| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to streamlining the issuance of licenses, |
| 3 | certifications, and registrations issued by state |
| 4 | agencies; providing a short title; providing legislative |
| 5 | findings and intent; requiring the Governor to establish |
| 6 | the One-Stop Business Workgroup; providing for the |
| 7 | membership of the workgroup; authorizing the workgroup to |
| 8 | consult with other agencies and use consultants; providing |
| 9 | duties of the workgroup; requiring that the workgroup |
| 10 | submit a plan for establishing a licensing portal to the |
| 11 | Governor and Legislature by a specified date; providing |
| 12 | requirements for the plan to implement a technology |
| 13 | solution that provides businesses and individuals with |
| 14 | easy access to state requirements for business licenses, |
| 15 | certifications, and registrations; providing an effective |
| 16 | date. |
| 17 |
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| 18 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 19 |
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| 20 | Section 1. (1) This act may be cited as "Florida's One- |
| 21 | Stop Business Connect Act." |
| 22 | (2) The Legislature finds that: |
| 23 | (a) Individuals who start and operate businesses in this |
| 24 | state must interact with multiple state agencies to obtain |
| 25 | licenses, registrations, and tax certificates needed to legally |
| 26 | operate in this state. This process can be time-consuming and |
| 27 | frustrating for businesses and often requires business owners to |
| 28 | provide similar information to multiple agencies. |
| 29 | (b) State government requirements for starting and |
| 30 | operating a business in this state are often cumbersome and |
| 31 | place avoidable burdens on business owners. For several years, |
| 32 | the Legislature has recognized that these requirements do not |
| 33 | serve to promote this state as a business-friendly state that |
| 34 | actively supports the growth of jobs, businesses, and economic |
| 35 | opportunities. |
| 36 | (c) A phased, deliberative, and collaborative approach is |
| 37 | necessary to streamline and automate the state's business |
| 38 | processes; to simplify business requirements and eliminate |
| 39 | unnecessary business requirements; and to provide a single point |
| 40 | of entry for businesses to complete business transactions with |
| 41 | the state. |
| 42 | (3) It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1, |
| 43 | 2014, the state establish an online connection that is easily |
| 44 | accessible through the state's official portal, "MyFlorida.com," |
| 45 | and that provides an efficient and effective online, self- |
| 46 | service method for an individual to access state requirements |
| 47 | for starting and operating a business. |
| 48 | (4)(a) The Governor shall establish a One-Stop Business |
| 49 | Connect Workgroup composed of, at a minimum, the secretary or |
| 50 | agency head, or his or her designee, of the following state |
| 51 | agencies: |
| 52 | 1. The Agency for Health Care Administration. |
| 53 | 2. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation. |
| 54 | 3. The Department of Children and Family Services. |
| 55 | 4. The Department of Health. |
| 56 | 5. The Department of State. |
| 57 | 6. The Department of Revenue. |
| 58 | (b) The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation |
| 59 | shall serve as the chair of the workgroup. The workgroup shall |
| 60 | be supported by staff from the participating agencies. |
| 61 | (c) The workgroup may consult with other agencies |
| 62 | throughout the state, including the Agency for Enterprise |
| 63 | Information Technology, and those agencies must provide |
| 64 | requested assistance to the workgroup. |
| 65 | (d) To the extent that funds are available within the |
| 66 | participating agencies' budgets, the workgroup may use the |
| 67 | services of consultants. |
| 68 | (5)(a) The workgroup shall: |
| 69 | 1. Compile a complete, categorical inventory of all |
| 70 | business licenses, certifications, and registrations required by |
| 71 | each participating agency, including information regarding |
| 72 | relevant laws and rules. |
| 73 | 2. Analyze the business licensing, certification, and |
| 74 | registration processes for each agency and identify processes |
| 75 | that disrupt workflow and result in duplication, waste, |
| 76 | unnecessary complexity, and errors and the root causes of those |
| 77 | errors. |
| 78 | 3. Recommend the standardization and automation of |
| 79 | business licensing, certification, and registration processes |
| 80 | where appropriate. |
| 81 | (b) By February 15, 2011, the workgroup shall submit a |
| 82 | plan for establishing the licensing portal to the Governor, the |
| 83 | President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
| 84 | Representatives that identifies: |
| 85 | 1. Business requirements and the costs associated with |
| 86 | implementation of a technology solution for businesses and |
| 87 | individuals that provides easy access to state business |
| 88 | licensing, certification, and registration requirements through |
| 89 | MyFlorida.com. |
| 90 | 2. Clear systemwide objectives, a governance structure, |
| 91 | accountability measures, and an opportunity for stakeholders to |
| 92 | make suggestions regarding the use of the licensing portal. |
| 93 | 3. Issues that need to be addressed before a technology |
| 94 | solution is implemented. |
| 95 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |