(1) As used in this section, the term:

1(a) “Core services funds” means all funds allocated to community-based care lead agencies operating under contract with the department pursuant to s. 409.987, with the following exceptions:

1. Funds appropriated for independent living;

2. Funds appropriated for maintenance adoption subsidies;

3. Funds allocated by the department for protective investigations training;

4. Nonrecurring funds;

5. Designated mental health wrap-around services funds;

6. Funds for special projects for a designated community-based care lead agency; and

7. Funds appropriated for the Guardianship Assistance Program under s. 39.6225.

(b) “Equity allocation model” means an allocation model that uses the following factors:

1. Proportion of the child population;

2. Proportion of child abuse hotline workload; and

3. Proportion of children in care.

(c) “Proportion of child population” means the proportion of children up to 18 years of age during the previous calendar year in the geographic area served by the community-based care lead agency.

(d) “Proportion of child abuse hotline workload” means the weighted average of the following subcomponents:

1. The average number of initial and additional child abuse reports received during the month for the most recent 12 months based on child protective investigations trend reports as determined by the department. This subcomponent shall be weighted as 20 percent of the factor.

2. The average count of children in investigations in the most recent 12 months based on child protective investigations trend reports as determined by the department. This subcomponent shall be weighted as 40 percent of the factor.

3. The average count of children in investigations with a most serious finding of verified abuse in the most recent 12 months based on child protective investigations trend reports as determined by the department. This subcomponent shall be weighted as 40 percent of the factor.

(e) “Proportion of children in care” means the proportion of the number of children in care receiving in-home services over the most recent 12-month period, the number of children whose families are receiving family support services over the most recent 12-month period, and the number of children who have entered into out-of-home care with a case management overlay during the most recent 24-month period. This subcomponent shall be weighted as follows:

1. Fifteen percent shall be based on children whose families are receiving family support services.

2. Fifty-five percent shall be based on children in out-of-home care.

3. Thirty percent shall be based on children in in-home care.

(2) The equity allocation of core services funds shall be calculated based on the following weights:

(a) Proportion of the child population shall be weighted as 5 percent of the total.

(b) Proportion of child abuse hotline workload shall be weighted as 35 percent of the total.

(c) Proportion of children in care shall be weighted as 60 percent of the total.

(3) Beginning in the 2015-2016 state fiscal year, 100 percent of the recurring core services funding for each community-based care lead agency shall be based on the prior year recurring base of core services funds.

(4) Unless otherwise specified in the General Appropriations Act, any new core services funds shall be allocated based on the equity allocation model as follows:

(a) Seventy percent of new funding shall be allocated among all community-based care lead agencies.

(b) Thirty percent of new funding shall be allocated among community-based care lead agencies that are funded below their equitable share. Funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be weighted based on each community-based care lead agency’s relative proportion of the total amount of funding below the equitable share.

History.—s. 1, ch. 2011-62; s. 2, ch. 2013-47; s. 35, ch. 2014-224; s. 1, ch. 2015-226; s. 25, ch. 2018-103; ss. 46, 115, ch. 2019-116; s. 16, ch. 2019-142.

1Note.—

A. Section 46, ch. 2019-116, amended paragraph (1)(a) “[i]n order to implement Specific Appropriations 326 and 327A of the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act.”

B. Section 115, ch. 2019-116, provides that “[i]f any other act passed during the 2019 Regular Session of the Legislature contains a provision that is substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.” Section 46, ch. 2019-116, added subparagraph (1)(a)3., which expires July 1, 2020. Section 16, ch. 2019-142, amended paragraph (1)(a) to add subparagraph 7., using language substantively the same as subparagraph (1)(a)3. by s. 46, ch. 2019-116, and did not include a repeal provision.

Note.—Former s. 409.16713.