The Florida Senate

282.404  Geographic information board; definition; membership; creation; duties; advisory council; membership; duties.--

(1)  As used in this section, the term "geographic information" means information or data for which location or spatial distribution is an essential element, including, but not limited to, information pertaining to:

(a)  Land, air, water, and mineral resources;

(b)  The distribution of plant, animal, and human populations;

(c)  Real property interests;

(d)  The elements of the growth management comprehensive planning process under ss. 163.3177 and 163.3178;

(e)  Political, jurisdictional, ownership, and other artificial divisions of geography; and

(f)  Measured features listed in paragraphs (a)-(d) herein and geographic features produced pursuant to chapter 472.

(2)(a)  The Florida Geographic Information Board is created in the Executive Office of the Governor. The purpose of the board is to facilitate the identification, coordination, collection, and sharing of geographic information among federal, state, regional, and local agencies, and the private sector. The board shall develop solutions, policies, and standards to increase the value and usefulness of geographic information concerning Florida. In formulating and developing solutions, policies, and standards, the board shall provide for and consider input from other public agencies, such as the state universities, large and small municipalities, urban and rural county governments, and the private sector.

(b)  The Geographic Information Board may issue guidelines on recommended best practices, including recommended policies and standards, for the identification, coordination, collection, and sharing of geographic information.

(c)  The Geographic Information Board may contract for, accept, and make gifts, grants, loans, or other aid from and to any other governmental entity and to any person. Members may contribute, and the board may receive and expend, funds for board initiatives.

(3)  The board consists of the Director of Planning and Budgeting within the Executive Office of the Governor, the executive director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the executive director of the Department of Revenue, and the State Cadastral Surveyor, as defined in s. 177.503, or their designees, and the heads of the following agencies, or their designees: the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers. The Governor shall appoint to the board one member each to represent the counties, municipalities, regional planning councils, water management districts, and county property appraisers. The Governor shall initially appoint two members to serve 2-year terms and three members to serve 4-year terms. Thereafter, the terms of all appointed members must be 4 years and the terms must be staggered. Members may be appointed to successive terms and incumbent members may continue to serve the board until a new appointment is made.

(4)  The Director of Planning and Budgeting of the Executive Office of the Governor, or his or her designee, shall serve as the chair of the board. A majority of the membership of the board constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business. The board shall meet at least twice each year, and the chair may call a meeting of the board as often as necessary to transact business. Administrative and clerical support to the board shall be provided by the Department of Management Services.

(5)  The board shall:

(a)  Promote the sharing of geographic information;

(b)  Conduct periodic assessments of geographic information and geographic information systems in this state to identify information management activities and available resources;

(c)  Increase efficiency and reduce costs of data acquisition by promoting the coordination of geographic information activities, including, but not limited to, development and maintenance of a data directory in which geographic information is cataloged;

(d)  Promote consistency of data elements by establishing standard data definitions and formats;

(e)  Promote the adoption and use of standards that have broad application to the public and private sectors;

(f)  By March 1 of each year, develop and approve a strategic plan pursuant to the requirements set forth in s. 186.022(9). Copies of the plan shall be transmitted electronically or in writing to the Executive Office of the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the members of the Geographic Information Advisory Council as provided in subsection (7);

(g)  Serve as liaison between local, regional, and state government and the Federal Government to promote the sharing of geographic information;

(h)  Establish technical advisory committees to assist the board; and

(i)  Serve as the coordinator for census activities and facilitate the availability and usability of the data collected by the United States Census Bureau.

(6)  The Florida Geographic Information Advisory Council is created in the Executive Office of the Governor to provide technical assistance and recommendations to the board.

(7)  The Geographic Information Advisory Council consists of one member each from the Office of Planning and Budgeting within the Executive Office of the Governor, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, the State Cadastral Surveyor, the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, counties, municipalities, regional planning councils, water management districts, and property appraisers, as appointed by the corresponding member of the board, and the State Geologist. The Governor shall appoint to the council one member each, as recommended by the respective organization, to represent the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Health, the Florida Survey and Mapping Society, Florida Region of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Florida Association of Cadastral Mappers, the Florida Association of Professional Geologists, Florida Engineering Society, Florida Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, the forestry industry, the State University System survey and mapping academic research programs, and State University System geographic information systems academic research programs; and two members representing utilities, one from a regional utility, and one from a local or municipal utility. These persons must have technical expertise in geographic information issues. The Governor shall initially appoint six members to serve 2-year terms and six members to serve 4-year terms. Thereafter, the terms of all appointed members must be 4 years and must be staggered. Members may be appointed to successive terms, and incumbent members may continue to serve the council until a successor is appointed. Representatives of the Federal Government may serve as ex officio members without voting rights.

(8)  A majority of the membership constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business and shall elect the chair of the advisory council biennially. The council shall meet at least twice a year, and the chair may call meetings as often as necessary to transact business or as directed by the board. The chair, or his or her designee, shall attend all board meetings on behalf of the council. Administrative and clerical support shall be provided by the Department of Management Services.

(9)  The advisory council shall:

(a)  Develop operational procedures for the conduct of business;

(b)  Make recommendations to the geographic information board for policies, procedures, standards, and technical solutions pertaining to the planning, coordination, sharing, consistency, development, and maintenance of geographic information;

(c)  Develop solutions that promote coordinated and cost-effective statewide financing of geographic information;

(d)  Make recommendations for the reduction of unnecessary duplication of geographic information efforts among various state, federal, regional, and local agencies and the private sector;

(e)  Seek information from the geographic information and mapping community in formulating priorities for the federal and state mapping and geographic information programs and activities; and

(f)  Inform mapping and geographic information users in the state of programs, available materials and information, and standards and solutions pertaining to mapping and geographic information.

(10)  If any specified state agency fails to comply with this section without good cause, the Executive Office of the Governor may withhold releases of appropriations of those portions of the agency's operating budget that pertain to the collection and analysis of geographic information.

(11)  Local governments are encouraged to participate within their abilities and resources in order to facilitate implementation of this section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 96-390; s. 34, ch. 97-96; s. 17, ch. 97-286; s. 24, ch. 98-73; s. 82, ch. 99-245.