The Department of Children and Families may create a direct-support organization, but the organization must meet specified nonprofit, governance, contract, disclosure, audit, and funding-use requirements.
402.57 Direct-support organization.—The Department of Children and Families is authorized to create a direct-support organization, the sole purpose of which is to support the department in carrying out its purposes and responsibilities.(1) The direct-support organization must be:(a) A not-for-profit corporation incorporated under chapter 617 and approved by the Department of State as a not-for-profit corporation; (b) Organized and operated to conduct programs and activities; to raise funds; to request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of moneys; to acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, securities, funds, objects of value, or other property, real or personal; and to make expenditures to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the department and the individuals it serves; and (c) Determined by the department to be operating in a manner consistent with the goals and purposes of the department, the best interest of the state, and the needs of children and adults served by the department. (2) The direct-support organization shall operate under a written contract with the department. The contract must provide for all of the following:(a) Department approval of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the direct-support organization. (b) Submission of an annual budget for department approval. (c) Certification by the department that the direct-support organization is complying with the terms of the contract and operating in a manner consistent with the goals and purposes of the department and in the best interest of the state. Such certification must be made annually and reported in the official minutes of a meeting of the direct-support organization. (d) The reversion to the state of moneys and property held in trust by the direct-support organization for the benefit of those served by the department if the department ceases to exist or the reversion to the department if the direct-support organization is no longer approved to operate for the department, a county commission, or a circuit board or ceases to exist. (e) The fiscal year of the direct-support organization, which must begin July 1 of each year and end June 30 of the following year. (f) The disclosure of material provisions of the contract, and the distinction between the department and the direct-support organization, to donors of gifts, contributions, or bequests, including such disclosure on all promotional and fundraising publications. (3) The Secretary of Children and Families shall appoint the board of directors of the direct-support organization. The board members shall be appointed according to the organization’s bylaws. (4) The department may allow, without charge, appropriate use of fixed property, facilities, and personnel services of the department by the direct-support organization, subject to the requirements of this section. As used in this section, the term “personnel services” includes full-time or part-time personnel, as well as payroll processing services.(a) The department may not allow a direct-support organization to use any fixed property, facilities, or personnel services of the department if the direct-support organization does not provide equal membership and employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin. (b) The department may prescribe any conditions with which a direct-support organization must comply to use fixed property, facilities, or personnel services of the department and shall adopt rules prescribing those conditions and the procedures by which the direct-support organization is governed. (5) The direct-support organization may collect, expend, and provide funds for:(a) Addressing gaps in services for the children and adults served by the department. (b) Development, implementation, and operation of targeted prevention efforts. (c) Services and activities that support the goals of the department. (d) Functions of the direct-support organization’s board of directors, as necessary and approved by the department. The funds of the direct-support organization may not be used for the purpose of lobbying as defined in s. 11.045. (6) Any moneys may be held in a separate depository account in the name of the direct-support organization and subject to the provisions of the contract with the department. (7) The direct-support organization shall provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981. (8) This section is repealed October 1, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.