The Florida Senate

943.0311  Chief of Domestic Security Initiatives and the department's duties with respect to domestic security.--The executive director of the department, or a member of the department designated by the executive director, shall serve as the Chief of Domestic Security Initiatives.

(1)  The Chief of Domestic Security Initiatives shall:

(a)  Coordinate the efforts of the department in the ongoing assessment of this state's vulnerability to, and ability to detect and respond to, acts of terrorism, as defined in s. 775.30, within or affecting this state.

(b)  Prepare recommendations for the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which are based upon ongoing assessments to limit the vulnerability of the state to terrorism.

(c)  Coordinate the collection of proposals to limit the vulnerability of the state to terrorism.

(d)  Use regional task forces to support the duties of the department set forth in this section.

(e)  Use public or private resources to perform the duties assigned to the department under this section.

(f)  Perform other duties assigned by law.

(2)(a)  The chief shall conduct specific security assessments of buildings and facilities owned or leased by state agencies or local governments. All state agencies and local governments shall cooperate with the department and provide requested information and resources to assist the department in meeting its responsibilities under this section.

(b)  Based upon the security assessments, the chief shall prepare recommendations to enhance the security of buildings and facilities owned or leased by state agencies or local governments.

(c)  The chief shall report to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives recommended minimum security standards or security-enhancement needs for any building or facility owned or leased by a state agency or local government. The report must identify and prioritize the recommended security enhancements and provide recommendations to maximize federal funding in support of building and facility security.

(3)  The chief shall develop and submit to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives recommended best practices for safety and security. The recommended best practices are not a rule as defined in chapter 120. The chief shall review the recommended best practices as necessary, but at least once each year, and shall submit any recommended changes to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)  The chief may conduct specific security assessments of a building or facility owned by a private entity upon the request of that private entity. The chief may prioritize requests, and such prioritization is not agency action that is subject to review under chapter 120. The chief may solicit private entities for the purpose of receiving requests to perform security assessments of buildings or facilities. Private entities are urged to cooperate with and assist the department in meeting its responsibilities for domestic security.

(5)  By November 1 of each year, the executive director shall compile, coordinate, and prioritize recommendations and proposals concerning security and shall present the recommendations and proposals to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. All recommendations seeking funding shall be prioritized, with critical domestic security needs requiring immediate or top-priority funding being clearly identified. Such recommendations shall include recommendations to maximize federal funding in support of the state's domestic-security efforts.

History.--s. 3, ch. 2001-365.