| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to seaport security; amending s. 311.12, |
| 3 | F.S.; deleting provisions relating to statewide minimum |
| 4 | standards for seaport security; deleting provisions |
| 5 | authorizing the Department of Law Enforcement to exempt |
| 6 | all or part of a seaport from specified requirements in |
| 7 | certain circumstances; revising provisions relating to |
| 8 | seaport security plans; revising requirements for certain |
| 9 | secure or restricted areas; deleting provisions requiring |
| 10 | that the Department of Law Enforcement administer a |
| 11 | statewide seaport access eligibility reporting system; |
| 12 | deleting provisions requiring that persons seeking |
| 13 | authorization to access secure and restricted areas of a |
| 14 | seaport execute an affidavit; prohibiting a seaport from |
| 15 | charging any fee for administration or production of |
| 16 | access control credentials that require or are associated |
| 17 | with a fingerprint-based background check, in addition to |
| 18 | the fee for the federal TWIC; providing for issuance of |
| 19 | seaport-specific access credentials; deleting provisions |
| 20 | requiring fingerprint-based state criminal history checks |
| 21 | on seaport employee applicants, current employees, and |
| 22 | other authorized persons; deleting provisions authorizing |
| 23 | waivers from security requirements in certain |
| 24 | circumstances; revising provisions relating to |
| 25 | inspections; revising reporting requirements; revising the |
| 26 | parties that determine the allocation of appropriated |
| 27 | funds for security project needs; amending ss. 311.121, |
| 28 | 311.123, and 311.124, F.S.; conforming provisions to |
| 29 | changes made by the act; repealing s. 311.115, F.S., |
| 30 | relating to the Seaport Security Standards Advisory |
| 31 | Council; providing an effective date. |
| 32 |
|
| 33 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 34 |
|
| 35 | Section 1. Section 311.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
| 36 | read: |
| 37 | 311.12 Seaport security.- |
| 38 | (1) SECURITY STANDARDS.- |
| 39 | (a) The statewide minimum standards for seaport security |
| 40 | applicable to seaports listed in s. 311.09 shall be those based |
| 41 | on the Florida Seaport Security Assessment 2000 and set forth in |
| 42 | the Port Security Standards Compliance Plan delivered to the |
| 43 | Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the |
| 44 | Senate on December 11, 2000. The Office of Drug Control within |
| 45 | the Executive Office of the Governor shall maintain a sufficient |
| 46 | number of copies of the standards at its offices for |
| 47 | distribution to the public and provide copies to each affected |
| 48 | seaport upon request. |
| 49 | (a)(b) A seaport may implement security measures that are |
| 50 | more stringent, more extensive, or supplemental to the |
| 51 | applicable federal security regulations, including federal |
| 52 | facility security assessment requirements under 33 C.F.R. s. |
| 53 | 105.305 minimum security standards established by this |
| 54 | subsection. |
| 55 | (b)(c) The provisions of s. 790.251 are not superseded, |
| 56 | preempted, or otherwise modified in any way by the provisions of |
| 57 | this section. |
| 58 | (2) EXEMPTION.-The Department of Law Enforcement may |
| 59 | exempt all or part of a seaport listed in s. 311.09 from the |
| 60 | requirements of this section if the department determines that |
| 61 | activity associated with the use of the seaport or part of the |
| 62 | seaport is not vulnerable to criminal activity or terrorism. The |
| 63 | department shall periodically review such exemptions to |
| 64 | determine if there is a change in use. Such change may warrant |
| 65 | removal of all or part of the exemption. |
| 66 | (2)(3) SECURITY PLAN.- |
| 67 | (a) Each seaport listed in s. 311.09 shall adopt and |
| 68 | maintain a security plan specific to that seaport which provides |
| 69 | for a secure seaport infrastructure that promotes the safety and |
| 70 | security of state residents and visitors and the flow of |
| 71 | legitimate trade and travel. |
| 72 | (b)(a) Each seaport Every 5 years after January 1, 2007, |
| 73 | each seaport director, with the assistance of the Regional |
| 74 | Domestic Security Task Force and in conjunction with the United |
| 75 | States Coast Guard, shall periodically revise the seaport's |
| 76 | security plan based on the seaport's director's ongoing |
| 77 | assessment of security risks, the risks of terrorist activities, |
| 78 | and the specific and identifiable needs of the seaport for |
| 79 | ensuring that the seaport is in substantial compliance with |
| 80 | applicable federal security regulations, including federal |
| 81 | facility security assessment requirements under 33 C.F.R. s. |
| 82 | 105.305 the minimum security standards established under |
| 83 | subsection (1). |
| 84 | (b) Each adopted or revised security plan must be reviewed |
| 85 | and approved by the Office of Drug Control and the Department of |
| 86 | Law Enforcement for compliance with federal facility security |
| 87 | assessment requirements under 33 C.F.R. s. 105.305 and the |
| 88 | minimum security standards established under subsection (1). |
| 89 | Within 30 days after completion, a copy of the written review |
| 90 | shall be delivered to the United States Coast Guard, the |
| 91 | Regional Domestic Security Task Force, and the Domestic Security |
| 92 | Oversight Council. |
| 93 | (3)(4) SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS.-Each seaport listed in |
| 94 | s. 311.09 must clearly designate in seaport security plans, and |
| 95 | clearly identify with appropriate signs and markers on the |
| 96 | premises of a seaport, all secure and restricted areas as |
| 97 | defined by the United States Department of Homeland Security- |
| 98 | United States Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection |
| 99 | Circular No. 03-07 and 49 C.F.R. part 1572. The plans must also |
| 100 | address access eligibility requirements and corresponding |
| 101 | security enforcement authorizations. |
| 102 | (a) The seaport's security plan must set forth the |
| 103 | conditions and restrictions to be imposed on persons employed |
| 104 | at, doing business at, or visiting the seaport who have access |
| 105 | to secure and restricted areas which are sufficient to provide |
| 106 | substantial compliance with the minimum security standards |
| 107 | established in subsection (1) and federal regulations. |
| 108 | 1. All seaport employees and other persons working at the |
| 109 | seaport who have regular access to secure or restricted areas |
| 110 | must comply with federal access control regulations and state |
| 111 | criminal history checks as prescribed in this section. |
| 112 | 2. All persons and objects in secure and restricted areas |
| 113 | are subject to search by a sworn state-certified law enforcement |
| 114 | officer, a Class D seaport security officer certified under |
| 115 | Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 guidelines and s. |
| 116 | 311.121, or an employee of the seaport security force certified |
| 117 | under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 |
| 118 | guidelines and s. 311.121. |
| 119 | 3. Persons found in these areas without the proper |
| 120 | permission are subject to the trespass provisions of ss. 810.08 |
| 121 | and 810.09. |
| 122 | (b) As determined by the seaport director's most current |
| 123 | risk assessment under paragraph (3)(a), any secure or restricted |
| 124 | area that has a potential human occupancy of 50 persons or more, |
| 125 | any cruise terminal, or any business operation that is adjacent |
| 126 | to a public access area must be protected from the most probable |
| 127 | and credible terrorist threat to human life. |
| 128 | (b)(c) The seaport must provide clear notice of the |
| 129 | prohibition against possession of concealed weapons and other |
| 130 | contraband material on the premises of the seaport. Any person |
| 131 | in a restricted area who has in his or her possession a |
| 132 | concealed weapon, or who operates or has possession or control |
| 133 | of a vehicle in or upon which a concealed weapon is placed or |
| 134 | stored, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as |
| 135 | provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. This paragraph does not |
| 136 | apply to active-duty certified federal or state law enforcement |
| 137 | personnel or persons so designated by the seaport director in |
| 138 | writing. |
| 139 | (c)(d) During a period of high terrorist threat level, as |
| 140 | designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security |
| 141 | or the Department of Law Enforcement, or during an emergency |
| 142 | declared at a port by the seaport security director due to |
| 143 | events applicable to that particular seaport, the management or |
| 144 | controlling authority of the port may temporarily designate any |
| 145 | part of the seaport property as a secure or restricted area. The |
| 146 | duration of such designation is limited to the period in which |
| 147 | the high terrorist threat level is in effect or a port emergency |
| 148 | exists. |
| 149 | (5) ACCESS ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM.-Subject to |
| 150 | legislative appropriations, the Department of Law Enforcement |
| 151 | shall administer a statewide seaport access eligibility |
| 152 | reporting system. |
| 153 | (a) The system must include, at a minimum, the following: |
| 154 | 1. A centralized, secure method of collecting and |
| 155 | maintaining fingerprints, other biometric data, or other means |
| 156 | of confirming the identity of persons authorized to enter a |
| 157 | secure or restricted area of a seaport. |
| 158 | 2. A methodology for receiving from and transmitting |
| 159 | information to each seaport regarding a person's authority to |
| 160 | enter a secure or restricted area of the seaport. |
| 161 | 3. A means for receiving prompt notification from a |
| 162 | seaport when a person's authorization to enter a secure or |
| 163 | restricted area of a seaport has been suspended or revoked. |
| 164 | 4. A means to communicate to seaports when a person's |
| 165 | authorization to enter a secure or restricted area of a seaport |
| 166 | has been suspended or revoked. |
| 167 | (b) Each seaport listed in s. 311.09 is responsible for |
| 168 | granting, modifying, restricting, or denying access to secure |
| 169 | and restricted areas to seaport employees, other persons working |
| 170 | at the seaport, visitors who have business with the seaport, or |
| 171 | other persons regularly appearing at the seaport. Based upon the |
| 172 | person's criminal history check, each seaport may determine the |
| 173 | specific access eligibility to be granted to that person. Each |
| 174 | seaport is responsible for access eligibility verification at |
| 175 | its location. |
| 176 | (c) Upon determining that a person is eligible to enter a |
| 177 | secure or restricted area of a port pursuant to subsections (6) |
| 178 | and (7), the seaport shall, within 3 business days, report the |
| 179 | determination to the department for inclusion in the system. |
| 180 | (d) All information submitted to the department regarding |
| 181 | a person's access eligibility screening may be retained by the |
| 182 | department for subsequent use in promoting seaport security, |
| 183 | including, but not limited to, the review of the person's |
| 184 | criminal history status to ensure that the person has not become |
| 185 | disqualified for such access. |
| 186 | (e) The following fees may not be charged by more than one |
| 187 | seaport and shall be paid by the seaport, another employing |
| 188 | entity, or the person being entered into the system to the |
| 189 | department or to the seaport if the seaport is acting as an |
| 190 | agent of the department for the purpose of collecting the fees: |
| 191 | 1. The cost of the state criminal history check under |
| 192 | subsection (7). |
| 193 | 2. A $50 fee to cover the initial cost of entering the |
| 194 | person into the system and an additional $50 fee every 5 years |
| 195 | thereafter to coincide with the issuance of the federal |
| 196 | Transportation Worker Identification Credential described in |
| 197 | subsection (6). The fee covers all costs for entering or |
| 198 | maintaining the person in the system including the retention and |
| 199 | use of the person's fingerprint, other biometric data, or other |
| 200 | identifying information. |
| 201 | 3. The seaport entering the person into the system may |
| 202 | charge an administrative fee to cover, but not exceed, the |
| 203 | seaport's actual administrative costs for processing the results |
| 204 | of the state criminal history check and entering the person into |
| 205 | the system. |
| 206 | (f) All fees identified in paragraph (e) must be paid |
| 207 | before the person may be granted access to a secure or |
| 208 | restricted area. Failure to comply with the criminal history |
| 209 | check and failure to pay the fees are grounds for immediate |
| 210 | denial of access. |
| 211 | (g) Persons, corporations, or other business entities that |
| 212 | employ persons to work or do business at seaports shall notify |
| 213 | the seaport of the termination, resignation, work-related |
| 214 | incapacitation, or death of an employee who has access |
| 215 | permission. |
| 216 | 1. If the seaport determines that the person has been |
| 217 | employed by another appropriate entity or is self-employed for |
| 218 | purposes of performing work at the seaport, the seaport may |
| 219 | reinstate the person's access eligibility. |
| 220 | 2. A business entity's failure to report a change in an |
| 221 | employee's work status within 7 days after the change may result |
| 222 | in revocation of the business entity's access to the seaport. |
| 223 | (h) In addition to access permissions granted or denied by |
| 224 | seaports, access eligibility may be restricted or revoked by the |
| 225 | department if there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is |
| 226 | involved in terrorism or criminal violations that could affect |
| 227 | the security of a port or otherwise render the person ineligible |
| 228 | for seaport access. |
| 229 | (i) Any suspension or revocation of port access must be |
| 230 | reported by the seaport to the department within 24 hours after |
| 231 | such suspension or revocation. |
| 232 | (j) The submission of information known to be false or |
| 233 | misleading to the department for entry into the system is a |
| 234 | felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. |
| 235 | 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
| 236 | (4)(6) ACCESS TO SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS.- |
| 237 | (a) Any person seeking authorization for unescorted access |
| 238 | to secure and restricted areas of a seaport must possess, unless |
| 239 | waived under paragraph (7)(e), a valid federal Transportation |
| 240 | Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). |
| 241 | (b) A seaport may not charge any fee for the |
| 242 | administration or production of any access control credential |
| 243 | that requires or is associated with a fingerprint-based |
| 244 | background check, in addition to the fee for the federal TWIC. A |
| 245 | seaport may issue its own seaport-specific access credential and |
| 246 | may charge a fee no greater than its actual administrative costs |
| 247 | for the production and issuance of the credential. and execute |
| 248 | an affidavit under oath which provides TWIC identification |
| 249 | information and indicates the following: |
| 250 | 1. The TWIC is currently valid and in full force and |
| 251 | effect. |
| 252 | 2. The TWIC was not received through the waiver process |
| 253 | for disqualifying criminal history allowed by federal law. |
| 254 | 3. He or she has not, in any jurisdiction, civilian or |
| 255 | military, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty or nolo |
| 256 | contendere to, regardless of adjudication, or been found not |
| 257 | guilty by reason of insanity, of any disqualifying felony under |
| 258 | subsection (7) or any crime that includes the use or possession |
| 259 | of a firearm. |
| 260 | (b) Upon submission of a completed affidavit as provided |
| 261 | in paragraph (a), the completion of the state criminal history |
| 262 | check as provided in subsection (7), and payment of all required |
| 263 | fees under subsection (5), a seaport may grant the person access |
| 264 | to secure or restricted areas of the port. |
| 265 | (c) Any port granting a person access to secure or |
| 266 | restricted areas shall report the grant of access to the |
| 267 | Department of Law Enforcement for inclusion in the access |
| 268 | eligibility reporting system under subsection (5) within 3 |
| 269 | business days. |
| 270 | (d) The submission of false information on the affidavit |
| 271 | required by this section is a felony of the third degree, |
| 272 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
| 273 | Upon conviction for a violation of this provision, the person |
| 274 | convicted forfeits all privilege of access to secure or |
| 275 | restricted areas of a seaport and is disqualified from future |
| 276 | approval for access to such areas. |
| 277 | (e) Any affidavit form created for use under this |
| 278 | subsection must contain the following statement in conspicuous |
| 279 | type: "SUBMISSION OF FALSE INFORMATION ON THIS AFFIDAVIT IS A |
| 280 | FELONY UNDER FLORIDA LAW AND WILL, UPON CONVICTION, RESULT IN |
| 281 | DISQUALIFICATION FOR ACCESS TO A SECURE OR RESTRICTED AREA OF A |
| 282 | SEAPORT." |
| 283 | (f) Upon each 5-year renewal of a person's TWIC, the |
| 284 | person must submit another affidavit as required by this |
| 285 | subsection. |
| 286 | (7) CRIMINAL HISTORY SCREENING.-A fingerprint-based |
| 287 | criminal history check must be performed on employee applicants, |
| 288 | current employees, and other persons authorized to regularly |
| 289 | enter a secure or restricted area, or the entire seaport if the |
| 290 | seaport security plan does not designate one or more secure or |
| 291 | restricted areas. |
| 292 | (a) A person is disqualified from employment or unescorted |
| 293 | access if the person: |
| 294 | 1. Was convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo |
| 295 | contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any of the offenses |
| 296 | listed in paragraph (b) in any jurisdiction, civilian or |
| 297 | military, including courts-martial conducted by the Armed Forces |
| 298 | of the United States, during the 7 years before the date of the |
| 299 | person's application for access; or |
| 300 | 2. Was released from incarceration, or any supervision |
| 301 | imposed as a result of sentencing, for committing any of the |
| 302 | disqualifying crimes listed in paragraph (b) in any |
| 303 | jurisdiction, civilian or military, during the 5 years before |
| 304 | the date of the person's application for access. |
| 305 | (b) Disqualifying offenses include: |
| 306 | 1. An act of terrorism as defined in s. 775.30. |
| 307 | 2. A violation involving a weapon of mass destruction or a |
| 308 | hoax weapon of mass destruction as provided in s. 790.166. |
| 309 | 3. Planting of a hoax bomb as provided in s. 790.165. |
| 310 | 4. A violation of s. 876.02 or s. 876.36. |
| 311 | 5. A violation of s. 860.065. |
| 312 | 6. Trafficking as provided in s. 893.135. |
| 313 | 7. Racketeering activity as provided in s. 895.03. |
| 314 | 8. Dealing in stolen property as provided in s. 812.019. |
| 315 | 9. Money laundering as provided in s. 896.101. |
| 316 | 10. Criminal use of personal identification as provided in |
| 317 | s. 817.568. |
| 318 | 11. Bribery as provided in s. 838.015. |
| 319 | 12. A violation of s. 316.302, relating to the transport |
| 320 | of hazardous materials. |
| 321 | 13. A forcible felony as defined in s. 776.08. |
| 322 | 14. A violation of s. 790.07. |
| 323 | 15. Any crime that includes the use or possession of a |
| 324 | firearm. |
| 325 | 16. A felony violation for theft as provided in s. |
| 326 | 812.014. |
| 327 | 17. Robbery as provided in s. 812.13. |
| 328 | 18. Burglary as provided in s. 810.02. |
| 329 | 19. Any violation involving the sale, manufacture, |
| 330 | delivery, or possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or |
| 331 | deliver a controlled substance. |
| 332 | 20. Any offense under the laws of another jurisdiction |
| 333 | that is similar to an offense listed in this paragraph. |
| 334 | 21. Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the offenses |
| 335 | listed in this paragraph. |
| 336 | (c) Each individual who is subject to a criminal history |
| 337 | check shall file a complete set of fingerprints taken in a |
| 338 | manner acceptable to the Department of Law Enforcement for state |
| 339 | processing. The results of the criminal history check must be |
| 340 | reported to the requesting seaport and may be shared among |
| 341 | seaports. |
| 342 | (d) All fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law |
| 343 | Enforcement shall be retained by the department and entered into |
| 344 | the statewide automated fingerprint identification system |
| 345 | established in s. 943.05(2)(b) and available for use in |
| 346 | accordance with s. 943.05(2)(g) and (h). An arrest record that |
| 347 | is identified with the retained fingerprints of a person subject |
| 348 | to the screening shall be reported to the seaport where the |
| 349 | person has been granted access to a secure or restricted area. |
| 350 | If the fingerprints of a person who has been granted access were |
| 351 | not retained, or are otherwise not suitable for use by the |
| 352 | department, the person must be refingerprinted in a manner that |
| 353 | allows the department to perform its functions as provided in |
| 354 | this section. |
| 355 | (e) The Department of Law Enforcement shall establish a |
| 356 | waiver process for a person who does not have a TWIC, obtained a |
| 357 | TWIC though a federal waiver process, or is found to be |
| 358 | unqualified under paragraph (a) and denied employment by a |
| 359 | seaport or unescorted access to secure or restricted areas. If |
| 360 | the person does not have a TWIC and a federal criminal history |
| 361 | record check is required, the Department of Law Enforcement may |
| 362 | forward the person's fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of |
| 363 | Investigation for a national criminal history record check. The |
| 364 | cost of the national check must be paid by the seaport, which |
| 365 | may collect it as reimbursement from the person. |
| 366 | 1. Consideration for a waiver shall be based on the |
| 367 | circumstances of any disqualifying act or offense, restitution |
| 368 | made by the individual, and other factors from which it may be |
| 369 | determined that the individual does not pose a risk of engaging |
| 370 | in any act within the public seaports regulated under this |
| 371 | chapter that would pose a risk to or threaten the security of |
| 372 | the seaport and the public's health, safety, or welfare. |
| 373 | 2. The waiver process begins when an individual who has |
| 374 | been denied initial employment within or denied unescorted |
| 375 | access to secure or restricted areas of a public seaport submits |
| 376 | an application for a waiver and a notarized letter or affidavit |
| 377 | from the individual's employer or union representative which |
| 378 | states the mitigating reasons for initiating the waiver process. |
| 379 | 3. Within 90 days after receipt of the application, the |
| 380 | administrative staff of the Parole Commission shall conduct a |
| 381 | factual review of the waiver application. Findings of fact shall |
| 382 | be transmitted to the department for review. The department |
| 383 | shall make a copy of those findings available to the applicant |
| 384 | before final disposition of the waiver request. |
| 385 | 4. The department shall make a final disposition of the |
| 386 | waiver request based on the factual findings of the |
| 387 | investigation by the Parole Commission. The department shall |
| 388 | notify the waiver applicant of the final disposition of the |
| 389 | waiver. |
| 390 | 5. The review process under this paragraph is exempt from |
| 391 | chapter 120. |
| 392 | 6. By October 1 of each year, each seaport shall report to |
| 393 | the department each instance of denial of employment within, or |
| 394 | access to, secure or restricted areas, and each instance waiving |
| 395 | a denial occurring during the last 12 months. The report must |
| 396 | include the identity of the individual affected, the factors |
| 397 | supporting the denial or waiver, and any other material factors |
| 398 | used to make the determination. |
| 399 | (f) In addition to the waiver procedure established by the |
| 400 | Department of Law Enforcement under paragraph (e), each seaport |
| 401 | security plan may establish a procedure to appeal a denial of |
| 402 | employment or access based upon procedural inaccuracies or |
| 403 | discrepancies regarding criminal history factors established |
| 404 | pursuant to this subsection. |
| 405 | (g) Each seaport may allow immediate waivers on a |
| 406 | temporary basis to meet special or emergency needs of the |
| 407 | seaport or its users. Policies, procedures, and criteria for |
| 408 | implementation of this paragraph must be included in the seaport |
| 409 | security plan. All waivers granted by the seaports pursuant to |
| 410 | this paragraph must be reported to the department within 30 days |
| 411 | after issuance. |
| 412 | (8) WAIVER FROM SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.-The Office of Drug |
| 413 | Control and the Department of Law Enforcement may modify or |
| 414 | waive any physical facility requirement or other requirement |
| 415 | contained in the minimum security standards upon a determination |
| 416 | that the purposes of the standards have been reasonably met or |
| 417 | exceeded by the seaport requesting the modification or waiver. |
| 418 | An alternate means of compliance must not diminish the safety or |
| 419 | security of the seaport and must be verified through an |
| 420 | extensive risk analysis conducted by the seaport director. |
| 421 | (a) Waiver requests shall be submitted in writing, along |
| 422 | with supporting documentation, to the Office of Drug Control and |
| 423 | the Department of Law Enforcement. The office and the department |
| 424 | have 90 days to jointly grant or reject the waiver, in whole or |
| 425 | in part. |
| 426 | (b) The seaport may submit any waivers that are not |
| 427 | granted or are jointly rejected to the Domestic Security |
| 428 | Oversight Council for review within 90 days. The council shall |
| 429 | recommend that the Office of Drug Control and the Department of |
| 430 | Law Enforcement grant the waiver or reject the waiver, in whole |
| 431 | or in part. The office and the department shall give great |
| 432 | weight to the council's recommendations. |
| 433 | (c) A request seeking a waiver from the seaport law |
| 434 | enforcement personnel standards established under s. 311.122(3) |
| 435 | may not be granted for percentages below 10 percent. |
| 436 | (d) Any modifications or waivers granted under this |
| 437 | subsection shall be noted in the annual report submitted by the |
| 438 | Department of Law Enforcement pursuant to subsection (10). |
| 439 | (5)(9) INSPECTIONS.-It is the intent of the Legislature |
| 440 | that the state's seaports adhere to security practices that are |
| 441 | consistent with the risks assigned to each seaport through the |
| 442 | ongoing risk assessment process established in paragraph |
| 443 | (2)(3)(a). |
| 444 | (a) The Department of Law Enforcement, or any entity |
| 445 | designated by the department, may shall conduct at least one |
| 446 | annual unannounced inspections inspection of each seaport to |
| 447 | determine whether the seaport is meeting the requirements under |
| 448 | 33 C.F.R. s. 105.305 minimum security standards established |
| 449 | pursuant to subsection (1) and to identify seaport |
| 450 | changes or improvements needed or otherwise recommended. |
| 451 | (b) The Department of Law Enforcement, or any entity |
| 452 | designated by the department, may conduct additional announced |
| 453 | or unannounced inspections or operations within or affecting any |
| 454 | seaport to test compliance with, or the effectiveness of, |
| 455 | security plans and operations at each seaport, to determine |
| 456 | compliance with physical facility requirements and standards, or |
| 457 | to assist the department in identifying changes or improvements |
| 458 | needed to bring a seaport into compliance with minimum security |
| 459 | standards. |
| 460 | (c) Within 30 days after completing the inspection report, |
| 461 | the department shall submit a copy of the report to the Domestic |
| 462 | Security Oversight Council. |
| 463 | (d) A seaport may request that the Domestic Security |
| 464 | Oversight Council review the findings in the department's report |
| 465 | as they relate to the requirements of this section. The council |
| 466 | may review only those findings that are in dispute by the |
| 467 | seaport. In reviewing the disputed findings, the council may |
| 468 | concur in the findings of the department or the seaport or may |
| 469 | recommend corrective action to the seaport. The department and |
| 470 | the seaport shall give great weight to the council's findings |
| 471 | and recommendations. |
| 472 | (e) All seaports shall allow the Department of Law |
| 473 | Enforcement, or an entity designated by the department, |
| 474 | unimpeded access to affected areas and facilities for the |
| 475 | purpose of plan or compliance inspections or other operations |
| 476 | authorized by this section. |
| 477 | (6)(10) REPORTS.-The Department of Law Enforcement, in |
| 478 | consultation with the Office of Drug Control, shall annually |
| 479 | complete a report indicating the observations and findings of |
| 480 | all reviews, inspections, or other operations relating to the |
| 481 | seaports conducted during the year and any recommendations |
| 482 | resulting from such reviews, inspections, and operations. A copy |
| 483 | of the report shall be provided to the Governor, the President |
| 484 | of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the |
| 485 | governing body of each seaport or seaport authority, and each |
| 486 | seaport director. The report must include each director's |
| 487 | response indicating what actions, if any, have been taken or are |
| 488 | planned to be taken pursuant to the observations, findings, and |
| 489 | recommendations reported by the department. |
| 490 | (7)(11) FUNDING.- |
| 491 | (a) In making decisions regarding security projects or |
| 492 | other funding applicable to each seaport listed in s. 311.09, |
| 493 | the Legislature may consider the Department of Law Enforcement's |
| 494 | annual report under subsection (6) (10) as authoritative, |
| 495 | especially regarding each seaport's degree of substantial |
| 496 | compliance with the minimum security standards established in |
| 497 | subsection (1). |
| 498 | (b) The Legislature shall regularly review the ongoing |
| 499 | costs of operational security on seaports, the impacts of this |
| 500 | section on those costs, mitigating factors that may reduce costs |
| 501 | without reducing security, and the methods by which seaports may |
| 502 | implement operational security using a combination of sworn law |
| 503 | enforcement officers and private security services. |
| 504 | (c) Subject to the provisions of this chapter and |
| 505 | appropriations made for seaport security, state funds may not be |
| 506 | expended for security costs without certification of need for |
| 507 | such expenditures by the Office of Ports Administrator within |
| 508 | the Department of Law Enforcement. |
| 509 | (d) If funds are appropriated for seaport security, the |
| 510 | Office of Drug Control, the Department of Law Enforcement, and |
| 511 | the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development |
| 512 | Council shall mutually determine the allocation of such funds |
| 513 | for security project needs identified in the approved seaport |
| 514 | security plans. Any seaport that receives state funds for |
| 515 | security projects must enter into a joint participation |
| 516 | agreement with the appropriate state entity and use the seaport |
| 517 | security plan as the basis for the agreement. |
| 518 | 1. If funds are made available over more than 1 fiscal |
| 519 | year, the agreement must reflect the entire scope of the project |
| 520 | approved in the security plan and, as practicable, allow for |
| 521 | reimbursement for authorized projects over more than 1 year. |
| 522 | 2. The agreement may include specific timeframes for |
| 523 | completion of a security project and the applicable funding |
| 524 | reimbursement dates. The agreement may also require a |
| 525 | contractual penalty of up to $1,000 per day to be imposed for |
| 526 | failure to meet project completion dates if state funding is |
| 527 | available. Any such penalty shall be deposited into the State |
| 528 | Transportation Trust Fund and used for seaport security |
| 529 | operations and capital improvements. |
| 530 | Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 311.121, Florida |
| 531 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 532 | 311.121 Qualifications, training, and certification of |
| 533 | licensed security officers at Florida seaports.- |
| 534 | (2) The authority or governing board of each seaport |
| 535 | identified under s. 311.09 that is subject to the statewide |
| 536 | minimum seaport security standards referenced established in s. |
| 537 | 311.12 shall require that a candidate for certification as a |
| 538 | seaport security officer: |
| 539 | (a) Has received a Class D license as a security officer |
| 540 | under chapter 493. |
| 541 | (b) Has successfully completed the certified training |
| 542 | curriculum for a Class D license or has been determined by the |
| 543 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to have |
| 544 | equivalent experience as established by rule of the department. |
| 545 | (c) Has completed the training or training equivalency and |
| 546 | testing process established by this section for becoming a |
| 547 | certified seaport security officer. |
| 548 | Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 311.123, Florida |
| 549 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 550 | 311.123 Maritime domain security awareness training |
| 551 | program.- |
| 552 | (1) The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic |
| 553 | Development Council, in conjunction with the Department of Law |
| 554 | Enforcement and the Office of Drug Control within the Executive |
| 555 | Office of the Governor, shall create a maritime domain security |
| 556 | awareness training program to instruct all personnel employed |
| 557 | within a seaport's boundaries about the security procedures |
| 558 | required of them for implementation of the seaport security plan |
| 559 | required under s. 311.12(2)(3). |
| 560 | Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 311.124, Florida |
| 561 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 562 | 311.124 Trespassing; detention by a certified seaport |
| 563 | security officer.- |
| 564 | (1) Any Class D or Class G seaport security officer |
| 565 | certified under the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act |
| 566 | of 2002 guidelines and s. 311.121 or any employee of the seaport |
| 567 | security force certified under the federal Maritime |
| 568 | Transportation Security Act of 2002 guidelines and s. 311.121 |
| 569 | who has probable cause to believe that a person is trespassing |
| 570 | pursuant to s. 810.08 or s. 810.09 or this chapter in a |
| 571 | designated secure or restricted area pursuant to s. 311.12(3)(4) |
| 572 | is authorized to detain such person in a reasonable manner for a |
| 573 | reasonable period of time pending the arrival of a law |
| 574 | enforcement officer, and such action does not render the |
| 575 | security officer criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, |
| 576 | false imprisonment, or unlawful detention. |
| 577 | Section 5. Section 311.115, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
| 578 | Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |