Rep. Dianne Hart-Lowman

Certified Peer Specialist Gateway Pilot Program; Creates pilot program within DOC; provides purpose of & requirements for pilot program; requires DOC to develop criteria for selecting qualified applicants; exempts persons who complete pilot program's requirements from specified background screening requirements for peer specialists; authorizes pilot program to offer funding to potential employers to cover specified costs; requires persons who have completed pilot program's requirements to provide prospective employers with incarceration records; requires such persons to receive signed informed consent form from any potential clients.

Children's Initiative Projects; Revises objectives for specified working groups within Florida Children's Initiatives; provides that initiatives are administratively housed in DCF; exempts initiatives from control, supervision, or direction by DCF or any state department; requires initiatives to be managed by not-for-profit corporations.

Rapid DNA Grant Program; Creates Rapid DNA Grant Program within FDLE for county jails or sheriffs' offices; requires department to annually award grant funds to county jails or sheriffs' offices; provides funding requirements; authorizes department to establish criteria & set specific time periods for acceptance of applications & selection process for awarding grant funds.

Visiting County and Municipal Detention Facilities; Authorizes specified persons to visit county & municipal detention facilities.

Abandoned and Historic Cemeteries; Creates Historic Cemeteries Program within Division of Historical Resources of DOS; creates Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council; authorizes certain entities to acquire conservation easements to preserve cemeteries; provides appropriations & authorizes positions. APPROPRIATION: $1,254,454

Benefits, Training, and Employment for Veterans and Their Spouses; Requires analysis of VETS Program; revises duties of DVA & Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., to include assistance to veterans' spouses; revises purpose & duties of VETS Program to include assistance to veterans' spouses; requires Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., to assist veterans or their spouses in accessing employment & licensure in health care professions; requires DOH to waive certain fees for veterans & their spouses; requires appropriate board or DOH to expedite health care licensure applications submitted by veterans; establishes Office of Veteran Licensure Services; provides appropriations & authorizes positions. APPROPRIATION: $399,565

High School Equivalency Diplomas; Prohibits district school board from requiring certain students to take course before taking high school equivalency examination unless student failed to earn passing score on specified practice test.

Menstrual Hygiene Products in Public Schools; Authorizing school districts to make menstrual hygiene products available, at no charge, in schools within the district and at certain locations within such schools; specifying requirements for the menstrual hygiene products and the dispensers of such products; requiring participating schools to notify students of the availability and locations of such products; encouraging school districts to partner with specified organizations to supply and maintain such menstrual hygiene products, etc.

Florida Museum of Black History; Creates Florida Museum of Black History Task Force within Division of Historical Resources of DOS; provides for appointment of task force members by Governor & Legislature; provides requirements for members of task force; requires task force to develop certain plans & recommendations; requires task force to submit report to Governor & Legislature before certain date; provides for expiration of task force; authorizes Legislature to consider commissioning, construction, operation, & administration of Florida Museum of Black History.

Compulsory School Attendance; Revises required age for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age; removes requirement that student's parent sign declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment; removes requirement that school district notify student's parent upon receipt of such declaration; & that adult education high school equivalency programs meet specified attendance requirements.