Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1150
       
       
        
       By Senator Steube
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01599A-18                                          20181150__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school readiness program funding;
    3         amending s. 1002.89, F.S.; requiring the Office of
    4         Early Learning to develop a formula for the allocation
    5         of funding for the school readiness program which
    6         meets certain requirements; requiring the office to
    7         submit the formula to the Legislature by a specified
    8         date; requiring the formula to be implemented by a
    9         specified date; requiring the office to review and
   10         update the formula within a specified timeframe;
   11         authorizing the office to adjust certain allocations
   12         for specified purposes; providing an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 1002.89, Florida
   17  Statutes, is amended to read:
   18         1002.89 School readiness program; funding.—
   19         (1) Funding for the school readiness program shall be
   20  allocated among the early learning coalitions in accordance with
   21  a formula developed by the Office of Early Learning.
   22         (a) The office shall develop a formula that meets all of
   23  the following requirements:
   24         1. Is equity-based.
   25         2. Considers all of the following:
   26         a. The current and future growth of each county;
   27         b. The overall demographics of children who are 5 years of
   28  age or younger and those who are school-aged in each respective
   29  county, with greater weight given to the 5 years of age or
   30  younger category;
   31         c. The percentage of mandated referrals;
   32         d. The number of eligible children 5 years of age or
   33  younger whose households are at or below 150 percent of the
   34  federal poverty level;
   35         e. The current average market rate being paid by each
   36  county or early learning coalition; and
   37         f. Other pertinent information as necessary to establish
   38  statewide equity.
   39         3. Is designed to maximize the enrollment of children 5
   40  years of age or younger statewide.
   41         (b) By January 31, 2019, the office must submit the funding
   42  formula to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
   43  House of Representatives for review. The formula must be
   44  implemented by July 1, 2020, and must be reviewed and updated as
   45  necessary, but at least every 2 years, to ensure ongoing equity.
   46  The office may adjust coalition allocations during each fiscal
   47  year, as needed, to maximize the enrollment of children 5 years
   48  of age or younger and to address funding fluctuations this
   49  section and the General Appropriations Act.
   50         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.