Jax children’s program reform bill deferred in committee

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry unveiled his proposal for the Kids Hope Alliance, a board that he wants to replace the Jax Journey and Jacksonville Children’s Commission, as August began.

At the high-profile presser unveiling the concept, this reporter asked the 14 City Councilors on hand if they would co-sponsor the measure.

14 hands went up.

Since then, the vetting of the concept by the legislative branch has seen that early conceptual support erode, with the City Council Finance Committee vowing not to “rubberstamp” the proposal, followed by a piece in the Florida Times-Union that contended that discussions of the program contravened Sunshine Laws, leaving many parties out of the loop.

Going into Tuesday morning, the first of three committees was expected to review the plan … with indications being that the proposal was on the rocks. Whispers abounded about “substitute” legislation … and the chance that one of Curry’s key reform proposals would take a hit.

Any drama along those lines will be at least delayed for two weeks, as the legislation was deferred in the Tuesday committee at the request of the Curry Administration.

There may, as well, be significant changes in the future legislation — including a potential substitute bill.

As was the case with the previous iteration of the bill, presentations from the Curry Administration will have to be made to the entire 19 person City Council, along with meetings including more stakeholders.

It is unclear how long the deferral will be, or whether the new version of the bill will be taken up before the city’s budget bill is later this month.