Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 728 By the Committee on Rules; and Senator Harrell 595-03058-22 2022728c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to advanced air mobility; creating the 3 Advanced Air Mobility Study Task Force adjunct to the 4 Department of Transportation; specifying the 5 composition of the task force; providing that task 6 force members serve at the pleasure of their 7 appointing authority; providing that task force 8 members shall serve without compensation but are 9 entitled to certain reimbursement; requiring the 10 department to provide staff, assistance, and 11 facilities; providing for funding for the task force 12 from the State Transportation Trust Fund; specifying 13 duties of the task force and requirements for its 14 meetings; defining the term “eVTOL aircraft”; 15 requiring the task force to submit a certain report to 16 the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 17 providing for abolishment of the task force; providing 18 for expiration; providing an effective date. 19 20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21 22 Section 1. Advanced Air Mobility Study Task Force.— 23 (1) The Advanced Air Mobility Study Task Force, a task 24 force as defined in s. 20.03(8), Florida Statutes, is created 25 adjunct to the Department of Transportation. The task force is 26 composed of the following members: 27 (a) The secretary of the Department of Transportation or 28 the secretary’s designee, who shall serve as chair of the task 29 force. 30 (b) One member of the Senate appointed by the President of 31 the Senate. 32 (c) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by 33 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 34 (d) The executive director of the Florida League of Cities 35 or the director’s designee. 36 (e) The executive director of the Florida Association of 37 Counties or the director’s designee. 38 (f) The president of Space Florida or the president’s 39 designee. 40 (g) Appointed by the Governor: 41 1. Two members, each representing a different city having a 42 population of more than 250,000 persons. 43 2. One member representing a city having a population of 44 fewer than 250,000 persons. 45 3. One member representing a metropolitan planning 46 organization. 47 4. One member representing the State University System. 48 5. Three members representing the advanced air mobility 49 industry. 50 6. One member representing an organization in this state 51 which advocates for persons with disabilities. 52 7. Two members representing the business community. 53 8. One member representing an organization in this state 54 which advocates for underserved transportation areas. 55 9. One member representing a public airport located in a 56 county having a population of more than 1 million persons. 57 10. One member representing a public airport located in a 58 county having a population of fewer than 1 million persons. 59 (2) Appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the 60 appointing authority. 61 (3) Task force members shall serve without compensation but 62 are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and necessary per 63 diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their 64 duties as provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes. 65 (4) The Department of Transportation shall provide staff, 66 assistance, and facilities as are deemed necessary for the task 67 force to perform its duties. Funding for the task force shall be 68 paid from the State Transportation Trust Fund. 69 (5) The task force shall meet at the time and location as 70 the chair determines. The task force shall hold public hearings 71 and receive public comment in locations throughout this state, 72 or by electronic means such as teleconference, provided that a 73 means for active participation is accommodated. 74 (6) The task force shall: 75 (a) Assess and describe the current state of development of 76 the advanced air mobility industry, specifically the deployment 77 of eVTOL aircraft. As used in this section, the term “eVTOL 78 aircraft” means a type of aircraft that uses electric power to 79 hover, take off, and land vertically without a runway. 80 (b) Identify federal, state, and local laws, rules, 81 regulations, and other requirements that may impact the 82 development of the advanced air mobility industry in this state, 83 including the potential deployment of eVTOL aircraft and 84 infrastructure. 85 (c) Recommend any changes to state laws and regulations 86 necessary to facilitate the continued development of the 87 advanced air mobility industry and deployment of eVTOL aircraft 88 and infrastructure in this state. 89 (d) Evaluate the potential integration of advanced air 90 mobility into local government transportation plans. 91 (7) By October 1, 2023, the task force shall submit to the 92 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 93 House of Representatives a report including the information, 94 findings, and recommendations required pursuant to subsection 95 (6) and any other relevant material deemed appropriate by the 96 task force. Upon submission of the report, the task force is 97 abolished. 98 (8) This section expires December 31, 2023. 99 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.