Senate Bill sb2754c1

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    Florida Senate - 2007                           CS for SB 2754

    By the Committee on Agriculture; and Senator Haridopolos





    575-2276-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to agritourism; creating ss.

  3         570.96-570.962, F.S., relating to agritourism;

  4         directing the Department of Agriculture and

  5         Consumer Services to assist specified entities

  6         in agritourism promotion and marketing

  7         initiatives; providing definitions; specifying

  8         the impact of agritourism participation on

  9         certain classifications and certifications;

10         specifying participation requirements;

11         providing an effective date.

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13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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15         Section 1.  Sections 570.96, 570.961, and 570.962,

16  Florida Statutes, are created to read:

17         570.96  Agritourism.--The Department of Agriculture and

18  Consumer Services may provide marketing advice, technical

19  expertise, promotional support, and product development

20  related to agritourism to assist the following in their

21  agritourism initiatives: the Florida Commission on Tourism,

22  convention and visitor bureaus, tourist development councils,

23  economic development organizations, and local governments. In

24  carrying out this responsibility, the department shall focus

25  its agritourism efforts on fostering agritourism in rural and

26  urban communities.

27         570.961  Definitions.--As used in ss. 570.96-570.962,

28  the term:

29         (1)  "Agritourism activity" means any activity carried

30  out on a farm or ranch or in a forest that allows members of

31  the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or

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    Florida Senate - 2007                           CS for SB 2754
    575-2276-07




 1  educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities,

 2  including farming, ranching, historical, cultural,

 3  harvest-your-own, or nature-based activities and attractions.

 4  An activity is an agritourism activity whether or not the

 5  participant paid to participate in the activity.

 6         (2)  "Agritourism professional" means any person who is

 7  engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism

 8  activities, whether or not for compensation.

 9         (3)  "Farm" means the land, buildings, support

10  facilities, machinery, and other appurtenances used in the

11  production of farm or aquaculture products, including land

12  used to display plants, animals, farm products, or farm

13  equipment to the public.

14         (4)  "Farm operation" has the same meaning as in s.

15  823.14.

16         570.962  Agritourism participation impact on land

17  classification and on Florida Farm Winery Program

18  certifications; participation requirements.--

19         (1)  In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture

20  throughout the state, farm operations are encouraged to engage

21  in agritourism. The conduct of agritourism activity on a bona

22  fide farm or on agricultural lands classified as such pursuant

23  to s. 193.461 shall not limit, restrict, or divest the land of

24  that classification.

25         (2)  Nothing in this section affects the certification

26  provisions associated with the Florida Farm Winery Program

27  created under s. 599.004.

28         (3)  No permit, license, approval, or authorization by

29  any governmental entity or jurisdiction is required to engage

30  in agritourism.

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    Florida Senate - 2007                           CS for SB 2754
    575-2276-07




 1         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

 2  law.

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 4          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 5                         Senate Bill 2754

 6                                 

 7  The Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2754 is different
    from Senate Bill 2754 in that it:
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    1.   Eliminates a negative fiscal impact on the General
 9       Revenue Fund;

10  2.   Removes a reference to the Florida Tourism Industry
         Marketing Corporation; and
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    3.   Qualifies that no permit, license, approval, or
12       authorization from a governmental entity or jurisdiction
         is required to engage in agritourism.
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