The FFLA Board of Directors met in person in Orlando on June 20, 2024. The major actions of the board and reports received included:
Adoption of FY 24-25 Operating Budget
The Budget and Finance Committee recommended, and the board approved, a FY 24-25 operating budget in the total amount of $2,710,819, which represents a 10% increase from the previous year’s budget. The majority of the increase is a result of plans to add three new staff positions. The board adopted a proposed capital budget in the amount of $73,529 for expenses associated with FFLA’s office building, including replacing air conditioning units and required parking lot resurfacing.
It was also reported that projected actual expenses for FY 23-24 were expected to come in under budget by about $402,000. This is the sixth year in a row in which FFLA has come in under budget. Staff are available to answer questions or provide further documentation.
11 Children’s Legal Services Grants Approved
The Children’s Legal Services Program provides funding for legal assistance to needy children in critical areas that affect their safety, well-being and future development. This annual competitive grant program centers on, but is not limited to, legal assistance to foster care children, children seeking and in need of health benefits and children needing special educational assistance.
The board previously allocated $1,600,000 to fund Children’s Legal Services for FYE 6-30-2024. FFLA received 17 applications requesting a total of $2,315,158 (145% of available funding).
A work group reviewed and scored applications independently then met to review scores and other financial and staffing data provided by applicants. The work group presented funding recommendations to the Grants Committee for consideration, which thereafter made recommendations to the board. The board reviewed and approved funding the following projects:
| Applicant | Project | Amount requested | Amount approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard County Legal Aid | 2024 Brevard County Legal Aid Children’s Legal Advocacy Project | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Catholic Legal Services Archdiocese of Miami | 2024 Migrant Youth Empowerment Project | $146,580 | $146,580 |
| CABA Pro Bono Legal Services | CABA Immigrant Children’s Program | $315,000 | $315,000 |
| Crossroads for Florida Kids*† | 2024 Crossroads for Florida Kids Project | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Dade Legal Aid | 2024 Children’s Legal Collaborative | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Disability Rights Florida* | 2024 Equal Access to Education for Children with Disabilities | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Florida Legal Services† | 2024 Children’s Health Advocacy Project | $138,523 | $70,000 |
| Florida State University College of Law Public Interest Law Center† | 2024-25 FSU Vulnerable Children’s Project | $181,000 | $141,000 |
| Lawyers for Children America | Every Lawyer (and Every Law Student) Can Make a Difference in a Child’s Life | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association | 2024 Mental Health and Crossover Youth: Securing Services and Specialized Placements | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society | Protecting Abused and Neglected Children Legal Project-2023 | $75,000 | $50,000 |
| TOTAL | $1,222,580 |
*In light of the IOTA Work Group’s recent charge to review FFLA’s existing objective standards, funding for the projects proposed by Crossroads for Florida Kids and Disability Rights Florida are postponed until such time as the IOTA Work Group may consider both organizations’ qualifications as potential, new FFLA grantees.
†Three projects will be funded with other collections. The IOTA Rule was amended effective July 1, 2021. “IOTA Collections” are considered IOTA remittances received on or after that date. Funds received before that date or from other sources afterward are considered other collections. All other projects funded at least in part with IOTA collections are required to comply fully with the IOTA Rule’s requirements.
FFLA is appreciative of the efforts of Retired Judge Hugh Carithers, Judge Stefanie Moon, Ayana Barrow, Bob Pardo and Brian Currie in reviewing applications and assisting staff.
Law School Civil Legal Clinic grant awarded to one law school
The board approved an allocation of $1,000,000 from IOTA collections to fund Law School Civil Legal Clinics (LSCLC). LSCLC grants are typically awarded in June for clinics beginning the following fall and spring semesters. FFLA received five applications requesting a total of $551,750.
After review and scoring by a work group, the Grants Committee recommended and the board approved funding one project: Florida State University College of Law’s Eliminating Economic Barriers Immigrant and Farmworker Clinic for $125,000.
The committee recommended funding the Law School Civil Legal Clinic Grant Program using other collections (not IOTA collections), which the board approved. It also recommended suspending the Law School Civil Legal Clinic Grant Program until such time as it may be reviewed in light of the changed circumstances related to law school clinics since the program’s inception.
The board created a work group and appointed Laura Boeckman, Dax Bello, Robert Murphy, Douglas Reynolds and Patrick Montoya to it. The work group is charged with reviewing the program, which should include discussions with Florida law schools and others, and presenting its final report and recommendation in time for the December 2024 board meeting.
Improvements in the Administration of Justice grant awarded
At its March 2024 board meeting, the board approved Florida’s Children First and the
Innocence Project of Florida for AOJ funding, and authorized the Grants Committee review team to reach out to CABA Pro Bono Legal Services and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida to ask for further information about the AOJ projects for which they had applied for funding.
The review team requested each applicant to provide a timeline for project implementation, specific performance metrics, detailed budget worksheets, and minimum viable grant amounts for their projects. These materials were subsequently received and evaluated by the review team who reported back to the Grants Committee. The committee voted and recommended, and the board approved, funding CABA’s project in the amount of $125,000 and respectfully declined Coast to Coast’s AOJ application.
Investment Committee Report
The Investment Committee brought forth a recommendation to the board to engage in an RFP process for an investment manager. The board approved the recommendation. A work group will be appointed to proceed and report back in time for the Board’s December board meeting.
IOTA Work Group Report
Judge Suzanne Van Wyk, chair of the IOTA Work Group, reported on an informational meeting with the Florida Supreme Court. The Work Group will meet to review the IOTA Implementation Work Plan’s objective standards in light of feedback from the Florida Supreme Court and will endeavor to make any changes deemed necessary. The Work Group will also take up its annual review of the IOTA Work Plan, review assignments related to grantees, and begin work on an application process for potential new qualified grantee organizations.
Passing of the Gavel and Thanksgiving for Service
In President Murray Silverstein’s absence, Immediate Past President Suzanne Van Wyk passed the President’s gavel to President-elect Roberto R. Pardo. Mr. Pardo announced his committee assignments and dates for board meetings for FY 24-25, which were ratified by the board. Mr. Pardo’s term began July 1, 2024.
Immediate Past President Van Wyk also recognized those members of the board and the Foundation Endowment Trust who were terming off and thanked them for their service and commitment. Those members are:
- Jack Harkness, Esq.
- Justice James E.C. Perry
- Raymond Reid, Esq.
- Jeffrey T. Kuntz
- George W. Tinsley Sr.
- Juliette E. Lippman, Esq.
President-elect Pardo also welcomed and introduced the following new directors:
- Paetra T. Brownlee, who was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court as a designated director;
- Deborah C. Giles, who was appointed by FFLA as a public member;
- Joe Jacquot, Esq., who was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to a three-year term;
- Patrick S. Montoya, Esq., who was appointed by FFLA for a three-year term;
- Magie Ozarowski, Esq., who was appointed by The Florida Bar to a three-year-term;
- Douglas H. Reynolds, Esq., who was appointed by FFLA to a three-year term;
- Raychelle A. Tasher, Esq., who was appointed by FFLA to fill the remainder of Judge Carithers’ term upon his election as an officer; and
- Thomas D. Winokur, who was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court as a designated director.
Next Meeting
The board’s next scheduled meetings will be on September 19 – 20, 2024, in Miami, Fla.
