Florida Senate - 2017                      CS for CS for SB 1118
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Transportation; and
       Senators Gainer and Rouson
       
       
       
       
       576-04735A-17                                         20171118c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to transportation; amending s. 20.23,
    3         F.S.; requiring the Department of Transportation to
    4         consist of a central office and districts, subject to
    5         certain requirements; providing that any secretary
    6         appointed after a specified date and the assistant
    7         secretaries are exempt from membership in the Senior
    8         Management Service System Class; requiring the
    9         secretary and assistant secretaries to receive
   10         compensation competitive with compensation for
   11         comparable responsibility in other public sector
   12         organizations; requiring that the salaries of the
   13         secretary and the assistant secretaries be established
   14         by the Florida Transportation Commission and
   15         determined by a certain market analysis, subject to
   16         certain requirements; providing minimum specified
   17         salaries for the secretary and assistant secretaries;
   18         providing that the district secretaries and the
   19         executive director of the turnpike enterprise are
   20         exempt from membership in the Senior Management
   21         Service System Class; requiring that the district
   22         secretaries and the executive director of the turnpike
   23         enterprise receive compensation commensurate with
   24         their qualifications and competitive with compensation
   25         for comparable responsibility in other public sector
   26         organizations and in the private sector; providing
   27         salary requirements for the district secretaries and
   28         the executive director of the turnpike enterprise;
   29         amending s. 212.055, F.S.; requiring certain
   30         enactments to specify the types of municipalities
   31         authorized to levy a discretionary sales surtax;
   32         authorizing certain municipalities to levy a certain
   33         discretionary sales surtax; providing requirements for
   34         the discretionary sales surtax; providing that the
   35         levy of the discretionary sales surtax does not
   36         prohibit the county in which the municipality is
   37         located from levying a certain discretionary sales
   38         surtax; authorizing the county within which the
   39         municipality is located to also levy a discretionary
   40         sales surtax, at the same level as the municipality,
   41         pursuant to a referendum of the voters of the county
   42         who reside outside the municipality; providing that
   43         the county discretionary sales surtax may be collected
   44         only outside the municipality limits; authorizing,
   45         alternatively, the municipality and county, by
   46         interlocal agreement, to levy such a discretionary
   47         sales surtax by referendum of all the voters of the
   48         county; requiring the proposal to adopt a
   49         discretionary sales surtax and to create a trust fund
   50         within the municipality accounts to be placed on the
   51         ballot in accordance with law at a time to be set at
   52         the discretion of the governing body; providing that
   53         proceeds from the surtax shall be applied to specified
   54         uses in whatever combination the municipal governing
   55         body deems appropriate; conforming provisions to
   56         changes made by the act; creating s. 316.0898, F.S.;
   57         requiring the Department of Transportation, in
   58         consultation with the Department of Highway Safety and
   59         Motor Vehicles, to develop the Florida Smart City
   60         Challenge grant program; specifying requirements for
   61         grant program applicants; establishing goals for the
   62         grant program; requiring the Department of
   63         Transportation to develop specified criteria for the
   64         program grants and a plan for promotion of the grant
   65         program; authorizing the Department of Transportation
   66         to contract with a third party that demonstrates
   67         certain knowledge and expertise for a specified
   68         purpose; requiring the Department of Transportation to
   69         submit certain information regarding the grant program
   70         to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified
   71         date; providing for repeal; amending s. 316.545, F.S.;
   72         providing for the calculation of fines for unlawful
   73         weight and load for a vehicle fueled by natural gas;
   74         requiring the vehicle operator to present a certain
   75         written certification upon request by a weight
   76         inspector or law enforcement officer; prescribing a
   77         maximum actual gross vehicle weight for vehicles
   78         fueled by natural gas; providing applicability;
   79         creating s. 316.851, F.S.; requiring an autonomous
   80         vehicle used by a transportation network company to be
   81         covered by automobile insurance, subject to certain
   82         requirements; requiring an autonomous vehicle used to
   83         provide a transportation service to carry in the
   84         vehicle proof of coverage satisfying certain
   85         requirements at all times while operating in
   86         autonomous mode; creating s. 316.853, F.S.; defining
   87         the term “automated mobility district”; requiring the
   88         Department of Transportation to designate automated
   89         mobility districts; requiring the department to
   90         consider applicable criteria from federal agencies for
   91         automated mobility districts in determining
   92         eligibility of a community for the designation;
   93         amending s. 319.145, F.S.; requiring an autonomous
   94         vehicle registered in this state to be capable of
   95         bringing the vehicle to a full stop when an alert is
   96         given if the human operator does not, or is not able
   97         to, take control of the autonomous vehicle, or if a
   98         human operator is not physically present in the
   99         vehicle; amending s. 335.074, F.S.; requiring bridges
  100         on public transportation facilities to be inspected
  101         for certain purposes at regular intervals as required
  102         by the Federal Highway Administration; creating s.
  103         335.094, F.S.; providing legislative intent; requiring
  104         the department to establish a process, including any
  105         forms deemed necessary by the department, for
  106         submitting applications for installation of a memorial
  107         marker; specifying persons who may submit such
  108         applications to the department; requiring the
  109         department to establish criteria for the design and
  110         fabrication of memorial markers; authorizing the
  111         department to install a certain sign at no charge to
  112         an applicant; providing that memorial markers may
  113         incorporate the available emblems of belief approved
  114         by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  115         National Cemetery Administration upon the request of
  116         the applicant and payment of a reasonable fee set by
  117         the department to offset production costs; defining
  118         the term “emblem of belief”; authorizing an applicant
  119         to request a new emblem of belief not specifically
  120         approved by the United States Department of Veterans
  121         Affairs National Cemetery Administration for
  122         inscription on a memorial marker, subject to certain
  123         requirements; requiring the department, under certain
  124         circumstances, to notify an applicant of any missing
  125         information and that no further action on the
  126         application will be taken until the missing
  127         information is provided; providing requirements for
  128         placement of the memorial marker by the department;
  129         requiring the department to remove a memorial marker
  130         if the department determines the presence of the
  131         marker creates a safety hazard, subject to certain
  132         requirements; amending s. 337.11, F.S.; increasing the
  133         allowable amount for contracts for construction and
  134         maintenance which the department may enter into, in
  135         certain circumstances, without advertising and
  136         receiving competitive bids; amending s. 337.401, F.S.;
  137         authorizing the Department of Transportation and
  138         certain local governmental entities to prescribe and
  139         enforce reasonable rules or regulations with reference
  140         to the placing and maintaining across, on, or within
  141         the right-of-way limits of any road or publicly owned
  142         rail corridors under their respective jurisdictions
  143         any voice or data communications services lines or
  144         wireless facilities; amending s. 338.227, F.S.;
  145         providing that certain bonds are not required to be
  146         validated but may be validated at the option of the
  147         Division of Bond Finance; providing filing, notice,
  148         and service requirements for complaints and circuit
  149         court orders concerning such validation; amending s.
  150         215.82, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made
  151         by the act; amending s. 338.2275, F.S.; authorizing
  152         the department to include the acquisition of the
  153         Garcon Point Bridge and related assets as a turnpike
  154         project in the department’s tentative work program,
  155         subject to certain requirements; authorizing the
  156         department to acquire the bridge and outstanding Santa
  157         Rosa Bay Bridge Authority bonds upon approval of the
  158         acquisition through approval of the department’s
  159         tentative work program; authorizing the department to
  160         enter into necessary agreements to implement the
  161         acquisition and to specify the terms and conditions
  162         thereof; providing that the bridge becomes a part of
  163         the turnpike system upon its acquisition; approving
  164         the issuance of revenue bonds; requiring the
  165         acquisition price paid by the department to first be
  166         used to settle all claims of the holders of certain
  167         Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority Revenue Bonds;
  168         prohibiting a toll rate increase in connection with
  169         the acquisition of the bridge; prohibiting any
  170         increase in tolls for use of the bridge following its
  171         acquisition, except as required by law or to comply
  172         with bond covenants; prohibiting the department or the
  173         state from incurring any financial obligation for the
  174         acquisition in excess of certain gross revenues;
  175         providing that the acquisition price paid by the
  176         department may not exceed the present value of certain
  177         gross revenues; terminating a certain lease-purchase
  178         agreement between the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority
  179         and the department upon the acquisition of the Garcon
  180         Point Bridge; repealing part IV of chapter 348, F.S.,
  181         relating to the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, upon
  182         acquisition of the bridge; amending s. 339.135, F.S.;
  183         providing an additional exception related to the
  184         amendment of adopted work programs when an emergency
  185         exists; amending s. 339.2405, F.S.; replacing the
  186         Florida Highway Beautification Council within the
  187         department with the Florida Highway Beautification
  188         Grant Program; providing the purpose of the program;
  189         providing duties of the department; conforming
  190         provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
  191         343.52, F.S.; defining the term “department”; amending
  192         s. 343.53, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
  193         amending s. 343.54, F.S.; prohibiting the South
  194         Florida Regional Transportation Authority from
  195         entering into, extending, or renewing certain
  196         contracts or other agreements without the department’s
  197         prior review and written approval if such contracts or
  198         agreements may be funded with funds provided by the
  199         department; amending s. 343.58, F.S.; providing that
  200         certain funds provided to the authority by the
  201         department constitute state financial assistance for
  202         specified purposes, subject to certain requirements;
  203         requiring the department to provide certain funds in
  204         accordance with the terms of an agreement between the
  205         authority and the department; authorizing the
  206         department to advance the authority a certain amount
  207         of the total funding for a state fiscal year at the
  208         beginning of each state fiscal year, subject to
  209         certain requirements; requiring the authority to
  210         promptly provide the department any documentation or
  211         information, in addition to the proposed annual
  212         budget, which is required by the department for its
  213         evaluation of the proposed uses of state funds;
  214         amending s. 427.011, F.S.; revising the definition of
  215         the term “paratransit”; authorizing the Secretary of
  216         Transportation to enroll the State of Florida in
  217         federal pilot programs or projects for the collection
  218         and study of data for the review of federal or state
  219         roadway safety, infrastructure sustainability,
  220         congestion mitigation, transportation system
  221         efficiency, autonomous vehicle technology, or capacity
  222         challenges; providing legislative findings; providing
  223         for an alternate means to measure permitted sign
  224         height on interstate highways within Broward County;
  225         providing for the Department of Transportation to
  226         promulgate rules; providing effective dates, one of
  227         which is contingent.
  228          
  229  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  230  
  231         Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
  232  (4) of section 20.23, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  233         20.23 Department of Transportation.—There is created a
  234  Department of Transportation which shall be a decentralized
  235  agency.
  236         (1)(a) The Department of Transportation shall consist of:
  237         1. A central office that establishes policies and
  238  procedures; and
  239         2. Districts that carry out projects as authorized or
  240  required under the policies and procedures implemented by the
  241  central office pursuant to paragraph (3)(a).
  242         (b)(a) The head of the Department of Transportation is the
  243  Secretary of Transportation. The secretary shall be appointed by
  244  the Governor from among three persons nominated by the Florida
  245  Transportation Commission and shall be subject to confirmation
  246  by the Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the
  247  Governor.
  248         (c)(b) The secretary shall be a proven, effective
  249  administrator who by a combination of education and experience
  250  shall clearly possess a broad knowledge of the administrative,
  251  financial, and technical aspects of the development, operation,
  252  and regulation of transportation systems and facilities or
  253  comparable systems and facilities.
  254         (d)(c) The secretary shall provide to the Florida
  255  Transportation Commission or its staff, such assistance,
  256  information, and documents as are requested by the commission or
  257  its staff to enable the commission to fulfill its duties and
  258  responsibilities.
  259         (e)(d) The secretary may appoint up to three assistant
  260  secretaries who shall be directly responsible to the secretary
  261  and who shall perform such duties as are assigned by the
  262  secretary. The secretary shall designate to an assistant
  263  secretary the duties related to enhancing economic prosperity,
  264  including, but not limited to, the responsibility of liaison
  265  with the head of economic development in the Executive Office of
  266  the Governor. Such assistant secretary shall be directly
  267  responsible for providing the Executive Office of the Governor
  268  with investment opportunities and transportation projects that
  269  expand the state’s role as a global hub for trade and investment
  270  and enhance the supply chain system in the state to process,
  271  assemble, and ship goods to markets throughout the eastern
  272  United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The
  273  secretary may delegate to any assistant secretary the authority
  274  to act in the absence of the secretary.
  275         (f)1.(e) Any secretary appointed after July 1, 2019 5,
  276  1989, and the assistant secretaries are shall be exempt from the
  277  provisions of part III of chapter 110 and shall receive
  278  compensation commensurate with their qualifications and
  279  competitive with compensation for comparable responsibility in
  280  other public sector organizations and in the private sector.
  281         2. The salaries of the secretary and the assistant
  282  secretaries shall be established by the Florida Transportation
  283  Commission and determined by a market analysis focused on
  284  comparably skilled individuals in other public sector
  285  organizations, including, but not limited to, expressway
  286  authorities, aviation authorities, and port authorities, and on
  287  comparably skilled individuals in the private sector. The market
  288  analysis must serve as a basis for ascertaining compensation
  289  levels required to retain the secretary and assistant
  290  secretaries in their positions within the department and to
  291  attract external talent that can fulfill the department’s
  292  mission and effect change. The salary of the secretary must be
  293  at least $180,000. The salary of an assistant secretary must be
  294  10 percent below that of the secretary who appoints him or her.
  295         (4)(a)1. The operations of the department shall be
  296  organized into seven districts, each headed by a district
  297  secretary, and a turnpike enterprise and a rail enterprise, each
  298  enterprise headed by an executive director. The district
  299  secretaries and the executive directors shall be registered
  300  professional engineers in accordance with the provisions of
  301  chapter 471 or the laws of another state, or, in lieu of
  302  professional engineer registration, a district secretary or
  303  executive director may hold an advanced degree in an appropriate
  304  related discipline, such as a Master of Business Administration.
  305         2. The district secretaries and the executive director of
  306  the turnpike enterprise are exempt from part III of chapter 110
  307  and shall receive compensation commensurate with their
  308  qualifications and competitive with compensation for comparable
  309  responsibility in other public sector organizations and in the
  310  private sector. The salaries of the district secretaries and the
  311  executive director of the turnpike enterprise must be 15 percent
  312  below that of the secretary, as determined under subparagraph
  313  (1)(f)2., who is head of the department at the time the district
  314  secretaries and the executive director of the turnpike
  315  enterprise take their positions.
  316         3. The headquarters of the districts shall be located in
  317  Polk, Columbia, Washington, Broward, Volusia, Miami-Dade, and
  318  Hillsborough Counties. The headquarters of the turnpike
  319  enterprise shall be located in Orange County. The headquarters
  320  of the rail enterprise shall be located in Leon County. In order
  321  to provide for efficient operations and to expedite the
  322  decisionmaking process, the department shall provide for maximum
  323  decentralization to the districts.
  324         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 212.055, Florida
  325  Statutes, is amended to read:
  326         212.055 Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent;
  327  authorization and use of proceeds.—It is the legislative intent
  328  that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales
  329  surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a
  330  subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the
  331  levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties or
  332  municipalities authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may
  333  be imposed; the maximum length of time the surtax may be
  334  imposed, if any; the procedure which must be followed to secure
  335  voter approval, if required; the purpose for which the proceeds
  336  may be expended; and such other requirements as the Legislature
  337  may provide. Taxable transactions and administrative procedures
  338  shall be as provided in s. 212.054.
  339         (1) CHARTER COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, AND REGIONAL
  340  TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SURTAX.—
  341         (a) Each charter county that has adopted a charter, each
  342  county the government of which is consolidated with that of one
  343  or more municipalities, and each county that is within or under
  344  an interlocal agreement with a regional transportation or
  345  transit authority created under chapter 343 or chapter 349, and
  346  each municipality and county under paragraph (b) may levy a
  347  discretionary sales surtax, subject to approval by a majority
  348  vote of the electorate of the county or municipality or by a
  349  charter amendment approved by a majority vote of the electorate
  350  of the county.
  351         (b)1.A municipality with a population greater than 270,000
  352  located in a county with a population greater than 1.28 million
  353  but less than 1.5 million may levy a discretionary sales surtax
  354  as provided in this subsection. The discretionary sales surtax
  355  may only be levied within the limits of the municipality.
  356         2.The levy of a discretionary sales surtax pursuant to
  357  this paragraph does not prohibit the county in which the
  358  municipality is located from levying a discretionary sales
  359  surtax as otherwise provided in this section. If a municipality
  360  has levied a discretionary sales surtax as described in this
  361  paragraph, the county within which the municipality is located
  362  may also levy a discretionary sales surtax, at the same level as
  363  the municipality, pursuant to referendum of the voters of the
  364  county who reside outside the municipality. The proceeds from
  365  such a discretionary sales surtax may only be collected outside
  366  the municipality limits. Alternatively, the municipality and
  367  county, by interlocal agreement, may levy such a discretionary
  368  sales surtax by referendum of all the voters of the county.
  369         (c)(b) The rate of the discretionary sales surtax shall be
  370  up to 1 percent.
  371         (d)(c) The proposal to adopt a discretionary sales surtax
  372  as provided in this subsection and to create a trust fund within
  373  the county or municipality accounts shall be placed on the
  374  ballot in accordance with law at a time to be set at the
  375  discretion of the governing body.
  376         (e)(d) Proceeds from the surtax shall be applied to as many
  377  or as few of the uses enumerated below in whatever combination
  378  the county commission or municipal governing body deems
  379  appropriate:
  380         1. Deposited by the county or municipality in the trust
  381  fund and shall be used for the purposes of development,
  382  construction, equipment, maintenance, operation, supportive
  383  services, including a countywide or municipality-wide bus
  384  system, on-demand transportation services, and related costs of
  385  a fixed guideway rapid transit system;
  386         2. Remitted by the governing body of the county or
  387  municipality to an expressway, transit, or transportation
  388  authority created by law to be used, at the discretion of such
  389  authority, for the development, construction, operation, or
  390  maintenance of roads or bridges in the county or municipality,
  391  for the operation and maintenance of a bus system, for the
  392  operation and maintenance of on-demand transportation services,
  393  for the payment of principal and interest on existing bonds
  394  issued for the construction of such roads or bridges, and, upon
  395  approval by the county commission or municipal governing body,
  396  such proceeds may be pledged for bonds issued to refinance
  397  existing bonds or new bonds issued for the construction of such
  398  roads or bridges;
  399         3. Used by the county or municipality for the development,
  400  construction, operation, and maintenance of roads and bridges in
  401  the county or municipality; for the expansion, operation, and
  402  maintenance of bus and fixed guideway systems; for the
  403  expansion, operation, and maintenance of on-demand
  404  transportation services; and for the payment of principal and
  405  interest on bonds issued for the construction of fixed guideway
  406  rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges; and such
  407  proceeds may be pledged by the governing body of the county or
  408  municipality for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new
  409  bonds issued for the construction of such fixed guideway rapid
  410  transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges and no more than
  411  25 percent used for nontransit uses; and
  412         4. Used by the county or municipality for the planning,
  413  development, construction, operation, and maintenance of roads
  414  and bridges in the county or municipality; for the planning,
  415  development, expansion, operation, and maintenance of bus and
  416  fixed guideway systems; for the planning, development,
  417  construction, operation, and maintenance of on-demand
  418  transportation services; and for the payment of principal and
  419  interest on bonds issued for the construction of fixed guideway
  420  rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges; and such
  421  proceeds may be pledged by the governing body of the county or
  422  municipality for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new
  423  bonds issued for the construction of such fixed guideway rapid
  424  transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges. Pursuant to an
  425  interlocal agreement entered into pursuant to chapter 163, the
  426  governing body of the county may distribute proceeds from the
  427  tax to a municipality, or an expressway or transportation
  428  authority created by law to be expended for the purpose
  429  authorized by this paragraph. Any county that has entered into
  430  interlocal agreements for distribution of proceeds to one or
  431  more municipalities in the county shall revise such interlocal
  432  agreements no less than every 5 years in order to include any
  433  municipalities that have been created since the prior interlocal
  434  agreements were executed.
  435         (f)(e) As used in this subsection, the term “on-demand
  436  transportation services” means transportation provided between
  437  flexible points of origin and destination selected by individual
  438  users with such service being provided at a time that is agreed
  439  upon by the user and the provider of the service and that is not
  440  fixed-schedule or fixed-route in nature.
  441         Section 3. Section 316.0898, Florida Statutes, is created
  442  to read:
  443         316.0898 Florida Smart City Challenge grant program.—
  444         (1)The Department of Transportation, in consultation with
  445  the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, shall
  446  develop the Florida Smart City Challenge grant program and shall
  447  establish grant award requirements for municipalities or regions
  448  for the purpose of receiving grant awards. Grant applicants must
  449  demonstrate and document the adoption of emerging technologies
  450  and their impact on the transportation system and must address
  451  at least the following focus areas:
  452         (a)Autonomous vehicles.
  453         (b)Connected vehicles.
  454         (c)Sensor-based infrastructure.
  455         (d)Collecting and using data.
  456         (e) Electric vehicles, including charging stations.
  457         (f)Developing strategic models and partnerships.
  458         (2)The goals of the grant program include, but are not
  459  limited to:
  460         (a)Identifying transportation challenges and identifying
  461  how emerging technologies can address those challenges.
  462         (b)Determining the emerging technologies and strategies
  463  that have the potential to provide the most significant impacts.
  464         (c)Encouraging municipalities to take significant steps to
  465  integrate emerging technologies into their day-to-day
  466  operations.
  467         (d)Identifying the barriers to implementing the grant
  468  program and communicating those barriers to the Legislature and
  469  appropriate agencies and organizations.
  470         (e)Leveraging the initial grant to attract additional
  471  public and private investments.
  472         (f)Increasing the state’s competitiveness in the pursuit
  473  of grants from the United States Department of Transportation,
  474  the United States Department of Energy, and other federal
  475  agencies.
  476         (g)Committing to the continued operation of programs
  477  implemented in connection with the grant.
  478         (h)Serving as a model for municipalities nationwide.
  479         (i)Documenting the costs and impacts of the grant program
  480  and lessons learned during implementation.
  481         (j) Identifying solutions that will demonstrate local or
  482  regional economic impact.
  483         (3)The Department of Transportation shall develop
  484  eligibility, application, and selection criteria for the program
  485  grants and a plan for the promotion of the grant program to
  486  municipalities or regions of this state as an opportunity to
  487  compete for grant funding, including the award of grants to a
  488  single recipient and secondary grants to specific projects of
  489  merit within other applications. The Department of
  490  Transportation may contract with a third party that demonstrates
  491  knowledge and expertise in the focuses and goals of this section
  492  to provide guidance in the development of the requirements of
  493  this section.
  494         (4)On or before January 1, 2018, the Department of
  495  Transportation shall submit the grant program guidelines and
  496  plans for promotion of the grant program to the Governor, the
  497  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
  498  Representatives.
  499         (5) This section expires July 1, 2018.
  500         Section 4. Present paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (3)
  501  of section 316.545, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
  502  paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively, and a new paragraph (c) is
  503  added to that subsection, to read:
  504         316.545 Weight and load unlawful; special fuel and motor
  505  fuel tax enforcement; inspection; penalty; review.—
  506         (3)
  507         (c)1. For a vehicle fueled by natural gas, the fine is
  508  calculated by reducing the actual gross vehicle weight by the
  509  certified weight difference between the natural gas tank and
  510  fueling system and a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.
  511  Upon the request of a weight inspector or a law enforcement
  512  officer, the vehicle operator shall present a written
  513  certification that identifies the weight of the natural gas tank
  514  and fueling system and the difference in weight of a comparable
  515  diesel tank and fueling system. The written certification must
  516  originate from the vehicle manufacturer or the installer of the
  517  natural gas tank and fueling system.
  518         2. The actual gross vehicle weight for vehicles fueled by
  519  natural gas may not exceed 82,000 pounds, excluding the weight
  520  allowed for idle-reduction technology under paragraph (b).
  521         3. This paragraph does not apply to vehicles described in
  522  s. 316.535(6).
  523         Section 5. Effective upon the same date that SB 340 or
  524  similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted
  525  in the 2017 Regular Session or any extension thereof and becomes
  526  a law, section 316.851, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
  527         316.851 Autonomous vehicles; providing prearranged rides.—
  528         (1) An autonomous vehicle used by a transportation network
  529  company to provide a prearranged ride must be covered by
  530  automobile insurance as required by s. 627.748, regardless of
  531  whether a human operator is physically present within the
  532  vehicle when the ride occurs. When an autonomous vehicle is
  533  logged on to a digital network but is not engaged in a
  534  prearranged ride, the autonomous vehicle must maintain insurance
  535  coverage as defined in s. 627.748(7)(b).
  536         (2) An autonomous vehicle used to provide a transportation
  537  service shall carry in the vehicle proof of coverage satisfying
  538  the requirements of this section at all times while operating in
  539  autonomous mode.
  540         Section 6. Section 316.853, Florida Statutes, is created to
  541  read:
  542         316.853 Automated mobility districts.—
  543         (1) For the purpose of this section, an “automated mobility
  544  district” means a master planned development or combination of
  545  contiguous developments in which the deployment of autonomous
  546  vehicles as defined in s. 316.003 as the basis for a shared
  547  mobility system is a stated goal or objective of the development
  548  or developments.
  549         (2) The Department of Transportation shall designate
  550  automated mobility districts.
  551         (3) In determining the eligibility of a community for
  552  designation as an automated mobility district, the Department of
  553  Transportation shall consider applicable criteria from federal
  554  agencies for automated mobility districts and apply those
  555  criteria to eligible developments in this state.
  556         Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  557  319.145, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  558         319.145 Autonomous vehicles.—
  559         (1) An autonomous vehicle registered in this state must
  560  continue to meet applicable federal standards and regulations
  561  for such motor vehicle. The vehicle must:
  562         (a) Have a system to safely alert the operator if an
  563  autonomous technology failure is detected while the autonomous
  564  technology is engaged. When an alert is given, the system must:
  565         1. Require the operator to take control of the autonomous
  566  vehicle; or
  567         2. If the human operator does not, or is not able to, take
  568  control of the autonomous vehicle, or if a human operator is not
  569  physically present in the vehicle, be capable of bringing the
  570  vehicle to a complete stop.
  571         Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 335.074, Florida
  572  Statutes, is amended to read:
  573         335.074 Safety inspection of bridges.—
  574         (2) At regular intervals as required by the Federal Highway
  575  Administration not to exceed 2 years, each bridge on a public
  576  transportation facility shall be inspected for structural
  577  soundness and safety for the passage of traffic on such bridge.
  578  The thoroughness with which bridges are to be inspected shall
  579  depend on such factors as age, traffic characteristics, state of
  580  maintenance, and known deficiencies. The governmental entity
  581  having maintenance responsibility for any such bridge shall be
  582  responsible for having inspections performed and reports
  583  prepared in accordance with the provisions contained herein.
  584         Section 9. Effective October 1, 2017, section 335.094,
  585  Florida Statutes, is created to read:
  586         335.094 Highway memorial markers; public safety awareness.—
  587         (1) In recognition of the department’s mission to provide a
  588  safe transportation system, the Legislature intends that the
  589  department allow the use of highway memorial markers at or near
  590  the location of traffic-related fatalities on the State Highway
  591  System to raise public awareness and remind motorists to drive
  592  safely by memorializing people who have died as a result of a
  593  traffic-related crash.
  594         (2) The department shall establish a process, including any
  595  forms deemed necessary by the department, for submitting
  596  applications for installation of a memorial marker as authorized
  597  in this section. Applications may be submitted to the department
  598  by:
  599         (a) A member of the decedent’s family, which includes the
  600  decedent’s spouse; a child, parent, or sibling of the decedent,
  601  whether biological, adopted, or step relation; and any lineal or
  602  collateral descendant of the decedent; or
  603         (b) Any individual who is responsible under the laws of
  604  this state for the disposition of the unclaimed remains of the
  605  decedent or for other matters relating to the interment or
  606  memorialization of the decedent.
  607         (3)The department shall establish criteria for the design
  608  and fabrication of memorial markers, including, but not limited
  609  to, marker components, fabrication material, and size.
  610         (4)(a)The department may install a round aluminum sign
  611  panel with white background and black letters uniformly
  612  inscribed “Drive Safely, In Memory Of” followed by the
  613  decedent’s name at no charge to the applicant.
  614         (b) Upon the request of the applicant and payment of a
  615  reasonable fee set by the department to offset production costs,
  616  memorial markers may incorporate the available emblems of belief
  617  approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  618  National Cemetery Administration. For purposes of this section,
  619  an “emblem of belief” means an emblem that represents the
  620  decedent’s religious affiliation or sincerely held religious
  621  belief system, or a sincerely held belief system that was
  622  functionally equivalent to a religious belief system in the life
  623  of the decedent. The religion or belief system represented by an
  624  emblem need not be associated with or endorsed by a church,
  625  group, or organized denomination. The term does not include
  626  emblems, graphics, logos, or symbols that relate to social,
  627  cultural, ethnic, civic, fraternal, trade, commercial,
  628  political, professional, or military status.
  629         (c)An applicant may request a new emblem of belief not
  630  specifically approved by the United States Department of
  631  Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration for
  632  inscription on a memorial marker as follows:
  633         1. The applicant must certify that the proposed new emblem
  634  of belief represents the decedent’s religious affiliation or
  635  sincerely held religious belief system, or a sincerely held
  636  belief system that was functionally equivalent to a religious
  637  belief system in the life of the decedent.
  638         2. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the
  639  department shall accept as genuine an applicant’s statement of
  640  the religious or functionally equivalent belief system of a
  641  decedent.
  642         (d) If the department determines that any application under
  643  this section is incomplete, the department must notify the
  644  applicant in writing of any missing information and must notify
  645  the applicant in writing that no further action on the
  646  application will be taken until the missing information is
  647  provided.
  648         (5) The department shall place a memorial marker for any
  649  approved application at or near the location of the fatality in
  650  a fashion that reduces driver distraction and positions the
  651  marker as near the right-of-way line as possible.
  652         (6) Memorial markers are intended to remind passing
  653  motorists of the dangers of unsafe driving and are not intended
  654  for visitation. The department shall remove a memorial marker if
  655  the department determines the presence of the marker creates a
  656  safety hazard. In such cases, the department shall post a notice
  657  near where the marker was located indicating that the marker has
  658  been removed and provide contact information for pickup of the
  659  marker. The department shall store any removed markers for at
  660  least 60 days. If after 60 days the memorial is not claimed, the
  661  department may dispose of the marker as it deems necessary.
  662         Section 10. Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section
  663  337.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  664         337.11 Contracting authority of department; bids; emergency
  665  repairs, supplemental agreements, and change orders; combined
  666  design and construction contracts; progress payments; records;
  667  requirements of vehicle registration.—
  668         (6)
  669         (c) When the department determines that it is in the best
  670  interest of the public for reasons of public concern, economy,
  671  improved operations, or safety, and only for contracts for
  672  construction and maintenance which do not exceed $250,000 when
  673  circumstances dictate rapid completion of the work, the
  674  department may, up to the amount of $120,000, enter into
  675  contracts for construction and maintenance without advertising
  676  and receiving competitive bids. The department may enter into
  677  such contracts only upon a determination that the work is
  678  necessary for one of the following reasons:
  679         1. To ensure timely completion of projects or avoidance of
  680  undue delay for other projects;
  681         2. To accomplish minor repairs or construction and
  682  maintenance activities for which time is of the essence and for
  683  which significant cost savings would occur; or
  684         3. To accomplish nonemergency work necessary to ensure
  685  avoidance of adverse conditions that affect the safe and
  686  efficient flow of traffic.
  687  
  688  The department shall make a good faith effort to obtain two or
  689  more quotes, if available, from qualified contractors before
  690  entering into any contract. The department shall give
  691  consideration to disadvantaged business enterprise
  692  participation. However, when the work exists within the limits
  693  of an existing contract, the department shall make a good faith
  694  effort to negotiate and enter into a contract with the prime
  695  contractor on the existing contract.
  696         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  697  337.401, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  698         337.401 Use of right-of-way for utilities subject to
  699  regulation; permit; fees.—
  700         (1)(a) The department and local governmental entities,
  701  referred to in this section and in ss. 337.402, 337.403, and
  702  337.404 as the “authority,” that have jurisdiction and control
  703  of public roads or publicly owned rail corridors are authorized
  704  to prescribe and enforce reasonable rules or regulations with
  705  reference to the placing and maintaining across, on, or within
  706  the right-of-way limits of any road or publicly owned rail
  707  corridors under their respective jurisdictions any electric
  708  transmission, voice telephone, telegraph, data, or other
  709  communications services lines or wireless facilities; pole
  710  lines; poles; railways; ditches; sewers; water, heat, or gas
  711  mains; pipelines; fences; gasoline tanks and pumps; or other
  712  structures referred to in this section and in ss. 337.402,
  713  337.403, and 337.404 as the “utility.” The department may enter
  714  into a permit-delegation agreement with a governmental entity if
  715  issuance of a permit is based on requirements that the
  716  department finds will ensure the safety and integrity of
  717  facilities of the Department of Transportation; however, the
  718  permit-delegation agreement does not apply to facilities of
  719  electric utilities as defined in s. 366.02(2).
  720         Section 12. Subsection (5) is added to section 338.227,
  721  Florida Statutes, to read:
  722         338.227 Turnpike revenue bonds.—
  723         (5) Notwithstanding s. 215.82, bonds issued pursuant to
  724  this section are not required to be validated pursuant to
  725  chapter 75 but may be validated at the option of the Division of
  726  Bond Finance. Any complaint about such validation must be filed
  727  in the circuit court of the county in which the seat of state
  728  government is situated, and the clerk shall publish the notice
  729  as required by s. 75.06 only in the county in which the
  730  complaint is filed. The complaint and order of the circuit court
  731  must be served on the state attorney of the circuit in which the
  732  action is pending.
  733         Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 215.82, Florida
  734  Statutes, is amended to read:
  735         215.82 Validation; when required.—
  736         (2) Any bonds issued pursuant to this act which are
  737  validated shall be validated in the manner provided by chapter
  738  75. In actions to validate bonds to be issued in the name of the
  739  State Board of Education under s. 9(a) and (d), Art. XII of the
  740  State Constitution and bonds to be issued pursuant to chapter
  741  259, the Land Conservation Program, the complaint shall be filed
  742  in the circuit court of the county where the seat of state
  743  government is situated, the notice required to be published by
  744  s. 75.06 shall be published only in the county where the
  745  complaint is filed, and the complaint and order of the circuit
  746  court shall be served only on the state attorney of the circuit
  747  in which the action is pending. In any action to validate bonds
  748  issued pursuant to s. 1010.62 or issued pursuant to s. 9(a)(1),
  749  Art. XII of the State Constitution or issued pursuant to s.
  750  215.605 or s. 338.227, the complaint shall be filed in the
  751  circuit court of the county where the seat of state government
  752  is situated, the notice required to be published by s. 75.06
  753  shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
  754  county where the complaint is filed and in two other newspapers
  755  of general circulation in the state, and the complaint and order
  756  of the circuit court shall be served only on the state attorney
  757  of the circuit in which the action is pending; provided,
  758  however, that if publication of notice pursuant to this section
  759  would require publication in more newspapers than would
  760  publication pursuant to s. 75.06, such publication shall be made
  761  pursuant to s. 75.06.
  762         Section 14. Subsection (4) is added to section 338.2275,
  763  Florida Statutes, to read:
  764         338.2275 Approved turnpike projects.—
  765         (1) Legislative approval of the department’s tentative work
  766  program that contains the turnpike project constitutes approval
  767  to issue bonds as required by s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
  768  Constitution. No more than $10 billion of bonds may be
  769  outstanding to fund approved turnpike projects.
  770         (2) The department may use turnpike revenues, the State
  771  Transportation Trust Fund moneys allocated for turnpike projects
  772  pursuant to s. 339.65, federal funds, and bond proceeds, and
  773  shall use the most cost-efficient combination of such funds, in
  774  developing a financial plan for funding turnpike projects. The
  775  department must submit a report of the estimated cost for each
  776  ongoing turnpike project and for each planned project to the
  777  Legislature 14 days before the convening of the regular
  778  legislative session. Verification of economic feasibility and
  779  statements of environmental feasibility for individual turnpike
  780  projects must be based on the entire project as approved.
  781  Statements of environmental feasibility are not required for
  782  those projects listed in s. 12, chapter 90-136, Laws of Florida,
  783  for which the Project Development and Environmental Reports were
  784  completed by July 1, 1990. All required environmental permits
  785  must be obtained before the department may advertise for bids
  786  for contracts for the construction of any turnpike project.
  787         (3) Bonds may not be issued to fund a turnpike project
  788  until the department has made a final determination that the
  789  project is economically feasible in accordance with s. 338.221,
  790  based on the most current information available.
  791         (4)(a) Subject to the verification of economic feasibility
  792  by the department in accordance with s. 338.221(8), the
  793  department may include the acquisition of the Garcon Point
  794  Bridge, and related assets, as a turnpike project in its
  795  tentative work program in accordance with s. 338.223. Upon
  796  approval of the acquisition through approval of the department’s
  797  tentative work program in accordance with s. 339.135, the
  798  department may acquire the Garcon Point Bridge, including
  799  related assets, and as part of such acquisition may purchase
  800  outstanding Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority bonds. The
  801  department has the authority to enter into any agreements
  802  necessary to implement the acquisition, including the purchase
  803  of Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority bonds, and to specify the
  804  terms and conditions thereof. Upon acquisition, the Garcon Point
  805  Bridge shall become a part of the turnpike system. Pursuant to
  806  section 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution, the issuance
  807  of revenue bonds to finance the department’s acquisition of the
  808  Garcon Point Bridge is approved.
  809         (b) The acquisition price paid by the department shall
  810  first be used to settle all claims of bondholders of the Santa
  811  Rosa Bay Bridge Authority Revenue Bonds, Series 1996.
  812         (c) No toll rate increase may be imposed on the Garcon
  813  Point Bridge by the authority, the department, or the trustee
  814  for bondholders, in connection with the acquisition of the
  815  bridge by the department. Following any acquisition by the
  816  department, no increase in tolls for use of the bridge shall be
  817  permitted except as required by law or as required to comply
  818  with the covenants contained in any resolution under which bonds
  819  have been issued.
  820         (d) Neither the department nor the state shall incur any
  821  financial obligation for the acquisition of the Garcon Point
  822  Bridge in excess of forecasted gross revenues from the operation
  823  of the bridge. Therefore, the total acquisition price paid by
  824  the department may not exceed the present value of the gross
  825  revenues which is calculated without any increase in the
  826  existing toll rate and which is anticipated to be collected from
  827  the operation of the bridge between the date of a purchase
  828  agreement in accordance with this section and the end of the
  829  anticipated remaining useful life of the bridge as it exists as
  830  of the date of the purchase agreement.
  831         (e) Upon the acquisition of the Garcon Point Bridge as
  832  authorized by this subsection, the October 23, 1996, Lease
  833  Purchase Agreement between the authority and the department, as
  834  amended, shall be terminated.
  835         Section 15. Upon acquisition of the Garcon Point Bridge as
  836  authorized by s. 338.2275(4), Florida Statutes, part IV of
  837  chapter 348, Florida Statutes, consisting of ss. 348.965
  838  348.9781, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  839         Section 16. Paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
  840  339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  841         339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
  842  definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
  843         (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
  844         (e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (d), and (g), and (h) and
  845  ss. 216.177(2) and 216.351, the secretary may request the
  846  Executive Office of the Governor to amend the adopted work
  847  program when an emergency exists, as defined in s. 252.34, and
  848  the emergency relates to the repair or rehabilitation of any
  849  state transportation facility. The Executive Office of the
  850  Governor may approve the amendment to the adopted work program
  851  and amend that portion of the department’s approved budget if a
  852  delay incident to the notification requirements in paragraph (d)
  853  would be detrimental to the interests of the state. However, the
  854  department shall immediately notify the parties specified in
  855  paragraph (d) and provide such parties written justification for
  856  the emergency action within 7 days after approval by the
  857  Executive Office of the Governor of the amendment to the adopted
  858  work program and the department’s budget. The adopted work
  859  program may not be amended under this subsection without
  860  certification by the comptroller of the department that there
  861  are sufficient funds available pursuant to the 36-month cash
  862  forecast and applicable statutes.
  863         Section 17. Section 339.2405, Florida Statutes, is amended
  864  to read:
  865         339.2405 Florida Highway Beautification Grant Program
  866  Council.—
  867         (1) There is created within the Department of
  868  Transportation the Florida Highway Beautification Grant Program
  869  for the purpose of awarding grants to local governmental
  870  entities for beautification of roads on the State Highway System
  871  as provided in subsections (3) and (4). The department shall
  872  Council. It shall consist of seven members appointed by the
  873  Governor. All appointed members must be residents of this state.
  874  One member must be a licensed landscape architect, one member
  875  must be a representative of the Florida Federation of Garden
  876  Clubs, Inc., one member must be a representative of the Florida
  877  Nurserymen and Growers Association, one member must be a
  878  representative of the department as designated by the head of
  879  the department, one member must be a representative of the
  880  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and two members
  881  must be private citizens. The members of the council shall serve
  882  at the pleasure of the Governor.
  883         (2) Each chair shall be selected by the council members and
  884  shall serve a 2-year term.
  885         (3) The council shall meet no less than semiannually at the
  886  call of the chair or, in the chair’s absence or incapacity, at
  887  the call of the head of the department. Four members shall
  888  constitute a quorum for the purpose of exercising all of the
  889  powers of the council. A vote of the majority of the members
  890  present shall be sufficient for all actions of the council.
  891         (4) The council members shall serve without pay but shall
  892  be entitled to per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s.
  893  112.061.
  894         (5) A member of the council may not participate in any
  895  discussion or decision to recommend grants to any qualified
  896  local government with which the member is associated as a member
  897  of the governing body or as an employee or with which the member
  898  has entered into a contractual arrangement.
  899         (6) The council may prescribe, amend, and repeal bylaws
  900  governing the manner in which the business of the council is
  901  conducted.
  902         (7)(a) The duties of the council shall be to:
  903         (a)1. Provide information to local governments and local
  904  highway beautification councils regarding the state highway
  905  beautification grants program.
  906         (b)2. Accept grant requests from local governments.
  907         (c)3. Review grant requests for compliance with department
  908  council rules.
  909         (d)4. Establish rules for evaluating and prioritizing the
  910  grant requests. The rules must include, but are not limited to,
  911  an examination of each grant’s aesthetic value, cost
  912  effectiveness, level of local support, feasibility of
  913  installation and maintenance, and compliance with state and
  914  federal regulations. Rules adopted by the department council
  915  which it uses to evaluate grant applications must take into
  916  consideration the contributions made by the highway
  917  beautification project in preventing litter.
  918         (e)5. Maintain a prioritized list of approved grant
  919  requests. The list must include recommended funding levels for
  920  each request and, if staged implementation is appropriate,
  921  funding requirements for each stage shall be provided.
  922         6. Assess the feasibility of planting and maintaining
  923  indigenous wildflowers and plants, instead of sod groundcovers,
  924  along the rights-of-way of state roads and highways. In making
  925  such assessment, the council shall utilize data from other
  926  states which include indigenous wildflower and plant species in
  927  their highway vegetative management systems.
  928         (b) The council may, at the request of the head of the
  929  department, review and make recommendations on any other highway
  930  beautification matters relating to the State Highway System.
  931         (8) The head of the department shall provide from existing
  932  personnel such staff support services to the council as are
  933  necessary to enable the council to fulfill its duties and
  934  responsibilities.
  935         (2)(9) Local highway beautification councils may be created
  936  by local governmental entities or by the Legislature. Prior to
  937  being submitted to the department council, a grant request must
  938  be approved by the local government or governments of the area
  939  in which the project is located.
  940         (3)(10) The head of the department, after receiving
  941  recommendations from the council, shall award grants to local
  942  governmental entities that have submitted grant requests for
  943  beautification of roads on the State Highway System and which
  944  requests are on the council’s approved list. The grants shall be
  945  awarded in the order they appear on the council’s prioritized
  946  list and in accordance with available funding.
  947         (4)(11) State highway beautification grants may be
  948  requested only for projects to beautify through landscaping
  949  roads on the State Highway System. The grant request shall
  950  identify all costs associated with the project, including
  951  sprinkler systems, plant materials, equipment, and labor. A
  952  grant shall provide for the costs of purchase and installation
  953  of a sprinkler system, the cost of plant materials and
  954  fertilizer, and may provide for the costs for labor associated
  955  with the installation of the plantings. Each local government
  956  that receives a grant is shall be responsible for any costs for
  957  water, for the maintenance of the sprinkler system, for the
  958  maintenance of the landscaped areas in accordance with a
  959  maintenance agreement with the department, and, except as
  960  otherwise provided in the grant, for any costs for labor
  961  associated with the installation of the plantings. The
  962  department may provide, by contract, services to maintain such
  963  landscaping at a level not to exceed the cost of routine
  964  maintenance of an equivalent unlandscaped area.
  965         (12) The council shall annually submit to the head of the
  966  Department of Transportation a proposal recommending the level
  967  of grant funding.
  968         Section 18. Section 343.52, Florida Statutes, is reordered
  969  and amended to read:
  970         343.52 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
  971         (2)(1) “Authority” means the South Florida Regional
  972  Transportation Authority.
  973         (3)(2) “Board” means the governing body of the authority.
  974         (4) “Department” means the Department of Transportation.
  975         (1)(3) “Area served” means Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm
  976  Beach Counties. However, this area may be expanded by mutual
  977  consent of the authority and the board of county commissioners
  978  of Monroe County. The authority may not expand into any
  979  additional counties without the department’s prior written
  980  approval.
  981         (8)(4) “Transit system” means a system used for the
  982  transportation of people and goods by means of, without
  983  limitation, a street railway, an elevated railway having a fixed
  984  guideway, a commuter railroad, a subway, motor vehicles, or
  985  motor buses, and includes a complete system of tracks, stations,
  986  and rolling stock necessary to effectuate passenger service to
  987  or from the surrounding regional municipalities.
  988         (7)(5) “Transit facilities” means property, avenues of
  989  access, equipment, or buildings built and installed in Miami
  990  Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties which are required to
  991  support a transit system.
  992         (6) “Member” means the individuals constituting the board.
  993         (5)(7) “Feeder transit services” means a transit system
  994  that transports passengers to or from stations within or across
  995  counties.
  996         Section 19. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
  997  343.53, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  998         343.53 South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.—
  999         (2) The governing board of the authority shall consist of
 1000  10 voting members, as follows:
 1001         (d) If the authority’s service area is expanded pursuant to
 1002  s. 343.54(6) s. 343.54(5), the county containing the new service
 1003  area shall have two members appointed to the board as follows:
 1004         1. The county commission of the county shall elect a
 1005  commissioner as that commission’s representative on the board.
 1006  The commissioner must be a member of the county commission when
 1007  elected and for the full extent of his or her term.
 1008         2. The Governor shall appoint a citizen member to the board
 1009  who is not a member of the county commission but who is a
 1010  resident and a qualified elector of that county.
 1011         Section 20. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
 1012  343.54, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
 1013  and (6), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that
 1014  section, to read:
 1015         343.54 Powers and duties.—
 1016         (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the
 1017  authority may not enter into, extend, or renew any contract or
 1018  other agreement under this part without the department’s prior
 1019  review and written approval of the authority’s proposed
 1020  expenditures if such contract or agreement may be funded, in
 1021  whole or in part, with funds provided by the department.
 1022         Section 21. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
 1023  343.58, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1024         343.58 County funding for the South Florida Regional
 1025  Transportation Authority.—
 1026         (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
 1027  contrary and effective July 1, 2010, until as provided in
 1028  paragraph (d), the department shall transfer annually from the
 1029  State Transportation Trust Fund to the South Florida Regional
 1030  Transportation Authority the amounts specified in subparagraph
 1031  (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.
 1032         (c)1. Funds provided to the authority by the department
 1033  under this subsection constitute state financial assistance
 1034  provided to a nonstate entity to carry out a state project
 1035  subject to the provisions of ss. 215.97 and 215.971. The
 1036  department shall provide the funds in accordance with the terms
 1037  of a written agreement to be entered into between the authority
 1038  and the department which shall provide for department review,
 1039  approval and audit of authority expenditure of such funds, and
 1040  shall include such other provisions as are required by
 1041  applicable law. The department is specifically authorized to
 1042  agree to advance the authority one-fourth of the total funding
 1043  provided under this subsection for a state fiscal year at the
 1044  beginning of each state fiscal year, with monthly payments over
 1045  the fiscal year on a reimbursement basis as supported by
 1046  invoices and such additional documentation and information as
 1047  the department may reasonably require, and a reconciliation of
 1048  the advance against remaining invoices in the last quarter of
 1049  the fiscal year may not be committed by the authority without
 1050  the approval of the department, which may not be unreasonably
 1051  withheld. At least 90 days before advertising any procurement or
 1052  renewing any existing contract that will rely on state funds for
 1053  payment, the authority shall notify the department of the
 1054  proposed procurement or renewal and the proposed terms thereof.
 1055  If the department, within 60 days after receipt of notice,
 1056  objects in writing to the proposed procurement or renewal,
 1057  specifying its reasons for objection, the authority may not
 1058  proceed with the proposed procurement or renewal. Failure of the
 1059  department to object in writing within 60 days after notice
 1060  shall be deemed consent. This requirement does not impair or
 1061  cause the authority to cancel contracts that exist as of June
 1062  30, 2012.
 1063         2. To enable the department to evaluate the authority’s
 1064  proposed uses of state funds, the authority shall annually
 1065  provide the department with its proposed budget for the
 1066  following authority fiscal year and shall promptly provide the
 1067  department with any additional documentation or information
 1068  required by the department for its evaluation of the proposed
 1069  uses of the state funds.
 1070         Section 22. Section 427.011, Florida Statutes, is reordered
 1071  and amended to read:
 1072         427.011 Definitions.—For the purposes of ss. 427.011
 1073  427.017:
 1074         (9)(1) “Transportation disadvantaged” means those persons
 1075  who because of physical or mental disability, income status, or
 1076  age are unable to transport themselves or to purchase
 1077  transportation and are, therefore, dependent upon others to
 1078  obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping,
 1079  social activities, or other life-sustaining activities, or
 1080  children who are handicapped or high-risk or at-risk as defined
 1081  in s. 411.202.
 1082         (5)(2) “Metropolitan planning organization” means the
 1083  organization responsible for carrying out transportation
 1084  planning and programming in accordance with the provisions of 23
 1085  U.S.C. s. 134, as provided in 23 U.S.C. s. 104(f)(3).
 1086         (1)(3) “Agency” means an official, officer, commission,
 1087  authority, council, committee, department, division, bureau,
 1088  board, section, or any other unit or entity of the state or of a
 1089  city, town, municipality, county, or other local governing body
 1090  or a private nonprofit transportation service-providing agency.
 1091         (11)(4) “Transportation improvement program” means a staged
 1092  multiyear program of transportation improvements, including an
 1093  annual element, which is developed by a metropolitan planning
 1094  organization or designated official planning agency.
 1095         (2)(5) “Community transportation coordinator” means a
 1096  transportation entity recommended by a metropolitan planning
 1097  organization, or by the appropriate designated official planning
 1098  agency as provided for in ss. 427.011-427.017 in an area outside
 1099  the purview of a metropolitan planning organization, to ensure
 1100  that coordinated transportation services are provided to the
 1101  transportation disadvantaged population in a designated service
 1102  area.
 1103         (12)(6) “Transportation operator” means one or more public,
 1104  private for-profit, or private nonprofit entities engaged by the
 1105  community transportation coordinator to provide service to
 1106  transportation disadvantaged persons pursuant to a coordinated
 1107  system service plan.
 1108         (3)(7) “Coordinating board” means an advisory entity in
 1109  each designated service area composed of representatives
 1110  appointed by the metropolitan planning organization or
 1111  designated official planning agency, to provide assistance to
 1112  the community transportation coordinator relative to the
 1113  coordination of transportation services.
 1114         (8) “Purchasing agency” means a department or agency whose
 1115  head is an ex officio, nonvoting adviser to the commission, or
 1116  an agency that purchases transportation services for the
 1117  transportation disadvantaged.
 1118         (7)(9) “Paratransit” means those elements of public transit
 1119  which provide service between specific origins and destinations
 1120  selected by the individual user with such service being provided
 1121  at a time that is agreed upon by the user and provider of the
 1122  service. Paratransit service is provided by taxis, limousines,
 1123  “dial-a-ride,” buses, transportation network companies, and
 1124  other demand-responsive operations that are characterized by
 1125  their nonscheduled, nonfixed route nature.
 1126         (10) “Transportation disadvantaged funds” means any local
 1127  government, state, or available federal funds that are for the
 1128  transportation of the transportation disadvantaged. Such funds
 1129  may include, but are not limited to, funds for planning,
 1130  Medicaid transportation, administration, operation, procurement,
 1131  and maintenance of vehicles or equipment and capital
 1132  investments. Transportation disadvantaged funds do not include
 1133  funds for the transportation of children to public schools.
 1134         (4)(11) “Coordination” means the arrangement for the
 1135  provision of transportation services to the transportation
 1136  disadvantaged in a manner that is cost-effective, efficient, and
 1137  reduces fragmentation and duplication of services.
 1138         (6)(12) “Nonsponsored transportation disadvantaged
 1139  services” means transportation disadvantaged services that are
 1140  not sponsored or subsidized by any funding source other than the
 1141  Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund.
 1142         Section 23. The Secretary of Transportation may enroll the
 1143  State of Florida in any federal pilot program or project for the
 1144  collection and study of data for the review of federal or state
 1145  roadway safety, infrastructure sustainability, congestion
 1146  mitigation, transportation system efficiency, autonomous vehicle
 1147  technology, or capacity challenges.
 1148         Section 24. (1)Broward County has undergone significant
 1149  expansion of its interstate system over the last 5 years.
 1150  Broward County is the second most populous county in the state
 1151  and is largely built out. The expansion of Broward County
 1152  interstate highways occurred in fully developed areas in which
 1153  relocation of permitted signs is difficult; the placement of new
 1154  ramps, bridges, and other construction within the interstate
 1155  right-of-way can hinder the ability of the public to view
 1156  existing permitted signs; and allowing a minimal height increase
 1157  based upon the height of the obstruction is reasonable.
 1158         (2)Notwithstanding general law to the contrary, in the
 1159  event that a properly permitted sign on an interstate highway
 1160  within Broward County is subsequently obstructed by the
 1161  construction of a ramp, braided bridge, or other permanent
 1162  visual obstruction within the interstate right-of-way, the
 1163  allowable height of the permitted sign shall be measured from
 1164  the top of the visual obstruction. However, the height of the
 1165  sign may not exceed 100 feet above the crown of the main
 1166  traveled way of the road to which the sign is permitted
 1167  regardless of the height of the visual obstruction.
 1168         (3)The Department of Transportation is authorized to
 1169  promulgate any rules or forms necessary to implement subsections
 1170  (1) and (2) of this section.
 1171         Section 25. Except as otherwise provided in this act, this
 1172  act shall take effect July 1, 2017.