HB 7167

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Florida Trade Data Center; amending
3	ss. 288.012, 288.386, and 311.07, F.S.; revising
4	requirements for the operating plans of the state's
5	foreign offices, the coordination of activities by the
6	Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative, and the use of
7	program funds of the Florida Seaport Transportation and
8	Economic Development Program, to delete provisions
9	relating to the Florida Trade Data Center; providing an
10	effective date.
11
12	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14	Section 1.  Paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of subsection (2)
15	of section 288.012, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
16	288.012  State of Florida foreign offices.-The Legislature
17	finds that the expansion of international trade and tourism is
18	vital to the overall health and growth of the economy of this
19	state. This expansion is hampered by the lack of technical and
20	business assistance, financial assistance, and information
21	services for businesses in this state. The Legislature finds
22	that these businesses could be assisted by providing these
23	services at State of Florida foreign offices. The Legislature
24	further finds that the accessibility and provision of services
25	at these offices can be enhanced through cooperative agreements
26	or strategic alliances between state entities, local entities,
27	foreign entities, and private businesses.
28	(2)  Each foreign office shall have in place an operational
29	plan approved by the participating boards or other governing
30	authority, a copy of which shall be provided to the Office of
31	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. These operating plans
32	shall be reviewed and updated each fiscal year and shall
33	include, at a minimum, the following:
34	(c)  Provisions for access to information for Florida
35	businesses related to through the Florida Trade Data Center.
36	Each foreign office shall obtain and forward trade leads and
37	inquiries to the center on a regular basis.
38	(d)  Identification of new and emerging market
39	opportunities for Florida businesses. Each foreign office shall
40	provide the Florida Trade Data Center with a compilation of
41	foreign buyers and importers in industry sector priority areas
42	on an annual basis. In return, the Florida Trade Data Center
43	shall make available to each foreign office, and to Enterprise
44	Florida, Inc., the Florida Commission on Tourism, the Florida
45	Ports Council, the Department of State, the Department of
46	Citrus, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
47	trade industry, commodity, and opportunity information. This
48	information shall be provided to such offices and entities
49	either free of charge or on a fee basis with fees set only to
50	recover the costs of providing the information.
51	(e)  Provision of access for Florida businesses to the
52	services of the Florida Trade Data Center, international trade
53	assistance services provided by state and local entities,
54	seaport and airport information, and other services identified
55	by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.
56	Section 2.  Subsection (2) of section 288.386, Florida
57	Statutes, is amended to read:
58	288.386  Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative.-
59	(2)  To enhance initiative effectiveness and leverage
60	resources, STEP shall coordinate initiative activities with
61	Enterprise Florida, Inc., United States Export Assistance
62	Centers, Florida Export Finance Corporation, Florida Trade Data
63	Center, Small Business Development Centers, and any other
64	organizations STEP deems appropriate. The coordination may
65	encompass export assistance and referral services, export
66	financing, job-training programs, educational programs, market
67	research and development, market promotion, trade missions, e-
68	commerce, and mentoring and matchmaking services relative to the
69	expansion of trade between Florida and the Caribbean Basin. The
70	initiative shall also form alliances with multilateral,
71	international, and domestic funding programs from Florida, the
72	United States, and the Caribbean Basin to coordinate systems and
73	programs for fundamental assistance in facilitating trade and
74	investment.
75	Section 3.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
76	311.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
77	311.07  Florida seaport transportation and economic
78	development funding.-
79	(3)(a)  Program funds shall be used to fund approved
80	projects on a 50-50 matching basis with any of the deepwater
81	ports, as listed in s. 403.021(9)(b), which is governed by a
82	public body or any other deepwater port which is governed by a
83	public body and which complies with the water quality provisions
84	of s. 403.061, the comprehensive master plan requirements of s.
85	163.3178(2)(k), and the local financial management and reporting
86	provisions of part III of chapter 218. However, program funds
87	used to fund projects that involve the rehabilitation of
88	wharves, docks, berths, bulkheads, or similar structures shall
89	require a 25-percent match of funds. Program funds also may be
90	used by the Seaport Transportation and Economic Development
91	Council to develop with the Florida Trade Data Center such trade
92	data information products which will assist Florida's seaports
93	and international trade.
94	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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