Florida Senate - 2014                              CS for SB 136
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator Ring
       
       
       
       
       
       596-00649-14                                           2014136c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to freight logistics zones; creating
    3         s. 311.103, F.S.; defining the term “freight logistics
    4         zone”; authorizing a county, or two or more contiguous
    5         counties, to designate a geographic area or areas
    6         within its jurisdiction as a freight logistics zone;
    7         requiring the adoption of a strategic plan that must
    8         include certain information; providing that certain
    9         projects within freight logistics zones may be
   10         eligible for priority in state funding and certain
   11         incentive programs; providing evaluation criteria for
   12         freight logistics zones; providing an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Section 311.103, Florida Statutes, is created to
   17  read:
   18         311.103 Designation of state freight logistics zones.—
   19         (1) As used in this section, the term “freight logistics
   20  zone” means a grouping of activities and infrastructure
   21  associated with freight transportation and related services
   22  within a defined area around an intermodal logistics center as
   23  defined in s. 311.101(2).
   24         (2) A county, or two or more contiguous counties, may
   25  designate a geographic area or areas within its jurisdiction as
   26  a freight logistics zone. The designation must be accompanied by
   27  a strategic plan adopted by the county or counties. At a
   28  minimum, the strategic plan must include, but is not limited to:
   29         (a) A map depicting the geographic area or areas to be
   30  included within the designation.
   31         (b) Identification of the existing or planned freight
   32  facilities or logistics clusters located within the proposed
   33  freight logistics zone.
   34         (c) Identification of existing transportation
   35  infrastructure, such as roads, rail, airports, and seaports,
   36  within or in close proximity to the proposed freight logistics
   37  zone.
   38         (d) Identification of existing workforce availability
   39  within or in close proximity to the proposed freight logistics
   40  zone.
   41         (e) Identification of any local, state, or federal
   42  workforce training capabilities available for a business seeking
   43  to locate or expand within the proposed freight logistics zone.
   44         (f) Identification of any local, state, or federal plans,
   45  including transportation, seaport, or airport plans, concerning
   46  the movement of freight within or in close proximity to the
   47  proposed freight logistics zone.
   48         (g) Identification of financial or other local government
   49  incentives to encourage new development, expansion of existing
   50  development, or redevelopment within the proposed freight
   51  logistics zone.
   52         (h) Documentation that the plan is consistent with
   53  applicable local government comprehensive plans and adopted
   54  long-range transportation plans of a metropolitan planning
   55  organization, where applicable.
   56         (3) A project within a freight logistics zone designated
   57  pursuant to this section which is consistent with the Freight
   58  Mobility and Trade Plan developed in accordance with s.
   59  334.044(33) may be eligible for priority in state funding and
   60  incentive programs relating to freight logistics zones,
   61  including applicable programs identified in parts I, III, and V
   62  of chapter 288.
   63         (4) When evaluating projects within a designated freight
   64  logistics zone to determine funding or incentive program
   65  eligibility under this section, consideration must be given to
   66  all of the following:
   67         (a) The presence of an existing or planned intermodal
   68  logistics center within the freight logistics zone.
   69         (b) Whether the project serves a strategic state interest.
   70         (c) Whether the project facilitates the cost-effective and
   71  efficient movement of goods.
   72         (d) The extent to which the project contributes to economic
   73  activity, including job creation, increased wages, and revenues.
   74         (e) The extent to which the project efficiently interacts
   75  with and supports the transportation network.
   76         (f) The amount of investment or commitments made by the
   77  owner or developer of the existing or proposed facility.
   78         (g) The extent to which the county or counties have
   79  commitments with private sector businesses planning to locate
   80  operations within the freight logistics zone.
   81         (h) Demonstrated local financial support and commitment to
   82  the project.
   83         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.