The Florida Senate

331.368  Florida Space Research Institute.--

(1)  There is created the Florida Space Research Institute, the purpose of which is to serve as an industry-driven center for research, leveraging the state's resources in a collaborative effort to support Florida's space industry and its expansion, diversification, and transition to commercialization.

(2)  The institute shall operate as a public/private partnership under the direction of a board composed of:

(a)  A representative of the Spaceport Florida Authority.

(b)  A representative of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

(c)  A representative of the Florida Aviation Aerospace Alliance.

(d)  A representative of the Florida Space Business Roundtable.

(e)  Additional private-sector representatives from the space industry selected collaboratively by the core members specified in paragraphs (a)-(d). The additional space industry representatives under this paragraph must comprise the majority of members of the board and must be from geographic regions throughout the state.

(f)  Two representatives from the educational community who are selected collaboratively by the core members specified in paragraphs (a)-(d) and who are engaged in research or instruction related to the space industry. One representative must be from a community college, and one representative must be from a public or private university.

Annually, the members of the board shall select one of the members to serve as chair, who shall be responsible for convening and leading meetings of the board.

(3)  The board of the Florida Space Research Institute shall:

(a)  Set the strategic direction for the space-related research priorities of the state and its space-related businesses, the scope of research projects for the institute, and the timeframes for completion.

(b)  Invite the participation of public and private universities, including, but not limited to, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology, and the University of Miami.

(c)  Select a lead university to:

1.  Serve as coordinator of research and as the administrative entity of the institute;

2.  Support the institute's development of a statewide space research agenda and programs; and

3.  Develop, and update as necessary, a report recommending ways that the state's public and private universities can work in partnership to support the state's space-industry requirements, which report must be completed by December 15, 2000.

(d)  Establish a partnership with the state Workforce Development Board, or its successor entity, under which the institute coordinates the workforce-training requirements identified by the space industry and supports development of workforce-training initiatives to meet such requirements, using training providers approved by the board or its successor entity.

(e)  Comanage, with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and subject to the terms of an agreement with NASA, operation of a Space Experiment Research and Processing Laboratory, if such a facility is constructed on land of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. The institute shall carry out such responsibility through a consortium of public and private universities in the state led by the University of Florida.

(f)  Develop initiatives to foster the participation of the state's space industry in the International Space Station and to help the state maintain and enhance its competitive position in the commercial space-transportation industry.

(g)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to coordinate and conduct research in fields including, but not limited to, environmental monitoring; agriculture; aquatics; resource reutilization technologies for long-duration space missions; and spaceport technologies which support current or next-generation launch vehicles and range systems.

(h)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the conduct of space-related research using computer technology to connect experts in a given field of science who are in disparate locations and to perform research experiments in a real-time, virtual environment.

(4)  By December 15 of each year, the institute shall submit a report of its activities and accomplishments for the year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall also include recommendations regarding actions the state should take to enhance the development of space-related businesses, including:

(a)  Future research activities.

(b)  The development of capital and technology assistance to new and expanding industries.

(c)  The removal of regulatory impediments.

(d)  The establishment of business development incentives.

(e)  The initiation of education and training programs to ensure a skilled workforce.

History.--s. 20, ch. 99-256; s. 10, ch. 2000-290.