FL H0643

Revises the reward amount for reporting public assistance fraud violations to a maximum of 10 percent of recovered funds or $500,000, whichever is less per case, paid from the state-retained share of recovered overpayments in the Federal Grants Trust Fund

Authorizes the Department of Children and Families to establish a financial statement reserve containing the state-retained share of collections minus operational costs for benefit recovery and fraud detection activities

Requires the department to submit annual reports to the Legislature by October 1 detailing reserve fund amounts, fraud rewards paid and projected, specific projects to be funded, and return on investment outcomes

Permits the department to use reserve funds to pay fraud rewards and fund fraud detection and prevention initiatives upon authorization in the General Appropriations Act

Amends the definition of "criminal justice agency" to include the Department of Children and Families' protective and fraud investigations components that investigate public assistance fraud and takes effect July 1, 2018