The Florida Senate

240.295  State University System; authorization for fixed capital outlay projects.--

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 216, including s. 216.351, the State University System may accomplish fixed capital outlay projects consistent with the provisions of this section. Projects authorized by this section shall not require educational plant survey approval as prescribed in chapter 235. No project which upon completion requires general revenue for operation or maintenance shall be accomplished without approval by the Legislature.

(2)  The following types of projects may be accomplished pursuant to the restrictions identified in subsection (1):

(a)  Construction of any new buildings, or remodeling of existing buildings, when funded from nonstate sources such as federal grant funds, private gifts, grants, or lease arrangements if such grants or gifts are given for the specific purpose of construction;

(b)  The replacement of any buildings destroyed by fire or other calamity;

¹(c)  Construction of projects financed as provided in s. 240.2093 or part I of chapter 243;

(d)  Construction of new facilities or remodeling of existing facilities to meet needs for research, provided that such projects are financed pursuant to s. 240.241; or

(e)  Construction of facilities or remodeling of existing facilities to meet needs as determined by the university, provided that the amount of funds for any such project does not exceed $500,000, and the trust funds, other than the funds used to accomplish projects contemplated in this subsection, are authorized and available for such purposes.

(3)  Other than those projects currently authorized, no project proposed by a university which is to be funded from Capital Improvement Trust Fund fees or building fees shall be submitted to the Board of Regents for approval without prior consultation with the student government association of that university. The Board of Regents shall promulgate rules which are consistent with this requirement.

(4)  The Board of Regents shall, in consultation with local and state emergency management agencies, assess existing facilities to identify the extent to which each campus has public shelter space adequate to house those students, faculty, and employees expected to seek public shelter prior to or during a disaster and those other persons for which the campus has agreed with the local emergency management agency or other voluntary organization to provide shelter space. The board shall submit a report describing the results of its assessment to the Governor and the Legislature by February 1, 1994. At the discretion of the board, this report may be accompanied by a list of proposed improvements to existing buildings to improve shelter capacity and an estimate of the costs associated with implementing these improvements. Until a campus has sufficient shelter space, any building for which a design contract is entered into subsequent to July 1, 1994, must be constructed in accordance with public shelter standards unless the board, with the concurrence of the local emergency management agency or the Department of Community Affairs, exempts the building or part thereof from shelter standards because of its location, size, or other characteristic.

History.--s. 2, ch. 63-204; s. 3, ch. 67-97; s. 11, ch. 75-302; s. 102, ch. 79-222; s. 41, ch. 81-223; s. 1, ch. 81-263; s. 8, ch. 82-240; s. 110, ch. 83-217; s. 13, ch. 90-302; s. 7, ch. 93-211; s. 3, ch. 94-230; s. 19, ch. 94-292.

¹Note.--As amended by s. 3, ch. 94-230. This version is published as the last expression of legislative will (see Journal of the Senate 1994, pp. 1107 and 1510). Paragraph (2)(c) was also amended by s. 19, ch. 94-292, and that version reads:

(c)  Construction of dormitories or other auxiliary accommodations;

Note.--Former s. 240.141.