Skip to Navigation | Skip to Main Content | Skip to Site Map

MyFloridaHouse.gov | Mobile Site

Senate Tracker: Sign Up | Login

The Florida Senate

2011 Florida Statutes

SECTION 984
Florida Council on Military Base and Mission Support.
F.S. 288.984
288.984 Florida Council on Military Base and Mission Support.The Florida Council on Military Base and Mission Support is established. The council shall provide oversight and direction for initiatives, claims, and actions taken on behalf of the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions under this part.
(1) MISSION.The mission of the council is to:
(a) Support and strengthen all United States Department of Defense missions and bases located in this state.
(b) Know the capabilities of all state military installations in order to understand and be supportive of future military growth opportunities in this state.
(c) Support local community efforts relating to mission support of a military base by acting as a liaison between the local communities and the Legislature.
(d) Enhance Florida’s defense economy.
(2) MEMBERSHIP.
(a) The council shall be composed of nine members. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor shall each appoint three members as follows:
1. The President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate, one community representative from a community-based defense support organization, and one member who is a retired military general or flag-rank officer residing in this state or an executive officer of a defense contracting firm doing significant business in this state.
2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the House of Representatives, one community representative from a community-based defense support organization, and one member who is a retired military general or flag-rank officer residing in this state or an executive officer of a defense contracting firm doing significant business in this state.
3. The Governor shall appoint the executive director of the department or the director’s designee, a board member of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and one at-large member.
(b) Each of the appointed legislative members shall serve for a term of 2 years, commencing July 1 of each odd-numbered year. Each of the other appointed members shall serve for a term of 4 years, commencing July 1 in the year of appointment. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial appointment. All members of the council are eligible for reappointment.
(c) Members of the council shall elect a chair and vice chair to serve for terms of 2 years. The chair and vice chair are eligible to succeed themselves.
(d) The members of the council shall serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061, which shall be paid by the appointing legislative chamber or the Executive Office of the Governor, as appropriate.
(e) The department shall provide administrative support to the council.
(f) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or his or her designee, the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee, the Adjutant General of the state or his or her designee, and the executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or his or her designee shall attend meetings held by the council and provide assistance, information, and support as requested by the council.
(3) WORKGROUPS.The council shall establish the following workgroups:
(a) The Intrastate Activities Workgroup.The task of the workgroup is to:
1. Collect information about and become familiar with the concerns and activities of local communities in enhancing and supporting their respective military bases.
2. Conduct an analysis of the strengths of each military base and share the evaluation with the council and the affected community.
3. In partnership with the Florida Defense Alliance and local communities, conduct ongoing analyses of current and proposed changes to the mission and military force structure and alignment of the United States Department of Defense.
4. Identify the most effective methods and practices used by local communities to address the issue of military base support and enhancement and disseminate such best practices among affected communities.
5. Ensure that affected communities and stakeholders are informed of and invited to assist and support state-level efforts to affect statewide coordination of information gathering, strategy development, and the sharing of best practices.
6. Educate the Legislature on the importance of supporting legislation relating to the state’s military bases.
(b) The Federal Activities Workgroup.The task of the workgroup is to ensure that the council has a presence at the Pentagon and has ongoing dialogue with key Department of Defense officials concerning the state’s military bases.
(c) The Competitive Advantages Workgroup.The task of the workgroup is to research and identify best practices and strategies throughout the country with respect to other military communities in order to leverage the state’s competitive advantage.
(d) The Public Communications Workgroup.The task of the workgroup is to increase public awareness of the presence and value of United States military installations and their missions in Florida and public investment in supporting the state’s military bases.
(4) ANNUAL REPORT.The council shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor by January 1 of each year. The report shall summarize the current status of the state’s military bases, the council’s activities, and any recommendations for legislative or executive action.
History.s. 1, ch. 2009-155; s. 195, ch. 2011-142.