Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 504
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       22-01216-25                                            2025504__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to Department of Transportation
    3         construction projects; amending s. 334.044, F.S.;
    4         revising the percentage of the contracted amount for
    5         certain construction projects which the Department of
    6         Transportation is required to allocate for the
    7         purchase of plant materials; providing an effective
    8         date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (26) of section 334.044, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         334.044 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
   15  shall have the following general powers and duties:
   16         (26) To provide for the enhancement of environmental
   17  benefits, including air and water quality; to prevent roadside
   18  erosion; to conserve the natural roadside growth and scenery;
   19  and to provide for the implementation and maintenance of
   20  roadside conservation, enhancement, and stabilization programs.
   21  To exercise these powers and duties, the department may contract
   22  with nonprofit organizations having the primary purpose of
   23  developing youth employment opportunities.
   24         (a) A percentage At least 1.5 percent of the amount
   25  contracted for construction projects shall be allocated by the
   26  department on a statewide basis for the purchase of plant
   27  materials, as follows:
   28         1. For projects contracted for up to $50 million, 1.5
   29  percent.
   30         2. For projects contracted for more than $50 million up to
   31  $100 million, 1 percent.
   32         3. For projects contracted for more than $100 million up to
   33  $250 million, 0.75 percent.
   34         4. For projects contracted for more than $250 million up to
   35  $500 million, 0.5 percent.
   36         5. For projects contracted for $500 million or more, 0.1
   37  percent.
   38         (b) Department districts may not expend funds for
   39  landscaping in connection with any project that is limited to
   40  resurfacing existing lanes unless the expenditure has been
   41  approved by the department’s secretary or the secretary’s
   42  designee.
   43         (c) To the greatest extent practical, at least 50 percent
   44  of the funds allocated under this subsection shall be allocated
   45  for large plant materials and the remaining funds for other
   46  plant materials. Except as prohibited by applicable federal law
   47  or regulation, all plant materials shall be purchased from
   48  Florida commercial nursery stock in this state on a uniform
   49  competitive bid basis. The department shall develop grades and
   50  standards for landscaping materials purchased through this
   51  process. To accomplish these activities, the department may
   52  contract with nonprofit organizations having the primary purpose
   53  of developing youth employment opportunities.
   54         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.