The Florida Senate

414.155  Relocation assistance program.--

(1)  The Legislature recognizes that the need for public assistance may arise because a family is located in an area with limited employment opportunities, because of geographic isolation, because of formidable transportation barriers, because of isolation from their extended family, or because domestic violence interferes with the ability of a parent to maintain self-sufficiency. Accordingly, there is established a program to assist families in relocating to communities with greater opportunities for self-sufficiency.

(2)  The relocation assistance program shall involve five steps by the Department of Children and Family Services or a local WAGES coalition:

(a)  A determination that the family is a WAGES Program participant or that all requirements of eligibility for the WAGES Program would likely be met.

(b)  A determination that there is a basis for believing that relocation will contribute to the ability of the applicant to achieve self-sufficiency. For example, the applicant:

1.  Is unlikely to achieve independence at the current community of residence;

2.  Has secured a job that requires relocation to another community;

3.  Has a family support network in another community; or

4.  Is determined, pursuant to criteria or procedures established by the WAGES Program State Board of Directors, to be a victim of domestic violence who would experience reduced probability of further incidents through relocation.

(c)  Establishment of a relocation plan which includes such requirements as are necessary to prevent abuse of the benefit and provisions to protect the safety of victims of domestic violence and avoid provisions that place them in anticipated danger. The payment to defray relocation expenses shall be determined based on a rule approved by the WAGES Program State Board of Directors and adopted by the department. Participants in the relocation program shall be eligible for transitional benefits.

(d)  A determination, pursuant to criteria adopted by the WAGES Program State Board of Directors, that a Florida community receiving a relocated family has the capacity to provide needed services and employment opportunities.

(e)  Monitoring the relocation.

(3)  A family receiving relocation assistance for reasons other than domestic violence must sign an agreement restricting the family from applying for temporary cash assistance for a period specified in a rule approved by the WAGES Program State Board of Directors and adopted by the department, unless an emergency is demonstrated to the department. If a demonstrated emergency forces the family to reapply for temporary cash assistance within such period, after receiving a relocation assistance payment, repayment must be made on a prorated basis and subtracted from any regular payment of temporary cash assistance for which the applicant may be eligible, as specified in a rule approved by the WAGES Program State Board of Directors and adopted by the department.

(4)  The department shall have authority to adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act to determine that a community has the capacity to provide services and employment opportunities for a relocated family.

(5)  The department shall have authority to adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act to develop and implement relocation plans and to draft an agreement restricting a family from applying for temporary cash assistance for a specified period after receiving a relocation assistance payment.

History.--s. 24, ch. 98-57; s. 16, ch. 99-241.