TAMPA - As highlighted in a CBS "60 Minutes" episode last Sunday and in other recent news reports, the epidemic of homeless schoolchildren and families is a tragedy that deserves widespread public attention and urgent action from Florida policymakers.

State Representative Betty Reed (D-Tampa) and Senator Ronda Storms (R-Valrico) have filed legislation for the 2012 Florida legislative session that seeks to raise awareness and funding to help combat homelessness.

House Bill 531 and Senate Bill 1130 would allow Floridians when registering vehicles and renewing driver licenses to each donate a dollar for programs to help the homeless. If implemented, the legislation is estimated to raise roughly $1.5 million a year for assistance to the homeless.

The legislation is similar to a bill approved on a bipartisan vote earlier this year by the full Florida House of Representatives but failed to win final approval in the Florida Senate. Under the measures sponsored by Representative Reed and Senator Storms, contributions made through Department of Motor Vehicles forms would be placed in a state trust fund that would assist Florida's Office on Homelessness, which provides grants to local agencies serving the homeless and conducts public-awareness campaigns about the plight of the homeless in our state.

Florida's foreclosure crisis, along with high unemployment and austere budgets, have resulted in numerous homeless families in Florida, some of whom are forced to live out of their cars or in even more desperate conditions. The following link to a "60 Minutes" episode sheds light on the heartbreaking challenges facing some of these families.

"Children deserve hope and our help," said Representative Reed. "I believe that Floridians want to help the homeless, and our legislation to allow residents to make it easier to contribute to the cause of homelessness will bring needed hope to struggling Florida families."

Representative Reed also said: "I am sincerely grateful for Senator Storms' willingness to sponsor this important bill, and I look forward to bipartisan support in the Legislature."

SO YOU KNOW:

• CBS NEWS -- 60 Minutes -- Hard Times Generation, Families Living in Cars