Summary of 2008 Legislative Session

Below is a summary of legislation passed this session that may impact the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Workforce Florida, Inc., Unemployment Appeals Commission, Regional Workforce Boards and Early Learning Coalitions. These items passed both chambers of the legislature and are awaiting signature by the Governor, at which time they will become law. Also included is a summary of the 2008 appropriations bill.

 General Legislation

HB 3-Relatinq to Children's Zones

• Creates the Magic City Children's Zone pilot, specifies geographical boundaries of the zone, provides for a board of directors, specifies membership on the board, provides duties for the board, and provides for a report.
• Creates the Jacksonville Children's Zone pilot, requires a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select a not for profit corporation to implement the zone pilot, specifies geographical boundaries of the zone, provides for membership on an advisory committee, and provides for a report.
• Provides a nominating process for areas within communities to be designated as children's zones.
• Provides for the creation of a planning team, a strategic community plan, and focus areas to be included in the plan. 
• Provides for the creation of a not for profit corporation to implement and govern a designated children's zone.

SB 2654-Relatinq to Children with Disabilities

• SB 2654 requires large group health insurance plans to provide coverage for diagnostic screening, intervention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children through speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, applied behavior analysis, treatment by a psychiatrist or psychologist, and any other necessary medical care. Health insurance plans may not deny, refuse to issue or reissue coverage, terminate, or restrict coverage because an individual is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
  
  
• To be eligible for benefits and coverage, an individual must be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder at 8 years of age or younger. Benefits and coverage must be provided to eligible persons who are under 18 years of age or who are in high school. Coverage may not be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that are less favorable than those applied to covered physical illnesses under the health plan. Benefits may not be denied on the basis that provided services are rehabilitative in nature. However, coverage for behavioral therapy is subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year.

 Agency Legislation

HB 879-Relatinq to Early Learninq

• Allows the Agency for Workforce Innovation to adopt rules that would permit VPK providers to utilize substitute instructors who are not credentialed VPK instructors under statute in limited circumstances.
• Provides that accrediting associations that are recognized under s.1 002.55(3)(b)1.-2., Florida Statute have written accrediting standards that meet the state's licensing requirements and document at least one on-site visit of the provider or school before accreditation can be granted for the VPK program.
• Authorizes the 31 early learning coalitions to utilize telecommunications and/or videoconferencing including establishing a quorum to conduct meetings in a more efficient manner.
• Allows a children's services councilor juvenile welfare board chair or executive director to be a voting member if the only funds it receives from the coalition is from rent. 
• Clarifies early learning laws by renumbering the Child Care Resource and Referral requirements and the Child Care Executive Partnership program to chapter 411, Florida Statutes.
  

SB 1026-Relatinq to Unemployment Compensation Benefits

• Allows the Agency to develop a system for payment of unemployment compensation benefits by debit card in order to enhance customer service and reduce administrative costs.

SB 854-Relatinq to Unemployment Compensation

• Revises notification requirements for day laborer pools by stipulating the labor pool must provide written notification to the temporary employee upon conclusion of the latest assignment that work is available the next business day. Notice must be given at the conclusion of the current assignment.
  

SB 428-Relatinq to Workforce Innovation

• Conforms state law with federal law by authorizing Regional Workforce Boards to be designated as direct providers of intake, assessment, eligibility determinations, or other direct provider services, except training services, only when agreed to by the designated chief elected official and the Governor. Workforce Florida, Inc. shall establish procedures by which a regional workforce board may request permission to operate under this section and the criteria under which this request shall be granted. The criteria shall include, but not be limited to, a reduction in the cost of providing the permitted services. Such permission shall be granted for a period not to exceed 3 years for any single request submitted by the regional workforce board.

Additionally, the Agency pursued legislation (SB 940) in an effort to ensure more accurate employment data for the state. Employment and employer counts are distorted by industry and geographic location due to the current Unemployment Compensation Law allowing Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) to report all their employers/clients under one Unemployment Compensation (the PEO account) account number. The Agency attempted to require the PEOs to report the same employment and wage data on their clients that is required of all other Florida employers which includes employment and wage information by industry and geographic location. Unfortunately, the effort fell just short in the final days of session but important groundwork was laid to enable passage in the next session.

Budget Summary

Below is the Agency summary of items contained in the appropriations bill passed by the Legislature on May 2, 2008. All appropriation amounts are subject to review by the Governor for possible veto.

Agency-Wide

• Reduced 90.99 Agency statewide long term vacant positions.
• Proviso language stating that no federal or state funds may be used to pay for unneeded leased space.

 Early Learning Services

• Continued current year appropriation level for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Trust Fund.
• $500,000 ELIS Qualified Expenditure Category appropriation.
• $9.9 million reduction of TANF funding.
• $7.1 million reduction of state funds (includes ELIS reduction).
• $3.0 million minimum appropriation for the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps Program (TEACH).
• $1.4 million appropriation for the Home Instruction Program for Pre-School Youngsters (HIPPY).
• $354.3 million appropriation for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program.
• Proviso language to continue the Gold Seal Quality Care Initiative
• Proviso language requiring a six percent local match for working poor eligible participants in the School Readiness Program.
• Proviso language allowing the designation of matching funds for the Child Care Executive Partnership Program.

Unemployment Compensation Services

• $9.0 million of Reed Act distributions available to the program.

 Workforce Services

• In the event of a waiver approval, proviso language included allowing for the transfer of agency employees to the Regional Workforce Boards provided the transfer would result in more effective and efficient services and would comply with federal regulations.
• $20 million of Reed Act distributions available to the system.
• $1.5 million appropriation for continuation of existing Banner Centers.
• $1.25 million appropriation for employment and training services for the space industry.
• $700,000 appropriation for the Military Spouse Program to be passed through to the Regional Workforce Boards.
• $11.7 million fund shift from the Welfare Transition Trust Fund to the Employment Security Administration Trust Fund.
• $1.6 million appropriated for Food Stamp Employment Training (FSET).
• $1.8 million fund shift of all the Workforce Services General Revenue Fund to the Special Employment Security Administration Trust Fund.
• $500,000 fund shift of Program Support Salaries and Benefits from Employment Security Administration Trust Fund to Special Employment Security Administration Trust Fund.
• $506,734 continued increased appropriation for the Displaced Homemaker Program.
• $100,000 appropriation for the Connections Job Development Program.
• $1.4 million appropriation for the Non Custodial Parent Program.
• $2.0 million appropriation for the passport to Economic Progress programs.
• $5.0 million appropriation for the Quick Response Training Program.
• $2.0 million appropriation for the Incumbent Worker Training Program.

Source: Above information provided by the Agency for Workforce Innovations.