Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1578 By Senator Thompson 15-00973D-23 20231578__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to Florida Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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: 24 409.147Florida Childrens 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 childrens initiative. 50 (4)CHILDRENS 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 Childrens 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)CHILDRENS 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 Childrens 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 childrens initiative community plan and the school 99 districts 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)CHILDRENS INITIATIVE CORPORATION. 116 (a)The Florida Childrens 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 Childrens Initiative, and, if the area selected by the 133 governing body is designated as a Florida Childrens 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 childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens Initiatives sites in disadvantaged 156 neighborhoods throughout this state. To that end, counties that 157 do not currently have a Florida Childrens 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 CHILDRENS 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 Childrens 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 Childrens Initiative, Inc., and shall be administratively 173 housed within the Department of Children and Families. However, 174 Miami Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens 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 Childrens Initiatives listed in this section Miami Childrens 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 Childrens Initiatives 314 Miami Childrens Initiative, Inc. 315 Section 2.This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.