FL H7019

Renames "Workforce Florida, Inc." to "CareerSource Florida, Inc." across 70+ Florida Statutes sections, maintaining its status as a not-for-profit corporation serving as the state's principal workforce policy organization, administratively housed within the Department of Economic Opportunity but exempt from chapters 120 (Administrative Procedure Act) and 287 (procurement) while remaining subject to public records and Sunshine Law requirements.

Establishes board governance requirements including a private-sector business majority, Governor-designated chair, two-term limits, three-year staggered terms, quarterly meetings, automatic removal for missing three consecutive meetings, and a prohibition on workforce service providers serving as business representatives; the board president serves at the Governor's pleasure as executive director.

Requires at least 90% of workforce development funding go to direct customer service costs, with at least 50% of Title I funds for Adults and Dislocated Workers allocated to Individual Training Accounts, 15% of Title I funding retained at the state level (administrative costs capped at 25% of those funds), and $2 million reserved for the Incumbent Worker Training Program.

Implements a three-tier performance measurement system: systemwide outcomes (employment, retention at 3/6/12/24 months, public assistance reduction, employer satisfaction, ROI), benchmark outcomes (cost per entered employment, earnings, retention), and operational output measures tied to federal requirements, with an annual benchmarking report to the Legislature due December 1.

Governs regional workforce boards with requirements for annual performance reviews, prohibition on using public funds for meals or entertainment, two-thirds board vote plus CareerSource Florida approval for contracts involving board members or relatives, and authority to serve as one-stop operators for up to three years with gubernatorial and local approval.

Creates a 20-member Task Force on federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) implementation, chaired by the CareerSource Florida president, convening by June 1, 2015, to develop recommendations on service delivery, regional planning, one-stop design, sector strategies, and career pathways; report due December 1, 2015, with the task force abolished by June 30, 2016.

Establishes the Passport to Economic Progress Program providing performance-based economic incentive bonuses (not entitlements) to individuals earning below 200% of the federal poverty level who are former TANF recipients employed full time (at least 32 hours/week), with bonuses tied to achieving specific self-sufficiency benchmarks.

Strengthens workforce-education alignment by requiring CareerSource Florida's involvement in career education curriculum review, industry certification standards based on high-skill/high-wage/high-demand criteria, juvenile justice career education planning, and performance-based workforce education funding formulas that prioritize high-wage occupations and programs serving economically disadvantaged populations.

Supports targeted workforce populations through programs for military spouses and dependents via one-stop career center advocates, rural workforce services ensuring equal access to training, displaced homemaker services (counseling, training, financial management, education), and a Veterans Employment and Training grant program capped at $8,000 per veteran with a 50% business match and maximum 48-month term.

Directs coordination of the Space Industry Workforce Initiative with Space Florida and educational institutions to identify priority aerospace training needs, and requires the Quick-Response Training Program to set aside 30% of funds for the first six months of each fiscal year for businesses in enterprise zones or brownfield areas, with grant terms not exceeding 24 months.