Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1624
By Senator Perry
8-01614-20 20201624__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to economic self-sufficiency; amending
3 s. 11.45, F.S.; requiring the Auditor General to
4 conduct performance audits of the Supplemental
5 Nutrition Assistance Program, the temporary cash
6 assistance program, the Medicaid program, the school
7 readiness program, and the United States Department of
8 Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing
9 program, every 3 years; requiring that the audits
10 include a review of eligibility requirements and the
11 eligibility determination process; requiring that the
12 audits review the opportunities for improving service
13 efficiency and efficacy made possible by improved
14 integration of state data system platforms, processes,
15 and procedures and interagency sharing; requiring the
16 Auditor General, if possible, to determine the number
17 of families receiving multiple program services;
18 requiring the Auditor General to submit a report to
19 the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker
20 of the House of Representatives, the Chief Financial
21 Officer, and the Legislative Auditing Committee,
22 within a specified timeframe amending s. 1002.81,
23 F.S.; removing definitions; amending s. 1002.87, F.S.;
24 requiring that first priority for eligibility and
25 enrollment in the school readiness program also be
26 given to parents who have an Intensive Service Account
27 or an Individual Training Account; providing an
28 effective date.
29
30 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
31
32 Section 1. Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (2) of
33 section 11.45, Florida Statutes, to read:
34 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
35 (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:
36 (m) At least every 3 years, conduct performance audits of
37 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program authorized under
38 s. 414.455, the temporary cash assistance program administered
39 under s. 414.095, the Medicaid program administered under part
40 III of chapter 409, the school readiness program administered
41 under part VI of chapter 1002, and the United States Department
42 of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing program. Such
43 audits must include a review of eligibility criteria; the manner
44 in which each program determines and documents eligibility and
45 establishes disbursement policies; the frequency of eligibility
46 determinations; the clarity of both written and verbal
47 communication in which eligibility requirements are conveyed to
48 current and potential program beneficiaries; opportunities for
49 improving service efficiency and efficacy made possible by
50 improved integration of state data system platforms, processes,
51 and procedures related to data collection, analysis,
52 documentation, and interagency sharing; and the number of
53 families receiving assistance or services under more than one
54 such program and the percentage of such families of the total of
55 eligible families. If possible, the Auditor General shall also
56 determine the number of families receiving services and those
57 using the Internal Revenue Service Earned Income Tax Credit. The
58 Auditor General shall submit a report on the results of the
59 audits to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker
60 of the House of Representatives, the Chief Financial Officer,
61 and the Legislative Auditing Committee within 30 days after
62 completion of the audit.
63
64 The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties
65 independently but under the general policies established by the
66 Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit
67 the Auditor General’s discretionary authority to conduct other
68 audits or engagements of governmental entities as authorized in
69 subsection (3).
70 Section 2. Subsections (6) and (15) of section 1002.81,
71 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
72 1002.81 Definitions.—Consistent with the requirements of 45
73 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99 and as used in this part, the term:
74 (6) “Earned income” means gross remuneration derived from
75 work, professional service, or self-employment. The term
76 includes commissions, bonuses, back pay awards, and the cash
77 value of all remuneration paid in a medium other than cash.
78 (15) “Unearned income” means income other than earned
79 income. The term includes, but is not limited to:
80 (a) Documented alimony and child support received.
81 (b) Social security benefits.
82 (c) Supplemental security income benefits.
83 (d) Workers’ compensation benefits.
84 (e) Reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation
85 benefits.
86 (f) Veterans’ benefits.
87 (g) Retirement benefits.
88 (h) Temporary cash assistance under chapter 414.
89 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
90 1002.87, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
91 1002.87 School readiness program; eligibility and
92 enrollment.—
93 (1) Each early learning coalition shall give priority for
94 participation in the school readiness program as follows:
95 (a) Priority shall be given first to a child younger than
96 13 years of age from a family that includes a parent who is
97 receiving temporary cash assistance under chapter 414 and
98 subject to the federal work requirements and to a parent who has
99 an Intensive Service Account or an Individual Training Account
100 under s. 445.009.
101 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.