The Florida Senate

331.302  Florida Space Authority; creation; purpose.--

(1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide a unified direction for space-related economic growth and educational development, to ensure a stable and dynamic economic climate, to attract and maintain space-related businesses suitable to the state, and to further the coordination and development of Florida's economy.

(2)  There is hereby established, formed, and created the Florida Space Authority, which is created and incorporated as a public corporation, body politic, and subdivision of the state to establish facilities or complementary activities to enhance and provide commercial space-related development opportunities for business, education, and government, and which shall have all the powers, rights, privileges, and authority as provided under the laws of this state.

(3)  It shall be the purpose, function, and responsibility of the Florida Space Authority to develop a strategy for and implement the acceleration of space-related economic growth and educational development within the state. Projects in the state shall include the space business incubators, space tourism activities and centers, educational involvement in business incubators, and the Spaceport Florida launch centers. It shall be the authority's purpose, function, and responsibility to provide projects in the state which will develop and improve the entrepreneurial atmosphere, to provide coordination among space businesses, Florida universities, space tourism, and the Spaceport Florida launch centers, and to provide activities designed to stimulate the development of space commerce. In carrying out these duties and responsibilities, the authority may advise and cooperate with municipalities, counties, regional authorities, state agencies and organizations, appropriate federal agencies and organizations, and other interested persons and groups.

(4)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the Florida Space Authority shall not be considered an "agency" as defined in ss. 216.011 and 287.012

History.--ss. 2, 61, ch. 89-300, ss. 7, 8, ch. 90-192; s. 1, ch. 91-265; s. 11, ch. 2002-183.