ENROLLED
       2010 Legislature                            CS for CS for SB 850
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                              2010850er
    1  
    2         An act relating to the Florida Industrial and
    3         Phosphate Research Institute; transferring,
    4         renumbering, and amending s. 378.101, F.S.; renaming
    5         the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research as the
    6         “Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute”
    7         and establishing it within the University of South
    8         Florida Polytechnic; creating the Phosphate Research
    9         and Activities Board; providing duties, membership,
   10         and terms for the board; providing for an executive
   11         director of the institute; providing duties for the
   12         executive director; providing duties and authorized
   13         activities for the institute; amending s. 211.31,
   14         F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing for a
   15         type two transfer of the Florida Institute of
   16         Phosphate Research to the Florida Industrial and
   17         Phosphate Research Institute within the University of
   18         South Florida Polytechnic; repealing s. 378.102, F.S.,
   19         relating to the Florida Institute of Phosphate
   20         Research; providing an effective date.
   21  
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Section 378.101, Florida Statutes, is
   25  transferred, renumbered as section 1004.346, Florida Statutes,
   26  and amended to read:
   27         (Substantial rewording of section. See
   28         s. 378.101, F.S., for present text.)
   29         1004.346 Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research
   30  Institute.—
   31         (1) INSTITUTE CREATION.—The Florida Industrial and
   32  Phosphate Research Institute is established within the
   33  University of South Florida Polytechnic.
   34         (2) PHOSPHATE RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES BOARD.—The Phosphate
   35  Research and Activities Board is created to monitor the
   36  expenditure of funds appropriated to the university from the
   37  Phosphate Research Trust Fund.
   38         (a) The board shall approve an annual report, prepared by
   39  the institute executive director, which outlines the expenditure
   40  of the funds appropriated to the university from the Phosphate
   41  Research Trust Fund and describes the various phosphate-related
   42  projects and institute operations funded by those moneys.
   43         (b) The board shall consist of five members. The Governor
   44  shall appoint two persons representing the phosphate mining or
   45  processing industry and one member representing a major
   46  environmental conservation group in the state. The Secretary of
   47  Environmental Protection or his or her designee and the Campus
   48  Executive Officer of the University of South Florida Polytechnic
   49  shall also serve as board members.
   50         (c) Members of the board appointed by the Governor shall be
   51  appointed to 3-year terms. A board member may continue to serve
   52  until a successor is appointed, but not more than 180 days after
   53  the expiration of his or her term. A board member is eligible
   54  for reappointment to subsequent terms.
   55         (d) Board members shall annually elect a chair from among
   56  the membership.
   57         (e) Board members shall serve without compensation, but are
   58  entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as
   59  provided in s. 112.061.
   60         (3) INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—An executive director
   61  shall be designated by and serve at the pleasure of the Campus
   62  Executive Officer of the University of South Florida Polytechnic
   63  or his or her designee. The executive director shall be
   64  responsible for the daily administration of the institute,
   65  including the expenditure of funds from all sources. The
   66  executive director shall consult with the Phosphate Research and
   67  Activities Board on the projects that the institute expects to
   68  undertake using moneys appropriated from the Phosphate Research
   69  Trust Fund.
   70         (4) INSTITUTE DUTIES AND AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—
   71         (a) The institute shall:
   72         1. Establish methods for better and more efficient
   73  practices for phosphate mining and processing.
   74         2. Conduct or contract for studies on the environmental and
   75  health effects of phosphate mining and reclamation.
   76         3. Conduct or contract for studies of reclamation
   77  alternatives and technologies in phosphate mining and processing
   78  and wetlands reclamation.
   79         4. Conduct or contract for studies of phosphatic clay and
   80  phosphogypsum disposal and utilization as a part of phosphate
   81  mining and processing.
   82         5. Provide the public with access to the results of its
   83  activities and maintain a public library related to the
   84  institute’s activities, which may contain special collections.
   85         (b) The institute may:
   86         1. Research and develop methods for better and more
   87  efficient processes and practices for commercial and industrial
   88  activities, including, but not limited to, mitigating the health
   89  and environmental effects of such activities as well as
   90  developing and evaluating alternatives and technologies.
   91         2. Secure funding from grants and other available sources
   92  for carrying out the activities authorized or required under
   93  this section.
   94         3. Enter into contracts with any firm, institution, or
   95  corporation, or federal, state, local, or foreign governmental
   96  agency, to carry out the activities authorized or required under
   97  this section.
   98         4. Promote the application, patenting, and
   99  commercialization of the institute’s technologies, knowledge,
  100  and intellectual property in accordance with university policies
  101  and procedures.
  102         5. Educate the public about the science related to topics
  103  and issues that are within the institute’s scope of expertise.
  104         6. Hold public hearings.
  105         7. Establish public-private partnerships.
  106         8. Provide consulting services.
  107         Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 211.31, Florida
  108  Statutes, is amended to read:
  109         211.31 Levy of tax on severance of certain solid minerals;
  110  rate, basis, and distribution of tax.—
  111         (4) The expenses of administering this part and ss.
  112  378.021, 378.031, and 1004.346 378.101 shall be borne by the
  113  Land Reclamation Trust Fund, the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation
  114  Trust Fund, and the Phosphate Research Trust Fund.
  115         Section 3. All powers, duties, functions, records,
  116  personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations,
  117  allocations, and other funds of the Florida Institute of
  118  Phosphate Research are transferred by a type two transfer
  119  pursuant to s. 20.06(2), Florida Statutes, to the Florida
  120  Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute within the
  121  University of South Florida Polytechnic.
  122         Section 4. Section 378.102, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  123         Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.