House Bill hb0035e2

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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to expressway authorities;

  3         amending s. 212.0606, F.S.; requiring proceeds

  4         from the surcharge in the State Transportation

  5         Trust Fund be used to fund the County Incentive

  6         Grant Program in the Department of

  7         Transportation; amending s. 348.0003, F.S.;

  8         authorizing a county governing body to set

  9         qualifications, terms of office, and

10         obligations and rights for the members of

11         expressway authorities within their

12         jurisdictions; amending s. 348.0008, F.S.;

13         allowing expressway authorities to acquire

14         certain interests in land; providing for

15         expressway authorities and their agents or

16         employees to access public or private property

17         for certain purposes; creating s. 348.7521,

18         F.S.; clarifying expressway authority's

19         jurisdiction; clarifying bonding requirements;

20         amending s. 348.754, F.S.; providing that

21         certain activities of an expressway authority

22         may be approved by the governing body of the

23         affected county at the conclusion of a public

24         hearing on the matter; restricting certain

25         activities affecting the Wekiva River or Green

26         Swamp Area by the Orlando-Orange County

27         Expressway Authority; amending s. 348.7543,

28         F.S.; specifying the revenue bonds that may be

29         used to finance certain improvements to the

30         Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority;

31         amending s. 348.7544, F.S.; authorizing the


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1         authority to refinance the Northwest Beltway

  2         Part A; prohibiting the authority from

  3         financing or constructing new facilities to the

  4         Northwest Beltway Part A without prior

  5         legislative approval unless on behalf of the

  6         Department of Transportation; amending s.

  7         348.7545, F.S.; authorizing the authority to

  8         refinance the Western Beltway Part C; amending

  9         s. 348.755, F.S.; prescribing additional

10         authority to issue bonds by or on behalf of the

11         authority; prescribing a condition on issuance

12         of bonds by the authority; amending s. 348.765,

13         F.S.; restating the authority's exemption from

14         certain provisions relating to issuance of

15         bonds by state agencies; providing an effective

16         date.

17

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

19

20         Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 212.0606, Florida

21  Statutes, is amended to read:

22         212.0606  Rental car surcharge.--

23         (2)(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section

24  212.20, and less costs of administration, 80 percent of the

25  proceeds of this surcharge shall be deposited in the State

26  Transportation Trust Fund, 15.75 percent of the proceeds of

27  this surcharge shall be deposited in the Tourism Promotional

28  Trust Fund created in s. 288.122, and 4.25 percent of the

29  proceeds of this surcharge shall be deposited in the Florida

30  International Trade and Promotion Trust Fund. For the purposes

31  of this subsection, "proceeds" of the surcharge means all


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  funds collected and received by the department under this

  2  section, including interest and penalties on delinquent

  3  surcharges.

  4         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in

  5  fiscal year 2007-2008 and each year thereafter, the proceeds

  6  deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund shall be

  7  allocated on an annual basis in the Department of

  8  Transportation's work program to each department district,

  9  except the Turnpike District. The amount allocated for each

10  district shall be based upon the amount of proceeds collected

11  in the counties within each respective district.

12         Section 2.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section

13  348.0003, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

14         348.0003  Expressway authority; formation;

15  membership.--

16         (2)  The governing body of an authority shall consist

17  of not fewer than five nor more than nine voting members. The

18  district secretary of the affected department district shall

19  serve as a nonvoting member of the governing body of each

20  authority located within the district. Each member of the

21  governing body must at all times during his or her term of

22  office be a permanent resident of the county which he or she

23  is appointed to represent.

24         (d)  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in

25  this subsection, in any county as defined in s. 125.011(1),

26  the governing body of an authority shall consist of up to 13

27  members, and the following provisions of this paragraph shall

28  apply specifically to such authority. Except for the district

29  secretary of the department, the members must be residents of

30  the county. Seven voting members shall be appointed by the

31  governing body of the county. At the discretion of the


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  governing body of the county, up to two of the members

  2  appointed by the governing body of the county may be elected

  3  officials residing in the county. Five voting members of the

  4  authority shall be appointed by the Governor. One member shall

  5  be the district secretary of the department serving in the

  6  district that contains such county. This member shall be an ex

  7  officio voting member of the authority. If the governing board

  8  of an authority includes any member originally appointed by

  9  the governing body of the county as a nonvoting member, when

10  the term of such member expires, that member shall be replaced

11  by a member appointed by the Governor until the governing body

12  of the authority is composed of seven members appointed by the

13  governing body of the county and five members appointed by the

14  Governor. The qualifications, terms of office, and obligations

15  and rights of members of the authority shall be determined by

16  resolution or ordinance of the governing body of the county in

17  a manner that is consistent with subsections (3) and (4).

18         Section 3.  Section 348.0008, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         348.0008  Acquisition of lands and property.--

21         (1)  For the purposes of the Florida Expressway

22  Authority Act, an expressway authority may acquire such

23  rights, title, or interest in private or public property and

24  such property rights, including easements, rights of access,

25  air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or

26  condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the authority

27  may deem necessary for any of the purposes of the Florida

28  Expressway Authority Act, including, but not limited to, any

29  lands reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits,

30  areas necessary for management of access, borrow pits,

31  drainage ditches, water retention areas, rest areas,


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  replacement access for landowners whose access is impaired due

  2  to the construction of an expressway system, and replacement

  3  rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility facilities; for

  4  existing, proposed, or anticipated transportation facilities

  5  on the expressway system or in a transportation corridor

  6  designated by the authority; or for the purposes of screening,

  7  relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards and scrap metal

  8  processing facilities.  The authority may also condemn any

  9  material and property necessary for such purposes.

10         (2)  An authority and its authorized agents,

11  contractors, and employees are authorized to enter upon any

12  lands, waters, and premises, upon giving reasonable notice to

13  the landowner, for the purpose of making surveys, soundings,

14  drillings, appraisals, environmental assessments including

15  phase I and phase II environmental surveys, archaeological

16  assessments, and such other examinations as are necessary for

17  the acquisition of private or public property and property

18  rights, including rights of access, air, view, and light, by

19  gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain

20  proceedings or as are necessary for the authority to perform

21  its duties and functions; and any such entry shall not be

22  deemed a trespass or an entry that would constitute a taking

23  in an eminent domain proceeding. An expressway authority shall

24  make reimbursement for any actual damage to such lands, water,

25  and premises as a result of such activities.

26         (3)(2)  The right of eminent domain conferred by the

27  Florida Expressway Authority Act must be exercised by each

28  authority in the manner provided by law.

29         (4)(3)  When an authority acquires property for an

30  expressway system or in a transportation corridor as defined

31  in s. 334.03, it is not subject to any liability imposed by


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or groundwater

  2  contamination due solely to its ownership. This subsection

  3  does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past or

  4  future owners of the acquired property nor does it affect the

  5  liability of any governmental entity for the results of its

  6  actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. An

  7  authority and the Department of Environmental Protection may

  8  enter into interagency agreements for the performance,

  9  funding, and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial

10  acts necessary for property acquired by the authority.

11         Section 4.  Section 348.7521, Florida Statutes, is

12  created to read:

13         348.7521  Jurisdiction of the Orlando-Orange County

14  Expressway Authority System.--  The jurisdictional area of the

15  Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority System is limited

16  to the City of Orlando, Orange County, and adjacent counties.

17  The exercise by the Authority of the powers granted pursuant

18  to this part shall be limited to the geographic boundaries

19  established for the Authority pursuant to this part and does

20  not expand the current powers or duties of the Authority.

21  Exercise by the Authority of its right to issue bonds shall be

22  subject to the terms and provisions of this part, and s.11(f),

23  Art. VII of the State Constitution.

24         Section 5.  Paragraph (n) of subsection (2) and

25  subsection (4) of section 348.754, Florida Statutes, are

26  amended, and subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:

27         348.754  Purposes and powers.--

28         (2)  The authority is hereby granted, and shall have

29  and may exercise all powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient

30  or incidental to the carrying out of the aforesaid purposes,

31


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  including, but without being limited to, the following rights

  2  and powers:

  3         (n)  With the consent of the county within whose

  4  jurisdiction the following activities occur, the authority

  5  shall have the right to construct, operate, and maintain

  6  roads, bridges, avenues of access, thoroughfares, and

  7  boulevards outside the jurisdictional boundaries of Orange

  8  County, together with the right to construct, repair, replace,

  9  operate, install, and maintain electronic toll payment systems

10  thereon, with all necessary and incidental powers to

11  accomplish the foregoing. County consent shall constitute

12  approval by the governing body of the affected county at the

13  conclusion of a public hearing to consider this action.

14         (4)  Anything in this part to the contrary

15  notwithstanding, acquisition of right-of-way for a project of

16  the authority which is within the boundaries of any

17  municipality in Orange County shall not be begun unless and

18  until the route of said project within said municipality has

19  been given prior approval by the governing body of said

20  municipality at the conclusion of a public hearing to consider

21  this action.

22         (6)  After July 1, 2002, the authority may not approve

23  any acquisition of right-of-way or construction of any new

24  additions, extensions, or appurtenant facilities without prior

25  legislative authorization if the new additions, extensions, or

26  appurtenant facilities are proposed to be located within the

27  Wekiva River Protection Area designated in s. 369.303(9) or

28  within the Green Swamp Area of Critical Concern designated in

29  s. 380.0551.

30         Section 6.  Section 748.7543, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1         348.7543  Improvements, bond financing authority

  2  for.--Pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State

  3  Constitution, the Legislature hereby approves for bond

  4  financing by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority

  5  improvements to toll collection facilities, interchanges to

  6  the legislatively approved expressway system, and any other

  7  facility appurtenant, necessary, or incidental to the approved

  8  system. Subject to terms and conditions of applicable revenue

  9  bond resolutions and covenants, such costs financing may be

10  financed in whole or in part by revenue bonds issued pursuant

11  to s. 348.755(1)(a) or (b) whether currently issued or, issued

12  in the future, or by a combination of such bonds.

13         Section 7.  Section 348.7544, Florida Statutes, is

14  amended to read:

15         348.7544  Northwest Beltway Part A, construction

16  authorized; financing.--Notwithstanding s. 338.2275, the

17  Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority is hereby

18  authorized to construct, finance, operate, own, and maintain

19  that portion of the Western Beltway known as the Northwest

20  Beltway Part A, extending from Florida's Turnpike near Ocoee

21  north to U.S. 441 near Apopka, as part of the authority's

22  20-year capital projects plan. This project may be financed

23  with any funds available to the authority for such purpose or

24  revenue bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance of the

25  State Board of Administration on behalf of the authority

26  pursuant to s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and the

27  State Bond Act, ss. 215.57-215.83. This project may be

28  refinanced with bonds issued by the authority pursuant to s.

29  348.755(1)(d). The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority

30  may not design, finance, acquire, or construct any new

31  extension, addition, or appurtenant facilities to the


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  Northwest Beltway, Part A, extending northeasterly of its

  2  current terminus at U.S. 441 near Apopka without prior

  3  legislative approval. However, the authority may perform

  4  design, acquisition, or construction functions on behalf of

  5  the Department of Transportation pursuant to s. 348.754(2)(i).

  6         Section 8.  Section 348.7545, Florida Statutes, is

  7  amended to read:

  8         348.7545  Western Beltway Part C, construction

  9  authorized; financing.--Notwithstanding s. 338.2275, the

10  Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority is authorized to

11  exercise its condemnation powers, construct, finance, operate,

12  own, and maintain that portion of the Western Beltway known as

13  the Western Beltway Part C, extending from Florida's Turnpike

14  near Ocoee in Orange County southerly through Orange and

15  Osceola Counties to an interchange with I-4 near the

16  Osceola-Polk County line, as part of the authority's 20-year

17  capital projects plan. This project may be financed with any

18  funds available to the authority for such purpose or revenue

19  bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance of the State

20  Board of Administration on behalf of the authority pursuant to

21  s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond

22  Act, ss. 215.57-215.83. This project may be refinanced with

23  bonds issued by the authority pursuant to s. 348.755(1)(d).

24         Section 9.  Subsection (1) of section 348.755, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         348.755  Bonds of the authority.--

27         (1)(a)  Bonds may be issued on behalf of the authority

28  pursuant to the State Bond Act.

29         (b)  Alternatively, the authority may issue its own

30  bonds pursuant to this part at such times and in such

31  principal amount as, in the opinion of the authority, is


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  necessary to provide sufficient moneys for achieving its

  2  purposes; however, such bonds may not pledge the full faith

  3  and credit of the state. Bonds issued by the authority

  4  pursuant to this paragraph or paragraph (a) The bonds of the

  5  authority issued pursuant to the provisions of this part,

  6  whether on original issuance or on refunding, shall be

  7  authorized by resolution of the members thereof and may be

  8  either term or serial bonds, shall bear such date or dates,

  9  mature at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from

10  their respective dates, bear interest at such rate or rates,

11  payable semiannually, be in such denominations, be in such

12  form, either coupon or fully registered, shall carry such

13  registration, exchangeability and interchangeability

14  privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such

15  place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption and be

16  entitled to such priorities on the revenues, rates, fees,

17  rentals or other charges or receipts of the authority

18  including the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the

19  authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase

20  agreement between the authority and the department, as such

21  resolution or any resolution subsequent thereto may provide.

22  The bonds shall be executed either by manual or facsimile

23  signature by such officers as the authority shall determine,

24  provided that such bonds shall bear at least one signature

25  which is manually executed thereon, and the coupons attached

26  to such bonds shall bear the facsimile signature or signatures

27  of such officer or officers as shall be designated by the

28  authority and shall have the seal of the authority affixed,

29  imprinted, reproduced or lithographed thereon, all as may be

30  prescribed in such resolution or resolutions.

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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1         (c)(b)  Said Bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (a) or

  2  paragraph (b) shall be sold at public sale in the same manner

  3  provided by the State Bond Act.  However, if the authority

  4  shall, by official action at a public meeting, determine that

  5  a negotiated sale of such the bonds is in the best interest of

  6  the authority, the authority may negotiate the for sale of

  7  such the bonds with the underwriter or underwriters designated

  8  by the authority and the Division of Bond Finance of the State

  9  Board of Administration with respect to bonds issued pursuant

10  to paragraph (a) or solely the authority with respect to bonds

11  issued pursuant to paragraph (b). The authority's

12  determination to negotiate the sale of such bonds may be

13  based, in part, upon the written advice of the authority's

14  financial advisor. Pending the preparation of definitive

15  bonds, interim certificates may be issued to the purchaser or

16  purchasers of such bonds and may contain such terms and

17  conditions as the authority may determine.

18         (d)  The authority may issue bonds pursuant to

19  paragraph (b) to refund any bonds previously issued regardless

20  of whether the bonds being refunded were issued by the

21  authority pursuant to this chapter or on behalf of the

22  authority pursuant to the State Bond Act.

23         Section 10.  Section 348.765, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         348.765  This part complete and additional authority.--

26         (1)  The powers conferred by this part shall be in

27  addition and supplemental to the existing powers of said board

28  and the department, and this part shall not be construed as

29  repealing any of the provisions, of any other law, general,

30  special or local, but to supersede such other laws in the

31  exercise of the powers provided in this part, and to provide a


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                                        CS/HB 35, Second Engrossed



  1  complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this

  2  part.  The extension and improvement of said Orlando-Orange

  3  County Expressway System, and the issuance of bonds hereunder

  4  to finance all or part of the cost thereof, may be

  5  accomplished upon compliance with the provisions of this part

  6  without regard to or necessity for compliance with the

  7  provisions, limitations, or restrictions contained in any

  8  other general, special or local law, including, but not

  9  limited to, s. 215.821, and no approval of any bonds issued

10  under this part by the qualified electors or qualified

11  electors who are freeholders in the state or in said County of

12  Orange, or in said City of Orlando, or in any other political

13  subdivision of the state, shall be required for the issuance

14  of such bonds pursuant to this part.

15         (2)  This part shall not be deemed to repeal, rescind,

16  or modify any other law or laws relating to said State Board

17  of Administration, said Department of Transportation, or the

18  Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration,

19  but shall be deemed to and shall supersede such other law or

20  laws as are inconsistent with the provisions of this part,

21  including, but not limited to, s. 215.821.

22         Section 11.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

23  law.

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