The Florida Senate

Any claims against the state arising from defaults shall be payable from the Black Contractors Bond Trust Fund. Nothing in this section grants or pledges to any obligee or other person any state moneys other than the moneys in the Black Contractors Bond Trust Fund.

The board may guarantee bonds executed by sureties for black business enterprises under this section as principals on contracts with the state, any political subdivision or instrumentality, or any person as the obligee. The board, as guarantor, may exercise all the rights and powers of a company authorized by the Department of Financial Services to guarantee bonds under chapter 624, but otherwise is not subject to any laws related to a guaranty company under chapter 624 or to any rules of the department.

The board shall adopt policies and procedures for the application for bond guarantees and for the review and approval of applications for bond guarantees submitted by sureties that execute bonds eligible for guarantees under this section.

In accordance with the policies and procedures adopted pursuant to this section, the board may guarantee up to 90 percent of the loss incurred and paid by sureties on bonds guaranteed under this section.

The policies and procedures of the board shall require the black business enterprise to pay a premium in advance for the bond to be established by the board. All premiums paid by the black business enterprise shall be paid into the Black Contractors Bond Trust Fund.

The penal sum amounts of all outstanding bonds issued by the board shall not exceed the amount of moneys in the Black Contractors Bond Trust Fund.

Any funds to the credit of the Black Contractors Bond Trust Fund in excess of the amount necessary to fund the appropriation authority for the fund shall be held as a loss reserve to pay claims arising from defaults on surety bonds guaranteed in accordance with this section.

Conduct outreach, marketing, and recruitment of black contractors.

Provide business development services to black business enterprises in the developmental and transitional stages of the program, including financing and bonding assistance and management and technical assistance.

Develop a mentor program to bring businesses into a working relationship with black contractors in a way that commercially benefits both entities and serves the purpose of the program.

Establish a process by which black contractors may apply for contract assistance, financial and bonding assistance, management and technical assistance, and mentoring opportunities.