The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Fiscal Policy
BILL: CS/SB 1190
INTRODUCER: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee and Senator Garcia and others
SUBJECT: Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Pilot Program
DATE: April 24, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Tuszynski Cox CF Fav/CS
2. Gerbrandt Money AHS Favorable
3. Tuszynski Yeatman FP Pre-meeting
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 1190 creates s. 409.1455, F.S., cited as the “Step into Success Act,” establishing the Step
into Success Workforce Education and Internship Program (program) as a three-year pilot
administered by the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Office of Continuing Care
(OCC). The program consists of an independent living professionalism and workforce education
component and, for youth that complete that component, an onsite workforce training internship
component that uses employees of participating organizations as mentors. The purpose of the
program is to assist foster youth transitioning to adulthood to:
Develop essential workforce and professional skills;
Transition from the custody of the DCF to independent living; and
Become best prepared for an independent and successful future.
The bill details numerous requirements for the operation of each component of the program as
well as for participating organizations, mentors, and foster and former foster youth who
participate. Some of the specific requirements are:
The program is available to foster and former foster youth between the ages of 16 and 25
who are currently or were previously in foster care. A foster youth may participate in the
education component at age 16 years of age or older, but a former foster youth may not begin
the internship portion until turning 18 years of age.
The internship component matches mentors in participating organizations with the youth
participating to ensure that the youth acquire as many skills as possible. Mentors are
REVISED: BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 2
provided a $1,200 per year payment with a limitation on the number of interns a mentor may
be paired with in a given year.
The DCF is required to include specific information about the program and recommendations
for improvement in an annual report.
The DCF must implement the workforce education component on or before January 1, 2024
and the internship component on or before July 1, 2024.
The bill provides a monthly financial assistance payment of $1,517 to former foster youth
participating in the internship component and ensures that the payment does not count toward
income in the determination of federal and state benefit eligibility. Further, the bill provides a
specified increase in the stipend payment amount if the youth does have a loss or reduction of
any benefits.
The bill requires the Board of Governors and State Board of Education to adopt rules and
regulations to award postsecondary credit or career education clock hours to program
participants.
The bill will have significant negative fiscal impact on state government. See Section V. Fiscal
Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
II. Present Situation:
Florida’s Child Welfare System
Florida’s child welfare system identifies children and families in need of services through reports
to the central abuse hotline and child protective investigations. The Department of Children and
Families (DCF) and community-based care lead agencies (CBC) work with those families to
address the problems endangering children, if possible. If the problems cannot be addressed, the
child welfare system finds safe out-of-home placements for these children until a permanency
option can be identified.
Florida Central Abuse Hotline
The DCF operates the Florida central abuse hotline (hotline), which accepts reports 24 hours a
day, seven days a week of known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
1
A child
protective investigation begins with a report by any person to the hotline. Law requires any
person who knows or suspects that a child is abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, legal
custodian, caregiver, or other person responsible for the child’s welfare, or that a child is in need
of supervision and care and has no parent, legal custodian, or responsible adult relative
immediately known and available to provide supervision and care, shall report such knowledge
or suspicion to the hotline.
2
1
Section 39.101(1)(a), F.S.
2
Section 39.201(1)(a), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 3
Once the hotline obtains information from a reporter, the allegations of the report must meet the
statutory definition required to trigger a child protective investigation. For a report to be accepted
and initiate an investigation the hotline counselor must have reasonable cause to believe that the
child is at risk of or was harmed by abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
3
Child Protective Investigations
The DCF must conduct a child protective investigation if a hotline report meets the statutory
definition of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. An investigation is commenced immediately
or within 24 hours after the report is received, depending on the nature of the allegation.
4
The
child protective investigator assesses the safety and perceived needs of the child and family and
whether the child should receive in-home services or be removed and placed in out-of-home
care.
Community-Based Care Organizations and Services
If a child protective investigation results in verified findings of abuse or neglect, the child will
receive a case plan and services are provided to the family to address the problems that are
endangering the child. The DCF contracts with CBCs for case management, out-of-home care,
adoption and other related services. The use of CBCs to provide child welfare services is
intended to increase local community ownership of service delivery and design.
5
The DCF, through the CBCs, administers a system of care
6
for children that is directed toward:
Prevention of separation of children from their families;
Intervention to allow children to remain safely in their own homes;
Reunification of families who have had children removed from their care;
Safety for children who are separated from their families;
Promoting the well-being of children through emphasis on educational stability and timely
health care;
Permanency; and
Transition to independence and self-sufficiency.
7
The CBCs must give priority to services that are evidence-based and trauma informed.
8
The
CBCs contract with a number of subcontractors for case management and direct care services to
children and their families. There are 17 CBCs statewide, which together serve the state’s 20
judicial circuits.
9
The CBCs employ case managers that serve as the primary link between the
child welfare system and families with children under the DCF’s supervision. Case managers
3
See ss. 39.101(1)(b) and 39.101(2), F.S.
4
Section 39.201(2)(a), F.S.
5
The Department of Children and Families, About Community-Based Care, available at
https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-well-being/community-based-care/about-community-
based-care (last visited March 7, 2023) (hereinafter cited as “DCF”).
6
Id.
7
Id.; Also see generally s. 409.988, F.S.
8
Section 409.988(3), F.S.
9
The DCF, Lead Agency Information, available at https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-
well-being/community-based-care/lead-agency-information (last visited March 7, 2023). BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 4
work with affected families to ensure that a child reaches his or her permanency goal in a timely
fashion.
10
Transition to Independent Living
Sometimes a child’s particular case results in that child not finding permanency through
reunification, adoption, or another arrangement and that child transitions to young adulthood
while in the care of the DCF. In these instances, the DCF is required to assist children who are
transitioning out of foster care to independent living and self-sufficiency, including the
requirement to:
Identify important life skills that children in out-of-home care should acquire;
Develop a list of age-appropriate activities and responsibilities for children and caregivers;
Design and disseminate training for caregivers related to building needed life skills;
Regularly assess the degree of life skills acquired by each child beginning after the child’s
13
th
birthday, and support the caregiver in implementing an updated transition plan as
necessary;
Provide opportunities for children to interact with qualified, trained mentors; and
Develop and implement procedures for children of sufficient age and understanding to
directly access and manage the personal allowance they receive from the DCF.
11
During the year after a child reaches 16 years of age, the DCF and the CBC as well as other
specified individuals are required to assist the child in developing a transition plan.
12
The plan
must include specific resources that the child may use to obtain services, such as housing, health
insurance and education, and tasks to establish and maintain naturally occurring mentoring
relationships.
13
The DCF and CBC are required to periodically meet with the young adult to
review and update the transition plan beyond the young adults 18
th
birthday if the young adult is
participating in Independent Living Services.
14
Florida provides Independent Living Services to assist young adults in obtaining the skills,
education, and support necessary to become self-sufficient after his or her exit from foster care
into adulthood.
15
The program comprises three main programs: postsecondary education services
and support, extended foster care, and aftercare.
16
The categories of services to assist in the
successful transition to adulthood include:
Independent living needs assessment;
Academic support;
Postsecondary educational support;
Career preparation;
10
Section 409.988(1), F.S.
11
Section 409.14515, F.S.
12
Section 39.6035(1), F.S
13
Id.
14
Section 39.6035(5), F.S.
15
Section 409.1451, F.S. The Road-to-Independence program was created in statute in 2002. Over the last 21 years the
program has been expanded and added to larger initiatives focused on independent living. Today, the independent living
services provided under Road-to-Independence are generally referred to as “Independent Living Services” as the overall
construction of the program has grown outside of s. 409.1451, F.S., and the term “Road-to-Independence” is rarely used.
16
See generally ss. 409.1451 and 39.6251, F.S. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 5
Employment programs or vocational training;
Budget and financial management;
Housing education and home management training;
Health education and risk prevention;
Family support and healthy marriage education;
Mentoring;
Supervised independent living;
Room and board financial assistance;
Education financial assistance: and
Other financial assistance.
17
Postsecondary Education Services and Support (PESS)
PESS is a program that provides monthly financial support for foster youth to secure housing,
utilities, and assist with cost of living while attending certain postsecondary educational
institutions.
18
A young adult is eligible for PESS if certain criteria are met, including:
Specified criteria with respect to when the child was living in foster care;
Earned a standard high school diploma;
19
Has been admitted for enrollment as a full-time
20
student or its equivalent in an eligible
postsecondary institution as provided in s. 1009.533, F.S.;
21
Has reached 18 years of age, but is not yet 23 years of age;
Has applied for any other grants and scholarships for which he or she may qualify;
Submitted a complete and error-free Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and
Signed an agreement to allow the DCF and the CBC to access his or her school records.
22
17
Daniel Kids, Florida’s Independent Living Resource Center, available at https://www.danielkids.org/our-
programs/floridas-i-l-resource-center/ (last visited March 7, 2023) (hereinafter cited as “Daniel”).
18
The DCF, Postsecondary Education Services and Support (PESS), available at
https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/independent-living/youth-young-adults/postsecondary-education-
services-and (last visited March 7, 2023).
19
Pursuant to s. 1002.3105(5), F.S., s. 1003.4281, F.S., or s. 1003.4282, F.S., or its equivalent pursuant to s. 1003.435, F.S.
20
Section 409.1451(2)(a)4., F.S., defines “full-time” as 9 credit hours or the vocational school equivalent.
21
Section 1009.533, F.S., provides for eligible postsecondary education institutions, including: (1) a Florida public
university, Florida College System institution, or career center; (2) An independent Florida college or university that is
accredited by an accrediting association whose standards are comparable to the minimum standards required to operate an
institution at that level in Florida and which has operated in the state for at least 3 years; (3) an independent Florida
postsecondary education institution that is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education and meets other specified
criteria; (4) a Florida independent postsecondary education institution that offers a nursing diploma approved by the Board of
Nursing; and (5) A Florida independent postsecondary education institution that is licensed by the Commission for
Independent Education.
22
Section 409.1451(2)(a), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 6
Extended Foster Care
A child who is living in foster care on his or her 18
th
birthday and who has not achieved
permanency in accordance with s. 39.621, F.S.,
23
is eligible to remain in licensed care under the
care of the DCF and the jurisdiction of the court if he or she is:
Completing secondary education or equivalent program;
Enrolled in a postsecondary or vocational education institution;
Participating in a program to eliminate barriers to employment;
Employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
Unable to participate in any of the above-listed programs or activities.
24
A young adult
25
who participates in extended foster care must reside in a DCF-approved
supervised living environment. The young adult must live independently in this approved
placement, but the DCF and CBC must provide the young adult with supervision, case
management, and supportive services.
26
Aftercare Services
Aftercare services are available for a young adult who has reached 18 years of age but is not yet
23 years of age and is:
Not in foster care.
Temporarily not receiving financial assistance to pursue postsecondary education.
27
The specific aftercare services to be provided are determined by an assessment of an eligible
young adult, and may include, in part:
Mentoring and tutoring;
Mental health services and substance abuse counseling;
Life skills classes;
Parenting classes;
Job and career skills training;
Counselor consultations;
Temporary assistance for necessities and emergency situations; and
Financial literacy skills training.
28
23
Section 39.621(3), F.S., provides that the permanency goals available under ch. 39, F.S., listed in order of preference, are
reunification; adoption, if a petition for termination of parental rights has been or will be filed; permanent guardianship of a
dependent child under s. 39.6221, F.S.; permanent placement with a fit and willing relative under s. 39.6231, F.S.; or
placement in another planned permanent living arrangement under s. 39.6241, F.S.
24
Section 39.6251(2), F.S.
25
Section 39.6251(1), F.S., defines “young adult” as an individual who has attained 18 years of age but who has not attained
21 years of age.
26
Section 39.6251(4)(a), F.S.
27
Section 409.1451(3)(a), F.S. Additionally, subject to available funding, aftercare services are also available to a young
adult who is between the ages of 18 and 22, is receiving financial assistance for postsecondary education, who is
experiencing an emergency situation, and whose resources are insufficient to meet the emergency situation.
28
Section 409.1451(3)(b), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 7
Office of Continuing Care
In 2021, the Legislature established the Office of Continuing Care (OCC) within the DCF. The
Legislature created the OCC to provide ongoing support and care coordination to youth and
young adults who age out of the foster care system between 18 and 21 years of age, or 22 years
of age with a documented disability.
29
The OCC has specified duties, including, but not limited
to:
Providing young adults who age out of the foster care system with certain information about
the office, including its purpose, services offered and contact information;
Providing assistance in accessing services and supports; and
Collaborating with CBCs to identify local resources and assist young adults in accessing such
support services.
30
The OCC is also part of Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, a program that assists
Floridians to navigate the myriad systems and programs created to stabilize and help families in
crisis.
31
Hope Navigators guide, amongst others, foster youth on an individualized path to
prosperity, economic self-sufficiency, and hope.
32
Fostering Success Program
In 2014, the Legislature appropriated $75,000 to fund the Fostering Success Pilot Project for
young adults who aged out of foster care to obtain internships/professional shadowing
positions.
33
In 2016, the legislature funded an expansion of the pilot program with $100,000
appropriated in recurring general revenue funds to a program known as “Fostering Success
Youth Readiness Training and Placement Services” (Fostering Success).
34
The program was
designed for young adults ages 18 to 24 to gain employment skills that would enable them to
achieve economic self-sufficiency and professional success through a program that provided
year-long, part-time, Other Personal Services (OPS) positions with a participating state agency.
35
Funding for Fostering Success ceased in Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
36
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 409.1455, F.S., cited as the “Step into Success Act,” establishing the Step into
Success Workforce Education and Internship Program (program) as a three-year pilot
administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Continuing Care. The
program must consist of an independent living professionalism and workforce education
component and, for youth that complete that component, an onsite workforce training internship
29
Chapter 2021-169, s. 20, L.O.F., codified as s. 414.56, F.S.
30
Id.
31
The DCF, Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, available at https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/hope-florida (last
visited March 7, 2023).
32
Id.
33
Chapter 2014-51, Specific Appropriation 1393, L.O.F.
34
Chapter 2016-66, Specific Appropriation 1351, L.O.F.
35
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fostering Success, available at https://myfwc.com/get-
involved/internships/fostering-success/ (last visited March 11, 2023).
36
Governor Ron DeSantis, 2020 Veto List, p. 8 lines 1384 and 1388, available at https://www.flgov.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/06/2020-Veto-List.pdf (last visited March 7, 2023). BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 8
component that uses employees of participating organizations as mentors. The purpose of the
program is to assist foster youth transitioning to adulthood to:
Develop essential workforce and professional skills;
Transition from the custody of the DCF to independent living; and
Become best prepared for an independent and successful future.
For the purposes of the bill, the term “foster youth” is defined as an individual older than 16 but
younger than 18 years of age who is currently in licensed care, excluding Level I licensed
placements and the term “former foster youth” is defined as an individual 18 years of age or
older but younger than 26 years of age who is currently or was previously placed in licensed
care, excluding Level I licensed placements.
A “participating organization” is defined as a state agency; a corporation under ch. 607, F.S., or
ch. 617, F.S.; or another relevant entity that has agreed to collaborate with the OCC in the
development and implementation of a trauma-informed onsite workforce training internship
program.
The program must be provided as part of an eligible foster youth’s regular transition planning or
as a post-transition service for eligible former foster youth.
Independent Living Professionalism and Workforce Education Component
The Office of Continuing Care (OCC) must meet the following requirements in development and
implementation of the independent living professionalism and workforce education component:
Ensure that there is sufficient qualified staff to implement and maintain operation of the
program.
Develop workshops, presentations, and curricula to educate youth on topics such as interview
skills, professionalism, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and conflict resolution in the
workplace.
37
Provide relevant written materials and tools to ensure successful transition to internships.
Provide materials to youth to ensure that they are aware of the requirements for participating
in the program and contact information for the program office. Community-based care lead
agencies (CBC) must provide any of their subcontracted providers that directly serve youth
with such material.
Advertise and promote the availability of the program.
Assess each eligible foster youth’s career interests and determine the most appropriate
internship opportunities.
The OCC must begin operations of the Independent Living Professionalism and Workforce
Education Component on or before January 1, 2024.
37
This component must be provided in addition to any other life skills or employment training required by law and may be
developed or administered by the DCF, community-based care lead agencies, or the lead agencies’ subcontracted providers or
through collaboration with the approved agencies, colleges or universities, or non-profit organizations in the community that
have workforce training resources. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 9
Onsite Workforce Training Internship Component
The OCC must meet the following requirements in development and implementation of the
onsite workforce training internship component:
Develop processes and procedures to implement a trauma-informed onsite workforce training
internship component, designed to be replicated and scaled to meet various organizational
structures and sizes, that includes:
o Recruitment of agencies, corporations, and other entities to host interns as participating
organizations;
o Assisting participating organizations with mentor recruitment, training, and matching;
o Mentor-led performance reviews, including the intern’s work product, professionalism,
time management, communication style, and stress management strategies;
o Daily mentorship and coaching on professionalism, teamwork, leadership, problem
solving, and conflict resolution;
o Development of employment opportunities for interns; and
o Reporting requirements.
Develop a minimum of 1 hour of required trauma-informed training for mentors.
Provide assistance to eligible youth interested in the internship component.
Publicize internship positions in an easily accessible manner to inform eligible youth.
Develop a process and schedule for the distribution of $1,517 monthly financial assistance
payments to former foster youth participating in the component, subject to availability.
Distribute funds appropriated for the compensation of mentors at $1,200 per intern per fiscal
year, to be issued as $100 monthly payments for every month of service as a mentor. A
mentor may only mentor a maximum of three interns at one time for a maximum of $3,600 in
compensation per fiscal year.
By May 1, 2024, provide the Board of Governors and State Board of Education all relevant
internship information necessary to support the award of postsecondary credit or career
education clock hours.
Develop and conduct follow-up surveys with former foster youth, mentors, and any other
persons the OCC deems relevant for continued improvement of the internship component.
Requirements for Participating Organizations
The participating organizations must meet the following requirements in implementation of the
onsite workforce training internship component:
Collaborate with the OCC to implement a trauma-informed approach to mentoring former
foster youth.
Recruit employees that meet certain requirements to serve as mentors.
Have discussions around the creation of corrective action plans, when necessary, and not
discharging an intern until he or she is given a reasonable opportunity to comply with the
corrective action plan.
Provide relevant feedback and certain information for reporting purposes to the DCF.
The bill requires that mentors within participating organizations must:
Have worked for the participating agency for a minimum of one year;
Have experience relevant to the employment responsibilities of the intern; BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 10
Complete a minimum of one hour of trauma-informed training;
Sign a monthly hour statement for the intern;
Allocate at least 1 hour per month for performance reviews; and
Complete a minimum of 1 hour of trauma-informed training.
The OCC begin operations of the Onsite Workforce Training Internship Component on or before
July 1, 2024.
Requirements for Former Foster Youth Participating in the Internship Component
Former foster youth must complete the training component with the DCF before being eligible to
apply for an internship under the internship component and must have attained the age of 18
years before working as an intern.
If offered an internship, a former foster youth must be classified as an intern and work 80 hours
per month to be eligible for the financial assistance payment. Any stipend specified for clothing
must be spent on clothing that is in compliance with the dress code requirements of the
participating organization and comply with the participating organizations’ dress code and can be
awarded separate from the monthly financial assistance payment related to the internship
component.
If offered an internship, a former foster youth may hold the position for no more than one year.
The participating organization may extend the internship beyond the one year or hire the foster
youth as a full-time employee, but it may not be as an intern under the program. A foster youth
may intern at more than one participating organization but not at the same time.
A former foster youth participating in an internship may only be discharged from the internship
component after the participating organization engages the intern’s assigned mentor and the
internship program staff to assist the intern in performing the duties of the internship. Before
discharging the former foster youth, the participating organization must document the intern’s
failure to comply with a corrective action plan after being given a reasonable opportunity to do
so.
The financial assistance payment earned pursuant to the internship component may not be
considered earned income for the purposes of computing eligibility for federal or state benefit
programs. If there is a reduction or loss of benefits due to the receipt of the Step into Success
financial payment, that reduction or loss may be offset by an additional financial assistance
payment equal to the value of the maximum benefit amount for a single person allowed under the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
38
Postsecondary Credits or Career Education Clock Hours
A former foster youth may, at the discretion of the postsecondary institution within Florida in
which such youth is enrolled, earn postsecondary credit or career education clock hours for work
38
Currently $250 for a single person household in Florida. The DCF, Food Assistance Program Fact Sheet, p. 3, available at
https://www.myflfamilies.com/sites/default/files/2022-10/fafactsheet_1.pdf (last visited March 29, 2023). BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 11
performed as an intern under the internship component. Postsecondary credit or career education
clock hours earned may be in addition to any financial payment for the same work performed
under the internship component and may be awarded for completion of the whole or any part of
the internship component. Participating organizations must provide any information that is
necessary for the postsecondary educational institution to determine whether to grant the former
foster youth postsecondary credit or career education clock hours toward his or her degree.
The Board of Governors and the State Board of Education are required to adopt regulations and
rules, respectively, to award postsecondary credit or career education clock hours for eligible
former foster youth participating in the internship component.
Reporting Requirement
The bill requires the DCF to include a section on the Step into Success Program in the annual
independent living report required by s. 409.1451(6), F.S. The report must include, but is not
limited to:
Whether the pilot program is in compliance with statute, and if not, barriers to compliance.
A list of participating organizations and interns.
A summary of recruitment efforts.
A summary of feedback and surveys received from former foster youth, mentors, and others.
Recommendations for actions necessary to improve the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes
of the pilot program.
Employment outcomes of former foster youth who participated in the pilot program,
including employment status, employment location, job description, and salary information,
if available.
The bill also amends s. 414.56, F.S., to add the development and administration of the Step into
Success program as one of the enumerated duties of the OCC. The bill requires the DCF to adopt
rules to implement the program.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 12
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill will have a significant negative fiscal impact on state expenditures, yet is
dependent on the number of participants in the program. The number of participants in
the program may be limited by the amount of appropriation provided to fund the new
program. The estimated annual cost to develop and implement the Step into Success
program for 10 interns is $500,000 in general revenue funds ($447,895 in recurring funds
and $52,105 in nonrecurring funds). A breakdown of the costs are as follows:
Program Cost
Number of Interns
10 Interns 20 Interns 30 Interns
Intern Financial Assistance Payment $182,040 $364,080 $546,120
Mentor Payment
39
$15,265 $30,530 $45,796
Estimated Clothing Stipend
40
$5,000
$10,000 $15,000
Additional Stipend due to Loss of Benefits
41
$30,000 $60,000 $90,000
DCF Operational Costs $267,695 $267,695 $375,359
Total Year-One Program Costs $500,000 $732,305 $1,072,275
39
The mentor payment includes applicable taxes of $27.21 per month per mentor.
40
The clothing stipend is estimated at $500 per former foster youth.
41
The additional stipend due to loss of benefits is calculated as the maximum benefit amount ($250) for a single person
allowed under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The total amount assumes 100% of the financial assistance
payment recipients will lose their benefits. BILL: CS/SB 1190 Page 13
The DCF operational costs include recurring and nonrecurring funding to hire a program
manager, and to provide training curriculum development and marketing services. To
incentivize participation, the DCF also recommends a stipend for foster youth who
participate in the training component of the program, however, this additional amount is
not contemplated in the fiscal analysis above.
42
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 414.56 of the Florida Statutes.
This bill creates section 409.1455 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs on March 14, 2023:
The amendment provides $1,517 as the amount of the monthly financial assistance
payment to former foster youth participating in the internship component of the Step into
Success Program.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
42
The Department of Children and Families, Senate Bill 1190 Fiscal Analysis (March 2023) (on file with Senate
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services).