CS/HB 1427

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to agriculture; creating ss. 570.96-
3	570.962, F.S., relating to agritourism; authorizing the
4	Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to assist
5	specified entities in agritourism promotion and marketing
6	initiatives; providing definitions; specifying the impact
7	of agritourism participation on certain land
8	classifications; requiring local governments and
9	agricultural representatives to meet to discuss
10	agritourism; prescribing duties of the Department of
11	Agriculture and Consumer Services with respect to purchase
12	and sale of horses; requiring rules; providing that
13	provision does not apply to certain sales; providing an
14	effective date.
15
16	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18	Section 1.  Sections 570.96, 570.961, and 570.962, Florida
19	Statutes, are created to read:
20	570.96  Agritourism.--The Department of Agriculture and
21	Consumer Services may provide marketing advice, technical
22	expertise, promotional support, and product development related
23	to agritourism to assist the following in their agritourism
24	initiatives: the Florida Commission on Tourism; convention and
25	visitor bureaus; tourist development councils; economic
26	development organizations; and local governments. In carrying
27	out this responsibility, the department shall focus its
28	agritourism efforts on rural and urban communities.
29	570.961  Definitions.--As used in ss. 570.96-570.962, the
30	term:
31	(1)  "Agritourism activity" means any activity carried out
32	on a farm or ranch or in a forest that allows members of the
33	general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational
34	purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming,
35	ranching, historical, cultural, harvest-your-own, or nature-
36	based activities and attractions. An activity is an agritourism
37	activity whether or not the participant paid to participate in
38	the activity.
39	(2)  "Agritourism professional" means any person who is
40	engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism
41	activities, whether or not for compensation.
42	(3)  "Farm" means the land, buildings, support facilities,
43	machinery, and other appurtenances used in the production of
44	farm or aquaculture products, including land used to display
45	plants, animals, farm products, or farm equipment to the public.
46	(4)  "Farm operation" has the same meaning as defined in s.
47	823.14.
48	570.962  Agritourism participation impact on land
49	classification.--
50	(1)  In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture
51	throughout the state, farm operations are encouraged to engage
52	in agritourism. The conduct of agritourism activity on a bona
53	fide farm or on agricultural lands classified as such pursuant
54	to s. 193.461 shall not limit, restrict, or divest the land of
55	that classification.
56	(2)  Local governments and agricultural representatives
57	shall meet for the purpose of discussing the benefits of
58	agritourism to local economies and opportunities for
59	cooperation, conflict resolution, regulatory streamlining, and
60	incentives.
61	Section 2.  (1)  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
62	Services shall examine the conditions surrounding the sale and
63	purchase of horses and shall adopt rules to prevent unfair or
64	deceptive trade practices. The department's examination shall
65	include, but not be limited to, the following: the disclosure of
66	the legal owner and buyer of the horse and any dual agency to
67	the buyer and the seller; the disclosure of relevant medical
68	conditions, defects, or surgeries; the need for a written bill
69	of sale or similar documentation; and disclosure of alterations
70	to the appearance or performance of a horse prior to sale.
71	(2)  This provision shall not apply to sales resulting from
72	claiming races at licensed pari-mutuel facilities.
73	Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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