FL H7065

Transitions Florida's workforce development framework from the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), systematically renaming "regional workforce development boards" to "local workforce development boards" throughout all affected statutes, effective July 1, 2016.

Restructures the CareerSource Florida Board to align with WIOA membership requirements, mandating a private-sector majority with at least half from small businesses, restarting staggered 3-year terms on July 1, 2016, capping chair service at 2 terms, requiring a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Education, and replacing the prior three-tier performance system with WIOA-aligned primary and additional performance indicators across core programs.

Revises the state workforce plan from a 5-year to a 4-year cycle submitted to U.S. DOL per WIOA requirements, while eliminating previously mandated components such as teen pregnancy prevention, responsible fatherhood, and domestic violence service provisions, and instead requiring strategies addressing small business needs, rural/distressed urban participation, and resource allocation criteria for local boards.

Requires at least 50% of Title I Adult/Dislocated Worker funds passed to local boards be directed to Individual Training Accounts, retains 15% of Title I funding at the state level (with administrative costs capped at 25%), reserves $2 million for the Incumbent Worker Training Program, and mandates at least 90% of total workforce development funding go to direct customer service.

Requires local boards to establish memoranda of understanding with one-stop partners detailing infrastructure cost contributions, with unresolved cost disputes defaulting to the Governor's policy by July 1, 2017, and directs CareerSource Florida to establish regional planning areas by March 1, 2018 with corresponding regional workforce development plans.

Expands National Guard employment protections to cover members ordered into active duty under the laws of any state (not just Florida), broadens eligibility for military leave of absence to the National Guard of any state, and extends protections against employer penalization across private, public, and educational employers.

Maintains the Community Contribution Tax Credit at 50% of approved contributions (maximum $200,000 per person annually), with total caps of $18.4 million in FY 2015-2016 and $21.4 million in FY 2016-2017 for housing projects serving low-income and special needs populations, expiring June 30, 2018.

Strengthens career and professional academies by requiring alignment with local workforce development board priority workforce needs, mandating school districts offer at least two career-themed courses, and ensuring completers receive a standard high school diploma, the highest available industry certification, and postsecondary credit opportunities; extends career academy planning requirements to middle schools.

Preserves welfare transition program provisions including a 48-month lifetime cumulative limit on temporary cash assistance with hardship reviews every 2 years, exempts welfare transition participants from tuition and fees at public postsecondary institutions (with costs paid by the local workforce development board), and authorizes school bus transportation agreements for program participants.

Grants the Governor authority to remove local board members and executive directors for cause (including fraud, neglect, incompetence, and nonfeasance), prohibits boards from spending state or federal funds on entertainment or recreational activities, and requires contracts with board-represented organizations to pass by a two-thirds vote with conflicted members abstaining.