Florida Senate - 2016 SB 962
By Senator Gaetz
1-00821D-16 2016962__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to vocational rehabilitation; amending
3 s. 413.207, F.S.; requiring the Division of Vocational
4 Rehabilitation to initiate, by a specified date, a
5 performance improvement plan designed to achieve
6 specified goals; requiring the division to submit a
7 performance report annually, by a specified date, to
8 the Governor and the Legislature which includes
9 specified information; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Section 413.207, Florida Statutes, is amended to
14 read:
15 413.207 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; quality
16 assurance; performance improvement plan.—
17 (1) The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation shall
18 maintain an internal system of quality assurance, have proven
19 functional systems, perform due diligence, review provider
20 systems of quality assurance, and be subject to monitoring for
21 compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
22 (2) No later than October 1, 2016, the division shall
23 develop and implement a performance improvement plan designed to
24 achieve the following goals:
25 (a) Decrease the average wait list time for reportable
26 individuals.
27 (b) Increase the percentage of participants who are in
28 unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after they
29 exit from the program.
30 (c) Increase the percentage of participants who are in
31 unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after they
32 exit from the program.
33 (d) Increase the number of persons earning CAPE industry
34 certifications and CAPE postsecondary industry certifications
35 approved pursuant to s. 1008.44.
36 (e) Increase the median earnings of participants who are in
37 unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after they
38 exit from the program.
39 (f) Increase the percentage of participants who obtained a
40 recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school
41 diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in, or
42 within 1 year after their exit from, the program.
43 (g) Increase the percentage of youth who received
44 preemployment transition services without applying for
45 additional vocational rehabilitation services and who obtained a
46 recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school
47 diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in, or
48 within 1 year after their exit from, the program.
49 (h) Increase the percentage of participants who, during a
50 program year, are in an education or training program that leads
51 to a recognized postsecondary credential or to employment and
52 who are achieving a measurable gain of skill, including
53 documented academic, technical, occupational gains or other
54 forms of progress toward a postsecondary credential or
55 employment.
56 (i) Increase the number of students receiving pre
57 employment transition services.
58 (j) Increase the division’s effectiveness in serving
59 employers, based on indicators developed as required by section
60 116(b)(2)(A)(iv) of the federal Workforce Innovation and
61 Opportunity Act.
62 (3) The goals established under subsection (2) must be
63 designed to elevate the state vocational rehabilitation program
64 to one of the top 10 in the nation.
65 (4) By December 1 of each year, the division shall submit a
66 performance report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
67 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which includes
68 the following information for each of the 5 most recent fiscal
69 years:
70 (a) Caseload data, including the number of individuals who
71 apply for services and who receive services, by service type,
72 reported statewide and by service area.
73 (b) Service use data, by service type, including the number
74 of units of service provided, statewide and by service area.
75 (c) Financial data, by service type, including expenditures
76 for administration and the provision of services. Expenditure
77 data shall be reported on a statewide basis and by service area,
78 and expenditures for education-related services must be
79 identified in specific categories such as tuition and fees,
80 program fees, and support services.
81 (d) Outcome data, statewide and by service area, including
82 the number of cases closed without employment and the number of
83 cases closed with employment. Employment data must be provided
84 separately for supported employment.
85 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.