House Bill 0717e1

                                        CS/HB 717, First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to building designations;

  3         designating the first building constructed on

  4         the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University as

  5         the "Ben Hill Griffin III Building"; directing

  6         the Board of Regents of the Division of

  7         Universities of the Department of Education to

  8         erect suitable markers; providing an effective

  9         date.

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11         WHEREAS, Ben Hill Griffin III and his family,

12  distinguished members of the business community and

13  philanthropists, are longtime supporters of education in the

14  State of Florida, and

15         WHEREAS, Ben Hill Griffin III and his family have

16  contributed many millions of dollars to the university system

17  in the State of Florida, and

18         WHEREAS, Ben Hill Griffin III, the Chairman of the

19  Alico, Inc., Board of Directors, members of the board, and

20  their stockholders have dedicated themselves to supporting

21  higher education and to continued support of the State of

22  Florida, particularly Southwest Florida, and

23         WHEREAS, Alico, through Ben Hill Griffin III, with the

24  full support of its Board of Directors, contributed a 760-acre

25  site to the Florida Board of Regents to establish the campus

26  of Florida Gulf Coast University, the 10th member of the State

27  University System of Florida, located in Southwest Florida,

28  and

29         WHEREAS, through Mr. Griffin's leadership, Alico's

30  contributions to Florida Gulf Coast University to date include

31  not only the site location but also a separate gift of 215


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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






                                        CS/HB 717, First Engrossed



  1  acres, $1.2 million to fund academic chairs, $2.4 million for

  2  road construction, $200,000 for design assistance, and

  3  cooperative planning for a 1/2-mile buffer around the

  4  university site, and

  5         WHEREAS, it is appropriate that loyal and distinguished

  6  friends and supporters of Florida Gulf Coast University be

  7  recognized for their contribution to Florida's newest

  8  university, NOW, THEREFORE,

  9

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

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12         Section 1.  Ben Hill Griffin III Building designated;

13  erection of suitable markers.--

14         (1)  The first building constructed on the campus of

15  Florida Gulf Coast University is hereby designated as the "Ben

16  Hill Griffin III Building."

17         (2)  The Board of Regents of the Division of

18  Universities of the Department of Education shall erect

19  suitable markers designating the "Ben Hill Griffin III

20  Building" as described in subsection (1).

21         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

22  law.

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