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         1002.996The 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.