HB 441

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to public works projects; providing a
3short title; requiring certain state agencies and private
4sector contractors utilizing state funds or federal funds
5administered by the state for certain purposes to employ a
6specified number of Florida residents as onsite employees;
7providing application; providing for retroactive effect
8and a period for compliance for projects begun before the
9enactment of this act; providing a fine for noncompliance
10or bad faith circumvention; defining the term "Florida
11resident"; providing an effective date.
12
13     WHEREAS, the State of Florida has suffered unemployment
14levels that have exceeded 10 percent, and
15     WHEREAS, the state has an interest in reemploying
16unemployed residents to lessen the state's unemployment
17compensation burden to employers, and
18     WHEREAS, the state has a compelling interest in reemploying
19its residents to lessen the need for government services, NOW,
20THEREFORE,
21
22Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24     Section 1.  (1)  This act may be cited as the "Florida
25Reemployment Investment Act."
26     (2)  State agencies and private sector contractors
27performing services directly or indirectly related to public
28works projects that utilize any state funds or federal funds
29administered by the state shall be required to have 66 percent
30of their onsite employees, independent contractors, or other
31individuals providing onsite services be Florida residents.
32     (3)  This act applies to all public works projects that
33have a commencement date of July 1, 2009, through July 1, 2012.
34Commencement of a project shall be deemed the first date of
35physical construction at a worksite.
36     (4)  State agencies and private sector contractors subject
37to the provisions of this act who provide services to public
38works projects commencing prior to July 1, 2010, shall have 60
39days to comply with the provisions of this act.
40     (5)  A private sector contractor who fails to comply with
41the provisions of this act, or attempts in bad faith to
42circumvent the provisions of this act, commits a noncriminal
43infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000 for each
44day in noncompliance.
45     (6)  For purposes of this act, "Florida resident" means a
46person who has had a valid Florida driver's license or Florida
47identification card or has declared his or her homestead
48property in this state for at least 1 year prior to July 1,
492009, or the date of commencement of the project, whichever
50occurs later.
51     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.


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