The Florida Senate

120.551  Internet publication pilot project.--

(1)  On or before December 31, 2001, the Department of Environmental Protection and the State Technology Office shall establish and commence a pilot project to determine the cost-effectiveness of publication of notices on the Internet in lieu of complete publication in the Florida Administrative Weekly. The pilot project shall end on July 1, 2003. Under this pilot project, notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the Department of Environmental Protection is required to publish notices in the Florida Administrative Weekly, the Department of Environmental Protection instead may publish a summary of such notice in the Florida Administrative Weekly along with the specific URL or Internet address where the complete notice required by law shall be published. The Department of Environmental Protection shall publish all other notices in the manner prescribed by law. Notices published on the Internet under this section shall clearly state the date the notice was first posted on the Internet and shall be initially posted only on the same days the Florida Administrative Weekly is published. Notices related to rulemaking published on the Internet under this provision shall be maintained on the Internet for a period of at least 12 months after the effective date of the rule or at least 3 months after the publication of a notice of withdrawal of the proposed rule. All other notices published on the Internet under this provision shall be maintained on the Internet for a period of at least 3 months after the date first posted. A searchable database or other electronic system to be permanently maintained on the Internet for the purpose of archiving all notices published on the Internet and allowing citizens permanent electronic access to such archived records shall also be established by the pilot project. No notice posted on the Internet shall be removed until the searchable database is implemented.

(2)  The Department of State shall publish notice of this pilot project in each weekly publication of the Florida Administrative Weekly. The notice shall state: "Under a temporary pilot project, in conjunction with the State Technology Office, to determine the cost-effectiveness of Internet publication of notices in lieu of complete publication in the Florida Administrative Weekly, summaries of notices of the Department of Environmental Protection are being published in the Florida Administrative Weekly along with a reference to the specific Internet URL or address where the complete notice required by law shall be published."

(3)  No later than January 31, 2003, the Department of Environmental Protection, the State Technology Office, and the Department of State shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives containing findings on the cost-effectiveness of publication of notices on the Internet in lieu of publication in the Florida Administrative Weekly, and recommendations, including legislative or rule changes, for modifications to the process necessary to effectuate publication of notices on the Internet.

History.--s. 1, ch. 2001-278.