House Bill 2073e1
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HB 2073, First Engrossed
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to economic development;
3 creating the "21st Century Digital Television
4 and Education Act"; providing legislative
5 findings and intent; creating the 21st Century
6 Digital Television and Education Task Force;
7 providing membership; providing duties;
8 providing for a report; providing an effective
9 date.
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11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. Twenty-first Century Digital Television and
14 Education Act.--
15 (1) Short title.--This act may be cited as the "21st
16 Century Digital Television and Education Act."
17 (2) Legislative findings and intent.--The Legislature
18 finds that the federally mandated transition from analog to
19 digital television will provide numerous new, improved, and
20 innovative information and entertainment services to the
21 public. The Legislature further finds that, whereas all
22 commercial and noncommercial television markets in the United
23 States must begin digital broadcasts by no later than May,
24 2003, it is in the interest of the state to facilitate the
25 conversion of existing television stations, studios, networks,
26 and production companies to digital technology as well as to
27 encourage new companies involved in digital television and
28 related industries to locate in Florida. It is therefore the
29 intent of the Legislature to investigate and create the
30 economic incentives and educational opportunities necessary to
31 position Florida as a 21st century leader in the production,
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HB 2073, First Engrossed
1 transmission, manufacturing, and research and development of
2 digital television and related digital communication.
3 (3) Task force; membership; duties.--
4 (a) The "21st Century Digital Television and Education
5 Task Force" is hereby created to serve through February 1,
6 2000. The task force is created within the Office of Tourism,
7 Trade, and Economic Development, which shall provide staff
8 support for the activities of the taskforce. The task force
9 shall consist of the following members:
10 1. Two members to be appointed by the Governor.
11 2. Two members of the Senate, or their designees, to
12 be appointed by the President of the Senate.
13 3. Two members of the House of Representatives, or
14 their designees, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House
15 of Representatives.
16 4. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's
17 designee.
18 5. The Chancellor of the State University System or
19 the chancellor's designee.
20 6. The Executive Director of the State Community
21 College System or the executive director's designee.
22 7. The President of the Independent Colleges and
23 Universities of Florida or the president's designee.
24 (b) Each appointed member of the task force shall
25 serve at the pleasure of the appointing official. A vacancy on
26 the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the
27 original appointment.
28 (c) The task force shall elect a chair from among its
29 members. A vacancy in the chair of the task force must be
30 filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by an election
31 of the task force members.
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HB 2073, First Engrossed
1 (d) The task force shall meet as necessary, at the
2 call of the chair or at the call of a quorum of the task
3 force, and at the time and place designated by the chair. A
4 quorum is necessary for the purpose of conducting official
5 business of the task force. Six members of the task force
6 shall constitute a quorum. The task force shall use accepted
7 rules of procedure to conduct its meetings and shall keep a
8 complete record of each meeting.
9 (e) Members of the task force shall receive no
10 compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to
11 receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in s.
12 112.061, Florida Statutes.
13 (f) The Task Force shall act as an advisory body and
14 shall make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature
15 on a coordinated plan to carry out the legislative intent of
16 this act. The task force shall have the following duties:
17 1. Devise a plan to recruit the following industry
18 segments to locate in Florida:
19 a. Digital programmers and producers, including
20 companies involved in the production, marketing, and
21 development of digital content, as well as studios, networks,
22 and television stations.
23 b. Companies involved in the transmission of digital
24 media, including television broadcasters, cable and satellite
25 companies, television, theater, and film industry members,
26 Internet content providers, web site producers, and other
27 information service providers.
28 c. Digital television equipment manufacturers,
29 including makers of digital video cameras, audio equipment,
30 transmission equipment, television sets, set-top boxes and
31 related hardware, monitors, displays, tapes, and discs.
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HB 2073, First Engrossed
1 d. Companies involved in the research and development
2 of new and innovative digital television equipment, consumer
3 electronics, prototypes, and products.
4 2. Investigate and recommend strong economic
5 incentives to encourage the digital industry segments
6 described in subparagraph 1. to locate and compete in Florida.
7 3. Devise a plan to create and maintain higher
8 education opportunities for students wishing to enter the
9 digital television field. At minimum, the plan shall consider
10 and address the following:
11 a. The extent to which higher education opportunities
12 are currently available to students in the areas of digital
13 production, transmission, manufacturing, and research and
14 development.
15 b. The workforce needs of the digital television
16 industry segments described in subparagraph 1.
17 c. Recommendations and an operational plan for
18 creating and maintaining higher education opportunities in
19 digital television production, transmission, manufacturing,
20 and research and development.
21 d. Any other recommendations to encourage and promote
22 the development of a skilled workforce in digital broadcast
23 communications and high-definition television.
24 4. Recommend methods to hasten the conversion of
25 existing commercial television studios and soundstages from
26 analog to digital technology.
27 5. Recommend a means to fund the cost of converting
28 public broadcast stations from analog to digital technology,
29 including a grant program for Florida Public Television.
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HB 2073, First Engrossed
1 6. Issue a report to the Legislature no later than
2 February 1, 2000, summarizing its findings, stating its
3 conclusions, and proposing its recommendations.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
5 law.
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