1999 Florida Code
TITLE XIV TAXATION AND FINANCE
Chapter 216 Planning and Budgeting  
216.052   Legislative budget requests; appropriations; grants.

216.052  Legislative budget requests; appropriations; grants.--

(1)  The budget request from each agency and from the judicial branch shall be reviewed by the Legislature. The review may allow for the opportunity to have information or testimony by the agency, the judicial branch, the Auditor General's Office, the Governor's Office of Planning and Budgeting, and the public regarding the proper level of funding for the agency in order to carry out its mission.

(2)  In order to ensure an integrated state planning and budgeting process, the strategic plan should be reviewed by the Legislature.

(3)  Each local government, private organization, or nonprofit organization requesting a state appropriation for a program, service, or capital outlay initiative that has not been formally recommended under procedures established by law or that has been formally recommended under such procedures but has not been recommended by an agency or by the judicial branch, or that promotes only a local or regional interest, may be allowed the opportunity to provide information or testimony to the appropriate subcommittee of each appropriations committee. Each such request must include a fiscal note that shows the estimated cost of operations and capital outlay for the project. The fiscal note shall indicate the percentage of the projected costs of operations and capital outlay that is to be provided through state funds.

(4)  Each appropriation to a local government, a private organization, or a nonprofit organization made pursuant to a request for a program, service, or capital outlay initiative that promotes a solely local or regional interest shall require that the community's support be tangibly demonstrated by evidence that the program or service expects to operate in a financially sound manner. Any other appropriation to a local government, a private organization, or a nonprofit organization made pursuant to a request as provided in subsection (3) should generally require local matching funds. The match must be based on the size and scope of the project and the applicant's ability to provide the match. In addition, the granting of state funds shall be used to encourage the establishment of community-based partnerships between the public sector and the private sector.

(5)  The retention of interest earned on state funds or the amount of interest income earned shall be applied against the state entity's obligation to pay the contracted amount.

(6)  Whenever possible, a loan must be made in lieu of a grant to a local government, a private organization, or a nonprofit organization. It is the intent of the Legislature that a revolving loan program shall be established so that the loan amount plus interest is paid back by the recipient to the state.

(7)  Any private or nonprofit organization requesting funding shall provide information regarding its organization, including a copy of its current budget and a list of its board of directors.

(8)  In addition to any other provision of law granting access to records and accounts, the Auditor General may, pursuant to his or her own authority hereby granted in this subsection or at the direction of the Legislative Auditing Committee, conduct audits of any direct-support organization or citizen support organization authorized by law. Independent audits of direct-support organizations and citizen support organizations conducted by certified public accountants shall be performed in accordance with rules promulgated by the Auditor General.

History.--s. 44, ch. 92-142; s. 1158, ch. 95-147.