CS/HB 337

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to management of Historic Pensacola
3properties; amending s. 267.173, F.S.; providing for the
4University of West Florida to directly contract for
5management of certain state-owned properties in Pensacola;
6requiring agreement of all parties to existing contracts
7and execution of contract with the Board of Trustees of
8the Internal Improvement Trust Fund; deleting a
9requirement to contract with the Department of State for
10certain historic properties in Pensacola; deleting
11language related to transfer of properties and contract
12requirements with the Department of State; permitting the
13University of West Florida to contract with its direct-
14support organization for management of historic
15properties; providing eligibility for certain grants;
16providing an effective date.
17
18Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20     Section 1.  Section 267.173, Florida Statutes, is amended
21to read:
22     267.173  Historic preservation in West Florida; goals;
23contracts for historic preservation; powers and duties.--
24     (1)  It is the goal of the state to continue for
25contracting with the University of West Florida is to ensure
26long-term preservation and interpretation of state-owned
27historic properties under the jurisdiction of the Historic
28Pensacola Preservation Board of Trustees while facilitating an
29educational program at the University of West Florida that will
30be responsive to the state's needs for professionals in historic
31preservation, archaeology, cultural resource management, and
32museum administration and will help meet needs of West Florida
33communities through educational internships and practicums.
34     (2)  Upon agreement by all parties to the contracts
35Department of State shall contract with the University of West
36Florida for the management of the various state-owned properties
37managed by the Historic Pensacola Preservation Board of Trustees
38prior to July 1, 2001, all existing management contracts shall
39be rescinded upon execution of a contract between the Board of
40Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and the
41University of West Florida for the management of those
42properties. The University of West Florida contract shall
43provide for that the University of West Florida shall use all
44proceeds derived from the management of these state-owned
45properties and may contract for such management with its direct-
46support organization as described in s. 267.1732. Any contract
47for the management of the properties shall provide that the
48University of West Florida or its direct-support organization
49shall use all proceeds derived from the management of the state-
50owned properties for the purposes purpose of advancing historic
51preservation, historic preservation research, and historic
52preservation education.
53     (3)  The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement
54Trust Fund Department of State may transfer ownership and
55responsibility to any artifacts, documents, equipment, and other
56forms of tangible personal property to the University of West
57Florida to assist the university in the transition of the
58management of the state-owned properties. All records,
59personnel, property, other than real property held under lease
60by the department from the Board of Trustees of the Internal
61Improvement Trust Fund, and unexpended balances of
62appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the Historic
63Pensacola Board of Trustees shall be transferred to the
64University of West Florida to be used for its historic
65preservation activities and responsibilities as set forth in the
66contract with the Department of State. The transfer of
67segregated funds must be made in such a manner that the relation
68between program and revenue source as provided by law is
69retained.
70     (4)(a)  The University of West Florida is the governing
71body for the management and maintenance of state-owned
72properties contracted by this section and shall exercise those
73powers provided through the contract with the Board of Trustees
74of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund delegated to it by
75contract as well as performing all lawful acts necessary, and
76convenient, and incident to the effectuating of the contract,
77its management and function, and the purposes purpose under this
78section and s. 267.1732. The University of West Florida may
79contract with its direct-support organization described in s.
80267.1732 to perform all acts that are lawful and permitted for
81not-for-profit corporations under chapter 617 in assisting the
82university in carrying out its responsibilities for historic
83preservation, and historic preservation research, and historic
84preservation education responsibilities.
85     (b)  The university or its direct-support organization, if
86permitted in its contract with the university, shall have the
87power to engage in any lawful business or activity to establish,
88maintain, and operate the state-owned facilities and properties
89governed by this section under contract with the Department of
90State, including, but not limited to:
91     1.  The renting or leasing for revenue of any land,
92improved or restored real estate, or personal property directly
93related to carrying out the purposes for historic preservation,
94historic preservation research, and historic preservation
95education under terms and conditions of the contract with the
96Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund
97Department of State and deemed by the university to be in the
98best interest of the state.
99     2.  The selling of craft products created through the
100operation and demonstration of historical museums, craft shops,
101and other facilities.
102     3.  The limited selling of merchandise relating to Florida
103history and archaeology the historical and antiquarian period of
104Pensacola and its surrounding territory and the historical
105period of West Florida from the Apalachicola River to the
106western boundaries of the state.
107     (c)  The university or its direct-support organization, if
108permitted in the its contract with the university, shall have
109the authority to:
110     1.  Enter into agreements to accept credit card payments as
111compensation, and establish accounts in credit card banks for
112the deposit of credit card sales invoices.
113     2.  Fix and collect charges for admission to any of the
114state-owned facilities governed by this section under contract
115with the Department of State.
116     3.  Permit the acceptance of tour vouchers issued by tour
117organizations or travel agents for payment of admissions.
118     4.  Adopt and enforce reasonable rules, regulations, or
119policies to govern the conduct of the visiting public.
120     (5)  The Division of Historical Resources in the Department
121of State may contract with the University of West Florida to
122serve as the regional office for the West Florida region of the
123state from the Apalachicola River to the western boundaries of
124the state. In lieu of the establishment of a citizen advisory
125board as required by s. 267.031(5)(m), the University of West
126Florida may use an existing direct-support organization of the
127university provided that the membership of the direct-support
128organization is representative of the area of the state to be
129served and provides the needed expertise in the area of historic
130preservation.
131     (6)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 287.057, the
132University of West Florida or its direct-support organization
133may enter into contracts or agreements with or without
134competitive bidding, in its discretion, for the protection,
135enhancement, or preservation of historic properties.
136     (7)  Notwithstanding s. 273.055, the University of West
137Florida may exchange, sell, or otherwise transfer any artifact,
138document, equipment and other form of tangible personal property
139if its direct-support organization recommends such exchange,
140sale, or transfer to the president of the university and if it
141is determined that the object is no longer appropriate for the
142purpose of advancing historic preservation. However, any
143artifact, document, or other form of tangible personal property
144that has intrinsic historical or archaeological value relating
145to the history, government, or culture of the state may not be
146exchanged, sold, or otherwise transferred without prior
147authorization from the Department of State.
148     (8)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
149University of West Florida and its direct-support organization
150are eligible to match state funds in the University Major Gifts
151Program established pursuant to s. 1011.94 and in the Alec P.
152Courtelis University Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant
153Program established pursuant to s. 1013.79.
154     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.