Senate Bill sb2754
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2754
By Senator Haridopolos
26-1547A-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to agritourism; directing the
3 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
4 to assist various organizations with marketing
5 advice, technical expertise, promotional
6 support, and product development related to
7 agritourism; requiring the department to focus
8 its efforts on fostering agritourism in rural
9 and urban communities; defining the terms
10 "agritourism activity," "agritourism
11 professional," "farm," and "farm operation";
12 providing for the promotion and perpetuation of
13 agritourism activities on farm or agricultural
14 lands; providing that a permit, license,
15 approval, or authorization is not required in
16 order to engage in agritourism; providing that
17 the act does not affect the certification
18 provisions associated with the Florida Farm
19 Winery Program; providing an effective date.
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21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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23 Section 1. Agritourism.--
24 (1) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
25 Services shall assist the Florida Commission on Tourism; the
26 Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, doing business
27 as VISIT Florida; convention and visitor bureaus; tourist
28 development councils; economic development organizations; and
29 local governments through the provision of marketing advice,
30 technical expertise, promotional support, and product
31 development related to agritourism. In carrying out this
1
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2754
26-1547A-07
1 responsibility, the department shall focus its efforts on
2 fostering agritourism in rural and urban communities and
3 regions encompassing rural communities.
4 (2) As used in this section, the term:
5 (a) "Agritourism activity" means any farm operation or
6 other activity carried out on a farm or ranch which allows
7 members of the public, for recreational, entertainment, or
8 educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities,
9 including farming, ranching, historic activities, cultural
10 activities, harvest-your-own activities, or natural activities
11 and attractions. An activity is an agritourism activity
12 regardless of whether the participant paid to participate in
13 the activity.
14 (b) "Agritourism professional" means any person who is
15 engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism
16 activities, whether or not for compensation.
17 (c) "Farm" means the land, buildings, support
18 facilities, machinery, and other appurtenances used in the
19 production of farm or aquaculture products, including land
20 used to display plants, animals, farm products, or farm
21 equipment to the public.
22 (d) "Farm operation" has the same meaning as in s.
23 823.14, Florida Statutes.
24 (3) In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture
25 throughout the state, farm operators and agritourism
26 professionals are encouraged to engage in agritourism. The
27 conduct of agritourism activity on a bona fide farm or on
28 agricultural lands classified as such under s. 193.461,
29 Florida Statutes, does not limit, restrict, or divest the land
30 of that designation. A permit, license, approval, or
31 authorization is not required in order to engage in
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2754
26-1547A-07
1 agritourism. This section does not affect the certification
2 provisions associated with the Florida Farm Winery Program
3 created under s. 599.004, Florida Statutes.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
5 law.
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8 SENATE SUMMARY
9 Directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services to assist various organizations with marketing
10 advice, technical expertise, promotional support, and
product development related to agritourism. Requires the
11 department to focus its efforts on fostering agritourism
in rural and urban communities. Defines "agritourism
12 activity," "agritourism professional," "farm," and "farm
operation." Provides for the promotion and perpetuation
13 of agritourism activities on farm or agricultural lands.
Provides that a permit, license, approval, or
14 authorization is not required in order to engage in
agritourism. Provides that the act does not affect the
15 certification provisions associated with the Florida Farm
Winery Program.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.