Florida Senate - 2010                                    SB 2378
       
       
       
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       24-01504A-10                                          20102378__
    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 licensing portal to the Governor
   12         and Legislature by a specified date; providing
   13         requirements for the plan to implement a technology
   14         solution for businesses and individuals to access
   15         state business licenses, certifications, and
   16         registrations; providing an effective date.
   17  
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. (1) This act may be cited as “Florida’s One-Stop
   21  Business Connect Act.”
   22         (2) The Legislature finds that:
   23         (a) Individuals who start and operate businesses in this
   24  state must interact with multiple state agencies to obtain
   25  licenses, registrations, and tax certificates needed to legally
   26  operate in this state. This process can be time-consuming and
   27  frustrating for businesses and often requires business owners to
   28  provide similar information to multiple agencies.
   29         (b) State-government requirements for starting and
   30  operating a business in this state are often cumbersome and
   31  place avoidable burdens on business owners. For several years,
   32  the Legislature has recognized that these requirements do not
   33  serve to promote this state as a business-friendly state that
   34  actively supports the growth of jobs, businesses, and economic
   35  opportunities.
   36         (c) A phased, deliberative, and collaborative approach is
   37  necessary to streamline and automate the state’s business
   38  processes; to simplify business requirements and eliminate
   39  unnecessary business requirements; and to provide a single point
   40  of entry for businesses to complete business transactions with
   41  the state.
   42         (3) It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1,
   43  2014, the state shall establish an online connection that is
   44  easily accessible through this state’s official portal,
   45  “MyFlorida.com,” which provides an efficient and effective
   46  online, self-service method for an individual to access state
   47  requirements for starting and operating a business.
   48         (4)(a) The Governor shall establish a One-Stop Business
   49  Connect Workgroup composed of, at a minimum, the secretary or
   50  agency head, or his or her designee, of the following state
   51  agencies:
   52         1. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
   53         2. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
   54         3. The Department of Children and Family Services.
   55         4. The Department of Health.
   56         5. The Department of State.
   57         6. The Department of Revenue.
   58         (b) The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation
   59  shall serve as the chair of the workgroup. The workgroup shall
   60  be supported by staff from the participating agencies.
   61         (c) The workgroup may consult with other agencies
   62  throughout the state, including the Agency for Enterprise
   63  Information Technology, and those agencies must provide
   64  requested assistance to the workgroup.
   65         (d) To the extent that funds are available within the
   66  participating agencies’ budgets, the workgroup may use the
   67  services of consultants.
   68         (5)(a) The workgroup shall:
   69         1. Compile a complete, categorical inventory of all
   70  business licenses, certifications, and registrations required by
   71  each participating agency, including information regarding
   72  relevant laws and rules.
   73         2. Analyze the business licensing, certification, and
   74  registration processes for each agency and identify processes
   75  that disrupt workflow and result in duplication, waste,
   76  unnecessary complexity, and errors, and the root causes of those
   77  errors.
   78         3. Recommend the standardization and automation of business
   79  licensing, certification, and registration processes where
   80  appropriate.
   81         (b) By February 15, 2011, the workgroup shall submit a plan
   82  for establishing the licensing portal to the Governor, the
   83  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   84  Representatives which identifies:
   85         1. Business requirements and the costs associated with
   86  implementation of a technology solution for businesses and
   87  individuals which provides easy access to state business
   88  licensing, certification, and registration requirements through
   89  MyFlorida.com.
   90         2. Clear systemwide objectives, a governance structure,
   91  accountability measures, and an opportunity for stakeholders to
   92  make suggestions regarding the use of licensing portal.
   93         3. Issues that need to be addressed before a technology
   94  solution is implemented.
   95         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.