The Florida Senate

445.048  Passport to Economic Progress demonstration program.--

(1)  AUTHORIZATION.--Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, Workforce Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Agency for Workforce Innovation, shall implement a Passport to Economic Progress demonstration program by November 1, 2001, consistent with the provisions of this section in Hillsborough and Manatee counties. Workforce Florida, Inc., must consult with the applicable regional workforce boards and the applicable local offices of the department which serve the demonstration areas and must encourage community input into the implementation process.

(2)  WAIVERS.--If Workforce Florida, Inc., in consultation with the Department of Children and Family Services, finds that federal waivers would facilitate implementation of the demonstration program, the department shall immediately request such waivers, and Workforce Florida, Inc., shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives if any refusal of the federal government to grant such waivers prevents the implementation of the demonstration program. If Workforce Florida, Inc., finds that federal waivers to provisions of the Food Stamp Program would facilitate implementation of the demonstration program, the Department of Children and Family Services shall immediately request such waivers in accordance with s. 414.175

(3)  INCOME DISREGARD.--In order to provide an additional incentive for employment, and notwithstanding the amount specified in s. 414.095(12), for individuals residing in the areas designated for this demonstration program, the first $300 plus one-half of the remainder of earned income shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for temporary cash assistance. All other conditions and requirements of s. 414.095(12) shall continue to apply to such individuals.

(4)  TRANSITIONAL BENEFITS AND SERVICES.--In order to assist them in making the transition to economic self-sufficiency, former recipients of temporary cash assistance residing within the areas designated for this demonstration program shall be eligible for the following benefits and services:

(a)  Notwithstanding the time period specified in s. 445.030, transitional education and training support services as specified in s. 445.030 for up to 4 years after the family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance;

(b)  Notwithstanding the time period specified in s. 445.031, transitional transportation support services as specified in s. 445.031 for up to 4 years after the family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance; and

(c)  Notwithstanding the time period specified in s. 445.032, transitional child care as specified in s. 445.032 for up to 4 years after the family is no longer receiving temporary cash assistance.

All other provisions of ss. 445.030, 445.031, and 445.032 shall apply to such individuals, as appropriate. This subsection does not constitute an entitlement to transitional benefits and services. If funds are insufficient to provide benefits and services under this subsection, the board of directors of Workforce Florida, Inc., may limit such benefits and services or otherwise establish priorities for the provisions of such benefits and services.

(5)  WAGE SUPPLEMENTATION.--

(a)  The Legislature finds that:

1.  There are former recipients of temporary cash assistance who are working full time but whose incomes are below the federal poverty level.

2.  Having incomes below the federal poverty level makes such individuals particularly vulnerable to reliance on public assistance despite their best efforts to achieve or maintain economic independence through employment.

3.  It is necessary to supplement the wages of such individuals for a limited period of time in order to assist them in fulfilling the transition to economic self-sufficiency.

(b)  Workforce Florida, Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Agency for Workforce Innovation, shall create a transitional wage supplementation program by November 1, 2001, as a component of the Passport to Economic Progress demonstration program in the areas designated for the demonstration program. This wage supplementation program does not constitute an entitlement to wage supplementation. If funds appropriated are insufficient to provide wage supplementation, the board of directors of Workforce Florida, Inc., may limit wage supplementation or otherwise establish priorities for wage supplementation.

(c)  To be eligible for wage supplementation under this subsection, an individual must:

1.  Be a former recipient of temporary cash assistance who last received such assistance on or after January 1, 2000;

2.  Be employed full time, which for the purposes of this subsection means employment averaging at least 32 hours per week; and

3.  Have an average family income for the 6 months preceding the date of application for wage supplementation which is less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level.

(d)  Workforce Florida, Inc., shall determine the schedule for the payment of wage supplementation under this subsection. An individual eligible for wage supplementation under this subsection may receive a payment that equals the amount necessary to bring the individual's total family income for the period covered by the payment to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. An individual may not receive wage supplementation payments for more than a total of 12 months.

(e)  The wage supplementation program authorized by this subsection shall be administered through the regional workforce boards and the one-stop delivery system, under policy guidelines, criteria, and applications developed by Workforce Florida, Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. To the maximum extent possible, the regional workforce boards shall use electronic debit card technologies to provide wage supplementation payments under this program.

(6)  EVALUATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.--Workforce Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the regional workforce boards in the areas designated for this demonstration program, shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the demonstration program operated under this section. By January 1, 2003, Workforce Florida, Inc., shall submit a report on such evaluation to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must include recommendations as to whether the demonstration program should be expanded to other service areas or statewide and whether the program should be revised to enhance its administration or effectiveness.

(7)  CONFLICTS.--If there is a conflict between the implementation procedures described in this section and federal requirements and regulations, federal requirements and regulations shall control.

History.--s. 2, ch. 2001-175.