in fulfilling core
  608  services, minimizing the need for fixed-site one-stop delivery
  609  system centers.
  610         (c) To the extent feasible, core services shall be
  611  accessible through the Internet. Through this technology, core
  612  services shall be made available at public libraries, public and
  613  private educational institutions, community centers, kiosks,
  614  neighborhood facilities, and satellite one-stop delivery system
  615  sites. Each local regional workforce development board’s web
  616  page shall serve as a portal for contacting potential employees
  617  by integrating the placement efforts of universities and private
  618  companies, including staffing services firms, into the existing
  619  one-stop delivery system.
  620         (7) Intensive services and training provided pursuant to
  621  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220, shall be provided to individuals
  622  through Intensive Service Accounts and Individual Training
  623  Accounts. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall develop an
  624  implementation plan, including identification of initially
  625  eligible training providers, transition guidelines, and criteria
  626  for use of these accounts. Individual Training Accounts must be
  627  compatible with Individual Development Accounts for education
  628  allowed in federal and state welfare reform statutes.
  629         (8)
  630         (b) For each approved training program, local regional
  631  workforce development boards, in consultation with training
  632  providers, shall establish a fair-market purchase price to be
  633  paid through an Individual Training Account. The purchase price
  634  must be based on prevailing costs and reflect local economic
  635  factors, program complexity, and program benefits, including
  636  time to beginning of training and time to completion. The price
  637  shall ensure the fair participation of public and nonpublic
  638  postsecondary educational institutions as authorized service
  639  providers and shall prohibit the use of unlawful remuneration to
  640  the student in return for attending an institution. Unlawful
  641  remuneration does not include student financial assistance
  642  programs.
  643         (c) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall periodically review
  644  Individual Training Account pricing schedules developed by local
  645  regional workforce development boards and present findings and
  646  recommendations for process improvement to the President of the
  647  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  648         (d) To the maximum extent possible, training providers
  649  shall use funding sources other than the funding provided under
  650  Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220. CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall
  651  develop a system to encourage the leveraging of appropriated
  652  resources for the workforce system and shall report on such
  653  efforts as part of the required annual report.
  654         (9)
  655         (b) The network shall assure that a uniform method is used
  656  to determine eligibility for and management of services provided
  657  by agencies that conduct workforce development activities. The
  658  Department of Management Services shall develop strategies to
  659  allow access to the databases and information management systems
  660  of the following systems in order to link information in those
  661  databases with the one-stop delivery system:
  662         1. The Reemployment Assistance Program under chapter 443.
  663         2. The public employment service described in s. 443.181.
  664         3. The public assistance information system used by the
  665  Department of Children and Families FLORIDA System and the
  666  components related to temporary cash assistance, food
  667  assistance, and Medicaid eligibility.
  668         4. The Student Financial Assistance System of the
  669  Department of Education.
  670         5. Enrollment in the public postsecondary education system.
  671         6. Other information systems determined appropriate by
  672  CareerSource Florida, Inc.
  673         (10) To the maximum extent feasible, the one-stop delivery
  674  system may use private sector staffing services firms in the
  675  provision of workforce services to individuals and employers in
  676  the state. Local Regional workforce development boards may
  677  collaborate with staffing services firms in order to facilitate
  678  the provision of workforce services. Local Regional workforce
  679  development boards may contract with private sector staffing
  680  services firms to design programs that meet the employment needs
  681  of the local workforce development area region. All such
  682  contracts must be performance-based and require a specific
  683  period of job tenure before prior to payment.
  684         Section 29. Subsection (1) of section 445.07, Florida
  685  Statutes, is amended to read:
  686         445.07 Economic security report of employment and earning
  687  outcomes.—
  688         (1) Beginning December 31, 2013, and annually thereafter,
  689  the Department of Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the
  690  Department of Education, shall prepare, or contract with an
  691  entity to prepare, an economic security report of employment and
  692  earning outcomes for degrees or certificates earned at public
  693  postsecondary educational institutions.
  694         Section 30. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 445.014,
  695  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  696         445.014 Small business workforce service initiative.—
  697         (1) Subject to legislative appropriation, CareerSource
  698  Florida, Inc., shall establish a program to encourage local
  699  regional workforce development boards to establish one-stop
  700  delivery systems that maximize the provision of workforce and
  701  human-resource support services to small businesses. Under the
  702  program, a local regional workforce development board may apply,
  703  on a competitive basis, for funds to support the provision of
  704  such services to small businesses through the local workforce
  705  development area’s region’s one-stop delivery system.
  706         (3) CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish guidelines
  707  governing the administration of this program and shall establish
  708  criteria to be used in evaluating applications for funding. Such
  709  criteria must include, but need not be limited to, a showing
  710  that the local workforce development regional board has in place
  711  a detailed plan for establishing a one-stop delivery system
  712  designed to meet the workforce needs of small businesses and for
  713  leveraging other funding sources in support of such activities.
  714         Section 31. Subsection (3) of section 445.016, Florida
  715  Statutes, is amended to read:
  716         445.016 Untried Worker Placement and Employment Incentive
  717  Act.—
  718         (3) Incentive payments may be made to for-profit or not
  719  for-profit agents selected by local regional workforce
  720  development boards who successfully place untried workers in
  721  full-time employment for 6 months with an employer after the
  722  employee successfully completes a probationary placement of no
  723  more than 6 months with that employer. Full-time employment that
  724  includes health care benefits will receive an additional
  725  incentive payment.
  726         Section 32. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
  727  445.017, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  728         445.017 Diversion.—
  729         (3) Before finding an applicant family eligible for up
  730  front diversion services, the local regional workforce
  731  development board must determine that all requirements of
  732  eligibility for diversion services would likely be met.
  733         (4) The local regional workforce development board shall
  734  screen each family on a case-by-case basis for barriers to
  735  obtaining or retaining employment. The screening shall identify
  736  barriers that, if corrected, may prevent the family from
  737  receiving temporary cash assistance on a regular basis.
  738  Assistance to overcome a barrier to employment is not limited to
  739  cash, but may include vouchers or other in-kind benefits.
  740         (5) The family receiving up-front diversion must sign an
  741  agreement restricting the family from applying for temporary
  742  cash assistance for 3 months, unless an emergency is
  743  demonstrated to the local regional workforce development board.
  744  If a demonstrated emergency forces the family to reapply for
  745  temporary cash assistance within 3 months after receiving a
  746  diversion payment, the diversion payment shall be prorated over
  747  an 8-month period and deducted from any temporary assistance for
  748  which the family is eligible.
  749         Section 33. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 445.021,
  750  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  751         445.021 Relocation assistance program.—
  752         (2) The relocation assistance program shall involve five
  753  steps by the local regional workforce development board, in
  754  cooperation with the Department of Children and Families:
  755         (a) A determination that the family is receiving temporary
  756  cash assistance or that all requirements of eligibility for
  757  diversion services would likely be met.
  758         (b) A determination that there is a basis for believing
  759  that relocation will contribute to the ability of the applicant
  760  to achieve self-sufficiency. For example, the applicant:
  761         1. Is unlikely to achieve economic self-sufficiency at the
  762  current community of residence;
  763         2. Has secured a job that provides an increased salary or
  764  improved benefits and that requires relocation to another
  765  community;
  766         3. Has a family support network that will contribute to job
  767  retention in another community;
  768         4. Is determined, pursuant to criteria or procedures
  769  established by the board of directors of CareerSource Florida,
  770  Inc., to be a victim of domestic violence who would experience
  771  reduced probability of further incidents through relocation; or
  772         5. Must relocate in order to receive education or training
  773  that is directly related to the applicant’s employment or career
  774  advancement.
  775         (c) Establishment of a relocation plan that includes such
  776  requirements as are necessary to prevent abuse of the benefit
  777  and provisions to protect the safety of victims of domestic
  778  violence and avoid provisions that place them in anticipated
  779  danger. The payment to defray relocation expenses shall be
  780  determined based on criteria approved by the board of directors
  781  of CareerSource Florida, Inc. Participants in the relocation
  782  program shall be eligible for diversion or transitional
  783  benefits.
  784         (d) A determination, pursuant to criteria adopted by the
  785  board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., that a
  786  community receiving a relocated family has the capacity to
  787  provide needed services and employment opportunities.
  788         (e) Monitoring the relocation.
  789         (3) A family receiving relocation assistance for reasons
  790  other than domestic violence must sign an agreement restricting
  791  the family from applying for temporary cash assistance for a
  792  period of 6 months, unless an emergency is demonstrated to the
  793  local regional workforce development board. If a demonstrated
  794  emergency forces the family to reapply for temporary cash
  795  assistance within such period, after receiving a relocation
  796  assistance payment, repayment must be made on a prorated basis
  797  and subtracted from any regular payment of temporary cash
  798  assistance for which the applicant may be eligible.
  799         Section 34. Section 445.022, Florida Statutes, is amended
  800  to read:
  801         445.022 Retention Incentive Training Accounts.—To promote
  802  job retention and to enable upward job advancement into higher
  803  skilled, higher paying employment, the board of directors of
  804  CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the local regional workforce
  805  development boards may assemble a list of programs and courses
  806  offered by postsecondary educational institutions which may be
  807  available to participants who have become employed to promote
  808  job retention and advancement.
  809         (1) The board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc.,
  810  may establish Retention Incentive Training Accounts (RITAs) to
  811  use Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant
  812  funds specifically appropriated for this purpose. RITAs must
  813  complement the Individual Training Account required by the
  814  federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Investment Act of
  815  1998, Pub. L. No. 113-128 105-220.
  816         (2) RITAs may pay for tuition, fees, educational materials,
  817  coaching and mentoring, performance incentives, transportation
  818  to and from courses, child care costs during education courses,
  819  and other such costs as the local regional workforce development
  820  boards determine are necessary to effect successful job
  821  retention and advancement.
  822         (3) Local Regional workforce development boards shall
  823  retain only those courses that continue to meet their
  824  performance standards as established in their local plan.
  825         (4) Local Regional workforce development boards shall
  826  report annually to the Legislature on the measurable retention
  827  and advancement success of each program provider and the
  828  effectiveness of RITAs, making recommendations for any needed
  829  changes or modifications.
  830         Section 35. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 445.024,
  831  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  832         445.024 Work requirements.—
  833         (4) PRIORITIZATION OF WORK REQUIREMENTS.—Local Regional
  834  workforce development boards shall require participation in work
  835  activities to the maximum extent possible, subject to federal
  836  and state funding. If funds are projected to be insufficient to
  837  allow full-time work activities by all program participants who
  838  are required to participate in work activities, local regional
  839  workforce development boards shall screen participants and
  840  assign priority based on the following:
  841         (a) In accordance with federal requirements, at least one
  842  adult in each two-parent family shall be assigned priority for
  843  full-time work activities.
  844         (b) Among single-parent families, a family that has older
  845  preschool children or school-age children shall be assigned
  846  priority for work activities.
  847         (c) A participant who has access to child care services may
  848  be assigned priority for work activities.
  849         (d) Priority may be assigned based on the amount of time
  850  remaining until the participant reaches the applicable time
  851  limit for program participation or may be based on requirements
  852  of a case plan.
  853  
  854  Local Regional workforce development boards may limit a
  855  participant’s weekly work requirement to the minimum required to
  856  meet federal work activity requirements. Local Regional
  857  workforce development boards may develop screening and
  858  prioritization procedures based on the allocation of resources,
  859  the availability of community resources, the provision of
  860  supportive services, or the work activity needs of the service
  861  area.
  862         (5) USE OF CONTRACTS.—Local Regional workforce development
  863  boards shall provide work activities, training, and other
  864  services, as appropriate, through contracts. In contracting for
  865  work activities, training, or services, the following applies:
  866         (a) A contract must be performance-based. Payment shall be
  867  tied to performance outcomes that include factors such as, but
  868  not limited to, diversion from cash assistance, job entry, job
  869  entry at a target wage, job retention, and connection to
  870  transition services rather than tied to completion of training
  871  or education or any other phase of the program participation
  872  process.
  873         (b) A contract may include performance-based incentive
  874  payments that may vary according to the extent to which the
  875  participant is more difficult to place. Contract payments may be
  876  weighted proportionally to reflect the extent to which the
  877  participant has limitations associated with the long-term
  878  receipt of welfare and difficulty in sustaining employment. The
  879  factors may include the extent of prior receipt of welfare, lack
  880  of employment experience, lack of education, lack of job skills,
  881  and other factors determined appropriate by the local regional
  882  workforce development board.
  883         (c) Notwithstanding the exemption from the competitive
  884  sealed bid requirements provided in s. 287.057(3)(e) for certain
  885  contractual services, each contract awarded under this chapter
  886  must be awarded on the basis of a competitive sealed bid, except
  887  for a contract with a governmental entity as determined by the
  888  local regional workforce development board.
  889         (d) Local Regional workforce development boards may
  890  contract with commercial, charitable, or religious
  891  organizations. A contract must comply with federal requirements
  892  with respect to nondiscrimination and other requirements that
  893  safeguard the rights of participants. Services may be provided
  894  under contract, certificate, voucher, or other form of
  895  disbursement.
  896         (e) The administrative costs associated with a contract for
  897  services provided under this section may not exceed the
  898  applicable administrative cost ceiling established in federal
  899  law. An agency or entity that is awarded a contract under this
  900  section may not charge more than 7 percent of the value of the
  901  contract for administration unless an exception is approved by
  902  the local regional workforce development board. A list of any
  903  exceptions approved must be submitted to the board of directors
  904  of CareerSource Florida, Inc., for review, and the board may
  905  rescind approval of the exception.
  906         (f) Local Regional workforce development boards may enter
  907  into contracts to provide short-term work experience for the
  908  chronically unemployed as provided in this section.
  909         (g) A tax-exempt organization under s. 501(c) of the
  910  Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which receives funds under this
  911  chapter must disclose receipt of federal funds on any
  912  advertising, promotional, or other material in accordance with
  913  federal requirements.
  914         Section 36. Section 445.025, Florida Statutes, is amended
  915  to read:
  916         445.025 Other support services.—Support services shall be
  917  provided, if resources permit, to assist participants in
  918  complying with work activity requirements outlined in s.
  919  445.024. If resources do not permit the provision of needed
  920  support services, the local regional workforce development board
  921  may prioritize or otherwise limit provision of support services.
  922  This section does not constitute an entitlement to support
  923  services. Lack of provision of support services may be
  924  considered as a factor in determining whether good cause exists
  925  for failing to comply with work activity requirements but does
  926  not automatically constitute good cause for failing to comply
  927  with work activity requirements, and does not affect any
  928  applicable time limit on the receipt of temporary cash
  929  assistance or the provision of services under chapter 414.
  930  Support services shall include, but need not be limited to:
  931         (1) TRANSPORTATION.—Transportation expenses may be provided
  932  to any participant when the assistance is needed to comply with
  933  work activity requirements or employment requirements, including
  934  transportation to and from a child care provider. Payment may be
  935  made in cash or tokens in advance or through reimbursement paid
  936  against receipts or invoices. Transportation services may
  937  include, but are not limited to, cooperative arrangements with
  938  the following: public transit providers; community
  939  transportation coordinators designated under chapter 427; school
  940  districts; churches and community centers; donated motor vehicle
  941  programs, van pools, and ridesharing programs; small enterprise
  942  developments and entrepreneurial programs that encourage
  943  participants to become transportation providers; public and
  944  private transportation partnerships; and other innovative
  945  strategies to expand transportation options available to program
  946  participants.
  947         (a) Local Regional workforce development boards may provide
  948  payment for vehicle operational and repair expenses, including
  949  repair expenditures necessary to make a vehicle functional;
  950  vehicle registration fees; driver license fees; and liability
  951  insurance for the vehicle for a period of up to 6 months.
  952  Request for vehicle repairs must be accompanied by an estimate
  953  of the cost prepared by a repair facility registered under s.
  954  559.904.
  955         (b) Transportation disadvantaged funds as defined in
  956  chapter 427 do not include support services funds or funds
  957  appropriated to assist persons eligible under the Workforce
  958  Innovation and Opportunity Act Job Training Partnership Act. It
  959  is the intent of the Legislature that local regional workforce
  960  development boards consult with local community transportation
  961  coordinators designated under chapter 427 regarding the
  962  availability and cost of transportation services through the
  963  coordinated transportation system before prior to contracting
  964  for comparable transportation services outside the coordinated
  965  system.
  966         (2) ANCILLARY EXPENSES.—Ancillary expenses such as books,
  967  tools, clothing, fees, and costs necessary to comply with work
  968  activity requirements or employment requirements may be
  969  provided.
  970         (3) MEDICAL SERVICES.—A family that meets the eligibility
  971  requirements for Medicaid shall receive medical services under
  972  the Medicaid program.
  973         (4) PERSONAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND THERAPY.—Counseling
  974  may be provided to participants who have a personal or family
  975  problem or problems caused by substance abuse that is a barrier
  976  to compliance with work activity requirements or employment
  977  requirements. In providing these services, local regional
  978  workforce development boards shall use services that are
  979  available in the community at no additional cost. If these
  980  services are not available, local regional workforce development
  981  boards may use support services funds. Personal or family
  982  counseling not available through Medicaid may not be considered
  983  a medical service for purposes of the required statewide
  984  implementation plan or use of federal funds.
  985         Section 37. Subsection (5) of section 445.026, Florida
  986  Statutes, is amended to read:
  987         445.026 Cash assistance severance benefit.—An individual
  988  who meets the criteria listed in this section may choose to
  989  receive a lump-sum payment in lieu of ongoing cash assistance
  990  payments, provided the individual:
  991         (5) Provides employment and earnings information to the
  992  local regional workforce development board, so that the local
  993  regional workforce development board can ensure that the
  994  family’s eligibility for severance benefits can be evaluated.
  995  
  996  Such individual may choose to accept a one-time, lump-sum
  997  payment of $1,000 in lieu of receiving ongoing cash assistance.
  998  Such payment shall only count toward the time limitation for the
  999  month in which the payment is made in lieu of cash assistance. A
 1000  participant choosing to accept such payment shall be terminated
 1001  from cash assistance. However, eligibility for Medicaid, food
 1002  assistance, or child care shall continue, subject to the
 1003  eligibility requirements of those programs.
 1004         Section 38. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 445.030,
 1005  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1006         445.030 Transitional education and training.—In order to
 1007  assist former recipients of temporary cash assistance who are
 1008  working or actively seeking employment in continuing their
 1009  training and upgrading their skills, education, or training,
 1010  support services may be provided for up to 2 years after the
 1011  family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance. This
 1012  section does not constitute an entitlement to transitional
 1013  education and training. If funds are not sufficient to provide
 1014  services under this section, the board of directors of
 1015  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may limit or otherwise prioritize
 1016  transitional education and training.
 1017         (2) Local Regional workforce development boards may
 1018  authorize child care or other support services in addition to
 1019  services provided in conjunction with employment. For example, a
 1020  participant who is employed full time may receive child care
 1021  services related to that employment and may also receive
 1022  additional child care services in conjunction with training to
 1023  upgrade the participant’s skills.
 1024         (4) A local Regional workforce development board may enter
 1025  into an agreement with an employer to share the costs relating
 1026  to upgrading the skills of participants hired by the employer.
 1027  For example, a local regional workforce development board may
 1028  agree to provide support services such as transportation or a
 1029  wage subsidy in conjunction with training opportunities provided
 1030  by the employer.
 1031         Section 39. Section 445.031, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1032  to read:
 1033         445.031 Transitional transportation.—In order to assist
 1034  former recipients of temporary cash assistance in maintaining
 1035  and sustaining employment or educational opportunities,
 1036  transportation may be provided, if funds are available, for up
 1037  to 2 years after the participant is no longer in the program.
 1038  This does not constitute an entitlement to transitional
 1039  transportation. If funds are not sufficient to provide services
 1040  under this section, local regional workforce development boards
 1041  may limit or otherwise prioritize transportation services.
 1042         (1) Transitional transportation must be job or education
 1043  related.
 1044         (2) Transitional transportation may include expenses
 1045  identified in s. 445.025, paid directly or by voucher, as well
 1046  as a vehicle valued at not more than $8,500 if the vehicle is
 1047  needed for training, employment, or educational purposes.
 1048         Section 40. Subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection
 1049  (4), and subsection (5) of section 445.048, Florida Statutes,
 1050  are amended to read:
 1051         445.048 Passport to Economic Progress program.—
 1052         (1) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
 1053  CareerSource Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department
 1054  of Children and Families and the Department of Economic
 1055  Opportunity, shall implement a Passport to Economic Progress
 1056  program consistent with the provisions of this section.
 1057  CareerSource Florida, Inc., may designate local regional
 1058  workforce development boards to participate in the program.
 1059  Expenses for the program may come from appropriated revenues or
 1060  from funds otherwise available to a local regional workforce
 1061  development board which may be legally used for such purposes.
 1062  CareerSource Florida, Inc., must consult with the applicable
 1063  local regional workforce development boards and the applicable
 1064  local offices of the Department of Children and Families which
 1065  serve the program areas and must encourage community input into
 1066  the implementation process.
 1067         (4) INCENTIVES TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.—
 1068         (b) CareerSource Florida, Inc., in cooperation with the
 1069  Department of Children and Families and the Department of
 1070  Economic Opportunity, shall offer performance-based incentive
 1071  bonuses as a component of the Passport to Economic Progress
 1072  program. The bonuses do not represent a program entitlement and
 1073  are contingent on achieving specific benchmarks prescribed in
 1074  the self-sufficiency plan. If the funds appropriated for this
 1075  purpose are insufficient to provide this financial incentive,
 1076  the board of directors of CareerSource Florida, Inc., may reduce
 1077  or suspend the bonuses in order not to exceed the appropriation
 1078  or may direct the local workforce development regional boards to
 1079  use resources
 1080  
 1081  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 1082  And the title is amended as follows:
 1083         Delete line 59
 1084  and insert:
 1085         amending s. 445.07, F.S.; requiring the Department of
 1086         Education to consult with the Department of Economic
 1087         Opportunity in preparing, or contracting with an
 1088         entity to prepare, certain economic security reports;
 1089         amending ss. 445.014, 445.016, 445.017, 445.021,
 1090         445.022,