HB 1719

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the aerospace industry; creating the
3	Commission on the Future of Space in Florida; providing
4	for membership and organization of the commission;
5	providing procedures for action by the commission;
6	authorizing the commission to appoint an executive
7	director; providing for administrative and staff
8	assistance from the Department of Transportation;
9	providing for compensation of consultants; providing
10	duties of the commission; requiring the commission to
11	identify, examine, and review certain information related
12	to aerospace and the aerospace industry; authorizing the
13	commission to appoint technical advisory committees;
14	authorizing reimbursement of travel expenses; requiring a
15	certain number of meetings in various regions of the
16	state; directing certain agencies and requesting other
17	agencies to render assistance and cooperation; requiring
18	preliminary and final reports; requiring the Department of
19	Transportation to prepare legislative recommendations
20	consistent with the report; abolishing the commission;
21	providing an expiration date; providing for an
22	appropriation; providing an effective date.
23
24	WHEREAS, the aerospace industry comprises an important
25	segment of Florida's present and future economy, and
26	WHEREAS, intense nationwide and international competition
27	for the future development of this industry is already underway,
28	and
29	WHEREAS, the diversification of Florida's commercial,
30	civil, and military aerospace industry and the strengthening of
31	Florida's space-related research and development initiatives,
32	including initiatives related to commercial, civil, and military
33	space, are critical components of the future of Florida's
34	aerospace industry, and
35	WHEREAS, Florida must ensure that the state is optimally
36	positioned for NASA's new Vision for Space Exploration, and
37	WHEREAS, effective action and the necessary coordination of
38	Florida's space-related resources must be based on a reliable
39	assessment of the present climate for the aerospace industry in
40	the state, and
41	WHEREAS, the Legislature finds there is a need to
42	comprehensively consider the various options available for
43	legislative action related to the multibillion-dollar aerospace
44	industry in this state, NOW, THEREFORE,
45
46	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
47
48	Section 1.  Commission on the Future of Space in Florida.--
49	(1)  The Commission on the Future of Space in Florida is
50	created. The commission shall be composed of 13 voting members,
51	7 of whom are appointed by the Governor, 3 of whom are appointed
52	by the President of the Senate, and 3 of whom are appointed by
53	the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In consultation
54	with the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Governor shall
55	appoint two members of the delegation or their designees to
56	serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission. In
57	addition, the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of Transportation,
58	executive director of the Florida Space Authority, and director
59	of the Agency for Workforce Innovation or their designees shall
60	serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission. The
61	Governor's appointments must include at least one appointment
62	from seven of the following groups:
63	(a)  Aerospace manufacturing.
64	(b)  Aerospace operations and maintenance.
65	(c)  Aerospace finance.
66	(d)  Aerospace research.
67	(e)  Aerospace defense.
68	(f)  Commercial aerospace services.
69	(g)  An aerospace business with fewer than 250 employees.
70	(h)  Enterprise Florida, Inc.
71
72	The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
73	Representatives shall each select one appointee from three of
74	the groups listed in paragraphs (a)-(h) and, in addition, shall
75	each appoint one member from their respective chambers of the
76	Legislature to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members.
77	Appointments under this subsection shall be made before July 31,
78	2005, and the first meeting shall be held no later than
79	September 1, 2005. The chair of the commission shall be elected
80	from among the voting members by majority vote of the membership
81	at its first meeting. Meetings shall be held upon the call of
82	the chair but not less frequently than monthly. Any vacancy
83	occurring in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
84	the same manner as the original appointment.
85	(2)  Each voting member of the commission is entitled to
86	one vote, and action of the commission requires a majority vote
87	of the voting members present. Action may not be taken if less
88	than a majority of all voting members is present.
89	(3)  The commission may appoint an executive director who
90	shall report to the commission and serve at its pleasure. The
91	Department of Transportation shall provide the commission and
92	the executive director with staff assistance. The department
93	may, upon the request of the commission, pay compensation to
94	consultants if such costs can be funded from the appropriation
95	provided for in this act.
96	(4)  The commission shall:
97	(a)  Identify the current and future opportunities in
98	aerospace operations, aerospace transport, aerospace education,
99	aerospace tourism, and other aerospace areas and make
100	recommendations for how the state can capitalize on such
101	opportunities.
102	(b)  Review current federal, state, and local laws,
103	ordinances, and rules that affect the aerospace industry in the
104	state and recommend actions that will promote growth and
105	diversification of the industry.
106	(c)  Examine the state's space-related policies and
107	programs and recommend needed changes, including the possible
108	restructuring of state space-related entities.
109	(d)  Examine the ways in which aerospace industries,
110	including the component elements of manufacturing, assembly,
111	marketing, servicing, maintenance, logistical support, human
112	resources, and related research and development, can be
113	attracted to locate permanently or expand in the state and
114	recommend actions that can be taken by the state and local
115	governments to accomplish this goal, including, but not limited
116	to, possible financing alternatives.
117	(e)  Review existing studies to evaluate aerospace in the
118	state, identify underserved resources, and recommend actions
119	that can be taken to improve the competitiveness, availability,
120	efficiency, and economy of the aerospace industry of the state.
121	(f)  Identify federal aid available to improve the state's
122	aerospace infrastructure and services and recommend strategies
123	to obtain such aid.
124	(g)  Determine whether the state's secondary and
125	postsecondary schools are producing graduates who meet the
126	workforce needs of the state's aerospace industry and recommend
127	strategies to improve meeting those needs.
128	(5)  The commission may appoint technical advisory
129	committees. Commission members and the members of any technical
130	advisory committees may not receive remuneration for their
131	services, but members other than public officers and employees
132	are entitled to be reimbursed by the Department of
133	Transportation for travel and per diem expenses in accordance
134	with s. 112.061, Florida Statutes. Public officers and employees
135	shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses by their
136	respective agencies in accordance with s. 112.061, Florida
137	Statutes.
138	(6)  The commission must hold at least five public hearings
139	in different regions of the state to solicit input from the
140	public on the future of space in the state.
141	(7)  All agencies under the control of the Governor are
142	directed and all other agencies are requested to render
143	assistance and cooperation to the commission.
144	(8)  The commission shall prepare a preliminary report of
145	its findings and recommendations by January 16, 2006, and a
146	final report with specific recommendations by January 30, 2006.
147	The Department of Transportation shall prepare legislative
148	recommendations consistent with the commission's reports for
149	consideration by the Legislature at the 2006 Regular Session.
150	Copies of the reports shall be submitted to the Governor, the
151	President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
152	Representatives.
153	(9)  The commission is abolished, and this section expires,
154	on May 31, 2006.
155	Section 2.  The sum of $300,000 is appropriated from the
156	General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for the
157	purpose of implementing this act during the 2005-2006 fiscal
158	year.
159	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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