445.007 Regional workforce boards.
445.007 Regional workforce boards.
(1) One regional workforce board shall be appointed in each designated service delivery area and shall serve as the local workforce investment board pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220. The membership of the board shall be consistent with Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 117(b), and contain one representative from a nonpublic postsecondary educational institution that is an authorized individual training account provider within the region and confers certificates and diplomas, one representative from a nonpublic postsecondary educational institution that is an authorized individual training account provider within the region and confers degrees, and three representatives of organized labor. The board shall include one nonvoting representative from a military installation if a military installation is located within the region and the appropriate military command or organization authorizes such representation. It is the intent of the Legislature that membership of a regional workforce board include persons who are current or former recipients of welfare transition assistance as defined in s. 445.002(3) or workforce services as provided in s. 445.009(1) or that such persons be included as ex officio members of the board or of committees organized by the board. The importance of minority and gender representation shall be considered when making appointments to the board. The board, its committees, subcommittees, and subdivisions, and other units of the workforce system, including units that may consist in whole or in part of local governmental units, may use any method of telecommunications to conduct meetings, including establishing a quorum through telecommunications, provided that the public is given proper notice of the telecommunications meeting and reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate, participate. Regional workforce boards are subject to chapters 119 and 286 and s. 24, Art. I of the State Constitution. If the regional workforce board enters into a contract with an organization or individual represented on the board of directors, the contract must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire board, and the board member who could benefit financially from the transaction must abstain from voting on the contract. A board member must disclose any such conflict in a manner that is consistent with the procedures outlined in s. 112.3143.
(2) The regional workforce board shall elect a chair from among the representatives described in Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 117(b)(2)(A)(i) to serve for a term of no more than 2 years and shall serve no more than two terms.
(3) Workforce Florida, Inc., shall assign staff to meet with each regional workforce board annually to review the board’s performance and to certify that the board is in compliance with applicable state and federal law.
(4) In addition to the duties and functions specified by Workforce Florida, Inc., and by the interlocal agreement approved by the local county or city governing bodies, the regional workforce board shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) Develop, submit, ratify, or amend the local plan pursuant to Pub. L. No. 105-220, Title I, s. 118, and the provisions of this act.
(b) Conclude agreements necessary to designate the fiscal agent and administrative entity. A public or private entity, including an entity established pursuant to s. 163.01, which makes a majority of the appointments to a regional workforce board may serve as the board’s administrative entity if approved by Workforce Florida, Inc., based upon a showing that a fair and competitive process was used to select the administrative entity.
(c) Complete assurances required for the charter process of Workforce Florida, Inc., and provide ongoing oversight related to administrative costs, duplicated services, career counseling, economic development, equal access, compliance and accountability, and performance outcomes.
(d) Oversee the one-stop delivery system in its local area.
(5) Workforce Florida, Inc., shall implement a training program for the regional workforce boards to familiarize board members with the state’s workforce development goals and strategies.
(6) The regional workforce board shall designate all local service providers and may not transfer this authority to a third party. The regional workforce board may be designated as a one-stop operator and direct provider of intake, assessment, eligibility determinations, or other direct provider services except training services. Such designation may occur only with the agreement of the chief elected official and the Governor as specified in 29 U.S.C. s. 2832(f)(2). Workforce Florida, Inc., shall establish procedures by which a regional workforce board may request permission to operate under this section and the criteria under which such permission may be granted. The criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, a reduction in the cost of providing the permitted services. Such permission shall be granted for a period not to exceed 3 years for any single request submitted by the regional workforce board.
(7) Regional workforce boards shall adopt a committee structure consistent with applicable federal law and state policies established by Workforce Florida, Inc.
(8) The importance of minority and gender representation shall be considered when appointments are made to any committee established by the regional workforce board.
(9) For purposes of procurement, regional workforce boards and their administrative entities are not state agencies and are exempt from chapters 120 and 287. The regional workforce boards shall apply the procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law for the expenditure of federal funds. Regional workforce boards, their administrative entities, committees, and subcommittees, and other workforce units may authorize expenditures to award suitable framed certificates, pins, or other tokens of recognition for performance by units of the workforce system. Regional workforce boards; their administrative entities, committees, and subcommittees; and other workforce units may authorize expenditures for promotional items, such as t-shirts, hats, or pens printed with messages promoting Florida’s workforce system to employers, job seekers, and program participants. However, such expenditures are subject to federal regulations applicable to the expenditure of federal funds. All contracts executed by regional workforce boards must include specific performance expectations and deliverables.
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(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 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 2 C.F.R. part 230. This subsection expires July 1, 2011.
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(11) 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 30 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.
History. s. 2, ch. 96-404; s. 1072, ch. 97-103; s. 54, ch. 99-251; s. 7, ch. 2000-165; s. 3, ch. 2001-160; s. 5, ch. 2001-175; s. 8, ch. 2004-230; s. 5, ch. 2005-255; s. 3, ch. 2006-287; s. 1, ch. 2008-161; s. 49, ch. 2010-153.
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Note. Section 49, ch. 2010-153, added subsections (10) and (11) “[i]n order to implement Specific Appropriation 2214, and associated proviso, of the 2010-2011 General Appropriations Act.”
Note. Former s. 446.602; s. 288.9953.