Children's Initiative Bill

Florida Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) today announced she has filed Senate Bill 720, relating to children’s programs in economically challenged areas. SB720 will amend Florida statute to create the Tampa Sulphur Springs Neighborhood of Promise (SSNOP) Success Zone in Hillsborough County and the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition in Miami-Dade County as part of the statewide Florida’s Children’s Initiatives, which was established in 2008.
“I am proud to sponsor legislation that will designate two new areas as Florida Children’s Initiatives – in Tampa and Miami – to focus on sustainable solutions relating to safety, health and education for our children,” said Senator Young. “The expansion of these community improvement areas to include SSNOP in Tampa and Overtown in Miami will immensely benefit those children that are socioeconomically disadvantaged in these areas.”
In detail, this legislation will add SSNOP and the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition to the current program initiatives to address the academic needs of lower economic community by providing after-school and summer programs and scholarships for early learning, transitioning youth from high school to post-secondary education, and structuring student-family support systems.
“This initiative has shown positive impacts statewide where community improvement areas have already been established, such as declining juvenile arrests and decreases in crime, coupled with increases in GPA and test scores, among others,” said Senator Young. “I look forward to working with my fellow lawmakers this upcoming Legislative Session to ensure this important bill is passed.”
To read the bills Senator Young has filed in full, please visit FLSenate.gov/Senators/S18.