Section 61C-8.004 - Program Requirements(1) School-to-Career Transition Program Grant Application Requirements. Pursuant to Section 509.302, F.S., the division may award four-year school-to-career transition program grants to nonprofit statewide organizations representing the hospitality industry of this state. (a) The application cycle will begin on January 1 and end on March 1. Applications and all supplemental materials must be received by the division by the close of business on March 1 to be considered in the grant recipient selection process.(b) Grant applications shall be submitted on DBPR Form HR 5025-200, GRANT APPLICATION, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00659) incorporated herein by reference and effective 2009 October 1, 2016, to the Hospitality Education Program, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1011.(c) All grant applications must address the applicant's experience and history in representing the hospitality industry; demonstrated ability to provide services statewide with industry support and participation; and prior commitment to school-to-career transition programs in the hospitality industry. All applications must also address and identify how the recipient intends to demonstrate compliance with the following criteria: 1. Provide hospitality education opportunities for high school (or equivalent) students in the public school system;2. Provide school-to-career transition opportunities to prepare students to be recruited, trained or employed for a career in the hospitality industry;3. Provide education about progressive career options describing opportunities for professional advancement in the hospitality industry;4. Provide opportunity for students to receive certification in an area of the hospitality industry. Certification means documentation that the student has successfully completed requirements in a specific area of the hospitality industry and in accordance with the goals established by the program awarded grant funds. All certifications must be completed through programs established and recognized in the State of Florida, hospitality-industry-sponsored programs, or national certification programs, such as Certified Professional Food Manager, food service employee food handler certification, or apartment manager certification;5. Provide a description of the objectives of the grant and the methodology to assess the achievement of certification objectives;6. Provide an emphasis on spending grant funds on direct student services;7. Provide or possess the capability to provide value beyond the grant term;8. Identify potential methods and sources for acquiring independent funding beyond the grant term to finance the continued operation of the program, provided the program is designed to be continued; and9. Provide the program services for the full four-year grant term.(d) All grant recipients must have a functional advisory committee to assist in the development and operation of the grant-funded program. The advisory committee must include three or more hospitality industry professionals related to the sector of industry addressed by the training program, of which at least one shall not be employed by the grant recipient or any of its affiliates. The committee members must have agreed in writing to serve in this capacity.(f) All materials developed through the grant recipient's program become the property of the Hospitality Education Program.(2) Review and Processing of Grant Applications.(a) The division shall receive, process, determine application completeness, and evaluate the grant applications.(c) The division shall provide the Hotels and Restaurants Advisory Council (advisory council) a copy of each grant application received and a list of prioritized programs with recommended funding levels by March 31 of each application cycle.(d) The advisory council will meet to evaluate the applications and forward its recommendations to the division director. Any member of the advisory council who is also an applicant or an employee or paid representative of an applicant shall abstain from the advisory council's evaluation, recommendation, and vote regarding grant applications. The final determination of grant awards shall be made by the secretary of the department. Grant recipients shall be notified by May 1.(3) Program Review and Disbursement of Funds.(a) The applicant shall ensure that the terms of the grant contract executed under this chapter are enforced.(b) The division reserves the right to review programs for grant contract compliance at any time during the grant period. This review shall focus on the completion of stated tasks within the approved timetable, fulfillment of stated goals and objectives, and proper expenditure of grant monies.(c) Each recipient of grant funds shall maintain accurate records of all expenditures of grant funds and shall make these records available for inspection, review or audit by the division and other authorized personnel. Records shall be kept for a period of at least 5 years following the end of the grant period. All grant funds will be subject to state audit requirements.(d) Grant funds shall be distributed quarterly, consistent with the terms of the grant proposal and contract. An amendment to the grant shall be approved, so long as such amendment does not change the scope of the grant or create a substantial deviation from the original proposal.(e) All aspects of the grant-funded program shall comply with Chapter 509, Part I, F.S., and the rules adopted thereunder.(f) Written status reports shall be submitted as indicated on the grant application, but not more than 60 days following the end of each quarter, using DBPR Form HR 5025-202, QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT FORM, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00662) incorporated herein by reference and effective 2009 October 1. Quarterly requests for payment shall be submitted with the status reports. Such requests shall contain an invoice requesting payment and a detailed accounting of quarterly expenditures. Payment requests for expenditures accrued during the first quarter of the grant period shall include only those expenditures accrued on or after July 1 or the date of grant contract execution, whichever is later. All other payment requests shall contain only those expenditures accrued during the previous quarter.(4) Annual Program Reports. An annual report shall be submitted within 60 days following the end of each state fiscal year and the grant period using DBPR Form HR 5025-203, ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT FORM, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00663) incorporated herein by reference and effective October 1, 2009.(5) Obtaining forms. All forms incorporated in this section are available from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants Internet website www2.MyFloridaLicense.com/hotels-restaurants; by email request submitted to www2.MyFloridaLicense.com/DBPR/contact-us; by phone request to the department at (850)487-1395; or upon written request to the Hospitality Education Program, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1011.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 61C-8.004
Rulemaking Authority 509.032, 509.302 FS. Law Implemented 509.302 FS.
New 2-27-92, Amended 8-11-92, Formerly 7C-8.004, Amended 3-31-94, 9-25-96, 1-18-98, 5-7-08, 12-29-11, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 071, April 12, 2016 effective 4/25/2016.New 2-27-92, Amended 8-11-92, Formerly 7C-8.004, Amended 3-31-94, 9-25-96, 1-18-98, 5-7-08, 12-29-11, 4-25-16.