The Florida Senate

¹288.9512  Technology development board; creation; purpose; membership.--

(1)  There is created within the nonprofit corporate structure of Enterprise Florida, Inc., a nonprofit public-private board the purpose of which shall be to foster growth of high technology and other value-added industries and jobs in this state and to provide leadership and market-driven, performance-based economic development tools to create the diverse cross section of innovation-driven firms which is essential to a competitive economy in this state, characterized by better employment opportunities leading to higher wages.

(2)  The board shall be governed by a board of directors. The board of directors shall consist of the following members:

(a)  The Chancellor of the State University System or the Chancellor's designee.

(b)  The executive director of the State Community College System or the executive director's designee.

(c)  A member of the Senate, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate as an ex officio member of the board and serve at the pleasure of the President.

(d)  A member of the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as an ex officio member of the board and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(e)  Nine to 11 members from the public and private sector, consisting of, but not limited to, individuals who represent technology-based businesses and industrial interests throughout the state who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation.

(3)  Members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of 4 years, except that, in making the initial appointments, the Governor shall appoint three to five members for terms of 4 years, three members for terms of 3 years, and three members for terms of 2 years.

(4)  The chair and vice chair of Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall jointly select a list of nominees for appointment to the board of directors from a slate of candidates submitted by Enterprise Florida, Inc. The chair and vice chair of Enterprise Florida, Inc., may request that additional candidates be submitted by Enterprise Florida, Inc., if the chair and vice chair cannot agree on a list of nominees submitted. Appointments to the board of directors shall be made by the Governor from the list of nominees jointly selected by the chair and vice chair of Enterprise Florida, Inc. Appointees shall represent all geographic regions of the state, including both urban and rural regions. The importance of minority and gender representation shall be considered when making nominations for each position on the board of directors.

(5)  The Governor shall appoint the initial 9 to 11 members from the public and private sector to the board of directors within 30 days after receipt of the nominations from the chair and vice chair of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

(6)  A vacancy on the board of directors shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

(7)  A member may be removed by the Governor for cause. Absence from three consecutive meetings results in automatic removal.

History.--ss. 5, 14, ch. 93-187; s. 232, ch. 95-148; s. 91, ch. 96-320.

¹Note.--Section 14, ch. 93-187, provides that "[s]ections 3 through 11 of this act are repealed December 31, 2003, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date. The review must be in accordance with criteria set forth in law."