Florida Senate - 2023                             CS for SB 1250
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator DiCeglie
       
       
       
       
       
       596-02755-23                                          20231250c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Department of Transportation;
    3         amending s. 287.057, F.S.; revising the contractual
    4         services and commodities that are not subject to
    5         specified competitive-solicitation requirements;
    6         amending s. 288.9606, F.S.; providing construction
    7         regarding the proceeds of bonds of the Florida
    8         Development Finance Corporation; revising purposes for
    9         which the corporation may, without certain
   10         authorization from a public agency, issue revenue
   11         bonds or other evidence of indebtedness; amending s.
   12         311.101, F.S.; authorizing the department to provide
   13         up to 100 percent of project costs for certain
   14         eligible projects in rural areas of opportunity;
   15         amending s. 316.0777, F.S.; defining the term “law
   16         enforcement agency”; authorizing installation of an
   17         automated license plate recognition system within the
   18         right-of-way of any road on the State Highway System
   19         for a specified purpose; providing that such
   20         installations are solely within the department’s
   21         discretion and must be in accordance with placement
   22         and installation guidelines developed by the
   23         department; requiring removal of such a system within
   24         a specified timeframe at the expense of the requesting
   25         law enforcement agency upon notification by the
   26         department; providing that the department is not
   27         liable for any damages resulting from the requesting
   28         law enforcement agency’s operation of such a system;
   29         providing for a maximum period of retention of certain
   30         records generated through the use of an automated
   31         license plate recognition system; amending s. 332.007,
   32         F.S.; authorizing the department, subject to the
   33         availability of appropriated funds, to fund certain
   34         projects at specified publicly owned, publicly
   35         operated airports with no scheduled commercial
   36         service; providing prioritization criteria; providing
   37         for allocation of any remaining funds; amending s.
   38         330.29, F.S.; requiring that department rules
   39         governing public airport site approval include a
   40         specified requirement relating to a memorandum of
   41         understanding or letter of agreement regarding air
   42         traffic pattern separation procedures between
   43         specified parties; providing applicability; amending
   44         s. 334.044, F.S.; revising the department’s powers and
   45         duties; amending s. 337.11, F.S.; increasing the
   46         maximum cost of contracts for construction and
   47         maintenance the department may enter into without
   48         advertising and receiving competitive bids; amending
   49         s. 339.135, F.S.; abrogating the expiration of
   50         provisions authorizing the approval of certain work
   51         program amendments submitted by the department;
   52         amending s. 341.052, F.S.; requiring that public
   53         transportation development plans of eligible providers
   54         of public transit block grants be consistent with the
   55         long-range transportation plans of the metropolitan
   56         planning area in which the providers are located;
   57         amending s. 341.071, F.S.; revising requirements of
   58         annual public transit provider reports; requiring each
   59         public transit provider to publish on its website,
   60         rather than in the local newspaper, certain
   61         performance measures; repealing part IV of ch. 348,
   62         F.S., relating to the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority;
   63         transferring the governance and control of the Santa
   64         Rosa Bay Bridge Authority to the department;
   65         transferring the remaining assets, facilities,
   66         property, and property rights of the authority to the
   67         department; providing that the department succeeds to
   68         all powers of the authority; authorizing the
   69         department to review other contracts, financial
   70         obligations, and contractual obligations and
   71         liabilities of the authority and to assume legal
   72         liability for such obligations determined by the
   73         department to be necessary for the continued operation
   74         of the bridge system; authorizing the department to
   75         transfer the bridge system, or any portion thereof, to
   76         become part of the turnpike system; providing
   77         effective dates.
   78          
   79  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   80  
   81         Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section
   82  287.057, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   83         287.057 Procurement of commodities or contractual
   84  services.—
   85         (3) If the purchase price of commodities or contractual
   86  services exceeds the threshold amount provided in s. 287.017 for
   87  CATEGORY TWO, purchase of commodities or contractual services
   88  may not be made without receiving competitive sealed bids,
   89  competitive sealed proposals, or competitive sealed replies
   90  unless:
   91         (e) The following contractual services and commodities are
   92  not subject to the competitive-solicitation requirements of this
   93  section:
   94         1. Artistic services. As used in this subsection, the term
   95  “artistic services” does not include advertising or typesetting.
   96  As used in this subparagraph, the term “advertising” means the
   97  making of a representation in any form in connection with a
   98  trade, business, craft, or profession in order to promote the
   99  supply of commodities or services by the person promoting the
  100  commodities or contractual services.
  101         2. Academic program reviews if the fee for such services
  102  does not exceed $50,000.
  103         3. Lectures by individuals.
  104         4. Legal services, including attorney, paralegal, expert
  105  witness, appraisal, or mediator services.
  106         5. Health services involving examination, diagnosis,
  107  treatment, prevention, medical consultation, or administration.
  108  The term also includes, but is not limited to, substance abuse
  109  and mental health services involving examination, diagnosis,
  110  treatment, prevention, or medical consultation if such services
  111  are offered to eligible individuals participating in a specific
  112  program that qualifies multiple providers and uses a standard
  113  payment methodology. Reimbursement of administrative costs for
  114  providers of services purchased in this manner are also exempt.
  115  For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “providers” means
  116  health professionals and health facilities, or organizations
  117  that deliver or arrange for the delivery of health services.
  118         6. Services provided to persons with mental or physical
  119  disabilities by not-for-profit corporations that have obtained
  120  exemptions under s. 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal
  121  Revenue Code or when such services are governed by Office of
  122  Management and Budget Circular A-122. However, in acquiring such
  123  services, the agency shall consider the ability of the vendor,
  124  past performance, willingness to meet time requirements, and
  125  price.
  126         7. Medicaid services delivered to an eligible Medicaid
  127  recipient unless the agency is directed otherwise in law.
  128         8. Family placement services.
  129         9. Prevention services related to mental health, including
  130  drug abuse prevention programs, child abuse prevention programs,
  131  and shelters for runaways, operated by not-for-profit
  132  corporations. However, in acquiring such services, the agency
  133  shall consider the ability of the vendor, past performance,
  134  willingness to meet time requirements, and price.
  135         10. Training and education services provided to injured
  136  employees pursuant to s. 440.491(6).
  137         11. Contracts entered into pursuant to s. 337.11.
  138         12. Services or commodities provided by governmental
  139  entities.
  140         13. Statewide public service announcement programs provided
  141  by a Florida statewide nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(6)
  142  of the Internal Revenue Code which have a guaranteed documented
  143  match of at least $3 to $1.
  144         14. Rating agency services.
  145         Section 2. Subsections (6) and (7) of section 288.9606,
  146  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  147         288.9606 Issue of revenue bonds.—
  148         (6) The proceeds of any bonds of the corporation may not be
  149  used, in any manner, to acquire any building or facility that
  150  will be, during the pendency of the financing, used by, occupied
  151  by, leased to, or paid for by any state, county, or municipal
  152  agency or entity. This subsection does not prohibit the use of
  153  proceeds of bonds of the corporation for the purpose of
  154  financing the acquisition or construction of a transportation
  155  facility under a public-private partnership agreement authorized
  156  under s. 334.30.
  157         (7) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the
  158  corporation in its corporate capacity may, without authorization
  159  from a public agency under s. 163.01(7), issue revenue bonds or
  160  other evidence of indebtedness under this section to:
  161         (a) Finance the undertaking of any project within the state
  162  that promotes renewable energy as defined in s. 366.91 or s.
  163  377.803;
  164         (b) Finance the undertaking of any project within the state
  165  that is a project contemplated or allowed under s. 406 of the
  166  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; or
  167         (c) If permitted by federal law, finance qualifying
  168  improvement projects within the state under s. 163.08; or
  169         (d) Finance the costs of acquisition or construction of a
  170  transportation facility by a private entity or consortium of
  171  private entities under a public-private partnership agreement
  172  authorized under s. 334.30.
  173         Section 3. Subsection (6) of section 311.101, Florida
  174  Statutes, is amended to read:
  175         311.101 Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support
  176  Program.—
  177         (6) The department shall provide up to 50 percent of
  178  project costs for eligible projects. For eligible projects in
  179  rural areas of opportunity designated in accordance with s.
  180  288.0656(7)(a), the department may provide up to 100 percent of
  181  project costs.
  182         Section 4. Section 316.0777, Florida Statutes, is amended
  183  to read:
  184         316.0777 Automated license plate recognition systems;
  185  installation within the rights-of-way of the State Highway
  186  System; public records exemption.—
  187         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  188         (a) “Active,” “criminal intelligence information,” and
  189  “criminal investigative information” have the same meanings as
  190  provided in s. 119.011(3).
  191         (b) “Agency” has the same meaning as provided in s.
  192  119.011.
  193         (c) “Automated license plate recognition system” means a
  194  system of one or more mobile or fixed high-speed cameras
  195  combined with computer algorithms to convert images of license
  196  plates into computer-readable data.
  197         (d) “Criminal justice agency” has the same meaning as
  198  provided in s. 119.011.
  199         (2)(a)For purposes of this subsection, the term “law
  200  enforcement agency” means an agency that has a primary mission
  201  of preventing and detecting crime and enforcing state penal,
  202  criminal, traffic, and motor vehicle laws and in furtherance of
  203  that mission employs law enforcement officers as defined in s.
  204  943.10(1).
  205         (b)At the discretion of the Department of Transportation,
  206  an automated license plate recognition system may be installed
  207  within the rights-of-way, as defined in s. 334.03(21), of any
  208  road on the State Highway System when installed at the request
  209  of a law enforcement agency for the purpose of collecting active
  210  criminal intelligence information or active criminal
  211  investigative information as those terms are described in s.
  212  119.011(3). Such installations must be in accordance with
  213  placement and installation guidelines developed by the
  214  Department of Transportation. An automated license plate
  215  recognition system must be removed within 30 days after the
  216  Department of Transportation notifies the requesting law
  217  enforcement agency that such removal must occur.
  218         (c) Installation and removal of an automated license plate
  219  recognition system is at the sole expense of the requesting law
  220  enforcement agency. The Department of Transportation is not
  221  liable for any damages caused to any person by the requesting
  222  law enforcement agency’s operation of such a system.
  223         (d) Records containing images and data generated through
  224  use of an automated license plate recognition system may not be
  225  retained longer than the maximum period provided in the
  226  retention schedule established pursuant to s. 316.0778.
  227         (3)(2) The following information held by an agency is
  228  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I
  229  of the State Constitution:
  230         (a) Images and data containing or providing personal
  231  identifying information obtained through the use of an automated
  232  license plate recognition system.
  233         (b) Personal identifying information of an individual in
  234  data generated or resulting from images obtained through the use
  235  of an automated license plate recognition system.
  236         (4)(3) Such information may be disclosed as follows:
  237         (a) Any such information may be disclosed by or to a
  238  criminal justice agency in the performance of the criminal
  239  justice agency’s official duties.
  240         (b) Any such information relating to a license plate
  241  registered to an individual may be disclosed to the individual,
  242  unless such information constitutes active criminal intelligence
  243  information or active criminal investigative information.
  244         (5)(4) This exemption applies to such information held by
  245  an agency before, on, or after the effective date of this
  246  exemption.
  247         Section 5. Subsection (10) is added to section 332.007,
  248  Florida Statutes, to read:
  249         332.007 Administration and financing of aviation and
  250  airport programs and projects; state plan.—
  251         (10) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, and
  252  unless otherwise provided in the General Appropriations Act or
  253  the substantive bill implementing the General Appropriations
  254  Act, the department may fund all of the following at a publicly
  255  owned, publicly operated airport located in a rural community as
  256  defined in s. 288.0656 which does not have any scheduled
  257  commercial service:
  258         (a) The capital cost of runway and taxiway projects that
  259  add capacity. Such projects must be prioritized based on the
  260  amount of available nonstate matching funds.
  261         (b) Economic development transportation projects pursuant
  262  to s. 339.2821.
  263  
  264  Any remaining funds must be allocated for projects specified in
  265  subsection (6).
  266         Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 330.29, Florida
  267  Statutes, is amended to read:
  268         330.29 Administration and enforcement; rules; requirements
  269  for airport sites and airports.—It is the duty of the department
  270  to:
  271         (4) Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to
  272  implement the provisions of this chapter. The department rules
  273  governing public airport site approval must include a
  274  requirement that an applicant provide a copy of a written
  275  memorandum of understanding or letter of agreement regarding air
  276  traffic pattern separation procedures between the parties
  277  representing a proposed airport and any existing airport or any
  278  approved airport site located within 3 miles of the proposed
  279  site, which must be signed by each of the respective parties.
  280  The requirement applies only if such memorandum or letter is
  281  required by the final Federal Aviation Administration airspace
  282  determination letter or is deemed necessary by the department.
  283         Section 7. Subsection (5) of section 334.044, Florida
  284  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (36) is added to that
  285  section, to read:
  286         334.044 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
  287  shall have the following general powers and duties:
  288         (5) To purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire property and
  289  materials, including the purchase of promotional items as part
  290  of public information and education campaigns for the promotion
  291  of scenic highways, traffic and train safety awareness,
  292  alternatives to single-occupant vehicle travel, and commercial
  293  motor vehicle safety, electric vehicle use and charging
  294  stations, autonomous vehicles, and context design for electric
  295  vehicles and autonomous vehicles; to purchase, lease, or
  296  otherwise acquire equipment and supplies; and to sell, exchange,
  297  or otherwise dispose of any property that is no longer needed by
  298  the department.
  299         (36) To expend funds, within the department’s discretion,
  300  for training, testing, and licensing for full-time employees of
  301  the department who are required to have a valid Class A or Class
  302  B commercial driver license as a condition of employment with
  303  the department.
  304         Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section
  305  337.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  306         337.11 Contracting authority of department; bids; emergency
  307  repairs, supplemental agreements, and change orders; combined
  308  design and construction contracts; progress payments; records;
  309  requirements of vehicle registration.—
  310         (6)
  311         (c) When the department determines that it is in the best
  312  interest of the public for reasons of public concern, economy,
  313  improved operations, or safety, and only when circumstances
  314  dictate rapid completion of the work, the department may, up to
  315  the amount of $500,000 $250,000, enter into contracts for
  316  construction and maintenance without advertising and receiving
  317  competitive bids. The department may enter into such contracts
  318  only upon a determination that the work is necessary for one of
  319  the following reasons:
  320         1. To ensure timely completion of projects or avoidance of
  321  undue delay for other projects;
  322         2. To accomplish minor repairs or construction and
  323  maintenance activities for which time is of the essence and for
  324  which significant cost savings would occur; or
  325         3. To accomplish nonemergency work necessary to ensure
  326  avoidance of adverse conditions that affect the safe and
  327  efficient flow of traffic.
  328  
  329  The department shall make a good faith effort to obtain two or
  330  more quotes, if available, from qualified contractors before
  331  entering into any contract. The department shall give
  332  consideration to disadvantaged business enterprise
  333  participation. However, when the work exists within the limits
  334  of an existing contract, the department shall make a good faith
  335  effort to negotiate and enter into a contract with the prime
  336  contractor on the existing contract.
  337         Section 9. Paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section
  338  339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  339         339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
  340  definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
  341         (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
  342         (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
  343  project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
  344  of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
  345  Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
  346  paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
  347  projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
  348  program which are eligible for the funds within the
  349  appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
  350  The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
  351  not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
  352  the proposed amendment.
  353         2. If the department submits an amendment to the
  354  Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
  355  or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
  356  the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
  357  amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
  358  subparagraph expires July 1, 2023.
  359         Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 341.052, Florida
  360  Statutes, is amended to read:
  361         341.052 Public transit block grant program; administration;
  362  eligible projects; limitation.—
  363         (1) There is created a public transit block grant program
  364  which shall be administered by the department. Block grant funds
  365  shall only be provided to “Section 9” providers and “Section 18”
  366  providers designated by the United States Department of
  367  Transportation and community transportation coordinators as
  368  defined in chapter 427. Eligible providers must establish public
  369  transportation development plans consistent, to the maximum
  370  extent feasible, with approved local government comprehensive
  371  plans of the units of local government in which the provider is
  372  located and the long-range transportation plans of the
  373  metropolitan planning area in which the provider is located. In
  374  developing public transportation development plans, eligible
  375  providers must solicit comments from local workforce development
  376  boards established under chapter 445. The development plans must
  377  address how the public transit provider will work with the
  378  appropriate local workforce development board to provide
  379  services to participants in the welfare transition program.
  380  Eligible providers must provide information to the local
  381  workforce development board serving the county in which the
  382  provider is located regarding the availability of transportation
  383  services to assist program participants.
  384         Section 11. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 341.071,
  385  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  386         341.071 Transit productivity and performance measures;
  387  reports.—
  388         (2) Each public transit provider shall establish
  389  productivity and performance measures, which must be approved by
  390  the department and which must be selected from measures
  391  developed pursuant to s. 341.041(3). Each provider shall, by
  392  January 31 of each year, report to the department relative to
  393  these measures. In approving these measures, the department
  394  shall give consideration to the goals and objectives of each
  395  system, the needs of the local area, and the role for public
  396  transit in the local area. The report must include the shall
  397  also specifically address potential enhancements to productivity
  398  and performance which would have the effect of increasing
  399  farebox recovery ratio.
  400         (3) Each public transit provider shall publish on its
  401  website in the local newspaper of its area the productivity and
  402  performance measures established for the year and a report that
  403  which provides quantitative data relative to the attainment of
  404  established productivity and performance measures.
  405         Section 12. Effective upon this act becoming a law, part IV
  406  of chapter 348, Florida Statutes, consisting of sections
  407  348.965, 348.966, 348.967, 348.968, 348.969, 348.97, 348.971,
  408  348.972, 348.973, 348.974, 348.9751, 348.9761, 348.9771, and
  409  348.9781, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  410         Section 13. Effective upon this act becoming a law, the
  411  governance and control of the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority is
  412  transferred to the Department of Transportation.
  413         (1) Since the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority’s bridge
  414  system was transferred to the department under the terms of the
  415  lease-purchase agreement and a settlement agreement between the
  416  department and the authority which was effective as of the close
  417  of business on June 30, 2022, any remaining assets, facilities,
  418  tangible and intangible property, and any rights in such
  419  property, and other legal rights of the authority are
  420  transferred to the department. The department succeeds to all
  421  powers of the authority. The department may review other
  422  contracts, financial obligations, and contractual obligations
  423  and liabilities of the authority and may assume legal liability
  424  for such obligations that are determined by the department to be
  425  necessary for the continued operation of the bridge system.
  426         (2)The bridge system, or any portion thereof, may be
  427  transferred by the department and become part of the turnpike
  428  system under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Law, ss. 338.22
  429  338.241, Florida Statutes.
  430         Section 14. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  431  act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
  432  this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
  433  2023.