Title: Regional Workforce Boards

Summary: Reinstating provisions that restrict the use of state and federal funds provided to the boards and that require contracts to be approved by Workforce Florida, Inc., etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to regional workforce boards; amending s. 445.007, F.S.; reinstating provisions that restrict the use of state and federal funds provided to the boards and that require contracts to be approved by Workforce Florida, Inc.; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsections (10) and (11) of section 445.007, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 445.007 Regional workforce boards.  (10)  State and federal funds provided to the regional workforce boards may not be used directly or indirectly to pay for meals, food, or beverages for board members, staff, or employees of regional workforce boards, Workforce Florida, Inc., or the department except as expressly authorized by state law. Only preapproved, reasonable, and necessary per diem allowances and travel expenses may be reimbursed as provided under s. 112.061 and must be in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements. Workforce Florida, Inc., shall develop a statewide fiscal policy, applicable to the state board and all regional workforce boards, which holds both the state and regional boards strictly accountable for adherence to the policy and subject to regular and periodic monitoring by the department,the administrative entity for Workforce Florida, Inc. Boards may not expend state or federal funds for entertainment costs or recreational activities for board members or employees. State and federal funds provided to the regional workforce boards may not be used directly or indirectly to pay for meals, food, or beverages for board members, staff, or employees of regional workforce boards, Workforce Florida, Inc., or the Agency for Workforce Innovation except as expressly authorized by state law. Preapproved, reasonable, and necessary per diem allowances and travel expenses may be reimbursed. Such reimbursement shall be at the standard travel reimbursement rates established in s. 112.061 and shall be in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements. Workforce Florida, Inc., shall develop a statewide fiscal policy applicable to the state board and all regional workforce boards, to hold both the state and regional boards strictly accountable for adherence to the policy and subject to regular and periodic monitoring by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the administrative entity for Workforce Florida, Inc. Boards are prohibited from expending state or federal funds for entertainment costs and recreational activities for board members and employees as these terms are defined by C.F.R. part 230. This subsection expires July 1, 2011. (11)  To increase transparency and accountability, regional workforce boards must comply with the requirements of this section before contracting with a member of the regional workfo rce board. Such contracts may not be executed before or without the approval of Workforce Florida, Inc. Such contracts, as well as documentation demonstrating adherence to this section as specified by Workforce Florida, Inc., must be submitted to the department for review and recommendation according to criteria to be determined by Workforce Florida, Inc. Contracts between relatives, as defined in s. 112.3143 (1),of a board member or employee of a board must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire board; a ll conflicts must be disclosed before the vot e; any member who may benefit from the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the contract, must abstain from th evote; and the contract must be reviewed and approved as stated above. Contracts under $25,000 between a regional workforce board and a member of that board or between rela tives of a board member or employees of a board are exempt from the review and recommendation process but must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire board and reported to the department and Workforce Florida, Inc., within days after approval. If a contract is not approved by Workforce Florida, Inc., a review of the decision to not approve the contract may be requested by the regional workforce board or other parties to the disapproved contract. To increase transparency and accountability, regional workforce boards shall comply with the requirements of this section before contracting with a member of the regional workforce board. Such contracts shall not be executed before or without the approval of Workforce Florida, Inc. Such contracts, as well as documentation demonstrating adherence to this section as specified by Workforce Florida, Inc., must be submitted to the Agency for Workforce Innovation for review and recommendation according to criteria to be determined by Workforce Florida, Inc. Contracts between relatives, as defined in s. 112.3143 (1)(b), of a board member or employee of a board must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire board; all conflicts must be disclosed prior to the vote; and any member who may benefit from the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the contract, must abstain from the vote and the contract must be reviewed and approved as stated above. Contracts under $25,000 between a regional workforce board and a member of that board or between relatives, as defined in s. 112.3143 (1)(b), of a board member or employees of a board are exempt from the review and recommendation process but must be approved by a two thirds vote of the entire board and must be reported to the Agency for Workforce Innovation and Workforce Florida, Inc., within days after approval. If a contract cannot be approved by Workforce Florida, Inc., a review of the decision to disapprove the contract may be requested by the regional workforce board or other parties to the disapproved contract. This subsection expires July 1, 2011. Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.