Senate Bill sb2658c2

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    Florida Senate - 2003                    CS for CS for SB 2658

    By the Committees on Governmental Oversight and Productivity;
    Transportation; and Senator Sebesta




    302-2516-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to transportation; amending ss.

  3         20.23 and 110.205, F.S.; providing for the

  4         reorganization of the Department of

  5         Transportation; revising duties of the

  6         assistant secretaries; providing for additional

  7         offices; amending s. 255.20, F.S.; providing

  8         for a presumption of prequalification for

  9         certain contractors; amending s. 316.1001,

10         F.S.; providing for issuing citations for toll

11         violations by first class mail; providing that

12         mailing constitutes notification of such a

13         violation; amending s. 316.302, F.S.; revising

14         provisions for exemption from specified

15         notification requirements for commercial motor

16         vehicles carrying hazardous materials;

17         incorporating specified federal regulations;

18         updating regulations and rules applicable to

19         certain commercial motor vehicle owners and

20         drivers; specifying ownership identification

21         requirements for certain commercial motor

22         carriers; providing penalties for violation of

23         such requirements; providing for compliance

24         reviews; deleting obsolete references;

25         requirements for identifying commercial

26         vehicles; authorizing the department to conduct

27         compliance reviews; amending s. 316.3025, F.S.;

28         conforming references; providing for a civil

29         penalty to be assessed for additional specified

30         violations; providing penalties for commercial

31         trucks found to be operating following an

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 1         out-of-service order; amending s. 316.3026,

 2         F.S.; providing for the Office of Motor Carrier

 3         Compliance to enforce laws governing the

 4         operating authority of motor carriers;

 5         repealing s. 316.3027, F.S., relating to

 6         identification requirements of commercial

 7         vehicles; amending s. 316.515, F.S.; revising

 8         length limitations for certain commercial

 9         vehicles; amending s. 316.545, F.S.; providing

10         for placement of a lien on a vehicle for

11         failure to pay an out-of-service fine; deleting

12         obsolete provisions; authorizing weight

13         inspectors to detain a commercial vehicle under

14         certain circumstances; repealing s. 316.610(3),

15         F.S., relating to a commercial vehicle

16         inspection program within the department which

17         no longer exists; amending s. 316.640, F.S.;

18         providing for authorization of traffic accident

19         investigation officers; amending s. 316.650,

20         F.S.; authorizing the transfer of toll

21         violation citations via electronic means;

22         amending s. 316.70, F.S.; authorizing the

23         department to conduct compliance reviews of

24         nonpublic sector buses; amending s. 318.14,

25         F.S.; revising the time period for paying

26         certain civil penalties; amending s. 330.27,

27         F.S.; revising definitions; amending s. 330.29,

28         F.S.; revising duties of the Department of

29         Transportation with respect to the regulation

30         of airport sites and airports; requiring the

31         department to establish requirements for

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 1         airport site approval, licensure, and

 2         registration; requiring the department to

 3         establish and maintain a state aviation

 4         facility data system; amending s. 330.30, F.S.;

 5         revising provisions for airport site approval;

 6         revising provisions for airport licensing;

 7         providing for a private airport registration

 8         process; specifying requirements for such

 9         licensing and registration; deleting airport

10         license fees; providing for expiration and

11         revocation of such license or registration;

12         revising provisions for exemption from such

13         registration and licensing requirements;

14         exempting described areas and facilities from

15         such requirements; providing described private

16         airports the option to be inspected and

17         licensed by the department; amending s. 330.35,

18         F.S.; revising provisions for airport zoning

19         protection for public-use airports; amending s.

20         330.36, F.S.; providing for zoning requirements

21         governing the landing of seaplanes; amending s.

22         288.075, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes

23         made by the act; amending s. 331.303, F.S.;

24         revising a definition; amending s. 331.308,

25         F.S.; revising provisions relating to the board

26         of supervisors for the Florida Space Authority;

27         amending s. 331.367, F.S.; conforming

28         provisions to changes made by the act; amending

29         s. 331.368, F.S.; revising the membership of

30         the board of directors for the Florida Space

31         Research Institute; clarifying the authority of

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 1         the Florida Space Research Institute; providing

 2         for the submission of an annual report to the

 3         Commissioner of Education; amending s. 331.401,

 4         F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by

 5         the act; amending s. 331.403, F.S.; revising

 6         legislative findings and intent; amending s.

 7         331.405, F.S.; defining the term "aerospace";

 8         amending s. 331.407, F.S.; redesignating the

 9         Florida Commercial Space Finance Corporation as

10         the Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation;

11         conforming provisions to changes made by the

12         act; providing that the Florida Aerospace

13         Finance Corporation is not an agency for

14         certain purposes; amending ss. 331.409 and

15         331.411, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes

16         made by the act; amending s. 334.03, F.S.;

17         defining "511 services" and "interactive voice

18         response"; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; expanding

19         the powers and duties of the department to

20         include oversight of traveler information

21         systems; amending s. 334.14, F.S.; revising the

22         qualifications required for engineers employed

23         by the department; creating s. 334.60, F.S.;

24         requiring the department to be the lead agency

25         in establishing and coordinating a 511 traveler

26         information phone system; amending s. 336.467,

27         F.S.; authorizing the department to acquire

28         rights-of-way for other governmental entities;

29         amending s. 337.14, F.S.; clarifying the

30         contractor prequalification process;

31         prohibiting a construction contractor from

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 1         providing testing services; amending s. 337.18,

 2         F.S.; clarifying that surety bonds issued in

 3         favor of the department for construction and

 4         maintenance projects over a specified amount

 5         are governed by chapter 337, F.S.; removing

 6         certain limitations on contractor incentive

 7         payments; amending s. 338.165, F.S.;

 8         authorizing the Division of Bond Finance to

 9         issue bonds at the department's request for

10         certain facilities; amending s. 338.235, F.S.;

11         authorizing the turnpike authority to secure

12         products, business opportunities, and services

13         by competitive solicitation; creating s.

14         339.61, F.S.; providing legislative findings;

15         creating s. 339.62, F.S.; providing the

16         components of the Strategic Intermodal System;

17         creating s. 339.63, F.S.; designating system

18         facilities; creating s. 339.64, F.S.; providing

19         for the Strategic Intermodal System Plan;

20         creating s. 339.65, F.S.; creating the

21         Strategic Intermodal Transportation Advisory

22         Council; amending s. 95.361, F.S.; providing

23         for government acquisition of certain roads;

24         providing procedures to contest such

25         acquisition; repealing s. 83 of ch. 2002-20,

26         Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 58 of ch.

27         2002-402, Laws of Florida, relating to grants

28         for local governments; designating an official

29         state aviation museum; providing an effective

30         date.

31  

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

 2  

 3         Section 1.  Section 20.23, Florida Statutes, is amended

 4  to read:

 5         20.23  Department of Transportation.--There is created

 6  a Department of Transportation which shall be a decentralized

 7  agency.

 8         (1)(a)1.  The head of the Department of Transportation

 9  is the Secretary of Transportation. The secretary shall be

10  appointed by the Governor from among three persons nominated

11  by the Florida Transportation Commission and shall be subject

12  to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at

13  the pleasure of the Governor.

14         (b)2.  The secretary shall be a proven, effective

15  administrator who by a combination of education and experience

16  shall clearly possess a broad knowledge of the administrative,

17  financial, and technical aspects of the development,

18  operation, and regulation of transportation systems and

19  facilities or comparable systems and facilities.

20         (b)1.  The secretary shall employ all personnel of the

21  department.  He or she shall implement all laws, rules,

22  policies, and procedures applicable to the operation of the

23  department and may not by his or her actions disregard or act

24  in a manner contrary to any such policy.  The secretary shall

25  represent the department in its dealings with other state

26  agencies, local governments, special districts, and the

27  Federal Government.  He or she shall have authority to sign

28  and execute all documents and papers necessary to carry out

29  his or her duties and the operations of the department. At

30  each meeting of the Florida Transportation Commission, the

31  

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 1  secretary shall submit a report of major actions taken by him

 2  or her as official representative of the department.

 3         2.  The secretary shall cause the annual department

 4  budget request, the Florida Transportation Plan, and the

 5  tentative work program to be prepared in accordance with all

 6  applicable laws and departmental policies and shall submit the

 7  budget, plan, and program to the Florida Transportation

 8  Commission. The commission shall perform an in-depth

 9  evaluation of the budget, plan, and program for compliance

10  with all applicable laws and departmental policies.  If the

11  commission determines that the budget, plan, or program is not

12  in compliance with all applicable laws and departmental

13  policies, it shall report its findings and recommendations

14  regarding such noncompliance to the Legislature and the

15  Governor.

16         (c)3.  The secretary shall provide to the Florida

17  Transportation Commission or its staff, such assistance,

18  information, and documents as are requested by the commission

19  or its staff to enable the commission to fulfill its duties

20  and responsibilities.

21         (d)(c)  The secretary shall appoint two three assistant

22  secretaries who shall be directly responsible to the secretary

23  and who shall perform such duties as are specified in this

24  section and such other duties as are assigned by the

25  secretary.  The secretary may delegate to any assistant

26  secretary the authority to act in the absence of the

27  secretary. The department has the authority to adopt rules

28  necessary for the delegation of authority beyond the assistant

29  secretaries. The assistant secretaries shall serve at the

30  pleasure of the secretary.

31  

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 1         (e)(d)  Any secretary appointed after July 5, 1989, and

 2  the assistant secretaries shall be exempt from the provisions

 3  of part III of chapter 110 and shall receive compensation

 4  commensurate with their qualifications and competitive with

 5  compensation for comparable responsibility in the private

 6  sector.  When the salary of any assistant secretary exceeds

 7  the limits established in part III of chapter 110, the

 8  Governor shall approve said salary.

 9         (2)(a)1.  The Florida Transportation Commission is

10  hereby created and shall consist of nine members appointed by

11  the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate.  Members

12  of the commission shall serve terms of 4 years each.

13         2.  Members shall be appointed in such a manner as to

14  equitably represent all geographic areas of the state.  Each

15  member must be a registered voter and a citizen of the state.

16  Each member of the commission must also possess business

17  managerial experience in the private sector.

18         3.  A member of the commission shall represent the

19  transportation needs of the state as a whole and may not

20  subordinate the needs of the state to those of any particular

21  area of the state.

22         4.  The commission is assigned to the Office of the

23  Secretary of the Department of Transportation for

24  administrative and fiscal accountability purposes, but it

25  shall otherwise function independently of the control and

26  direction of the department.

27         (b)  The commission shall have the primary functions

28  to:

29         1.  Recommend major transportation policies for the

30  Governor's approval, and assure that approved policies and any

31  revisions thereto are properly executed.

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 1         2.  Periodically review the status of the state

 2  transportation system including highway, transit, rail,

 3  seaport, intermodal development, and aviation components of

 4  the system and recommend improvements therein to the Governor

 5  and the Legislature.

 6         3.  Perform an in-depth evaluation of the annual

 7  department budget request, the Florida Transportation Plan,

 8  and the tentative work program for compliance with all

 9  applicable laws and established departmental policies. Except

10  as specifically provided in s. 339.135(4)(c)2., (d), and (f),

11  the commission may not consider individual construction

12  projects, but shall consider methods of accomplishing the

13  goals of the department in the most effective, efficient, and

14  businesslike manner.

15         4.  Monitor the financial status of the department on a

16  regular basis to assure that the department is managing

17  revenue and bond proceeds responsibly and in accordance with

18  law and established policy.

19         5.  Monitor on at least a quarterly basis, the

20  efficiency, productivity, and management of the department,

21  using performance and production standards developed by the

22  commission pursuant to s. 334.045.

23         6.  Perform an in-depth evaluation of the factors

24  causing disruption of project schedules in the adopted work

25  program and recommend to the Legislature and the Governor

26  methods to eliminate or reduce the disruptive effects of these

27  factors.

28         7.  Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature

29  improvements to the department's organization in order to

30  streamline and optimize the efficiency of the department. In

31  reviewing the department's organization, the commission shall

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 1  determine if the current district organizational structure is

 2  responsive to Florida's changing economic and demographic

 3  development patterns. The initial report by the commission

 4  must be delivered to the Governor and Legislature by December

 5  15, 2000, and each year thereafter, as appropriate. The

 6  commission may retain such experts as are reasonably necessary

 7  to effectuate this subparagraph, and the department shall pay

 8  the expenses of such experts.

 9         (c)  The commission or a member thereof may not enter

10  into the day-to-day operation of the department and is

11  specifically prohibited from taking part in:

12         1.  The awarding of contracts.

13         2.  The selection of a consultant or contractor or the

14  prequalification of any individual consultant or contractor.

15  However, the commission may recommend to the secretary

16  standards and policies governing the procedure for selection

17  and prequalification of consultants and contractors.

18         3.  The selection of a route for a specific project.

19         4.  The specific location of a transportation facility.

20         5.  The acquisition of rights-of-way.

21         6.  The employment, promotion, demotion, suspension,

22  transfer, or discharge of any department personnel.

23         7.  The granting, denial, suspension, or revocation of

24  any license or permit issued by the department.

25         (d)1.  The chair of the commission shall be selected by

26  the commission members and shall serve a 1-year term.

27         2.  The commission shall hold a minimum of 4 regular

28  meetings annually, and other meetings may be called by the

29  chair upon giving at least 1 week's notice to all members and

30  the public pursuant to chapter 120. Other meetings may also be

31  held upon the written request of at least four other members

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 1  of the commission, with at least 1 week's notice of such

 2  meeting being given to all members and the public by the chair

 3  pursuant to chapter 120. Emergency meetings may be held

 4  without notice upon the request of all members of the

 5  commission. At each meeting of the commission, the secretary

 6  or his or her designee shall submit a report of major actions

 7  taken by him or her as the official representative of the

 8  department.

 9         3.  A majority of the membership of the commission

10  constitutes a quorum at any meeting of the commission.  An

11  action of the commission is not binding unless the action is

12  taken pursuant to an affirmative vote of a majority of the

13  members present, but not fewer than four members of the

14  commission at a meeting held pursuant to subparagraph 2., and

15  the vote is recorded in the minutes of that meeting.

16         4.  The chair shall cause to be made a complete record

17  of the proceedings of the commission, which record shall be

18  open for public inspection.

19         (e)  The meetings of the commission shall be held in

20  the central office of the department in Tallahassee unless the

21  chair determines that special circumstances warrant meeting at

22  another location.

23         (f)  Members of the commission are entitled to per diem

24  and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.

25         (g)  A member of the commission may not have any

26  interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, franchise,

27  privilege, or other benefit granted or awarded by the

28  department during the term of his or her appointment and for 2

29  years after the termination of such appointment.

30         (h)  The commission shall appoint an executive director

31  and assistant executive director, who shall serve under the

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 1  direction, supervision, and control of the commission.  The

 2  executive director, with the consent of the commission, shall

 3  employ such staff as are necessary to perform adequately the

 4  functions of the commission, within budgetary limitations.

 5  All employees of the commission are exempt from part II of

 6  chapter 110 and shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.

 7  The salaries and benefits of all employees of the commission

 8  shall be set in accordance with the Selected Exempt Service;

 9  provided, however, that the commission shall have complete

10  authority for fixing the salary of the executive director and

11  assistant executive director.

12         (i)  The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to

13  chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the

14  department, but such budget shall be submitted to the Governor

15  along with the budget of the department.

16         (3)(a)  The central office shall establish departmental

17  policies, rules, procedures, and standards and shall monitor

18  the implementation of such policies, rules, procedures, and

19  standards in order to ensure uniform compliance and quality

20  performance by the districts and central office units that

21  implement transportation programs.  Major transportation

22  policy initiatives or revisions shall be submitted to the

23  commission for review. The central office monitoring function

24  shall be based on a plan that clearly specifies what areas

25  will be monitored, activities and criteria used to measure

26  compliance, and a feedback process that assures monitoring

27  findings are reported and deficiencies corrected.  The

28  secretary is responsible for ensuring that a central office

29  monitoring function is implemented, and that it functions

30  properly.  In conjunction with its monitoring function, the

31  central office shall provide such training and administrative

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 1  support to the districts as the department determines to be

 2  necessary to ensure that the department's programs are carried

 3  out in the most efficient and effective manner.

 4         (b)  The resources necessary to ensure the efficiency,

 5  effectiveness, and quality of performance by the department of

 6  its statutory responsibilities shall be allocated to the

 7  central office.

 8         (b)(c)  The secretary shall appoint an Assistant

 9  Secretary for Transportation Development and Operations and

10  Policy, an Assistant Secretary for Transportation Support.

11  Finance and Administration, and an Assistant Secretary for

12  District Operations, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure

13  of the secretary.  The positions are responsible for

14  developing, monitoring, and enforcing policy and managing

15  major technical programs.  The responsibilities and duties of

16  these positions include, but are not limited to, the following

17  functional areas:

18         1.  Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.--

19         a.  Development of the Florida Transportation Plan and

20  other policy planning;

21         b.  Development of statewide modal systems plans,

22  including public transportation systems;

23         c.  Design of transportation facilities;

24         d.  Construction of transportation facilities;

25         e.  Acquisition and management of transportation

26  rights-of-way; and

27         f.  Administration of motor carrier compliance and

28  safety.

29         2.  Assistant Secretary for District Operations.--

30         a.  Administration of the eight districts; and

31  

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 1         b.  Implementation of the decentralization of the

 2  department.

 3         3.  Assistant Secretary for Finance and

 4  Administration.--

 5         a.  Financial planning and management;

 6         b.  Information systems;

 7         c.  Accounting systems;

 8         d.  Administrative functions; and

 9         e.  Administration of toll operations.

10         (d)1.  Policy, program, or operations offices shall be

11  established within the central office for the purposes of:

12         a.  Developing policy and procedures and monitoring

13  performance to ensure compliance with these policies and

14  procedures;

15         b.  Performing statewide activities which it is more

16  cost-effective to perform in a central location;

17         c.  Assessing and ensuring the accuracy of information

18  within the department's financial management information

19  systems; and

20         d.  Performing other activities of a statewide nature.

21         (c)2.  The following offices are established and shall

22  be headed by a manager, each of whom shall be appointed by and

23  serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The positions shall be

24  classified at a level equal to a division director:

25         1.a.  The Office of Administration;

26         2.b.  The Office of Policy Planning and Environmental

27  Management;

28         3.c.  The Office of Design;

29         4.d.  The Office of Highway Operations;

30         5.e.  The Office of Right-of-Way;

31         6.f.  The Office of Toll Operations;

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 1         7.g.  The Office of Information Systems; and

 2         8.h.  The Office of Motor Carrier Compliance;.

 3         9.  The Office of Management and Budget;

 4         10.  The Office of Comptroller;

 5         11.  The Office of Construction;

 6         12.  The Office of Maintenance; and

 7         13.  The Office of Materials.

 8         (d)3.  Other offices may be established in accordance

 9  with s. 20.04(7). The heads of such offices are exempt from

10  part II of chapter 110. No office or organization shall be

11  created at a level equal to or higher than a division without

12  specific legislative authority.

13         4.  During the construction of a major transportation

14  improvement project or as determined by the district

15  secretary, the department may provide assistance to a business

16  entity significantly impacted by the project if the entity is

17  a for-profit entity that has been in business for 3 years

18  prior to the beginning of construction and has direct or

19  shared access to the transportation project being constructed.

20  The assistance program shall be in the form of additional

21  guarantees to assist the impacted business entity in receiving

22  loans pursuant to Title 13 C.F.R. part 120. However, in no

23  instance shall the combined guarantees be greater than 90

24  percent of the loan. The department shall adopt rules to

25  implement this subparagraph.

26         (e)  The Assistant Secretary for Finance and

27  Administration must possess a broad knowledge of the

28  administrative, financial, and technical aspects of a complete

29  cost-accounting system, budget preparation and management, and

30  management information systems. The Assistant Secretary for

31  Finance and Administration must be a proven, effective manager

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 1  with specialized skills in financial planning and management.

 2  The Assistant Secretary for Finance and Administration shall

 3  ensure that financial information is processed in a timely,

 4  accurate, and complete manner.

 5         (f)1.  Within the central office there is created an

 6  Office of Management and Budget.  The head of the Office of

 7  Management and Budget is responsible to the Assistant

 8  Secretary for Finance and Administration and is exempt from

 9  part II of chapter 110.

10         2.  The functions of the Office of Management and

11  Budget include, but are not limited to:

12         a.  Preparation of the work program;

13         b.  Preparation of the departmental budget; and

14         c.  Coordination of related policies and procedures.

15         3.  The Office of Management and Budget shall also be

16  responsible for developing uniform implementation and

17  monitoring procedures for all activities performed at the

18  district level involving the budget and the work program.

19         (e)(g)  The secretary shall may appoint an inspector

20  general pursuant to s. 20.055 who shall be directly

21  responsible to the secretary and shall serve at the pleasure

22  of the secretary.

23         (h)1.  The secretary shall appoint an inspector general

24  pursuant to s. 20.055. The inspector general may be

25  organizationally located within another unit of the department

26  for administrative purposes, but shall function independently

27  and be directly responsible to the secretary pursuant to s.

28  20.055. The duties of the inspector general shall include, but

29  are not restricted to, reviewing, evaluating, and reporting on

30  the policies, plans, procedures, and accounting, financial,

31  and other operations of the department and recommending

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 1  changes for the improvement thereof, as well as performing

 2  audits of contracts and agreements between the department and

 3  private entities or other governmental entities. The inspector

 4  general shall give priority to reviewing major parts of the

 5  department's accounting system and central office monitoring

 6  function to determine whether such systems effectively ensure

 7  accountability and compliance with all laws, rules, policies,

 8  and procedures applicable to the operation of the department.

 9  The inspector general shall also give priority to assessing

10  the department's management information systems as required by

11  s. 282.318.  The internal audit function shall use the

12  necessary expertise, in particular, engineering, financial,

13  and property appraising expertise, to independently evaluate

14  the technical aspects of the department's operations. The

15  inspector general shall have access at all times to any

16  personnel, records, data, or other information of the

17  department and shall determine the methods and procedures

18  necessary to carry out his or her duties. The inspector

19  general is responsible for audits of departmental operations

20  and for audits of consultant contracts and agreements, and

21  such audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally

22  accepted governmental auditing standards.  The inspector

23  general shall annually perform a sufficient number of audits

24  to determine the efficiency and effectiveness, as well as

25  verify the accuracy of estimates and charges, of contracts

26  executed by the department with private entities and other

27  governmental entities.  The inspector general has the sole

28  responsibility for the contents of his or her reports, and a

29  copy of each report containing his or her findings and

30  recommendations shall be furnished directly to the secretary

31  and the commission.

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 1         2.  In addition to the authority and responsibilities

 2  herein provided, the inspector general is required to report

 3  to the:

 4         a.  Secretary whenever the inspector general makes a

 5  preliminary determination that particularly serious or

 6  flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the

 7  administration of programs and operations of the department

 8  have occurred. The secretary shall review and assess the

 9  correctness of the preliminary determination by the inspector

10  general. If the preliminary determination is substantiated,

11  the secretary shall submit such report to the appropriate

12  committees of the Legislature within 7 calendar days, together

13  with a report by the secretary containing any comments deemed

14  appropriate.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to

15  authorize the public disclosure of information which is

16  specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision

17  of law.

18         b.  Transportation Commission and the Legislature any

19  actions by the secretary that prohibit the inspector general

20  from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit after

21  the inspector general has decided to initiate, carry out, or

22  complete such audit.  The secretary shall, within 30 days

23  after transmission of the report, set forth in a statement to

24  the Transportation Commission and the Legislature the reasons

25  for his or her actions.

26         (i)1.  The secretary shall appoint a comptroller who is

27  responsible to the Assistant Secretary for Finance and

28  Administration.  This position is exempt from part II of

29  chapter 110.

30         2.  The comptroller is the chief financial officer of

31  the department and must be a proven, effective administrator

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 1  who by a combination of education and experience clearly

 2  possesses a broad knowledge of the administrative, financial,

 3  and technical aspects of a complex cost-accounting system.

 4  The comptroller must also have a working knowledge of

 5  generally accepted accounting principles.  At a minimum, the

 6  comptroller must hold an active license to practice public

 7  accounting in Florida pursuant to chapter 473 or an active

 8  license to practice public accounting in any other state.  In

 9  addition to the requirements of the Florida Fiscal Accounting

10  Management Information System Act, the comptroller is

11  responsible for the development, maintenance, and modification

12  of an accounting system that will in a timely manner

13  accurately reflect the revenues and expenditures of the

14  department and that includes a cost-accounting system to

15  properly identify, segregate, allocate, and report department

16  costs. The comptroller shall supervise and direct preparation

17  of a detailed 36-month forecast of cash and expenditures and

18  is responsible for managing cash and determining cash

19  requirements. The comptroller shall review all comparative

20  cost studies that examine the cost-effectiveness and

21  feasibility of contracting for services and operations

22  performed by the department.  The review must state that the

23  study was prepared in accordance with generally accepted

24  cost-accounting standards applied in a consistent manner using

25  valid and accurate cost data.

26         3.  The department shall by rule or internal management

27  memoranda as required by chapter 120 provide for the

28  maintenance by the comptroller of financial records and

29  accounts of the department as will afford a full and complete

30  check against the improper payment of bills and provide a

31  

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 1  system for the prompt payment of the just obligations of the

 2  department, which records must at all times disclose:

 3         a.  The several appropriations available for the use of

 4  the department;

 5         b.  The specific amounts of each such appropriation

 6  budgeted by the department for each improvement or purpose;

 7         c.  The apportionment or division of all such

 8  appropriations among the several counties and districts, when

 9  such apportionment or division is made;

10         d.  The amount or portion of each such apportionment

11  against general contractual and other liabilities then

12  created;

13         e.  The amount expended and still to be expended in

14  connection with each contractual and other obligation of the

15  department;

16         f.  The expense and operating costs of the various

17  activities of the department;

18         g.  The receipts accruing to the department and the

19  distribution thereof;

20         h.  The assets, investments, and liabilities of the

21  department; and

22         i.  The cash requirements of the department for a

23  36-month period.

24         4.  The comptroller shall maintain a separate account

25  for each fund administered by the department.

26         5.  The comptroller shall perform such other related

27  duties as designated by the department.

28         (f)(j)  The secretary shall appoint a general counsel

29  who shall be employed full time and shall be directly

30  responsible to the secretary.  The general counsel is

31  responsible for all legal matters of the department.  The

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 1  department may employ as many attorneys as it deems necessary

 2  to advise and represent the department in all transportation

 3  matters.

 4         (g)(k)  The secretary shall appoint a state

 5  transportation development administrator planner who shall

 6  report to the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.

 7  The state transportation planner's responsibilities shall

 8  include, but are not limited to, policy planning, systems

 9  planning, and transportation statistics.  This position shall

10  be classified at a level equal to a deputy assistant

11  secretary.

12         (h)(l)  The secretary shall appoint a state

13  transportation operations administrator highway engineer who

14  shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Transportation

15  Policy. The state highway engineer's responsibilities shall

16  include, but are not limited to, design, construction, and

17  maintenance of highway facilities; acquisition and management

18  of transportation rights-of-way; traffic engineering; and

19  materials testing. This position shall be classified at a

20  level equal to a deputy assistant secretary.

21         (i)(m)  The secretary shall appoint a state public

22  transportation and modal administrator who shall report to the

23  Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. The state

24  public transportation administrator's responsibilities shall

25  include, but are not limited to, the administration of

26  statewide transit, rail, intermodal development, and aviation

27  programs. This position shall be classified at a level equal

28  to a deputy assistant secretary. The department shall also

29  assign to the public transportation administrator an

30  organizational unit the primary function of which is to

31  administer the high-speed rail program.

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 1         (4)(a)  The operations of the department shall be

 2  organized into seven districts, each headed by a district

 3  secretary and a turnpike enterprise, headed by an executive

 4  director. The district secretaries and the turnpike executive

 5  director shall be registered professional engineers in

 6  accordance with the provisions of chapter 471 or, in lieu of

 7  professional engineer registration, a district secretary or

 8  turnpike executive director may hold an advanced degree in an

 9  appropriate related discipline, such as a Master of Business

10  Administration. The district secretaries shall report to the

11  Assistant Secretary for District Operations. The headquarters

12  of the districts shall be located in Polk, Columbia,

13  Washington, Broward, Volusia, Dade, and Hillsborough Counties.

14  The headquarters of the turnpike enterprise shall be located

15  in Orange County. In order to provide for efficient operations

16  and to expedite the decisionmaking process, the department

17  shall provide for maximum decentralization to the districts.

18  However, before making a decision to centralize or

19  decentralize department operations, the department must first

20  determine if the decision would be cost-effective and in the

21  public's best interest. The department shall periodically

22  evaluate such decisions to ensure that they are appropriate.

23         (b)  The primary responsibility for the implementation

24  of the department's transportation programs shall be delegated

25  by the secretary to the district secretaries, and sufficient

26  authority shall be vested in each district to ensure adequate

27  control of the resources commensurate with the delegated

28  responsibility. Each district secretary shall also be

29  accountable for ensuring their district's quality of

30  performance and compliance with all laws, rules, policies, and

31  procedures related to the operation of the department.

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 1         (b)(c)  Each district secretary may appoint a district

 2  director for transportation development, a district director

 3  for transportation operations, and a district director for

 4  transportation support or, until July 1, 2005, each district

 5  secretary may appoint a district director for planning and

 6  programming, a district director for production, and a

 7  district director for operations, and a district director for

 8  administration. These positions are exempt from part II of

 9  chapter 110.

10         (c)(d)  Within each district, offices shall be

11  established for managing major functional responsibilities of

12  the department. The offices may include planning, design,

13  construction, right-of-way, maintenance, and public

14  transportation.  The heads of these offices shall be exempt

15  from part II of chapter 110.

16         (d)(e)  The district director for the Fort Myers Urban

17  Office of the Department of Transportation is responsible for

18  developing the 5-year Transportation Plan for Charlotte,

19  Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties. The Fort

20  Myers Urban Office also is responsible for providing policy,

21  direction, local government coordination, and planning for

22  those counties.

23         (e)(f)1.  The responsibility for the turnpike system

24  shall be delegated by the secretary to the executive director

25  of the turnpike enterprise, who shall serve at the pleasure of

26  the secretary. The executive director shall report directly to

27  the secretary, and the turnpike enterprise shall operate

28  pursuant to ss. 338.22-338.241.

29         2.  To facilitate the most efficient and effective

30  management of the turnpike enterprise, including the use of

31  best business practices employed by the private sector, the

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 1  turnpike enterprise, except as provided in s. 287.055, shall

 2  be exempt from departmental policies, procedures, and

 3  standards, subject to the secretary having the authority to

 4  apply any such policies, procedures, and standards to the

 5  turnpike enterprise from time to time as deemed appropriate.

 6         (5)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 110.205, the

 7  Department of Management Services is authorized to exempt

 8  positions within the Department of Transportation which are

 9  comparable to positions within the Senior Management Service

10  pursuant to s. 110.205(2)(j) or positions which are comparable

11  to positions in the Selected Exempt Service under s.

12  110.205(2)(m).

13         (6)  To facilitate the efficient and effective

14  management of the department in a businesslike manner, the

15  department shall develop a system for the submission of

16  monthly management reports to the Florida Transportation

17  Commission and secretary from the district secretaries.  The

18  commission and the secretary shall determine which reports are

19  required to fulfill their respective responsibilities under

20  this section.  A copy of each such report shall be submitted

21  monthly to the appropriations and transportation committees of

22  the Senate and the House of Representatives. Recommendations

23  made by the Auditor General in his or her audits of the

24  department that relate to management practices, systems, or

25  reports shall be implemented in a timely manner.  However, if

26  the department determines that one or more of the

27  recommendations should be altered or should not be

28  implemented, it shall provide a written explanation of such

29  determination to the Legislative Auditing Committee within 6

30  months after the date the recommendations were published.

31  

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 1         (6)(7)  The department is authorized to contract with

 2  local governmental entities and with the private sector if the

 3  department first determines that:

 4         (a)  Consultants can do the work at less cost than

 5  state employees;

 6         (b)  State employees can do the work at less cost, but

 7  sufficient positions have not been approved by the Legislature

 8  as requested in the department's most recent legislative

 9  budget request;

10         (c)  The work requires specialized expertise, and it

11  would not be economical for the state to acquire, and then

12  maintain, the expertise after the work is done;

13         (d)  The workload is at a peak level, and it would not

14  be economical to acquire, and then keep, extra personnel after

15  the workload decreases; or

16         (e)  The use of such entities is clearly in the

17  public's best interest.

18  

19  Such contracts shall require compliance with applicable

20  federal and state laws, and clearly specify the product or

21  service to be provided.

22         Section 2.  Paragraphs (j) and (m) of subsection (2) of

23  section 110.205, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

24         110.205  Career service; exemptions.--

25         (2)  EXEMPT POSITIONS.--The exempt positions that are

26  not covered by this part include the following:

27         (j)  The appointed secretaries, assistant secretaries,

28  deputy secretaries, and deputy assistant secretaries of all

29  departments; the executive directors, assistant executive

30  directors, deputy executive directors, and deputy assistant

31  executive directors of all departments; the directors of all

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 1  divisions and those positions determined by the department to

 2  have managerial responsibilities comparable to such positions,

 3  which positions include, but are not limited to, program

 4  directors, assistant program directors, district

 5  administrators, deputy district administrators, the Director

 6  of Central Operations Services of the Department of Children

 7  and Family Services, and the State Transportation Development

 8  Administrator Planner, the State Transportation Operations

 9  Administrator Highway Engineer, State Public Transportation

10  Administrator, district secretaries, district directors of

11  transportation development, transportation operations,

12  transportation support, captains and majors of the Office of

13  Motor Carrier Compliance planning and programming, production,

14  and operations, and the managers of the offices specified in

15  s. 20.23(3)(c)(d)2., of the Department of Transportation.

16  Unless otherwise fixed by law, the department shall set the

17  salary and benefits of these positions in accordance with the

18  rules of the Senior Management Service; and the county health

19  department directors and county health department

20  administrators of the Department of Health.

21         (m)  All assistant division director, deputy division

22  director, and bureau chief positions in any department, and

23  those positions determined by the department to have

24  managerial responsibilities comparable to such positions,

25  which positions include, but are not limited to, positions in

26  the Department of Health, the Department of Children and

27  Family Services, and the Department of Corrections that are

28  assigned primary duties of serving as the superintendent or

29  assistant superintendent, or warden or assistant warden, of an

30  institution; positions in the Department of Corrections that

31  are assigned primary duties of serving as the circuit

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 1  administrator or deputy circuit administrator; positions in

 2  the Department of Transportation that are assigned primary

 3  duties of serving as regional toll managers and managers of

 4  offices as defined in s. 20.23(3)(c)(d)3. and (4)(d);

 5  positions in the Department of Environmental Protection that

 6  are assigned the duty of an Environmental Administrator or

 7  program administrator; and positions in the Department of

 8  Health that are assigned the duties of Environmental

 9  Administrator, Assistant County Health Department Director,

10  and County Health Department Financial Administrator. Unless

11  otherwise fixed by law, the department shall set the salary

12  and benefits of these positions in accordance with the rules

13  established for the Selected Exempt Service.

14         Section 3.  Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f),

15  and (g) of subsection (1) of section 255.20, Florida Statutes,

16  are redesignated as paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h),

17  and (i), respectively, and new paragraphs (a) and (b) are

18  added to that subsection, to read:

19         255.20  Local bids and contracts for public

20  construction works; specification of state-produced lumber.--

21         (1)  A county, municipality, special district as

22  defined in chapter 189, or other political subdivision of the

23  state seeking to construct or improve a public building,

24  structure, or other public construction works must

25  competitively award to an appropriately licensed contractor

26  each project that is estimated in accordance with generally

27  accepted cost-accounting principles to have total construction

28  project costs of more than $200,000. For electrical work,

29  local government must competitively award to an appropriately

30  licensed contractor each project that is estimated in

31  accordance with generally accepted cost-accounting principles

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 1  to have a cost of more than $50,000.  As used in this section,

 2  the term "competitively award" means to award contracts based

 3  on the submission of sealed bids, proposals submitted in

 4  response to a request for proposal, proposals submitted in

 5  response to a request for qualifications, or proposals

 6  submitted for competitive negotiation. This subsection

 7  expressly allows contracts for construction management

 8  services, design/build contracts, continuation contracts based

 9  on unit prices, and any other contract arrangement with a

10  private sector contractor permitted by any applicable

11  municipal or county ordinance, by district resolution, or by

12  state law. For purposes of this section, construction costs

13  include the cost of all labor, except inmate labor, and

14  include the cost of equipment and materials to be used in the

15  construction of the project. Subject to the provisions of

16  subsection (3), the county, municipality, special district, or

17  other political subdivision may establish, by municipal or

18  county ordinance or special district resolution, procedures

19  for conducting the bidding process.

20         (a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a

21  county, municipality, special district as defined in chapter

22  189, or other political subdivision of the state seeking to

23  construct or improve bridges, roads, streets, highways, or

24  railroads, and services incidental thereto, at costs in excess

25  of $250,000 may require that persons interested in performing

26  work under contract first be certified or qualified to perform

27  such work. Any contractor may be considered ineligible to bid

28  by the governmental entity if the contractor is behind on

29  completing an approved progress schedule for the governmental

30  entity by 10 percent or more at the time of advertisement of

31  the work. Any contractor prequalified and considered eligible

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 1  by the Department of Transportation to bid to perform the type

 2  of work described under the contract shall be presumed to be

 3  qualified to perform the work described. The governmental

 4  entity may provide an appeal process to overcome that

 5  presumption with de novo review based on the record below to

 6  the circuit court.

 7         (b)  With respect to contractors not prequalified with

 8  the Department of Transportation, the governmental entity

 9  shall publish prequalification criteria and procedures prior

10  to advertisement or notice of solicitation. Such publications

11  shall include notice of a public hearing for comment on such

12  criteria and procedures prior to adoption. The procedures

13  shall provide for an appeal process within the authority for

14  objections to the prequalification process with de novo review

15  based on the record below to the circuit court within 30 days.

16         Section 4.  Subsections (2) and (4) of section

17  316.1001, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

18         316.1001  Payment of toll on toll facilities required;

19  penalties.--

20         (2)(a)  For the purpose of enforcing this section, any

21  governmental entity, as defined in s. 334.03, that owns or

22  operates a toll facility may, by rule or ordinance, authorize

23  a toll enforcement officer to issue a uniform traffic citation

24  for a violation of this section.  Toll enforcement officer

25  means the designee of a governmental entity whose sole

26  authority is to enforce the payment of tolls.  The

27  governmental entity may designate toll enforcement officers

28  pursuant to s. 316.640(1).

29         (b)  A citation issued under this subsection may be

30  issued by mailing the citation by first class mail, or by

31  certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address of

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 1  the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the

 2  violation. Mailing the citation to this address constitutes

 3  notification. In the case of joint ownership of a motor

 4  vehicle, the traffic citation must be mailed to the first name

 5  appearing on the registration, unless the first name appearing

 6  on the registration is a business organization, in which case

 7  the second name appearing on the registration may be used. A

 8  citation issued under this paragraph must be mailed to the

 9  registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the

10  violation within 14 days after the date of issuance of the

11  violation. In addition to the citation, notification must be

12  sent to the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in

13  the violation specifying remedies the remedy available under

14  ss. 318.14(12) and s. 318.18(7).

15         (c)  The owner of the motor vehicle involved in the

16  violation is responsible and liable for payment of a citation

17  issued for failure to pay a toll, unless the owner can

18  establish the motor vehicle was, at the time of the violation,

19  in the care, custody, or control of another person.  In order

20  to establish such facts, the owner of the motor vehicle is

21  required, within 14 days after the date of issuance of the

22  citation notification of the alleged violation, to furnish to

23  the appropriate governmental entity an affidavit setting

24  forth:

25         1.  The name, address, date of birth, and, if known,

26  the driver license number of the person who leased, rented, or

27  otherwise had the care, custody, or control of the motor

28  vehicle at the time of the alleged violation; or

29         2.  If stolen, the police report indicating that the

30  vehicle was stolen at the time of the alleged violation.

31  

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 1  Upon receipt of an affidavit the person designated as having

 2  care, custody, and control of the motor vehicle at the time of

 3  the violation may be issued a citation for failure to pay a

 4  required toll.  The affidavit shall be admissible in a

 5  proceeding pursuant to this section for the purpose of

 6  providing that the person identified in the affidavit was in

 7  actual care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle.

 8         (d)  A written report of a toll enforcement officer or

 9  photographic evidence that indicates that a required toll was

10  not paid is admissible in any proceeding to enforce this

11  section and raises a rebuttable presumption that the motor

12  vehicle named in the report or shown in the photographic

13  evidence was used in violation of this section.

14         (4)  Any governmental entity may supply the department

15  with data that is machine readable by the department's

16  computer system, listing persons who have one three or more

17  outstanding violations of this section. Pursuant to s.

18  320.03(8), those persons may not be issued a license plate or

19  revalidation sticker for any motor vehicle.

20         Section 5.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1), paragraphs

21  (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (j) of subsection (2), and

22  subsection (5) of section 316.302, Florida Statutes, are

23  amended to read:

24         316.302  Commercial motor vehicles; safety regulations;

25  transporters and shippers of hazardous materials;

26  enforcement.--

27         (1)

28         (b)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, all

29  owners or drivers of commercial motor vehicles that are

30  engaged in intrastate commerce are subject to the rules and

31  regulations contained in 49 C.F.R. parts 382, 385, and

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 1  390-397, with the exception of 49 C.F.R. s. 390.5 as it

 2  relates to the definition of bus, as such rules and

 3  regulations existed on October 1, 2002 2001.

 4         (2)(a)  A person who operates a commercial motor

 5  vehicle solely in intrastate commerce not transporting any

 6  hazardous material in amounts that require placarding pursuant

 7  to 49 C.F.R. part 172 need not comply with 49 C.F.R. ss.

 8  391.11(b)(1) and 395.3(a) and (b).

 9         (b)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle

10  solely in intrastate commerce not transporting any hazardous

11  material in amounts that require placarding pursuant to 49

12  C.F.R. part 172 is exempt from 49 C.F.R. s. 395.3(a) and (b)

13  and may, after 8 hours' rest, and following the required

14  initial motor vehicle inspection, be permitted to drive any

15  part of the first 15 on-duty hours in any 24-hour period, but

16  may not be permitted to operate a commercial motor vehicle

17  after that until the requirement of another 8 hours' rest has

18  been fulfilled. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply

19  to drivers of public utility vehicles or authorized emergency

20  vehicles during periods of severe weather or other

21  emergencies.

22         (c)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle

23  solely in intrastate commerce not transporting any hazardous

24  material in amounts that require placarding pursuant to 49

25  C.F.R. part 172 may not be on duty more than 72 hours in any

26  period of 7 consecutive days, but carriers operating every day

27  in a week may permit drivers to remain on duty for a total of

28  not more than 84 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days;

29  however, 24 consecutive hours off duty shall constitute the

30  end of any such period of 7 or 8 consecutive days. This weekly

31  limit does not apply to a person who operates a commercial

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 1  motor vehicle solely within this state while transporting,

 2  during harvest periods, any unprocessed agricultural products

 3  that are subject to seasonal harvesting from place of harvest

 4  to the first place of processing or storage or from place of

 5  harvest directly to market. Upon request of the Department of

 6  Transportation, motor carriers shall furnish time records or

 7  other written verification to that department so that the

 8  Department of Transportation can determine compliance with

 9  this subsection. These time records must be furnished to the

10  Department of Transportation within 10 days after receipt of

11  that department's request. Falsification of such information

12  is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100. The

13  provisions of this paragraph do not apply to drivers of public

14  utility vehicles or authorized emergency vehicles during

15  periods of severe weather or other emergencies.

16         (d)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle

17  solely in intrastate commerce not transporting any hazardous

18  material in amounts that require placarding pursuant to 49

19  C.F.R. part 172 within a 200 air-mile radius of the location

20  where the vehicle is based need not comply with 49 C.F.R. s.

21  395.8, except that time records shall be maintained as

22  prescribed in 49 C.F.R. s. 395.1(e)(5).

23         (e)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle

24  solely in intrastate commerce is exempt from subsection (1)

25  while transporting agricultural products, including

26  horticultural or forestry products, from farm or harvest place

27  to the first place of processing or storage, or from farm or

28  harvest place directly to market. However, such person must

29  comply with 49 C.F.R. parts 382, 392, and 393, and with 49

30  C.F.R. ss. 396.3(a)(1) and 396.9. A vehicle or combination of

31  vehicles operated pursuant to this paragraph having a gross

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 1  vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more or having three or

 2  more axles on the power unit, regardless of weight, must

 3  display the name of the vehicle owner or motor carrier and the

 4  municipality or town where the vehicle is based on each side

 5  of the power unit in letters that contrast with the background

 6  and that are readable from a distance of 50 feet. A person who

 7  violates this vehicle identification requirement may be

 8  assessed a penalty as provided in s. 316.3025(3)(a).

 9         (f)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle

10  having a declared gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000

11  pounds solely in intrastate commerce and who is not

12  transporting hazardous materials in amounts that require

13  placarding pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 172, or who is

14  transporting petroleum products as defined in s. 376.301(31),

15  is exempt from subsection (1). However, such person must

16  comply with 49 C.F.R. parts 382, 392, and 393, and with 49

17  C.F.R. ss. 396.3(a)(1) and 396.9.

18         (j)  A person who is otherwise qualified as a driver

19  under 49 C.F.R. part 391, and who operates a commercial motor

20  vehicle in intrastate commerce only, and who does not

21  transport hazardous materials in amounts that require

22  placarding pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 172, is shall be exempt

23  from the requirements of 49 C.F.R. part 391, subpart E, ss.

24  391.41(b)(3) and 391.43(e), relating to diabetes.

25         (5)  The Department of Transportation may adopt and

26  revise rules to assure the safe operation of commercial motor

27  vehicles. The Department of Transportation may enter into

28  cooperative agreements as provided in 49 C.F.R. part 388.

29  Department of Transportation personnel may conduct motor

30  carrier and shipper compliance reviews terminal audits only

31  for the purpose of determining compliance with this section 49

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 1  C.F.R. parts 171, 172, 173, 177, 178, 180, 382, 391, 393,

 2  396, and 397; 49 C.F.R. s. 395.1(e)(5); and s. 627.7415.

 3         Section 6.  Section 316.3025, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         316.3025  Penalties.--

 6         (1)  A commercial motor vehicle that is found to be

 7  operating in such an unsafe condition as to be declared

 8  out-of-service or a driver declared out-of-service or removed

 9  from driving status pursuant to the North American Standard

10  Uniform Out-of-Service Criteria must be repaired or returned

11  to driving status before being returned to service.

12         (2)  Any person who owns, operates, or causes or

13  permits a commercial motor vehicle that has been declared

14  out-of-service pursuant to the North American Standard Uniform

15  Out-of-Service Criteria to be driven before the completion of

16  required repairs is subject to the imposition of a penalty as

17  provided in 49 C.F.R. s. 383.53, in addition to any other

18  penalties imposed against him or her. Any person who operates

19  a commercial motor vehicle while he or she is declared

20  out-of-service or removed from driving status pursuant to the

21  North American Standard Uniform Out-of-Service Criteria, or

22  who causes or permits such out-of-service driver to operate a

23  commercial motor vehicle, is subject to the imposition of a

24  penalty as provided in 49 C.F.R. s. 383.53, in addition to any

25  other penalties imposed against the person.

26         (3)(a)  A civil penalty of $50 may be assessed for a

27  violation of the identification requirements of 49 C.F.R. s.

28  390.21 or s. 316.302(2)(e).

29         (b)  A civil penalty of $100 may be assessed for:

30         1.  Each violation of the North American Uniform Driver

31  Out-of-Service Criteria;

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 1         2.  A violation of s. 316.302(2)(b) or (c); or

 2         3.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.60; or.

 3         4.  A violation of the North American Standard Vehicle

 4  Out-of-Service Criteria resulting from an inspection of a

 5  commercial motor vehicle involved in a crash.

 6         (c)  A civil penalty of $250 may be assessed for:

 7         1.  A violation of the placarding requirements of 49

 8  C.F.R. parts 171-179;

 9         2.  A violation of the shipping paper requirements of

10  49 C.F.R. parts 171-179;

11         3.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.10;

12         4.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.5;

13         5.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.7;

14         6.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.13; or

15         7.  A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.15.

16         (d)  A civil penalty of $500 may be assessed for:

17         1.  Each violation of the North American Standard

18  Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service Criteria;

19         2.  Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 390.19, for failure

20  of an interstate or intrastate motor carrier to register;

21         3.  Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a, for failure

22  of an interstate motor carrier to obtain operating authority;

23  or

24         4.  Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a, for

25  operating beyond the scope of an interstate motor carrier's

26  operating authority. each violation of the North American

27  Uniform Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service Criteria.

28         (e)  A civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 in the

29  aggregate may be assessed for violations found in the conduct

30  of compliance reviews terminal audits pursuant to s.

31  316.302(5). A civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 in the

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 1  aggregate may be assessed for violations found in a follow-up

 2  compliance review conducted within a 24-month period. A civil

 3  penalty not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate may be assessed

 4  and the motor carrier may be enjoined pursuant to s. 316.3026

 5  if violations are found after a second follow-up compliance

 6  review within 12 months after the first follow-up compliance

 7  review. Motor carriers found to be operating without insurance

 8  required by s. 627.7415 may be enjoined as provided in s.

 9  316.3026.

10         (4)  A vehicle operated by an interstate motor carrier

11  found to be in violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a may be placed

12  out of service for the carrier's failure to obtain operating

13  authority or operating beyond the scope of its operating

14  authority.

15         (5)(4)  Whenever any person or motor carrier as defined

16  in chapter 320 violates the provisions of this section and

17  becomes indebted to the state because of such violation and

18  refuses to pay the appropriate penalty, in addition to the

19  provisions of s. 316.3026, such the penalty becomes a lien

20  upon the property including the motor vehicles of such person

21  or motor carrier and may be foreclosed by the state in a civil

22  action in any court of this state. It shall be presumed that

23  the owner of the motor vehicle is liable for the sum, and the

24  vehicle may be detained or impounded until the penalty is

25  paid.

26         (6)(5)(a)  Any officer or agent collecting the

27  penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall give to the

28  owner, motor carrier, or driver of the vehicle an official

29  receipt for all penalties collected from him or her. Only an

30  officer or agent of the Department of Transportation is

31  authorized to collect the penalty provided by this section.

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 1  Such officer or agent shall cooperate with the owner or driver

 2  of the motor vehicle so as not to unduly delay the vehicle.

 3         (b)  All penalties imposed and collected under this

 4  section by any state agency having jurisdiction shall be paid

 5  to the Treasurer, who shall credit the total amount collected

 6  to the State Transportation Trust Fund for use in repairing

 7  and maintaining the roads of this state.

 8         (7)(6)  Any person aggrieved by the imposition of a

 9  civil penalty pursuant to this section may apply to the

10  Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board for a modification,

11  cancellation, or revocation of the penalty.  The Commercial

12  Motor Vehicle Review Board may modify, cancel, revoke, or

13  sustain such penalty.

14         Section 7.  Section 316.3026, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         316.3026  Unlawful operation of motor carriers may be

17  enjoined.--

18         (1)  The Office of Motor Carrier Compliance of the

19  Department of Transportation may issue out-of-service orders

20  to motor carriers, as defined in s. 320.01(33), who have after

21  proper notice failed to pay any penalty or fine assessed by

22  the department, or its agent, against any owner or motor

23  carrier for violations of state law, refused to submit to a

24  compliance review and provide records pursuant to s.

25  316.302(5) or s. 316.70, or violated safety regulations

26  pursuant to s. 316.302 or insurance requirements found in s.

27  627.7415. Such out-of-service orders shall have the effect of

28  prohibiting the operations of any motor vehicles owned,

29  leased, or otherwise operated by the motor carrier upon the

30  roadways of this state, until such time as the violations have

31  been corrected or penalties have been paid. Out-of-service

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 1  orders issued under this section must be approved by the

 2  Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee. An

 3  administrative hearing pursuant to s. 120.569 shall be

 4  afforded to motor carriers subject to such orders.

 5         (2)  Any motor carrier enjoined or prohibited from

 6  operating by an out-of-service order by this state, any other

 7  state, or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration may

 8  not operate on the roadways of this state until the motor

 9  carrier has been authorized to resume operations by the

10  originating enforcement jurisdiction. Commercial motor

11  vehicles owned or operated by any motor carrier prohibited

12  from operation found on the roadways of this state shall be

13  placed out of service by law enforcement officers of the

14  Department of Transportation, and the motor carrier assessed a

15  $10,000 civil penalty pursuant to 49 C.F.R. s. 383.53, in

16  addition to any other penalties imposed on the driver or other

17  responsible person. Any person who knowingly drives, operates,

18  or causes to be operated any commercial motor vehicle in

19  violation of an out-of-service order issued by the department

20  in accordance with this section commits a felony of the third

21  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082(3)(d). Any costs

22  associated with the impoundment or storage of such vehicles

23  are the responsibility of the motor carrier. Vehicle

24  out-of-service orders may be rescinded when the department

25  receives proof of authorization for the motor carrier to

26  resume operation.

27         (3)  In addition to the sanctions found in subsections

28  (1) and (2), the Department of Transportation may petition the

29  circuit courts of this state to enjoin any motor carrier from

30  operating when it fails to comply with out-of-service orders

31  issued by a competent authority within or outside this state.

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 1  Any motor carrier which operates a commercial motor vehicle

 2  upon the highways of this state in violation of the provisions

 3  of this chapter may be enjoined by the courts of this state

 4  from any such violation.  Such injunctive proceeding may be

 5  instituted by the Department of Transportation.

 6         Section 8.  Section 316.3027, Florida Statutes, is

 7  repealed.

 8         Section 9.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section

 9  316.515, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

10         316.515  Maximum width, height, length.--

11         (3)  LENGTH LIMITATION.--Except as otherwise provided

12  in this section, length limitations apply solely to a

13  semitrailer or trailer, and not to a truck tractor or to the

14  overall length of a combination of vehicles.  No combination

15  of commercial motor vehicles coupled together and operating on

16  the public roads may consist of more than one truck tractor

17  and two trailing units. Unless otherwise specifically provided

18  for in this section, a combination of vehicles not qualifying

19  as commercial motor vehicles may consist of no more than two

20  units coupled together; such nonqualifying combination of

21  vehicles may not exceed a total length of 65 feet, inclusive

22  of the load carried thereon, but exclusive of safety and

23  energy conservation devices approved by the department for use

24  on vehicles using public roads. Notwithstanding any other

25  provision of this section, a truck tractor-semitrailer

26  combination engaged in the transportation of automobiles or

27  boats may transport motor vehicles or boats on part of the

28  power unit; and, except as may otherwise be mandated under

29  federal law, an automobile or boat transporter semitrailer may

30  not exceed 50 feet in length, exclusive of the load; however,

31  the load may extend up to an additional 6 feet beyond the rear

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 1  of the trailer.  The 50-feet length limitation does not apply

 2  to non-stinger-steered automobile or boat transporters that

 3  are 65 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the load

 4  carried thereon, or to stinger-steered automobile or boat

 5  transporters that are 75 feet or less in overall length,

 6  exclusive of the load carried thereon. For purposes of this

 7  subsection, a "stinger-steered automobile or boat transporter"

 8  is an automobile or boat transporter configured as a

 9  semitrailer combination wherein the fifth wheel is located on

10  a drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the

11  power unit. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), any

12  straight truck or truck tractor-semitrailer combination

13  engaged in the transportation of horticultural trees may allow

14  the load to extend up to an additional 10 feet beyond the rear

15  of the vehicle, provided said trees are resting against a

16  retaining bar mounted above the truck bed so that the root

17  balls of the trees rest on the floor and to the front of the

18  truck bed and the tops of the trees extend up over and to the

19  rear of the truck bed, and provided the overhanging portion of

20  the load is covered with protective fabric.

21         (b)  Semitrailers.--

22         1.  A semitrailer operating in a truck

23  tractor-semitrailer combination may not exceed 48 feet in

24  extreme overall outside dimension, measured from the front of

25  the unit to the rear of the unit and the load carried thereon,

26  exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved

27  by the department for use on vehicles using public roads,

28  unless it complies with subparagraph 2.  A semitrailer which

29  exceeds 48 feet in length and is used to transport divisible

30  loads may operate in this state only if issued a permit under

31  s. 316.550 and if such trailer meets the requirements of this

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 1  chapter relating to vehicle equipment and safety.  Except for

 2  highways on the tandem trailer truck highway network, public

 3  roads deemed unsafe for longer semitrailer vehicles or those

 4  roads on which such longer vehicles are determined not to be

 5  in the interest of public convenience shall, in conformance

 6  with s. 316.006, be restricted by the Department of

 7  Transportation or by the local authority to use by

 8  semitrailers not exceeding a length of 48 feet, inclusive of

 9  the load carried thereon but exclusive of safety and energy

10  conservation devices approved by the department for use on

11  vehicles using public roads. Truck tractor-semitrailer

12  combinations shall be afforded reasonable access to terminals;

13  facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest; and points of

14  loading and unloading.

15         2.  A semitrailer which is more than 48 feet but not

16  more than 53 feet in extreme overall outside dimension, as

17  measured pursuant to subparagraph 1., may operate on public

18  roads, except roads on the State Highway System which are

19  restricted by the Department of Transportation or other roads

20  restricted by local authorities, if:

21         a.  The distance between the kingpin or other peg that

22  which locks into the fifth wheel of a truck tractor and the

23  center of the rear axle or rear group of axles does not exceed

24  41 feet, or, in the case of a semitrailer used exclusively or

25  primarily to transport vehicles in connection with motorsports

26  competition events, the distance does not exceed 46 feet from

27  the kingpin to the center of the rear axles; and

28         b.  It is equipped with a substantial rear-end

29  underride protection device meeting the requirements of 49

30  C.F.R. s. 393.86, "Rear End Protection."

31  

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 1         Section 10.  Subsections (5), (6), and (10) of section

 2  316.545, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

 3         316.545  Weight and load unlawful; special fuel and

 4  motor fuel tax enforcement; inspection; penalty; review.--

 5         (5)  Whenever any person violates the provisions of

 6  this chapter and becomes indebted to the state because of such

 7  violation in the amounts aforesaid and refuses to pay said

 8  penalty, in addition to the provisions of s. 316.3026, such

 9  penalty shall become a lien upon the motor vehicle, and the

10  same may be foreclosed by the state in a court of equity. It

11  shall be presumed that the owner of the motor vehicle is

12  liable for the sum.  Any person, firm, or corporation claiming

13  an interest in the seized motor vehicle may, at any time after

14  the lien of the state attaches to the motor vehicle, obtain

15  possession of the seized vehicle by filing a good and

16  sufficient forthcoming bond with the officer having possession

17  of the vehicle, payable to the Governor of the state in twice

18  the amount of the state's lien, with a corporate surety duly

19  authorized to transact business in this state as surety,

20  conditioned to have the motor vehicle or combination of

21  vehicles forthcoming to abide the result of any suit for the

22  foreclosure of such lien.  It shall be presumed that the owner

23  of the motor vehicle is liable for the penalty imposed under

24  this section. Upon the posting of such bond with the officer

25  making the seizure, the vehicle shall be released and the bond

26  shall be forwarded to the Department of Transportation for

27  safekeeping.  The lien of the state against the motor vehicle

28  aforesaid shall be foreclosed in equity, and the ordinary

29  rules of court relative to proceedings in equity shall

30  control.  If it appears that the seized vehicle has been

31  released to the defendant upon his or her forthcoming bond,

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 1  the state shall take judgment of foreclosure against the

 2  property itself, and judgment against the defendant and the

 3  sureties on the bond for the amount of the lien, including

 4  cost of proceedings.  After the rendition of the decree, the

 5  state may, at its option, proceed to sue out execution against

 6  the defendant and his or her sureties for the amount recovered

 7  as aforesaid or direct the sale of the vehicle under

 8  foreclosure.

 9         (6)  Any officer or agent collecting the penalties

10  herein imposed shall give to the owner or driver of the

11  vehicle an official receipt for all penalties collected.  Such

12  officers or agents of the state departments shall cooperate

13  with the owners or drivers of motor vehicles so as not to

14  delay unduly the vehicles. All penalties imposed and collected

15  under this section by any state agency having jurisdiction

16  shall be paid to the Treasurer, who shall credit the total

17  amount thereof to the State Transportation Trust Fund, which

18  shall be used to repair and maintain the roads of this state

19  and to enforce this section.

20         (10)  The Department of Transportation may employ

21  weight inspectors to operate its fixed-scale facilities.

22  Weight inspectors on duty at a fixed-scale facility are

23  authorized to enforce the laws governing commercial motor

24  vehicle weight, registration, size, and load and to assess and

25  collect civil penalties for violations of said laws.  A weight

26  inspector may detain a commerical motor vehicle that has an

27  obvious safety defect critical to the continued safe operation

28  of the vehicle or that is operating in violation of an

29  out-of-service order as reported on the federal Safety and

30  Fitness Electronic Records database. The weight inspector may

31  immediately summon a law enforcement officer of the Department

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 1  of Transportation, or other law enforcement officer authorized

 2  by s. 316.640 to enforce the traffic laws of this state, to

 3  take appropriate enforcement action. The vehicle shall be

 4  released if the defect is repaired prior to the arrival of a

 5  law enforcement officer. Weight inspectors shall not be

 6  classified as law enforcement officers subject to

 7  certification requirements of chapter 943, and are not

 8  authorized to carry weapons or make arrests.  Any person who

 9  obstructs, opposes, or resists a weight inspector in the

10  performance of the duties herein prescribed shall be guilty of

11  an offense as described in subsection (1) for obstructing,

12  opposing, or resisting a law enforcement officer.

13         Section 11.  Subsection (3) of section 316.610, Florida

14  Statutes, is repealed.

15         Section 12.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

16  316.640, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

17         316.640  Enforcement.--The enforcement of the traffic

18  laws of this state is vested as follows:

19         (1)  STATE.--

20         (a)1.

21         a.  The Division of Florida Highway Patrol of the

22  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Division

23  of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

24  Commission, the Division of Law Enforcement of the Department

25  of Environmental Protection, and law enforcement officers of

26  the Department of Transportation each have authority to

27  enforce all of the traffic laws of this state on all the

28  streets and highways thereof and elsewhere throughout the

29  state wherever the public has a right to travel by motor

30  vehicle. The Division of the Florida Highway Patrol may employ

31  as a traffic accident investigation officer any individual who

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 1  successfully completes instruction in traffic accident

 2  investigation and court presentation through the Selective

 3  Traffic Enforcement Program as approved by the Criminal

 4  Justice Standards and Training Commission and funded through

 5  the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or a

 6  similar program approved by the commission, but who does not

 7  necessarily meet the uniform minimum standards established by

 8  the commission for law enforcement officers or auxiliary law

 9  enforcement officers under chapter 943. Any such traffic

10  accident investigation officer who makes an investigation at

11  the scene of a traffic accident may issue traffic citations,

12  based upon personal investigation, when he or she has

13  reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person who

14  was involved in the accident committed an offense under this

15  chapter, chapter 319, chapter 320, or chapter 322 in

16  connection with the accident. This paragraph does not permit

17  the carrying of firearms or other weapons, nor do such

18  officers have arrest authority.

19         b.  University police officers shall have authority to

20  enforce all of the traffic laws of this state when such

21  violations occur on or about any property or facilities that

22  are under the guidance, supervision, regulation, or control of

23  a state university, a direct-support organization of such

24  state university, or any other organization controlled by the

25  state university or a direct-support organization of the state

26  university, except that traffic laws may be enforced

27  off-campus when hot pursuit originates on or adjacent to any

28  such property or facilities.

29         c.  Community college police officers shall have the

30  authority to enforce all the traffic laws of this state only

31  when such violations occur on any property or facilities that

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 1  are under the guidance, supervision, regulation, or control of

 2  the community college system.

 3         d.  Police officers employed by an airport authority

 4  shall have the authority to enforce all of the traffic laws of

 5  this state only when such violations occur on any property or

 6  facilities that are owned or operated by an airport authority.

 7         (I)  An airport authority may employ as a parking

 8  enforcement specialist any individual who successfully

 9  completes a training program established and approved by the

10  Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for parking

11  enforcement specialists but who does not otherwise meet the

12  uniform minimum standards established by the commission for

13  law enforcement officers or auxiliary or part-time officers

14  under s. 943.12. Nothing in this sub-sub-subparagraph shall be

15  construed to permit the carrying of firearms or other weapons,

16  nor shall such parking enforcement specialist have arrest

17  authority.

18         (II)  A parking enforcement specialist employed by an

19  airport authority is authorized to enforce all state, county,

20  and municipal laws and ordinances governing parking only when

21  such violations are on property or facilities owned or

22  operated by the airport authority employing the specialist, by

23  appropriate state, county, or municipal traffic citation.

24         e.  The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement of the

25  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall have the

26  authority to enforce traffic laws of this state.

27         f.  School safety officers shall have the authority to

28  enforce all of the traffic laws of this state when such

29  violations occur on or about any property or facilities which

30  are under the guidance, supervision, regulation, or control of

31  the district school board.

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 1         2.  An agency of the state as described in subparagraph

 2  1. is prohibited from establishing a traffic citation quota. A

 3  violation of this subparagraph is not subject to the penalties

 4  provided in chapter 318.

 5         3.  Any disciplinary action taken or performance

 6  evaluation conducted by an agency of the state as described in

 7  subparagraph 1. of a law enforcement officer's traffic

 8  enforcement activity must be in accordance with written

 9  work-performance standards. Such standards must be approved by

10  the agency and any collective bargaining unit representing

11  such law enforcement officer. A violation of this subparagraph

12  is not subject to the penalties provided in chapter 318.

13         4.  The Division of the Florida Highway Patrol may

14  employ as a traffic accident investigation officer any

15  individual who successfully completes instruction in traffic

16  accident investigation and court presentation through the

17  Selective Traffic Enforcement Program as approved by the

18  Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission and funded

19  through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or

20  a similar program approved by the commission, but who does not

21  necessarily meet the uniform minimum standards established by

22  the commission for law enforcement officers or auxiliary law

23  enforcement officers under chapter 943. Any such traffic

24  accident investigation officer who makes an investigation at

25  the scene of a traffic accident may issue traffic citations,

26  based upon personal investigation, when he or she has

27  reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person who

28  was involved in the accident committed an offense under this

29  chapter, chapter 319, chapter 320, or chapter 322 in

30  connection with the accident. This subparagraph does not

31  

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 1  permit the officer to carry firearms or other weapons and such

 2  an officer does not have authority to make arrests.

 3         Section 13.  Subsection (3) of section 316.650, Florida

 4  Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         316.650  Traffic citations.--

 6         (3)(a)  Except for a traffic citation issued pursuant

 7  to s. 316.1001, each Every traffic enforcement officer, upon

 8  issuing a traffic citation to an alleged violator of any

 9  provision of the motor vehicle laws of this state or of any

10  traffic ordinance of any city or town, shall deposit the

11  original and one copy of such traffic citation or, in the case

12  of a traffic enforcement agency which has an automated

13  citation issuance system, shall provide an electronic

14  facsimile with a court having jurisdiction over the alleged

15  offense or with its traffic violations bureau within 5 days

16  after issuance to the violator.

17         (b)  If a traffic citation is issued pursuant to s.

18  316.1001, a traffic enforcement officer may deposit the

19  original and one copy of such traffic citation or, in the case

20  of a traffic enforcement agency that has an automated citation

21  system, may provide an electronic facsimile with a court

22  having jurisdiction over the alleged offense or with its

23  traffic violations bureau within 45 days after the date of

24  issuance of the citation to the violator.

25         Section 14.  Subsection (2) of section 316.70, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         316.70  Nonpublic sector buses; safety rules.--

28         (2)  Department of Transportation personnel may conduct

29  compliance reviews for the purpose of determining compliance

30  with this section. A civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 in the

31  aggregate may be assessed against any person who violates any

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 1  provision of this section or who violates any rule or order of

 2  the Department of Transportation. A civil penalty not to

 3  exceed $25,000 in the aggregate may be assessed for violations

 4  found in a follow-up compliance review conducted within a

 5  24-month period. A civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 in the

 6  aggregate may be assessed and the motor carrier may be

 7  enjoined pursuant to s. 316.3026 if violations are found after

 8  a second follow-up compliance review within 12 months after

 9  the first follow-up compliance review. Motor carriers found to

10  be operating without insurance coverage required by s. 627.742

11  or 49 C.F.R. part 387 may be enjoined as provided in s.

12  316.3026. The Department of Transportation may assess a civil

13  penalty of up to $5,000 per infraction against any person who

14  violates any provision of this section or who violates any

15  rule or order of the department.

16         Section 15.  Subsection (4) of section 318.14, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (12) is added to that

18  section, to read:

19         318.14  Noncriminal traffic infractions; exception;

20  procedures.--

21         (4)  Except as provided in subsection (12), any person

22  charged with a noncriminal infraction under this section who

23  does not elect to appear shall pay the civil penalty and

24  delinquent fee, if applicable, either by mail or in person,

25  within 30 days after the date of issuance of receiving the

26  citation.  If the person cited follows the above procedure, he

27  or she shall be deemed to have admitted the infraction and to

28  have waived his or her right to a hearing on the issue of

29  commission of the infraction.  Such admission shall not be

30  used as evidence in any other proceedings.  Any person who is

31  cited for a violation of s. 320.0605 or s. 322.15(1), or

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 1  subject to a penalty under s. 320.07(3)(a) or (b) or s.

 2  322.065, and who makes an election under this subsection shall

 3  submit proof of compliance with the applicable section to the

 4  clerk of the court. For the purposes of this subsection, proof

 5  of compliance consists of a valid driver's license or a valid

 6  registration certificate.

 7         (12)  Any person cited for a violation of s. 316.1001

 8  may, in lieu of making an election as set forth in subsection

 9  (4) or s. 318.18(7), elect to pay his or her fine directly to

10  the governmental entity that issued the citation, within 30

11  days after the date of issuance of the citation. Any person

12  cited for a violation of s. 316.1001 who does not elect to pay

13  the fine directly to the governmental entity that issued the

14  citation as described in this section shall have an additional

15  45 days after the date of the issuance of the citation in

16  which to pay the civil penalty and delinquent fee, if

17  applicable, as provided in s. 318.18(7), either by mail or in

18  person, in accordance with subsection (4).

19         Section 16.  Effective October 1, 2003, section 330.27,

20  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

21         330.27  Definitions, when used in ss. 330.29-330.36,

22  330.38, 330.39.--

23         (1)  "Aircraft" means a powered or unpowered machine or

24  device capable of atmospheric flight any motor vehicle or

25  contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, which is used or

26  designed for navigation of or flight in the air, except a

27  parachute or other such device contrivance designed for such

28  navigation but used primarily as safety equipment.

29         (2)  "Airport" means an any area of land or water, or

30  any manmade object or facility located thereon, which is used

31  for, or intended to be used for, use, for the landing and

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 1  takeoff of aircraft, including and any appurtenant areas,

 2  which are used, or intended for use, for airport buildings, or

 3  other airport facilities, or rights-of-way necessary to

 4  facilitate such use or intended use, together with all airport

 5  buildings and facilities located thereon.

 6         (3)  "Airport hazard" means any structure, object of

 7  natural growth, or use of land which obstructs the airspace

 8  required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off

 9  at an airport or which is otherwise hazardous to such landing

10  or taking off.

11         (4)  "Aviation" means the science and art of flight and

12  includes, but is not limited to, transportation by aircraft;

13  the operation, construction, repair, or maintenance of

14  aircraft, aircraft power plants, and accessories, including

15  the repair, packing, and maintenance of parachutes; the

16  design, establishment, construction, extension, operation,

17  improvement, repair, or maintenance of airports or other air

18  navigation facilities; and instruction in flying or ground

19  subjects pertaining thereto.

20         (3)(5)  "Department" means the Department of

21  Transportation.

22         (4)(6)  "Limited airport" means any an airport,

23  publicly or privately owned, limited exclusively to the

24  specific conditions stated on the site approval order or

25  license.

26         (7)  "Operation of aircraft" or "operate aircraft"

27  means the use, navigation, or piloting of aircraft in the

28  airspace over this state or upon any airport within this

29  state.

30         (8)  "Political subdivision" means any county,

31  municipality, district, port or aviation commission or

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 1  authority, or similar entity authorized to establish or

 2  operate an airport in this state.

 3         (5)(9)  "Private airport" means an airport, publicly or

 4  privately owned, which is not open or available for use by the

 5  public, used primarily by the licensee but may be made which

 6  is available to others for use by invitation of the owner or

 7  manager licensee. Services may be provided if authorized by

 8  the department.

 9         (6)(10)  "Public airport" means an airport, publicly or

10  privately owned, which meets minimum safety and service

11  standards and is open for use by the public.

12         (7)(11)  "Temporary airport" means any an airport,

13  publicly or privately owned, that will be used for a period of

14  less than 30 90 days with no more than 10 operations per day.

15         (8)(12)  "Ultralight aircraft" means any

16  heavier-than-air, motorized aircraft meeting which meets the

17  criteria for maximum weight, fuel capacity, and airspeed

18  established for such aircraft by the Federal Aviation

19  Administration under Part 103 of the Federal Aviation

20  Regulations.

21         Section 17.  Effective October 1, 2003, section 330.29,

22  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

23         330.29  Administration and enforcement; rules;

24  requirements standards for airport sites and airports.--It is

25  the duty of the department to:

26         (1)  Administer and enforce the provisions of this

27  chapter.

28         (2)  Establish requirements for airport site approval,

29  licensure, and registration minimum standards for airport

30  sites and airports under its licensing jurisdiction.

31  

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 1         (3)  Establish and maintain a state aviation facility

 2  data system to facilitate licensing and registration of all

 3  airports.

 4         (4)(3)  Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and

 5  120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter.

 6         Section 18.  Effective October 1, 2003, section 330.30,

 7  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         330.30  Approval of airport sites; registration and

 9  licensure licensing of airports; fees.--

10         (1)  SITE APPROVALS; REQUIREMENTS, FEES, EFFECTIVE

11  PERIOD, REVOCATION.--

12         (a)  Except as provided in subsection (3), the owner or

13  lessee of any proposed airport shall, prior to site the

14  acquisition of the site or prior to the construction or

15  establishment of the proposed airport, obtain approval of the

16  airport site from the department. Applications for approval of

17  a site and for an original license shall be jointly made in on

18  a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall be

19  accompanied by a site approval fee of $100. The department,

20  after inspection of the airport site, shall grant the site

21  approval if it is satisfied:

22         1.  That the site has is adequate area allocated for

23  the airport as proposed. airport;

24         2.  That the proposed airport, if constructed or

25  established, will conform to licensing or registration

26  requirements minimum standards of safety and will comply with

27  the applicable local government land development regulations

28  or county or municipal zoning requirements.;

29         3.  That all affected nearby airports, local

30  governments municipalities, and property owners have been

31  

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 1  notified and any comments submitted by them have been given

 2  adequate consideration.; and

 3         4.  That safe air-traffic patterns can be established

 4  worked out for the proposed airport with and for all existing

 5  airports and approved airport sites in its vicinity.

 6         (b)  Site approval shall be granted for public airports

 7  only after a favorable department inspection of the proposed

 8  site.

 9         (c)  Site approval shall be granted for private

10  airports only after receipt of documentation in a form and

11  manner the department deems necessary to satisfy the

12  conditions in paragraph (a).

13         (d)(b)  Site approval may be granted subject to any

14  reasonable conditions which the department deems may deem

15  necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare.

16         (e)  Such Approval shall remain valid in effect for a

17  period of 2 years after the date of issue issuance of the site

18  approval order, unless sooner revoked by the department or

19  unless, prior to the expiration of the 2-year period, a public

20  airport license is issued or private airport registration

21  completed for an airport located on the approved site has been

22  issued pursuant to subsection (2) prior to the expiration

23  date.

24         (f)  The department may extend a site approval may be

25  extended for subsequent periods of 2 years per extension for a

26  maximum of 2 years upon good cause shown by the owner or

27  lessee of the airport site.

28         (g)(c)  The department may revoke a site such approval

29  if it determines:

30         1.  That there has been an abandonment of the site has

31  been abandoned as an airport site;

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 1         2.  That there has been a failure within a reasonable

 2  time to develop the site has not been developed as an airport

 3  within a reasonable time period or development does not to

 4  comply with the conditions of the site approval;

 5         3.  That, except as required for in-flight emergencies,

 6  the operation of aircraft have operated of a nonemergency

 7  nature has occurred on the site; or

 8         4.  That, because of changed physical or legal

 9  conditions or circumstances, the site is no longer usable for

10  the aviation purposes due to physical or legal changes in

11  conditions that were the subject of the for which the approval

12  was granted.

13         (2)  LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS; REQUIREMENTS, FEES,

14  RENEWAL, REVOCATION.--

15         (a)  Except as provided in subsection (3), the owner or

16  lessee of any an airport in this state shall have either a

17  public airport must obtain a license or private airport

18  registration prior to the operation of aircraft to or from the

19  facility on the airport. An Application for a such license or

20  registration shall be made in on a form and manner prescribed

21  by the department and shall be accomplished jointly with an

22  application for site approval. Upon granting site approval:,

23  making a favorable final airport inspection report indicating

24  compliance with all license requirements, and receiving the

25  appropriate license fee, the department shall issue a license

26  to the applicant, subject to any reasonable conditions that

27  the department may deem necessary to protect the public

28  health, safety, or welfare.

29         1.  For a public airport, the department shall issue a

30  license after a final airport inspection finds the facility to

31  be in compliance with all requirements for the license. The

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 1  license may be subject to any reasonable conditions that the

 2  department may deem necessary to protect the public health,

 3  safety, or welfare.

 4         2.  For a private airport, the department shall provide

 5  controlled electronic access to the state aviation facility

 6  data system to permit the applicant to complete the

 7  registration process. Registration shall be completed upon

 8  self-certification by the registrant of operational and

 9  configuration data deemed necessary by the department.

10         (b)  The department may is authorized to license a

11  public an airport that does not meet all of the minimum

12  standards only if it determines that such exception is

13  justified by unusual circumstances or is in the interest of

14  public convenience and does not endanger the public health,

15  safety, or welfare. Such a license shall bear the designation

16  "special" and shall state the conditions subject to which the

17  license is granted.

18         (c)  The department may license a public airport or a

19  private airport may register authorize a site as a temporary

20  airport provided if it finds, after inspection of the site,

21  that the airport will not endanger the public health, safety,

22  or welfare and the airport meets the temporary airport

23  requirements established by the department. A temporary

24  airport license or registration shall be valid for less Such

25  authorization shall expire not later than 30 90 days after

26  issuance and is not renewable.

27         (d)  The license fees for the four categories of

28  airport licenses are:

29         1.  Public airport: $100.

30         2.  Private airport: $70.

31         3.  Limited airport: $50.

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 1         4.  Temporary airport: $25.

 2  

 3  Airports owned or operated by the state, a county, or a

 4  municipality and emergency helistops operated by licensed

 5  hospitals are required to be licensed but are exempt from the

 6  payment of site approval fees and annual license fees.

 7         (d)(e)1.  Each public airport license shall will expire

 8  no later than 1 year after the effective date of the license,

 9  except that the expiration date of a license may be adjusted

10  to provide a maximum license period of 18 months to facilitate

11  airport inspections, recognize seasonal airport operations, or

12  improve administrative efficiency. If the expiration date for

13  a public airport is adjusted, the appropriate license fee

14  shall be determined by prorating the annual fee based on the

15  length of the adjusted license period.

16         2.  Registration The license period for private all

17  airports shall remain valid provided specific elements of

18  airport data, established by the department, are periodically

19  recertified by the airport registrant. The ability to

20  recertify private airport registration data shall be available

21  at all times by electronic submittal. A private airport

22  registration that has not been recertified in the 24-month

23  period following the last certification shall expire, unless

24  the registration period has been adjusted by the department

25  for purposes of informing private airport owners of their

26  registration responsibilities or promoting administrative

27  efficiency. The expiration date of the current registration

28  period will be clearly identifiable from the state aviation

29  facility data system other than public airports will be set by

30  the department, but shall not exceed a period of 5 years. In

31  determining the license period for such airports, the

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 1  department shall consider the number of based aircraft, the

 2  airport location relative to adjacent land uses and other

 3  airports, and any other factors deemed by the department to be

 4  critical to airport operation and safety.

 5         3.  The effective date and expiration date shall be

 6  shown on public airport licenses stated on the face of the

 7  license. Upon receiving an application for renewal of an

 8  airport a license in on a form and manner prescribed by the

 9  department and receiving, making a favorable inspection report

10  indicating compliance with all applicable requirements and

11  conditions, and receiving the appropriate annual license fee,

12  the department shall renew the license, subject to any

13  conditions deemed necessary to protect the public health,

14  safety, or welfare.

15         4.  The department may require a new site approval for

16  any an airport if the license or registration of the airport

17  has expired not been renewed by the expiration date.

18         5.  If the renewal application for a public airport

19  license has and fees have not been received by the department

20  or no private airport registration recertification has been

21  accomplished within 15 days after the date of expiration of

22  the license, the department may revoke close the airport

23  license or registration.

24         (e)(f)  The department may revoke, or refuse to allow

25  or issue, any airport registration or recertification, or any

26  license or license renewal thereof, or refuse to issue a

27  renewal, if it determines:

28         1.  That the site there has been abandoned as an

29  abandonment of the airport as such;

30  

31  

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 1         2.  That the airport does not there has been a failure

 2  to comply with the conditions of the license, license or

 3  renewal, or site approval thereof; or

 4         3.  That, because of changed physical or legal

 5  conditions or circumstances, the airport has become either

 6  unsafe or unusable for flight operation due to physical or

 7  legal changes in conditions that were the subject of approval

 8  the aeronautical purposes for which the license or renewal was

 9  issued.

10         (3)  EXEMPTIONS.--The provisions of this section do not

11  apply to:

12         (a)  An airport owned or operated by the United States.

13         (b)  An ultralight aircraft landing area; except that

14  any public ultralight airport located more than within 5

15  nautical miles from a of another public airport or military

16  airport, except or any ultralight landing area with more than

17  10 ultralight aircraft operating at from the site is subject

18  to the provisions of this section.

19         (c)  A helistop used solely in conjunction with a

20  construction project undertaken pursuant to the performance of

21  a state contract if the purpose of the helicopter operations

22  at the site is to expedite construction.

23         (d)  An airport under the jurisdiction or control of a

24  county or municipal aviation authority or a county or

25  municipal port authority or the Florida Space Authority;

26  however, the department shall license any such airport if such

27  authority does not elect to exercise its exemption under this

28  subsection.

29         (d)(e)  A helistop used by mosquito control or

30  emergency services, not to include areas where permanent

31  facilities are installed, such as hospital landing sites.

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 1         (e)(f)  An airport which meets the criteria of s.

 2  330.27(7)(11) used exclusively for aerial application or

 3  spraying of crops on a seasonal basis, not to include any

 4  licensed airport where permanent crop aerial application or

 5  spraying facilities are installed, if the period of operation

 6  does not exceed 30 days per calendar year. Such proposed

 7  airports, which will be located within 3 miles of existing

 8  airports or approved airport sites, shall establish work out

 9  safe air-traffic patterns with such existing airports or

10  approved airport sites, by memorandums of understanding, or by

11  letters of agreement between the parties representing the

12  airports or sites.

13         (f)  Any body of water used for the takeoff and landing

14  of aircraft, including any land, building, structure, or any

15  other contrivance that facilitates private use or intended

16  private use.

17         (4)  EXCEPTIONS.--Private airports with 10 or more

18  based aircraft may request to be inspected and licensed by the

19  department. Private airports licensed according to this

20  subsection shall be considered private airports as defined in

21  s. 330.27(5) in all other respects.

22         Section 19.  Effective October 1, 2003, section 330.35,

23  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

24         330.35  Airport zoning, approach zone protection.--

25         (1)  Nothing in ss. 330.29-330.36, 330.38, and 330.39

26  shall be construed to limit any right, power, or authority of

27  the state or a political subdivision to regulate airport

28  hazards by zoning.

29         (2)  Airports licensed for general public use under the

30  provisions of s. 330.30 are eligible for airport zoning

31  

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 1  approach zone protection, and the procedure shall be the same

 2  as is prescribed in chapter 333.

 3         (3)  The department is granted all powers conferred

 4  upon political subdivisions of this state by chapter 333 to

 5  regulate airport hazards at state-owned public airports. The

 6  procedure shall be to form a joint zoning board with the

 7  political subdivision of the state in which the state-owned

 8  public airport is located as prescribed in chapter 333.

 9         Section 20.  Effective October 1, 2003, subsection (2)

10  of section 330.36, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         330.36  Prohibition against county or municipal

12  licensing of airports; regulation of seaplane landings.--

13         (2)  Upon adoption of zoning requirements in compliance

14  with subsection (1), a municipality may prohibit or otherwise

15  regulate, for specified public health and safety purposes, the

16  landing of seaplanes in and upon any public waters of the

17  state which are located within the limits or jurisdiction of,

18  or bordering on, the municipality.

19         Section 21.  Subsection (1) of section 288.075, Florida

20  Statutes, is amended to read:

21         288.075  Confidentiality of records.--

22         (1)  As used in this section, the term "economic

23  development agency" means the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

24  Economic Development, any industrial development authority

25  created in accordance with part III of chapter 159 or by

26  special law, the Florida Space Authority created in part II of

27  chapter 331, the Florida Aerospace Finance Commercial Space

28  Financing Corporation created in part III of chapter 331, the

29  public economic development agency of a county or

30  municipality, or any research and development authority

31  created in accordance with part V of chapter 159. The term

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 1  also includes any private agency, person, partnership,

 2  corporation, or business entity when authorized by the state,

 3  a municipality, or a county to promote the general business

 4  interests or industrial interests of the state or that

 5  municipality or county.

 6         Section 22.  Subsection (16) of section 331.303,

 7  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         331.303  Definitions.--

 9         (16)  "Project" means any development, improvement,

10  property, launch, utility, facility, system, works, road,

11  sidewalk, enterprise, service, or convenience, which may

12  include coordination with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Board

13  of Education Regents, and the Space Research Foundation the

14  Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation, and the Florida Space

15  Research Institute; any rocket, capsule, module, launch

16  facility, assembly facility, operations or control facility,

17  tracking facility, administrative facility, or any other type

18  of space-related transportation vehicle, station, or facility;

19  any type of equipment or instrument to be used or useful in

20  connection with any of the foregoing; any type of intellectual

21  property and intellectual property protection in connection

22  with any of the foregoing including, without limitation, any

23  patent, copyright, trademark, and service mark for, among

24  other things, computer software; any water, wastewater, gas,

25  or electric utility system, plant, or distribution or

26  collection system; any small business incubator initiative,

27  including any startup aerospace company, research and

28  development company, research and development facility,

29  education and workforce training facility, storage facility,

30  and consulting service; or any tourism initiative, including

31  any space experience attraction, space-launch-related

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 1  activity, and space museum sponsored or promoted by the

 2  authority.

 3         Section 23.  Section 331.308, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         331.308  Board of supervisors.--

 6         (1)  There is created within the Florida Space

 7  Authority a board of supervisors consisting of eight regular

 8  members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, and two ex

 9  officio nonvoting members, one of whom shall be a state

10  senator selected by the President of the Senate and one of

11  whom shall be a state representative selected by the Speaker

12  of the House of Representatives. The Lieutenant Governor, who

13  is the state's space policy leader, shall serve as chair of

14  the board of supervisors, and shall cast the deciding vote if

15  the votes of the eight regular members result in a tie. The

16  board shall elect a vice-chair to preside in the absence of

17  the Lieutenant Governor and to perform such other duties as

18  may be designated. All regular members shall be subject to

19  confirmation by the Senate at the next regular session of the

20  Legislature. Existing board members are not prohibited from

21  reappointment. Each of the regular board members must be a

22  resident of the state and must have experience in the

23  aerospace or commercial space industry or in finance or have

24  other significant relevant experience. A private sector legal

25  entity may not have more than one person serving on the board

26  at any one time. One regular member shall represent organized

27  labor interests, one regular member shall represent minority

28  interests, and four regular members must represent space

29  industry, at least one of whom must also be from a small

30  business, as defined in s. 288.703. For the purpose of this

31  section, "space industry" includes private sector entities

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 1  engaged in space flight business, as defined in s. 212.031,

 2  research and technology development of space-based products

 3  and services, space station commercialization, development of

 4  spaceport and range technology, remote sensing products and

 5  services, space biotechnology, measurement and calibration of

 6  space assets, space-related software and information

 7  technology development, design and architecture of space-based

 8  assets and facilities for manufacturing and other purposes,

 9  space-related nanotechnology, space tourism, and other

10  commercial enterprises utilizing uniquely space-based

11  capabilities.

12         (2)  Each regular member shall serve a term of 4 years

13  or until a successor is appointed and qualified.  The term of

14  each such member shall be construed to commence on the date of

15  appointment and to terminate on June 30 of the year of the end

16  of the term.   Appointment to the board shall not preclude any

17  such member from holding any other private or public position.

18         (3)  The ex officio nonvoting legislative members shall

19  serve on the board for 2-year terms.

20         (4)  Any vacancy on the board shall be filled for the

21  balance of the unexpired term.

22         (5)  This act does not affect the terms or conditions

23  of current members of the board, but applies to any vacancy

24  that occurs on or after the effective date of this act.

25  Appointments to the board shall give effect to this act as

26  soon as practicable. Vacancies created by or occurring

27  subsequent to the passage of this act shall be filled by

28  representatives of the space industry, as provided herein,

29  until the composition of the board is in compliance with the

30  provisions of subsection (1).

31  

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 1         (5)(6)  The board shall hold its initial meeting no

 2  later than 20 days after the members have been appointed.  At

 3  its initial meeting, or as soon thereafter as is practicable,

 4  the The board  shall appoint an executive director. Meetings

 5  shall be held quarterly or more frequently at the call of the

 6  chair. A majority of the regular members of the board shall

 7  constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of such members

 8  present is necessary for any action taken by the board.

 9         (6)(7)  The Governor has the authority to remove from

10  the board any regular member in the manner and for cause as

11  defined by the laws of this state and applicable to situations

12  which that may arise before the board.  Unless excused by the

13  chair of the board, a regular member's absence from two or

14  more consecutive board meetings creates a vacancy in the

15  office to which the member was appointed.

16         Section 24.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

17  331.367, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

18         331.367  Spaceport Management Council.--

19         (2)  The council shall make recommendations regarding:

20         (b)  The projects and levels of commercial financing

21  required from the Florida Aerospace Finance Commercial Space

22  Financing Corporation created by s. 331.407.

23         Section 25.  Section 331.368, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         331.368  Florida Space Research Institute.--

26         (1)  There is created the Florida Space Research

27  Institute, the purpose of which is to serve as an

28  industry-driven center for research, leveraging the state's

29  resources in a collaborative effort to support Florida's space

30  industry and its expansion, diversification, and transition to

31  commercialization.

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 1         (2)  The institute shall operate as a public/private

 2  partnership under the direction of a board composed of:

 3         (a)  A representative of the Florida Space Authority.

 4         (b)  A representative of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

 5         (c)  A representative of the Florida Aviation Aerospace

 6  Alliance.

 7         (d)  A representative of the Florida Space Business

 8  Roundtable.

 9         (e)  Additional private-sector representatives from the

10  space industry selected collaboratively by the core members

11  specified in paragraphs (a)-(d). The additional space industry

12  representatives under this paragraph must comprise the

13  majority of members of the board and must be from geographic

14  regions throughout the state. Each private-sector

15  representative shall be appointed to a term of 3 years.

16         (f)  Two representatives from the educational community

17  who are selected collaboratively by the core members specified

18  in paragraphs (a)-(d) and who are engaged in research or

19  instruction related to the space industry. One representative

20  must be from a community college, and one representative must

21  be from a public or private university. Each educational

22  representative shall be appointed to a term of 2 years.

23         (g)  Additional ex officio, nonvoting representatives

24  selected collaboratively by the core members.

25         (3)  Annually, the members of the board shall select

26  one of the members to serve as chair, who shall be responsible

27  for convening and leading meetings of the board.

28         (4)  Board members are considered to be volunteers as

29  defined in s. 110.501 and shall serve with all protections

30  provided to volunteers of state agencies under s. 768.1355.

31  

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 1         (5)  For the purposes of contracts and grants, s.

 2  216.346 shall apply to the institute's programs with state

 3  universities and community colleges.

 4         (6)  The Florida Space Research Institute may:

 5         (a)  Acquire property under such conditions as the

 6  board may deem necessary or desirable, and sell or otherwise

 7  dispose of the same.

 8         (b)  Serve as a coordinating organization among public

 9  and private academic institutions, industry, and government

10  agencies to support the expansion and diversification of

11  Florida's space industry, and to support research and

12  education programs.

13         (c)  Execute contracts and other documents, adopt

14  proceedings, and perform any acts determined by the board to

15  be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

16         (d)  Establish a personnel-management system and

17  procedures, rules, and rates governing administrative and

18  financial operations of the institute.

19         (e)  Acquire, accept, or administer grants, contracts,

20  and fees from other organizations to perform activities that

21  are consistent with the purposes of this section.

22         (f)  Work in partnership with the Florida Space

23  Authority, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Department of

24  Education, and other organizations to support their programs

25  to promote the state as a center for space enterprise,

26  research, and technology development.

27         (7)(3)  The board of the Florida Space Research

28  Institute shall:

29         (a)  Set the strategic direction for the space-related

30  research priorities of the state and its space-related

31  

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 1  businesses, the scope of research projects for the institute,

 2  and the timeframes for completion.

 3         (b)  Invite the participation of public and private

 4  academic institutions universities, including, but not limited

 5  to, the University of Central Florida, the University of

 6  Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida State

 7  University, Florida Institute of Technology, and the

 8  University of Miami.

 9         (c)  Select a lead university to:

10         1.  Serve as coordinator of research for and as the

11  administrative entity of the institute;

12         2.  Support the institute's development of a statewide

13  space research agenda and programs; and

14         3.  Develop, and update as necessary, a report

15  recommending ways that the state's public and private

16  universities can work in partnership to support the state's

17  space-industry requirements, which report must be completed by

18  December 15, 2000.

19         (d)  Establish a partnership with the state Workforce

20  Development Board, or its successor entity, under which the

21  institute coordinates the workforce-training requirements

22  identified by the space industry and supports development of

23  workforce-training initiatives to meet such requirements,

24  using training providers approved by the board or its

25  successor entity.

26         (e)  Comanage, with the National Aeronautics and Space

27  Administration and subject to the terms of an agreement with

28  NASA, operation of a Space Experiment Research and Processing

29  Laboratory, if such a facility is constructed on land of the

30  John F. Kennedy Space Center. The institute shall carry out

31  

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 1  such responsibility through a consortium of public and private

 2  universities in the state led by the University of Florida.

 3         (f)  Develop initiatives to foster the participation of

 4  the state's space industry in the International Space Station

 5  and to help the state maintain and enhance its competitive

 6  position in the commercial space-transportation industry.

 7         (g)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics

 8  and Space Administration to coordinate and conduct research in

 9  fields including, but not limited to, environmental

10  monitoring; agriculture; aquatics; resource reutilization

11  technologies for long-duration space missions; and spaceport

12  technologies which support current or next-generation launch

13  vehicles and range systems.

14         (h)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics

15  and Space Administration for the conduct of space-related

16  research using computer technology to connect experts in a

17  given field of science who are in disparate locations and to

18  perform research experiments in a real-time, virtual

19  environment.

20         (i)  Appoint or dismiss, as deemed necessary by the

21  board, a person to act as executive director of the institute,

22  who shall have such other functions, duties, powers, and

23  salary as the board prescribes.

24         (8)(4)  By December 15 of each year, the institute

25  shall submit a report of its activities and accomplishments

26  for the year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

27  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the

28  Commissioner of Education. The report shall also include

29  recommendations regarding actions the state should take to

30  enhance the development of space-related businesses,

31  including:

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 1         (a)  Future research activities.

 2         (b)  The development of capital and technology

 3  assistance to new and expanding industries.

 4         (c)  The removal of regulatory impediments.

 5         (d)  The establishment of business development

 6  incentives.

 7         (e)  The initiation of education and training programs

 8  to ensure a skilled workforce.

 9         Section 26.  Section 331.401, Florida Statutes, is

10  amended to read:

11         331.401  Short title.--Sections 331.401-331.419 may be

12  cited as the "Florida Aerospace Finance Commercial Space

13  Financing Corporation Act."

14         Section 27.  Section 331.403, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         331.403  Legislative findings and intent.--The

17  Legislature finds that the expansion of state and federal

18  support for the aerospace industry in Florida is critical to

19  the continued development of a viable commercial aerospace

20  space industry and the technical and scientific job base for

21  its citizens. This development of commercial opportunities in

22  Florida is slowed by the lack of traditional business

23  financing tools such as securitization for industrial

24  development. Florida's launch industry is also being

25  challenged by the provision of such industry assistance by

26  other countries. Florida's aerospace industry could be

27  assisted by a corporation established to work with the United

28  States Export-Import Bank, the Small Business Administration,

29  the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other

30  federal, state, and private sources to provide information,

31  technical assistance, and financial support. It is the

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 1  intention of the Legislature to retain and expand job

 2  opportunities for Florida citizens through this mechanism.

 3         Section 28.  Section 331.405, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         331.405  Definitions.--As used in this part:

 6         (1)  "Account" means the account established pursuant

 7  to s. 331.415.

 8         (2)  "Aerospace" means the industry concerned with the

 9  design and manufacture of aircraft, rockets, missiles,

10  spacecraft, satellites, space vehicles, space stations, space

11  facilities, or components thereof, and equipment, systems,

12  facilities, simulators, programs, and activities related

13  thereto.

14         (3)(2)  "Authority" means the Florida Space Authority

15  created by s. 331.302.

16         (4)(3)  "Board" means the governing body of the

17  corporation.

18         (5)(4)  "Corporation" means the Florida Aerospace

19  Finance Commercial Space Financing Corporation.

20         (6)(5)  "Domiciled in this state" means registered to

21  do business in Florida.

22         (7)(6)  "Financial institution" has the same meaning as

23  in s. 655.005(1)(h).

24         (8)(7)  "Financing agreement" has the same meaning as

25  in s. 331.303(10).

26         (9)(8)  "Member" means an individual appointed to be a

27  member of the board.

28         (10)(9)  "President" means the chief executive officer

29  of the corporation.

30         Section 29.  Section 331.407, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

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 1         331.407  Florida Aerospace Finance Commercial Space

 2  Financing Corporation.--

 3         (1)  The Florida Aerospace Finance Commercial Space

 4  Financing Corporation is created as a corporation not for

 5  profit.  The corporation shall have all the powers, rights,

 6  privileges, and authority as provided under chapter 617 and

 7  this part. The corporation shall be organized on a nonstock

 8  basis. The purpose of the corporation is to expand employment

 9  and income opportunities for residents of this state by

10  providing businesses domiciled in this state with information,

11  technical assistance, and financial assistance to support

12  space-related transactions, in order to increase the

13  development within the state of commercial aerospace products,

14  activities, services, and facilities.

15         (2)  The corporation shall have the power and authority

16  to carry out the following functions:

17         (a)  To coordinate its efforts with programs and goals

18  of the United States Air Force, the National Aeronautics and

19  Space Administration, the Export-Import Bank, the

20  International Trade Administration of the United States

21  Department of Commerce, the Foreign Credit Insurance

22  Association, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and its boards, and

23  other private and public programs and organizations, domestic

24  and foreign.

25         (b)  To establish a network of contacts among those

26  domestic and foreign public and private organizations which

27  provide information, technical assistance, and financial

28  support to the aerospace industry.

29         (c)  To assemble, publish, and disseminate information

30  on financing opportunities and techniques of financing

31  aerospace projects, programs, and activities; sources of

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 1  public and private aerospace financing assistance; and sources

 2  of aerospace-related space-related financing.

 3         (d)  To organize, host, and participate in seminars and

 4  other forums designed to disseminate information and technical

 5  assistance regarding aerospace-related space-related

 6  financing.

 7         (e)  To insure, coinsure, lend, and guarantee loans,

 8  and to originate for sale direct aerospace-related

 9  space-related loans, pursuant to criteria, bylaws, policies,

10  and procedures adopted by the board.

11         (f)  To capitalize, underwrite, and secure funding for

12  aerospace infrastructure, satellites, launch vehicles, and any

13  service which supports aerospace launches.

14         (g)  To construct, lease, or sell aerospace

15  infrastructure, satellites, launch vehicles, and any other

16  related activities and services.

17         (h)  To acquire property, including real, personal,

18  tangible, intangible, or mixed, under such conditions as the

19  board may deem necessary or desirable, and sell or otherwise

20  dispose of the same.

21         (i)  To make and exercise any and all contracts or

22  other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of

23  its powers, including financing agreements.

24         (3)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the

25  corporation shall not be considered an "agency" as defined in

26  s. 216.011 or s. 287.012.

27         Section 30.  Subsection (4) of section 331.409, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         331.409  Powers and limitations.--

30         (4)  In providing assistance, the board shall create a

31  fiscal strategy for Florida which will guide and facilitate

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 1  the successful expansion of aerospace-related space-related

 2  jobs.

 3         Section 31.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (5)

 4  of section 331.411, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

 5         331.411  Board of directors; powers and duties.--

 6         (5)  The board shall:

 7         (a)  Prior to the expenditure of funds from the

 8  account, adopt bylaws, rules, and policies necessary to carry

 9  out its responsibilities under this part, particularly with

10  respect to the implementation of the corporation's programs to

11  insure, coinsure, lend, provide loan guarantees, and make

12  direct, guaranteed, or collateralized loans to support

13  aerospace-related space-related transactions.

14         (c)  Adopt policies, including criteria, establishing

15  which aerospace-related space-related transactions shall be

16  eligible for insurance, coinsurance, loan guarantees, and

17  direct, guaranteed, or collateralized loans which may be

18  extended by the corporation.  To implement this paragraph, the

19  board shall adopt rules which include the following criteria:

20         1.  Any individual signing any corporation loan

21  application and loan or guarantee agreement must have an

22  equity interest in the business applying for financial

23  assistance.

24         2.  Applicants must be domiciled in this state and will

25  be contractually obligated to use Florida launch facilities to

26  the maximum extent possible.

27         Section 32.  Subsections (37) and (38) are added to

28  section 334.03, Florida Statutes, to read:

29         334.03  Definitions.--When used in the Florida

30  Transportation Code, the term:

31  

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 1         (37)  "511" or "511 services" means three-digit

 2  telecommunications dialing to access interactive voice

 3  response telephone traveler information services provided in

 4  the state as defined by the Federal Communications Commission

 5  in FCC Order No. 00-256, July 31, 2000.

 6         (38)  "Interactive voice response" means a software

 7  application that accepts a combination of voice telephone

 8  input and touch-tone keypad selection and provides appropriate

 9  responses in the form of voice, fax, callback, e-mail, and

10  other media.

11         Section 33.  Present subsection (31) of section

12  334.044, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (32),

13  and a new subsection (31) is added to that section, to read:

14         334.044  Department; powers and duties.--The department

15  shall have the following general powers and duties:

16         (31)  To provide oversight of traveler information

17  systems that may include the provision of interactive voice

18  response telephone systems accessible via the 511 number as

19  assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for traveler

20  information services. The department shall ensure that uniform

21  standards and criteria for the collection and dissemination of

22  traveler information are applied using interactive voice

23  response systems.

24         Section 34.  Section 334.14, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         334.14  Employees of department who are required to be

27  engineers.--Each employee performing engineering as defined in

28  chapter 471 shall be registered in accordance with the

29  provisions of chapter 471.

30  

31  

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 1         (1)  At a minimum, each of the following employees of

 2  the department must be a professional engineer registered

 3  under chapter 471:

 4         (a)  The State Highway Engineer and the district

 5  secretary for each district, except that in lieu of

 6  engineering registration the district secretary for each

 7  district may hold an advanced degree in an appropriate related

 8  discipline such as a master of business administration.

 9         (b)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of

10  the department that is responsible for the design of

11  transportation facilities.

12         2.  Any person who is employed or assigned by any such

13  unit to be in responsible charge of an engineering project

14  designed by the unit, regardless of whether such person is

15  employed in the central office or in a field office.

16         (c)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of

17  the department that is responsible for the construction of

18  transportation facilities or materials testing.

19         2.  Any area or resident engineer who is in responsible

20  charge of an engineering construction project.

21         (d)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of

22  the department that is directly responsible for traffic

23  operations or the maintenance of transportation facilities.

24         2.  The senior maintenance engineer assigned to a field

25  office.

26         3.  The senior maintenance engineers in charge of the

27  various area maintenance yards assigned to the field units.

28         (2)  As used in this section, the term "responsible

29  charge" means the rendering of engineering judgment and

30  decisions in the development of technical policy and programs

31  or the direct control and personal supervision of work

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 1  performed by himself or herself or by others over whom the

 2  person holds supervisory authority.

 3         (3)  Any person holding the position of resident

 4  engineer of construction or senior maintenance engineer of a

 5  field unit on July 1, 1984, or the position of designer as

 6  identified in subparagraph (1)(b)2. on July 1, 1985, is not

 7  subject to the engineering registration requirement.  However,

 8  when such person vacates his or her position, his or her

 9  replacement must comply with that requirement.

10         (4)  The department shall employ a district secretary

11  for each transportation district whose duties shall be fixed

12  by the department and who shall be responsible for the

13  efficient operation and administration of that district.

14         (5)  In addition to the requirement for engineering

15  registration in subsection (1), the department, in filling the

16  positions described in this section, shall place emphasis on

17  proven management ability and experience.

18         Section 35.  Section 334.60, Florida Statutes, is

19  created to read:

20         334.60  511 traveler information system.--

21         (1)  The department is the state's lead agency for

22  implementing 511 services and is the state's point of contact

23  for coordinating 511 services with telecommunications service

24  providers. The department shall:

25         (a)  Implement and administer 511 services in the

26  state;

27         (b)  Coordinate with other transportation authorities

28  in the state to provide multimodal traveler information

29  through 511 services and other means;

30  

31  

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 1         (c)  Develop uniform standards and criteria for the

 2  collection and dissemination of traveler information using the

 3  511 number or other interactive voice response systems; and

 4         (d)  Enter into joint participation agreements or

 5  contracts with highway authorities and public transit

 6  districts to share the costs of implementing and administering

 7  511 services in the state. The department may also enter into

 8  other agreements or contracts with private firms relating to

 9  the 511 services to offset the costs of implementing and

10  administering 511 services in the state.

11  

12  The department shall adopt rules to administer the

13  coordination of 511 traveler information phone services in the

14  state.

15         Section 36.  Section 336.467, Florida Statutes, is

16  amended to read:

17         336.467  County-state right-of-way acquisition

18  agreements.--A county or other governmental entity may enter

19  into an agreement with the department to provide for the

20  department to acquire rights-of-way for the county or other

21  governmental entity, provided the highway project is to be

22  funded by the 80-percent portion of the constitutional gas tax

23  allocated to that county and requires the acquisition of at

24  least 10 parcels of land, the total cost of which will equal

25  or exceed $100,000.

26         Section 37.  Subsections (1), (4), and (7) of section

27  337.14, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

28         337.14  Application for qualification; certificate of

29  qualification; restrictions; request for hearing.--

30         (1)  Any person desiring to bid for the performance of

31  any construction contract in excess of $250,000 which the

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 1  department proposes to let must first be certified by the

 2  department as qualified pursuant to this section and rules of

 3  the department.  The rules of the department shall address the

 4  qualification of persons to bid on construction contracts in

 5  excess of $250,000 and shall include requirements with respect

 6  to the equipment, past record, experience, financial

 7  resources, and organizational personnel of the applicant

 8  necessary to perform the specific class of work for which the

 9  person seeks certification. The department is authorized to

10  limit the dollar amount of any contract upon which a person is

11  qualified to bid or the aggregate total dollar volume of

12  contracts such person is allowed to have under contract at any

13  one time.  Each applicant seeking qualification to bid on

14  construction contracts in excess of $250,000 shall furnish the

15  department a statement under oath, on such forms as the

16  department may prescribe, setting forth detailed information

17  as required on the application.  Each application for

18  certification shall be accompanied by the latest annual

19  financial statement of the applicant completed within the last

20  12 months. If the annual financial statement shows the

21  financial condition of the applicant more than 4 months prior

22  to the date on which the application is received by the

23  department, then an interim financial statement must also be

24  submitted.  The interim financial statement must cover the

25  period from the end date of the annual statement and must show

26  the financial condition of the applicant no more than 4 months

27  prior to the date on which the application is received by the

28  department.  Each required annual or interim financial

29  statement must be audited and accompanied by the opinion of a

30  certified public accountant or a public accountant approved by

31  the department.  The information required by this subsection

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 1  is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.

 2  119.07(1).  The department shall act upon the application for

 3  qualification within 30 days after the department determines

 4  that the application is complete it is presented.

 5         (4)  If the applicant is found to possess the

 6  prescribed qualifications, the department shall issue to him

 7  or her a certificate of qualification that, unless thereafter

 8  revoked by the department for good cause, will be valid for a

 9  period of 18 months after the date of the applicant's

10  financial statement or such shorter period as the department

11  prescribes. Submission of an application shall not affect

12  expiration of the certificate of qualification. If the

13  department finds that an application is incomplete or contains

14  inadequate information or information that cannot be verified,

15  the department may request in writing that the applicant

16  provide the necessary information to complete the application

17  or provide the source from which any information in the

18  application may be verified. If the applicant fails to comply

19  with the initial written request within a reasonable period of

20  time as specified therein, the department shall request the

21  information a second time. If the applicant fails to comply

22  with the second request within a reasonable period of time as

23  specified therein, the application shall be denied.

24         (7)  No "contractor" as defined in s. 337.165(1)(d) or

25  his or her "affiliate" as defined in s. 337.165(1)(a)

26  qualified with the department under this section may also

27  qualify under s. 287.055 or s. 337.105 to provide testing

28  services, construction, engineering, and inspection services

29  to the department.  This limitation shall not apply to any

30  design-build prequalification under s. 337.11(7).

31  

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 1         Section 38.  Section 337.18, Florida Statutes, is

 2  amended to read:

 3         337.18  Surety bonds for construction or maintenance

 4  contracts; requirement with respect to contract award; bond

 5  requirements; defaults; damage assessments.--

 6         (1)(a)  A surety bond shall be required of the

 7  successful bidder in an amount equal to the awarded contract

 8  price. For a project for which the contract price is $150,000

 9  or less, the department may waive the requirement for all or a

10  portion of a surety bond if it determines the project is of a

11  noncritical nature and nonperformance will not endanger public

12  health, safety, or property. The department may require

13  alternate means of security if a surety bond is waived. The

14  surety on such bond shall be a surety company authorized to do

15  business in the state. All bonds shall be payable to the

16  department and conditioned for the prompt, faithful, and

17  efficient performance of the contract according to plans and

18  specifications and within the time period specified, and for

19  the prompt payment of all persons defined in s. 713.01

20  furnishing labor, material, equipment, and supplies for work

21  provided in the contract therefor; however, whenever an

22  improvement, demolition, or removal contract price is $25,000

23  or less, the security may, in the discretion of the bidder, be

24  in the form of a cashier's check, bank money order of any

25  state or national bank, certified check, or postal money

26  order. The department shall adopt rules to implement this

27  subsection. Such rules shall include provisions under which

28  the department shall refuse to accept bonds on contracts when

29  a surety wrongfully fails or refuses to settle or provide a

30  defense for claims or actions arising under a contract for

31  which the surety previously furnished a bond.

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 1         (b)  Upon execution of the contract, and prior to

 2  beginning any work under the contract, the contractor shall

 3  record in the public records of the county where the

 4  improvement is located the payment and performance bond

 5  required under this section. A claimant shall have a right of

 6  action against the contractor and surety for the amount due

 7  him or her, including unpaid finance charges due under the

 8  claimant's contract. Such action shall not involve the

 9  department in any expense.

10         (c)  A claimant, except a laborer, who is not in

11  privity with the contractor shall, before commencing or not

12  later than 90 days after commencing to furnish labor,

13  materials, or supplies for the prosecution of the work,

14  furnish the contractor with a notice that he or she intends to

15  look to the bond for protection. A claimant who is not in

16  privity with the contractor and who has not received payment

17  for his or her labor, materials, or supplies shall deliver to

18  the contractor and to the surety written notice of the

19  performance of the labor or delivery of the materials or

20  supplies and of the nonpayment. The notice of nonpayment may

21  be served at any time during the progress of the work or

22  thereafter but not before 45 days after the first furnishing

23  of labor, services, or materials, and not later than 90 days

24  after the final furnishing of the labor, services, or

25  materials by the claimant or, with respect to rental

26  equipment, not later than 90 days after the date that the

27  rental equipment was last on the job site available for use.

28  An action by a claimant, except a laborer, who is not in

29  privity with the contractor for the labor, materials, or

30  supplies may not be instituted against the contractor or the

31  surety unless both notices have been given. Notices required

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 1  or permitted under this section may be served in any manner

 2  provided in s. 713.18.

 3         (d)  An action must be instituted by a claimant,

 4  whether in privity with the contractor or not, against the

 5  contractor or the surety on the payment bond or the payment

 6  provisions of a combined payment and performance bond within

 7  365 days after the final acceptance of the contract work by

 8  the department. A claimant may not waive in advance his or her

 9  right to bring an action under the bond against the surety. In

10  any action brought to enforce a claim against a payment bond

11  under this section, the prevailing party is entitled to

12  recover a reasonable fee for the services of his or her

13  attorney for trial and appeal or for arbitration, in an amount

14  to be determined by the court, which fee must be taxed as part

15  of the prevailing party's costs, as allowed in equitable

16  actions.

17         (e)  When a contractor has furnished a payment bond

18  pursuant to this section, he or she may, when the department

19  makes any payment to the contractor, serve a written demand on

20  any claimant who is not in privity with the contractor for a

21  written statement under oath of his or her account showing the

22  nature of the labor or services performed to date, if any; the

23  materials furnished; the materials to be furnished, if known;

24  the amount paid on account to date; the amount due; and the

25  amount to become due, if known, as of the date of the

26  statement by the claimant. Any such demand to a claimant who

27  is not in privity with the contractor must be served on the

28  claimant at the address and to the attention of any person who

29  is designated to receive the demand in the notice to the

30  contractor served by the claimant. The failure or refusal to

31  furnish the statement does not deprive the claimant of his or

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 1  her rights under the bond if the demand is not served at the

 2  address of the claimant or directed to the attention of the

 3  person designated to receive the demand in the notice to

 4  contractor. The failure to furnish the statement within 60

 5  days after the demand, or the furnishing of a false or

 6  fraudulent statement, deprives the claimant who fails to

 7  furnish the statement, or who furnishes the false or

 8  fraudulent statement, of his or her rights under the bond. If

 9  the contractor serves more than one demand for statement of

10  account on a claimant and none of the information regarding

11  the account has changed since the claimant's last response to

12  a demand, the failure or refusal to furnish such statement

13  does not deprive the claimant of his or her rights under the

14  bond. The negligent inclusion or omission of any information

15  deprives the claimant of his or her rights under the bond to

16  the extent that the contractor can demonstrate prejudice from

17  such act or omission by the claimant. The failure to furnish a

18  response to a demand for statement of account does not affect

19  the validity of any claim on the bond being enforced in a

20  lawsuit filed before the date the demand for statement of

21  account is received by the claimant.

22         (f)  The bonds provided for in this section are

23  statutory bonds. The provisions of s. 255.05 are not

24  applicable to bonds issued pursuant to this section.

25         (2)  The department shall provide in its contracts for

26  the determination of default on the part of any contractor for

27  cause attributable to such contractor. The department shall

28  have no liability for anticipated profits for unfinished work

29  on a contract which has been determined to be in default.

30  Every contract let by the department for the performance of

31  work shall contain a provision for payment to the department

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 1  by the contractor of liquidated damages due to failure of the

 2  contractor to complete the contract work within the time

 3  stipulated in the contract or within such additional time as

 4  may have been granted by the department. The contractual

 5  provision shall include a reasonable estimate of the damages

 6  that would be incurred by the department as a result of such

 7  failure. The department shall establish a schedule of daily

 8  liquidated damage charges, based on original contract amounts,

 9  for construction contracts entered into by the department,

10  which schedule shall be incorporated by reference into the

11  contract. The department shall update the schedule of

12  liquidated damages at least once every 2 years, but no more

13  often than once a year. The schedule shall, at a minimum, be

14  based on the average construction, engineering, and inspection

15  costs experienced by the department on contracts over the 2

16  preceding fiscal years. The schedule shall also include

17  anticipated costs of project-related delays and inconveniences

18  to the department and traveling public. Anticipated costs may

19  include, but are not limited to, road user costs, a portion of

20  the projected revenues that will be lost due to failure to

21  timely open a project to revenue-producing traffic, costs

22  resulting from retaining detours for an extended time, and

23  other similar costs. Any such liquidated damages paid to the

24  department shall be deposited to the credit of the fund from

25  which payment for the work contracted was authorized.

26         (3)  In addition to the provision for payment to the

27  department by the contractor of liquidated damages due to the

28  failure of the contractor to complete the project within the

29  time stipulated in the contract or within such additional time

30  as may have been granted by the department, the department may

31  also recover from the contractor amounts paid by the

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 1  department for damages suffered by third parties as a result

 2  of the contractor's failure to complete the project within the

 3  time stipulated in the contract or within such additional time

 4  as may have been granted by the department, unless the failure

 5  to timely complete the project was caused by the department's

 6  act or omission. However, nothing herein shall create a cause

 7  of action against the department, or against a contractor by

 8  an abutting property owner or business entity, where none has

 9  previously existed.

10         (4)(a)  If the department determines and adequately

11  documents that the timely completion of any project will

12  provide a substantial benefit to the public health, safety, or

13  welfare; will limit the disruptive effect of construction on

14  the community; or is cost beneficial on a revenue-producing

15  project, the contract for such project may provide for an

16  incentive payment payable to the contractor for early

17  completion of the project or critical phases of the work and

18  for additional damages to be assessed against the contractor

19  for the completion of the project or critical phases of the

20  work in excess of the time specified. All contracts containing

21  such provisions shall be approved by the head of the

22  department or his or her designee. The amount of such

23  incentive payment or such additional damages shall be

24  established in the contract based on an analysis of the cost

25  savings to the traveling public or revenue projections for a

26  revenue-producing project but shall not exceed $10,000 per

27  calendar day, except that for revenue-producing projects the

28  amounts and periods of the incentive may be greater if an

29  analysis indicates that additional revenues projected to be

30  received upon completion of the project will exceed the cost

31  of the incentive payments. Any liquidated damages provided for

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 1  under subsection (2) and any additional damages provided for

 2  under this subsection shall be payable to the department

 3  because of the contractor's failure to complete the contract

 4  work within the time stipulated in the contract or within such

 5  additional time as may have been granted by the department.

 6         (b)  The department shall adopt rules to implement this

 7  subsection. Such rules shall include procedures and criteria

 8  for the selection of projects on which incentive payments and

 9  additional damages may be provided for by contract.

10         (5)  Such bonds shall be subject to the additional

11  obligation that the principal and surety executing the same

12  shall be liable to the state in a civil action instituted by

13  the department or any officer of the state authorized in such

14  cases, for double any amount in money or property the state

15  may lose or be overcharged or otherwise defrauded of, by

16  reason of any wrongful or criminal act, if any, of the

17  contractor, the contractor's agent, or employees.

18         Section 39.  Subsection (3) of section 338.165, Florida

19  Statutes, is amended to read:

20         338.165  Continuation of tolls.--

21         (3)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,

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

23  subject to the requirements of subsection (2), the Department

24  of Transportation may request the Division of Bond Finance to

25  issue bonds secured by toll revenues collected on the

26  Alligator Alley, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Beeline-East

27  Expressway, and Pinellas Bayway to fund transportation

28  projects located within the county or counties in which the

29  facility is located and contained in the 1993-1994 Adopted

30  Work Program or in any subsequent adopted work program of the

31  department.

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 1         Section 40.  Subsection (2) of section 338.235, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         338.235  Contracts with department for provision of

 4  services on the turnpike system.--

 5         (2)  In order to secure high-quality products, business

 6  opportunities, and services on the turnpike system, products,

 7  business opportunities, and services authorized by s. 338.234

 8  may be secured by competitive solicitation for turnpike

 9  patrons, products and services authorized by s. 338.234(1) may

10  be secured through the request-for-proposal process. If the

11  department receives an unsolicitated proposal for products,

12  business opportunities, or services that it wishes to

13  consider, it shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general

14  circulation at least once a week for 2 weeks, or may broadcast

15  such notice by electronic media for 2 weeks, stating that it

16  has received a proposal and will accept other proposals on the

17  same subject for 30 days after the date of publication. The

18  department may select offers that the proposal and fee which

19  best satisfy the conditions of a quality service, business

20  opportunity, or and product operation for the turnpike system.

21  The factors to be used in evaluating proposals include, but

22  are not limited to:

23         (a)  The financial capacity of the provider;

24         (b)  The willingness to contribute toward the cost of

25  facility construction;

26         (c)  The type and quality of the service or product

27  offered;

28         (d)  The price structure of the service or product

29  offered;

30         (e)  Management experience and capabilities;

31         (f)  The national brand names offered;

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 1         (g)  The originality of the concept and its

 2  relationship to the turnpike system;

 3         (h)  The lease rate; and

 4         (i)  Other factors that the department may deem

 5  pertinent.

 6         Section 41.  Section 339.61, Florida Statutes, is

 7  created to read:

 8         339.61  Florida Strategic Intermodal System;

 9  legislative findings, declaration, and intent.--

10         (1)  There is created the Florida Strategic Intermodal

11  System.

12         (2)  The Legislature finds that increasing demands are

13  continuing to be placed on the state's transportation system

14  by a fast-growing economy, continued population growth, and

15  projected increases in freight movement, international trade,

16  and tourism. The Legislature also finds that the state's

17  growing regional and intercity economic centers will increase

18  the demand for interregional and intercity travel and that the

19  evolving service-based and information-based industries will

20  change the type of transportation system that both business

21  and industry demand, increasing the importance of speed and

22  reliability. The Legislature further finds Florida's

23  transportation system must be designed and operated in such a

24  way that preserves the abundance of natural and manmade

25  amenities that have been so critical to attracting new

26  residents, businesses, and tourists to Florida. Therefore, the

27  Legislature declares the development of a strategic intermodal

28  system, composed of facilities and services of statewide and

29  interregional significance, will efficiently serve the

30  mobility needs of Florida's citizens, businesses, and visitors

31  and will ensure Florida becomes a worldwide economic leader,

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 1  enhance economic prosperity and competitiveness, enrich

 2  quality of life, and reflect responsible environmental

 3  stewardship.  To that end, it is the intent of the Legislature

 4  that the Strategic Intermodal System consist of transportation

 5  facilities of compelling state interest and that the limited

 6  resources available for the implementation of statewide and

 7  interregional transportation priorities be focused on that

 8  system.

 9         Section 42.  Section 339.62, Florida Statutes, is

10  created to read:

11         339.62  System components.--The Strategic Intermodal

12  System shall consist of appropriate components of:

13         (1)  The Florida Intrastate Highway System established

14  under to s. 338.001.

15         (2)  The National Highway System.

16         (3)  Airport, seaport, and spaceport facilities.

17         (4)  Rail lines and rail facilities.

18         (5)  Selected intermodal facilities; passenger and

19  freight terminals; and appropriate components of the State

20  Highway System, county road system, city street system, and

21  local public transit systems that serve as connections between

22  the components listed in subsections (1)-(4).

23         (6)  Existing or planned corridors that serve a

24  statewide or interregional purpose.

25         Section 43.  Section 339.63, Florida Statutes, is

26  created to read:

27         339.63  System facilities designated; additions and

28  deletions.--

29         (1)  The initial Strategic Intermodal System shall

30  include all facilities that meet the criteria recommended by

31  the Strategic Intermodal Steering Committee in a report titled

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 1  "Steering Committee Final Report: Recommendation for

 2  Designating Florida's Strategic Intermodal System" dated

 3  December 2002.

 4         (2)  Subsequent to the initial designation of the

 5  Strategic Intermodal System pursuant to subsection (1), the

 6  Strategic Intermodal Advisory Council, as defined in s.

 7  339.65, may make recommendations to the Secretary of

 8  Transportation to periodically add facilities to or delete

 9  facilities from the Strategic Intermodal System based upon

10  adopted criteria.

11         Section 44.  Section 339.64, Florida Statutes, is

12  created to read:

13         339.64 Strategic Intermodal System Plan.--

14         (1)  The department shall develop, in cooperation with

15  metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning

16  councils, local governments, and other transportation

17  providers, a Strategic Intermodal System Plan.  The plan shall

18  be consistent with the Florida Transportation Plan developed

19  pursuant to s. 339.155 and shall be updated at least once

20  every 5 years, subsequent to updates of the Florida

21  Transportation Plan.

22         (2)  During the development of the Strategic Intermodal

23  System Plan and the development of all subsequent updates, the

24  department shall provide metropolitan planning organizations,

25  regional planning councils, local governments, transportation

26  providers, affected public agencies, and citizens with an

27  opportunity to participate in and comment on the development

28  of the proposed plan or update.

29         (3)  The Strategic Intermodal System Plan shall include

30  the following:

31         (a)  A needs assessment.

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 1         (b)  A project prioritization process.

 2         (c)  A map of facilities designated as Strategic

 3  Intermodal System facilities and facilities that are emerging

 4  in importance that are likely to be designated as part of the

 5  system in the future.

 6         (d)  A finance plan based on projections of revenues

 7  that can reasonably be expected. The finance plan shall

 8  include both 10-year and 20-year cost-feasible components.

 9         (4)  The department shall submit the plan to the

10  Strategic Intermodal Advisory Council for review and to make

11  recommendations to the department.

12         Section 45.  Section 339.65, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         339.65  Strategic Intermodal Transportation Advisory

15  Council created; membership; responsibilities.--

16         (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--The Legislature

17  finds that the geographic makeup and economic diversity of the

18  state present unique transportation challenges to citizens and

19  tourists traveling throughout the state; that all modes of

20  transportation play an important role in ensuring the

21  efficient and safe movement of people and goods throughout the

22  state; and that, if Florida is to remain a competitive and

23  safe location for international and domestic trade, the state

24  must ensure the continued viability of efficient and

25  cost-effective modes of transportation.  It is the purpose of

26  this section to ensure transportation policy and specific

27  transportation projects are coordinated to stimulate Florida's

28  economy and allow for the safe, secure, and efficient movement

29  of people and goods throughout the state.  The Legislature

30  recognizes that in order to accomplish this purpose it is

31  necessary to ensure individuals with expertise and

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 1  institutional knowledge as regards intermodal transportation

 2  are involved in the development of this policy.

 3         (2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:

 4         (a)  "Intermodal modes of transportation" means

 5  airports, spaceports, and seaports and rail, trucking, and

 6  public transit transportation modes and transportation

 7  connections between and among these modes, if applicable.

 8         (b)  "Intermodal transportation project" means any

 9  project relating to an intermodal mode or modes of

10  transportation as defined in this section and as enumerated in

11  s. 341.053(6).

12         (c)  "SITAC" means the Strategic Intermodal

13  Transportation Advisory Council.

14         (d)  "Department" means the Department of

15  Transportation.

16         (3)  STRATEGIC INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY

17  COUNCIL.--The Strategic Intermodal Transportation Advisory

18  Council is created to advise and make recommendations to the

19  Legislature, the department, and federal transportation

20  agencies on strategic intermodal transportation policies if

21  authorized by the Legislature, and planning of intermodal

22  transportation projects in this state. The council's

23  responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:

24         (a)  Advising the department on the policies, planning

25  and implementation of the Strategic Intermodal System.

26         (b)  Providing advice and recommendations to the

27  Legislature;

28         (c)  Reviewing and providing recommendations to the

29  department on the Strategic Intermodal System Plan.

30         (d)  Making, in consultation with the department,

31  recommendations to the President of the Senate and Speaker of

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 1  the House of Representatives by December 1, 2003, on the

 2  following:

 3         1.  The creation, membership, and jurisdiction of

 4  Regional Strategic Intermodal Transportation Advisory

 5  Councils;

 6         2.  The Strategic Intermodal System project review

 7  process, which process shall, at a minimum, be performed by

 8  Regional Strategic Intermodal Transportation Advisory

 9  Councils;

10         3.  The Strategic Intermodal System project funding

11  criteria; and

12         4.  The source of funding for Strategic Intermodal

13  System projects.

14         (4)  MEMBERSHIP.--

15         (a)  The members of the Strategic Intermodal

16  Transportation Advisory Council shall consist of the following

17  members:

18         1.  Four intermodal industry representatives selected

19  by the Governor as follows:

20         a.  Two representatives from airports involved in the

21  movement of freight and people from their airport facility to

22  another transportation mode.  In no event may both of the

23  representatives be employed by the same entity.

24         b.  One representative from a fixed-route,

25  local-government transit system.

26         c.  One representative from an intercity bus company

27  providing regularly scheduled bus travel as determined by

28  federal regulations.

29         2.  Three intermodal industry representatives selected

30  by the President of the Senate as follows:

31         a.  One representative from short line railroads.

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 1         b.  One representative from seaports listed in s.

 2  311.09(1) from the Atlantic Coast.

 3         c.  One representative from intermodal trucking

 4  companies.

 5         3.  Three intermodal industry representatives selected

 6  by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:

 7         a.  One representative from major line railroads.

 8         b.  One representative from seaports listed in s.

 9  311.09(1) from the Gulf Coast.

10         c.  One representative from intermodal trucking

11  companies.  In no event may this representative be employed by

12  the same entity that employs the intermodal trucking company

13  representative selected by the President of the Senate.

14         (b)1.  Initial appointments to the council must be made

15  no later than 30 days after the effective date of this

16  section.

17         2.  The initial appointments made by the President of

18  the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

19  shall serve terms concurrent with those of the respective

20  appointing officer.  Beginning January 15, 2005, and for all

21  subsequent appointments, council members appointed by the

22  President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

23  Representatives shall serve 2-year terms, concurrent with the

24  term of the respective appointing officer.

25         3.  The initial appointees, and all subsequent

26  appointees, appointed by the Governor shall serve 2-year

27  terms.

28         4.  Vacancies on the council shall be filled in the

29  same manner as the initial appointments.

30         (c)  Each member of the council shall be allowed one

31  vote.  The council shall select a chair from among its

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 1  membership.  Meetings shall be held at the call of the chair,

 2  but not less frequently than quarterly.  The members of the

 3  council are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel

 4  expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

 5         (d)  The department shall provide administrative staff

 6  support and shall ensure that council meetings are

 7  electronically recorded. Such recordings and all documents

 8  received, prepared for, or used by the council in conducting

 9  its business shall be preserved pursuant to chapters 119 and

10  257.

11         Section 46.  Section 95.361, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         95.361  Roads presumed to be dedicated.--

14         (1)  When a road, constructed by a county, a

15  municipality, or the Department of Transportation, has been

16  maintained or repaired continuously and uninterruptedly for 4

17  years by the county, municipality, or the Department of

18  Transportation, jointly or severally, the road shall be deemed

19  to be dedicated to the public to the extent in width that has

20  been actually maintained for the prescribed period, whether or

21  not the road has been formally established as a public

22  highway. The dedication shall vest all right, title, easement,

23  and appurtenances in and to the road in:

24         (a)  The county, if it is a county road;

25         (b)  The municipality, if it is a municipal street or

26  road; or

27         (c)  The state, if it is a road in the State Highway

28  System or State Park Road System,

29  

30  whether or not there is a record of a conveyance, dedication,

31  or appropriation to the public use.

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 1         (2)  In those instances where a road has been

 2  constructed by a nongovernmental entity, or where the road was

 3  not constructed by the entity currently maintaining or

 4  repairing it, or where it cannot be determined who constructed

 5  the road, and when such road has been regularly maintained or

 6  repaired for the immediate past 7 years by a county, a

 7  municipality, or the Department of Transportation, whether

 8  jointly or severally, such road shall be deemed to be

 9  dedicated to the public to the extent of the width that

10  actually has been maintained or repaired for the prescribed

11  period, whether or not the road has been formally established

12  as a public highway. The dedication shall vest all rights,

13  title, easement, and appurtenances in and to the road in:

14         (a)  The county, if it is a county road;

15         (b)  The municipality, if it is a municipal street or

16  road; or

17         (c)  The state, if it is a road in the State Highway

18  System or State Park Road System, whether or not there is a

19  record of conveyance, dedication, or appropriation to the

20  public use.

21         (3)  The filing of a map in the office of the clerk of

22  the circuit court of the county where the road is located

23  showing the lands and reciting on it that the road has vested

24  in the state, a county, or a municipality in accordance with

25  subsection (1) or subsection (2) or by any other means of

26  acquisition, duly certified by:

27         (a)  The secretary of the Department of Transportation,

28  or the secretary's designee, if the road is a road in the

29  State Highway System or State Park Road System;

30         (b)  The chair and clerk of the board of county

31  commissioners of the county, if the road is a county road; or

                                  98

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    Florida Senate - 2003                    CS for CS for SB 2658
    302-2516-03




 1         (c)  The mayor and clerk of the municipality, if the

 2  road is a municipal road or street,

 3  

 4  shall be prima facie evidence of ownership of the land by the

 5  state, county, or municipality, as the case may be.

 6         (4)  Any person, firm, corporation, or entity having or

 7  claiming any interest in and to any of the property affected

 8  by subsection (2) shall have and is hereby allowed a period of

 9  1 year after the effective date of this subsection, or a

10  period of 7 years after the initial date of regular

11  maintenance or repair of the road, whichever period is

12  greater, to file a claim in equity or with a court of law

13  against the particular governing authority assuming

14  jurisdiction over such property to cause a cessation of the

15  maintenance and occupation of the property. Such timely filed

16  and adjudicated claim shall prevent the dedication of the road

17  to the public pursuant to subsection (2).

18         Section 47.  Section 83 of chapter 2002-20, Laws of

19  Florida, as amended by section 58 of chapter 2002-402, Laws of

20  Florida, is repealed.

21         Section 48.  The Florida Air Museum, housed at Sun n'

22  Fun in Lakeland, is designated as the official state aviation

23  museum and education center.

24         Section 49.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

25  this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

26  

27  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                    CS for CS for SB 2658
    302-2516-03




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                          CS for SB 2658

 3                                 

 4  The CS for CS/SB 2658 changes the name of the Florida
    Commercial Space Financing Corporation to the Florida
 5  Aerospace Financing Corporation; augments the powers, duties,
    and appointee terms of the Florida Space Research Institute;
 6  provides for the presumptive dedication of any road maintained
    by a unit of government after seven years of maintenance
 7  unless a claim is filed by an affected property owner; and
    designates the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland as the official
 8  state aviation museum and education center.

 9  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

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18  

19  

20  

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