Senate Bill sb2754c2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 CS for CS for SB 2754
By the Committees on Community Affairs; Agriculture; and
Senator Haridopolos
578-2548-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to agriculture; creating ss.
3 570.96-570.962, F.S., relating to agritourism;
4 directing the Department of Agriculture and
5 Consumer Services to assist specified entities
6 in agritourism promotion and marketing
7 initiatives; providing definitions; specifying
8 the impact of agritourism participation on
9 certain classifications; requiring local
10 governments and agricultural representatives to
11 meet and discuss specific issues related to
12 agritourism; prescribing duties of the
13 department with respect to the purchase and
14 sale of horses; authorizing rules; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Sections 570.96, 570.961, and 570.962,
20 Florida Statutes, are created to read:
21 570.96 Agritourism.--The Department of Agriculture and
22 Consumer Services may provide marketing advice, technical
23 expertise, promotional support, and product development
24 related to agritourism to assist the following in their
25 agritourism initiatives: the Florida Commission on Tourism,
26 convention and visitor bureaus, tourist development councils,
27 economic development organizations, and local governments. In
28 carrying out this responsibility, the department shall focus
29 its agritourism efforts on fostering agritourism in rural and
30 urban communities.
31
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 CS for CS for SB 2754
578-2548-07
1 570.961 Definitions.--As used in ss. 570.96-570.962,
2 the term:
3 (1) "Agritourism activity" means any activity carried
4 out on a farm or ranch or in a forest that allows members of
5 the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or
6 educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities,
7 including farming, ranching, historical, cultural,
8 harvest-your-own, or nature-based activities and attractions.
9 An activity is an agritourism activity whether or not the
10 participant paid to participate in the activity.
11 (2) "Agritourism professional" means any person who is
12 engaged in the business of providing one or more agritourism
13 activities, whether or not for compensation.
14 (3) "Farm" means the land, buildings, support
15 facilities, machinery, and other appurtenances used in the
16 production of farm or aquaculture products, including land
17 used to display plants, animals, farm products, or farm
18 equipment to the public.
19 (4) "Farm operation" has the same meaning as in s.
20 823.14.
21 570.962 Agritourism participation impact on land
22 classification.--
23 (1) In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture
24 throughout the state, farm operations are encouraged to engage
25 in agritourism. The conduct of agritourism activity on a bona
26 fide farm or on agricultural lands classified as such pursuant
27 to s. 193.461 shall not limit, restrict, or divest the land of
28 that classification.
29 (2) Local governments and agricultural representatives
30 shall meet for the purpose of discussing the benefits of
31 agritourism to local economies and opportunities for
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 CS for CS for SB 2754
578-2548-07
1 cooperation, conflict resolution, regulatory streamlining, and
2 incentives.
3 Section 2. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
4 Services shall examine the conditions surrounding the sale and
5 purchase of horses and shall adopt rules to prevent unfair or
6 deceptive trade practices. The department's examination shall
7 include, but need not be limited to, the disclosure of the
8 legal owner and buyer of the horse and any dual agency to the
9 buyer and the seller; the disclosure of relevant medical
10 conditions, defects, or surgeries; the need for a written bill
11 of sale or similar documentation; and disclosure of
12 alterations to the appearance or performance of a horse prior
13 to sale.
14 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
15 law.
16
17 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
18 CS/SB 2754
19
20 The committee substitute for committee substitute (CS)
requires local governments and agricultural representatives to
21 meet for the purposes of discussing specific issues related to
agritourism. It also requires the Department of Agriculture
22 and Consumer Services to examine the conditions surrounding
the sale and purchase of horses and do adopt rules to prevent
23 unfair or deceptive trade practices.
24 The CS deletes language preempting local government permitting
with respect to agritourism. It also deletes language relating
25 to Florida Farm Winery certifications.
26
27
28
29
30
31
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.