| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to agritourism; creating ss. 570.96- |
| 3 | 570.962, F.S., relating to agritourism; directing the |
| 4 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to assist |
| 5 | specified entities in agritourism promotion and marketing |
| 6 | initiatives; providing definitions; specifying the impact |
| 7 | of agritourism participation on certain classifications |
| 8 | and certifications; specifying participation requirements; |
| 9 | providing an effective date. |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Section 1. Sections 570.96, 570.961, and 570.962, Florida |
| 14 | Statutes, are created to read: |
| 15 | 570.96 Agritourism.--The Department of Agriculture and |
| 16 | Consumer Services is directed to provide marketing advice, |
| 17 | technical expertise, promotional support, and product |
| 18 | development related to agritourism to assist the following in |
| 19 | their agritourism initiatives: the Florida Commission on |
| 20 | Tourism; the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, |
| 21 | doing business as VISIT Florida; convention and visitor bureaus; |
| 22 | tourist development councils; economic development |
| 23 | organizations; and local governments. In carrying out this |
| 24 | responsibility, the department shall focus its efforts on |
| 25 | fostering agritourism in rural and urban communities. |
| 26 | 570.961 Definitions.--As used in ss. 570.96-570.962, the |
| 27 | term: |
| 28 | (1) "Agritourism activity" means any activity carried out |
| 29 | on a farm or ranch or in a forest that allows members of the |
| 30 | general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational |
| 31 | purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming, |
| 32 | ranching, historical, cultural, harvest-your-own, or nature- |
| 33 | based activities and attractions. An activity is an agritourism |
| 34 | activity whether or not the participant paid to participate in |
| 35 | the activity. |
| 36 | (2) "Agritourism professional" means any person who is |
| 37 | engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism |
| 38 | activities, whether or not for compensation. |
| 39 | (3) "Farm" means the land, buildings, support facilities, |
| 40 | machinery, and other appurtenances used in the production of |
| 41 | farm or aquaculture products, including land used to display |
| 42 | plants, animals, farm products, or farm equipment to the public. |
| 43 | (4) "Farm operation" has the same meaning as defined in s. |
| 44 | 823.14. |
| 45 | 570.962 Agritourism participation impact on land |
| 46 | classification and on Florida Farm Winery Program |
| 47 | certifications; participation requirements.-- |
| 48 | (1) In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture |
| 49 | throughout the state, farm operations are encouraged to engage |
| 50 | in agritourism. The conduct of agritourism activity on a bona |
| 51 | fide farm or on agricultural lands classified as such pursuant |
| 52 | to s. 193.461 shall not limit, restrict, or divest the land of |
| 53 | that classification. |
| 54 | (2) Nothing in this section affects the certification |
| 55 | provisions associated with the Florida Farm Winery Program |
| 56 | created under s. 599.004. |
| 57 | (3) No permit, license, approval, or authorization is |
| 58 | required to engage in agritourism. |
| 59 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |