Florida Senate - 2011 SB 798
By Senator Altman
24-01184-11 2011798__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to streamlining the issuance of
3 licenses, certifications, and registrations issued by
4 state agencies; providing a short title; providing
5 legislative findings and intent; requiring the
6 Governor to establish the One-Stop Business Workgroup;
7 providing for the membership of the workgroup;
8 authorizing the workgroup to consult with other
9 agencies and use consultants; providing duties of the
10 workgroup; requiring that the workgroup submit a plan
11 for establishing a business licensing portal to the
12 Governor and Legislature by a specified date;
13 providing requirements for the plan to implement a
14 technology solution that provides businesses and
15 individuals with easy access to state and local
16 requirements for business licenses, certifications,
17 and registrations; providing an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. (1) This act may be cited as “Florida’s One-Stop
22 Business Connect Act.”
23 (2) The Legislature finds that:
24 (a) Individuals who start and operate businesses in this
25 state must interact with multiple state agencies to obtain
26 licenses, registrations, and tax certificates needed to legally
27 operate in this state. This process can be time-consuming and
28 frustrating for businesses and often requires business owners to
29 provide similar information to multiple agencies.
30 (b) State government requirements for starting and
31 operating a business in this state are often cumbersome and
32 place avoidable burdens on business owners. For several years,
33 the Legislature has recognized that these requirements do not
34 serve to promote this state as a business-friendly state that
35 actively supports the growth of jobs, businesses, and economic
36 opportunities.
37 (c) A phased, deliberative, and collaborative approach is
38 necessary to streamline and automate the state’s business
39 processes; to simplify business requirements and eliminate
40 unnecessary business requirements; and to provide a single point
41 of entry for businesses to complete business transactions with
42 the state.
43 (3)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1,
44 2013, the state establish an online connection that is easily
45 accessible through the state’s official portal, “MyFlorida.com,”
46 and that provides an efficient and effective online, self
47 service method for an individual to access state requirements
48 for starting, licensing, and operating a business.
49 (b) Once the state’s online business licensing connection
50 is available, it is the intent of the Legislature that local
51 governments have the opportunity to make accessible in a similar
52 manner through the state’s portal, “MyFlorida.com,” local
53 requirements for starting, licensing, and operating a business.
54 (4)(a) The Governor shall establish a One-Stop Business
55 Connect Workgroup composed of, at a minimum, the secretary or
56 agency head, or his or her designee, of the following state
57 agencies:
58 1. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
59 2. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
60 3. The Department of Children and Family Services.
61 4. The Department of Health.
62 5. The Department of State.
63 6. The Department of Revenue.
64 (b) The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation
65 shall serve as the chair of the workgroup. The workgroup shall
66 be supported by staff from the participating agencies.
67 (c) The workgroup may consult with other agencies
68 throughout the state, including the Agency for Enterprise
69 Information Technology, and those agencies must provide
70 requested assistance to the workgroup.
71 (d) To the extent that funds are available within the
72 participating agencies’ budgets, the workgroup may use the
73 services of consultants.
74 (5)(a) The workgroup shall:
75 1. Compile a complete, categorical inventory of all
76 business licenses, certifications, and registrations required by
77 each participating agency, including information regarding
78 relevant laws and rules.
79 2. Analyze the business licensing, certification, and
80 registration processes for each agency and identify processes
81 that disrupt workflow and result in duplication, waste,
82 unnecessary complexity, and errors and the root causes of those
83 errors.
84 3. Recommend the standardization and automation of business
85 licensing, certification, and registration processes where
86 appropriate.
87 (b) By December 15, 2011, the workgroup shall submit a plan
88 for establishing the business licensing portal to the Governor,
89 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
90 Representatives that identifies:
91 1. Business requirements and the costs associated with
92 implementation of a technology solution for businesses and
93 individuals that provides easy access to state and local
94 business licensing, certification, and registration requirements
95 through MyFlorida.com.
96 2. Clear systemwide objectives, a governance structure,
97 accountability measures, and an opportunity for stakeholders to
98 make suggestions regarding the use of the business licensing
99 portal.
100 3. Issues that need to be addressed before a technology
101 solution is implemented.
102 4. Issues that need to be addressed to enable local
103 governments to make accessible through the state’s business
104 licensing portal local requirements for starting, licensing, and
105 operating a business.
106 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.