| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to Space Florida; amending s. 216.181, |
| 3 | F.S.; providing an exemption for Space Florida from |
| 4 | certain limitations on financial advances authorized |
| 5 | in the General Appropriations Act or other law; |
| 6 | providing an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (16) of section |
| 11 | 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 12 | 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital |
| 13 | outlay.- |
| 14 | (16) |
| 15 | (b) Any agency, or the judicial branch, that has been |
| 16 | authorized by the General Appropriations Act or expressly |
| 17 | authorized by other law to make advances for program startup or |
| 18 | advances for contracted services, in total or periodically, |
| 19 | shall limit such disbursements to other governmental entities |
| 20 | and not-for-profit corporations. The amount that may be advanced |
| 21 | shall not exceed the expected cash needs of the contractor or |
| 22 | recipient within the initial 3 months. Thereafter, disbursements |
| 23 | shall only be made on a reimbursement basis. Any agreement that |
| 24 | provides for advancements may contain a clause that permits the |
| 25 | contractor or recipient to temporarily invest the proceeds, |
| 26 | provided that any interest income shall either be returned to |
| 27 | the agency or be applied against the agency's obligation to pay |
| 28 | the contract amount. This paragraph does not constitute lawful |
| 29 | authority to make any advance payment not otherwise authorized |
| 30 | by laws relating to a particular agency or general laws relating |
| 31 | to the expenditure or disbursement of public funds. The Chief |
| 32 | Financial Officer may, after consultation with the legislative |
| 33 | appropriations committees, advance funds beyond a 3-month |
| 34 | requirement if it is determined to be consistent with the intent |
| 35 | of the approved operating budget. The limitations of this |
| 36 | paragraph do not apply to Space Florida. |
| 37 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |