| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to scrutinized companies; amending s. |
| 3 | 215.473, F.S.; providing legislative findings; |
| 4 | revising and providing definitions; requiring the |
| 5 | State Board of Administration to identify all |
| 6 | companies in which public moneys are invested that are |
| 7 | doing certain types of business in or with Cuba or |
| 8 | Syria; requiring the board to create and maintain |
| 9 | certain scrutinized companies lists that name all such |
| 10 | companies; requiring the board to periodically contact |
| 11 | all scrutinized companies and encourage them to |
| 12 | refrain from engaging in certain types of business in |
| 13 | or with Cuba or Syria; requiring the board to inform |
| 14 | scrutinized companies of their status as a scrutinized |
| 15 | company and to provide notice of the opportunity to |
| 16 | clarify the nature of the company's business |
| 17 | activities; providing for removal of a company from |
| 18 | the list under certain conditions; requiring the board |
| 19 | to divest all publicly traded securities of a |
| 20 | scrutinized company under certain conditions; |
| 21 | providing for reintroduction of a company onto the |
| 22 | list; providing exceptions to the divestment |
| 23 | requirement; prohibiting the board from acquiring |
| 24 | securities of scrutinized companies that have active |
| 25 | business operations; providing an exemption to the |
| 26 | divestment requirement and investment prohibition; |
| 27 | providing an additional exception from the divestment |
| 28 | requirement and the investment prohibition for certain |
| 29 | indirect holdings in actively managed investment |
| 30 | funds; providing procedures of the board with respect |
| 31 | to requesting removal of scrutinized companies from |
| 32 | actively managed investment funds and defined |
| 33 | contribution plans or the creation of a similar fund |
| 34 | that excludes such companies; providing reporting |
| 35 | requirements of the board; providing for cessation of |
| 36 | assembly of the Scrutinized Companies with Activities |
| 37 | in Cuba List and the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 38 | Activities in Syria List, cessation of engagement and |
| 39 | divestment of such companies, and restoration of |
| 40 | authority to reinvest in such companies under |
| 41 | specified conditions; authorizing the board to cease |
| 42 | divesting or reinvesting in certain companies having |
| 43 | scrutinized active business operations under specified |
| 44 | conditions; amending s. 287.135, F.S.; prohibiting a |
| 45 | state agency or local governmental entity from |
| 46 | contracting for goods and services of more than a |
| 47 | certain amount with a company that is on the |
| 48 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List or |
| 49 | the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria |
| 50 | List; requiring a contract provision that allows for |
| 51 | termination of the contract if the company is found to |
| 52 | have been placed on such list; providing exceptions; |
| 53 | requiring certification upon submission of a bid or |
| 54 | proposal for a contract, or before a company enters |
| 55 | into or renews a contract, with an agency or |
| 56 | governmental entity that the company is not on the |
| 57 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List or |
| 58 | the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria |
| 59 | List; providing procedures upon determination that a |
| 60 | company has submitted a false certification; providing |
| 61 | for civil action; providing penalties; providing |
| 62 | attorney fees and costs; providing a statute of |
| 63 | repose; prohibiting a private right of action; |
| 64 | requiring the Department of Management Services to |
| 65 | notify the Attorney General after the act becomes law; |
| 66 | providing an effective date. |
| 67 |
|
| 68 | WHEREAS, with a population of approximately 11 million, |
| 69 | Cuba is a totalitarian communist state that does not tolerate |
| 70 | opposition to official policy, and |
| 71 | WHEREAS, the current government of Cuba assumed power on |
| 72 | January 1, 1959, and |
| 73 | WHEREAS, although the Cuban constitution recognizes the |
| 74 | unicameral National Assembly as the supreme authority in Cuba, |
| 75 | the Communist Party is recognized in the constitution as the |
| 76 | only legal party and "the superior leading force of society and |
| 77 | of the state," and |
| 78 | WHEREAS, elections in January 2008 for the Cuban National |
| 79 | Assembly were neither free nor fair, and all of the candidates |
| 80 | had to be preapproved by a Communist Party candidacy commission, |
| 81 | with the result that the Communist Party candidates and their |
| 82 | allies won 98.7 percent of the vote and 607 of 614 seats in the |
| 83 | National Assembly, and |
| 84 | WHEREAS, the Cuban government continues to deny its |
| 85 | citizens their basic human rights, including the right to change |
| 86 | their government, and has committed numerous and serious abuses |
| 87 | against the citizens of Cuba, and |
| 88 | WHEREAS, among the human rights problems reported within |
| 89 | Cuba are beatings and abuse of prisoners and detainees, harsh |
| 90 | and life-threatening prison conditions, including denial of |
| 91 | medical care, harassment, and beatings, and threats against |
| 92 | political opponents by government-recruited mobs, police, and |
| 93 | state security officials who acted with impunity, and |
| 94 | WHEREAS, arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights |
| 95 | advocates and members of independent professional organizations, |
| 96 | and denial of fair trial for at least 194 political prisoners |
| 97 | and as many as 5,000 persons who have been convicted of |
| 98 | potential "dangerousness" without being charged with any |
| 99 | specific crime are also reported, and |
| 100 | WHEREAS, there have also been severe limitations on freedom |
| 101 | of speech and the press, denial of peaceful assembly and |
| 102 | association, restrictions on freedom of movement, including |
| 103 | selective denial of exit permits to citizens and the forcible |
| 104 | removal of persons from Havana to their hometowns, restrictions |
| 105 | on freedom of religion and refusal to recognize domestic human |
| 106 | rights groups or permit them to function legally, discrimination |
| 107 | against persons of African descent, and severe restrictions on |
| 108 | workers' rights, including the right to form independent unions, |
| 109 | and |
| 110 | WHEREAS, other problems that are prevalent in Cuba include |
| 111 | increasing incidences of domestic violence, underage |
| 112 | prostitution, and trafficking in human beings, and |
| 113 | WHEREAS, Cuba is on the United States Department of State's |
| 114 | list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, and for nearly half a |
| 115 | century the United States has unilaterally imposed an economic, |
| 116 | commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba, and |
| 117 | WHEREAS, the embargo, partially imposed on Cuba in October |
| 118 | 1960, was enacted after Cuba nationalized the properties of |
| 119 | United States citizens and corporations and it was strengthened |
| 120 | to a near-total embargo on February 7, 1962, and |
| 121 | WHEREAS, though the severity and the scope of the sanctions |
| 122 | have varied, depending upon political developments in Cuba, the |
| 123 | United States, and the rest of the world, the United States |
| 124 | Government Accountability Office has stated that "the embargo on |
| 125 | Cuba is the most comprehensive set of United States sanctions on |
| 126 | any country, including other countries designated by the United |
| 127 | States Government to be state sponsors of terrorism," and |
| 128 | WHEREAS, also on the Department of State's list of State |
| 129 | Sponsors of Terrorism is the nation of Syria, and |
| 130 | WHEREAS, on March 8, 1963, the Baath Party in Syria enacted |
| 131 | an emergency law that suspended basic constitutional rights such |
| 132 | as freedom of speech and assembly and instituted martial law, |
| 133 | and |
| 134 | WHEREAS, in February 1982, the Syrian army, under the |
| 135 | orders of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, effectively ended a |
| 136 | campaign begun in 1976 by Sunni Islamic groups against the Assad |
| 137 | regime with what is now known as "the Hama massacre," the |
| 138 | quelling of a revolt by the Sunni Muslim community against the |
| 139 | al-Assad regime that resulted in Syrian deaths, the estimates of |
| 140 | which range from 10,000 to possibly as many as 40,000 Syrian |
| 141 | citizens according to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, and |
| 142 | WHEREAS, the Hama massacre has been described as being |
| 143 | among "the single deadliest acts by any Arab government against |
| 144 | its own people in the Middle East," and |
| 145 | WHEREAS, in 2011 the "Syrian uprising" began in that |
| 146 | country, and |
| 147 | WHEREAS, the Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal |
| 148 | conflict occurring in Syria that began with protests that |
| 149 | started on January 26, 2011, and then escalated to an uprising |
| 150 | by March 15, 2011, and |
| 151 | WHEREAS, the demands of protesters in this sustained |
| 152 | campaign of civil resistance include the allowance by the ruling |
| 153 | Baath Party of other political parties, the end of President |
| 154 | Bashar al-Assad's presidency, equal rights for Kurds, and broad |
| 155 | political freedoms such as freedom of the press, free speech, |
| 156 | and freedom to assemble, and |
| 157 | WHEREAS, as protests continued, the Syrian government used |
| 158 | tanks and snipers to force Syrian citizens off the streets, |
| 159 | water and electricity were shut off, and security forces began |
| 160 | confiscating flour and food in various areas of the country, and |
| 161 | WHEREAS, violence escalated as the crisis wore on and as a |
| 162 | result more than 3,000 people were killed, many more were |
| 163 | injured, and thousands of protesters have been detained, with |
| 164 | dozens of detainees reportedly having been tortured and killed, |
| 165 | and |
| 166 | WHEREAS, since the beginning of the uprising, the Syrian |
| 167 | government has made several concessions, including the repeal on |
| 168 | April 21, 2011, of the 1963 emergency law which allowed the |
| 169 | government sweeping authority to suspend constitutional rights, |
| 170 | though the concessions are widely considered trivial and |
| 171 | superficial by protesters demanding more meaningful reform, |
| 172 | especially in light of the fact that government crackdowns on |
| 173 | protesters have continued to heighten, and |
| 174 | WHEREAS, the oppressive Assad Regime blatantly murders |
| 175 | protesters of the regime in mass, regularly detains political |
| 176 | and human rights activists and journalists, engages in |
| 177 | widespread media censorship, and is associated with the |
| 178 | disappearance of citizens opposed to the Assad regime, and |
| 179 | WHEREAS, the United States Government and other nations |
| 180 | throughout the world have openly called for President Assad to |
| 181 | step down from office, and |
| 182 | WHEREAS, effective August 18, 2011, President Barack Obama |
| 183 | issued a new Executive Order imposing significant new economic |
| 184 | sanctions on Syria, and |
| 185 | WHEREAS, the action greatly expanded United States |
| 186 | international trade restrictions against Syria and its |
| 187 | government in certain important respects, representing a more |
| 188 | comprehensive unilateral economic embargo, and |
| 189 | WHEREAS, most notably, the sanctions now include a freeze |
| 190 | on the property and interests of property of the Government of |
| 191 | Syria in the United States or held by United States persons, |
| 192 | defined to include entities in the United States and their |
| 193 | foreign branch offices, United States citizens or lawful |
| 194 | permanent residents, and anyone of any nationality acting or |
| 195 | located within the United States, and |
| 196 | WHEREAS, the sanctions include prohibitions on United |
| 197 | States persons engaging in any transactions with the Syrian |
| 198 | Government, making new investments in Syria, providing any |
| 199 | services to Syria, or conducting business dealings in or related |
| 200 | to petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin, and |
| 201 | WHEREAS, the sanctions also include a ban on the |
| 202 | importation of Syrian-origin petroleum products into the United |
| 203 | States and a prohibition against United States persons |
| 204 | facilitating, approving, financing, or guaranteeing a |
| 205 | transaction or dealing with a foreign person related to any of |
| 206 | the prohibitions in place against Syria, and |
| 207 | WHEREAS, both the Government of Cuba and the Government of |
| 208 | Syria have repeatedly committed human rights violations through |
| 209 | intimidation by military and security forces, through |
| 210 | bureaucratic and administrative obstruction, through acts of |
| 211 | terrorism and atrocities directed against civilians, and through |
| 212 | the displacement of citizens from their homes, and |
| 213 | WHEREAS, the Federal Government has imposed sanctions |
| 214 | against the Government of Cuba and the Government of Syria, and |
| 215 | such sanctions are monitored through the United States Treasury |
| 216 | Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and |
| 217 | WHEREAS, according to a former chair of the United States |
| 218 | Securities and Exchange Commission, the fact that a foreign |
| 219 | company is doing material business with a country, government, |
| 220 | or entity on OFAC's sanctions list is, in the SEC staff's view, |
| 221 | substantially likely to be significant to a reasonable |
| 222 | investor's decision about whether to invest in that company, and |
| 223 | WHEREAS, because the United States Secretary of State has |
| 224 | determined that both Cuba and Syria are countries whose |
| 225 | governments have provided support for acts of international |
| 226 | terrorism, as a result, the United States has restricted |
| 227 | assistance, defense exports, defense sales, financial |
| 228 | transactions, and various other transactions with the Government |
| 229 | of Cuba and the Government of Syria, and |
| 230 | WHEREAS, a 2006 report by the United States House of |
| 231 | Representatives states that "a company's association with |
| 232 | sponsors of terrorism and human rights abuses, no matter how |
| 233 | large or small, can have a materially adverse result on a public |
| 234 | company's operations, financial condition, earnings, and stock |
| 235 | prices, all of which can negatively affect the value of an |
| 236 | investment," and |
| 237 | WHEREAS, in response to the financial risk posed by |
| 238 | investments in companies doing business with a state that |
| 239 | sponsors terrorists, the Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 240 | established its Office of Global Security Risk to provide for |
| 241 | enhanced disclosure of material information regarding such |
| 242 | companies, and |
| 243 | WHEREAS, divestment actions precipitated by such |
| 244 | sponsorship of terrorism and human rights violations encompass |
| 245 | universities, municipalities, states, and private pension plans, |
| 246 | and |
| 247 | WHEREAS, companies facing such widespread divestment |
| 248 | present further material risk to remaining investors, and |
| 249 | WHEREAS, it is a fundamental responsibility of the State of |
| 250 | Florida to decide where, how, and by whom financial resources in |
| 251 | its control should be invested, taking into account numerous |
| 252 | pertinent factors, and |
| 253 | WHEREAS, it is the prerogative and desire of the State of |
| 254 | Florida, with respect to investment resources in its control and |
| 255 | to the extent reasonable, with due consideration for return on |
| 256 | investment on behalf of the state and its investment |
| 257 | beneficiaries, not to participate in an ownership or capital- |
| 258 | providing capacity with entities that provide significant |
| 259 | practical support for terrorism and human rights violations, |
| 260 | including certain non-United States companies presently doing |
| 261 | business in such countries, and |
| 262 | WHEREAS, while divestiture should be considered with the |
| 263 | intent to improve investment performance and by the rules of |
| 264 | prudence, fiduciaries must take into account all relevant |
| 265 | substantive factors in arriving at an investment decision, and |
| 266 | WHEREAS, the State of Florida is deeply concerned about |
| 267 | investments in publicly traded companies that have business |
| 268 | activities in and ties to Cuba and Syria as a financial risk to |
| 269 | the shareholders, and |
| 270 | WHEREAS, by investing in publicly traded companies having |
| 271 | ties to Cuba and Syria, the Florida State Board of |
| 272 | Administration is putting the funds it oversees at substantial |
| 273 | financial risk, and |
| 274 | WHEREAS, divestiture from markets that are vulnerable to |
| 275 | embargo, loan restrictions, and sanctions from the United States |
| 276 | and the international community, including the United Nations |
| 277 | Security Council, is in accordance with the rules of prudence, |
| 278 | and |
| 279 | WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that this act should remain |
| 280 | in effect only insofar as it continues to be consistent with and |
| 281 | does not unduly interfere with the foreign policy of the United |
| 282 | States as determined by the Federal Government, and |
| 283 | WHEREAS, to protect Florida's assets, it is in the best |
| 284 | interest of the state to enact a statutory prohibition regarding |
| 285 | the investments managed by the State Board of Administration |
| 286 | doing business in Cuba and Syria, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 287 |
|
| 288 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 289 |
|
| 290 | Section 1. Section 215.473, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 291 | to read: |
| 292 | 215.473 Divestiture by the State Board of Administration; |
| 293 | Sudan; Iran; Cuba; Syria.- |
| 294 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this act, the term: |
| 295 | (a) "Active business operations" means all business |
| 296 | operations that are not inactive business operations. |
| 297 | (b) "Business operations" means engaging in commerce in |
| 298 | any form in Sudan, or Iran, Cuba, or Syria, including, but not |
| 299 | limited to, acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, selling, |
| 300 | possessing, leasing, or operating equipment, facilities, |
| 301 | personnel, products, services, personal property, real property, |
| 302 | or any other apparatus of business or commerce. |
| 303 | (c) "Company" means any sole proprietorship, organization, |
| 304 | association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited |
| 305 | partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability |
| 306 | company, or other entity or business association, including all |
| 307 | wholly owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, parent |
| 308 | companies, or affiliates of such entities or business |
| 309 | associations, that exists for the purpose of making profit. |
| 310 | (d) "Complicit" means taking actions during any preceding |
| 311 | 20-month period which have directly supported or promoted: |
| 312 | 1. The genocidal campaign in Darfur, including, but not |
| 313 | limited to, preventing Darfur's victimized population from |
| 314 | communicating with each other; |
| 315 | 2. Encouraging Sudanese citizens to speak out against an |
| 316 | internationally approved security force for Darfur; |
| 317 | 3. Actively working to deny, cover up, or alter the record |
| 318 | on human rights abuses in Darfur; or |
| 319 | 4. Other similar actions. |
| 320 | (e) "Cuba" means the nation of Cuba. |
| 321 | (f)(e) "Direct holdings" in a company means all securities |
| 322 | of that company that are held directly by the public fund or in |
| 323 | an account or fund in which the public fund owns all shares or |
| 324 | interests. |
| 325 | (g) "Government of Cuba" means the government of Cuba, |
| 326 | under the control of General Raul Castro and the Cuban Communist |
| 327 | Party, its instrumentalities, and companies owned or controlled |
| 328 | by the government of Cuba. |
| 329 | (h)(f) "Government of Iran" means the government of Iran, |
| 330 | its instrumentalities, and companies owned or controlled by the |
| 331 | government of Iran. |
| 332 | (i)(g) "Government of Sudan" means the government in |
| 333 | Khartoum, Sudan, that is led by the National Congress Party, |
| 334 | formerly known as the National Islamic Front, or any successor |
| 335 | government formed on or after October 13, 2006, including the |
| 336 | coalition National Unity Government agreed upon in the |
| 337 | Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan, and does not include |
| 338 | the regional government of southern Sudan. |
| 339 | (j) "Government of Syria" means the government of Syria, |
| 340 | under the control of President Bashar Al-Assad and the Arab |
| 341 | Socialist Baath Party, its instrumentalities, and companies |
| 342 | owned or controlled by the government of Syria. |
| 343 | (k)(h) "Inactive business operations" means the mere |
| 344 | continued holding or renewal of rights to property previously |
| 345 | operated for the purpose of generating revenues but not |
| 346 | presently deployed for such purpose. |
| 347 | (l)(i) "Indirect holdings" in a company means all |
| 348 | securities of that company that are held in an account or fund, |
| 349 | such as a mutual fund, managed by one or more persons not |
| 350 | employed by the public fund, in which the public fund owns |
| 351 | shares or interests together with other investors not subject to |
| 352 | the provisions of this act. |
| 353 | (m)(j) "Iran" means the Islamic Republic of Iran. |
| 354 | (n)(k) "Marginalized populations of Sudan" include, but |
| 355 | are not limited to, the portion of the population in the Darfur |
| 356 | region that has been genocidally victimized; the portion of the |
| 357 | population of southern Sudan victimized by Sudan's north-south |
| 358 | civil war; the Beja, Rashidiya, and other similarly underserved |
| 359 | groups of eastern Sudan; the Nubian and other similarly |
| 360 | underserved groups in Sudan's Abyei, Southern Blue Nile, and |
| 361 | Nuba Mountain regions; and the Amri, Hamadab, Manasir, and other |
| 362 | similarly underserved groups of northern Sudan. |
| 363 | (o)(l) "Military equipment" means weapons, arms, military |
| 364 | supplies, and equipment that may readily be used for military |
| 365 | purposes, including, but not limited to, radar systems, |
| 366 | military-grade transport vehicles, or supplies or services sold |
| 367 | or provided directly or indirectly to any force actively |
| 368 | participating in armed conflict in Sudan, Cuba, or Syria. |
| 369 | (p)(m) "Mineral-extraction activities" include the |
| 370 | exploring, extracting, processing, transporting, or wholesale |
| 371 | selling or trading of elemental minerals or associated metal |
| 372 | alloys or oxides (ore), including gold, copper, chromium, |
| 373 | chromite, diamonds, iron, iron ore, silver, tungsten, uranium, |
| 374 | and zinc, as well as facilitating such activities, including |
| 375 | providing supplies or services in support of such activities. |
| 376 | (q)(n) "Oil-related activities" include, but are not |
| 377 | limited to, owning rights to oil blocks; exporting, extracting, |
| 378 | producing, refining, processing, exploring for, transporting, |
| 379 | selling, or trading of oil; constructing, maintaining, or |
| 380 | operating a pipeline, refinery, or other oil-field |
| 381 | infrastructure; and facilitating such activities, including |
| 382 | providing supplies or services in support of such activities, |
| 383 | except that the mere retail sale of gasoline and related |
| 384 | consumer products is not considered an oil-related activity. |
| 385 | (r)(o) "Petroleum resources" means petroleum, petroleum |
| 386 | byproducts, or natural gas. |
| 387 | (s)(p) "Power-production activities" means any business |
| 388 | operation that involves a project commissioned by the National |
| 389 | Electricity Corporation (NEC) of Sudan or other similar entity |
| 390 | of the government of Sudan whose purpose is to facilitate power |
| 391 | generation and delivery, including, but not limited to, |
| 392 | establishing power-generating plants or hydroelectric dams, |
| 393 | selling or installing components for the project, providing |
| 394 | service contracts related to the installation or maintenance of |
| 395 | the project, as well as facilitating such activities, including |
| 396 | providing supplies or services in support of such activities. |
| 397 | (t)(q) "Public fund" means all funds, assets, trustee, and |
| 398 | other designates under the State Board of Administration |
| 399 | pursuant to chapter 121. |
| 400 | (u)(r) "Scrutinized active business operations" means |
| 401 | active business operations that have resulted in a company |
| 402 | becoming a scrutinized company. |
| 403 | (v)(s) "Scrutinized business operations" means business |
| 404 | operations that have resulted in a company becoming a |
| 405 | scrutinized company. |
| 406 | (w)(t) "Scrutinized company" means any company that meets |
| 407 | any of the following criteria: |
| 408 | 1. The company has business operations that involve |
| 409 | contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the |
| 410 | government of Sudan, companies in which the government of Sudan |
| 411 | has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects |
| 412 | commissioned by the government of Sudan, or companies involved |
| 413 | in consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of |
| 414 | Sudan, and: |
| 415 | a. More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or |
| 416 | assets linked to Sudan involve oil-related activities or |
| 417 | mineral-extraction activities; less than 75 percent of the |
| 418 | company's revenues or assets linked to Sudan involve contracts |
| 419 | with or provision of oil-related or mineral-extracting products |
| 420 | or services to the regional government of southern Sudan or a |
| 421 | project or consortium created exclusively by that regional |
| 422 | government; and the company has failed to take substantial |
| 423 | action; or |
| 424 | b. More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or |
| 425 | assets linked to Sudan involve power-production activities; less |
| 426 | than 75 percent of the company's power-production activities |
| 427 | include projects whose intent is to provide power or electricity |
| 428 | to the marginalized populations of Sudan; and the company has |
| 429 | failed to take substantial action. |
| 430 | 2. The company is complicit in the Darfur genocide. |
| 431 | 3. The company supplies military equipment within Sudan, |
| 432 | unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be |
| 433 | used to facilitate offensive military actions in Sudan or the |
| 434 | company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent |
| 435 | use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed |
| 436 | conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of |
| 437 | such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable |
| 438 | and objective third party that such equipment is not being used |
| 439 | by a party participating in armed conflict in Sudan, or sale of |
| 440 | such equipment solely to the regional government of southern |
| 441 | Sudan or any internationally recognized peacekeeping force or |
| 442 | humanitarian organization. |
| 443 | 4. The company has business operations that involve |
| 444 | contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the |
| 445 | government of Iran, companies in which the government of Iran |
| 446 | has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums, or |
| 447 | projects commissioned by the government of Iran, or companies |
| 448 | involved in consortiums or projects commissioned by the |
| 449 | government of Iran and: |
| 450 | a. More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or |
| 451 | assets are linked to Iran and involve oil-related activities or |
| 452 | mineral-extraction activities; and the company has failed to |
| 453 | take substantial action; or |
| 454 | b. The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after |
| 455 | August 5, 1996, made an investment of $20 million or more, or |
| 456 | any combination of investments of at least $10 million each, |
| 457 | which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12- |
| 458 | month period, and which directly or significantly contributes to |
| 459 | the enhancement of Iran's ability to develop the petroleum |
| 460 | resources of Iran. |
| 461 | 5. The company has business operations that involve |
| 462 | contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the |
| 463 | government of Cuba, companies in which the government of Cuba |
| 464 | has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects |
| 465 | commissioned by the government of Cuba, or companies involved in |
| 466 | consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of Cuba |
| 467 | and: |
| 468 | a. More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or |
| 469 | assets are linked to Cuba, and the company has failed to take |
| 470 | substantial action; or |
| 471 | b. The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after |
| 472 | January 1, 1959, made an investment of $20 million or more, or |
| 473 | any combination of investments of at least $10 million each, |
| 474 | which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12- |
| 475 | month period. |
| 476 | 6. The company supplies military equipment within Cuba, |
| 477 | unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be |
| 478 | used to facilitate offensive military actions in Cuba or the |
| 479 | company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent |
| 480 | use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed |
| 481 | conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of |
| 482 | such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable |
| 483 | and objective third party that such equipment is not being used |
| 484 | by a party participating in armed conflict in Cuba, or sale of |
| 485 | such equipment solely to any internationally recognized |
| 486 | peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization. |
| 487 | 7. The company has business operations that involve |
| 488 | contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the |
| 489 | government of Syria, companies in which the government of Syria |
| 490 | has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects |
| 491 | commissioned by the government of Syria, or companies involved |
| 492 | in consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of |
| 493 | Syria and: |
| 494 | a. More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or |
| 495 | assets are linked to Syria and involve oil-related activities, |
| 496 | and the company has failed to take substantial action; or |
| 497 | b. The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after |
| 498 | March 8, 1963, made an investment of $20 million or more, or any |
| 499 | combination of investments of at least $10 million each, which |
| 500 | in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-month |
| 501 | period, and which directly or significantly contributes to the |
| 502 | enhancement of Syria's ability to develop the petroleum |
| 503 | resources of Syria. |
| 504 | 8. The company supplies military equipment within Syria, |
| 505 | unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be |
| 506 | used to facilitate offensive military actions in Syria or the |
| 507 | company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent |
| 508 | use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed |
| 509 | conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of |
| 510 | such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable |
| 511 | and objective third party that such equipment is not being used |
| 512 | by a party participating in armed conflict in Syria, or sale of |
| 513 | such equipment solely to any internationally recognized |
| 514 | peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization. |
| 515 | (x)(u) "Social-development company" means a company whose |
| 516 | primary purpose in Sudan is to provide humanitarian goods or |
| 517 | services, including medicine or medical equipment; agricultural |
| 518 | supplies or infrastructure; educational opportunities; |
| 519 | journalism-related activities; information or information |
| 520 | materials; spiritual-related activities; services of a purely |
| 521 | clerical or reporting nature; food, clothing, or general |
| 522 | consumer goods that are unrelated to oil-related activities; |
| 523 | mineral-extraction activities; or power-production activities. |
| 524 | (y) "Substantial action specific to Cuba" means adopting, |
| 525 | publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized |
| 526 | business operations within 1 year and to refrain from any such |
| 527 | new business operations. |
| 528 | (z)(v) "Substantial action specific to Iran" means |
| 529 | adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease |
| 530 | scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain |
| 531 | from any such new business operations. |
| 532 | (aa)(w) "Substantial action specific to Sudan" means |
| 533 | adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease |
| 534 | scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain |
| 535 | from any such new business operations; undertaking humanitarian |
| 536 | efforts in conjunction with an international organization, the |
| 537 | government of Sudan, the regional government of southern Sudan, |
| 538 | or a nonprofit entity evaluated and certified by an independent |
| 539 | third party to be substantially in a relationship to the |
| 540 | company's Sudan business operations and of benefit to one or |
| 541 | more marginalized populations of Sudan; or, through engagement |
| 542 | with the government of Sudan, materially improving conditions |
| 543 | for the genocidally victimized population in Darfur. |
| 544 | (bb) "Substantial action specific to Syria" means |
| 545 | adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease |
| 546 | scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain |
| 547 | from any such new business operations. |
| 548 | (cc) "Syria" means the nation of Syria. |
| 549 | (2) IDENTIFICATION OF COMPANIES.- |
| 550 | (a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this act, |
| 551 | the public fund shall make its best efforts to identify all |
| 552 | scrutinized companies in which the public fund has direct or |
| 553 | indirect holdings or could possibly have such holdings in the |
| 554 | future. Such efforts include: |
| 555 | 1. Reviewing and relying, as appropriate in the public |
| 556 | fund's judgment, on publicly available information regarding |
| 557 | companies having business operations in Sudan, including |
| 558 | information provided by nonprofit organizations, research firms, |
| 559 | international organizations, and government entities; |
| 560 | 2. Contacting asset managers contracted by the public fund |
| 561 | that invest in companies having business operations in Sudan; or |
| 562 | 3. Contacting other institutional investors that have |
| 563 | divested from or engaged with companies that have business |
| 564 | operations in Sudan. |
| 565 | 4. Reviewing the laws of the United States regarding the |
| 566 | levels of business activity that would cause application of |
| 567 | sanctions for companies conducting business or investing in |
| 568 | countries that are designated state sponsors of terror. |
| 569 | (b) By the first meeting of the public fund following the |
| 570 | 90-day period described in paragraph (a), the public fund shall |
| 571 | assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria specified |
| 572 | in subparagraphs (1)(w)1., 2., and 3. (1)(t)1., 2., and 3. into |
| 573 | a "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List," and |
| 574 | shall assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria |
| 575 | specified in subparagraph (1)(w)4. (1)(t)4. into a "Scrutinized |
| 576 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 577 | List,." shall assemble all scrutinized companies that fit |
| 578 | criteria specified in subparagraphs (1)(w)5. and 6. into a |
| 579 | "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List," and shall |
| 580 | assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria specified |
| 581 | in subparagraphs (1)(w)7. and 8. into a "Scrutinized Companies |
| 582 | with Activities in Syria List." |
| 583 | (c) The public fund shall update and make publicly |
| 584 | available quarterly the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in |
| 585 | Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the |
| 586 | Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies |
| 587 | with Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 588 | Activities in Syria List based on evolving information from, |
| 589 | among other sources, those listed in paragraph (a). |
| 590 | (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, a social- |
| 591 | development company that is not complicit in the Darfur genocide |
| 592 | is not considered a scrutinized company under subparagraph |
| 593 | (1)(w)1. (1)(t)1., subparagraph (1)(w)2. (1)(t)2., or |
| 594 | subparagraph (1)(w)3. (1)(t)3. |
| 595 | (3) REQUIRED ACTIONS.-The public fund shall adhere to the |
| 596 | following procedure for assembling companies on the Scrutinized |
| 597 | Companies with Activities in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized |
| 598 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 599 | List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, |
| 600 | and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List: |
| 601 | (a) Engagement.- |
| 602 | 1. The public fund shall immediately determine the |
| 603 | companies on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan |
| 604 | List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran |
| 605 | Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 606 | Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 607 | Activities in Syria List in which the public fund owns direct or |
| 608 | indirect holdings. |
| 609 | 2. For each company identified in this paragraph that has |
| 610 | only inactive business operations, the public fund shall send a |
| 611 | written notice informing the company of this act and encouraging |
| 612 | it to continue to refrain from initiating active business |
| 613 | operations in Sudan, or Iran, Cuba, or Syria until it is able to |
| 614 | avoid scrutinized business operations. The public fund shall |
| 615 | continue such correspondence semiannually. |
| 616 | 3. For each company newly identified under this paragraph |
| 617 | that has active business operations, the public fund shall send |
| 618 | a written notice informing the company of its scrutinized |
| 619 | company status and that it may become subject to divestment by |
| 620 | the public fund. The notice must inform the company of the |
| 621 | opportunity to clarify its Sudan-related, or Iran-related, Cuba- |
| 622 | related, or Syria-related activities and encourage the company, |
| 623 | within 90 days, to cease its scrutinized business operations or |
| 624 | convert such operations to inactive business operations in order |
| 625 | to avoid qualifying for divestment by the public fund. |
| 626 | 4. If, within 90 days after the public fund's first |
| 627 | engagement with a company pursuant to this paragraph, that |
| 628 | company ceases scrutinized business operations, the company |
| 629 | shall be removed from the Scrutinized Companies with Activities |
| 630 | in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in |
| 631 | the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies |
| 632 | with Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 633 | Activities in Syria List, and the provisions of this act shall |
| 634 | cease to apply to that company unless that company resumes |
| 635 | scrutinized business operations. If, within 90 days after the |
| 636 | public fund's first engagement, the company converts its |
| 637 | scrutinized active business operations to inactive business |
| 638 | operations, the company is subject to all provisions relating to |
| 639 | inactive business operations. A company may be removed from one |
| 640 | list but remain on the other list, in which case the company |
| 641 | shall be subject to the provisions applicable to the list on |
| 642 | which the company remains. |
| 643 | (b) Divestment.- |
| 644 | 1. If, after 90 days following the public fund's first |
| 645 | engagement with a company pursuant to paragraph (a), the company |
| 646 | continues to have scrutinized active business operations, and |
| 647 | only while such company continues to have scrutinized active |
| 648 | business operations, the public fund shall sell, redeem, divest, |
| 649 | or withdraw all publicly traded securities of the company, |
| 650 | except as provided in paragraph (d), from the public fund's |
| 651 | assets under management within 12 months after the company's |
| 652 | most recent appearance on the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 653 | Activities in Sudan List, or on the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 654 | Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the |
| 655 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the |
| 656 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List. |
| 657 | 2. If a company that ceased scrutinized active business |
| 658 | operations following engagement pursuant to paragraph (a) |
| 659 | resumes such operations, this paragraph immediately applies, and |
| 660 | the public fund shall send a written notice to the company. The |
| 661 | company shall also be immediately reintroduced onto the |
| 662 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, or on the |
| 663 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum |
| 664 | Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in |
| 665 | Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria |
| 666 | List, as applicable. |
| 667 | (c) Prohibition.-The public fund may not acquire |
| 668 | securities of companies on the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 669 | Activities in Sudan List, or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 670 | Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the |
| 671 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the |
| 672 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List that have |
| 673 | active business operations, except as provided in paragraph (d). |
| 674 | (d) Exemption.-A company that the United States Government |
| 675 | affirmatively declares to be excluded from its present or any |
| 676 | future federal sanctions regime relating to Sudan, or Iran, |
| 677 | Cuba, or Syria is not subject to divestment or the investment |
| 678 | prohibition pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c). |
| 679 | (e) Excluded securities.-Notwithstanding the provisions of |
| 680 | this act, paragraphs (b) and (c) do not apply to indirect |
| 681 | holdings in actively managed investment funds. However, the |
| 682 | public fund shall submit letters to the managers of such |
| 683 | investment funds containing companies that have scrutinized |
| 684 | active business operations requesting that they consider |
| 685 | removing such companies from the fund or create a similar |
| 686 | actively managed fund having indirect holdings devoid of such |
| 687 | companies. If the manager creates a similar fund, the public |
| 688 | fund shall replace all applicable investments with investments |
| 689 | in the similar fund in an expedited timeframe consistent with |
| 690 | prudent investing standards. For the purposes of this section, a |
| 691 | private equity fund is deemed to be an actively managed |
| 692 | investment fund. |
| 693 | (f) Further exclusions.-Notwithstanding any other |
| 694 | provision of this act, the public fund, when discharging its |
| 695 | responsibility for operation of a defined contribution plan, |
| 696 | shall engage the manager of the investment offerings in such |
| 697 | plans requesting that they consider removing scrutinized |
| 698 | companies from the investment offerings or create an alternative |
| 699 | investment offering devoid of scrutinized companies. If the |
| 700 | manager creates an alternative investment offering and the |
| 701 | offering is deemed by the public fund to be consistent with |
| 702 | prudent investor standards, the public fund shall consider |
| 703 | including such investment offering in the plan. |
| 704 | (4) REPORTING.- |
| 705 | (a) The public fund shall file a report with each member |
| 706 | of the Board of Trustees of the State Board of Administration, |
| 707 | the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
| 708 | Representatives that includes the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 709 | Activities in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 710 | Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the |
| 711 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, and the |
| 712 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List within 30 |
| 713 | days after the list is created. This report shall be made |
| 714 | available to the public. |
| 715 | (b) At each quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees |
| 716 | thereafter, the public fund shall file a report, which shall be |
| 717 | made available to the public and to each member of the Board of |
| 718 | Trustees of the State Board of Administration, the President of |
| 719 | the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and |
| 720 | send a copy of that report to the United States Presidential |
| 721 | Special Envoy to Sudan, and the United States Presidential |
| 722 | Special Envoy to Iran, the United States Presidential Special |
| 723 | Envoy to Cuba, and the United States Presidential Special Envoy |
| 724 | to Syria, or an appropriate designee or successor, which |
| 725 | includes: |
| 726 | 1. A summary of correspondence with companies engaged by |
| 727 | the public fund under subparagraphs (3)(a)2. and 3.; |
| 728 | 2. All investments sold, redeemed, divested, or withdrawn |
| 729 | in compliance with paragraph (3)(b); |
| 730 | 3. All prohibited investments under paragraph (3)(c); |
| 731 | 4. Any progress made under paragraph (3)(e); and |
| 732 | 5. A list of all publicly traded securities held directly |
| 733 | by this state. |
| 734 | (5) EXPIRATION.-This act expires upon the occurrence of |
| 735 | all of the following: |
| 736 | (a) If any of the following occur, the public fund shall |
| 737 | no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs |
| 738 | (1)(w)1., 2., and 3. (1)(t)1., 2., and 3. and shall no longer |
| 739 | assemble the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan |
| 740 | List, shall cease engagement and divestment of such companies, |
| 741 | and may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do |
| 742 | not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized |
| 743 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 744 | List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or |
| 745 | the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List: |
| 746 | 1. The Congress or President of the United States, |
| 747 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 748 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 749 | certification from the President to Congress, that the Darfur |
| 750 | genocide has been halted for at least 12 months; |
| 751 | 2. The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against |
| 752 | the government of Sudan; |
| 753 | 3. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 754 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 755 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 756 | certification from the President to Congress, that the |
| 757 | government of Sudan has honored its commitments to cease attacks |
| 758 | on civilians, demobilize and demilitarize the Janjaweed and |
| 759 | associated militias, grant free and unfettered access for |
| 760 | deliveries of humanitarian assistance, and allow for the safe |
| 761 | and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced |
| 762 | persons; or |
| 763 | 4. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 764 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 765 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 766 | certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory |
| 767 | divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with |
| 768 | the conduct of United States foreign policy. |
| 769 | (b) If any of the following occur, the public fund shall |
| 770 | no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraph |
| 771 | (1)(w)4. (1)(t)4. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized |
| 772 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 773 | List and shall cease engagement, investment prohibitions, and |
| 774 | divestment. The public fund may reinvest in such companies as |
| 775 | long as such companies do not satisfy the criteria for inclusion |
| 776 | in the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the |
| 777 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the |
| 778 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List: |
| 779 | 1. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 780 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 781 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 782 | certification from the President to Congress, that the |
| 783 | government of Iran has ceased to acquire weapons of mass |
| 784 | destruction and support international terrorism; |
| 785 | 2. The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against |
| 786 | the government of Iran; or |
| 787 | 3. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 788 | affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including, |
| 789 | but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 790 | certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory |
| 791 | divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with |
| 792 | the conduct of United States foreign policy. |
| 793 | (c) If any of the following occur, the public fund shall |
| 794 | no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs |
| 795 | (1)(w)5. and 6. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized |
| 796 | Companies with Activities in Cuba List and shall cease |
| 797 | engagement, investment prohibitions, and divestment. The public |
| 798 | fund may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do |
| 799 | not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized |
| 800 | Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the Scrutinized |
| 801 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 802 | List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria |
| 803 | List: |
| 804 | 1. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 805 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 806 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 807 | certification from the President to Congress, that the |
| 808 | government of Cuba has ceased to acquire weapons of mass |
| 809 | destruction and support international terrorism; |
| 810 | 2. The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against |
| 811 | the government of Cuba; or |
| 812 | 3. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 813 | affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including, |
| 814 | but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 815 | certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory |
| 816 | divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with |
| 817 | the conduct of United States foreign policy. |
| 818 | (d) If any of the following occur, the public fund shall |
| 819 | no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs |
| 820 | (1)(w)7. and 8. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized |
| 821 | Companies with Activities in Syria List and shall cease |
| 822 | engagement, investment prohibitions, and divestment. The public |
| 823 | fund may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do |
| 824 | not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized |
| 825 | Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the Scrutinized |
| 826 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 827 | List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List: |
| 828 | 1. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 829 | affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but |
| 830 | not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 831 | certification from the President to Congress, that the |
| 832 | government of Cuba has ceased to acquire weapons of mass |
| 833 | destruction and support international terrorism; |
| 834 | 2. The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against |
| 835 | the government of Syria; or |
| 836 | 3. The Congress or President of the United States |
| 837 | affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including, |
| 838 | but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written |
| 839 | certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory |
| 840 | divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with |
| 841 | the conduct of United States foreign policy. |
| 842 | (6) INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT OBLIGATIONS.-The public |
| 843 | fund's actions taken in compliance with this act, including all |
| 844 | good faith determinations regarding companies as required by |
| 845 | this act, shall be adopted and incorporated into the public |
| 846 | fund's investment policy statement (the IPS) as set forth in s. |
| 847 | 215.475. |
| 848 | (7) REINVESTMENT IN CERTAIN COMPANIES HAVING SCRUTINIZED |
| 849 | ACTIVE BUSINESS OPERATIONS.-Notwithstanding any other provision |
| 850 | of this act to the contrary, the public fund may cease divesting |
| 851 | from certain scrutinized companies pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) |
| 852 | or reinvest in certain scrutinized companies from which it |
| 853 | divested pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) if clear and convincing |
| 854 | evidence shows that the value of all assets under management by |
| 855 | the public fund becomes equal to or less than 99.50 percent, or |
| 856 | 50 basis points, of the hypothetical value of all assets under |
| 857 | management by the public fund assuming no divestment for any |
| 858 | company had occurred under paragraph (3)(b). Cessation of |
| 859 | divestment, reinvestment, or any subsequent ongoing investment |
| 860 | authorized by this act is limited to the minimum steps necessary |
| 861 | to avoid the contingency set forth in this subsection or that no |
| 862 | divestment of any company is required for less than fair value. |
| 863 | For any cessation of divestment, reinvestment, or subsequent |
| 864 | ongoing investment authorized by this act, the public fund shall |
| 865 | provide a written report to each member of the Board of Trustees |
| 866 | of the State Board of Administration, the President of the |
| 867 | Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in |
| 868 | advance of initial reinvestment, updated semiannually thereafter |
| 869 | as applicable, setting forth the reasons and justification, |
| 870 | supported by clear and convincing evidence, for its decisions to |
| 871 | cease divestment, reinvest, or remain invested in companies |
| 872 | having scrutinized active business operations. This act does not |
| 873 | apply to reinvestment in companies on the grounds that they have |
| 874 | ceased to have scrutinized active business operations. |
| 875 | Section 2. Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 876 | to read: |
| 877 | 287.135 Prohibition against contracting with scrutinized |
| 878 | companies.- |
| 879 | (1) In addition to the terms defined in ss. 287.012 and |
| 880 | 215.473, as used in this section, the term: |
| 881 | (a) "Awarding body" means, for purposes of state |
| 882 | contracts, an agency or the department, and for purposes of |
| 883 | local contracts, the governing body of the local governmental |
| 884 | entity. |
| 885 | (b) "Local governmental entity" means a county, |
| 886 | municipality, special district, or other political subdivision |
| 887 | of the state. |
| 888 | (2) A company that, at the time of bidding or submitting a |
| 889 | proposal for a new contract or renewal of an existing contract, |
| 890 | is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, |
| 891 | or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran |
| 892 | Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 893 | Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 894 | Activities in Syria List, created pursuant to s. 215.473, is |
| 895 | ineligible for, and may not bid on, submit a proposal for, or |
| 896 | enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local |
| 897 | governmental entity for goods or services of $1 million or more. |
| 898 | (3)(a) Any contract with an agency or local governmental |
| 899 | entity for goods or services of $1 million or more entered into |
| 900 | or renewed on or after July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, must |
| 901 | contain a provision that allows for the termination of such |
| 902 | contract at the option of the awarding body if the company is |
| 903 | found to have submitted a false certification as provided under |
| 904 | subsection (5) or been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 905 | Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 906 | Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List. |
| 907 | (b) Any contract with an agency or local governmental |
| 908 | entity for goods or services of $1 million or more entered into |
| 909 | or renewed on or after July 1, 2012, must contain a provision |
| 910 | that allows for the termination of such contract at the option |
| 911 | of the awarding body if the company is found to have submitted a |
| 912 | false certification as provided under subsection (5) or been |
| 913 | placed on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan |
| 914 | List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran |
| 915 | Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 916 | Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 917 | Activities in Syria List. |
| 918 | (4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) or subsection (3), an |
| 919 | agency or local governmental entity, on a case-by-case basis, |
| 920 | may permit a company on the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 921 | Activities in Sudan List, or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 922 | Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the |
| 923 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the |
| 924 | Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List to be |
| 925 | eligible for, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or |
| 926 | renew a contract for goods or services of $1 million or more |
| 927 | under either of the following conditions set forth in paragraph |
| 928 | (a) or the conditions set forth in paragraph (b): |
| 929 | (a)1. With respect to a company on the Scrutinized |
| 930 | Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized |
| 931 | Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector |
| 932 | List, all of the following occur: |
| 933 | a.1. The scrutinized business operations were made before |
| 934 | July 1, 2011. |
| 935 | b.2. The scrutinized business operations have not been |
| 936 | expanded or renewed after July 1, 2011. |
| 937 | c.3. The agency or local governmental entity determines |
| 938 | that it is in the best interest of the state or local community |
| 939 | to contract with the company. |
| 940 | d.4. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is |
| 941 | implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business |
| 942 | operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized |
| 943 | business operations. |
| 944 | 2. With respect to a company on the Scrutinized Companies |
| 945 | with Activities in Cuba List or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 946 | Activities in Syria List, all of the following occur: |
| 947 | a. The scrutinized business operations were made before |
| 948 | July 1, 2012. |
| 949 | b. The scrutinized business operations have not been |
| 950 | expanded or renewed after July 1, 2012. |
| 951 | c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that |
| 952 | it is in the best interest of the state or local community to |
| 953 | contract with the company. |
| 954 | d. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is |
| 955 | implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business |
| 956 | operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized |
| 957 | business operations. |
| 958 | (b) One of the following occurs: |
| 959 | 1. The local governmental entity makes a public finding |
| 960 | that, absent such an exemption, the local governmental entity |
| 961 | would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which the |
| 962 | contract is offered. |
| 963 | 2. For a contract with an executive agency, the Governor |
| 964 | makes a public finding that, absent such an exemption, the |
| 965 | agency would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which |
| 966 | the contract is offered. |
| 967 | 3. For a contract with an office of a state constitutional |
| 968 | officer other than the Governor, the state constitutional |
| 969 | officer makes a public finding that, absent such an exemption, |
| 970 | the office would be unable to obtain the goods or services for |
| 971 | which the contract is offered. |
| 972 | (5) At the time a company submits a bid or proposal for a |
| 973 | contract or before the company enters into or renews a contract |
| 974 | with an agency or governmental entity for goods or services of |
| 975 | $1 million or more, the company must certify that the company is |
| 976 | not on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, |
| 977 | or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran |
| 978 | Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 979 | Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with |
| 980 | Activities in Syria List. |
| 981 | (a) If, after the agency or the local governmental entity |
| 982 | determines, using credible information available to the public, |
| 983 | that the company has submitted a false certification, the agency |
| 984 | or local governmental entity shall provide the company with |
| 985 | written notice of its determination. The company shall have 90 |
| 986 | days following receipt of the notice to respond in writing and |
| 987 | to demonstrate that the determination of false certification was |
| 988 | made in error. If the company does not make such demonstration |
| 989 | within 90 days after receipt of the notice, the agency or the |
| 990 | local governmental entity shall bring a civil action against the |
| 991 | company. If a civil action is brought and the court determines |
| 992 | that the company submitted a false certification, the company |
| 993 | shall pay the penalty described in subparagraph 1. and all |
| 994 | reasonable attorney attorney's fees and costs, including any |
| 995 | costs for investigations that led to the finding of false |
| 996 | certification. |
| 997 | 1. A civil penalty equal to the greater of $2 million or |
| 998 | twice the amount of the contract for which the false |
| 999 | certification was submitted shall be imposed. |
| 1000 | 2. The company is ineligible to bid on any contract with |
| 1001 | an agency or local governmental entity for 3 years after the |
| 1002 | date the agency or local governmental entity determined that the |
| 1003 | company submitted a false certification. |
| 1004 | (b) A civil action to collect the penalties described in |
| 1005 | paragraph (a) must commence within 3 years after the date the |
| 1006 | false certification is submitted. |
| 1007 | (6) Only the agency or local governmental entity that is a |
| 1008 | party to the contract may cause a civil action to be brought |
| 1009 | under this section. This section does not create or authorize a |
| 1010 | private right of action or enforcement of the penalties provided |
| 1011 | in this section. An unsuccessful bidder, or any other person |
| 1012 | other than the agency or local governmental entity, may not |
| 1013 | protest the award of a contract or contract renewal on the basis |
| 1014 | of a false certification. |
| 1015 | (7) This section preempts any ordinance or rule of any |
| 1016 | agency or local governmental entity involving public contracts |
| 1017 | for goods or services of $1 million or more with a company |
| 1018 | engaged in scrutinized business operations. |
| 1019 | (8) The department shall submit to the Attorney General of |
| 1020 | the United States a written notice: |
| 1021 | (a) Describing this section within 30 days after July 1, |
| 1022 | 2011. |
| 1023 | (b) Within 30 days after July 1, 2012, apprising the |
| 1024 | Attorney General of the United States of the inclusion of |
| 1025 | companies on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba |
| 1026 | List and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List |
| 1027 | within the provisions of this section. |
| 1028 | (9) This section becomes inoperative on the date that |
| 1029 | federal law ceases to authorize the states to adopt and enforce |
| 1030 | the contracting prohibitions of the type provided for in this |
| 1031 | section. |
| 1032 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012. |