The Florida Senate

The commission shall consist of 15 members, 5 appointed by the Governor, 5 appointed by the President of the Senate, and 5 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Appointments shall be made no later than October 1, 2005. The membership must represent local governments, school boards, developers and homebuilders, the business community, the agriculture community, the environmental community, and other appropriate stakeholders. One member shall be designated by the Governor as chair of the commission. Any vacancy that occurs on the commission must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be for the unexpired term of that commission seat. Members shall serve 4-year terms, except that, initially, to provide for staggered terms, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member to serve a 2-year term, two members to serve 3-year terms, and two members to serve 4-year terms. All subsequent appointments shall be for 4-year terms. An appointee may not serve more than 6 years.

The first meeting of the commission shall be held no later than December 1, 2005, and shall meet at the call of the chair but not less frequently than three times per year in different regions of the state to solicit input from the public or any other individuals offering testimony relevant to the issues to be considered.

Each member of the commission is entitled to one vote, and actions of the commission are not binding unless taken by a three-fifths vote of the members present. A majority of the members is required to constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a quorum is required for a binding vote.

Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

Annually conduct a process through which the commission envisions the future for the state and then develops and recommends policies, plans, action steps, or strategies to assist in achieving the vision.

Continuously review and consider statutory and regulatory provisions, governmental processes, and societal and economic trends in its inquiry of how state, regional, and local governments and entities and citizens of this state can best accommodate projected increased populations while maintaining the natural, historical, cultural, and manmade life qualities that best represent the state.

Bring together people representing varied interests to develop a shared image of the state and its developed and natural areas. The process should involve exploring the impact of the estimated population increase and other emerging trends and issues; creating a vision for the future; and developing a strategic action plan to achieve that vision using 25-year and 50-year intermediate planning timeframes.

Focus on essential state interests, defined as those interests that transcend local or regional boundaries and are most appropriately conserved, protected, and promoted at the state level.

Serve as an objective, nonpartisan repository of exemplary community-building ideas and as a source to recommend strategies and practices to assist others in working collaboratively to problem solve on issues relating to growth management.

Annually, beginning January 16, 2007, and every year thereafter on the same date, provide to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written report containing specific recommendations for addressing growth management in the state, including executive and legislative recommendations. Further, the report shall contain discussions regarding the need for intergovernmental cooperation and the balancing of environmental protection and future development and recommendations on issues, including, but not limited to, recommendations regarding dedicated sources of funding for sewer facilities, water supply and quality, transportation facilities that are not adequately addressed by the Strategic Intermodal System, and educational infrastructure to support existing development and projected population growth.

Beginning with the 2007 Regular Session of the Legislature, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall create a joint select committee, the task of which shall be to review the findings and recommendations of the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida for potential action.

The Secretary of Community Affairs shall select an executive director of the commission, and the executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary under the supervision and control of the commission.

The Department of Community Affairs shall provide staff and other resources necessary to accomplish the goals of the commission based upon recommendations of the Governor.

All agencies under the control of the Governor are directed, and all other agencies are requested, to render assistance to, and cooperate with, the commission.