Sec. 111.390. - Driver Education Safety Trust Fund.

(a) There is hereby created a trust fund to be known as the Driver Education Safety Trust Fund (Fund) established pursuant to the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act (F.S. § 318.1215). The Clerk of the Circuit Court, in and for Duval County, shall levy an additional $5 with each civil traffic penalty issued in Duval County and deposit all monies collected into the Fund. The Clerk of the Circuit Court will keep a record of monies collected under this Ordinance. On a monthly basis, the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall forward all monies collected under this Ordinance in the previous month to the City for deposit into a special and separate account titled "Driver Education Safety Trust Fund". (b) Monies deposited into the Driver Education Safety Trust Fund shall be used to financially assist driver education safety programs in public and nonpublic schools in Duval County. Pursuant to F.S. § 318.1215, the funds shall be used for enhancement, and not replacement, of driver education program funds. The funds shall be used for direct educational expenses and shall not be used for administration costs. For purposes hereof, the term "direct educational expenses" shall include, but is not limited to, the following types of expenses: motor vehicle, gas, motor vehicle maintenance, instructor salaries and license fees, driving simulators, required driving equipment, videos, compact discs and audio tapes, books and written materials, classroom supplies, motor vehicle insurance, motor vehicle licenses and tags, additional equipment required by the State, and any additional equipment required to accommodate the special needs population for driver education. (c) Grant applicants, including public and nonpublic schools, shall apply for funding from the trust fund by submitting an application to the Grants and Contract Compliance Division of the Finance Department annually by March 1, which may be extended at the discretion of the grant program administrator, using the form provided by the Grants and Contract Compliance Division. A grant program administrator shall be designated by the Chief of the Grants and Contract Compliance Division. In order to receive funds from the Driver Education Safety Trust Fund, eligible grant applicants shall agree to comply with the applicable grant program procedures defined in Parts 1 through 5 of Chapter 118 , Ordinance Code, and shall certify that behind-the-wheel training will comprise at least 30 percent of a student's time in the program. (d) The funds shall be disbursed to the grantees on a quarterly basis. The Finance Department shall not disburse funds that have not been budgeted, nor shall disbursement exceed available cash in the Driver Education Safety Trust Fund. Monies that have not been disbursed at the end of each fiscal year shall be retained for in the trust fund for disbursement in the following fiscal year. (e) Upon receipt of the grant application and evaluation of the above listed information, the Grants and Contract Compliance Division shall allocate a proportionate share of the Driver Education Safety Trust Fund revenues to public and nonpublic school grant applicants based on the calculation of the total number of students enrolled in grades 9—12 on the twentieth school day of the immediately preceding school year. (f) All public and nonpublic schools with students in grades 9—12 that offer driver education instruction programs are eligible to apply for a grant under this Section. (g) In order to maintain eligibility for grant funding, grant applicants must employ teachers that have received all relevant State certifications and that have passed applicable criminal background checks. The Grants and Contract Compliance Division is hereby authorized to enter into contracts in the form approved by the Office of General Counsel with qualified applicants pursuant to the process described above. (Ord. 2002-1165-E, § 2; Ord. 2006-422-E, § 102; Ord. 2011-732-E; Ord. 2016-140-E , § 16; Ord. 2025-600-E , § 1) Editor's note— Ordinance 2007-839-E, § 18, authorized updated department/division names pursuant to reorganization. Note— Former § 110.398.2.