House Bill 4765

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 4765

        By the Committee on Transportation and Representative
    Fuller





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to transportation; amending s.

  3         206.606, F.S.; revising the distribution of

  4         certain fuel tax proceeds; renumbering and

  5         amending s. 335.166, F.S.; transferring

  6         responsibility for welcome stations to the

  7         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  8         Development and to the Florida Commission on

  9         Tourism; requiring a study of the feasibility

10         of transferring facilities of expressway and

11         bridge authorities to the Department of

12         Transportation; renumbering and amending s.

13         334.065, F.S.; revising provisions related to

14         the funding source and the advisory board of

15         the Center for Urban Transportation Research;

16         amending s. 316.063, F.S.; changing the term

17         "accident" to "crash"; revising the penalty for

18         obstructing traffic upon damaging an unattended

19         vehicle or other property; creating s.

20         316.0815, F.S.; giving public transit buses the

21         right-of-way when reentering the traffic flow;

22         amending s. 316.091, F.S.; providing that on

23         specified highways certain commercial vehicles

24         may drive only in certain lanes; amending s.

25         316.2055, F.S.; providing a uniform reference

26         to the penalty for a pedestrian noncriminal

27         traffic offense punishable under chapter 318,

28         F.S.; amending s. 316.555, F.S.; exempting

29         certain silvicultural and agricultural vehicles

30         and equipment from weight restrictions on

31         county roads; amending s. 318.18, F.S.;

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  1         providing that fines for construction zone

  2         speed violations shall only be doubled under

  3         certain circumstances; amending s. 320.01,

  4         F.S.; defining the term "agricultural

  5         products"; amending s. 320.04, F.S.; providing

  6         a service charge for validation stickers issued

  7         by printer dispenser machines; amending s.

  8         320.055, F.S.; providing for staggered fleet

  9         registration; repealing s. 320.065, F.S.,

10         relating to the registration of certain rental

11         trailers for hire and semitrailers used to haul

12         agricultural products; amending s. 320.0657,

13         F.S.; defining the term "fleet"; providing

14         registration fees; providing penalties for late

15         or improper registration; amending s. 320.0715,

16         F.S.; exempting certain commercial motor

17         vehicles from the International Registration

18         Plan; creating s. 321.045, F.S.; establishing

19         the mission and program objectives of the

20         Florida Highway Patrol; transferring the Bureau

21         of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle

22         Construction to the Department of Community

23         Affairs; providing for a reviser's bill to

24         conform Florida Statutes; repealing s.

25         322.08(7)(c), F.S., relating to a voluntary

26         contribution on driver's license applications;

27         amending s. 322.1615, F.S.; revising language

28         with respect to nighttime driving restrictions

29         for persons with learner's driver licenses;

30         amending s. 332.004, F.S.; redefining the term

31         "airport"; amending s. 332.006, F.S.; limiting

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  1         airport development support to certain

  2         airports; amending s. 334.0445, F.S.; extending

  3         the time period for the model career service

  4         classification plan in the Department of

  5         Transportation; amending s. 335.0415, F.S.;

  6         modifying the date on which jurisdiction and

  7         responsibility for public roads is determined;

  8         repealing s. 335.165, F.S., relating to welcome

  9         stations; amending s. 337.11, F.S.; revising

10         surety approval requirements for certain

11         supplemental agreements of the department;

12         amending s. 337.185, F.S.; revising the State

13         Arbitration Board contract claim program;

14         amending s. 337.19, F.S.; revising provisions

15         relating to suits by and against the Department

16         of Transportation and the liability of the

17         department; amending s. 337.403, F.S.;

18         authorizing the department to participate in

19         the cost of clearing and grubbing necessary to

20         perform utility improvement, relocation, or

21         removal work under certain circumstances;

22         amending s. 338.229, F.S.; authorizing the

23         department to provide restrictions on the sale,

24         transfer, lease, or other disposition or

25         operation of any portion of the turnpike system

26         which reduces the revenue available for the

27         payment of bondholders; amending s. 479.01,

28         F.S.; redefining the terms "commercial or

29         industrial zone" and "unzoned commercial or

30         industrial area"; amending s. 479.07, F.S.;

31         revising provisions relating to reinstatement

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  1         of expired outdoor advertising permits;

  2         amending s. 479.16, F.S.; increasing the square

  3         footage allowable on certain signs; amending

  4         chapter 96-423, Laws of Florida; authorizing

  5         the department to sell certain state property

  6         and directing the proceeds of the sale to the

  7         State Transportation Trust Fund; providing

  8         effective dates.

  9

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

11

12         Section 1.  Section 206.606, Florida Statutes, is

13  amended to read:

14         206.606  Distribution of certain proceeds.--

15         (1)  Moneys collected pursuant to ss. 206.41(1)(g) and

16  206.87(1)(e) shall be deposited in the Fuel Tax Collection

17  Trust Fund created by s. 206.875. Such moneys, exclusive of

18  the service charges imposed by s. 215.20, and exclusive of

19  refunds granted pursuant to s. 206.41, shall be distributed

20  monthly to the State Transportation Trust Fund, except that:

21         (1)(a)  $7.55 million shall be transferred to the

22  Department of Environmental Protection in each fiscal year.

23  The transfers must be made in equal monthly amounts beginning

24  on July 1 of each fiscal year.  $1.25 million of the amount

25  transferred shall be deposited annually in the Marine

26  Resources Conservation Trust Fund and must be used by the

27  department to fund special projects to provide recreational

28  channel marking, public launching facilities, and other

29  boating-related activities. The department shall annually

30  determine where unmet needs exist for boating-related

31  activities, and may fund such activities in counties where,

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  1  due to the number of vessel registrations, insufficient

  2  financial resources are available to meet total water resource

  3  needs.  The remaining proceeds of the annual transfer shall be

  4  deposited in the Aquatic Plant Control Trust Fund and must be

  5  used for aquatic plant management, including nonchemical

  6  control of aquatic weeds, research into nonchemical controls,

  7  and enforcement activities.  Beginning in fiscal year

  8  1993-1994, the department shall allocate at least $1 million

  9  of such funds to the eradication of melaleuca.

10         (2)(b)  $1.25 million shall be transferred to the State

11  Game Trust Fund in the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in

12  each fiscal year.  The transfers must be made in equal monthly

13  amounts beginning on July 1 of each fiscal year, and must be

14  used for recreational boating activities of a type consistent

15  with projects eligible for funding under the Florida Boating

16  Improvement Program administered by the Department of

17  Environmental Protection, and freshwater fisheries management

18  and research.

19         (c)  $1.5 million per year shall be transferred to the

20  Board of Regents and shall be spent solely for purposes of s.

21  334.065.

22         (2)  Not less than 10 percent of the moneys deposited

23  in the State Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this

24  section shall be allocated by the Department of Transportation

25  for public transit and rail capital projects, including

26  service development projects, as defined in s. 341.031(7) and

27  (8), unless otherwise provided in the General Appropriations

28  Act.

29         Section 2.  Effective July 1, 1999, subsection (1) of

30  section 206.606, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter

31  96-321, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

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  1         206.606  Distribution of certain proceeds.--

  2         (1)  Moneys collected pursuant to ss. 206.41(1)(g) and

  3  206.87(1)(e) shall be deposited in the Fuel Tax Collection

  4  Trust Fund.  Such moneys, after deducting the service charges

  5  imposed by s. 215.20, the refunds granted pursuant to s.

  6  206.41, and the administrative costs incurred by the

  7  department in collecting, administering, enforcing, and

  8  distributing the tax, which administrative costs may not

  9  exceed 2 percent of collections, shall be distributed monthly

10  to the State Transportation Trust Fund, except that:

11         (a)  $7.55 million shall be transferred to the

12  Department of Environmental Protection in each fiscal year.

13  The transfers must be made in equal monthly amounts beginning

14  on July 1 of each fiscal year.  $1.25 million of the amount

15  transferred shall be deposited annually in the Marine

16  Resources Conservation Trust Fund and must be used by the

17  department to fund special projects to provide recreational

18  channel marking, public launching facilities, and other

19  boating-related activities. The department shall annually

20  determine where unmet needs exist for boating-related

21  activities, and may fund such activities in counties where,

22  due to the number of vessel registrations, insufficient

23  financial resources are available to meet total water resource

24  needs.  The remaining proceeds of the annual transfer shall be

25  deposited in the Aquatic Plant Control Trust Fund and must be

26  used for aquatic plant management, including nonchemical

27  control of aquatic weeds, research into nonchemical controls,

28  and enforcement activities.  Beginning in fiscal year

29  1993-1994, the department shall allocate at least $1 million

30  of such funds to the eradication of melaleuca.

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  1         (b)  $1.25 million shall be transferred to the State

  2  Game Trust Fund in the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in

  3  each fiscal year.  The transfers must be made in equal monthly

  4  amounts beginning on July 1 of each fiscal year, and must be

  5  used for recreational boating activities of a type consistent

  6  with projects eligible for funding under the Florida Boating

  7  Improvement Program administered by the Department of

  8  Environmental Protection, and freshwater fisheries management

  9  and research.

10         (c)  $1.5 million per year shall be transferred to the

11  Board of Regents and shall be spent solely for purposes of s.

12  334.065.

13         Section 3.  Section 335.166, Florida Statutes, is

14  renumbered as section 228.125, Florida Statutes, and amended

15  to read:

16         228.125 335.166  Welcome Centers Office.--

17         (1)  The Welcome Centers Operations Office is assigned

18  to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

19  Department of Transportation for administrative and fiscal

20  accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise function

21  independently of the control, supervision, and direction of

22  the Department of Transportation.

23         (2)  The Florida Commission on Tourism shall provide

24  direction for the administration of the Welcome Centers Office

25  and direction for the operation of the welcome centers and

26  shall provide for improvements to welcome centers. Funding for

27  the office shall be solely from the rental car surcharge

28  provided to the Tourism Promotional Trust Fund pursuant to s.

29  212.0606(2), through a nonoperating transfer to the State

30  Transportation Trust Fund or contract with the commission or

31  the commission's direct-support organization.

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  1         (3)  Funding for welcome center operations and

  2  improvements shall be subject to legislative appropriations.

  3  The Department of Transportation, is authorized to contract

  4  for, or to supervise construction of, improvements to welcome

  5  centers as provided by agreement with the Office of Tourism,

  6  Trade, and Economic Development.

  7         Section 4.  By February 1, 2000, the Florida

  8  Transportation Commission shall report to the Legislature on

  9  the feasibility of implementing a transfer of transportation

10  facilities from the authorities created in chapter 348,

11  Florida Statutes, or created by local governments pursuant to

12  part I of chapter 348, Florida Statutes, to the Department of

13  Transportation. At a minimum, the commission's report shall:

14         (1)  Review the role of the authorities in meeting the

15  state's transportation needs.

16         (2)  Identify policy options for transferring the

17  functions, assets, and liabilities of the authorities to the

18  department or to local governmental entities as appropriate.

19         (3)  Assess the financial implications of incorporating

20  the transportation facilities of these authorities into the

21  Turnpike District as part of the state's system of revenue

22  producing projects.

23         (4)  Identify any other matters that the Legislature

24  should consider in implementing this transfer.

25         Section 5.  Section 334.065, Florida Statutes, is

26  renumbered as section 240.80, Florida Statutes, and amended to

27  read:

28         240.80 334.065  Center for Urban Transportation

29  Research.--

30         (1)  There is established at the University of South

31  Florida the Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research,

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  1  to be administered by the Board of Regents and the State

  2  University System.  The responsibilities of the center

  3  include, but are not limited to, conducting and facilitating

  4  research on issues related to urban transportation problems in

  5  this state and serving as an information exchange and

  6  depository for the most current information pertaining to

  7  urban transportation and related issues.

  8         (2)  The center shall be a continuing resource for the

  9  Legislature, the Department of Transportation, local

10  governments, the nation's metropolitan regions, and the

11  private sector in the area of urban transportation and related

12  research and shall generate support in addition to any its

13  state-funded base of support provided by s. 206.606.  The

14  center shall promote intercampus transportation and related

15  research activities among Florida's universities in order to

16  enhance the ability of these universities to attract federal

17  and private sector funding for transportation and related

18  research.

19         (3)  An advisory board shall be created to periodically

20  and objectively review and advise the center concerning its

21  research program. Except for projects mandated by law,

22  state-funded base projects shall not be undertaken without

23  approval of the advisory board. The membership of the board

24  shall consist of nine experts in transportation-related areas,

25  including the secretaries of the Florida Departments of

26  Transportation, Community Affairs, and Environmental

27  Protection, or their designees, and a member of the Florida

28  Transportation Commission. The nomination of the remaining

29  members of the board shall be made to the President of the

30  University of South Florida by the College of Engineering at

31  the University of South Florida, and the appointment of these

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  1  members must be reviewed and approved by the Florida

  2  Transportation Commission and confirmed by the Board of

  3  Regents.

  4         (4)  The center shall develop a budget pursuant to

  5  chapter 216. This budget shall be submitted to the Governor

  6  along with the budget of the Board of Regents.

  7         Section 6.  Section 316.063, Florida Statutes, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         316.063  Duty upon damaging unattended vehicle or other

10  property.--

11         (1)  The driver of any vehicle which collides with, or

12  is involved in a crash an accident with, any vehicle or other

13  property which is unattended, resulting in any damage to such

14  other vehicle or property, shall immediately stop and shall

15  then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner

16  of the vehicle or other property of the driver's name and

17  address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she

18  is driving, or shall attach securely in a conspicuous place in

19  or on the vehicle or other property a written notice giving

20  the driver's name and address and the registration number of

21  the vehicle he or she is driving, and shall without

22  unnecessary delay notify the nearest office of a duly

23  authorized police authority.  Every such stop shall be made

24  without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If a

25  damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic, the driver shall make

26  every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved

27  so as not to obstruct the regular flow of traffic. Any person

28  who fails to comply with this subsection commits a misdemeanor

29  of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or

30  s. 775.083.

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  1         (2)  Every such stop shall be made without obstructing

  2  traffic more than is necessary. If a damaged vehicle is

  3  obstructing traffic, the driver shall make every reasonable

  4  effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to

  5  obstruct the regular flow of traffic. A violation of this

  6  subsection is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as

  7  a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

  8         (3)  The law enforcement officer at the scene of a

  9  crash an accident required to be reported in accordance with

10  the provisions of subsection (1) or the law enforcement

11  officer receiving a report by a driver as required by

12  subsection (1) shall, if part or any of the property damaged

13  is a fence or other structure used to house or contain

14  livestock, promptly make a reasonable effort to notify the

15  owner, occupant, or agent of this damage.

16         Section 7.  Section 316.0815, Florida Statutes, is

17  created to read:

18         316.0815  Duty to yield to public transit vehicles.--

19         (1)  The driver of a vehicle shall yield the

20  right-of-way to a publicly owned transit bus traveling in the

21  same direction which has signaled and is reentering the

22  traffic flow.

23         (2)  This section does not relieve the driver of a

24  public transit vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard

25  for the safety of all persons using the roadway.

26         Section 8.  Subsection (5) is added to section 316.091,

27  Florida Statutes, to read:

28         316.091  Limited access facilities; interstate

29  highways; use restricted.--

30         (5)  A person may drive a commercial motor vehicle

31  having a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more or 3

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  1  axles or more, or a combination of vehicles weighing 26,001

  2  pounds or more, upon any limited access facility with six or

  3  more lanes only in the two right through lanes, except when

  4  exiting the facility. However, in congested urban areas the

  5  Department of Transportation may allow commercial motor

  6  vehicles to operate in additional lanes when necessary for the

  7  safe flow of traffic.

  8         Section 9.  Section 316.2055, Florida Statutes, is

  9  amended to read:

10         316.2055  Motor vehicles, throwing advertising

11  materials in.--It is unlawful for any person on a public

12  street, highway, or sidewalk in the state to throw into, or

13  attempt to throw into, any motor vehicle, or offer, or attempt

14  to offer, to any occupant of any motor vehicle, whether

15  standing or moving, or to place or throw into any motor

16  vehicle any advertising or soliciting materials or to cause or

17  secure any person or persons to do any one of such unlawful

18  acts. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic

19  infraction, punishable as a pedestrian violation as provided

20  in chapter 318.

21         Section 10.  Section 316.555, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         316.555  Weight, load, speed limits may be lowered;

24  condition precedent.--Anything in this chapter to the contrary

25  notwithstanding, the Department of Transportation with respect

26  to state roads, and local authorities with respect to highways

27  under their jurisdiction, may prescribe, by notice hereinafter

28  provided for, loads and weights and speed limits lower than

29  the limits prescribed in this chapter and other laws, whenever

30  in its or their judgment any road or part thereof or any

31  bridge or culvert shall, by reason of its design,

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  1  deterioration, rain, or other climatic or natural causes be

  2  liable to be damaged or destroyed by motor vehicles, trailers,

  3  or semitrailers, if the gross weight or speed limit thereof

  4  shall exceed the limits prescribed in said notice.  The

  5  Department of Transportation or local authority may, by like

  6  notice, regulate or prohibit, in whole or in part, the

  7  operation of any specified class or size of motor vehicles,

  8  trailers, or semitrailers on any highways or specified parts

  9  thereof under its or their jurisdiction, whenever in its or

10  their judgment, such regulation or prohibition is necessary to

11  provide for the public safety and convenience on the highways,

12  or parts thereof, by reason of traffic density, intensive use

13  thereof by the traveling public, or other reasons of public

14  safety and convenience.  The notice or the substance thereof

15  shall be posted at conspicuous places at terminals of all

16  intermediate crossroads and road junctions with the section of

17  highway to which the notice shall apply.  After any such

18  notice has been posted, the operation of any motor vehicle or

19  combination contrary to its provisions shall constitute a

20  violation of this chapter. An exemption from any locally

21  imposed weight limit shall be granted by a local government to

22  vehicles transporting silvicultural and agricultural products

23  and to equipment used in connection with silvicultural and

24  agricultural site management when a county road offers the

25  only access into and out of the property. This exemption shall

26  not apply to any bridge or other structure which has weight

27  restrictions established for safety reasons. However, no

28  limitation shall be established by any county, municipal, or

29  other local authorities pursuant to the provisions of this

30  section that would interfere with or interrupt traffic as

31  authorized hereunder over state roads, including officially

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  1  established detours for such highways, including cases where

  2  such traffic passes over roads, streets or thoroughfares

  3  within the sole jurisdiction of the county, municipal or other

  4  local authorities unless such limitations and further

  5  restrictions have first been approved by the Department of

  6  Transportation. With respect to county roads, except such as

  7  are in use as state road detours, the respective county road

  8  authorities shall have full power and authority to further

  9  limit the weights of vehicles upon bridges and culverts upon

10  such public notice as they deem sufficient, and existing laws

11  applicable thereto shall not be affected by the terms of this

12  chapter.

13         Section 11.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

14  318.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

15         318.18  Amount of civil penalties.--The penalties

16  required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14

17  are as follows:

18         (3)

19         (b)  For moving violations involving unlawful speed,

20  the fines are as follows:

21

22  For speed exceeding the limit by:                        Fine:

23  1-9 m.p.h.................................................$ 25

24  10-14 m.p.h...............................................$100

25  15-19 m.p.h...............................................$125

26  20-29 m.p.h...............................................$150

27  30 m.p.h. and above.......................................$250

28

29         (c)  A person cited for exceeding the speed limit in a

30  legally posted school zone or a posted construction zone will

31  be assessed a fine double the amount listed in paragraph (b).

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  1  The fine shall only be doubled for construction zone

  2  violations if construction personnel are present or operating

  3  equipment on the road or immediately adjacent to the road

  4  under construction.

  5         Section 12.  Subsection (42) is added to section

  6  320.01, Florida Statutes, to read:

  7         320.01  Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida

  8  Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:

  9         (42)  "Agricultural products" means any food product;

10  any agricultural, horticultural, or livestock product; any raw

11  material used in plant food formulation; or any plant food

12  used to produce food and fiber.

13         Section 13.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

14  320.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

15         320.04  Registration service charge.--

16         (1)(a)  There shall be a service charge of $2.50 for

17  each application which is handled in connection with original

18  issuance, duplicate issuance, or transfer of any license

19  plate, mobile home sticker, or validation sticker or with

20  transfer or duplicate issuance of any registration

21  certificate.  There may also be a service charge of up to $1

22  for the issuance of each license plate validation sticker and

23  mobile home sticker issued from an automated vending facility

24  or printer dispenser machine which shall be payable to and

25  retained by the department to provide for automated vending

26  facilities or printer dispenser machines used to dispense such

27  stickers by in each tax collector's or license tag agent's

28  employee office.

29         Section 14.  Subsection (7) of section 320.055, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

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  1         320.055  Registration periods; renewal periods.--The

  2  following registration periods and renewal periods are

  3  established:

  4         (7)  For those vehicles subject to registration under

  5  s. 320.0657, the department shall implement a system that

  6  distributes the registration renewal process throughout the

  7  year For a vehicle subject to registration under s. 320.065,

  8  the registration period begins December 1 and ends November

  9  30.  For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the

10  renewal period is the 31-day period beginning December 1.

11         Section 15.  Section 320.065, Florida Statutes, is

12  repealed.

13         Section 16.  Section 320.0657, Florida Statutes, is

14  amended to read:

15         320.0657  Permanent registration; fleet license

16  plates.--

17         (1)  For purposes of this section, the term "fleet"

18  means nonapportioned motor vehicles owned or leased by a

19  company and used for business purposes.  Vehicle numbers

20  comprising a "fleet" shall be established by the Department of

21  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  Vehicles registered as

22  short-term rental vehicles are excluded from the provisions of

23  this section.

24         (2)(a)  The owner or lessee of a fleet of motor

25  vehicles shall, upon application in the manner and at the time

26  prescribed and upon approval by the department and payment of

27  the license tax prescribed under s. 320.08(2), (3), (4),

28  (5)(a) and (b), (6)(a), (7), and (8), be issued permanent

29  fleet license plates.  All vehicles with a fleet license plate

30  shall have the company's name or logo and unit number

31  displayed so that they are readily identifiable.  The

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  1  provisions of s. 320.0605 do not apply to vehicles registered

  2  in accordance with this section, and no annual validation

  3  sticker is required.

  4         (a)  The owner or lessee of 250 or more nonapportioned

  5  commercial motor vehicles licensed under s. 320.08(2), (3),

  6  (4), (5)(a)1. and (b), and (7), who has posted a bond as

  7  prescribed by department rules, may apply via magnetically

  8  encoded computer tape reel or cartridge which is machine

  9  readable by the installed computer system at the department

10  for permanent license plates. All vehicles with a fleet

11  license plate shall have the company's name or logo and unit

12  number displayed so that they are readily identifiable. The

13  provisions of s. 320.0605 shall not apply to vehicles

14  registered in accordance with this section, and no annual

15  validation sticker is required.

16         (b)  The plates, which shall be of a distinctive color,

17  shall have the word "Fleet" appearing at the bottom and the

18  word "Florida" appearing at the top. The plates shall conform

19  in all respects to the provisions of this chapter, except as

20  specified herein.

21         (c)  In addition to the license tax prescribed by s.

22  320.08(2), (3), (4), (5)(a) and (b), (6)(a), (7), and (8), an

23  annual fleet management fee of $2 shall be charged.  A

24  one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $1.50 shall be

25  charged for plates issued for the established number of

26  vehicles in the fleet.  If the size of the fleet is increased,

27  a $20-per-vehicle issuance fee will be charged to include the

28  license plate manufacturing fee.  If the license plate

29  manufacturing cost increases, the department shall increase

30  the license-plate manufacturing fee to recoup its cost.  Fees

31  collected shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating

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  1  Trust Fund.  Payment of registration license tax and fees

  2  shall be made annually and be evidenced only by the issuance

  3  of a single receipt by the department.  The provisions of s.

  4  320.0605 do not apply to vehicles registered in accordance

  5  with this section, and no annual validation sticker is

  6  required.

  7         (c)  In addition to the license tax prescribed by s.

  8  320.08(2), (3), (4), (5)(a)1. and (b), and (7), an annual fee

  9  of $6 shall be charged for each vehicle registered hereunder.

10  Of this $6 fee, $2.50 shall be retained as a service charge by

11  the tax collector, if the registration occurs at such office,

12  or by the department, if the registration occurs at offices of

13  the department. Receipts from the $6 fee not retained by tax

14  collectors shall be deposited into the Highway Safety

15  Operating Trust Fund. Payment of registration license tax and

16  fees shall be made annually and be evidenced only by the

17  issuance of a single receipt by the department. Half-year

18  registrations shall not be available for vehicles registered

19  in accordance with the provisions of this section. The

20  provision of s. 320.06(1)(b) shall not apply to the fleet

21  renewal process.

22         (2)  All recipients of permanent license plates

23  authorized by this section shall submit an annual audit as

24  prescribed by rule of the department. Such audit shall include

25  a percentage of the vehicles registered by each owner or

26  lessee, not to exceed 10 percent. The department shall

27  randomly select the vehicles to be audited and shall forward a

28  listing of said vehicles only to the office of the auditor

29  performing the audit. Every attempt shall be made to provide

30  for groupings of vehicles based in the same location; however,

31  the location shall change from year to year. The audit shall

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  1  be prepared by a certified public accountant licensed under

  2  chapter 473, at the recipient's expense, and shall be

  3  performed to standards prescribed by the department. Such

  4  audits shall be delivered to the department on or before

  5  February 15 of each calendar year. Any fees or taxes which the

  6  audit determines are due the department shall be submitted to

  7  the department along with such audit. In addition, any company

  8  found to be habitually abusing the privileges afforded by

  9  permanent licensure shall forfeit the bond required in

10  subsection (1), and may be required by the department to

11  relinquish all permanent license plates, and not be eligible

12  to continue to participate in the program.

13         (3)  The department is authorized to adopt such rules

14  as necessary to comply with this section.

15         (4)  If a recipient of fleet license plates fails to

16  properly and timely renew or initially register vehicles in

17  its fleet, the department may impose a delinquency penalty of

18  $50 or 10 percent of the delinquent taxes due, whichever is

19  greater, if the failure is for not more than 30 days, with an

20  additional 10 percent penalty for each additional 30 days, or

21  fraction thereof, during the time the failure continues, not

22  to exceed a total penalty of 100 percent in the aggregate.

23  However, the penalty may not be less than $50.

24         (5)  All recipients of fleet license plates authorized

25  by this section must provide the department with an annual

26  vehicle reconciliation and must annually surrender all

27  unassigned license plates.  Failure to comply may result in

28  fines of up to $1,000 for each occurrence or in suspension or

29  termination from the fleet program.

30         Section 17.  Subsection (5) is added to section

31  320.0715, Florida Statutes, to read:

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  1         320.0715  International Registration Plan; motor

  2  carrier services; permits; retention of records.--

  3         (5)  The provisions of this section do not apply to any

  4  commercial motor vehicle domiciled in a foreign state that

  5  enters this state solely for the purpose of bringing a

  6  commercial vehicle in for repairs, or picking up a newly

  7  purchased commercial vehicle, so long as the commercial motor

  8  vehicle is operated by its owner and is not hauling a load.

  9         Section 18.  Section 321.045, Florida Statutes, is

10  created to read:

11         321.045  Florida Highway Patrol program

12  objectives.--The mission of the Florida Highway Patrol is to

13  ensure public safety on Florida's State Highway System and to

14  minimize violations of Florida's traffic laws. In order to

15  accomplish this mission, the program objectives of the Florida

16  Highway Patrol are to:

17         (1)  Reduce the statewide incidence rate for traffic

18  crashes, injuries, and deaths.

19         (2)  Reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related

20  crashes.

21         (3)  Reduce the statewide response time to calls for

22  services.

23         (4)  Increase compliance with traffic laws.

24         (5)  Increase motorist compliance with state motor

25  vehicle and driver's license insurance laws.

26         Section 19.  All statutory powers, duties, functions,

27  records, personnel, property, and unexpended balances of

28  appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the Bureau of

29  Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction of the

30  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and all

31  existing authority and actions of the bureau, including, but

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  1  not limited to, all pending and completed actions on orders

  2  and rules, all enforcement matters, and delegations,

  3  interagency agreements, and contracts with federal, state,

  4  regional, and local governments and private entities, are

  5  hereby transferred to the Department of Community Affairs. The

  6  Department of Community Affairs and the Department of Highway

  7  Safety and Motor Vehicles shall have the authority to enter

  8  into interagency agreements with each other concerning any

  9  matter affected by the transfer of the Bureau of Mobile Home

10  and Recreational Vehicle Construction to the Department of

11  Community Affairs to promote the efficient and effective

12  operation of both departments.

13         Section 20.  The Division of Statutory Revision and

14  Indexing of the Joint Legislative Management Committee or its

15  successor shall prepare a reviser's bill for presentation to

16  the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature to change the term

17  "Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles" to the term

18  "Department of Community Affairs" in reference to the Bureau

19  of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction in

20  conformance with the transfer of the bureau from the

21  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the

22  Department of Community Affairs as provided for in this act

23  and to make any amendments to the Florida Statutes required by

24  said transfer.

25         Section 21.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of section

26  322.08, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

27         Section 22.  Subsection (3) of section 322.1615,

28  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         322.1615  Learner's driver's license.--

30         (3)  A person who holds a learner's driver's license

31  may operate a vehicle only during daytime daylight hours,

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  1  except that the holder of a learner's driver's license may

  2  operate a vehicle during nighttime hours, but no later than 10

  3  p.m., between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. 3 months after

  4  the issuance of the learner's driver's license.

  5         Section 23.  Subsection (1) of section 332.004, Florida

  6  Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         332.004  Definitions of terms used in ss.

  8  332.003-332.007.--As used in ss. 332.003-332.007, the term:

  9         (1)  "Airport" means any area of land or water, or any

10  manmade object or facility located therein, which is used, or

11  intended for public use, for the landing and takeoff of

12  aircraft, including reusable launch vehicles and other space

13  transportation systems, and any appurtenant areas which are

14  used, or intended for public use, for airport buildings or

15  other airport facilities or rights-of-way.

16         Section 24.  Subsection (9) of section 332.006, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         332.006  Duties and responsibilities of the Department

19  of Transportation.--The Department of Transportation shall,

20  within the resources provided pursuant to chapter 216:

21         (9)  Support the development of land located within the

22  boundaries of airports for the purpose of industrial or other

23  uses compatible with airport operations with the objective of

24  assisting airports in this state to become fiscally

25  self-supporting.  Such assistance may include providing state

26  moneys on a matching basis to airport sponsors for capital

27  improvements, including, but not limited to, fixed-base

28  operation facilities, parking areas, industrial park utility

29  systems, and road and rail transportation systems which are on

30  airport property. Such assistance shall be limited to airports

31  that have no scheduled commercial air service and airports

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  1  that are defined as small hub or nonhub airports by the

  2  Federal Aviation Administration.

  3         Section 25.  Subsection (1) of section 334.0445,

  4  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         334.0445  Model career service classification and

  6  compensation plan.--

  7         (1)  Effective July 1, 1994, the Legislature grants to

  8  the Department of Transportation in consultation with the

  9  Department of Management Services, the Executive Office of the

10  Governor, legislative appropriations committees, legislative

11  personnel committees, and the affected certified bargaining

12  unions, the authority on a pilot basis to develop and

13  implement a model career service classification and

14  compensation system. Such system shall be developed for use by

15  all state agencies. Authorization for this program will end

16  June 30, 2000 be for 3 fiscal years beginning July 1, 1994,

17  and ending June 30, 1997; however, the department may elect or

18  be directed by the Legislature to return to the current system

19  at anytime during this period if the model system does not

20  meet the stated goals and objectives.

21         Section 26.  Subsection (1) of section 335.0415,

22  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

23         335.0415  Public road jurisdiction and transfer

24  process.--

25         (1)  The jurisdiction of public roads and the

26  responsibility for operation and maintenance within the

27  right-of-way of any road within the state, county, and

28  municipal road system shall be that which existed on June 10,

29  1995 exists on July 1, 1995.

30         Section 27.  Section 335.165, Florida Statutes, is

31  repealed.

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  1         Section 28.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section

  2  337.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         337.11  Contracting authority of department; bids;

  4  emergency repairs, supplemental agreements, and change orders;

  5  combined design and construction contracts; progress payments;

  6  records; requirements of vehicle registration.--

  7         (8)(a)  The department shall permit the use of written

  8  supplemental agreements and written change orders to any

  9  contract entered into by the department. Any supplemental

10  agreement shall be reduced to written contract form, approved

11  by the contractor's surety, and executed by the contractor and

12  the department. Any supplemental agreement modifying any item

13  in the original contract must be approved by the head of the

14  department, or his or her designee, and executed by the

15  appropriate person designated by him or her. The contractor's

16  surety, by providing a bond on any department project, agrees

17  to any and all contract modifications, change orders, and

18  supplemental agreements, without the surety's express written

19  approval for any such modifications, change orders, or

20  supplemental agreements.

21         Section 29.  Section 337.185, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         337.185  State Arbitration Board.--

24         (1)  To facilitate the prompt settlement of claims for

25  additional compensation arising out of construction contracts

26  between the department and the various contractors with whom

27  it transacts business, the Legislature does hereby establish

28  the State Arbitration Board, referred to in this section as

29  the "board." For the purpose of this section, "claim" shall

30  mean the aggregate of all outstanding claims by a party

31  arising out of a construction contract.  Every contractual

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  1  claim in an amount up to $250,000 $100,000 per contract or, at

  2  the claimant's option, up to $500,000 $250,000 per contract

  3  that cannot be resolved by negotiation between the department

  4  and the contractor shall be arbitrated by the board after

  5  acceptance of the project by the department.  As an exception,

  6  either party to the dispute may request that the claim be

  7  submitted to binding private arbitration.  A court of law may

  8  not consider the settlement of such a claim until the process

  9  established by this section has been exhausted.

10         (2)  The board shall be composed of three members.  One

11  member shall be appointed by the head of the department, and

12  one member shall be elected by those construction companies

13  who are under contract with the department.  The third member

14  shall be chosen by agreement of the other two members.

15  Whenever the third member has a conflict of interest regarding

16  affiliation with one of the parties, the other two members

17  shall select an alternate member for that hearing. The head of

18  the department may select an alternative or substitute to

19  serve as the department member for any hearing or term. Each

20  member shall serve a 2-year term. The board shall elect a

21  chair, each term, who shall be the administrator of the board

22  and custodian of its records.

23         (3)  A hearing may be requested by the department or by

24  a contractor who has a dispute with the department which,

25  under the rules of the board, may be the subject of

26  arbitration.  The board shall conduct the hearing within 45

27  days of the request.  The party requesting the board's

28  consideration shall give notice of the hearing to each member.

29  If the board finds that a third party is necessary to resolve

30  the dispute, the board may vote to dismiss the claim, which

31

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  1  may thereafter be pursued in accordance with the laws of the

  2  State of Florida a court of law.

  3         (4)  All members shall be necessary to conduct a

  4  meeting. Upon being called into session, the board shall

  5  promptly proceed to a determination of the issue or issues in

  6  dispute.

  7         (5)  When a valid contract is in effect defining the

  8  rights, duties, and liabilities of the parties with respect to

  9  any matter in dispute, the board shall have power only to

10  determine the proper interpretation and application of the

11  contract provisions which are involved.  Any investigation

12  made by less than the whole membership of the board shall be

13  by authority of a written directive by the chair, and such

14  investigation shall be summarized in writing and considered by

15  the board as part of the record of its proceedings.

16         (6)  The board shall hand down its order within 60 days

17  after it is called into session.  If all three members of the

18  board do not agree, the order of the majority will constitute

19  the order of the board.

20         (7)  The members member of the board elected by

21  construction companies and the third member of the board may

22  receive compensation for the performance of their duties

23  hereunder, from administrative fees received by the board,

24  except that no employee of the department may receive

25  compensation from the board. The compensation amount shall be

26  determined by the board, but shall not exceed $125 per hour,

27  up to a maximum of $1,000 $750 per day for each member

28  authorized to receive compensation.  Nothing in this section

29  shall prevent the member elected by construction companies

30  from being an employee of an association affiliated with the

31  industry, even if the sole responsibility of that member is

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  1  service on the board. Travel expenses for the industry member

  2  may be paid by an industry association, if necessary. The

  3  board may allocate funds annually for clerical and other

  4  administrative services.

  5         (8)  The party requesting arbitration shall pay a fee

  6  to the board in accordance with a schedule established by it,

  7  not to exceed $500 per claim which is $25,000 or less, not to

  8  exceed $1,000 per claim which is in excess of $25,000 but not

  9  exceeding $50,000, not to exceed $1,500 per claim which is in

10  excess of $50,000 but not exceeding $100,000, not to exceed

11  $2,000 per claim which is in excess of $100,000 but not

12  exceeding $200,000, and not to exceed $3,000 $2,500 per claim

13  which is in excess of $200,000 but not exceeding $300,000

14  $250,000, not to exceed $4,000 per claim which is in excess of

15  $300,000 but not exceeding $400,000, and not to exceed $5,000

16  per claim which is in excess of $400,000 but not exceeding

17  $500,000, to cover the cost of administration and compensation

18  of the board.

19         (9)  The board in its order may apportion the fee set

20  out in subsection (8), and the cost of recording and preparing

21  a transcript of the hearing, among the parties in accordance

22  with the board's finding of liability.

23         Section 30.  Subsection (1) of section 337.19, Florida

24  Statutes, is amended to read:

25         337.19  Suits by and against department; limitation of

26  actions; forum.--

27         (1)  Suits at law and in equity may be brought and

28  maintained by and against the department on any contract

29  claim. In any such suit, the department shall be potentially

30  liable for such damages as would be available in a similar

31  suit against a private individual claim under contract for

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  1  work done; provided, that no suit sounding in tort shall be

  2  maintained against the department.

  3         Section 31.  Subsection (1) of section 337.403, Florida

  4  Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         337.403  Relocation of utility; expenses.--

  6         (1)  Any utility heretofore or hereafter placed upon,

  7  under, over, or along any public road or publicly owned rail

  8  corridor that is found by the authority to be unreasonably

  9  interfering in any way with the convenient, safe, or

10  continuous use, or the maintenance, improvement, extension, or

11  expansion, of such public road or publicly owned rail corridor

12  shall, upon 30 days' written notice to the utility or its

13  agent by the authority, be removed or relocated by such

14  utility at its own expense except as provided in paragraphs

15  (a), and (b), and (c).

16         (a)  If the relocation of utility facilities, as

17  referred to in s. 111 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956,

18  Pub. L. No. 627 of the 84th Congress, is necessitated by the

19  construction of a project on the federal-aid interstate

20  system, including extensions thereof within urban areas, and

21  the cost of such project is eligible and approved for

22  reimbursement by the Federal Government to the extent of 90

23  percent or more under the Federal Aid Highway Act, or any

24  amendment thereof, then in that event the utility owning or

25  operating such facilities shall relocate such facilities upon

26  order of the department, and the state shall pay the entire

27  expense properly attributable to such relocation after

28  deducting therefrom any increase in the value of the new

29  facility and any salvage value derived from the old facility.

30         (b)  When a joint agreement between the department and

31  the utility is executed for utility improvement, relocation,

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  1  or removal work to be accomplished as part of a contract for

  2  construction of a transportation facility, the department may

  3  participate in those utility improvement, relocation, or

  4  removal costs that exceed the department's official estimate

  5  of the cost of such work by more than 10 percent. The amount

  6  of such participation shall be limited to the difference

  7  between the official estimate of all the work in the joint

  8  agreement plus 10 percent and the amount awarded for this work

  9  in the construction contract for such work. The department may

10  not participate in any utility improvement, relocation, or

11  removal costs that occur as a result of changes or additions

12  during the course of the contract.

13         (c)  When an agreement between the department and

14  utility is executed for utility improvement, relocation, or

15  removal work to be accomplished in advance of a contract for

16  construction of a transportation facility, the department may

17  participate in the cost of clearing and grubbing necessary to

18  perform such work.

19         Section 32.  Section 338.229, Florida Statutes, is

20  amended to read:

21         338.229  Pledge to bondholders not to restrict certain

22  rights of department.--The state does pledge to, and agree

23  with, the holders of the bonds issued pursuant to ss.

24  338.22-338.241 338.22-338.244 that the state will not limit or

25  restrict the rights vested in the department to construct,

26  reconstruct, maintain, and operate any turnpike project as

27  defined in ss. 338.22-338.241 338.22-338.244 or to establish

28  and collect such tolls or other charges as may be convenient

29  or necessary to produce sufficient revenues to meet the

30  expenses of maintenance and operation of the turnpike system

31  and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the

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  1  holders of bonds authorized by this act and that the state

  2  will not in any way impair the rights or remedies of the

  3  holders of such bonds until the bonds, together with interest

  4  on the bonds, are fully paid and discharged. In implementing

  5  this section, the department is specifically authorized to

  6  provide for further restrictions on the sale, transfer, lease,

  7  or other disposition or operation of any portion of the

  8  turnpike system, which reduces the revenue available for

  9  payment to bondholders.

10         Section 33.  Subsections (3) and (23) of section

11  479.01, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

12         479.01  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the

13  term:

14         (3)  "Commercial or industrial zone" means a parcel of

15  land an area within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the

16  right-of-way of the interstate or federal-aid primary system

17  designated predominately for commercial or industrial use

18  under both the future land use map of the comprehensive plan

19  and the land use development regulations adopted pursuant to

20  chapter 163. Where a parcel is located in an area designated

21  for multiple uses on the future land use map of the

22  comprehensive plan, and the land development regulations do

23  not clearly designate the parcel for a specific use, the area

24  will be considered an unzoned commercial or industrial area if

25  it meets the criteria of subsection (23) Where a local

26  governmental entity has not enacted a comprehensive plan by

27  local ordinance but has zoning regulations governing the area,

28  the zoning of an area shall determine whether the area is

29  designated predominately for commercial or industrial uses.

30         (23)(a)  "Unzoned commercial or industrial area" means

31  a parcel of land designated by the an area within 660 feet of

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  1  the nearest edge of the right-of-way of the interstate or

  2  federal-aid primary system where the land use is not covered

  3  by a future land use map of the comprehensive plan for

  4  multiple uses, including commercial or industrial uses, but

  5  not specifically designated for commerical or industrial uses

  6  under the land development regulations or zoning regulation

  7  pursuant to subsection (2), in which there are located three

  8  or more separate and distinct conforming industrial or

  9  commercial activities such that:

10         1.  At least one of the commercial or industrial

11  activities is located on the same side of the highway and

12  within 800 feet of the sign location;

13         2.  The commercial or industrial activities are within

14  660 feet from the nearest edge of the right-of-way; and

15         3.  The commercial or industrial activities are within

16  1,600 feet of each other.

17

18  Distances shall be measured from the nearest outer edge of the

19  primary building or, when the individual units of a building

20  complex are connected by covered walkways, from the nearest

21  outer edge of the primary building complex. uses located

22  within a 1,600-foot radius of each other and generally

23  recognized as commercial or industrial by zoning authorities

24  in this state.

25         (b)  Certain activities, including, but not limited to,

26  the following, may not be so recognized as commercial or

27  industrial:

28         1.(a)  Signs.

29         2.  Communication towers.

30

31

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  1         3.(b)  Agricultural, forestry, ranching, grazing,

  2  farming, and related activities, including, but not limited

  3  to, wayside fresh produce stands.

  4         4.(c)  Transient or temporary activities.

  5         5.(d)  Activities not visible from the main-traveled

  6  way.

  7         6.(e)  Activities conducted more than 660 feet from the

  8  nearest edge of the right-of-way.

  9         7.(f)  Activities conducted in a building principally

10  used as a residence.

11         8.(g)  Railroad tracks and minor sidings.

12         Section 34.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section

13  479.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

14         479.07  Sign permits.--

15         (8)

16         (b)  If a permittee has not submitted his or her fee

17  payment by the expiration date of the licenses or permits, the

18  department shall send a notice of violation to the permittee

19  within 45 days after the expiration date, requiring the

20  payment of the permit fee within 30 days after the date of the

21  notice and payment of a delinquency fee equal to 10 percent of

22  the original amount due or, in the alternative to these

23  payments, requiring the filing of a request for an

24  administrative hearing to show cause why his or her sign

25  should not be subject to immediate removal due to expiration

26  of his or her license or permit. If the permittee submits

27  payment as required by the violation notice, his or her

28  license or permit will be automatically reinstated and such

29  reinstatement will be retroactive to the original expiration

30  date. If the permittee does not respond to the notice of

31  violation within the 30-day period, the department shall,

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  1  within 30 days, issue a final notice of sign removal and may,

  2  following 90 days after the date of the department's final

  3  notice of sign removal, remove the sign without incurring any

  4  liability as a result of such removal. However, if at any time

  5  prior to removal of the sign within 90 days after the date of

  6  the department's final notice of sign removal, the permittee

  7  demonstrates that a good faith error on the part of the

  8  permittee resulted in cancellation or nonrenewal of the

  9  permit, the department may reinstate the permit if:

10         1.  The sign has not yet been disassembled by the

11  permittee;

12         2.  Conflicting applications have not been filed by

13  other persons;

14         1.3.  A The permit reinstatement fee of up to $300 is

15  paid, based on the size of the sign;

16         2.4.  All other permit renewal and delinquent permit

17  fees due as of the reinstatement date are paid; and

18         3.5.  The permittee reimburses the department for all

19  actual costs resulting from the permit cancellation or

20  nonrenewal and sign removal.

21

22  Conflicting applications filed by other persons for the same

23  or competing site covered by a permit subject to the

24  provisions of this paragraph shall not be approved until after

25  the sign subject to the expired permit has been removed.

26         Section 35.  Subsection (15) of section 479.16, Florida

27  Statutes, is amended to read:

28         479.16  Signs for which permits are not required.--The

29  following signs are exempt from the requirement that a permit

30  for a sign be obtained under the provisions of this chapter

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  1  but are required to comply with the provisions of s.

  2  479.11(4)-(8):

  3         (15)  Signs not in excess of 16 square feet placed at a

  4  road junction with the State Highway System denoting only the

  5  distance or direction of a residence or farm operation, or, in

  6  a rural area where a hardship is created because a small

  7  business is not visible from the road junction with the State

  8  Highway System, one sign not in excess of 16 8 square feet,

  9  denoting only the name of the business and the distance and

10  direction to the business. The small-business-sign provision

11  of this subsection does not apply to charter counties and may

12  not be implemented if the Federal Government notifies the

13  department that implementation will adversely affect the

14  allocation of federal funds to the department.

15         Section 36.  Subsection (1) of section 14 of chapter

16  96-423, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

17         Section 14.  (1)  Notwithstanding chapter 253, Florida

18  Statutes, or chapter 270, Florida Statutes, the Department of

19  Transportation, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the

20  Internal Improvement Trust Fund, may sell the state real

21  property located at 5200 East Colonial Drive, Orlando,

22  Florida, which is utilized by the Department of Highway Safety

23  and Motor Vehicles.  Any such sale shall be at fair market

24  value. Proceeds from the sale shall be deposited in the State

25  Transportation Trust Fund. or the existing lease between the

26  Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and

27  the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for use

28  of the regional service center located at 133 South Semoran

29  Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, the department, with the

30  technical assistance and staff support of the Department of

31  Management Services, may sell the regional service center.

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  1  Proceeds from the sale shall be deposited in the Professional

  2  Regulation Trust Fund and distributed to the accounts of the

  3  professions, based on each profession's pro rata share of the

  4  costs of the original purchase and renovation of the real

  5  estate. The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement

  6  Trust Fund shall execute and deliver a deed of conveyance for

  7  the purpose of carrying into effect a contract or agreement of

  8  sale.

  9         Section 37.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

10  act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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  1            *****************************************

  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      Revises provisions of law relating to transportation to:
  4         1.  Revise a provision relating to the distribution
      of certain proceeds in the Fuel Tax Collection Trust
  5    Fund.
           2.  Transfer responsibility for welcome stations to
  6    the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.
           3.  Direct the Florida Transportation Commission to
  7    study the feasibility of transferring facilities of
      expressway and bridge authorities to the Department of
  8    Transportation.
           4.  Revise language with respect to the Center for
  9    Urban Transportation Research.
           5.  Provide that the penalty for obstructing traffic
10    upon damaging an unattended vehicle or other property is
      a noncriminal traffic infraction.
11         6.  Provide that public transit buses shall have the
      right-of-way when reentering the traffic flow.
12         7.  Exempt described silvicultural and agricultural
      vehicles and equipment from weight restrictions on county
13    roads.
           8.  Provide a service charge for validation stickers
14    issued by printer dispenser machines.
           9.  Provide that fines for construction zone
15    violations shall only be doubled under described
      circumstances.
16         10.  Provide for staggered registration with respect
      to described fleet registrations.
17         11.  Provide penalties for late or improper
      registrations.
18         12.  Exempt described commercial motor vehicles from
      the International Registration Plan.
19         13.  Establish the mission and program objectives of
      the Florida Highway Patrol.
20         14.  Revise language with respect to nighttime
      driving restrictions for persons with learner's driver
21    licenses.
           15.  Limit airport development support to described
22    airports.
           16.  Extend the time period for the model career
23    service classification plan in the Department of
      Transportation.
24         17.  Repeal a provision relating to welcome
      stations.
25         18.  Revise surety approval requirements for
      described supplemental agreements of the Department of
26    Transportation.
           19.  Revise the State Arbitration Board contract
27    claim program.
           20. Revise provisions relating to suits against the
28    department and the liability of the department.
           21.  Authorize the department to participate in the
29    cost of clearing and grubbing necessary to perform
      utility improvement, relocation, or removal work under
30    described circumstances.
           22.  Authorize the department to provide
31    restrictions on the sale, transfer, lease, or other
      disposition or operation of any portion of the turnpike
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  1    system which reduces the revenue available for the
      payment of bondholders.
  2         23.  Revise provisions relating to the reinstatement
      of expired outdoor advertising permits.
  3

  4    See bill for details.

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