Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1132
By Senator Brandes
24-01634-20 20201132__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Home Instruction for Parents of
3 Preschool Youngsters Grant Program; creating s.
4 1002.996, F.S.; creating the Home Instruction for
5 Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Grant Program;
6 providing the purpose of the program; providing
7 definitions; requiring the Florida HIPPY Training and
8 Technical Assistance Center at the University of South
9 Florida, subject to legislative appropriation, to
10 provide grants to program operators establishing a
11 HIPPY program and with an existing HIPPY program;
12 providing the duties of the center; providing an
13 effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Section 1002.996, Florida Statutes, is created
18 to read:
19 1002.996 The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool
20 Youngsters Grant Program.—
21 (1) PURPOSE.—Subject to legislative appropriation, the Home
22 Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Grant
23 Program is established to fund HIPPY programs throughout the
24 state to support the development and operation of such programs,
25 which help empower parents to be their child’s first and most
26 important teacher by equipping them with the tools, skills, and
27 confidence needed to educate their children at home.
28 (2) DEFINITIONS.—
29 (a) “Center” means the Florida HIPPY Training and Technical
30 Assistance Center at the University of South Florida.
31 (b) “HIPPY program” means an evidence-based home visitation
32 program that supports parents in their critical role as their
33 child’s first and most important teacher. The program is created
34 by the national nonprofit organization HIPPY USA and
35 administered to communities at a local level.
36 (c) “Program operator” means an organization that has an
37 existing HIPPY program or is establishing a HIPPY program.
38 (3) GRANT PROGRAM.—
39 (a) Subject to legislative appropriation, the center shall
40 provide grants to program operators to fund HIPPY programs in
41 Florida counties, including, but not limited to, Alachua,
42 Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Gadsden, Gulf, Hillsborough,
43 Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, and
44 Sarasota Counties.
45 (b) The center shall:
46 1. Create and administer an application process for program
47 operators to apply for a grant pursuant to this section.
48 2. Prioritize awards based on a program operator’s
49 demonstration of the technical and financial ability to sustain
50 a HIPPY program beyond an initial grant award.
51 (c) To receive a grant pursuant to this section:
52 1. If a program operator is establishing a HIPPY program,
53 the operator must successfully complete the HIPPY USA
54 application process and meet the requirements of HIPPY USA and
55 the center; or
56 2. If a program operator has an existing HIPPY program, the
57 operator must provide evidence that such program meets the
58 requirements of HIPPY USA and the center.
59 (4) REPORTING.—Beginning September 1, 2021, and annually
60 thereafter, the center shall publish on its website information
61 about each program operator receiving a grant from the center to
62 establish or operate a HIPPY program. The information must
63 include:
64 (a) The amount of grant funds provided by the center and
65 the amount of additional funds the program operator receives
66 from other sources.
67 (b) A description of the services and family engagement
68 activities provided through the HIPPY program.
69 (c) The number of children and families served through the
70 HIPPY program.
71 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.