HB 959

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to scrutinized companies; amending s.
3215.473, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
4revising and providing definitions; requiring the
5State Board of Administration to identify all
6companies in which public moneys are invested that are
7doing certain types of business in or with Cuba or
8Syria; requiring the board to create and maintain
9certain scrutinized companies lists that name all such
10companies; requiring the board to periodically contact
11all scrutinized companies and encourage them to
12refrain from engaging in certain types of business in
13or with Cuba or Syria; requiring the board to inform
14scrutinized companies of their status as a scrutinized
15company and to provide notice of the opportunity to
16clarify the nature of the company's business
17activities; providing for removal of a company from
18the list under certain conditions; requiring the board
19to divest all publicly traded securities of a
20scrutinized company under certain conditions;
21providing for reintroduction of a company onto the
22list; providing exceptions to the divestment
23requirement; prohibiting the board from acquiring
24securities of scrutinized companies that have active
25business operations; providing an exemption to the
26divestment requirement and investment prohibition;
27providing an additional exception from the divestment
28requirement and the investment prohibition for certain
29indirect holdings in actively managed investment
30funds; providing procedures of the board with respect
31to requesting removal of scrutinized companies from
32actively managed investment funds and defined
33contribution plans or the creation of a similar fund
34that excludes such companies; providing reporting
35requirements of the board; providing for cessation of
36assembly of the Scrutinized Companies with Activities
37in Cuba List and the Scrutinized Companies with
38Activities in Syria List, cessation of engagement and
39divestment of such companies, and restoration of
40authority to reinvest in such companies under
41specified conditions; authorizing the board to cease
42divesting or reinvesting in certain companies having
43scrutinized active business operations under specified
44conditions; amending s. 287.135, F.S.; prohibiting a
45state agency or local governmental entity from
46contracting for goods and services of more than a
47certain amount with a company that is on the
48Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List or
49the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria
50List; requiring a contract provision that allows for
51termination of the contract if the company is found to
52have been placed on such list; providing exceptions;
53requiring certification upon submission of a bid or
54proposal for a contract, or before a company enters
55into or renews a contract, with an agency or
56governmental entity that the company is not on the
57Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List or
58the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria
59List; providing procedures upon determination that a
60company has submitted a false certification; providing
61for civil action; providing penalties; providing
62attorney fees and costs; providing a statute of
63repose; prohibiting a private right of action;
64requiring the Department of Management Services to
65notify the Attorney General after the act becomes law;
66providing an effective date.
67
68     WHEREAS, with a population of approximately 11 million,
69Cuba is a totalitarian communist state that does not tolerate
70opposition to official policy, and
71     WHEREAS, the current government of Cuba assumed power on
72January 1, 1959, and
73     WHEREAS, although the Cuban constitution recognizes the
74unicameral National Assembly as the supreme authority in Cuba,
75the Communist Party is recognized in the constitution as the
76only legal party and "the superior leading force of society and
77of the state," and
78     WHEREAS, elections in January 2008 for the Cuban National
79Assembly were neither free nor fair, and all of the candidates
80had to be preapproved by a Communist Party candidacy commission,
81with the result that the Communist Party candidates and their
82allies won 98.7 percent of the vote and 607 of 614 seats in the
83National Assembly, and
84     WHEREAS, the Cuban government continues to deny its
85citizens their basic human rights, including the right to change
86their government, and has committed numerous and serious abuses
87against the citizens of Cuba, and
88     WHEREAS, among the human rights problems reported within
89Cuba are beatings and abuse of prisoners and detainees, harsh
90and life-threatening prison conditions, including denial of
91medical care, harassment, and beatings, and threats against
92political opponents by government-recruited mobs, police, and
93state security officials who acted with impunity, and
94     WHEREAS, arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights
95advocates and members of independent professional organizations,
96and denial of fair trial for at least 194 political prisoners
97and as many as 5,000 persons who have been convicted of
98potential "dangerousness" without being charged with any
99specific crime are also reported, and
100     WHEREAS, there have also been severe limitations on freedom
101of speech and the press, denial of peaceful assembly and
102association, restrictions on freedom of movement, including
103selective denial of exit permits to citizens and the forcible
104removal of persons from Havana to their hometowns, restrictions
105on freedom of religion and refusal to recognize domestic human
106rights groups or permit them to function legally, discrimination
107against persons of African descent, and severe restrictions on
108workers' rights, including the right to form independent unions,
109and
110     WHEREAS, other problems that are prevalent in Cuba include
111increasing incidences of domestic violence, underage
112prostitution, and trafficking in human beings, and
113     WHEREAS, Cuba is on the United States Department of State's
114list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, and for nearly half a
115century the United States has unilaterally imposed an economic,
116commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba, and
117     WHEREAS, the embargo, partially imposed on Cuba in October
1181960, was enacted after Cuba nationalized the properties of
119United States citizens and corporations and it was strengthened
120to a near-total embargo on February 7, 1962, and
121     WHEREAS, though the severity and the scope of the sanctions
122have varied, depending upon political developments in Cuba, the
123United States, and the rest of the world, the United States
124Government Accountability Office has stated that "the embargo on
125Cuba is the most comprehensive set of United States sanctions on
126any country, including other countries designated by the United
127States Government to be state sponsors of terrorism," and     
128     WHEREAS, also on the Department of State's list of State
129Sponsors of Terrorism is the nation of Syria, and
130     WHEREAS, on March 8, 1963, the Baath Party in Syria enacted
131an emergency law that suspended basic constitutional rights such
132as freedom of speech and assembly and instituted martial law,
133and
134     WHEREAS, in February 1982, the Syrian army, under the
135orders of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, effectively ended a
136campaign begun in 1976 by Sunni Islamic groups against the Assad
137regime with what is now known as "the Hama massacre," the
138quelling of a revolt by the Sunni Muslim community against the
139al-Assad regime that resulted in Syrian deaths, the estimates of
140which range from 10,000 to possibly as many as 40,000 Syrian
141citizens according to the Syrian Human Rights Committee, and
142     WHEREAS, the Hama massacre has been described as being
143among "the single deadliest acts by any Arab government against
144its own people in the Middle East," and
145     WHEREAS, in 2011 the "Syrian uprising" began in that
146country, and
147     WHEREAS, the Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal
148conflict occurring in Syria that began with protests that
149started on January 26, 2011, and then escalated to an uprising
150by March 15, 2011, and
151     WHEREAS, the demands of protesters in this sustained
152campaign of civil resistance include the allowance by the ruling
153Baath Party of other political parties, the end of President
154Bashar al-Assad's presidency, equal rights for Kurds, and broad
155political freedoms such as freedom of the press, free speech,
156and freedom to assemble, and
157     WHEREAS, as protests continued, the Syrian government used
158tanks and snipers to force Syrian citizens off the streets,
159water and electricity were shut off, and security forces began
160confiscating flour and food in various areas of the country, and
161     WHEREAS, violence escalated as the crisis wore on and as a
162result more than 3,000 people were killed, many more were
163injured, and thousands of protesters have been detained, with
164dozens of detainees reportedly having been tortured and killed,
165and
166     WHEREAS, since the beginning of the uprising, the Syrian
167government has made several concessions, including the repeal on
168April 21, 2011, of the 1963 emergency law which allowed the
169government sweeping authority to suspend constitutional rights,
170though the concessions are widely considered trivial and
171superficial by protesters demanding more meaningful reform,
172especially in light of the fact that government crackdowns on
173protesters have continued to heighten, and
174     WHEREAS, the oppressive Assad Regime blatantly murders
175protesters of the regime in mass, regularly detains political
176and human rights activists and journalists, engages in
177widespread media censorship, and is associated with the
178disappearance of citizens opposed to the Assad regime, and
179     WHEREAS, the United States Government and other nations
180throughout the world have openly called for President Assad to
181step down from office, and
182     WHEREAS, effective August 18, 2011, President Barack Obama
183issued a new Executive Order imposing significant new economic
184sanctions on Syria, and
185     WHEREAS, the action greatly expanded United States
186international trade restrictions against Syria and its
187government in certain important respects, representing a more
188comprehensive unilateral economic embargo, and
189     WHEREAS, most notably, the sanctions now include a freeze
190on the property and interests of property of the Government of
191Syria in the United States or held by United States persons,
192defined to include entities in the United States and their
193foreign branch offices, United States citizens or lawful
194permanent residents, and anyone of any nationality acting or
195located within the United States, and
196     WHEREAS, the sanctions include prohibitions on United
197States persons engaging in any transactions with the Syrian
198Government, making new investments in Syria, providing any
199services to Syria, or conducting business dealings in or related
200to petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin, and
201     WHEREAS, the sanctions also include a ban on the
202importation of Syrian-origin petroleum products into the United
203States and a prohibition against United States persons
204facilitating, approving, financing, or guaranteeing a
205transaction or dealing with a foreign person related to any of
206the prohibitions in place against Syria, and
207     WHEREAS, both the Government of Cuba and the Government of
208Syria have repeatedly committed human rights violations through
209intimidation by military and security forces, through
210bureaucratic and administrative obstruction, through acts of
211terrorism and atrocities directed against civilians, and through
212the displacement of citizens from their homes, and
213     WHEREAS, the Federal Government has imposed sanctions
214against the Government of Cuba and the Government of Syria, and
215such sanctions are monitored through the United States Treasury
216Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and
217     WHEREAS, according to a former chair of the United States
218Securities and Exchange Commission, the fact that a foreign
219company is doing material business with a country, government,
220or entity on OFAC's sanctions list is, in the SEC staff's view,
221substantially likely to be significant to a reasonable
222investor's decision about whether to invest in that company, and
223     WHEREAS, because the United States Secretary of State has
224determined that both Cuba and Syria are countries whose
225governments have provided support for acts of international
226terrorism, as a result, the United States has restricted
227assistance, defense exports, defense sales, financial
228transactions, and various other transactions with the Government
229of Cuba and the Government of Syria, and
230     WHEREAS, a 2006 report by the United States House of
231Representatives states that "a company's association with
232sponsors of terrorism and human rights abuses, no matter how
233large or small, can have a materially adverse result on a public
234company's operations, financial condition, earnings, and stock
235prices, all of which can negatively affect the value of an
236investment," and
237     WHEREAS, in response to the financial risk posed by
238investments in companies doing business with a state that
239sponsors terrorists, the Securities and Exchange Commission
240established its Office of Global Security Risk to provide for
241enhanced disclosure of material information regarding such
242companies, and
243     WHEREAS, divestment actions precipitated by such
244sponsorship of terrorism and human rights violations encompass
245universities, municipalities, states, and private pension plans,
246and
247     WHEREAS, companies facing such widespread divestment
248present further material risk to remaining investors, and
249     WHEREAS, it is a fundamental responsibility of the State of
250Florida to decide where, how, and by whom financial resources in
251its control should be invested, taking into account numerous
252pertinent factors, and
253     WHEREAS, it is the prerogative and desire of the State of
254Florida, with respect to investment resources in its control and
255to the extent reasonable, with due consideration for return on
256investment on behalf of the state and its investment
257beneficiaries, not to participate in an ownership or capital-
258providing capacity with entities that provide significant
259practical support for terrorism and human rights violations,
260including certain non-United States companies presently doing
261business in such countries, and
262     WHEREAS, while divestiture should be considered with the
263intent to improve investment performance and by the rules of
264prudence, fiduciaries must take into account all relevant
265substantive factors in arriving at an investment decision, and
266     WHEREAS, the State of Florida is deeply concerned about
267investments in publicly traded companies that have business
268activities in and ties to Cuba and Syria as a financial risk to
269the shareholders, and
270     WHEREAS, by investing in publicly traded companies having
271ties to Cuba and Syria, the Florida State Board of
272Administration is putting the funds it oversees at substantial
273financial risk, and
274     WHEREAS, divestiture from markets that are vulnerable to
275embargo, loan restrictions, and sanctions from the United States
276and the international community, including the United Nations
277Security Council, is in accordance with the rules of prudence,
278and
279     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that this act should remain
280in effect only insofar as it continues to be consistent with and
281does not unduly interfere with the foreign policy of the United
282States as determined by the Federal Government, and
283     WHEREAS, to protect Florida's assets, it is in the best
284interest of the state to enact a statutory prohibition regarding
285the investments managed by the State Board of Administration
286doing business in Cuba and Syria, NOW, THEREFORE,
287
288Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
289
290     Section 1.  Section 215.473, Florida Statutes, is amended
291to read:
292     215.473  Divestiture by the State Board of Administration;
293Sudan; Iran; Cuba; Syria.-
294     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this act, the term:
295     (a)  "Active business operations" means all business
296operations that are not inactive business operations.
297     (b)  "Business operations" means engaging in commerce in
298any form in Sudan, or Iran, Cuba, or Syria, including, but not
299limited to, acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, selling,
300possessing, leasing, or operating equipment, facilities,
301personnel, products, services, personal property, real property,
302or any other apparatus of business or commerce.
303     (c)  "Company" means any sole proprietorship, organization,
304association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
305partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
306company, or other entity or business association, including all
307wholly owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, parent
308companies, or affiliates of such entities or business
309associations, that exists for the purpose of making profit.
310     (d)  "Complicit" means taking actions during any preceding
31120-month period which have directly supported or promoted:
312     1.  The genocidal campaign in Darfur, including, but not
313limited to, preventing Darfur's victimized population from
314communicating with each other;
315     2.  Encouraging Sudanese citizens to speak out against an
316internationally approved security force for Darfur;
317     3.  Actively working to deny, cover up, or alter the record
318on 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
322of that company that are held directly by the public fund or in
323an account or fund in which the public fund owns all shares or
324interests.
325     (g)  "Government of Cuba" means the government of Cuba,
326under the control of General Raul Castro and the Cuban Communist
327Party, its instrumentalities, and companies owned or controlled
328by the government of Cuba.
329     (h)(f)  "Government of Iran" means the government of Iran,
330its instrumentalities, and companies owned or controlled by the
331government of Iran.
332     (i)(g)  "Government of Sudan" means the government in
333Khartoum, Sudan, that is led by the National Congress Party,
334formerly known as the National Islamic Front, or any successor
335government formed on or after October 13, 2006, including the
336coalition National Unity Government agreed upon in the
337Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan, and does not include
338the regional government of southern Sudan.
339     (j)  "Government of Syria" means the government of Syria,
340under the control of President Bashar Al-Assad and the Arab
341Socialist Baath Party, its instrumentalities, and companies
342owned or controlled by the government of Syria.
343     (k)(h)  "Inactive business operations" means the mere
344continued holding or renewal of rights to property previously
345operated for the purpose of generating revenues but not
346presently deployed for such purpose.
347     (l)(i)  "Indirect holdings" in a company means all
348securities of that company that are held in an account or fund,
349such as a mutual fund, managed by one or more persons not
350employed by the public fund, in which the public fund owns
351shares or interests together with other investors not subject to
352the provisions of this act.
353     (m)(j)  "Iran" means the Islamic Republic of Iran.
354     (n)(k)  "Marginalized populations of Sudan" include, but
355are not limited to, the portion of the population in the Darfur
356region that has been genocidally victimized; the portion of the
357population of southern Sudan victimized by Sudan's north-south
358civil war; the Beja, Rashidiya, and other similarly underserved
359groups of eastern Sudan; the Nubian and other similarly
360underserved groups in Sudan's Abyei, Southern Blue Nile, and
361Nuba Mountain regions; and the Amri, Hamadab, Manasir, and other
362similarly underserved groups of northern Sudan.
363     (o)(l)  "Military equipment" means weapons, arms, military
364supplies, and equipment that may readily be used for military
365purposes, including, but not limited to, radar systems,
366military-grade transport vehicles, or supplies or services sold
367or provided directly or indirectly to any force actively
368participating in armed conflict in Sudan, Cuba, or Syria.
369     (p)(m)  "Mineral-extraction activities" include the
370exploring, extracting, processing, transporting, or wholesale
371selling or trading of elemental minerals or associated metal
372alloys or oxides (ore), including gold, copper, chromium,
373chromite, diamonds, iron, iron ore, silver, tungsten, uranium,
374and zinc, as well as facilitating such activities, including
375providing supplies or services in support of such activities.
376     (q)(n)  "Oil-related activities" include, but are not
377limited to, owning rights to oil blocks; exporting, extracting,
378producing, refining, processing, exploring for, transporting,
379selling, or trading of oil; constructing, maintaining, or
380operating a pipeline, refinery, or other oil-field
381infrastructure; and facilitating such activities, including
382providing supplies or services in support of such activities,
383except that the mere retail sale of gasoline and related
384consumer products is not considered an oil-related activity.
385     (r)(o)  "Petroleum resources" means petroleum, petroleum
386byproducts, or natural gas.
387     (s)(p)  "Power-production activities" means any business
388operation that involves a project commissioned by the National
389Electricity Corporation (NEC) of Sudan or other similar entity
390of the government of Sudan whose purpose is to facilitate power
391generation and delivery, including, but not limited to,
392establishing power-generating plants or hydroelectric dams,
393selling or installing components for the project, providing
394service contracts related to the installation or maintenance of
395the project, as well as facilitating such activities, including
396providing supplies or services in support of such activities.
397     (t)(q)  "Public fund" means all funds, assets, trustee, and
398other designates under the State Board of Administration
399pursuant to chapter 121.
400     (u)(r)  "Scrutinized active business operations" means
401active business operations that have resulted in a company
402becoming a scrutinized company.
403     (v)(s)  "Scrutinized business operations" means business
404operations that have resulted in a company becoming a
405scrutinized company.
406     (w)(t)  "Scrutinized company" means any company that meets
407any of the following criteria:
408     1.  The company has business operations that involve
409contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the
410government of Sudan, companies in which the government of Sudan
411has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects
412commissioned by the government of Sudan, or companies involved
413in consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of
414Sudan, and:
415     a.  More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or
416assets linked to Sudan involve oil-related activities or
417mineral-extraction activities; less than 75 percent of the
418company's revenues or assets linked to Sudan involve contracts
419with or provision of oil-related or mineral-extracting products
420or services to the regional government of southern Sudan or a
421project or consortium created exclusively by that regional
422government; and the company has failed to take substantial
423action; or
424     b.  More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or
425assets linked to Sudan involve power-production activities; less
426than 75 percent of the company's power-production activities
427include projects whose intent is to provide power or electricity
428to the marginalized populations of Sudan; and the company has
429failed to take substantial action.
430     2.  The company is complicit in the Darfur genocide.
431     3.  The company supplies military equipment within Sudan,
432unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be
433used to facilitate offensive military actions in Sudan or the
434company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent
435use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed
436conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of
437such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable
438and objective third party that such equipment is not being used
439by a party participating in armed conflict in Sudan, or sale of
440such equipment solely to the regional government of southern
441Sudan or any internationally recognized peacekeeping force or
442humanitarian organization.
443     4.  The company has business operations that involve
444contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the
445government of Iran, companies in which the government of Iran
446has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums, or
447projects commissioned by the government of Iran, or companies
448involved in consortiums or projects commissioned by the
449government of Iran and:
450     a.  More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or
451assets are linked to Iran and involve oil-related activities or
452mineral-extraction activities; and the company has failed to
453take substantial action; or
454     b.  The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after
455August 5, 1996, made an investment of $20 million or more, or
456any combination of investments of at least $10 million each,
457which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-
458month period, and which directly or significantly contributes to
459the enhancement of Iran's ability to develop the petroleum
460resources of Iran.
461     5.  The company has business operations that involve
462contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the
463government of Cuba, companies in which the government of Cuba
464has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects
465commissioned by the government of Cuba, or companies involved in
466consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of Cuba
467and:
468     a.  More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or
469assets are linked to Cuba, and the company has failed to take
470substantial action; or
471     b.  The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after
472January 1, 1959, made an investment of $20 million or more, or
473any combination of investments of at least $10 million each,
474which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-
475month period.
476     6.  The company supplies military equipment within Cuba,
477unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be
478used to facilitate offensive military actions in Cuba or the
479company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent
480use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed
481conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of
482such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable
483and objective third party that such equipment is not being used
484by a party participating in armed conflict in Cuba, or sale of
485such equipment solely to any internationally recognized
486peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization.
487     7.  The company has business operations that involve
488contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the
489government of Syria, companies in which the government of Syria
490has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects
491commissioned by the government of Syria, or companies involved
492in consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of
493Syria and:
494     a.  More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or
495assets are linked to Syria and involve oil-related activities,
496and the company has failed to take substantial action; or
497     b.  The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after
498March 8, 1963, made an investment of $20 million or more, or any
499combination of investments of at least $10 million each, which
500in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-month
501period, and which directly or significantly contributes to the
502enhancement of Syria's ability to develop the petroleum
503resources of Syria.
504     8.  The company supplies military equipment within Syria,
505unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be
506used to facilitate offensive military actions in Syria or the
507company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguards to prevent
508use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed
509conflict. Examples of safeguards include post-sale tracking of
510such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable
511and objective third party that such equipment is not being used
512by a party participating in armed conflict in Syria, or sale of
513such equipment solely to any internationally recognized
514peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization.
515     (x)(u)  "Social-development company" means a company whose
516primary purpose in Sudan is to provide humanitarian goods or
517services, including medicine or medical equipment; agricultural
518supplies or infrastructure; educational opportunities;
519journalism-related activities; information or information
520materials; spiritual-related activities; services of a purely
521clerical or reporting nature; food, clothing, or general
522consumer goods that are unrelated to oil-related activities;
523mineral-extraction activities; or power-production activities.
524     (y)  "Substantial action specific to Cuba" means adopting,
525publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized
526business operations within 1 year and to refrain from any such
527new business operations.
528     (z)(v)  "Substantial action specific to Iran" means
529adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease
530scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain
531from any such new business operations.
532     (aa)(w)  "Substantial action specific to Sudan" means
533adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease
534scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain
535from any such new business operations; undertaking humanitarian
536efforts in conjunction with an international organization, the
537government of Sudan, the regional government of southern Sudan,
538or a nonprofit entity evaluated and certified by an independent
539third party to be substantially in a relationship to the
540company's Sudan business operations and of benefit to one or
541more marginalized populations of Sudan; or, through engagement
542with the government of Sudan, materially improving conditions
543for the genocidally victimized population in Darfur.
544     (bb)  "Substantial action specific to Syria" means
545adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease
546scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain
547from 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,
551the public fund shall make its best efforts to identify all
552scrutinized companies in which the public fund has direct or
553indirect holdings or could possibly have such holdings in the
554future. Such efforts include:
555     1.  Reviewing and relying, as appropriate in the public
556fund's judgment, on publicly available information regarding
557companies having business operations in Sudan, including
558information provided by nonprofit organizations, research firms,
559international organizations, and government entities;
560     2.  Contacting asset managers contracted by the public fund
561that invest in companies having business operations in Sudan; or
562     3.  Contacting other institutional investors that have
563divested from or engaged with companies that have business
564operations in Sudan.
565     4.  Reviewing the laws of the United States regarding the
566levels of business activity that would cause application of
567sanctions for companies conducting business or investing in
568countries that are designated state sponsors of terror.
569     (b)  By the first meeting of the public fund following the
57090-day period described in paragraph (a), the public fund shall
571assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria specified
572in subparagraphs (1)(w)1., 2., and 3. (1)(t)1., 2., and 3. into
573a "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List," and
574shall assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria
575specified in subparagraph (1)(w)4. (1)(t)4. into a "Scrutinized
576Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
577List,." shall assemble all scrutinized companies that fit
578criteria specified in subparagraphs (1)(w)5. and 6. into a
579"Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List," and shall
580assemble all scrutinized companies that fit criteria specified
581in subparagraphs (1)(w)7. and 8. into a "Scrutinized Companies
582with Activities in Syria List."
583     (c)  The public fund shall update and make publicly
584available quarterly the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in
585Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the
586Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies
587with Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with
588Activities in Syria List based on evolving information from,
589among other sources, those listed in paragraph (a).
590     (d)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, a social-
591development company that is not complicit in the Darfur genocide
592is not considered a scrutinized company under subparagraph
593(1)(w)1. (1)(t)1., subparagraph (1)(w)2. (1)(t)2., or
594subparagraph (1)(w)3. (1)(t)3.
595     (3)  REQUIRED ACTIONS.-The public fund shall adhere to the
596following procedure for assembling companies on the Scrutinized
597Companies with Activities in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized
598Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
599List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List,
600and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List:
601     (a)  Engagement.-
602     1.  The public fund shall immediately determine the
603companies on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan
604List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran
605Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with
606Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with
607Activities in Syria List in which the public fund owns direct or
608indirect holdings.
609     2.  For each company identified in this paragraph that has
610only inactive business operations, the public fund shall send a
611written notice informing the company of this act and encouraging
612it to continue to refrain from initiating active business
613operations in Sudan, or Iran, Cuba, or Syria until it is able to
614avoid scrutinized business operations. The public fund shall
615continue such correspondence semiannually.
616     3.  For each company newly identified under this paragraph
617that has active business operations, the public fund shall send
618a written notice informing the company of its scrutinized
619company status and that it may become subject to divestment by
620the public fund. The notice must inform the company of the
621opportunity to clarify its Sudan-related, or Iran-related, Cuba-
622related, or Syria-related activities and encourage the company,
623within 90 days, to cease its scrutinized business operations or
624convert such operations to inactive business operations in order
625to avoid qualifying for divestment by the public fund.
626     4.  If, within 90 days after the public fund's first
627engagement with a company pursuant to this paragraph, that
628company ceases scrutinized business operations, the company
629shall be removed from the Scrutinized Companies with Activities
630in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in
631the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies
632with Activities in Cuba List, and the Scrutinized Companies with
633Activities in Syria List, and the provisions of this act shall
634cease to apply to that company unless that company resumes
635scrutinized business operations. If, within 90 days after the
636public fund's first engagement, the company converts its
637scrutinized active business operations to inactive business
638operations, the company is subject to all provisions relating to
639inactive business operations. A company may be removed from one
640list but remain on the other list, in which case the company
641shall be subject to the provisions applicable to the list on
642which the company remains.
643     (b)  Divestment.-
644     1.  If, after 90 days following the public fund's first
645engagement with a company pursuant to paragraph (a), the company
646continues to have scrutinized active business operations, and
647only while such company continues to have scrutinized active
648business operations, the public fund shall sell, redeem, divest,
649or withdraw all publicly traded securities of the company,
650except as provided in paragraph (d), from the public fund's
651assets under management within 12 months after the company's
652most recent appearance on the Scrutinized Companies with
653Activities in Sudan List, or on the Scrutinized Companies with
654Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the
655Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the
656Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List.
657     2.  If a company that ceased scrutinized active business
658operations following engagement pursuant to paragraph (a)
659resumes such operations, this paragraph immediately applies, and
660the public fund shall send a written notice to the company. The
661company shall also be immediately reintroduced onto the
662Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, or on the
663Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum
664Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in
665Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria
666List, as applicable.
667     (c)  Prohibition.-The public fund may not acquire
668securities of companies on the Scrutinized Companies with
669Activities in Sudan List, or the Scrutinized Companies with
670Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the
671Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the
672Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List that have
673active business operations, except as provided in paragraph (d).
674     (d)  Exemption.-A company that the United States Government
675affirmatively declares to be excluded from its present or any
676future federal sanctions regime relating to Sudan, or Iran,
677Cuba, or Syria is not subject to divestment or the investment
678prohibition pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c).
679     (e)  Excluded securities.-Notwithstanding the provisions of
680this act, paragraphs (b) and (c) do not apply to indirect
681holdings in actively managed investment funds. However, the
682public fund shall submit letters to the managers of such
683investment funds containing companies that have scrutinized
684active business operations requesting that they consider
685removing such companies from the fund or create a similar
686actively managed fund having indirect holdings devoid of such
687companies. If the manager creates a similar fund, the public
688fund shall replace all applicable investments with investments
689in the similar fund in an expedited timeframe consistent with
690prudent investing standards. For the purposes of this section, a
691private equity fund is deemed to be an actively managed
692investment fund.
693     (f)  Further exclusions.-Notwithstanding any other
694provision of this act, the public fund, when discharging its
695responsibility for operation of a defined contribution plan,
696shall engage the manager of the investment offerings in such
697plans requesting that they consider removing scrutinized
698companies from the investment offerings or create an alternative
699investment offering devoid of scrutinized companies. If the
700manager creates an alternative investment offering and the
701offering is deemed by the public fund to be consistent with
702prudent investor standards, the public fund shall consider
703including such investment offering in the plan.
704     (4)  REPORTING.-
705     (a)  The public fund shall file a report with each member
706of the Board of Trustees of the State Board of Administration,
707the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
708Representatives that includes the Scrutinized Companies with
709Activities in Sudan List, and the Scrutinized Companies with
710Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the
711Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, and the
712Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List within 30
713days after the list is created. This report shall be made
714available to the public.
715     (b)  At each quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees
716thereafter, the public fund shall file a report, which shall be
717made available to the public and to each member of the Board of
718Trustees of the State Board of Administration, the President of
719the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
720send a copy of that report to the United States Presidential
721Special Envoy to Sudan, and the United States Presidential
722Special Envoy to Iran, the United States Presidential Special
723Envoy to Cuba, and the United States Presidential Special Envoy
724to Syria, or an appropriate designee or successor, which
725includes:
726     1.  A summary of correspondence with companies engaged by
727the public fund under subparagraphs (3)(a)2. and 3.;
728     2.  All investments sold, redeemed, divested, or withdrawn
729in 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
733by this state.
734     (5)  EXPIRATION.-This act expires upon the occurrence of
735all of the following:
736     (a)  If any of the following occur, the public fund shall
737no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs
738(1)(w)1., 2., and 3. (1)(t)1., 2., and 3. and shall no longer
739assemble the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan
740List, shall cease engagement and divestment of such companies,
741and may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do
742not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized
743Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
744List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or
745the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List:
746     1.  The Congress or President of the United States,
747affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
748not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
749certification from the President to Congress, that the Darfur
750genocide has been halted for at least 12 months;
751     2.  The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against
752the government of Sudan;
753     3.  The Congress or President of the United States
754affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
755not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
756certification from the President to Congress, that the
757government of Sudan has honored its commitments to cease attacks
758on civilians, demobilize and demilitarize the Janjaweed and
759associated militias, grant free and unfettered access for
760deliveries of humanitarian assistance, and allow for the safe
761and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced
762persons; or
763     4.  The Congress or President of the United States
764affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
765not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
766certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory
767divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with
768the conduct of United States foreign policy.
769     (b)  If any of the following occur, the public fund shall
770no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraph
771(1)(w)4. (1)(t)4. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized
772Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
773List and shall cease engagement, investment prohibitions, and
774divestment. The public fund may reinvest in such companies as
775long as such companies do not satisfy the criteria for inclusion
776in the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the
777Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the
778Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List:
779     1.  The Congress or President of the United States
780affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
781not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
782certification from the President to Congress, that the
783government of Iran has ceased to acquire weapons of mass
784destruction and support international terrorism;
785     2.  The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against
786the government of Iran; or
787     3.  The Congress or President of the United States
788affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including,
789but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
790certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory
791divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with
792the conduct of United States foreign policy.
793     (c)  If any of the following occur, the public fund shall
794no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs
795(1)(w)5. and 6. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized
796Companies with Activities in Cuba List and shall cease
797engagement, investment prohibitions, and divestment. The public
798fund may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do
799not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized
800Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the Scrutinized
801Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
802List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria
803List:
804     1.  The Congress or President of the United States
805affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
806not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
807certification from the President to Congress, that the
808government of Cuba has ceased to acquire weapons of mass
809destruction and support international terrorism;
810     2.  The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against
811the government of Cuba; or
812     3.  The Congress or President of the United States
813affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including,
814but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
815certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory
816divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with
817the conduct of United States foreign policy.
818     (d)  If any of the following occur, the public fund shall
819no longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs
820(1)(w)7. and 8. and shall no longer assemble the Scrutinized
821Companies with Activities in Syria List and shall cease
822engagement, investment prohibitions, and divestment. The public
823fund may reinvest in such companies as long as such companies do
824not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized
825Companies with Activities in Sudan List, the Scrutinized
826Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
827List, or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List:
828     1.  The Congress or President of the United States
829affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but
830not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
831certification from the President to Congress, that the
832government of Cuba has ceased to acquire weapons of mass
833destruction and support international terrorism;
834     2.  The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against
835the government of Syria; or
836     3.  The Congress or President of the United States
837affirmatively and unambiguously declares, by means including,
838but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written
839certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory
840divestment of the type provided for in this act interferes with
841the conduct of United States foreign policy.
842     (6)  INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT OBLIGATIONS.-The public
843fund's actions taken in compliance with this act, including all
844good faith determinations regarding companies as required by
845this act, shall be adopted and incorporated into the public
846fund's investment policy statement (the IPS) as set forth in s.
847215.475.
848     (7)  REINVESTMENT IN CERTAIN COMPANIES HAVING SCRUTINIZED
849ACTIVE BUSINESS OPERATIONS.-Notwithstanding any other provision
850of this act to the contrary, the public fund may cease divesting
851from certain scrutinized companies pursuant to paragraph (3)(b)
852or reinvest in certain scrutinized companies from which it
853divested pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) if clear and convincing
854evidence shows that the value of all assets under management by
855the public fund becomes equal to or less than 99.50 percent, or
85650 basis points, of the hypothetical value of all assets under
857management by the public fund assuming no divestment for any
858company had occurred under paragraph (3)(b). Cessation of
859divestment, reinvestment, or any subsequent ongoing investment
860authorized by this act is limited to the minimum steps necessary
861to avoid the contingency set forth in this subsection or that no
862divestment of any company is required for less than fair value.
863For any cessation of divestment, reinvestment, or subsequent
864ongoing investment authorized by this act, the public fund shall
865provide a written report to each member of the Board of Trustees
866of the State Board of Administration, the President of the
867Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in
868advance of initial reinvestment, updated semiannually thereafter
869as applicable, setting forth the reasons and justification,
870supported by clear and convincing evidence, for its decisions to
871cease divestment, reinvest, or remain invested in companies
872having scrutinized active business operations. This act does not
873apply to reinvestment in companies on the grounds that they have
874ceased to have scrutinized active business operations.
875     Section 2.  Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, is amended
876to read:
877     287.135  Prohibition against contracting with scrutinized
878companies.-
879     (1)  In addition to the terms defined in ss. 287.012 and
880215.473, as used in this section, the term:
881     (a)  "Awarding body" means, for purposes of state
882contracts, an agency or the department, and for purposes of
883local contracts, the governing body of the local governmental
884entity.
885     (b)  "Local governmental entity" means a county,
886municipality, special district, or other political subdivision
887of the state.
888     (2)  A company that, at the time of bidding or submitting a
889proposal for a new contract or renewal of an existing contract,
890is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List,
891or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran
892Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with
893Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with
894Activities in Syria List, created pursuant to s. 215.473, is
895ineligible for, and may not bid on, submit a proposal for, or
896enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local
897governmental entity for goods or services of $1 million or more.
898     (3)(a)  Any contract with an agency or local governmental
899entity for goods or services of $1 million or more entered into
900or renewed on or after July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, must
901contain a provision that allows for the termination of such
902contract at the option of the awarding body if the company is
903found to have submitted a false certification as provided under
904subsection (5) or been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with
905Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with
906Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List.
907     (b)  Any contract with an agency or local governmental
908entity for goods or services of $1 million or more entered into
909or renewed on or after July 1, 2012, must contain a provision
910that allows for the termination of such contract at the option
911of the awarding body if the company is found to have submitted a
912false certification as provided under subsection (5) or been
913placed on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan
914List, the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran
915Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with
916Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with
917Activities in Syria List.
918     (4)  Notwithstanding subsection (2) or subsection (3), an
919agency or local governmental entity, on a case-by-case basis,
920may permit a company on the Scrutinized Companies with
921Activities in Sudan List, or the Scrutinized Companies with
922Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, the
923Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba List, or the
924Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List to be
925eligible for, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or
926renew a contract for goods or services of $1 million or more
927under 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
930Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized
931Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector
932List, all of the following occur:
933     a.1.  The scrutinized business operations were made before
934July 1, 2011.
935     b.2.  The scrutinized business operations have not been
936expanded or renewed after July 1, 2011.
937     c.3.  The agency or local governmental entity determines
938that it is in the best interest of the state or local community
939to contract with the company.
940     d.4.  The company has adopted, has publicized, and is
941implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business
942operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized
943business operations.
944     2.  With respect to a company on the Scrutinized Companies
945with Activities in Cuba List or the Scrutinized Companies with
946Activities in Syria List, all of the following occur:
947     a.  The scrutinized business operations were made before
948July 1, 2012.
949     b.  The scrutinized business operations have not been
950expanded or renewed after July 1, 2012.
951     c.  The agency or local governmental entity determines that
952it is in the best interest of the state or local community to
953contract with the company.
954     d.  The company has adopted, has publicized, and is
955implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business
956operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized
957business operations.
958     (b)  One of the following occurs:
959     1.  The local governmental entity makes a public finding
960that, absent such an exemption, the local governmental entity
961would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which the
962contract is offered.
963     2.  For a contract with an executive agency, the Governor
964makes a public finding that, absent such an exemption, the
965agency would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which
966the contract is offered.
967     3.  For a contract with an office of a state constitutional
968officer other than the Governor, the state constitutional
969officer makes a public finding that, absent such an exemption,
970the office would be unable to obtain the goods or services for
971which the contract is offered.
972     (5)  At the time a company submits a bid or proposal for a
973contract or before the company enters into or renews a contract
974with an agency or governmental entity for goods or services of
975$1 million or more, the company must certify that the company is
976not on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List,
977or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran
978Petroleum Energy Sector List, the Scrutinized Companies with
979Activities in Cuba List, or the Scrutinized Companies with
980Activities in Syria List.
981     (a)  If, after the agency or the local governmental entity
982determines, using credible information available to the public,
983that the company has submitted a false certification, the agency
984or local governmental entity shall provide the company with
985written notice of its determination. The company shall have 90
986days following receipt of the notice to respond in writing and
987to demonstrate that the determination of false certification was
988made in error. If the company does not make such demonstration
989within 90 days after receipt of the notice, the agency or the
990local governmental entity shall bring a civil action against the
991company. If a civil action is brought and the court determines
992that the company submitted a false certification, the company
993shall pay the penalty described in subparagraph 1. and all
994reasonable attorney attorney's fees and costs, including any
995costs for investigations that led to the finding of false
996certification.
997     1.  A civil penalty equal to the greater of $2 million or
998twice the amount of the contract for which the false
999certification was submitted shall be imposed.
1000     2.  The company is ineligible to bid on any contract with
1001an agency or local governmental entity for 3 years after the
1002date the agency or local governmental entity determined that the
1003company submitted a false certification.
1004     (b)  A civil action to collect the penalties described in
1005paragraph (a) must commence within 3 years after the date the
1006false certification is submitted.
1007     (6)  Only the agency or local governmental entity that is a
1008party to the contract may cause a civil action to be brought
1009under this section. This section does not create or authorize a
1010private right of action or enforcement of the penalties provided
1011in this section. An unsuccessful bidder, or any other person
1012other than the agency or local governmental entity, may not
1013protest the award of a contract or contract renewal on the basis
1014of a false certification.
1015     (7)  This section preempts any ordinance or rule of any
1016agency or local governmental entity involving public contracts
1017for goods or services of $1 million or more with a company
1018engaged in scrutinized business operations.
1019     (8)  The department shall submit to the Attorney General of
1020the United States a written notice:
1021     (a)  Describing this section within 30 days after July 1,
10222011.
1023     (b)  Within 30 days after July 1, 2012, apprising the
1024Attorney General of the United States of the inclusion of
1025companies on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Cuba
1026List and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Syria List
1027within the provisions of this section.
1028     (9)  This section becomes inoperative on the date that
1029federal law ceases to authorize the states to adopt and enforce
1030the contracting prohibitions of the type provided for in this
1031section.
1032     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.


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