House Bill hb0489e1
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HB 489, First Engrossed
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to high-speed rail; creating
3 the High-Speed Rail Commission; providing for
4 membership and appointment; providing for
5 staff; providing for duties of the commission;
6 providing for dissolution of the commission
7 upon submission of a required report; directing
8 the Department of Transportation to begin
9 collecting and organizing existing data on
10 high-speed rail systems; providing an
11 appropriation; providing an effective date.
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13 WHEREAS, the voters on November 7, 2000, approved a
14 constitutional amendment directing the Legislature, the
15 Cabinet, and the Governor to proceed with development of a
16 high-speed rail system capable of speeds in excess of 120
17 miles per hour, and
18 WHEREAS, the constitutional amendment called for the
19 high-speed rail system to be developed by the state and a
20 private entity pursuant to state approval and authorization,
21 and
22 WHEREAS, construction of the system must begin on or
23 before November 1, 2003, and
24 WHEREAS, the constitutional amendment left many
25 technical and financial questions unanswered, NOW, THEREFORE,
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27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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29 Section 1. High-Speed Rail Commission created.--
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HB 489, First Engrossed
1 (1) The High-Speed Rail Commission is created within
2 the Legislature. The commission shall consist of 10 members to
3 be appointed as follows:
4 (a) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
5 appoint two members from among the members of the House of
6 Representatives.
7 (b) The President of the Senate shall appoint two
8 members from among the members of the Senate.
9 (c) The Governor shall appoint five members in the
10 following manner: one member shall be a developer; one member
11 shall be an expert in the field of transportation; one member
12 shall be an expert in the field of bond finance; and two
13 members shall represent the business community.
14 (d) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation
15 shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the
16 commission.
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18 The commission shall elect a chair and a vice chair from its
19 membership at its first meeting.
20 (2) The commission shall be appointed no later than
21 June 1, 2001, and its first meeting shall be no later than
22 June 15, 2001. The commission shall meet periodically at the
23 request of the chair.
24 (3) Members of the commission shall serve without
25 compensation, except for per diem and reimbursement for travel
26 expenses as provided by s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
27 (4) A vacancy in the commission shall be filled within
28 30 days after its occurrence in the same manner as the
29 original appointment.
30 (5)(a) The Department of Transportation shall serve as
31 primary staff to the commission, providing technical and
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HB 489, First Engrossed
1 administrative assistance and ensuring that commission
2 meetings are electronically recorded. Such recordings shall be
3 preserved pursuant to chapters 119 and 257, Florida Statutes.
4 (b) The Florida Transportation Commission, the
5 Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of
6 Environmental Protection shall, at the commission's request,
7 provide technical, scientific, or other assistance.
8 (c) The commission may request that the Office of
9 Legislative Services provide administrative support to assist
10 the commission in its efforts.
11 (6) The commission shall study and make
12 recommendations on:
13 (a) The total cost of the high-speed rail project,
14 which includes the costs of rights-of-way and improvements;
15 the rolling stock and other equipment necessary to build and
16 operate a high-speed rail system; system design, engineering,
17 and construction; the use of existing rail; annual operation
18 and maintenance; and all other associated expenses. Such costs
19 should be based, where applicable and appropriate, on
20 demonstrated expenditures for similar projects.
21 (b) The feasibility of technology to be used for the
22 development of the high-speed rail.
23 (c) The route to be used for phase 1 of the high-speed
24 rail, including the names of at least two cities between which
25 the route would be constructed.
26 (d) Funding sources, including federal and local
27 funds, private investment, revenue generated by ridership,
28 cargo, or other users, franchise fees and licenses, lease
29 fees, and other reasonably potential sources of funds.
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HB 489, First Engrossed
1 (e) The format and types of information that must be
2 included in a financial or business plan for the high-speed
3 rail system.
4 (f) The commission is tasked with providing the
5 documentation necessary to seek and obtain federal funding in
6 order to build a high-speed rail system in Florida.
7 (g) The possibility and costs of using existing rail.
8 (h) Any other issues the commission deems relevant to
9 the development of a high-speed rail system.
10 (7) The commission shall prepare a report of its
11 findings and recommendations and submit the report to the
12 Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
13 President of the Senate on or before January 1, 2002. The
14 report also may include suggested legislation. The commission
15 is dissolved at the time it submits its report.
16 Section 2. The Department of Transportation is
17 directed to begin, as soon as possible, collecting and
18 organizing existing research, studies, and reports on
19 high-speed rail systems, in preparation for the commission's
20 first meeting.
21 Section 3. There is appropriated from the State
22 Transportation Trust Fund to the High-Speed Rail Commission
23 the sum of $3 million for the purpose of conducting the study
24 described in section 1.
25 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
26 law.
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