Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1578
By Senator Thompson
15-00973D-23 20231578__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to Florida Children’s Initiatives;
3 amending s. 409.147, F.S.; revising legislative
4 findings; revising the definition of the term
5 “resident”; revising the objectives for certain
6 working groups; providing that the Florida Children’s
7 Initiatives are administratively housed in the
8 Department of Children and Families but are not
9 subject to certain control, supervision, or direction
10 by the department; clarifying provisions relating to a
11 corporation established for a specified purpose;
12 revising legislative intent; clarifying provisions
13 relating to the creation, implementation, and
14 operation of Florida Children’s Initiatives; providing
15 an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (d)
20 of subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (4), paragraphs
21 (a), (b), (d), and (g) of subsection (6), and subsections (7)
22 through (14) of section 409.147, Florida Statutes, are amended
23 to read:
24 409.147 Florida Children’s Initiatives.—
25 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
26 (a) The Legislature finds that:
27 1. There are neighborhoods in the state where the
28 infrastructure and opportunities that middle-class communities
29 take for granted are nonexistent or so marginal that they are
30 ineffective.
31 2. In many instances, children living in these
32 neighborhoods are not read to by an adult on a regular basis and
33 attend a prekindergarten education program at a much lower rate
34 than children in other communities. These children experience
35 below-average performance on standardized tests and graduate
36 from high school in fewer numbers. Most of these children are
37 eligible for the free or reduced-price school lunch program.
38 3. Children in these neighborhoods often suffer from high
39 rates of asthma, a higher risk of lead poisoning, and inadequate
40 health care, and they are routinely exposed to violence and
41 crime.
42 4. In spite of these obstacles, these neighborhoods are
43 many times home to strong individuals and institutions that are
44 committed to making a difference in the lives of children and
45 their families.
46 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
47 (d) “Resident” means a person who lives in or operates a
48 small community-based business or organization within the
49 boundaries of the children’s initiative.
50 (4) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE NOMINATING PROCESS.—A county or
51 municipality, or a county and one or more municipalities
52 together, may apply to the Ounce to designate an area as a
53 Florida Children’s Initiative after the governing body:
54 (a) Adopts a resolution that:
55 1. Finds that an area exists in such county or
56 municipality, or in the county and one or more municipalities,
57 that chronically exhibits extreme and unacceptable levels of
58 poverty, unemployment, physical deterioration, as well as
59 limited access to quality educational, health care, and social
60 services.
61 2. Determines that the rehabilitation, conservation, or
62 redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of the area is
63 necessary for in the interest of improving the health, wellness,
64 education, living conditions, and livelihoods of the children
65 and families who live in the county or municipality.
66 3. Determines that the revitalization of the area can occur
67 only if the state and the private sector invest resources to
68 improve infrastructure and the provision of services.
69 (6) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PLAN.—After
70 the governing body adopts the resolution described in subsection
71 (4), the working groups shall develop objectives and identify
72 strategies for each focus area. The objectives, specified by
73 focus area, for a working group may include, but not be limited
74 to:
75 (a) Early development and care of children.
76 1. Providing resources to enable every child to be
77 adequately nurtured during the first 3 years of life.
78 2. Ensuring that all schools are ready for children and all
79 children are ready for school by the time they reach
80 kindergarten.
81 3. Facilitating enrollment in half-day or full-day
82 prekindergarten for all 3-year-old and 4-year-old children.
83 4. Strengthening parent and guardian relationships with
84 care providers.
85 5. Providing support and education for families and child
86 care providers.
87 (b) Education of children and youth.
88 1. Increasing the level and degree of knowledge and
89 accountability of persons who are responsible for the
90 development and well-being of all children in the Florida
91 Children’s Initiatives Initiative.
92 2. Transforming Changing the structure and function of
93 schools to increase the quality and amount of time spent on
94 instruction and increase programmatic options and offerings.
95 3. Creating a safe and respectful environment for student
96 learning.
97 4. Identifying and supporting points of alignment between
98 the children’s initiative community plan and the school
99 district’s strategic plan.
100 (d) Youth support.
101 1. Increasing the high school graduation, postsecondary
102 enrollment, and postsecondary completion rates among
103 neighborhood youth rate.
104 2. Increasing leadership development and employment
105 opportunities for youth.
106 (g) Community safety.
107 1. Providing a safe environment for all children at home,
108 in school, and in the community.
109 2. Eliminating the economic, political, and social forces
110 that lead to a lack of safety within the family, the community,
111 schools, and institutional structures.
112 3. Assessing policies and practices, including sentencing,
113 incarceration, detention, and data reporting, in order to reduce
114 youth incarceration, violence, crime, and recidivism.
115 (7) CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE CORPORATION.—
116 (a) The Florida Children’s Initiatives as specified in
117 subsections (9)-(13) are administratively housed within the
118 Department of Children and Families. However, these initiatives
119 are not subject to control, supervision, or direction by the
120 Department of Children and Families or any department of the
121 state.
122 (b) After the governing body adopts the resolution
123 described in subsection (4), establishes the planning team as
124 provided in subsection (5), and develops and adopts the
125 strategic community plan as provided in subsection (6), the
126 county or municipality shall either identify an existing,
127 qualified not-for-profit corporation, or create a not-for-profit
128 corporation not for profit which shall be registered,
129 incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with chapter
130 617. The purpose of the corporation is to facilitate
131 fundraising, to secure broad community ownership of the Florida
132 Children’s Initiative, and, if the area selected by the
133 governing body is designated as a Florida Children’s Initiative,
134 to:
135 1. Begin to transfer responsibility for planning from the
136 planning team to the corporation.
137 2. Begin the implementation and governance of the
138 children’s initiative community plan.
139 3. Update the strategic community plan every 5 years to
140 reflect, at a minimum, the current status of the area served by
141 the Florida Children’s Initiative; the goals, objectives, and
142 strategies for each focus area; and the tasks required to
143 implement the strategies for the upcoming year.
144 (c)(b) The Ounce must provide technical assistance to the
145 corporation to facilitate the achievement of the plans created
146 under subsection (6).
147 (8) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING STATE FUNDING.—Unless
148 otherwise specified in the general appropriations act:
149 (a) State funding for Florida Children’s Initiatives must
150 be awarded through a performance-based contract that links
151 payments to the achievement of outcomes directly related to the
152 goals, objectives, strategies, and tasks outlined in the
153 strategic community plan.
154 (b) This act is intended to support the development of a
155 network of Florida Children’s Initiatives sites in disadvantaged
156 neighborhoods throughout this state. To that end, counties that
157 do not currently have a Florida Children’s Initiative and are
158 trying to establish an initiative have priority for designation
159 by the Ounce funding available under this subsection.
160 (9) CREATION OF MIAMI CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE, INC.—
161 (a) There is created within the Liberty City neighborhood
162 in Miami-Dade County a 10-year project called the Miami
163 Children’s Initiative that shall be managed by an entity
164 organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for profit which
165 shall be registered, incorporated, organized, and operated in
166 compliance with chapter 617 and this section. An entity may not
167 be incorporated until the governing body has adopted the
168 resolution described in subsection (4), has established the
169 planning team as provided in subsection (5), and has developed
170 and adopted the strategic community plan as provided in
171 subsection (6). The corporation shall be known as The Miami
172 Children’s Initiative, Inc., and shall be administratively
173 housed within the Department of Children and Families. However,
174 Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc., is not subject to control,
175 supervision, or direction by the Department of Children and
176 Families in any manner. The Legislature determines, however,
177 that Public policy dictates that the Miami Children’s Initiative
178 operates corporation operate in the most open and accessible
179 manner consistent with its public purpose. Therefore, the
180 Legislature specifically declares that the Miami Children’s
181 Initiative the corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating
182 to public records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and
183 records, and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of
184 commodities or contractual services.
185 (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
186 is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
187 community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
188 of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
189 common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
190 reach every willing member of the neighborhood.
191 (10) CREATION OF THE NEW TOWN SUCCESS ZONE.—
192 (a) There is created within the City of Jacksonville
193 Council District 9 in Duval County a 10-year project called the
194 New Town Success Zone that shall be managed by an entity
195 organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for profit that is
196 registered, incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance
197 with chapter 617 and this section. The New Town Success Zone is
198 not subject to control, supervision, or direction by any
199 department of the state in any manner. The Legislature
200 determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the New
201 Town Success Zone operates corporation operate in the most open
202 and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
203 Therefore, the Legislature declares that the New Town Success
204 Zone corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating to public
205 records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and records,
206 and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of commodities or
207 contractual services.
208 (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
209 is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
210 community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
211 of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
212 common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
213 reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
214 participate in the project.
215 (11) CREATION OF THE ORLANDO PARRAMORE KIDZ ZONES ZONE.—
216 (a) There is created within the City of Orlando in Orange
217 County a 10-year project called the Orlando Kidz Zones managed
218 by an entity organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for
219 profit that is registered, incorporated, organized, and operated
220 in compliance with chapter 617 and this section. The Parramore
221 Kidz Zone program is not subject to the control, supervision, or
222 direction of any department of the state. The Legislature
223 determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the
224 Orlando Kidz Zones operates corporation operate in the most open
225 and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
226 Therefore, the Legislature specifically declares that the
227 Orlando Kidz Zones are corporation is subject to chapter 119,
228 relating to public records, chapter 286, relating to public
229 meetings and records, and chapter 287, relating to the
230 procurement of commodities or contractual services.
231 (b) This initiative is designed to encompass the Orlando
232 neighborhoods of Parramore, Mercy Drive, and Englewood. All
233 three of these neighborhoods are an area that is large enough to
234 include all of the necessary components of community life,
235 including, but not limited to, schools, places of worship,
236 recreational facilities, commercial areas, and common space, yet
237 small enough to allow programs and services to reach every
238 member of the neighborhood who is willing to participate in the
239 project.
240 (12) CREATION OF THE TAMPA SULPHUR SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD OF
241 PROMISE (SSNOP) SUCCESS ZONE.—
242 (a) There is created within the City of Tampa in
243 Hillsborough County a 10-year project called the Tampa Sulphur
244 Springs Neighborhood of Promise (SSNOP) that shall be managed by
245 an entity organized as a not-for-profit corporation not for
246 profit that is registered, incorporated, organized, and operated
247 in compliance with chapter 617 and this section. The Tampa SSNOP
248 Success Zone is not subject to control, supervision, or
249 direction by any department of the state in any manner. The
250 Legislature determines, however, that Public policy dictates
251 that the Tampa SSNOP operates corporation operate in the most
252 open and accessible manner consistent with its public purpose.
253 Therefore, the Legislature declares that the Tampa SSNOP
254 corporation is subject to chapter 119, relating to public
255 records, chapter 286, relating to public meetings and records,
256 and chapter 287, relating to the procurement of commodities or
257 contractual services.
258 (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
259 is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
260 community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
261 of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
262 common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
263 reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
264 participate in the project.
265 (13) CREATION OF THE OVERTOWN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
266 COALITION.—
267 (a) There is created within the City of Miami in Miami-Dade
268 County a 10-year project called the Overtown Children and Youth
269 Coalition that shall be managed by an entity organized as a not
270 for-profit corporation not for profit that is registered,
271 incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with chapter
272 617 and this section. The Overtown Children and Youth Coalition
273 is not subject to control, supervision, or direction by any
274 department of the state in any manner. The Legislature
275 determines, however, that Public policy dictates that the
276 Overtown Children and Youth Coalition operates corporation
277 operate in the most open and accessible manner consistent with
278 its public purpose. Therefore, the Legislature declares that the
279 Overtown Children and Youth Coalition corporation is subject to
280 chapter 119, relating to public records, chapter 286, relating
281 to public meetings and records, and chapter 287, relating to the
282 procurement of commodities or contractual services.
283 (b) This initiative is designed to encompass an area that
284 is large enough to include all of the necessary components of
285 community life, including, but not limited to, schools, places
286 of worship, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and
287 common space, yet small enough to allow programs and services to
288 reach every member of the neighborhood who is willing to
289 participate in the project.
290 (14) IMPLEMENTATION.—
291 (a) The Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc., the New Town
292 Success Zone, the Orlando Parramore Kidz Zones Zone, the Tampa
293 SSNOP Success Zone, and the Overtown Children and Youth
294 Coalition have been designated as Florida Children’s Initiatives
295 consistent with the legislative intent and purpose of s. 16,
296 chapter 2009-43, Laws of Florida, and as such shall each assist
297 the disadvantaged areas of this the state in creating a
298 community-based service network and programming that develops,
299 coordinates, and provides quality education, accessible health
300 care, youth development programs, opportunities for employment,
301 and safe and affordable housing for children and families living
302 within their boundaries.
303 (b) In order to implement this section for the Florida
304 Children’s Initiatives listed in this section Miami Children’s
305 Initiative, Inc., the Department of Children and Families shall
306 contract with a not-for-profit corporation, to work in
307 collaboration with the governing body to adopt the resolution
308 described in subsection (4), to establish the planning team as
309 provided in subsection (5), and to develop and adopt the
310 strategic community plan as provided in subsection (6). The not
311 for-profit corporation is also responsible for the development
312 of a strategic business plan and for the evaluation, fiscal
313 management, and oversight of the Florida Children’s Initiatives
314 Miami Children’s Initiative, Inc.
315 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.