LEGISLATIVE Committee Meeting Agenda – May 23, 2023 – 8:30 – 9:00 AM
Virtual Meeting
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86730510469?pwd=SEplQ0xQUzVVemdNY05XM2FueERIdz09
Meeting Call-In Number: 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 867 3051 0469 Passcode: 904676
Directors are reminded that all Able Trust Board and Committee meeting are open and publicly noticed. Under Florida Sunshine Law, any meeting of 2 or more Able Trust Directors must be publicly noticed. Directors are prohibited from discussing Able Trust business outside of official meetings of the organization.
Directors are reminded of conflict of interest provisions. In declaring a conflict, please refrain from voting or discussion and declare the following information: 1) Your name and position on the Board, 2) The nature of the conflict, and 3) Who will gain or lose as a result of the conflict.
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
II. Legislative Committee Consent Agenda
a. Meeting Agenda
b. February Committee Minutes
III. Legislative Committee Regular Business
a. 2023 Session & Reauthorization
i. New Statutorily Required Report
b. FY24 Legislative Strategy
IV. Unfinished Business New Business Matters from the Board Matter from the President/CEO Matters from our Partners Public Comment
Next Legislative Committee Meeting: August 22, 2023, 8:30 –9:00 AM Adjourn
Document
Todd Jennings, Committee Chair
Todd Jennings, Committee Chair
Todd Jennings, Committee Chair and Alan Suskey, Lobbyist
Please Note: Agenda subject to revisions and additions per the discretion of the Chair of the Board of Directors. Notification will be sent of any such revisions or changes.
Members of the Public: Please notify Arnaldo Ramos at Arnaldo@abletrust.org if you wish to make public comment on particular agenda items no later than 1-hour prior to beginning of the meeting.
Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, dba The Able Trust
DRAFT Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes
Legislative Committee Meeting – February 21, 2023 – 8:30 – 9:00 AM
Virtual Meeting
Members in Attendance James “Chip” Byers; Todd Jennings; Brent McNeal, Bethany McAlister
Members Absent Alan Suskey
Staff in Attendance Allison Chase, President & CEO
Others in attendance
None
Item Action/Discussion
Call to Order and Roll Call Allison called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. A quorum was confirmed.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA
a. Meeting Agenda
b. August Committee Minutes
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REGULAR BUSINESS
a. Update of 2023 Session & Reauthorization Bills
b. Next Steps
Director McAlister motioned to accept the agenda and August Committee Minutes, seconded by Director Byers. The motion passed.
• Bethany McAlister and Alan Suskey have been working together to combine our bill with another organization that has a similar need for a reauthorization date change.
• Sponsors have been secured: Representative Kevin Steele and Senator Nick DiCiglie. Bills will be filed this week.
• Currently, the bills call for a 4-year reauthorization. There may be some negotiation with House staff to reduce to 2-years to hold the organization accountable for resuming grant-making.
• Next steps will be to secure meetings with Rep. Steele, Sen. DiCiglie, and legislative staff during the first week of session to familiarize them with the organization. Alan will coordinate these meetings with Cory Dowd at FDOE.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no discussion. NEW BUSINESS There was no discussion. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no comment.
NEXT MEETING DATE May 23, 2023, 8:30 – 9:00 AM
ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:45AM
Respectfully submitted, Todd Jennings,
Committee ChairPage 1 of 1
million in each of state fiscal years 2021-2022, and 2022-2023,
2023-2024, and 2024-2025. The department must approve the tax
credit prior to the taxpayer taking the credit on a return. The
department must approve credits on a first-come, first-served
basis.
(6) The department may adopt rules, including emergency
rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4), governing the manner and form of
applications for the tax credit and establishing qualification
requirements for the tax credit. All conditions are deemed met
for the adoption of emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4).
(7) A qualified business may carry forward any unused
portion of a tax credit under this section for up to 2 taxable
years.
Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (10) and subsection
(14) of section 413.615, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
413.615 Florida Endowment for Vocational Rehabilitation.
(10) DISTRIBUTION OF MONEYS. The board shall use the
moneys in the operating account, by whatever means, to provide
for:
(a)1. Planning, research, and policy development for
issues related to the employment and training of disabled 421 citizens, and publication and dissemination of such information
as may serve the objectives of this section.
2. Research on the systems in the state which provide
services to persons with disabilities, including autism and
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intellectual and developmental disabilities. The board shall 426 submit to the Legislature a report by December 1, 2023. The
report must:
a. Identify the current systems for service delivery to 429 persons with disabilities, including operations, services,
coordination activities, and structures.
b. Identify barriers and obstacles in transportation for
persons with disabilities living in the home or receiving
community-based services for jobs, medical appointments, and
peer-to-peer groups.
c. Identify workforce issues related to direct support
professionals, behavioral or mental health specialists, health
care practitioners, and other individuals who assist with the
provision of services to persons with disabilities.
d. Examine the best practices for uniform and efficient 440 service delivery and the coordination of and transition among
systems, including transitioning out of high school.
e. Examine federal and state law and rules that impact or
limit supports or services for persons with disabilities.
f. Identify systemwide incongruence and inefficiencies in
service delivery.
g. Identify opportunities for job coaching and community
participation supports, including those opportunities for
individuals who cannot, or choose not to, enter the community
because of underlying issues.
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Any allocation of funds for research, advertising, or consulting
shall be subject to a competitive solicitation process. State
funds may not be used to fund events for private sector donors
or potential donors or to honor supporters.
(14) REPEAL. This section is repealed October 1, 2027
2023, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
445.003, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
445.003 Implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act.
(7) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The department shall adopt
rules to implement the requirements of this chapter, including:
(b) Initial and subsequent eligibility criteria, based on
input from the state board, local workforce development boards,
the Department of Education, and other stakeholders, for the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act eligible training
list. This list directs training resources to programs
provide economic security, particularly those
A training
provider
training to obtain a credential on the
Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4)(h) may not be
included on a state or local eligible training provider list if
the provider fails to submit the required information or fails
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The Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation (The ABLE Trust)
In 1990, the Legislature recognized the need to encourage public and private support to enhance vocational rehabilitation and employment of Florida’s citizens who are disabled by establishing the Florida EndowmentFoundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, also known as The ABLE Trust,as a direct support organization for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within the DOE.The ABLE Trust is approved by the division to be operating for the benefits and best interest of the state through a contract.139 A board of directors, appointed by the Governor, oversees the operations of The ABLE Trust and ensures that funds are provided for programs or initiatives which engage in the research, promotion, or aid of job training and counseling for Florida’s disabled citizens,and to support the work of the division.140
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill delays the October 1, 2023, scheduled repeal of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation (The ABLE Trust) as a statutorily-created direct support organization until October 1, 2027.
The bill requires the Florida EndowmentFoundation for Vocational Rehabilitation to conduct research and issuereports on the systems inFlorida that provide services to individual with disabilities, including autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The board is required to submitto the Legislature a report by December 1, 2023. The report must:
Identify the current systems for servicedelivery to persons with disabilities, including operations, services, coordination activities, and structures.
Identify barriers and obstacles in transportation for persons with disabilities living in the home or receiving community-basedservices for jobs, medicalappointments, and peer-to-peer groups.
Identify workforce issues related to direct support professionals, behavioral or mental health specialists,health care practitioners, and other individuals who assistwith the provision of services to persons with disabilities.
Examine the bestpractices for uniform and efficient servicedelivery and the coordination of and transition among systems,including transitioning out of high school.
Examine federal and state law and rules that impactor limit supports or services for persons with disabilities.
Identify systemwideincongruency and inefficiencies in servicedelivery.
Identify opportunities for job coaching and communityparticipation supports,including those opportunities for individuals who cannot or choose not to go into the communitybecause of underlying issues.
Florida Workforce Education Financial Assistance Programs
Present Situation
Florida Work Experience Program
Created in 1993, the Florida WorkExperience program (FWEP) provides need-based financial assistanceto students as they are employed in occupations complementaryto their educational endeavors and career goals. The 2007 Florida Legislature expanded the FWEPto serve students at postsecondary institutions by providing additional on-campus employment opportunities, helping to keep students in schooland reducing students' schoolloans. Additionally, the program’s opportunities for employment at a student’s schoolserve as a retention tool becausestudents employed on campus are more likely to completetheir postsecondary education.141
139 Section 413.615(5)-(6), F.S.
140 Sections 413.615(4), (8), and(10), F.S.
141 Section 1009.77(1), F.S.