Title: Assisted and Independent Living Task Force

Summary: Creating the task force to evaluate proposals that incentivize building contractors and developers to create space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments; establishing the task force adjunct to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; providing for duties, membership, and meetings of the task force, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to the Assisted and Independent Living Task Force; creating the task force to evaluate proposals that incentivize building contractors and developers to create space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments; establishing the task force adjunct to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; providing for duties, membership, and meetings of the task force; requiring the task force to submit a written stage one report and a final report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; providing for termination of the task force; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  There is created the Assisted and Independent Living Task Force, a task force as defined in s. 20.03(8), Florida Statutes, which shall develop and evaluate policy proposals that incentivize building contractors and developers to create space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments which may be used as low-cost, supportive, and affordable housing for individuals who are in need of such housing and who have an intellectual disability or autism, as those terms are defined in s. 393.063, Florida Statutes, or a mental illness, as defined in s. 394.455,Florida Statutes.(1)   The task force is established adjunct to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for administrative purposes only. The agency shall use existing and available resources to administer and support the activities of the task force under this section. (2)  The task force shall be composed of the following members: (a)   The director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chair of the task force. (b)   The Secretary of Children and Families or his or her designee. (c)   The executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity or his or her designee. (d)   The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation or his or her designee. (e)   The executive director of the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged or his or her designee. (f)   A representative from the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition. (g)   A representative from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. (h)   A representative from the Florida Housing Coalition. (i)   A representative from the Florida Independent Living Council. (j)   A representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Florida. (k)   A representative from the Florida Council for Community Mental Health. (l)   A representative from the Florida League of Cities. (m)   A representative from the Florida Association of Counties. (n)   A representative from the Florida Coalition for the Homeless. (o)   A representative from the Association of Florida Community Developers. (p)   A representative from the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., of Florida. (q) A representative from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. (r) A representative from the Florida Assisted Living Association. (s) A representative from the Florida Association of Managing Entities. (t) An attorney who is a member in good standing of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar. (3) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for per diem or travel expenses. (4) The task force shall convene its first meeting by August 1, 2019, and shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities under this section. Meetings may be conducted in person, by teleconference, or by other electronic means. (5) The task force shall review the funding methodology for assisted living facilities that provide care to adults with mental illness and those with intellectual disabilities or autism. The task force shall develop recommendations for policy changes to the funding methodology for assisted living facilities that accept residents with mental illness or intellectual disabilities, including autism for consideration by the state agencies and shall provide a written stage one report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House no later than November 1, 2019. (6) In consultation with the applicable local and state governmental entities, the task force shall: (a)   Identify potential barriers and opportunities in existing policies, rules, or laws to incentivize building contractors and developers to create space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments. (b)   Recommend modifications to existing policies, rules, or laws or propose new policies, rules, or laws that would allow for the creation of space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments. (c)   Recommend financial and regulatory incentives to encourage building contractors and developers to create space for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments. (d)   Propose funding mechanisms for the development and maintenance of spaces for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments. (e)   Propose an overall governing structure for managing spaces for assisted living facilities and independent living communities within mixed-use developments. (7)   The task force shall submit a final report by February 1, 2020, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which includes its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. (8) The task force is terminated upon the submission of its final report. Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.