Florida Senate - 2021                                      SB 62
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       5-00364C-21                                             202162__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to regional planning councils;
    3         amending s. 186.007, F.S.; revising a requirement for
    4         the Executive Office of the Governor to review and
    5         consider certain reports, data, and analyses relating
    6         to the revision of the state comprehensive plan;
    7         eliminating the advisory role of regional planning
    8         councils in state comprehensive plan preparation and
    9         revision; repealing ss. 186.501, 186.502, 186.503,
   10         186.504, 186.505, 186.506, 186.507, 186.508, 186.509,
   11         186.511, 186.512, and 186.513, F.S., relating to the
   12         Florida Regional Planning Council Act, including a
   13         short title, legislative findings, definitions, the
   14         creation and membership of regional planning councils,
   15         the powers and duties of regional planning councils,
   16         the powers and duties of the Executive Office of the
   17         Governor relating to the act, strategic regional
   18         policy plans, strategic regional policy plan adoption,
   19         a dispute resolution process, the evaluation of
   20         strategic regional policy plans, the designation of
   21         regional planning councils, and reports; repealing s.
   22         186.515, F.S., relating to the creation of regional
   23         planning councils under ch. 163, F.S.; amending s.
   24         215.559, F.S.; requiring the Division of Emergency
   25         Management to give funding priority to certain
   26         projects in counties, rather than regional planning
   27         council regions, that meet specified criteria;
   28         amending s. 252.385, F.S.; revising the requirements
   29         for the statewide emergency shelter plan to include
   30         the general location and square footage of special
   31         needs shelters by county rather than by regional
   32         planning council region; requiring state funds to be
   33         maximized and targeted to counties with hurricane
   34         evacuation shelter deficits rather than regional
   35         planning council regions; amending s. 320.08058, F.S.;
   36         revising the distribution of annual use fees collected
   37         for the Tampa Bay Estuary license plate; amending s.
   38         369.307, F.S.; requiring the St. Johns River Water
   39         Management District, rather than the East Central
   40         Florida Regional Planning Council, to adopt policies
   41         to protect the Wekiva River Protection Area; revising
   42         requirements for such policies; amending s. 369.324,
   43         F.S.; requiring the St. Johns River Water Management
   44         District, rather than the East Central Florida
   45         Regional Planning Council, to provide staff support to
   46         the Wekiva River Basin Commission; requiring the
   47         district to serve as a clearinghouse of baseline or
   48         specialized studies; amending s. 380.05, F.S.;
   49         authorizing local governments to recommend areas of
   50         critical state concern to the state land planning
   51         agency; amending s. 403.7225, F.S.; requiring counties
   52         to make arrangements with the Department of
   53         Environmental Protection, rather than their regional
   54         planning councils, to perform hazardous waste
   55         management assessments; amending s. 403.723, F.S.;
   56         requiring the department, rather than regional
   57         planning councils, to designate sites for construction
   58         of regional hazardous waste storage or treatment
   59         facilities; amending s. 1013.372, F.S.; providing that
   60         if a county does not have a hurricane evacuation
   61         shelter deficit, educational facilities within the
   62         county are not required to incorporate the public
   63         shelter criteria; requiring the Division of Emergency
   64         Management to identify the general location and square
   65         footage of existing and needed shelters by county
   66         rather than by regional planning council region;
   67         amending s. 1013.385, F.S.; authorizing counties,
   68         rather than regional planning councils, to determine
   69         whether there is sufficient shelter capacity in a
   70         school district; amending s. 1013.74, F.S.; requiring
   71         public hurricane evacuation shelters in certain
   72         counties rather than in regional planning council
   73         regions to be constructed in accordance with public
   74         shelter standards; amending ss. 68.082, 120.52,
   75         120.525, 120.65, 163.3164, 163.3177, 163.3178,
   76         163.3184, 163.3245, 163.568, 164.1031, 186.003,
   77         186.006, 186.008, 186.803, 187.201, 218.32, 258.501,
   78         260.0142, 288.0656, 288.975, 335.188, 338.2278,
   79         339.155, 339.175, 339.63, 339.64, 341.041, 343.54,
   80         369.303, 373.309, 377.703, 378.411, 380.031, 380.045,
   81         380.055, 380.06, 380.061, 380.07, 380.507, 403.0752,
   82         403.503, 403.50663, 403.507, 403.518, 403.522,
   83         403.526, 403.5272, 403.5363, 403.5365, 403.537,
   84         403.704, 403.7226, 403.9403, 403.941, 403.9422,
   85         403.973, 408.033, 420.609, 427.012, 501.171, and
   86         1013.30, F.S.; conforming provisions and cross
   87         references to changes made by the act; amending ss.
   88         339.285, 373.415, and 403.5115, F.S.; conforming
   89         cross-references; reenacting ss. 57.105(5),
   90         57.111(3)(f), and 216.241(3), F.S., relating to
   91         attorney fees, civil actions and administrative
   92         proceedings initiated by state agencies, and
   93         initiation or commencement of new programs,
   94         respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
   95         120.52, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s.
   96         380.0552(6), F.S., relating to the Florida Keys Area
   97         and its protection and designation as an area of
   98         critical state concern, to incorporate the amendment
   99         made to s. 380.045, F.S., in a reference thereto;
  100         authorizing local governments to enter into agreements
  101         to create regional planning entities; providing an
  102         effective date.
  103          
  104  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  105  
  106         Section 1. Subsections (7) and (8) of section 186.007,
  107  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  108         186.007 State comprehensive plan; preparation; revision.—
  109         (7) In preparing and revising the state comprehensive plan,
  110  the Executive Office of the Governor shall, to the extent
  111  feasible, consider studies, reports, and plans of each
  112  department, agency, and institution of state and local
  113  government, each regional planning agency, and the Federal
  114  Government and shall take into account the existing and
  115  prospective resources, capabilities, and needs of state and
  116  local levels of government.
  117         (8) The revision of the state comprehensive plan is a
  118  continuing process. Each section of the plan shall be reviewed
  119  and analyzed biennially by the Executive Office of the Governor
  120  in conjunction with the planning officers of other state
  121  agencies significantly affected by the provisions of the
  122  particular section under review. In conducting this review and
  123  analysis, the Executive Office of the Governor shall review and
  124  consider, with the assistance of the state land planning agency,
  125  any relevant reports, data, or analyses and regional planning
  126  councils, the evaluation and appraisal reports prepared pursuant
  127  to s. 186.511. Any necessary revisions of the state
  128  comprehensive plan shall be proposed by the Governor in a
  129  written report and be accompanied by an explanation of the need
  130  for such changes. If the Governor determines that changes are
  131  unnecessary, the written report must explain why changes are
  132  unnecessary. The proposed revisions and accompanying
  133  explanations may be submitted in the report required by s.
  134  186.031. Any proposed revisions to the plan shall be submitted
  135  to the Legislature as provided in s. 186.008(2) at least 30 days
  136  prior to the regular legislative session occurring in each even
  137  numbered year.
  138         Section 2. Sections 186.501, 186.502, 186.503, 186.504,
  139  186.505, 186.506, 186.507, 186.508, 186.509, 186.511, 186.512,
  140  and 186.513, Florida Statutes, are repealed.
  141         Section 3. Section 186.515, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  142         Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  143  215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  144         215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program.—A Hurricane Loss
  145  Mitigation Program is established in the Division of Emergency
  146  Management.
  147         (1) The Legislature shall annually appropriate $10 million
  148  of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s.
  149  215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the
  150  division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the
  151  amount:
  152         (b) Three million dollars in funds shall be used to
  153  retrofit existing facilities used as public hurricane shelters.
  154  Each year the division shall prioritize the use of these funds
  155  for projects included in the annual report of the Shelter
  156  Retrofit Report prepared in accordance with s. 252.385(3). The
  157  division must give funding priority to projects in counties
  158  regional planning council regions that have shelter deficits and
  159  to projects that maximize the use of state funds.
  160         Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection
  161  (3) of section 252.385, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  162         252.385 Public shelter space.—
  163         (2)
  164         (b) By January 31 of each even-numbered year, the division
  165  shall prepare and submit a statewide emergency shelter plan to
  166  the Governor and Cabinet for approval, subject to the
  167  requirements for approval in s. 1013.37(2). The plan shall
  168  identify the general location and square footage of special
  169  needs shelters, by county regional planning council region,
  170  during the next 5 years. The plan shall also include information
  171  on the availability of shelters that accept pets. The Department
  172  of Health shall assist the division in determining the estimated
  173  need for special needs shelter space and the adequacy of
  174  facilities to meet the needs of persons with special needs based
  175  on information from the registries of persons with special needs
  176  and other information.
  177         (3) The division shall annually provide to the President of
  178  the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
  179  Governor a list of facilities recommended to be retrofitted
  180  using state funds. State funds should be maximized and targeted
  181  to counties regional planning council regions with hurricane
  182  evacuation shelter deficits. Retrofitting facilities in regions
  183  with public hurricane evacuation shelter deficits shall be given
  184  first priority and should be completed by 2003. All recommended
  185  facilities should be retrofitted by 2008. The owner or lessee of
  186  a public hurricane evacuation shelter that is included on the
  187  list of facilities recommended for retrofitting is not required
  188  to perform any recommended improvements.
  189         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (26) of section
  190  320.08058, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  191         320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
  192         (26) TAMPA BAY ESTUARY LICENSE PLATES.—
  193         (b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Tampa
  194  Bay Estuary Program created by s. 163.01.
  195         1. A maximum of 5 percent of such fees may be used for
  196  marketing the plate.
  197         2. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee,
  198  not to exceed $50,000, shall be provided to the Tampa Bay
  199  Regional Planning Council for activities of the Agency on Bay
  200  Management implementing the Council/Agency Action Plan for the
  201  restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary, as approved by the Tampa
  202  Bay Estuary Program Policy Board.
  203         3. The remaining proceeds must be used to implement the
  204  Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay,
  205  pursuant to priorities approved by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program
  206  Policy Board.
  207         Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 369.307, Florida
  208  Statutes, is amended to read:
  209         369.307 Developments of regional impact in the Wekiva River
  210  Protection Area; land acquisition.—
  211         (3) The Wekiva River Protection Area is hereby declared to
  212  be a natural resource of state and regional importance. The St.
  213  Johns River Water Management District East Central Florida
  214  Regional Planning Council shall adopt policies that as part of
  215  its strategic regional policy plan and regional issues list
  216  which will protect the water quantity, water quality, hydrology,
  217  wetlands, aquatic and wetland-dependent wildlife species,
  218  habitat of species designated pursuant to rules 39-27.003, 39
  219  27.004, and 39-27.005, Florida Administrative Code, and native
  220  vegetation in the Wekiva River Protection Area. The water
  221  management district council shall also cooperate with the
  222  department in the department’s implementation of the provisions
  223  of s. 369.305.
  224         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 369.324,
  225  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  226         369.324 Wekiva River Basin Commission.—
  227         (1) The Wekiva River Basin Commission is created to monitor
  228  and ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the
  229  Wekiva River Basin Coordinating Committee for the Wekiva Study
  230  Area. The St. Johns River Water Management District East Central
  231  Florida Regional Planning Council shall provide staff support to
  232  the commission with funding assistance from the Department of
  233  Economic Opportunity. The commission shall be comprised of a
  234  total of 18 members appointed by the Governor, 9 of whom shall
  235  be voting members and 9 shall be ad hoc nonvoting members. The
  236  voting members shall include:
  237         (a) One member of each of the Boards of County
  238  Commissioners for Lake, Orange, and Seminole Counties.
  239         (b) One municipal elected official to serve as a
  240  representative of the municipalities located within the Wekiva
  241  Study Area of Lake County.
  242         (c) One municipal elected official to serve as a
  243  representative of the municipalities located within the Wekiva
  244  Study Area of Orange County.
  245         (d) One municipal elected official to serve as a
  246  representative of the municipalities located within the Wekiva
  247  Study Area of Seminole County.
  248         (e) One citizen representing an environmental or
  249  conservation organization, one citizen representing a local
  250  property owner, a land developer, or an agricultural entity, and
  251  one at-large citizen who shall serve as chair of the council.
  252         (f) The ad hoc nonvoting members shall include one
  253  representative from each of the following entities:
  254         1. St. Johns River Management District.
  255         2. Department of Economic Opportunity.
  256         3. Department of Environmental Protection.
  257         4. Department of Health.
  258         5. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  259         6. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  260         7. Department of Transportation.
  261         8. MetroPlan Orlando.
  262         9. Central Florida Expressway Authority.
  263         (4) To assist the commission in its mission, the St. Johns
  264  River Water Management District East Central Florida Regional
  265  Planning Council, in coordination with the applicable regional
  266  and state agencies, shall serve as a clearinghouse of baseline
  267  or specialized studies through modeling and simulation,
  268  including collecting and disseminating data on the demographics,
  269  economics, and the environment of the Wekiva Study Area
  270  including the changing conditions of the Wekiva River surface
  271  and groundwater basin and associated influence on the Wekiva
  272  River and the Wekiva Springs.
  273         Section 9. Subsections (3), (4), (7), (8), and (12) of
  274  section 380.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  275         380.05 Areas of critical state concern.—
  276         (3) Each local government regional planning agency may
  277  recommend to the state land planning agency from time to time
  278  areas wholly or partially within its jurisdiction that meet the
  279  criteria for areas of critical state concern as defined in this
  280  section. Each regional planning agency shall solicit from the
  281  local governments within its jurisdiction suggestions as to
  282  areas to be recommended. A local government in an area where
  283  there is no regional planning agency may recommend to the state
  284  land planning agency from time to time areas wholly or partially
  285  within its jurisdiction that meet the criteria for areas of
  286  critical state concern as defined in this section. If the state
  287  land planning agency does not recommend to the commission as an
  288  area of critical state concern an area substantially similar to
  289  one that has been recommended, it shall respond in writing as to
  290  its reasons therefor.
  291         (4) Before Prior to submitting any recommendation to the
  292  commission under subsection (1), the state land planning agency
  293  shall give notice to any committee appointed pursuant to s.
  294  380.045 and to all local governments and regional planning
  295  agencies that include within their boundaries any part of any
  296  area of critical state concern proposed to be designated by the
  297  rule, in addition to any notice otherwise required under chapter
  298  120.
  299         (7) The state land planning agency and any applicable
  300  regional planning agency shall, to the greatest extent possible,
  301  provide technical assistance to local governments in the
  302  preparation of the land development regulations and local
  303  comprehensive plan for areas of critical state concern.
  304         (8) If any local government fails to submit land
  305  development regulations or a local comprehensive plan, or if the
  306  regulations or plan or plan amendment submitted do not comply
  307  with the principles for guiding development set out in the rule
  308  designating the area of critical state concern, within 120 days
  309  after the adoption of the rule designating an area of critical
  310  state concern, or within 120 days after the issuance of a
  311  recommended order on the compliance of the plan or plan
  312  amendment pursuant to s. 163.3184, or within 120 days after the
  313  effective date of an order rejecting a proposed land development
  314  regulation, the state land planning agency shall submit to the
  315  commission recommended land development regulations and a local
  316  comprehensive plan or portions thereof applicable to that local
  317  government’s portion of the area of critical state concern.
  318  Within 45 days following receipt of the recommendation from the
  319  agency, the commission shall either reject the recommendation as
  320  tendered or adopt the recommendation with or without
  321  modification, and by rule establish land development regulations
  322  and a local comprehensive plan applicable to that local
  323  government’s portion of the area of critical state concern.
  324  However, such rule shall not become effective before prior to
  325  legislative review of an area of critical state concern pursuant
  326  to paragraph (1)(c). In the rule, the commission shall specify
  327  the extent to which its land development regulations, plans, or
  328  plan amendments will supersede, or will be supplementary to,
  329  local land development regulations and plans. Notice of any
  330  proposed rule issued under this section shall be given to all
  331  local governments and regional planning agencies in the area of
  332  critical state concern, in addition to any other notice required
  333  under chapter 120. The land development regulations and local
  334  comprehensive plan adopted by the commission under this section
  335  may include any type of regulation and plan that could have been
  336  adopted by the local government. Any land development
  337  regulations or local comprehensive plan or plan amendments
  338  adopted by the commission under this section shall be
  339  administered by the local government as part of, or in the
  340  absence of, the local land development regulations and local
  341  comprehensive plan.
  342         (12) Upon the request of a substantially interested person
  343  pursuant to s. 120.54(7), a local government or regional
  344  planning agency within the designated area, or the state land
  345  planning agency, the commission may by rule remove, contract, or
  346  expand any designated boundary. Boundary expansions are subject
  347  to legislative review pursuant to paragraph (1)(c). No boundary
  348  may be modified without a specific finding by the commission
  349  that such changes are consistent with necessary resource
  350  protection. The total boundaries of an entire area of critical
  351  state concern shall not be removed by the commission unless a
  352  minimum time of 1 year has elapsed from the adoption of
  353  regulations and a local comprehensive plan pursuant to
  354  subsection (1), subsection (6), subsection (8), or subsection
  355  (10). Before totally removing such boundaries, the commission
  356  shall make findings that the regulations and plans adopted
  357  pursuant to subsection (1), subsection (6), subsection (8), or
  358  subsection (10) are being effectively implemented by local
  359  governments within the area of critical state concern to protect
  360  the area and that adopted local government comprehensive plans
  361  within the area have been conformed to principles for guiding
  362  development for the area.
  363         Section 10. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 403.7225,
  364  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  365         403.7225 Local hazardous waste management assessments.—
  366         (3) Each county or regional planning council shall
  367  coordinate the local hazardous waste management assessments
  368  within its jurisdiction according to guidelines established
  369  under s. 403.7226. If a county declines to perform the local
  370  hazardous waste management assessment, the county shall make
  371  arrangements with the department its regional planning council
  372  to perform the assessment.
  373         (6) Unless performed by the county pursuant to subsection
  374  (3), the department the regional planning councils shall upon
  375  successful arrangements with a county:
  376         (a) Perform local hazardous waste management assessments;
  377  and
  378         (b) Provide any technical expertise needed by the counties
  379  in developing the assessments.
  380         Section 11. Subsection (2) of section 403.723, Florida
  381  Statutes, is amended to read:
  382         403.723 Siting of hazardous waste facilities.—It is the
  383  intent of the Legislature to facilitate siting of proper
  384  hazardous waste storage facilities in each region and any
  385  additional storage, treatment, or disposal facilities as
  386  required. The Legislature recognizes the need for facilitating
  387  disposal of waste produced by small generators, reducing the
  388  volume of wastes generated in the state, reducing the toxicity
  389  of wastes generated in the state, and providing treatment and
  390  disposal facilities in the state.
  391         (2) After each county designates areas for storage
  392  facilities, the department each regional planning council shall
  393  designate one or more sites at which a regional hazardous waste
  394  storage or treatment facility could be constructed.
  395         Section 12. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1013.372,
  396  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  397         1013.372 Education facilities as emergency shelters.—
  398         (1) The Department of Education shall, in consultation with
  399  boards and county and state emergency management offices,
  400  include within the standards to be developed under this
  401  subsection public shelter design criteria to be incorporated
  402  into the Florida Building Code. The new criteria must be
  403  designed to ensure that appropriate new educational facilities
  404  can serve as public shelters for emergency management purposes.
  405  A facility, or an appropriate area within a facility, for which
  406  a design contract is entered into after the effective date of
  407  the inclusion of the public shelter criteria in the code must be
  408  built in compliance with the amended code unless the facility or
  409  a part of it is exempted from using the new shelter criteria due
  410  to its location, size, or other characteristics by the
  411  applicable board with the concurrence of the applicable local
  412  emergency management agency or the Division of Emergency
  413  Management. Any educational facility located or proposed to be
  414  located in an identified category 1, 2, or 3 evacuation zone is
  415  not subject to the requirements of this subsection. If the
  416  county regional planning council region in which the county is
  417  located does not have a hurricane evacuation shelter deficit, as
  418  determined by the Division of Emergency Management, educational
  419  facilities within the county planning council region are not
  420  required to incorporate the public shelter criteria.
  421         (2) By January 31 of each even-numbered year, the Division
  422  of Emergency Management shall prepare and submit a statewide
  423  emergency shelter plan to the Governor and the Cabinet for
  424  approval. The plan must identify the general location and square
  425  footage of existing shelters, by county regional planning
  426  council region, and the general location and square footage of
  427  needed shelters, by county regional planning council region,
  428  during the next 5 years. The plan must identify the types of
  429  public facilities that should be constructed to comply with
  430  emergency-shelter criteria and must recommend an appropriate and
  431  available source of funding for the additional cost of
  432  constructing emergency shelters within these public facilities.
  433  After the approval of the plan, a board may not be required to
  434  build more emergency-shelter space than identified as needed in
  435  the plan, and decisions pertaining to exemptions pursuant to
  436  subsection (1) must be guided by the plan.
  437         Section 13. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
  438  1013.385, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  439         1013.385 School district construction flexibility.—
  440         (2) A resolution adopted under this section may propose
  441  implementation of exceptions to requirements of the uniform
  442  statewide building code for the planning and construction of
  443  public educational and ancillary plants adopted pursuant to ss.
  444  553.73 and 1013.37 relating to:
  445         (e) Any other provisions that limit the ability of a school
  446  to operate in a facility on the same basis as a charter school
  447  pursuant to s. 1002.33(18) so long as the county regional
  448  planning council determines that there is sufficient shelter
  449  capacity within the school district as documented in the
  450  Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan.
  451         Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 1013.74, Florida
  452  Statutes, is amended to read:
  453         1013.74 University authorization for fixed capital outlay
  454  projects.—
  455         (4) The university board of trustees shall, in consultation
  456  with local and state emergency management agencies, assess
  457  existing facilities to identify the extent to which each campus
  458  has public hurricane evacuation shelter space. The board shall
  459  submit to the Governor and the Legislature by August 1 of each
  460  year a 5-year capital improvements program that identifies new
  461  or retrofitted facilities that will incorporate enhanced
  462  hurricane resistance standards and that can be used as public
  463  hurricane evacuation shelters. Enhanced hurricane resistance
  464  standards include fixed passive protection for window and door
  465  applications to provide mitigation protection, security
  466  protection with egress, and energy efficiencies that meet
  467  standards required in the 130-mile-per-hour wind zone areas. The
  468  board must also submit proposed facility retrofit projects to
  469  the Division of Emergency Management for assessment and
  470  inclusion in the annual report prepared in accordance with s.
  471  252.385(3). Until a county regional planning council region in
  472  which a campus is located has sufficient public hurricane
  473  evacuation shelter space, any campus building for which a design
  474  contract is entered into subsequent to July 1, 2001, and which
  475  has been identified by the board, with the concurrence of the
  476  local emergency management agency or the Division of Emergency
  477  Management, to be appropriate for use as a public hurricane
  478  evacuation shelter, must be constructed in accordance with
  479  public shelter standards.
  480         Section 15. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
  481  68.082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  482         68.082 False claims against the state; definitions;
  483  liability.—
  484         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  485         (f) “State” means the government of the state or any
  486  department, division, bureau, commission, regional planning
  487  agency, board, district, authority, agency, or other
  488  instrumentality of the state.
  489         Section 16. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  490  120.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  491         120.52 Definitions.—As used in this act:
  492         (1) “Agency” means the following officers or governmental
  493  entities if acting pursuant to powers other than those derived
  494  from the constitution:
  495         (a) The Governor; each state officer and state department,
  496  and each departmental unit described in s. 20.04; the Board of
  497  Governors of the State University System; the Commission on
  498  Ethics; the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; a
  499  regional water supply authority; a regional planning agency; a
  500  multicounty special district, but only if a majority of its
  501  governing board is comprised of nonelected persons; educational
  502  units; and each entity described in chapters 163, 373, 380, and
  503  582 and s. 186.504.
  504  
  505  This definition does not include a municipality or legal entity
  506  created solely by a municipality; a legal entity or agency
  507  created in whole or in part pursuant to part II of chapter 361;
  508  a metropolitan planning organization created pursuant to s.
  509  339.175; a separate legal or administrative entity created
  510  pursuant to s. 339.175 of which a metropolitan planning
  511  organization is a member; an expressway authority pursuant to
  512  chapter 348 or any transportation authority or commission under
  513  chapter 343 or chapter 349; or a legal or administrative entity
  514  created by an interlocal agreement pursuant to s. 163.01(7),
  515  unless any party to such agreement is otherwise an agency as
  516  defined in this subsection.
  517         Section 17. Subsection (4) of section 120.525, Florida
  518  Statutes, is amended to read:
  519         120.525 Meetings, hearings, and workshops.—
  520         (4) For purposes of establishing a quorum at meetings of
  521  regional planning councils that cover three or more counties, a
  522  voting member who appears via telephone, real-time
  523  videoconferencing, or similar real-time electronic or video
  524  communication that is broadcast publicly at the meeting location
  525  may be counted toward the quorum requirement if at least one
  526  third of the voting members of the regional planning council are
  527  physically present at the meeting location. A member must
  528  provide oral, written, or electronic notice of his or her intent
  529  to appear via telephone, real-time videoconferencing, or similar
  530  real-time electronic or video communication to the regional
  531  planning council at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting.
  532         Section 18. Subsection (9) of section 120.65, Florida
  533  Statutes, is amended to read:
  534         120.65 Administrative law judges.—
  535         (9) The division shall be reimbursed for administrative law
  536  judge services and travel expenses by the following entities:
  537  water management districts, regional planning councils, school
  538  districts, community colleges, the Division of Florida Colleges,
  539  state universities, the Board of Governors of the State
  540  University System, the State Board of Education, the Florida
  541  School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Commission for
  542  Independent Education. These entities shall contract with the
  543  division to establish a contract rate for services and
  544  provisions for reimbursement of administrative law judge travel
  545  expenses and video teleconferencing expenses attributable to
  546  hearings conducted on behalf of these entities. The contract
  547  rate must be based on a total-cost-recovery methodology.
  548         Section 19. Subsections (41) and (45) of section 163.3164,
  549  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  550         163.3164 Community Planning Act; definitions.—As used in
  551  this act:
  552         (41) “Regional planning agency” means the council created
  553  pursuant to chapter 186.
  554         (44)(45) “Structure” has the same meaning as in s.
  555  380.031(18) s. 380.031(19).
  556         Section 20. Paragraph (h) of subsection (6) of section
  557  163.3177, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  558         163.3177 Required and optional elements of comprehensive
  559  plan; studies and surveys.—
  560         (6) In addition to the requirements of subsections (1)-(5),
  561  the comprehensive plan shall include the following elements:
  562         (h)1. An intergovernmental coordination element showing
  563  relationships and stating principles and guidelines to be used
  564  in coordinating the adopted comprehensive plan with the plans of
  565  school boards, regional water supply authorities, and other
  566  units of local government providing services but not having
  567  regulatory authority over the use of land, with the
  568  comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the county,
  569  adjacent counties, or the region, with the state comprehensive
  570  plan and with the applicable regional water supply plan approved
  571  pursuant to s. 373.709, as the case may require and as such
  572  adopted plans or plans in preparation may exist. This element of
  573  the local comprehensive plan must demonstrate consideration of
  574  the particular effects of the local plan, when adopted, upon the
  575  development of adjacent municipalities, the county, adjacent
  576  counties, or the region, or upon the state comprehensive plan,
  577  as the case may require.
  578         a. The intergovernmental coordination element must provide
  579  procedures for identifying and implementing joint planning
  580  areas, especially for the purpose of annexation, municipal
  581  incorporation, and joint infrastructure service areas.
  582         b. The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide
  583  for a dispute resolution process, as established pursuant to s.
  584  186.509, for bringing intergovernmental disputes to closure in a
  585  timely manner.
  586         c. The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide
  587  for interlocal agreements as established pursuant to s.
  588  333.03(1)(b).
  589         2. The intergovernmental coordination element shall also
  590  state principles and guidelines to be used in coordinating the
  591  adopted comprehensive plan with the plans of school boards and
  592  other units of local government providing facilities and
  593  services but not having regulatory authority over the use of
  594  land. In addition, the intergovernmental coordination element
  595  must describe joint processes for collaborative planning and
  596  decisionmaking on population projections and public school
  597  siting, the location and extension of public facilities subject
  598  to concurrency, and siting facilities with countywide
  599  significance, including locally unwanted land uses whose nature
  600  and identity are established in an agreement.
  601         3. Within 1 year after adopting their intergovernmental
  602  coordination elements, each county, all the municipalities
  603  within that county, the district school board, and any unit of
  604  local government service providers in that county shall
  605  establish by interlocal or other formal agreement executed by
  606  all affected entities, the joint processes described in this
  607  subparagraph consistent with their adopted intergovernmental
  608  coordination elements. The agreement must:
  609         a. Ensure that the local government addresses through
  610  coordination mechanisms the impacts of development proposed in
  611  the local comprehensive plan upon development in adjacent
  612  municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, the region, and
  613  the state. The area of concern for municipalities shall include
  614  adjacent municipalities, the county, and counties adjacent to
  615  the municipality. The area of concern for counties shall include
  616  all municipalities within the county, adjacent counties, and
  617  adjacent municipalities.
  618         b. Ensure coordination in establishing level of service
  619  standards for public facilities with any state, regional, or
  620  local entity having operational and maintenance responsibility
  621  for such facilities.
  622         Section 21. Subsection (5) of section 163.3178, Florida
  623  Statutes, is amended to read:
  624         163.3178 Coastal management.—
  625         (5) A The appropriate dispute resolution process provided
  626  under s. 186.509 must be used to reconcile inconsistencies
  627  between port master plans and local comprehensive plans. In
  628  recognition of the state’s commitment to deepwater ports, the
  629  state comprehensive plan must include goals, objectives, and
  630  policies that establish a statewide strategy for enhancement of
  631  existing deepwater ports, ensuring that priority is given to
  632  water-dependent land uses. As an incentive for promoting plan
  633  consistency, port facilities as defined in s. 315.02(6) on lands
  634  owned or controlled by a deepwater port as defined in s.
  635  311.09(1), as of the effective date of this act shall not be
  636  subject to development-of-regional-impact review provided the
  637  port either successfully completes an alternative comprehensive
  638  development agreement with a local government pursuant to ss.
  639  163.3220-163.3243 or successfully enters into a development
  640  agreement with the state land planning agency and applicable
  641  local government pursuant to s. 380.032 or, where the port is a
  642  department of a local government, successfully enters into a
  643  development agreement with the state land planning agency
  644  pursuant to s. 380.032. Port facilities as defined in s.
  645  315.02(6) on lands not owned or controlled by a deepwater port
  646  as defined in s. 311.09(1) as of the effective date of this act
  647  shall not be subject to development-of-regional-impact review
  648  provided the port successfully enters into a development
  649  agreement with the state land planning agency and applicable
  650  local government pursuant to s. 380.032 or, where the port is a
  651  department of a local government, successfully enters into a
  652  development agreement with the state land planning agency
  653  pursuant to s. 380.032.
  654         Section 22. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  655  (b) of subsection (3) of section 163.3184, Florida Statutes, are
  656  amended to read:
  657         163.3184 Process for adoption of comprehensive plan or plan
  658  amendment.—
  659         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
  660         (c) “Reviewing agencies” means:
  661         1. The state land planning agency;
  662         2. The appropriate regional planning council;
  663         3. The appropriate water management district;
  664         3.4. The Department of Environmental Protection;
  665         4.5. The Department of State;
  666         5.6. The Department of Transportation;
  667         6.7. In the case of plan amendments relating to public
  668  schools, the Department of Education;
  669         7.8. In the case of plans or plan amendments that affect a
  670  military installation listed in s. 163.3175, the commanding
  671  officer of the affected military installation;
  672         8.9. In the case of county plans and plan amendments, the
  673  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of
  674  Agriculture and Consumer Services; and
  675         9.10. In the case of municipal plans and plan amendments,
  676  the county in which the municipality is located.
  677         (3) EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF
  678  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS.—
  679         (b)1. The local government, after the initial public
  680  hearing held pursuant to subsection (11), shall transmit within
  681  10 working days the amendment or amendments and appropriate
  682  supporting data and analyses to the reviewing agencies. The
  683  local governing body shall also transmit a copy of the
  684  amendments and supporting data and analyses to any other local
  685  government or governmental agency that has filed a written
  686  request with the governing body.
  687         2. The reviewing agencies and any other local government or
  688  governmental agency specified in subparagraph 1. may provide
  689  comments regarding the amendment or amendments to the local
  690  government. State agencies shall only comment on important state
  691  resources and facilities that will be adversely impacted by the
  692  amendment if adopted. Comments provided by state agencies shall
  693  state with specificity how the plan amendment will adversely
  694  impact an important state resource or facility and shall
  695  identify measures the local government may take to eliminate,
  696  reduce, or mitigate the adverse impacts. Such comments, if not
  697  resolved, may result in a challenge by the state land planning
  698  agency to the plan amendment. Agencies and local governments
  699  must transmit their comments to the affected local government
  700  such that they are received by the local government not later
  701  than 30 days after the date on which the agency or government
  702  received the amendment or amendments. Reviewing agencies shall
  703  also send a copy of their comments to the state land planning
  704  agency.
  705         3. Comments to the local government from a regional
  706  planning council, county, or municipality shall be limited as
  707  follows:
  708         a. The regional planning council review and comments shall
  709  be limited to adverse effects on regional resources or
  710  facilities identified in the strategic regional policy plan and
  711  extrajurisdictional impacts that would be inconsistent with the
  712  comprehensive plan of any affected local government within the
  713  region. A regional planning council may not review and comment
  714  on a proposed comprehensive plan amendment prepared by such
  715  council unless the plan amendment has been changed by the local
  716  government subsequent to the preparation of the plan amendment
  717  by the regional planning council.
  718         b. County comments shall be in the context of the
  719  relationship and effect of the proposed plan amendments on the
  720  county plan.
  721         b.c. Municipal comments shall be in the context of the
  722  relationship and effect of the proposed plan amendments on the
  723  municipal plan.
  724         c.d. Military installation comments shall be provided in
  725  accordance with s. 163.3175.
  726         4. Comments to the local government from state agencies
  727  shall be limited to the following subjects as they relate to
  728  important state resources and facilities that will be adversely
  729  impacted by the amendment if adopted:
  730         a. The Department of Environmental Protection shall limit
  731  its comments to the subjects of air and water pollution;
  732  wetlands and other surface waters of the state; federal and
  733  state-owned lands and interest in lands, including state parks,
  734  greenways and trails, and conservation easements; solid waste;
  735  water and wastewater treatment; and the Everglades ecosystem
  736  restoration.
  737         b. The Department of State shall limit its comments to the
  738  subjects of historic and archaeological resources.
  739         c. The Department of Transportation shall limit its
  740  comments to issues within the agency’s jurisdiction as it
  741  relates to transportation resources and facilities of state
  742  importance.
  743         d. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
  744  limit its comments to subjects relating to fish and wildlife
  745  habitat and listed species and their habitat.
  746         e. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  747  shall limit its comments to the subjects of agriculture,
  748  forestry, and aquaculture issues.
  749         f. The Department of Education shall limit its comments to
  750  the subject of public school facilities.
  751         g. The appropriate water management district shall limit
  752  its comments to flood protection and floodplain management,
  753  wetlands and other surface waters, and regional water supply.
  754         h. The state land planning agency shall limit its comments
  755  to important state resources and facilities outside the
  756  jurisdiction of other commenting state agencies and may include
  757  comments on countervailing planning policies and objectives
  758  served by the plan amendment that should be balanced against
  759  potential adverse impacts to important state resources and
  760  facilities.
  761         Section 23. Subsection (2) of section 163.3245, Florida
  762  Statutes, is amended to read:
  763         163.3245 Sector plans.—
  764         (2) The Upon the request of a local government having
  765  jurisdiction, the applicable regional planning council shall
  766  conduct a scoping meeting with affected local governments and
  767  those agencies identified in s. 163.3184(1)(c) before
  768  preparation of the sector plan. The purpose of this meeting is
  769  to assist the state land planning agency and the local
  770  government in the identification of the relevant planning issues
  771  to be addressed and the data and resources available to assist
  772  in the preparation of the sector plan. If a scoping meeting is
  773  conducted, the regional planning council shall make written
  774  recommendations to the state land planning agency and affected
  775  local governments on the issues requested by the local
  776  government. The scoping meeting shall be noticed and open to the
  777  public. If the entire planning area proposed for the sector plan
  778  is within the jurisdiction of two or more local governments,
  779  some or all of them may enter into a joint planning agreement
  780  pursuant to s. 163.3171 with respect to the geographic area to
  781  be subject to the sector plan, the planning issues that will be
  782  emphasized, procedures for intergovernmental coordination to
  783  address extrajurisdictional impacts, supporting application
  784  materials including data and analysis, procedures for public
  785  participation, or other issues.
  786         Section 24. Paragraph (i) of subsection (2) of section
  787  163.568, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  788         163.568 Purposes and powers.—
  789         (2) The authority is granted the authority to exercise all
  790  powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the
  791  carrying out of the aforesaid purposes, including, but not
  792  limited to, the following rights and powers:
  793         (i) To develop transportation plans, and to coordinate its
  794  planning and programs with those of appropriate municipal,
  795  county, and state agencies and other political subdivisions of
  796  the state. All transportation plans are subject to review and
  797  approval by the Department of Transportation and by the regional
  798  planning agency, if any, for consistency with programs or
  799  planning for the area and region.
  800         Section 25. Subsection (2) of section 164.1031, Florida
  801  Statutes, is amended to read:
  802         164.1031 Definitions.—For purposes of this act:
  803         (2) “Regional governmental entities” includes regional
  804  planning councils, metropolitan planning organizations, water
  805  supply authorities that include more than one county, local
  806  health councils, water management districts, and other regional
  807  entities that are authorized and created by general or special
  808  law that have duties or responsibilities extending beyond the
  809  jurisdiction of a single county.
  810         Section 26. Subsection (5) of section 186.003, Florida
  811  Statutes, is amended to read:
  812         186.003 Definitions; ss. 186.001-186.031, 186.801-186.901.
  813  As used in ss. 186.001-186.031 and 186.801-186.901, the term:
  814         (5) “Regional planning agency” means the regional planning
  815  council created pursuant to ss. 186.501-186.515 to exercise
  816  responsibilities under ss. 186.001-186.031 and 186.801-186.901
  817  in a particular region of the state.
  818         Section 27. Subsection (7) of section 186.006, Florida
  819  Statutes, is amended to read:
  820         186.006 Powers and responsibilities of Executive Office of
  821  the Governor.—For the purpose of establishing consistency and
  822  uniformity in the state and regional planning process and in
  823  order to ensure that the intent of ss. 186.001-186.031 and
  824  186.801-186.901 is accomplished, the Executive Office of the
  825  Governor shall:
  826         (7) Act as the state clearinghouse and designate the
  827  regional planning councils as the regional data clearinghouses.
  828         Section 28. Subsection (1) of section 186.008, Florida
  829  Statutes, is amended to read:
  830         186.008 State comprehensive plan; revision;
  831  implementation.—
  832         (1) On or before October 1 of every odd-numbered year, the
  833  Executive Office of the Governor shall prepare, and the Governor
  834  shall recommend to the Administration Commission, any proposed
  835  revisions to the state comprehensive plan deemed necessary. The
  836  Governor shall transmit his or her recommendations and
  837  explanation as required by s. 186.007(8). Copies shall also be
  838  provided to each state agency, to each regional planning agency,
  839  to any other unit of government that requests a copy, and to any
  840  member of the public who requests a copy.
  841         Section 29. Section 186.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
  842  to read:
  843         186.803 Use of geographic information by governmental
  844  entities.—When state agencies, water management districts,
  845  regional planning councils, local governments, and other
  846  governmental entities use maps, including geographic information
  847  maps and other graphic information materials, as the source of
  848  data for planning or any other purposes, they must take into
  849  account that the accuracy and reliability of such maps and data
  850  may be limited by various factors, including the scale of the
  851  maps, the timeliness and accuracy of the underlying information,
  852  the availability of more accurate site-specific information, and
  853  the presence or absence of ground truthing or peer review of the
  854  underlying information contained in such maps and other graphic
  855  information. This section does not apply to maps adopted
  856  pursuant to part II of chapter 163.
  857         Section 30. Paragraph (b) of subsection (20) of section
  858  187.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  859         187.201 State Comprehensive Plan adopted.—The Legislature
  860  hereby adopts as the State Comprehensive Plan the following
  861  specific goals and policies:
  862         (20) GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY.—
  863         (b) Policies.—
  864         1. Encourage greater cooperation between, among, and within
  865  all levels of Florida government through the use of appropriate
  866  interlocal agreements and mutual participation for mutual
  867  benefit.
  868         2. Allow the creation of independent special taxing
  869  districts which have uniform general law standards and
  870  procedures and do not overburden other governments and their
  871  taxpayers while preventing the proliferation of independent
  872  special taxing districts which do not meet these standards.
  873         3. Encourage the use of municipal services taxing units and
  874  other dependent special districts to provide needed
  875  infrastructure where the fiscal capacity exists to support such
  876  an approach.
  877         4. Eliminate regulatory activities that are not tied to
  878  specific public and natural resource protection needs.
  879         5. Eliminate needless duplication of, and promote
  880  cooperation in, governmental activities between, among, and
  881  within state, regional, county, city, and other governmental
  882  units.
  883         6. Ensure, wherever possible, that the geographic
  884  boundaries of water management districts, regional planning
  885  councils, and substate districts of the executive departments
  886  shall be coterminous for related state or agency programs and
  887  functions and promote interagency agreements in order to reduce
  888  the number of districts and councils with jurisdiction in any
  889  one county.
  890         7. Encourage and provide for the restructuring of city and
  891  county political jurisdictions with the goals of greater
  892  efficiency and high-quality and more equitable and responsive
  893  public service programs.
  894         8. Replace multiple, small scale, economically inefficient
  895  local public facilities with regional facilities where they are
  896  proven to be more economical, particularly in terms of energy
  897  efficiency, and yet can retain the quality of service expected
  898  by the public.
  899         9. Encourage greater efficiency and economy at all levels
  900  of government through adoption and implementation of effective
  901  records management, information management, and evaluation
  902  procedures.
  903         10. Throughout government, establish citizen management
  904  efficiency groups and internal management groups to make
  905  recommendations for greater operating efficiencies and improved
  906  management practices.
  907         11. Encourage governments to seek outside contracting on a
  908  competitive-bid basis when cost-effective and appropriate.
  909         12. Discourage undue expansion of state government and make
  910  every effort to streamline state government in a cost-effective
  911  manner.
  912         13. Encourage joint venture solutions to mutual problems
  913  between levels of government and private enterprise.
  914         Section 31. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection
  915  (2) of section 218.32, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  916         218.32 Annual financial reports; local governmental
  917  entities.—
  918         (1)
  919         (c) Each regional planning council created under s.
  920  186.504, each local government finance commission, board, or
  921  council, and each municipal power corporation created as a
  922  separate legal or administrative entity by interlocal agreement
  923  under s. 163.01(7) shall submit to the department a copy of its
  924  audit report and an annual financial report for the previous
  925  fiscal year in a format prescribed by the department.
  926         (2) The department shall annually by December 1 file a
  927  verified report with the Governor, the Legislature, the Auditor
  928  General, and the Special District Accountability Program of the
  929  Department of Economic Opportunity showing the revenues, both
  930  locally derived and derived from intergovernmental transfers,
  931  and the expenditures of each local governmental entity, regional
  932  planning council, local government finance commission, and
  933  municipal power corporation that is required to submit an annual
  934  financial report. In preparing the verified report, the
  935  department may request additional information from the local
  936  governmental entity. The information requested must be provided
  937  to the department within 45 days after the request. If the local
  938  governmental entity does not comply with the request, the
  939  department shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee,
  940  which may take action pursuant to s. 11.40(2). The report must
  941  include, but is not limited to:
  942         (a) The total revenues and expenditures of each local
  943  governmental entity that is a component unit included in the
  944  annual financial report of the reporting entity.
  945         (b) The amount of outstanding long-term debt by each local
  946  governmental entity. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
  947  “long-term debt” means any agreement or series of agreements to
  948  pay money, which, at inception, contemplate terms of payment
  949  exceeding 1 year in duration.
  950         Section 32. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
  951  258.501, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  952         258.501 Myakka River; wild and scenic segment.—
  953         (7) MANAGEMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL.—
  954         (a) Upon designation, the department shall create a
  955  permanent council to provide interagency and intergovernmental
  956  coordination in the management of the river. The coordinating
  957  council shall be composed of one representative appointed from
  958  each of the following: the department, the Department of
  959  Transportation, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
  960  the Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida Forest
  961  Service of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
  962  the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State,
  963  the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the Southwest Florida
  964  Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Regional
  965  Planning Council, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Charlotte
  966  County, the City of Sarasota, the City of North Port,
  967  agricultural interests, environmental organizations, and any
  968  others deemed advisable by the department.
  969         Section 33. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 260.0142,
  970  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  971         260.0142 Florida Greenways and Trails Council; composition;
  972  powers and duties.—
  973         (1) There is created within the department the Florida
  974  Greenways and Trails Council which shall advise the department
  975  in the execution of the department’s powers and duties under
  976  this chapter. The council shall be composed of 19 20 members,
  977  consisting of:
  978         (a)1. Five members appointed by the Governor, with two
  979  members representing the trail user community, two members
  980  representing the greenway user community, and one member
  981  representing private landowners.
  982         2. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate,
  983  with one member representing the trail user community and two
  984  members representing the greenway user community.
  985         3. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
  986  Representatives, with two members representing the trail user
  987  community and one member representing the greenway user
  988  community.
  989  
  990  Those eligible to represent the trail user community shall be
  991  chosen from, but not be limited to, paved trail users, hikers,
  992  off-road bicyclists, users of off-highway vehicles, paddlers,
  993  equestrians, disabled outdoor recreational users, and commercial
  994  recreational interests. Those eligible to represent the greenway
  995  user community shall be chosen from, but not be limited to,
  996  conservation organizations, nature study organizations, and
  997  scientists and university experts.
  998         (b) The 8 9 remaining members shall include:
  999         1. The Secretary of Environmental Protection or a designee.
 1000         2. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife
 1001  Conservation Commission or a designee.
 1002         3. The Secretary of Transportation or a designee.
 1003         4. The Director of the Florida Forest Service of the
 1004  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or a designee.
 1005         5. The director of the Division of Historical Resources of
 1006  the Department of State or a designee.
 1007         6. A representative of the water management districts.
 1008  Membership on the council shall rotate among the five districts.
 1009  The districts shall determine the order of rotation.
 1010         7. A representative of a federal land management agency.
 1011  The Secretary of Environmental Protection shall identify the
 1012  appropriate federal agency and request designation of a
 1013  representative from the agency to serve on the council.
 1014         8. A representative of the regional planning councils to be
 1015  appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection.
 1016  Membership on the council shall rotate among the seven regional
 1017  planning councils. The regional planning councils shall
 1018  determine the order of rotation.
 1019         9. A representative of local governments to be appointed by
 1020  the Secretary of Environmental Protection. Membership shall
 1021  alternate between a county representative and a municipal
 1022  representative.
 1023         (3) The term of all appointees shall be for 2 years unless
 1024  otherwise specified. The appointees of the Governor, the
 1025  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
 1026  Representatives may be reappointed for no more than four
 1027  consecutive terms. The representatives of the water management
 1028  districts, regional planning councils, and local governments may
 1029  be reappointed for no more than two consecutive terms. All other
 1030  appointees shall serve until replaced.
 1031         Section 34. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
 1032  288.0656, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1033         288.0656 Rural Economic Development Initiative.—
 1034         (6)(a) By August 1 of each year, the head of each of the
 1035  following agencies and organizations shall designate a deputy
 1036  secretary or higher-level staff person from within the agency or
 1037  organization to serve as the REDI representative for the agency
 1038  or organization:
 1039         1. The Department of Transportation.
 1040         2. The Department of Environmental Protection.
 1041         3. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
 1042         4. The Department of State.
 1043         5. The Department of Health.
 1044         6. The Department of Children and Families.
 1045         7. The Department of Corrections.
 1046         8. The Department of Education.
 1047         9. The Department of Juvenile Justice.
 1048         10. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
 1049         11. Each water management district.
 1050         12. Enterprise Florida, Inc.
 1051         13. CareerSource Florida, Inc.
 1052         14. VISIT Florida.
 1053         15. The Florida Regional Planning Council Association.
 1054         16. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
 1055         16.17. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
 1056  (IFAS).
 1057  
 1058  An alternate for each designee shall also be chosen, and the
 1059  names of the designees and alternates shall be sent to the
 1060  executive director of the department.
 1061         Section 35. Subsection (2), paragraph (c) of subsection
 1062  (4), and subsections (7), (8), and (9) of section 288.975,
 1063  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1064         288.975 Military base reuse plans.—
 1065         (2) As used in this section, the term:
 1066         (a) “Affected local government” means a local government
 1067  adjoining the host local government and any other unit of local
 1068  government that is not a host local government but that is
 1069  identified in a proposed military base reuse plan as providing,
 1070  operating, or maintaining one or more public facilities as
 1071  defined in s. 163.3164 on lands within or serving a military
 1072  base designated for closure by the Federal Government.
 1073         (b) “Affected person” means a host local government; an
 1074  affected local government; any state, regional, or federal
 1075  agency; or a person who resides, owns property, or owns or
 1076  operates a business within the boundaries of a host local
 1077  government or affected local government.
 1078         (c) “Base reuse activities” means development as defined in
 1079  s. 380.04 on a military base designated for closure or closed by
 1080  the Federal Government.
 1081         (d) “Host local government” means a local government within
 1082  the jurisdiction of which all or part of a military base
 1083  designated for closure by the Federal Government is located.
 1084  This shall not include a county if no part of a military base is
 1085  located in its unincorporated area.
 1086         (e) “Military base” means a military base designated for
 1087  closure or closed by the Federal Government.
 1088         (f) “Regional policy plan” means a strategic regional
 1089  policy plan that has been adopted by rule by a regional planning
 1090  council pursuant to s. 186.508.
 1091         (g) “State comprehensive plan” means the plan as provided
 1092  in chapter 187.
 1093         (4)
 1094         (c) Military base reuse plans shall identify projected
 1095  impacts to significant regional resources and natural resources
 1096  of regional significance as identified by applicable regional
 1097  planning councils in their regional policy plans and the actions
 1098  that shall be taken to mitigate such impacts.
 1099         (7) A military base reuse plan shall be consistent with the
 1100  comprehensive plan of the host local government and shall not
 1101  conflict with the comprehensive plan of any affected local
 1102  governments. A military base reuse plan shall be consistent with
 1103  the nonprocedural requirements of part II of chapter 163 and
 1104  rules adopted thereunder, applicable regional policy plans, and
 1105  the state comprehensive plan.
 1106         (8) At the request of a host local government, the
 1107  department shall coordinate a presubmission workshop concerning
 1108  a military base reuse plan within the boundaries of the host
 1109  jurisdiction. Agencies that shall participate in the workshop
 1110  shall include any affected local governments; the Department of
 1111  Environmental Protection; the department; the Department of
 1112  Transportation; the Department of Health; the Department of
 1113  Children and Families; the Department of Juvenile Justice; the
 1114  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the Department
 1115  of State; the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and any
 1116  applicable water management districts and regional planning
 1117  councils. The purposes of the workshop shall be to assist the
 1118  host local government to understand issues of concern to the
 1119  above listed entities pertaining to the military base site and
 1120  to identify opportunities for better coordination of planning
 1121  and review efforts with the information and analyses generated
 1122  by the federal environmental impact statement process and the
 1123  federal community base reuse planning process.
 1124         (9) If a host local government elects to use the optional
 1125  provisions of this act, it shall, no later than 12 months after
 1126  notifying the agencies of its intent pursuant to subsection (3)
 1127  either:
 1128         (a) Send a copy of the proposed military base reuse plan
 1129  for review to any affected local governments; the Department of
 1130  Environmental Protection; the department; the Department of
 1131  Transportation; the Department of Health; the Department of
 1132  Children and Families; the Department of Juvenile Justice; the
 1133  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the Department
 1134  of State; the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and any
 1135  applicable water management districts; and regional planning
 1136  councils, or
 1137         (b) Petition the department for an extension of the
 1138  deadline for submitting a proposed reuse plan. Such an extension
 1139  request must be justified by changes or delays in the closure
 1140  process by the federal Department of Defense or for reasons
 1141  otherwise deemed to promote the orderly and beneficial planning
 1142  of the subject military base reuse. The department may grant
 1143  extensions to the required submission date of the reuse plan.
 1144         Section 36. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
 1145  335.188, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 91 of chapter
 1146  2020-114, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
 1147         335.188 Access management standards; access control
 1148  classification system; criteria.—
 1149         (3) The control classification system shall be developed
 1150  consistent with the following:
 1151         (b) The access control classification system shall be
 1152  developed in cooperation with counties, municipalities, the
 1153  state land planning agency, regional planning councils,
 1154  metropolitan planning organizations, and other local
 1155  governmental entities.
 1156         Section 37. Upon the expiration and reversion of the
 1157  amendments made to section 338.2278, Florida Statutes, pursuant
 1158  to section 91 of chapter 2020-114, Laws of Florida, paragraph
 1159  (c) of subsection (3) of section 338.2278, Florida Statutes, is
 1160  amended to read:
 1161         338.2278 Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic
 1162  Significance Program.—
 1163         (3)
 1164         (c)1. During the project development phase, the department
 1165  shall utilize an inclusive, consensus-building mechanism for
 1166  each proposed multiuse corridor identified in subsection (2).
 1167  For each multiuse corridor identified in subsection (2), the
 1168  department shall convene a corridor task force composed of
 1169  appropriate representatives of:
 1170         a. The Department of Environmental Protection;
 1171         b. The Department of Economic Opportunity;
 1172         c. The Department of Education;
 1173         d. The Department of Health;
 1174         e. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission;
 1175         f. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
 1176         g. The local water management district or districts;
 1177         h. A local government official from each local government
 1178  within a proposed corridor;
 1179         i. Metropolitan planning organizations;
 1180         j. Regional planning councils;
 1181         k. The community, who may be an individual or a member of a
 1182  nonprofit community organization, as determined by the
 1183  department; and
 1184         k.l. Appropriate environmental groups, such as 1000 Friends
 1185  of Florida, Audubon Florida, the Everglades Foundation, The
 1186  Nature Conservancy, the Florida Sierra Club, and the Florida
 1187  Wildlife Corridor, as determined by the department.
 1188         2. The secretary of the department shall appoint the
 1189  members of the respective corridor task forces by August 1,
 1190  2019.
 1191         3. Each corridor task force shall coordinate with the
 1192  department on pertinent aspects of corridor analysis, including
 1193  accommodation or colocation of multiple types of infrastructure,
 1194  addressing issues such as those identified in subsection (1),
 1195  within or adjacent to the corridor.
 1196         4. Each corridor task force shall evaluate the need for,
 1197  and the economic and environmental impacts of, hurricane
 1198  evacuation impacts of, and land use impacts of, the related
 1199  corridor as identified in subsection (2).
 1200         5. Each corridor task force shall hold a public meeting in
 1201  accordance with chapter 286 in each local government
 1202  jurisdiction in which a project within an identified corridor is
 1203  being considered.
 1204         6. To the maximum extent feasible, the department shall
 1205  adhere to the recommendations of the task force created for each
 1206  corridor in the design of the multiple modes of transportation
 1207  and multiple types of infrastructure associated with the
 1208  corridor. The task force for each corridor may consider and
 1209  recommend innovative concepts to combine right-of-way
 1210  acquisition with the acquisition of lands or easements to
 1211  facilitate environmental mitigation or ecosystem, wildlife
 1212  habitat, or water quality protection or restoration. The
 1213  department, in consultation with the Department of Environmental
 1214  Protection, may incorporate those features into each corridor
 1215  during the project development phase.
 1216         7. The Southwest-Central Florida Connector corridor task
 1217  force shall:
 1218         a. Address the impacts of the construction of a project
 1219  within the corridor on panther and other critical wildlife
 1220  habitat and evaluate in its final report the need for
 1221  acquisition of lands for state conservation or as mitigation for
 1222  project construction; and
 1223         b. Evaluate wildlife crossing design features to protect
 1224  panther and other critical wildlife habitat corridor
 1225  connections.
 1226         8. The Suncoast Connector corridor task force and the
 1227  Northern Turnpike Connector corridor task force shall evaluate
 1228  design features and the need for acquisition of state
 1229  conservation lands that mitigate the impact of project
 1230  construction within the respective corridors on:
 1231         a. The water quality and quantity of springs, rivers, and
 1232  aquifer recharge areas;
 1233         b. Agricultural land uses; and
 1234         c. Wildlife habitat.
 1235         9. Each corridor task force shall issue its evaluations in
 1236  a final report that must be submitted to the Governor, the
 1237  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
 1238  Representatives by November 15, 2020 October 1, 2020.
 1239         10. The department shall provide affected local governments
 1240  with a copy of the applicable task force report and project
 1241  alignments. Not later than December 31, 2023, a local government
 1242  that has an interchange within its jurisdiction shall review the
 1243  applicable task force report and its local comprehensive plan as
 1244  adopted under chapter 163. The local government review must
 1245  include consideration of whether the area in and around the
 1246  interchange contains appropriate land uses and natural resource
 1247  protections and whether the comprehensive plan should be amended
 1248  to provide such appropriate uses and protections.
 1249         Section 38. Subsection (4) of section 339.155, Florida
 1250  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1251         339.155 Transportation planning.—
 1252         (4) ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS.—
 1253         (a) Upon request by local governmental entities, the
 1254  department may in its discretion develop and design
 1255  transportation corridors, arterial and collector streets,
 1256  vehicular parking areas, and other support facilities which are
 1257  consistent with the plans of the department for major
 1258  transportation facilities. The department may render to local
 1259  governmental entities or their planning agencies such technical
 1260  assistance and services as are necessary so that local plans and
 1261  facilities are coordinated with the plans and facilities of the
 1262  department.
 1263         (b) Each regional planning council, as provided for in s.
 1264  186.504, or any successor agency thereto, shall develop, as an
 1265  element of its strategic regional policy plan, transportation
 1266  goals and policies. The transportation goals and policies must
 1267  be prioritized to comply with the prevailing principles provided
 1268  in subsection (1) and s. 334.046(1). The transportation goals
 1269  and policies shall be consistent, to the maximum extent
 1270  feasible, with the goals and policies of the metropolitan
 1271  planning organization and the Florida Transportation Plan. The
 1272  transportation goals and policies of the regional planning
 1273  council will be advisory only and shall be submitted to the
 1274  department and any affected metropolitan planning organization
 1275  for their consideration and comments. Metropolitan planning
 1276  organization plans and other local transportation plans shall be
 1277  developed consistent, to the maximum extent feasible, with the
 1278  regional transportation goals and policies.
 1279         (c) Regional transportation plans may be developed in
 1280  regional transportation areas in accordance with an interlocal
 1281  agreement entered into pursuant to s. 163.01 by two or more
 1282  contiguous metropolitan planning organizations; one or more
 1283  metropolitan planning organizations and one or more contiguous
 1284  counties, none of which is a member of a metropolitan planning
 1285  organization; a multicounty regional transportation authority
 1286  created by or pursuant to law; two or more contiguous counties
 1287  that are not members of a metropolitan planning organization; or
 1288  metropolitan planning organizations comprised of three or more
 1289  counties.
 1290         (c)(d) The interlocal agreement must, at a minimum,
 1291  identify the entity that will coordinate the development of the
 1292  regional transportation plan; delineate the boundaries of the
 1293  regional transportation area; provide the duration of the
 1294  agreement and specify how the agreement may be terminated,
 1295  modified, or rescinded; describe the process by which the
 1296  regional transportation plan will be developed; and provide how
 1297  members of the entity will resolve disagreements regarding
 1298  interpretation of the interlocal agreement or disputes relating
 1299  to the development or content of the regional transportation
 1300  plan. Such interlocal agreement shall become effective upon its
 1301  recordation in the official public records of each county in the
 1302  regional transportation area.
 1303         (d)(e) The regional transportation plan developed pursuant
 1304  to this section must, at a minimum, identify regionally
 1305  significant transportation facilities located within a regional
 1306  transportation area and contain a prioritized list of regionally
 1307  significant projects. The projects shall be adopted into the
 1308  capital improvements schedule of the local government
 1309  comprehensive plan pursuant to s. 163.3177(3).
 1310         Section 39. Paragraph (g) of subsection (6) of section
 1311  339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1312         339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.—
 1313         (6) POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The powers,
 1314  privileges, and authority of an M.P.O. are those specified in
 1315  this section or incorporated in an interlocal agreement
 1316  authorized under s. 163.01. Each M.P.O. shall perform all acts
 1317  required by federal or state laws or rules, now and subsequently
 1318  applicable, which are necessary to qualify for federal aid. It
 1319  is the intent of this section that each M.P.O. shall be involved
 1320  in the planning and programming of transportation facilities,
 1321  including, but not limited to, airports, intercity and high
 1322  speed rail lines, seaports, and intermodal facilities, to the
 1323  extent permitted by state or federal law.
 1324         (g) Each M.P.O. shall have an executive or staff director
 1325  who reports directly to the M.P.O. governing board for all
 1326  matters regarding the administration and operation of the M.P.O.
 1327  and any additional personnel as deemed necessary. The executive
 1328  director and any additional personnel may be employed either by
 1329  an M.P.O. or by another governmental entity, such as a county,
 1330  or city, or regional planning council, that has a staff services
 1331  agreement signed and in effect with the M.P.O. Each M.P.O. may
 1332  enter into contracts with local or state agencies, private
 1333  planning firms, private engineering firms, or other public or
 1334  private entities to accomplish its transportation planning and
 1335  programming duties and administrative functions.
 1336         Section 40. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 339.63,
 1337  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1338         339.63 System facilities designated; additions and
 1339  deletions.—
 1340         (3) After the initial designation of the Strategic
 1341  Intermodal System under subsection (1), the department shall, in
 1342  coordination with the metropolitan planning organizations, local
 1343  governments, regional planning councils, transportation
 1344  providers, and affected public agencies, add facilities to or
 1345  delete facilities from the Strategic Intermodal System described
 1346  in paragraphs (2)(b) and (c) based upon criteria adopted by the
 1347  department.
 1348         (4) After the initial designation of the Strategic
 1349  Intermodal System under subsection (1), the department shall, in
 1350  coordination with the metropolitan planning organizations, local
 1351  governments, regional planning councils, transportation
 1352  providers, and affected public agencies, add facilities to or
 1353  delete facilities from the Strategic Intermodal System described
 1354  in paragraph (2)(a) based upon criteria adopted by the
 1355  department. However, an airport that is designated as a reliever
 1356  airport to a Strategic Intermodal System airport which has at
 1357  least 75,000 itinerant operations per year, has a runway length
 1358  of at least 5,500 linear feet, is capable of handling aircraft
 1359  weighing at least 60,000 pounds with a dual wheel configuration
 1360  which is served by at least one precision instrument approach,
 1361  and serves a cluster of aviation-dependent industries, shall be
 1362  designated as part of the Strategic Intermodal System by the
 1363  Secretary of Transportation upon the request of a reliever
 1364  airport meeting this criteria.
 1365         Section 41. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
 1366  (3) of section 339.64, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1367         339.64 Strategic Intermodal System Plan.—
 1368         (1) The department shall develop, in cooperation with
 1369  metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning councils,
 1370  local governments, and other transportation providers, a
 1371  Strategic Intermodal System Plan. The plan shall be consistent
 1372  with the Florida Transportation Plan developed pursuant to s.
 1373  339.155 and shall be updated at least once every 5 years,
 1374  subsequent to updates of the Florida Transportation Plan.
 1375         (3)(a) During the development of updates to the Strategic
 1376  Intermodal System Plan, the department shall provide
 1377  metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning councils,
 1378  local governments, transportation providers, affected public
 1379  agencies, and citizens with an opportunity to participate in and
 1380  comment on the development of the update.
 1381         Section 42. Subsection (1) of section 341.041, Florida
 1382  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1383         341.041 Transit responsibilities of the department.—The
 1384  department shall, within the resources provided pursuant to
 1385  chapter 216:
 1386         (1) Develop a statewide plan that provides for public
 1387  transit and intercity bus service needs at least 5 years in
 1388  advance. The plan shall be developed in a manner that will
 1389  assure maximum use of existing facilities, and optimum
 1390  integration and coordination of the various modes of
 1391  transportation, including both governmentally owned and
 1392  privately owned resources, in the most cost-effective manner
 1393  possible. The plan shall also incorporate plans adopted by local
 1394  and regional planning agencies which are consistent, to the
 1395  maximum extent feasible, with adopted strategic policy plans and
 1396  approved local government comprehensive plans for the region and
 1397  units of local government covered by the plan and shall, insofar
 1398  as practical, conform to federal planning requirements. The plan
 1399  shall be consistent with the goals of the Florida Transportation
 1400  Plan developed pursuant to s. 339.155.
 1401         Section 43. Paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of section
 1402  343.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1403         343.54 Powers and duties.—
 1404         (3) The authority may exercise all powers necessary,
 1405  appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of
 1406  the aforesaid purposes, including, but not limited to, the
 1407  following rights and powers:
 1408         (m) To cooperate with other governmental entities and to
 1409  contract with other governmental agencies, including the
 1410  Department of Transportation, the Federal Government, regional
 1411  planning councils, counties, and municipalities.
 1412         Section 44. Subsection (1) of section 369.303, Florida
 1413  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1414         369.303 Definitions.—As used in this part:
 1415         (1) “Council” means the East Central Florida Regional
 1416  Planning Council.
 1417         Section 45. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
 1418  373.309, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1419         373.309 Authority to adopt rules and procedures.—
 1420         (1) The department shall adopt, and may from time to time
 1421  amend, rules governing the location, construction, repair, and
 1422  abandonment of water wells and shall be responsible for the
 1423  administration of this part. With respect thereto, the
 1424  department shall:
 1425         (e) Encourage prevention of potable water well
 1426  contamination and promote cost-effective remediation of
 1427  contaminated potable water supplies by use of the Water Quality
 1428  Assurance Trust Fund as provided in s. 376.307(1)(e) and
 1429  establish by rule:
 1430         1. Delineation of areas of groundwater contamination for
 1431  implementation of well location and construction, testing,
 1432  permitting, and clearance requirements as set forth in
 1433  subparagraphs 2., 3., 4., 5., and 6. The department shall make
 1434  available to water management districts, regional planning
 1435  councils, the Department of Health, and county building and
 1436  zoning departments, maps or other information on areas of
 1437  contamination, including areas of ethylene dibromide
 1438  contamination. Such maps or other information shall be made
 1439  available to property owners, realtors, real estate
 1440  associations, property appraisers, and other interested persons
 1441  upon request and upon payment of appropriate costs.
 1442         2. Requirements for testing for suspected contamination in
 1443  areas of known contamination, as a prerequisite for clearance of
 1444  a water well for drinking purposes. The department is authorized
 1445  to establish criteria for acceptance of water quality testing
 1446  results from the Department of Health and laboratories certified
 1447  by the Department of Health, and is authorized to establish
 1448  requirements for sample collection quality assurance.
 1449         3. Requirements for mandatory connection to available
 1450  potable water systems in areas of known contamination, wherein
 1451  the department may prohibit the permitting and construction of
 1452  new potable water wells.
 1453         4. Location and construction standards for public and all
 1454  other potable water wells permitted in areas of contamination.
 1455  Such standards shall be designed to minimize the effects of such
 1456  contamination.
 1457         5. A procedure for permitting all potable water wells in
 1458  areas of known contamination. Any new water well that is to be
 1459  used for drinking water purposes and that does not meet
 1460  construction standards pursuant to subparagraph 4. must be
 1461  abandoned and plugged by the owner. Water management districts
 1462  shall implement, through delegation from the department, the
 1463  permitting and enforcement responsibilities of this
 1464  subparagraph.
 1465         6. A procedure for clearing for use all potable water
 1466  wells, except wells that serve a public water supply system, in
 1467  areas of known contamination. If contaminants are found upon
 1468  testing pursuant to subparagraph 2., a well may not be cleared
 1469  for use without a filter or other means of preventing the users
 1470  of the well from being exposed to deleterious amounts of
 1471  contaminants. The Department of Health shall implement the
 1472  responsibilities of this subparagraph.
 1473         7. Fees to be paid for well construction permits and
 1474  clearance for use. The fees shall be based on the actual costs
 1475  incurred by the water management districts, the Department of
 1476  Health, or other political subdivisions in carrying out the
 1477  responsibilities related to potable water well permitting and
 1478  clearance for use. The fees shall provide revenue to cover all
 1479  such costs and shall be set according to the following schedule:
 1480         a. The well construction permit fee may not exceed $500.
 1481         b. The clearance fee may not exceed $50.
 1482         8. Procedures for implementing well-location, construction,
 1483  testing, permitting, and clearance requirements as set forth in
 1484  subparagraphs 2.-6. within areas that research or monitoring
 1485  data indicate are vulnerable to contamination with nitrate, or
 1486  areas in which the department provides a subsidy for restoration
 1487  or replacement of contaminated drinking water supplies through
 1488  extending existing water lines or developing new water supply
 1489  systems pursuant to s. 376.307(1)(e). The department shall
 1490  consult with the Florida Ground Water Association in the process
 1491  of developing rules pursuant to this subparagraph.
 1492  
 1493  All fees and funds collected by each delegated entity pursuant
 1494  to this part shall be deposited in the appropriate operating
 1495  account of that entity.
 1496         Section 46. Paragraph (k) of subsection (2) of section
 1497  377.703, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1498         377.703 Additional functions of the Department of
 1499  Agriculture and Consumer Services.—
 1500         (2) DUTIES.—The department shall perform the following
 1501  functions, unless as otherwise provided, consistent with the
 1502  development of a state energy policy:
 1503         (k) The department shall coordinate energy-related programs
 1504  of state government, including, but not limited to, the programs
 1505  provided in this section. To this end, the department shall:
 1506         1. Provide assistance to other state agencies, counties,
 1507  and municipalities, and regional planning agencies to further
 1508  and promote their energy planning activities.
 1509         2. Require, in cooperation with the Department of
 1510  Management Services, all state agencies to operate state-owned
 1511  and state-leased buildings in accordance with energy
 1512  conservation standards as adopted by the Department of
 1513  Management Services. Every 3 months, the Department of
 1514  Management Services shall furnish the department data on
 1515  agencies’ energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases
 1516  in a format prescribed by the department.
 1517         3. Promote the development and use of renewable energy
 1518  resources, energy efficiency technologies, and conservation
 1519  measures.
 1520         4. Promote the recovery of energy from wastes, including,
 1521  but not limited to, the use of waste heat, the use of
 1522  agricultural products as a source of energy, and recycling of
 1523  manufactured products. Such promotion shall be conducted in
 1524  conjunction with, and after consultation with, the Department of
 1525  Environmental Protection and the Florida Public Service
 1526  Commission where electrical generation or natural gas is
 1527  involved, and any other relevant federal, state, or local
 1528  governmental agency having responsibility for resource recovery
 1529  programs.
 1530         Section 47. Subsection (3) of section 378.411, Florida
 1531  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1532         378.411 Certification to receive notices of intent to mine,
 1533  to review, and to inspect for compliance.—
 1534         (3) In making his or her determination, the secretary shall
 1535  consult with the Department of Economic Opportunity, the
 1536  appropriate regional planning council, and the appropriate water
 1537  management district.
 1538         Section 48. Subsection (15) of section 380.031, Florida
 1539  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1540         380.031 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
 1541         (15) “Regional planning agency” means the agency designated
 1542  by the state land planning agency to exercise responsibilities
 1543  under this chapter in a particular region of the state.
 1544         Section 49. Subsection (2) of section 380.045, Florida
 1545  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1546         380.045 Resource planning and management committees;
 1547  objectives; procedures.—
 1548         (2) The committee shall include, but shall not be limited
 1549  to, representation from each of the following: elected officials
 1550  from the local governments within the area under study; the
 1551  planning office of each of the local governments within the area
 1552  under study; the state land planning agency; any other state
 1553  agency under chapter 20 a representative of which the Governor
 1554  feels is relevant to the compilation of the committee; and a
 1555  water management district, if appropriate, and regional planning
 1556  council all or part of whose jurisdiction lies within the area
 1557  under study. After the appointment of the members, the Governor
 1558  shall select a chair and vice chair. A staff member of the state
 1559  land planning agency shall be appointed by the director of such
 1560  agency to serve as the secretary of the committee. The state
 1561  land planning agency shall, to the greatest extent possible,
 1562  provide technical assistance and administrative support to the
 1563  committee. Meetings will be called as needed by the chair or on
 1564  the demand of three or more members of the committee. The
 1565  committee will act on a simple majority of a quorum present and
 1566  shall make a report within 6 months to the head of the state
 1567  land planning agency. The committee shall, from the time of
 1568  appointment, remain in existence for no less than 6 months.
 1569         Section 50. Subsection (3) of section 380.055, Florida
 1570  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1571         380.055 Big Cypress Area.—
 1572         (3) DESIGNATION AS AREA OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN.—The “Big
 1573  Cypress Area,” as defined in this subsection, is hereby
 1574  designated as an area of critical state concern. “Big Cypress
 1575  Area” means the area generally depicted on the map entitled
 1576  “Boundary Map, Big Cypress National Freshwater Reserve,
 1577  Florida,” numbered BC-91,001 and dated November 1971, which is
 1578  on file and available for public inspection in the office of the
 1579  National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington,
 1580  D.C., and in the office of the Board of Trustees of the Internal
 1581  Improvement Trust Fund, which is the area proposed as the
 1582  Federal Big Cypress National Freshwater Reserve, Florida, and
 1583  that area described as follows: Sections 1, 2, 11, 12 and 13 in
 1584  Township 49 South, Range 31 East; and Township 49 South, Range
 1585  32 East, less Sections 19, 30 and 31; and Township 49 South,
 1586  Range 33 East; and Township 49 South, Range 34 East; and
 1587  Sections 1 through 5 and 10 through 14 in Township 50 South,
 1588  Range 32 East; and Sections 1 through 18 and 20 through 25 in
 1589  Township 50 South, Range 33 East; and Township 50 South, Range
 1590  34 East, less Section 31; and Sections 1 and 2 in Township 51
 1591  South, Range 34 East; All in Collier County, Florida, which
 1592  described area shall be known as the “Big Cypress National
 1593  Preserve Addition, Florida,” together with such contiguous land
 1594  and water areas as are ecologically linked with the Everglades
 1595  National Park, certain of the estuarine fisheries of South
 1596  Florida, or the freshwater aquifer of South Florida, the
 1597  definitive boundaries of which shall be set in the following
 1598  manner: Within 120 days following the effective date of this
 1599  act, the state land planning agency shall recommend definitive
 1600  boundaries for the Big Cypress Area to the Administration
 1601  Commission, after giving notice to all local governments and
 1602  regional planning agencies which include within their boundaries
 1603  any part of the area proposed to be included in the Big Cypress
 1604  Area and holding such hearings as the state land planning agency
 1605  deems appropriate. Within 45 days following receipt of the
 1606  recommended boundaries, the Administration Commission shall
 1607  adopt, modify, or reject the recommendation and shall by rule
 1608  establish the boundaries of the area defined as the Big Cypress
 1609  Area.
 1610         Section 51. Subsection (6) and paragraph (b) of subsection
 1611  (12) of section 380.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1612         380.06 Developments of regional impact.—
 1613         (6) REPORTS.—Notwithstanding any condition in a development
 1614  order for an approved development of regional impact, the
 1615  developer is not required to submit an annual or a biennial
 1616  report on the development of regional impact to the local
 1617  government, the regional planning agency, the state land
 1618  planning agency, and all affected permit agencies unless
 1619  required to do so by the local government that has jurisdiction
 1620  over the development. The penalty for failure to file such a
 1621  required report is as prescribed by the local government.
 1622         (12) PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS.—
 1623         (b) This subsection does not apply to:
 1624         1. Amendments to a development order governing an existing
 1625  development of regional impact.
 1626         2. An application for development approval filed with a
 1627  concurrent plan amendment application pending as of May 14,
 1628  2015, if the applicant elects to have the application reviewed
 1629  pursuant to this section as it existed on that date. The
 1630  election shall be in writing and filed with the affected local
 1631  government, regional planning council, and state land planning
 1632  agency before December 31, 2018.
 1633         Section 52. Subsection (2) of section 380.061, Florida
 1634  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1635         380.061 The Florida Quality Developments program.—
 1636         (2) Following written notification to the state land
 1637  planning agency and the appropriate regional planning agency, a
 1638  local government with an approved Florida Quality Development
 1639  within its jurisdiction must set a public hearing pursuant to
 1640  its local procedures and shall adopt a local development order
 1641  to replace and supersede the development order adopted by the
 1642  state land planning agency for the Florida Quality Development.
 1643  Thereafter, the Florida Quality Development shall follow the
 1644  procedures and requirements for developments of regional impact
 1645  as specified in this chapter.
 1646         Section 53. Subsection (2) of section 380.07, Florida
 1647  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1648         380.07 Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission.—
 1649         (2) Whenever any local government issues any development
 1650  order in any area of critical state concern, or in regard to the
 1651  abandonment of any approved development of regional impact,
 1652  copies of such orders as prescribed by rule by the state land
 1653  planning agency shall be transmitted to the state land planning
 1654  agency, the regional planning agency, and the owner or developer
 1655  of the property affected by such order. The state land planning
 1656  agency shall adopt rules describing development order rendition
 1657  and effectiveness in designated areas of critical state concern.
 1658  Within 45 days after the order is rendered, the owner, the
 1659  developer, or the state land planning agency may appeal the
 1660  order to the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission by
 1661  filing a petition alleging that the development order is not
 1662  consistent with this part.
 1663         Section 54. Subsection (3) of section 380.507, Florida
 1664  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1665         380.507 Powers of the trust.—The trust shall have all the
 1666  powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and
 1667  provisions of this part, including:
 1668         (3) To provide technical and financial assistance to local
 1669  governments, state agencies, water management districts,
 1670  regional planning councils, and nonprofit agencies to carry out
 1671  projects and activities and develop programs to achieve the
 1672  purposes of this part.
 1673         Section 55. Subsection (6) of section 403.0752, Florida
 1674  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1675         403.0752 Ecosystem management agreements.—
 1676         (6) The secretary of the department may form ecosystem
 1677  management advisory teams for consultation and participation in
 1678  the preparation of an ecosystem management agreement. The
 1679  secretary shall request the participation of at least the state
 1680  and regional and local government entities having regulatory
 1681  authority over the activities to be subject to the ecosystem
 1682  management agreement. Such teams may also include
 1683  representatives of other participating or advisory government
 1684  agencies, which may include regional planning councils, private
 1685  landowners, public landowners and managers, public and private
 1686  utilities, corporations, and environmental interests. Team
 1687  members shall be selected in a manner that ensures adequate
 1688  representation of the diverse interests and perspectives within
 1689  the designated ecosystem. Participation by any department of
 1690  state government is at the discretion of that agency.
 1691         Section 56. Subsection (26) of section 403.503, Florida
 1692  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1693         403.503 Definitions relating to Florida Electrical Power
 1694  Plant Siting Act.—As used in this act:
 1695         (26) “Regional planning council” means a regional planning
 1696  council as defined in s. 186.503(4) in the jurisdiction of which
 1697  the electrical power plant is proposed to be located.
 1698         Section 57. Subsection (1) of section 403.50663, Florida
 1699  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1700         403.50663 Informational public meetings.—
 1701         (1) A local government within whose jurisdiction the power
 1702  plant is proposed to be sited may hold one informational public
 1703  meeting in addition to the hearings specifically authorized by
 1704  this act on any matter associated with the electrical power
 1705  plant proceeding. Such informational public meetings shall be
 1706  held by the local government or by the regional planning council
 1707  if the local government does not hold such meeting within 70
 1708  days after the filing of the application. The purpose of an
 1709  informational public meeting is for the local government or
 1710  regional planning council to further inform the public about the
 1711  proposed electrical power plant or associated facilities, obtain
 1712  comments from the public, and formulate its recommendation with
 1713  respect to the proposed electrical power plant.
 1714         Section 58. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 1715  403.507, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1716         403.507 Preliminary statements of issues, reports, project
 1717  analyses, and studies.—
 1718         (2)(a) No later than 100 days after the certification
 1719  application has been determined complete, the following agencies
 1720  shall prepare reports as provided below and shall submit them to
 1721  the department and the applicant, unless a final order denying
 1722  the determination of need has been issued under s. 403.519:
 1723         1. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall prepare a
 1724  report containing recommendations which address the impact upon
 1725  the public of the proposed electrical power plant, based on the
 1726  degree to which the electrical power plant is consistent with
 1727  the applicable portions of the state comprehensive plan,
 1728  emergency management, and other such matters within its
 1729  jurisdiction. The Department of Economic Opportunity may also
 1730  comment on the consistency of the proposed electrical power
 1731  plant with applicable strategic regional policy plans or local
 1732  comprehensive plans and land development regulations.
 1733         2. The water management district shall prepare a report as
 1734  to matters within its jurisdiction, including but not limited
 1735  to, the impact of the proposed electrical power plant on water
 1736  resources, regional water supply planning, and district-owned
 1737  lands and works.
 1738         3. Each local government in whose jurisdiction the proposed
 1739  electrical power plant is to be located shall prepare a report
 1740  as to the consistency of the proposed electrical power plant
 1741  with all applicable local ordinances, regulations, standards, or
 1742  criteria that apply to the proposed electrical power plant,
 1743  including any applicable local environmental regulations adopted
 1744  pursuant to s. 403.182 or by other means.
 1745         4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
 1746  prepare a report as to matters within its jurisdiction.
 1747         5. The Department of Transportation shall address the
 1748  impact of the proposed electrical power plant on matters within
 1749  its jurisdiction.
 1750         Section 59. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
 1751  403.518, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1752         403.518 Fees; disposition.—The department shall charge the
 1753  applicant the following fees, as appropriate, which, unless
 1754  otherwise specified, shall be paid into the Florida Permit Fee
 1755  Trust Fund:
 1756         (2) An application fee, which shall not exceed $200,000.
 1757  The fee shall be fixed by rule on a sliding scale related to the
 1758  size, type, ultimate site capacity, or increase in electrical
 1759  generating capacity proposed by the application.
 1760         (c)1. Upon written request with proper itemized accounting
 1761  within 90 days after final agency action by the board or
 1762  department or withdrawal of the application, the agencies that
 1763  prepared reports pursuant to s. 403.507 or participated in a
 1764  hearing pursuant to s. 403.508 may submit a written request to
 1765  the department for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the
 1766  certification proceedings. The request shall contain an
 1767  accounting of expenses incurred which may include time spent
 1768  reviewing the application, preparation of any studies required
 1769  of the agencies by this act, agency travel and per diem to
 1770  attend any hearing held pursuant to this act, and for any local
 1771  government’s or regional planning council’s provision of notice
 1772  of public meetings required as a result of the application for
 1773  certification. The department shall review the request and
 1774  verify that the expenses are valid. Valid expenses shall be
 1775  reimbursed; however, in the event the amount of funds available
 1776  for reimbursement is insufficient to provide for full
 1777  compensation to the agencies requesting reimbursement,
 1778  reimbursement shall be on a prorated basis.
 1779         2. If the application review is held in abeyance for more
 1780  than 1 year, the agencies may submit a request for
 1781  reimbursement. This time period shall be measured from the date
 1782  the applicant has provided written notification to the
 1783  department that it desires to have the application review
 1784  process placed on hold. The fee disbursement shall be processed
 1785  in accordance with subparagraph 1.
 1786         Section 60. Subsection (21) of section 403.522, Florida
 1787  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1788         403.522 Definitions relating to the Florida Electric
 1789  Transmission Line Siting Act.—As used in this act:
 1790         (21) “Regional planning council” means a regional planning
 1791  council as defined in s. 186.503(4) in the jurisdiction of which
 1792  the project is proposed to be located.
 1793         Section 61. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 1794  403.526, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1795         403.526 Preliminary statements of issues, reports, and
 1796  project analyses; studies.—
 1797         (2)(a) No later than 90 days after the filing of the
 1798  application, the following agencies shall prepare reports as
 1799  provided below, unless a final order denying the determination
 1800  of need has been issued under s. 403.537:
 1801         1. The department shall prepare a report as to the impact
 1802  of each proposed transmission line or corridor as it relates to
 1803  matters within its jurisdiction.
 1804         2. Each water management district in the jurisdiction of
 1805  which a proposed transmission line or corridor is to be located
 1806  shall prepare a report as to the impact on water resources and
 1807  other matters within its jurisdiction.
 1808         3. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall prepare a
 1809  report containing recommendations which address the impact upon
 1810  the public of the proposed transmission line or corridor, based
 1811  on the degree to which the proposed transmission line or
 1812  corridor is consistent with the applicable portions of the state
 1813  comprehensive plan, emergency management, and other matters
 1814  within its jurisdiction. The Department of Economic Opportunity
 1815  may also comment on the consistency of the proposed transmission
 1816  line or corridor with applicable strategic regional policy plans
 1817  or local comprehensive plans and land development regulations.
 1818         4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
 1819  prepare a report as to the impact of each proposed transmission
 1820  line or corridor on fish and wildlife resources and other
 1821  matters within its jurisdiction.
 1822         5. Each local government shall prepare a report as to the
 1823  impact of each proposed transmission line or corridor on matters
 1824  within its jurisdiction, including the consistency of the
 1825  proposed transmission line or corridor with all applicable local
 1826  ordinances, regulations, standards, or criteria that apply to
 1827  the proposed transmission line or corridor, including local
 1828  comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, land development
 1829  regulations, and any applicable local environmental regulations
 1830  adopted pursuant to s. 403.182 or by other means. A change by
 1831  the responsible local government or local agency in local
 1832  comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, or other regulations
 1833  made after the date required for the filing of the local
 1834  government’s report required by this section is not applicable
 1835  to the certification of the proposed transmission line or
 1836  corridor unless the certification is denied or the application
 1837  is withdrawn.
 1838         6. The Department of Transportation shall prepare a report
 1839  as to the impact of the proposed transmission line or corridor
 1840  on state roads, railroads, airports, aeronautics, seaports, and
 1841  other matters within its jurisdiction.
 1842         7. The commission shall prepare a report containing its
 1843  determination under s. 403.537, and the report may include the
 1844  comments from the commission with respect to any other subject
 1845  within its jurisdiction.
 1846         8. Any other agency, if requested by the department, shall
 1847  also perform studies or prepare reports as to subjects within
 1848  the jurisdiction of the agency which may potentially be affected
 1849  by the proposed transmission line.
 1850         Section 62. Subsection (1) of section 403.5272, Florida
 1851  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1852         403.5272 Informational public meetings.—
 1853         (1) A local government whose jurisdiction is to be crossed
 1854  by a proposed corridor may hold one informational public meeting
 1855  in addition to the hearings specifically authorized by this act
 1856  on any matter associated with the transmission line proceeding.
 1857  The informational public meeting may be conducted by the local
 1858  government or the regional planning council and shall be held no
 1859  later than 55 days after the application is filed. The purpose
 1860  of an informational public meeting is for the local government
 1861  or regional planning council to further inform the public about
 1862  the transmission line proposed, obtain comments from the public,
 1863  and formulate its recommendation with respect to the proposed
 1864  transmission line.
 1865         Section 63. Subsection (4), paragraph (a) of subsection
 1866  (5), and paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 403.5363,
 1867  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1868         403.5363 Public notices; requirements.—
 1869         (4) A local government or regional planning council that
 1870  proposes to conduct an informational public meeting pursuant to
 1871  s. 403.5272 must publish notice of the meeting in a newspaper of
 1872  general circulation within the county or counties in which the
 1873  proposed electrical transmission line will be located no later
 1874  than 7 days before prior to the meeting. A newspaper of general
 1875  circulation shall be the newspaper that has the largest daily
 1876  circulation in that county and has its principal office in that
 1877  county. If the newspaper with the largest daily circulation has
 1878  its principal office outside the county, the notices shall
 1879  appear in both the newspaper having the largest circulation in
 1880  that county and in a newspaper authorized to publish legal
 1881  notices in that county.
 1882         (5)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the applicant
 1883  to provide direct notice of the filing of an application for
 1884  certification by United States mail or hand delivery no later
 1885  than 45 days after filing of the application to all local
 1886  landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local
 1887  government tax records, and residences are located within one
 1888  quarter mile of the proposed boundaries of a transmission line
 1889  corridor that only includes a transmission line as defined by s.
 1890  403.522(21) s. 403.522(22).
 1891         (6)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the proponent
 1892  of an alternate corridor that includes a transmission line, as
 1893  defined by s. 403.522(21) s. 403.522(22), to provide direct
 1894  notice of the filing of an alternate corridor for certification
 1895  by United States mail or hand delivery of the filing no later
 1896  than 30 days after filing of the alternate corridor to all local
 1897  landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local
 1898  government tax records, and residences are located within one
 1899  quarter mile of the proposed boundaries of a transmission line
 1900  corridor that includes a transmission line as defined by s.
 1901  403.522(21) s. 403.522(22).
 1902         Section 64. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
 1903  403.5365, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1904         403.5365 Fees; disposition.—The department shall charge the
 1905  applicant the following fees, as appropriate, which, unless
 1906  otherwise specified, shall be paid into the Florida Permit Fee
 1907  Trust Fund:
 1908         (1) An application fee.
 1909         (d)1. Upon written request with proper itemized accounting
 1910  within 90 days after final agency action by the siting board or
 1911  the department or the written notification of the withdrawal of
 1912  the application, the agencies that prepared reports under s.
 1913  403.526 or s. 403.5271 or participated in a hearing under s.
 1914  403.527 or s. 403.5271 may submit a written request to the
 1915  department for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the
 1916  certification proceedings. The request must contain an
 1917  accounting of expenses incurred, which may include time spent
 1918  reviewing the application, preparation of any studies required
 1919  of the agencies by this act, agency travel and per diem to
 1920  attend any hearing held under this act, and for the local
 1921  government or regional planning council providing additional
 1922  notice of the informational public meeting. The department shall
 1923  review the request and verify whether a claimed expense is
 1924  valid. Valid expenses shall be reimbursed; however, if the
 1925  amount of funds available for reimbursement is insufficient to
 1926  provide for full compensation to the agencies, reimbursement
 1927  shall be on a prorated basis.
 1928         2. If the application review is held in abeyance for more
 1929  than 1 year, the agencies may submit a request for reimbursement
 1930  under subparagraph 1. This time period shall be measured from
 1931  the date the applicant has provided written notification to the
 1932  department that it desires to have the application review
 1933  process placed on hold. The fee disbursement shall be processed
 1934  in accordance with subparagraph 1.
 1935         Section 65. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
 1936  section 403.537, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1937         403.537 Determination of need for transmission line; powers
 1938  and duties.—
 1939         (1)(a) Upon request by an applicant or upon its own motion,
 1940  the Florida Public Service Commission shall schedule a public
 1941  hearing, after notice, to determine the need for a transmission
 1942  line regulated by the Florida Electric Transmission Line Siting
 1943  Act, ss. 403.52-403.5365. The notice shall be published at least
 1944  21 days before the date set for the hearing and shall be
 1945  published by the applicant in at least one-quarter page size
 1946  notice in newspapers of general circulation, and by the
 1947  commission in the manner specified in chapter 120, by giving
 1948  notice to counties and regional planning councils in whose
 1949  jurisdiction the transmission line could be placed, and by
 1950  giving notice to any persons who have requested to be placed on
 1951  the mailing list of the commission for this purpose. Within 21
 1952  days after receipt of a request for determination by an
 1953  applicant, the commission shall set a date for the hearing. The
 1954  hearing shall be held pursuant to s. 350.01 within 45 days after
 1955  the filing of the request, and a decision shall be rendered
 1956  within 60 days after such filing.
 1957         (d) The determination by the commission of the need for the
 1958  transmission line, as defined in s. 403.522(21) s. 403.522(22),
 1959  is binding on all parties to any certification proceeding under
 1960  the Florida Electric Transmission Line Siting Act and is a
 1961  condition precedent to the conduct of the certification hearing
 1962  prescribed therein. An order entered pursuant to this section
 1963  constitutes final agency action.
 1964         Section 66. Subsection (17) of section 403.704, Florida
 1965  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1966         403.704 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
 1967  shall have responsibility for the implementation and enforcement
 1968  of this act. In addition to other powers and duties, the
 1969  department shall:
 1970         (17) Provide technical assistance to local governments and
 1971  regional agencies to ensure consistency between county hazardous
 1972  waste management assessments; coordinate the development of such
 1973  assessments with the assistance of the appropriate regional
 1974  planning councils; and review and make recommendations to the
 1975  Legislature relative to the sufficiency of the assessments to
 1976  meet state hazardous waste management needs.
 1977         Section 67. Subsection (1) of section 403.7226, Florida
 1978  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1979         403.7226 Technical assistance by the department.—The
 1980  department shall:
 1981         (1) Provide technical assistance to county governments and
 1982  regional planning councils to ensure consistency in implementing
 1983  local hazardous waste management assessments as provided in ss.
 1984  403.7225, 403.7234, and 403.7236. In order to ensure that each
 1985  local assessment is properly implemented and that all
 1986  information gathered during the assessment is uniformly compiled
 1987  and documented, each county or regional planning council shall
 1988  contact the department during the preparation of the local
 1989  assessment to receive technical assistance. Each county or
 1990  regional planning council shall follow guidelines established by
 1991  the department, and adopted by rule as appropriate, in order to
 1992  properly implement these assessments.
 1993         Section 68. Subsection (22) of section 403.9403, Florida
 1994  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1995         403.9403 Definitions.—As used in ss. 403.9401-403.9425, the
 1996  term:
 1997         (22) “Regional planning council” means a regional planning
 1998  council created pursuant to chapter 186 in the jurisdiction of
 1999  which the project is proposed to be located.
 2000         Section 69. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 2001  403.941, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2002         403.941 Preliminary statements of issues, reports, and
 2003  studies.—
 2004         (2)(a) The affected agencies shall prepare reports as
 2005  provided in this paragraph and shall submit them to the
 2006  department and the applicant within 60 days after the
 2007  application is determined sufficient:
 2008         1. The department shall prepare a report as to the impact
 2009  of each proposed natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor
 2010  as it relates to matters within its jurisdiction.
 2011         2. Each water management district in the jurisdiction of
 2012  which a proposed natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor
 2013  is to be located shall prepare a report as to the impact on
 2014  water resources and other matters within its jurisdiction.
 2015         3. The Department of Economic Opportunity shall prepare a
 2016  report containing recommendations which address the impact upon
 2017  the public of the proposed natural gas transmission pipeline or
 2018  corridor, based on the degree to which the proposed natural gas
 2019  transmission pipeline or corridor is consistent with the
 2020  applicable portions of the state comprehensive plan and other
 2021  matters within its jurisdiction. The Department of Economic
 2022  Opportunity may also comment on the consistency of the proposed
 2023  natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor with applicable
 2024  strategic regional policy plans or local comprehensive plans and
 2025  land development regulations.
 2026         4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
 2027  prepare a report as to the impact of each proposed natural gas
 2028  transmission pipeline or corridor on fish and wildlife resources
 2029  and other matters within its jurisdiction.
 2030         5. Each local government in which the natural gas
 2031  transmission pipeline or natural gas transmission pipeline
 2032  corridor will be located shall prepare a report as to the impact
 2033  of each proposed natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor
 2034  on matters within its jurisdiction, including the consistency of
 2035  the proposed natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor with
 2036  all applicable local ordinances, regulations, standards, or
 2037  criteria that apply to the proposed natural gas transmission
 2038  pipeline or corridor, including local comprehensive plans,
 2039  zoning regulations, land development regulations, and any
 2040  applicable local environmental regulations adopted pursuant to
 2041  s. 403.182 or by other means. No change by the responsible local
 2042  government or local agency in local comprehensive plans, zoning
 2043  ordinances, or other regulations made after the date required
 2044  for the filing of the local government’s report required by this
 2045  section shall be applicable to the certification of the proposed
 2046  natural gas transmission pipeline or corridor unless the
 2047  certification is denied or the application is withdrawn.
 2048         6. The Department of Transportation shall prepare a report
 2049  on the effect of the natural gas transmission pipeline or
 2050  natural gas transmission pipeline corridor on matters within its
 2051  jurisdiction, including roadway crossings by the pipeline. The
 2052  report shall contain at a minimum:
 2053         a. A report by the applicant to the department stating that
 2054  all requirements of the department’s utilities accommodation
 2055  guide have been or will be met in regard to the proposed
 2056  pipeline or pipeline corridor; and
 2057         b. A statement by the department as to the adequacy of the
 2058  report to the department by the applicant.
 2059         7. The Department of State, Division of Historical
 2060  Resources, shall prepare a report on the impact of the natural
 2061  gas transmission pipeline or natural gas transmission pipeline
 2062  corridor on matters within its jurisdiction.
 2063         8. The commission shall prepare a report addressing matters
 2064  within its jurisdiction. The commission’s report shall include
 2065  its determination of need issued pursuant to s. 403.9422.
 2066         Section 70. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 2067  403.9422, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2068         403.9422 Determination of need for natural gas transmission
 2069  pipeline; powers and duties.—
 2070         (1)(a) Upon request by an applicant or upon its own motion,
 2071  the commission shall schedule a public hearing, after notice, to
 2072  determine the need for a natural gas transmission pipeline
 2073  regulated by ss. 403.9401-403.9425. Such notice shall be
 2074  published at least 45 days before the date set for the hearing
 2075  and shall be published in at least one-quarter page size in
 2076  newspapers of general circulation and in the Florida
 2077  Administrative Register, by giving notice to counties and
 2078  regional planning councils in whose jurisdiction the natural gas
 2079  transmission pipeline could be placed, and by giving notice to
 2080  any persons who have requested to be placed on the mailing list
 2081  of the commission for this purpose. Within 21 days after receipt
 2082  of a request for determination by an applicant, the commission
 2083  shall set a date for the hearing. The hearing shall be held
 2084  pursuant to s. 350.01 within 75 days after the filing of the
 2085  request, and a decision shall be rendered within 90 days after
 2086  such filing.
 2087         Section 71. Subsection (4) of section 403.973, Florida
 2088  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2089         403.973 Expedited permitting; amendments to comprehensive
 2090  plans.—
 2091         (4) The regional teams shall be established through the
 2092  execution of a project-specific memorandum of agreement
 2093  developed and executed by the applicant and the secretary, with
 2094  input solicited from the respective heads of the Department of
 2095  Transportation and its district offices, the Department of
 2096  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Fish and Wildlife
 2097  Conservation Commission, appropriate regional planning councils,
 2098  appropriate water management districts, and voluntarily
 2099  participating municipalities and counties. The memorandum of
 2100  agreement should also accommodate participation in this
 2101  expedited process by other local governments and federal
 2102  agencies as circumstances warrant.
 2103         Section 72. Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (1) of
 2104  section 408.033, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2105         408.033 Local and state health planning.—
 2106         (1) LOCAL HEALTH COUNCILS.—
 2107         (b) Each local health council may:
 2108         1. Develop a district area health plan that permits each
 2109  local health council to develop strategies and set priorities
 2110  for implementation based on its unique local health needs.
 2111         2. Advise the agency on health care issues and resource
 2112  allocations.
 2113         3. Promote public awareness of community health needs,
 2114  emphasizing health promotion and cost-effective health service
 2115  selection.
 2116         4. Collect data and conduct analyses and studies related to
 2117  health care needs of the district, including the needs of
 2118  medically indigent persons, and assist the agency and other
 2119  state agencies in carrying out data collection activities that
 2120  relate to the functions in this subsection.
 2121         5. Monitor the onsite construction progress, if any, of
 2122  certificate-of-need approved projects and report council
 2123  findings to the agency on forms provided by the agency.
 2124         6. Advise and assist any regional planning councils within
 2125  each district that have elected to address health issues in
 2126  their strategic regional policy plans with the development of
 2127  the health element of the plans to address the health goals and
 2128  policies in the State Comprehensive Plan.
 2129         7. Advise and assist local governments within each district
 2130  on the development of an optional health plan element of the
 2131  comprehensive plan provided in chapter 163, to assure
 2132  compatibility with the health goals and policies in the State
 2133  Comprehensive Plan and district health plan. To facilitate the
 2134  implementation of this section, the local health council shall
 2135  annually provide the local governments in its service area, upon
 2136  request, with:
 2137         a. A copy and appropriate updates of the district health
 2138  plan;
 2139         b. A report of hospital and nursing home utilization
 2140  statistics for facilities within the local government
 2141  jurisdiction; and
 2142         c. Applicable agency rules and calculated need
 2143  methodologies for health facilities and services regulated under
 2144  s. 408.034 for the district served by the local health council.
 2145         7.8. Monitor and evaluate the adequacy, appropriateness,
 2146  and effectiveness, within the district, of local, state,
 2147  federal, and private funds distributed to meet the needs of the
 2148  medically indigent and other underserved population groups.
 2149         8.9. In conjunction with the Department of Health, plan for
 2150  services at the local level for persons infected with the human
 2151  immunodeficiency virus.
 2152         9.10. Provide technical assistance to encourage and support
 2153  activities by providers, purchasers, consumers, and local,
 2154  regional, and state agencies in meeting the health care goals,
 2155  objectives, and policies adopted by the local health council.
 2156         10.11. Provide the agency with data required by rule for
 2157  the review of certificate-of-need applications and the
 2158  projection of need for health services and facilities in the
 2159  district.
 2160         (d) Each local health council shall enter into a memorandum
 2161  of agreement with each regional planning council in its district
 2162  that elects to address health issues in its strategic regional
 2163  policy plan. In addition, each local health council shall enter
 2164  into a memorandum of agreement with each local government that
 2165  includes an optional health element in its comprehensive plan.
 2166  Each memorandum of agreement must specify the manner in which
 2167  each local government, regional planning council, and local
 2168  health council will coordinate its activities to ensure a
 2169  unified approach to health planning and implementation efforts.
 2170         Section 73. Subsection (1) of section 420.609, Florida
 2171  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2172         420.609 Affordable Housing Study Commission.—Because the
 2173  Legislature firmly supports affordable housing in Florida for
 2174  all economic classes:
 2175         (1) There is created the Affordable Housing Study
 2176  Commission, which shall be composed of 20 21 members to be
 2177  appointed by the Governor:
 2178         (a) One citizen actively engaged in the residential home
 2179  building industry.
 2180         (b) One citizen actively engaged in the home mortgage
 2181  lending profession.
 2182         (c) One citizen actively engaged in the real estate sales
 2183  profession.
 2184         (d) One citizen actively engaged in apartment development.
 2185         (e) One citizen actively engaged in the management and
 2186  operation of a rental housing development.
 2187         (f) Two citizens who represent very-low-income and low
 2188  income persons.
 2189         (g) One citizen representing a community-based organization
 2190  with experience in housing development.
 2191         (h) One citizen representing a community-based organization
 2192  with experience in housing development in a community with a
 2193  population of less than 50,000 persons.
 2194         (i) Two citizens who represent elderly persons’ housing
 2195  interests.
 2196         (j) One representative of regional planning councils.
 2197         (k) One representative of the Florida League of Cities.
 2198         (k)(l) One representative of the Florida Association of
 2199  Counties.
 2200         (l)(m) Two citizens representing statewide growth
 2201  management organizations.
 2202         (m)(n) One citizen of the state to serve as chair of the
 2203  commission.
 2204         (n)(o) One citizen representing a residential community
 2205  developer.
 2206         (o)(p) One member who is a resident of the state.
 2207         (p)(q) One representative from a local housing authority.
 2208         (q)(r) One citizen representing the housing interests of
 2209  homeless persons.
 2210         Section 74. Subsection (8) of section 427.012, Florida
 2211  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2212         427.012 The Commission for the Transportation
 2213  Disadvantaged.—There is created the Commission for the
 2214  Transportation Disadvantaged in the Department of
 2215  Transportation.
 2216         (8) The commission shall appoint a technical working group
 2217  that includes representatives of private paratransit providers.
 2218  The technical working group shall advise the commission on
 2219  issues of importance to the state, including information,
 2220  advice, and direction regarding the coordination of services for
 2221  the transportation disadvantaged. The commission may appoint
 2222  other technical working groups whose members may include
 2223  representatives of community transportation coordinators;
 2224  metropolitan planning organizations; regional planning councils;
 2225  experts in insurance, marketing, economic development, or
 2226  financial planning; and persons who use transportation for the
 2227  transportation disadvantaged, or their relatives, parents,
 2228  guardians, or service professionals who tend to their needs.
 2229         Section 75. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
 2230  501.171, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2231         501.171 Security of confidential personal information.—
 2232         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
 2233         (f) “Governmental entity” means any department, division,
 2234  bureau, commission, regional planning agency, board, district,
 2235  authority, agency, or other instrumentality of this state that
 2236  acquires, maintains, stores, or uses data in electronic form
 2237  containing personal information.
 2238         Section 76. Subsection (6) of section 1013.30, Florida
 2239  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2240         1013.30 University campus master plans and campus
 2241  development agreements.—
 2242         (6) Before a campus master plan is adopted, a copy of the
 2243  draft master plan must be sent for review or made available
 2244  electronically to the host and any affected local governments,
 2245  the state land planning agency, the Department of Environmental
 2246  Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Department of
 2247  State, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the
 2248  applicable water management district and regional planning
 2249  council. At the request of a governmental entity, a hard copy of
 2250  the draft master plan shall be submitted within 7 business days
 2251  of an electronic copy being made available. These agencies must
 2252  be given 90 days after receipt of the campus master plans in
 2253  which to conduct their review and provide comments to the
 2254  university board of trustees. The commencement of this review
 2255  period must be advertised in newspapers of general circulation
 2256  within the host local government and any affected local
 2257  government to allow for public comment. Following receipt and
 2258  consideration of all comments and the holding of an informal
 2259  information session and at least two public hearings within the
 2260  host jurisdiction, the university board of trustees shall adopt
 2261  the campus master plan. It is the intent of the Legislature that
 2262  the university board of trustees comply with the notice
 2263  requirements set forth in s. 163.3184(11) to ensure full public
 2264  participation in this planning process. The informal public
 2265  information session must be held before the first public
 2266  hearing. The first public hearing shall be held before the draft
 2267  master plan is sent to the agencies specified in this
 2268  subsection. The second public hearing shall be held in
 2269  conjunction with the adoption of the draft master plan by the
 2270  university board of trustees. Campus master plans developed
 2271  under this section are not rules and are not subject to chapter
 2272  120 except as otherwise provided in this section.
 2273         Section 77. Subsection (6) of section 339.285, Florida
 2274  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2275         339.285 Enhanced Bridge Program for Sustainable
 2276  Transportation.—
 2277         (6) Preference shall be given to bridge projects located on
 2278  corridors that connect to the Strategic Intermodal System,
 2279  created under s. 339.64, and that have been identified as
 2280  regionally significant in accordance with s. 339.155(4)(b), (c),
 2281  and (d) s. 339.155(4)(c), (d), and (e).
 2282         Section 78. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 373.415,
 2283  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2284         373.415 Protection zones; duties of the St. Johns River
 2285  Water Management District.—
 2286         (1) Not later than November 1, 1988, the St. Johns River
 2287  Water Management District shall adopt rules establishing
 2288  protection zones adjacent to the watercourses in the Wekiva
 2289  River System, as designated in s. 369.303(9) s. 369.303(10).
 2290  Such protection zones shall be sufficiently wide to prevent harm
 2291  to the Wekiva River System, including water quality, water
 2292  quantity, hydrology, wetlands, and aquatic and wetland-dependent
 2293  wildlife species, caused by any of the activities regulated
 2294  under this part. Factors on which the widths of the protection
 2295  zones shall be based shall include, but not be limited to:
 2296         (a) The biological significance of the wetlands and uplands
 2297  adjacent to the designated watercourses in the Wekiva River
 2298  System, including the nesting, feeding, breeding, and resting
 2299  needs of aquatic species and wetland-dependent wildlife species.
 2300         (b) The sensitivity of these species to disturbance,
 2301  including the short-term and long-term adaptability to
 2302  disturbance of the more sensitive species, both migratory and
 2303  resident.
 2304         (c) The susceptibility of these lands to erosion, including
 2305  the slope, soils, runoff characteristics, and vegetative cover.
 2306  
 2307  In addition, the rules may establish permitting thresholds,
 2308  permitting exemptions, or general permits, if such thresholds,
 2309  exemptions, or general permits do not allow significant adverse
 2310  impacts to the Wekiva River System to occur individually or
 2311  cumulatively.
 2312         (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 120.60, the St.
 2313  Johns River Water Management District shall not issue any permit
 2314  under this part within the Wekiva River Protection Area, as
 2315  defined in s. 369.303(8) s. 369.303(9), until the appropriate
 2316  local government has provided written notification to the
 2317  district that the proposed activity is consistent with the local
 2318  comprehensive plan and is in compliance with any land
 2319  development regulation in effect in the area where the
 2320  development will take place. The district may, however, inform
 2321  any property owner who makes a request for such information as
 2322  to the location of the protection zone or zones on his or her
 2323  property. However, if a development proposal is amended as the
 2324  result of the review by the district, a permit may be issued
 2325  before prior to the development proposal being returned, if
 2326  necessary, to the local government for additional review.
 2327         Section 79. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) and paragraph
 2328  (a) of subsection (7) of section 403.5115, Florida Statutes, are
 2329  amended to read:
 2330         403.5115 Public notice.—
 2331         (6)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the applicant
 2332  to provide direct written notice of the filing of an application
 2333  for certification by United States mail or hand delivery no
 2334  later than 45 days after filing of the application to all local
 2335  landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local
 2336  government tax records, and residences are located within the
 2337  following distances of the proposed project:
 2338         1. Three miles of the proposed main site boundaries of the
 2339  proposed electrical power plant.
 2340         2. One-quarter mile for a transmission line corridor that
 2341  only includes a transmission line as defined by s. 403.522(21)
 2342  s. 403.522(22).
 2343         3. One-quarter mile for all other linear associated
 2344  facilities extending away from the main site boundary except for
 2345  a transmission line corridor that includes a transmission line
 2346  that operates below those defined by s. 403.522(21) s.
 2347  403.522(22).
 2348         (7)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the proponent
 2349  of an alternate corridor that includes a transmission line, as
 2350  defined by s. 403.522(21) s. 403.522(22), to provide direct
 2351  written notice of the filing of an alternate corridor for
 2352  certification by United States mail or hand delivery of the
 2353  filing no later than 30 days after filing of the alternate
 2354  corridor to all local landowners whose property, as noted in the
 2355  most recent local government tax records, and residences, are
 2356  located within one-quarter mile of the proposed boundaries of a
 2357  transmission line corridor that includes a transmission line as
 2358  defined by s. 403.522(21) s. 403.522(22).
 2359         Section 80. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 2360  made by this act to section 120.52, Florida Statutes, in a
 2361  reference thereto, subsection (5) of section 57.105, Florida
 2362  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2363         57.105 Attorney’s fee; sanctions for raising unsupported
 2364  claims or defenses; exceptions; service of motions; damages for
 2365  delay of litigation.—
 2366         (5) In administrative proceedings under chapter 120, an
 2367  administrative law judge shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee
 2368  and damages to be paid to the prevailing party in equal amounts
 2369  by the losing party and a losing party’s attorney or qualified
 2370  representative in the same manner and upon the same basis as
 2371  provided in subsections (1)-(4). Such award shall be a final
 2372  order subject to judicial review pursuant to s. 120.68. If the
 2373  losing party is an agency as defined in s. 120.52(1), the award
 2374  to the prevailing party shall be against and paid by the agency.
 2375  A voluntary dismissal by a nonprevailing party does not divest
 2376  the administrative law judge of jurisdiction to make the award
 2377  described in this subsection.
 2378         Section 81. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 2379  made by this act to section 120.52, Florida Statutes, in a
 2380  reference thereto, paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
 2381  57.111, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2382         57.111 Civil actions and administrative proceedings
 2383  initiated by state agencies; attorneys’ fees and costs.—
 2384         (3) As used in this section:
 2385         (f) The term “state agency” has the meaning described in s.
 2386  120.52(1).
 2387         Section 82. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 2388  made by this act to section 120.52, Florida Statutes, in a
 2389  reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 216.241, Florida
 2390  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2391         216.241 Initiation or commencement of new programs;
 2392  approval; expenditure of certain revenues.—
 2393         (3) Any revenues generated by any tax or fee imposed by
 2394  amendment to the State Constitution after October 1, 1999, shall
 2395  not be expended by any agency, as defined in s. 120.52(1),
 2396  except pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature.
 2397         Section 83. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 2398  made by this act to section 380.045, Florida Statutes, in a
 2399  reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 380.0552, Florida
 2400  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2401         380.0552 Florida Keys Area; protection and designation as
 2402  area of critical state concern.—
 2403         (6) RESOURCE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.—The
 2404  Governor, acting as the chief planning officer of the state,
 2405  shall appoint a resource planning and management committee for
 2406  the Florida Keys Area with the membership as specified in s.
 2407  380.045(2). Meetings shall be called as needed by the chair or
 2408  on the demand of three or more members of the committee. The
 2409  committee shall:
 2410         (a) Serve as a liaison between the state and local
 2411  governments within Monroe County.
 2412         (b) Develop, with local government officials in the Florida
 2413  Keys Area, recommendations to the state land planning agency as
 2414  to the sufficiency of the Florida Keys Area’s comprehensive plan
 2415  and land development regulations.
 2416         (c) Recommend to the state land planning agency changes to
 2417  state and regional plans and regulatory programs affecting the
 2418  Florida Keys Area.
 2419         (d) Assist units of local government within the Florida
 2420  Keys Area in carrying out the planning functions and other
 2421  responsibilities required by this section.
 2422         (e) Review, at a minimum, all reports and other materials
 2423  provided to it by the state land planning agency or other
 2424  governmental agencies.
 2425         Section 84. Local governments may enter into agreements to
 2426  create regional planning entities pursuant to chapter 163,
 2427  Florida Statutes.
 2428         Section 85. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.