1. (1) There is created within the Executive Office of the Governor the WAGES Program State Board of Directors, which shall oversee the operation of the WAGES Program and shall advise and assist state agencies in implementing the WAGES Program. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, any member of the WAGES Program State Board of Directors or its employees or agents for any action taken by the board in the performance of its powers and duties under this chapter.

2. (2) (a) The board of directors shall be composed of the following members:

   1. The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee.

   2. The Secretary of Children and Family Services.

   3. The Secretary of Health.

   4. The Secretary of Labor and Employment Security.

   5. The Secretary of Community Affairs.

   6. The Secretary of Transportation, or the secretary's designee.

   7. The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

   8. The chairperson of the Florida Partnership for School Readiness.

   9. The president of the Enterprise Florida workforce development board, established under s. 288.9952.

   10. The chief executive officer of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, established under s. 288.1226.

   11. Nine members appointed by the Governor, as follows:

   a. Six members shall be appointed from a list of ten nominees, of which five must be submitted by the President of the Senate and five must be submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The list of five nominees submitted by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must each contain at least three individuals employed in the private sector, two of whom must have management experience. One of the five nominees submitted by the President of the Senate and one of the five nominees submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives must be an elected local government official who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member.

   b. Three members shall be at-large members appointed by the Governor.

   c. Of the nine members appointed by the Governor, at least six must be employed in the private sector and of these, at least five must have management experience. The members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to 4-year, staggered terms. Within 60 days after a vacancy occurs on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy of a member appointed from the nominees submitted by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the remainder of the unexpired term from one nominee submitted by the President of the Senate and one nominee submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Within 60 days after a vacancy of a member appointed at-large by the Governor occurs on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. The composition of the board must generally reflect the racial, gender, and ethnic diversity of the state as a whole.

3. (b) The board of directors shall annually elect a chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor. The board of directors shall meet at least once each quarter. A member appointed by the Governor may not authorize a designee to attend a meeting of the board in place of the member. The Governor may remove an appointed member for cause, and an absence from three consecutive meetings results in automatic removal, unless the member is excused by the chairperson.
4. (c) Members of the board shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
5. (3) The WAGES Program State Board of Directors shall appoint a program director to serve in the capacity of an executive director of the board. The program director shall supervise the administration of the WAGES Program and coordinate the activities of the state agencies charged by law to implement the WAGES Program.
6. (4) The WAGES Program State Board of Directors must approve the WAGES State Plan, the operating budget and any amendments thereto, and any WAGES-related proposed administrative rules. In addition, state agencies charged by law with implementation of the WAGES Program and the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall collaborate with the staff of the WAGES Program State Board of Directors on all WAGES-related policies, requests for proposals, and related directives.
7. (5) This section expires June 30, 2002, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date. In its review, the Legislature shall assess the status of the WAGES Program and shall determine if the responsibility for administering the program should be transferred to other state agencies.

History.--s. 5, ch. 96-175; s. 207, ch. 97-101; s. 2, ch. 97-173; s. 67, ch. 97-237; ss. 1, 13, ch. 98-57; s. 61, ch. 99-251; s. 4, ch. 99-357.