HB 0525 2003
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to use of the term "chamber of commerce";
3    creating s. 501.972, F.S.; providing definitions;
4    prohibiting certain business entities from using the term
5    "chamber of commerce" under certain circumstances;
6    providing exceptions; providing a penalty; specifying
7    nonimposition of certain requirements; authorizing
8    chambers of commerce to sue certain business entities to
9    enjoin use of certain terms; providing an effective date.
10         
11          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12         
13          Section 1. Section 501.972, Florida Statutes, is
14          created to read:
15          501.972 Chambers of commerce.--
16          (1) For the purposes of this section:
17          (a) "Business entity" means any corporation, partnership,
18    limited partnership, proprietorship, firm, enterprise,
19    franchise, association, self-employed individual, or trust,
20    whether fictitiously named or not, doing business in
21          this state.
22          (b) "Chamber of commerce" means a voluntary membership,
23    dues-paying organization of business and professional persons
24    dedicated, as stated in the articles of incorporation or bylaws
25    of the organization, to improving the economic climate and
26    business development of the community, area, or region in which
27    the organization is located and which:
28          1. Operates as an approved not-for-profit corporation
29    under chapter 617 and as a corporation or association qualified
30    for tax exempt status under s. 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue
31    Code of 1986, as amended.
32          2. Files any required corporation annual reports with the
33    Secretary of State and, if applicable, required annual
34    information returns with the United States Internal Revenue
35    Service.
36          3. Is governed by a volunteer board of directors of at
37    least seven members who are elected from among the membership of
38    the organization and who serve without compensation.
39          (2) A business entity, other than a chamber of commerce,
40    shall not use the term "chamber of commerce" in its name or to
41    describe itself, except for binational chambers of commerce
42    recognized by the Office of International Affairs of the
43    Department of State or chambers of commerce in existence on or
44    before October 1, 1992. Any business entity which violates this
45    subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
46    as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
47          (3) This section imposes no requirement for oversight or
48    regulation of a business entity name, trademark, trade name, or
49    other requirement for filing or registration under any provision
50    of law.
51          (4) Subject to the provisions of s. 495.151, a chamber of
52    commerce may sue any business entity that is not a chamber of
53    commerce as defined in this section to enjoin such entity from
54    using the term "chamber of commerce" in its name or to describe
55    itself as a chamber of commerce in any business or commerce.
56          Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2003.