Title: Hope Florida

Summary: Creating the "Hope Florida Act"; creating the Hope Florida Office within the Executive Office of the Governor; providing eligibility requirements for Hope Florida participants; requiring the office to designate a state agency to perform certain functions; requiring that Hope Navigators be embedded in communities for specified purposes, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to Hope Florida; creating part IV of ch. 23, F.S., entitled  Hope Florida ; creating s. 23.41, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 23.42, F.S.; providing the goals of Hope Florida; creating s. 23.43, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 23.44, F.S.; creating the Hope Florida Office within the Executive Office of the Governor; requiring the Governor to appoint the director of the Hope Florida Office; providing that such director serves at the pleasure of the Governor; providing duties of the office; providing eligibility requirements for Hope Florida participants; specifying that participation in Hope Florida is voluntary; specifying mechanisms by which individuals may receive assistance; requiring the office to designate a state agency to perform certain functions; creating s. 23.45, F.S.; requiring that Hope Navigators be embedded in communities for specified purposes; requiring that care plans include certain steps and timelines; requiring the Hope Florida partner network to work to build a network of partnerships for a specified purpose; requiring specified state agencies to participate in Hope Florida at the direction of the Executive Office of the Governor; authorizing other entities to participate in Hope Florida at the direction of the office; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  Part IV of chapter 23, Florida Statutes, consisting of ss. 23.41, 23.42, 23.43, 23.44, and 23.45, is created and entitled  Hope Florida.  Section 2. Section 23.41, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 23.41   Short title. This part may be cited as the  Hope Florida Act.  Section 3. Section 23.42, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 23.42   Hope Florida goals. The goals of Hope Florida are to: (1)   Streamline access to support, services, and assistance so that residents in need can reach their full potential within their local communities and to holistically coordinate care through Hope Navigators. (2)   Facilitate alignment and coordination of participating state agencies. (3)   Break down traditional silos and establish a seamless network of support systems, managed through one centralized system comprised of private businesses, nonprofit entities, state agencies, and faith-based organizations, to effectively achieve desired outcomes and sustain long-term results including greater self-sufficiency, community integration, and the reduction of the participant s sole reliance on government programs. Section 4. Section 23.43, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 23.43   Definitions. As used in this part, the term: (1)    Care plan  means a written document that contains information provided by Hope Florida to its participants for whom Hope Florida has developed and customized actionable steps and corresponding timelines to assist the participants in achieving their immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals. The care plan must also address barriers by directly connecting participants to community resources and opportunities. (2)    Hope Florida partner network  means a group of entities, including state agencies, public-private partnerships, and nonprofit, private-sector, and faith-based organizations, which is actively engaged in Hope Florida and which provides goods or services to directly support the participants  goals and address identified barriers. (3)    Hope Line  means a statewide toll-free telephone number that serves as a hotline for Hope Florida inquiries and referrals for services. (4)    Hope Navigators  means individuals who coordinate care and assist participants and families seeking services through Hope Florida. (5)    Office  means the Hope Florida Office within the Executive Office of the Governor. (6)    Participant  means an individual who voluntarily participates in Hope Florida. (7)    Participating state agency  means a state agency participating in Hope Florida at the direction of the Executive Office of the Governor. Section 5. Section 23.44, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 23.44  Hope Florida Office; eligibility to participate; duties.  (1)   The Hope Florida Office is created within the Executive Office of the Governor. The director of the Hope Florida Office is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. (2)   The office shall: (a)   Establish goals and strategies for Hope Florida. (b)   Facilitate coordination and collaboration among participating state agencies to achieve these goals. (c)   Expand the Hope Florida partner network to meet the needs of participants. (d)   Empower and assist residents in need to help identify and achieve immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals and remove barriers to their personal goal achievement through the development and implementation of care plans in partnership with Hope Navigators. (e)   Use Hope Navigators to assist participants in identifying personal goals, developing individualized plans for achieving immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals, identifying and addressing barriers, and actively connecting participants to community resources and opportunities to achieve their goals. (f)   Use participating state agencies to serve families holistically in achieving self-sufficiency, maximizing community integration, and building a prosperous future. Barriers to self sufficiency may include the inability to: 1.   Obtain stable employment; 2.   Increase wages; 3.   Obtain the necessary skills for greater independence, education, or training; 4.   Meet basic needs; or 5.   Find stable housing. (g)   Refer participants requiring assistance with employment or vocational training to CareerSource Florida, Inc., and local workforce development boards or other entities to prepare, train, and place the participants in meaningful employment. (3)(a)   To participate in Hope Florida, an individual must be: 1.   A legal resident of this state. 2.   A citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien of the United States, as determined by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. 3.a.   At least years of age; b.   If emancipated, at least years of age; or c.   If under years of age and not emancipated, authorized to participate by written consent of his or her parent or guardian. (b)   Participation in Hope Florida is voluntary. (c)   Individuals may receive assistance by calling the Hope Line. (4)   The office shall designate a state agency to, at a minimum: (a)   Operate the Hope Line, which must be available, at a minimum, during business hours Monday through Friday. (b)   Develop and maintain a website for individuals to connect with Hope Florida. (c)   Develop and maintain a Hope Florida case management system that, at a minimum, conducts intake for Hope Florida inquiries and makes referrals for individuals and families in need of services. Section 6. Section 23.45, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 23.45  Hope Navigators; care plans; Hope Florida partner network; participating state agencies.  (1)(a)   Hope Navigators are resources who must be embedded within communities and serve as catalysts and a single point of contact for participants. Hope Navigators shall use participant information to jointly develop and implement care plans and navigate and actively leverage community-based supports and opportunities to create a sustainable network of supports to help participants achieve their goals, overcome barriers, and realize their full potential. (b)   A care plan must, at a minimum, include actionable steps and corresponding timelines to address immediate, intermediate, and long-term goals and barriers to achieving such goals to help participants achieve their personal goals. Personal goals may include goals related to barriers to self sufficiency. (2)   The Hope Florida partner network shall work to build a network of partnerships to sustain the effectiveness of Hope Florida. (3)(a)   State agencies shall participate in Hope Florida at the direction of the Executive Office of the Governor, including, but not limited to, the following agencies: 1.   The Department of Children and Families. 2.   The Agency for Persons with Disabilities. 3.   The Department of Juvenile Justice. 4.   The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office. 5.   The Department of Education. 6.   The Agency for Health Care Administration. 7.   The Division of Emergency Management. 8.   The Department of Veterans  Affairs. 9.   The Department of Commerce. 10.   The Department of Elderly Affairs. (b)   In order to use government resources more effectively and efficiently, participating state agencies shall use existing resources and personnel, to the extent possible, to operate Hope Florida. (c)   Other public-private partners may also participate in Hope Florida at the direction of the office, including CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the Florida Commission on Community Service. Section 7. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.