Florida Senate - 2014 CS for SB 136
By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator Ring
596-00649-14 2014136c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to freight logistics zones; creating
3 s. 311.103, F.S.; defining the term “freight logistics
4 zone”; authorizing a county, or two or more contiguous
5 counties, to designate a geographic area or areas
6 within its jurisdiction as a freight logistics zone;
7 requiring the adoption of a strategic plan that must
8 include certain information; providing that certain
9 projects within freight logistics zones may be
10 eligible for priority in state funding and certain
11 incentive programs; providing evaluation criteria for
12 freight logistics zones; providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Section 311.103, Florida Statutes, is created to
17 read:
18 311.103 Designation of state freight logistics zones.—
19 (1) As used in this section, the term “freight logistics
20 zone” means a grouping of activities and infrastructure
21 associated with freight transportation and related services
22 within a defined area around an intermodal logistics center as
23 defined in s. 311.101(2).
24 (2) A county, or two or more contiguous counties, may
25 designate a geographic area or areas within its jurisdiction as
26 a freight logistics zone. The designation must be accompanied by
27 a strategic plan adopted by the county or counties. At a
28 minimum, the strategic plan must include, but is not limited to:
29 (a) A map depicting the geographic area or areas to be
30 included within the designation.
31 (b) Identification of the existing or planned freight
32 facilities or logistics clusters located within the proposed
33 freight logistics zone.
34 (c) Identification of existing transportation
35 infrastructure, such as roads, rail, airports, and seaports,
36 within or in close proximity to the proposed freight logistics
37 zone.
38 (d) Identification of existing workforce availability
39 within or in close proximity to the proposed freight logistics
40 zone.
41 (e) Identification of any local, state, or federal
42 workforce training capabilities available for a business seeking
43 to locate or expand within the proposed freight logistics zone.
44 (f) Identification of any local, state, or federal plans,
45 including transportation, seaport, or airport plans, concerning
46 the movement of freight within or in close proximity to the
47 proposed freight logistics zone.
48 (g) Identification of financial or other local government
49 incentives to encourage new development, expansion of existing
50 development, or redevelopment within the proposed freight
51 logistics zone.
52 (h) Documentation that the plan is consistent with
53 applicable local government comprehensive plans and adopted
54 long-range transportation plans of a metropolitan planning
55 organization, where applicable.
56 (3) A project within a freight logistics zone designated
57 pursuant to this section which is consistent with the Freight
58 Mobility and Trade Plan developed in accordance with s.
59 334.044(33) may be eligible for priority in state funding and
60 incentive programs relating to freight logistics zones,
61 including applicable programs identified in parts I, III, and V
62 of chapter 288.
63 (4) When evaluating projects within a designated freight
64 logistics zone to determine funding or incentive program
65 eligibility under this section, consideration must be given to
66 all of the following:
67 (a) The presence of an existing or planned intermodal
68 logistics center within the freight logistics zone.
69 (b) Whether the project serves a strategic state interest.
70 (c) Whether the project facilitates the cost-effective and
71 efficient movement of goods.
72 (d) The extent to which the project contributes to economic
73 activity, including job creation, increased wages, and revenues.
74 (e) The extent to which the project efficiently interacts
75 with and supports the transportation network.
76 (f) The amount of investment or commitments made by the
77 owner or developer of the existing or proposed facility.
78 (g) The extent to which the county or counties have
79 commitments with private sector businesses planning to locate
80 operations within the freight logistics zone.
81 (h) Demonstrated local financial support and commitment to
82 the project.
83 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.