ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 1 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1 An act relating to scrutinized companies; amending s. 2 215.473, F.S.; defining terms; revising the definition 3 of the term "scrutinized company"; requiring the State 4 Board of Administration to identify and maintain the 5 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Iran 6 Terrorism Sectors List; requiring the board to update 7 and quarterly make such list publicly available; 8 requiring the board to adhere to specified procedures 9 to assemble companies on such list; providing that 10 companies on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities 11 in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List as of a 12 specified date are deemed, beginning on a certain 13 date, to be on the Scrutinized Companies with 14 Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors List until 15 removed pursuant to specified procedures; requiring 16 the State Board of Administration to file a certain 17 report with each member of its Board of Trustees and 18 the Legislature within a specified timeframe after the 19 list is created or updated; requiring the board to no 20 longer scrutinize companies subject to the Scrutinized 21 Companies with Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors 22 List, to no longer assemble companies on the list, and 23 to cease engagement, investment prohibiti ons, and 24 divestment actions if two specified actions occur; 25 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 2 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 26 amending s. 287.135, F.S.; providing that certain 27 entities are ineligible to, and may not, bid on, 28 submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew c ertain 29 contracts; requiring that certain contracts entered 30 into or renewed on or after a specified date with an 31 agency or a local governmental entity contain a 32 provision allowing for the termination of such 33 contract under specified circumstances; revising the 34 exception allowing an agency or a local governmental 35 entity to contract with a company on specified lists 36 or engaged in business operations with certain 37 countries; providing the circumstances under which an 38 agency or a local governmental entity may con tract 39 with a company on the Scrutinized Companies with 40 Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List or 41 the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Iran 42 Terrorism Sectors List; requiring a company to certify 43 that it is not on certain lists at the ti me the 44 company submits a bid or proposal for a contract or 45 before the company enters into or renews a contract 46 with an agency or a local governmental entity; 47 conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 48 amending s. 624.449, F.S.; requiring domestic in surers 49 to annually provide to the Office of Insurance 50 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 3 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Regulation a list of companies in which they have 51 investments which are on the Scrutinized Companies 52 with Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors List; 53 reenacting s. 215.47(10)(b), F.S., relating to certai n 54 investment decisions made by the State Board of 55 Administration, to incorporate the amendments made to 56 s. 215.473, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing 57 severability; providing an effective date. 58 59 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of F lorida: 60 61 Section 1. Section 215.473, Florida Statutes, is amended 62 to read: 63 215.473 Divestiture by the State Board of Administration; 64 Sudan; Iran.— 65 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 66 (a) "Active business operations" means all busi ness 67 operations that are not inactive business operations. 68 (b) "Board" means the State Board of Administration. 69 (c) "Business operations" means engaging in commerce in 70 any form in Sudan or Iran, including, but not limited to, 71 acquiring, developing, mai ntaining, owning, selling, possessing, 72 leasing, or operating equipment, facilities, personnel, 73 products, services, personal property, real property, or any 74 other apparatus of business or commerce. 75 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 4 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (d) "Company" means a sole proprietorship, organization, 76 association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited 77 partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability 78 company, or other entity or business association, including all 79 wholly owned subsidiaries, majority -owned subsidiaries, parent 80 companies, or affiliates of such entities or business 81 associations, that exists for the purpose of making profit. 82 (e) "Complicit" means taking actions during any preceding 83 20-month period which have directly supported or promoted the 84 genocidal campaign in Dar fur, including preventing Darfur's 85 victimized population from communicating with each other; 86 encouraging Sudanese citizens to speak out against an 87 internationally approved security force for Darfur; actively 88 working to deny, cover up, or alter the record o n human rights 89 abuses in Darfur; or other similar actions. 90 (f) "Construction sector" means the production, 91 procurement, devising, framing, or arranging in Iran of parts or 92 materials to fabricate, shape, or form buildings or structures, 93 including the onsite development, assembly, or construction of 94 residential, commercial, or institutional buildings in Iran. 95 (g) "Direct holdings" in a company means all securities of 96 that company that are held directly by the public fund or in an 97 account or fund in which the public fund owns all shares or 98 interests. 99 (h) "Energy sector" means those activities involving the 100 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 5 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S exploration, extraction, production, refinement, or liquefaction 101 of petroleum, natural gas, or petroleum products in Iran. 102 (i) "Financial sector" mea ns any entity, including foreign 103 branches wherever located, organized under the laws of Iran or 104 any jurisdiction within Iran, or owned or controlled by the 105 government of Iran, or located in Iran, or owned or controlled 106 by any such entities, which is engage d in the business, as 107 principal or agent, of accepting deposits; making, granting, 108 transferring, holding, or brokering loans or credits; or 109 purchasing or selling foreign exchange, securities, or commodity 110 futures or options, or procuring purchasers and sel lers thereof. 111 Entities that operate in the financial sector of the Iranian 112 economy include, but are not limited to, depository 113 institutions, banks, savings banks, money service businesses, 114 trust companies, insurance companies, securities brokers and 115 dealers, commodity futures and options brokers and dealers, 116 forward contract and foreign exchange merchants, securities and 117 commodities exchanges, clearing corporations, investment 118 companies, employee benefit plans, dealers in precious metals, 119 stones, or jewels, and holding companies, affiliates, or 120 subsidiaries of any such entities. 121 (j)(g) "Government of Iran" means the government of Iran, 122 its instrumentalities, and companies owned or controlled by the 123 government of Iran. 124 (k)(h) "Government of South Sudan" means the Republic of 125 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 6 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S South Sudan, that has its capital in Juba, South Sudan. 126 (l)(i) "Government of Sudan" means the Republic of the 127 Sudan that has its capital in Khartoum, Sudan. 128 (m)(j) "Inactive business operations" mean s the mere 129 continued holding or renewal of rights to property previously 130 operated for the purpose of generating revenues but not 131 presently deployed for such purpose. 132 (n)(k) "Indirect holdings" in a company means all 133 securities of that company that are he ld in a commingled fund or 134 other collective investment, such as a mutual fund, in which the 135 public fund owns shares or interests together with other 136 investors not subject to this section. 137 (o)(l) "Iran" means the Islamic Republic of Iran. 138 (p) "Manufacturing sector" means the creation of goods in 139 Iran by manual labor or machinery which are for export from Iran 140 or for sale within Iran. 141 (q)(m) "Marginalized populations of Sudan" include, but 142 are not limited to, the portion of the population in the Darfur 143 region that has been genocidally victimized; the portion of the 144 population of South Sudan victimized by Sudan's north -south 145 civil war; the Beja, Rashidiya, and other similarly underserved 146 groups of eastern Sudan; the Nubian and other similarly 147 underserved groups in Sudan's Abyei, Southern Blue Nile, and 148 Nuba Mountain regions; and the Amri, Hamadab, Manasir, and other 149 similarly underserved groups of northern Sudan. 150 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 7 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (r) "Metals sector" means the sale, supply, or transfer, 151 directly or indirectly, to or from Iran of raw or semifinished 152 metals, including, but not limited to, the following types of 153 such materials and all alloys or compounds containing such 154 materials: aluminum, americium, antimony, barium, beryllium, 155 bismuth, boron, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesi um, chromium, 156 cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, 157 gallium, germanium, gold, hafnium, hastelloy, inconel, indium, 158 iridium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, 159 manganese, mercury, molybdenum, monel, neodymium, neptunium , 160 nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, plutonium, 161 polonium, potassium, praseodymium, promethium, radium, rhenium, 162 rhodium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, silicon, silver, sodium, 163 steels, strontium, tantalum, technetium, tellurium, terbium, 164 thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, 165 ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium. 166 (s)(n) "Military equipment" means weapons, arms, military 167 supplies, and equipment that may readily be used for military 168 purposes, including, but not limited to, radar systems, 169 military-grade transport vehicles, or supplies or services sold 170 or provided directly or indirectly to any force actively 171 participating in armed conflict in Sudan. 172 (t)(o) "Mineral-extraction activities" include the 173 exploring, extracting , processing, transporting, or wholesale 174 selling or trading of elemental minerals or associated metal 175 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 8 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S alloys or oxides (ore), including gold, copper, chromium, 176 chromite, diamonds, iron, iron ore, silver, tungsten, uranium, 177 and zinc, as well as facilitating such activities, including 178 providing supplies or services in support of such activities. 179 (u) "Mining sector" means any act, process, or industry of 180 extracting, at the surface or underground, ores, coal, precious 181 stones, or any other minerals or geologic al materials from the 182 earth in Iran. 183 (v)(p) "Oil-related activities" include, but are not 184 limited to, owning rights to oil blocks; exporting, extracting, 185 producing, refining, processing, exploring for, transporting, 186 selling, or trading of oil; constructi ng, maintaining, or 187 operating a pipeline, refinery, or other oil -field 188 infrastructure; and facilitating such activities, including 189 providing supplies or services in support of such activities, 190 except that the mere retail sale of gasoline and related 191 consumer products is not considered an oil -related activity. 192 (w) "Petrochemical sector" means those activities 193 involving any aromatic, olefin, or synthesis gas, or any of 194 their derivatives, including ethylene, propylene, butadiene, 195 benzene, toluene, xylene, am monia, methanol, and urea. 196 (x)(q) "Petroleum resources" means petroleum, petroleum 197 byproducts, or natural gas. 198 (y) "Port sector" means those activities involving the 199 loading and unloading of cargo and passengers or the 200 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 9 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S transporting of goods and raw mat erials. 201 (z)(r) "Power-production activities" means a business 202 operation that involves a project commissioned by the National 203 Electricity Corporation (NEC) of Sudan or other similar entity 204 of the government of Sudan whose purpose is to facilitate power 205 generation and delivery, including, but not limited to, 206 establishing power-generating plants or hydroelectric dams, 207 selling or installing components for the project, providing 208 service contracts related to the installation or maintenance of 209 the project, as well as facilitating such activities, including 210 providing supplies or services in support of such activities. 211 (aa)(s) "Public fund" means all assets of the Florida 212 Retirement System held by the State Board of Administration in 213 its capacity as a fiduciary p ursuant to chapter 121. 214 (bb)(t) "Scrutinized active business operations" means 215 active business operations that result in a company becoming a 216 scrutinized company. 217 (cc)(u) "Scrutinized business operations" means business 218 operations that result in a comp any becoming a scrutinized 219 company. 220 (dd)(v) "Scrutinized company" means a company that meets 221 any of the following criteria: 222 1. The company has business operations that involve 223 contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the 224 government of Sudan, companies in which the government of Sudan 225 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 10 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S has a direct or indirect equity share, consortiums or projects 226 commissioned by the government of Sudan, or companies involved 227 in consortiums or projects commissioned by the government of 228 Sudan, and: 229 a. More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or 230 assets linked to Sudan involve oil -related activities or 231 mineral-extraction activities; less than 75 percent of the 232 company's revenues or assets linked to Sudan involve contracts 233 with or provision of oil -related or mineral-extracting products 234 or services to the government of South Sudan; and the company 235 has failed to take substantial action; or 236 b. More than 10 percent of the company's revenues or 237 assets linked to Sudan involve power -production activities; less 238 than 75 percent of the company's power -production activities 239 include projects whose intent is to provide power or electricity 240 to the marginalized populations of Sudan; and the company has 241 failed to take substantial action. 242 2. The company is complicit in the Darfur genocide. 243 3. The company supplies military equipment within Sudan, 244 unless it clearly shows that the military equipment cannot be 245 used to facilitate offensive military actions in Sudan or the 246 company implements rigorous and verifiable safeguard s to prevent 247 use of that equipment by forces actively participating in armed 248 conflict. Examples of safeguards include post -sale tracking of 249 such equipment by the company, certification from a reputable 250 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 11 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S and objective third party that such equipment is not b eing used 251 by a party participating in armed conflict in Sudan, or sale of 252 such equipment solely to the government of South Sudan or any 253 internationally recognized peacekeeping force or humanitarian 254 organization. 255 4. The company has business operations tha t involve 256 contracts with or provision of supplies or services to the 257 government of Iran, companies in which the government of Iran 258 has any direct or indirect equity share, consortiums, or 259 projects commissioned by the government of Iran, or companies 260 involved in consortiums or projects commissioned by the 261 government of Iran and: 262 a. More than 10 percent of the company's total revenues or 263 assets are linked to Iran and involve oil -related activities or 264 mineral-extraction activities, and the company has failed to 265 take substantial action; or 266 b. On or after January 10, 2024, more than 10 percent of 267 the company's total revenues or assets are linked to Iran and 268 involve the energy, petrochemical, financial, construction, 269 manufacturing, textile, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding, 270 or port sectors of Iran, and the company has failed to take 271 substantial action; 272 c.b. The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after 273 August 5, 1996, made an investment of $20 million or more, or 274 any combination of investments of at least $10 million each, 275 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 12 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12 -276 month period, and which directly or significantly contributes to 277 the enhancement of Iran's ability to develop the petroleum 278 resources of Iran; or 279 d. The company has, with actual knowledge, on or after 280 January 10, 2024, an investment of $20 million or more, or any 281 combination of investments of at least $10 million each, which 282 in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12 -month 283 period and involves oil -related activities in Iran, mineral -284 extraction activities in Iran, or the energy, petrochemical, 285 financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, mining, metals, 286 shipping, shipbuilding, or port sectors of Iran . 287 (ee) "Shipbuilding sector" means those activities 288 involving the construction of seagoing vessels, including oil 289 tankers and cargo vessels, in Iran. 290 (ff) "Shipping sector" means those activities involving 291 the transportation of goods by seagoing vessels, including oil 292 tankers and cargo vessels, flying the flag of Iran or owned, 293 controlled, chartered, or operated directly or indirectly by the 294 government of Iran. 295 (gg)(w) "Social-development company" means a compan y whose 296 primary purpose in Sudan is to provide humanitarian goods or 297 services, including medicine or medical equipment; agricultural 298 supplies or infrastructure; educational opportunities; 299 journalism-related activities; information or information 300 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 13 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S materials; spiritual-related activities; services of a purely 301 clerical or reporting nature; food, clothing, or general 302 consumer goods that are unrelated to oil -related activities; 303 mineral-extraction activities; or power -production activities. 304 (hh)(x) "Substantial action specific to Iran" means 305 adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease 306 scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain 307 from such new business operations. 308 (ii)(y) "Substantial action specific to Sudan" means 309 adopting, publicizing, and implementing a formal plan to cease 310 scrutinized business operations within 1 year and to refrain 311 from such new business operations; undertaking humanitarian 312 efforts in conjunction with an international organization, the 313 government of Sudan, the government of South Sudan, or a 314 nonprofit entity evaluated and certified by an independent third 315 party to be substantially in a relationship to the company's 316 Sudan business operations and of benefit to one or more 317 marginalized populations of Sudan; or , through engagement with 318 the government of Sudan, materially improving conditions for the 319 genocidally victimized population in Darfur. 320 (jj) "Textile sector" means the fiber synthesis, dyeing, 321 weaving, knitting, or felting in Iran of textiles, including 322 apparel, carpets, cloths, fabric, or related goods, which are 323 for export from Iran. 324 (2) IDENTIFICATION OF COMPANIES. — 325 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 14 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (a) The board shall make its best efforts to identify all 326 scrutinized companies in which the public fund has direct or 327 indirect holdings or could possibly have such holdings in the 328 future. Such efforts include: 329 1. Reviewing and relying, as appropriate in the board's 330 judgment, on publicly available information regarding companies 331 having business operations in Sudan, including informatio n 332 provided by nonprofit organizations, research firms, 333 international organizations, and government entities; 334 2. Contacting asset managers contracted by the board which 335 invest in companies having business operations in Sudan; 336 3. Contacting other institu tional investors that have 337 divested from or engaged with companies that have business 338 operations in Sudan; or 339 4. Reviewing the laws of the United States regarding the 340 levels of business activity that would cause application of 341 sanctions for companies con ducting business or investing in 342 countries that are designated state sponsors of terror. 343 (b) The board shall maintain a list of all scrutinized 344 companies that fit criteria specified in subparagraphs 345 (1)(dd)1., 2., and 3. (1)(v)1., 2., and 3. labeled the 346 "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List" and a list 347 of all scrutinized companies that fit criteria specified in 348 subparagraph (1)(dd)4. (1)(v)4. labeled the "Scrutinized 349 Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors 350 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 15 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Petroleum Energy Sector List." 351 (c) The board shall update and make publicly available 352 quarterly the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan 353 List and the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran 354 Terrorism Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List based on evolvi ng 355 information from, among other sources, those listed in paragraph 356 (a). 357 (d) Notwithstanding this section, a social -development 358 company that is not complicit in the Darfur genocide is not 359 considered a scrutinized company under subparagraph (1)(dd)1. 360 (1)(v)1., subparagraph (1)(dd)2. (1)(v)2., or subparagraph 361 (1)(dd)3. (1)(v)3. 362 (3) REQUIRED ACTIONS. —The board shall adhere to the 363 following procedure for assembling companies on the Scrutinized 364 Companies with Activities in Sudan List and the Scrutinized 365 Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors 366 Petroleum Energy Sector List: 367 (a) Engagement.— 368 1. The board shall immediately determine the companies on 369 the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List and the 370 Scrutinized Companies with Acti vities in the Iran Terrorism 371 Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List in which the public fund 372 owns direct or indirect holdings. Any company on the Scrutinized 373 Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector 374 List as of November 6, 2023, is deemed to be on the Scrutinized 375 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 16 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Companies with Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors List, 376 effective November 10, 2023, until the company is subsequently 377 removed pursuant to this section. 378 2. For each company identified in this paragraph that has 379 only inactive business operations, the board shall send a 380 written notice informing the company of this act and encouraging 381 it to continue to refrain from initiating active business 382 operations in Sudan or Iran until it is able to avoid 383 scrutinized business operations. The board shall continue such 384 correspondence semiannually. 385 3. For each company newly identified under this paragraph 386 which has active business operations, the board shall send a 387 written notice informing the company of its scrutinized company 388 status and that it may become subject to divestment by the 389 public fund. The notice must inform the company of the 390 opportunity to clarify its Sudan -related or Iran-related 391 activities and encourage the company to cease its scrutinized 392 business operations or convert such op erations to inactive 393 business operations within 90 days in order to avoid qualifying 394 for divestment by the public fund. 395 4. If, within 90 days after the board's first engagement 396 with a company pursuant to this paragraph, that company ceases 397 scrutinized business operations, the company shall be removed 398 from the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List and 399 the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism 400 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 17 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List, and the provisions of this 401 act shall cease to apply to that company unless that company 402 resumes scrutinized business operations. If, within 90 days 403 after the board's first engagement, the company converts its 404 scrutinized active business operations to inactive business 405 operations, the company is s ubject to all provisions relating to 406 inactive business operations. A company may be removed from one 407 list but remain on the other list, in which case the company 408 shall be subject to the provisions applicable to the list on 409 which the company remains. 410 (b) Divestment.— 411 1. If, after 90 days following the board's first 412 engagement with a company pursuant to paragraph (a), the company 413 continues to have scrutinized active business operations, and 414 only while such company continues to have scrutinized active 415 business operations, the board shall sell, redeem, divest, or 416 withdraw all publicly traded securities of the company, except 417 as provided in paragraph (d), from the public fund within 12 418 months after the company's most recent appearance on the 419 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or on the 420 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism 421 Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List. 422 2. If a company that ceased scrutinized active business 423 operations following engagement pursuant to paragraph ( a) 424 resumes such operations, this paragraph immediately applies, and 425 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 18 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S the board shall send a written notice to the company. The 426 company shall also be immediately reintroduced onto the 427 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or on the 428 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism 429 Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List, as applicable. 430 (c) Prohibition.—The board may not acquire, on behalf of 431 the public fund, securities of companies on the Scrutinized 432 Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized 433 Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors 434 Petroleum Energy Sector List that have active business 435 operations, except as provided in paragraph (d). 436 (d) Exemption.—A company that the U nited States Government 437 affirmatively declares to be excluded from its present or any 438 future federal sanctions regime relating to Sudan or Iran is not 439 subject to divestment or the investment prohibition pursuant to 440 paragraphs (b) and (c). 441 (e) Excluded securities.— 442 1. Notwithstanding this section, paragraphs (b) and (c) do 443 not apply to indirect holdings in actively managed investment 444 funds. However, the board shall submit letters to the managers 445 of such investment funds containing companies that have 446 scrutinized active business operations requesting that they 447 consider removing such companies from the fund or create a 448 similar actively managed fund having indirect holdings devoid of 449 such companies. If the manager creates a similar fund, the 450 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 19 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S board, on behalf of the public fund, shall replace all 451 applicable investments with investments in the similar fund in 452 an expedited timeframe consistent with prudent investing 453 standards. For the purposes of this section, a private equity 454 fund is deemed to be an actively ma naged investment fund. 455 2. Notwithstanding this section, paragraphs (b) and (c) do 456 not apply to exchange -traded funds. 457 (f) Further exclusions.—Notwithstanding any other 458 provision of this act, the board, when discharging its 459 responsibility for operation of a defined contribution plan, 460 shall engage the manager of the investment offerings in such 461 plans requesting that they consider removing scrutinized 462 companies from the investment offerings or create an alternative 463 investment offering devoid of scrutinized companies. If the 464 manager creates an alternative investment offering and the 465 offering is deemed by the board to be consistent with prudent 466 investor standards, the board shall consider including such 467 investment offering in the plan. 468 (4) REPORTING.— 469 (a) The board shall file a report with each member of its 470 Board of Trustees, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker 471 of the House of Representatives which includes the Scrutinized 472 Companies with Activities in Sudan List and t he Scrutinized 473 Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors 474 Petroleum Energy Sector List within 30 days after the list is 475 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 20 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S created or updated. This report must shall be made available to 476 the public. 477 (b) At each quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees 478 thereafter, the board shall file a report regarding the public 479 fund, which must shall be made available to the public and to 480 each member of its Board of Trustees, the President of the 481 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 482 shall send a copy of that report to the United States 483 Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan and the United States 484 Presidential Special Envoy to Iran, or an appropriate designee 485 or successor, which includes: 486 1. A summary of correspondence with companies enga ged by 487 the board on behalf of the public fund under subparagraphs 488 (3)(a)2. and 3.; 489 2. All investments sold, redeemed, divested, or withdrawn 490 in compliance with paragraph (3)(b); 491 3. All prohibited investments under paragraph (3)(c); 492 4. Any progress made under paragraph (3)(e); and 493 5. A list of all publicly traded securities held directly 494 by the public fund. 495 (5) EXPIRATION.—This section expires upon the occurrence 496 of all of the following: 497 (a) If any of the following occurs, the board may no 498 longer scrutinize companies according to subparagraphs 499 (1)(dd)1., 2. , and 3. (1)(v)1., 2., and 3. and may no longer 500 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 21 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S assemble the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan 501 List, shall cease engagement and divestment of such companies, 502 and may reinvest in su ch companies if such companies do not 503 satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Scrutinized Companies 504 with Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors Petroleum Energy 505 Sector List: 506 1. The Congress or President of the United States 507 affirmatively and unambigu ously states, by means including, but 508 not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written 509 certification from the President to Congress, that the Darfur 510 genocide has been halted for at least 12 months; 511 2. The United States revokes all sanctions impos ed against 512 the government of Sudan; 513 3. The Congress or President of the United States 514 affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but 515 not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written 516 certification from the President to Congress, t hat the 517 government of Sudan has honored its commitments to cease attacks 518 on civilians, demobilize and demilitarize the Janjaweed and 519 associated militias, grant free and unfettered access for 520 deliveries of humanitarian assistance, and allow for the safe 521 and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced 522 persons; or 523 4. The Congress or President of the United States 524 affirmatively and unambiguously states, by means including, but 525 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 22 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S not limited to, legislation, executive order, or written 526 certification from the President to Congress, that mandatory 527 divestment of the type provided for in this section interferes 528 with the conduct of United States foreign policy. 529 (b) If both either of the following occur occurs, the 530 board may no longer scrutinize companies a ccording to 531 subparagraph (1)(dd)4. (1)(v)4., may no longer assemble the 532 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism 533 Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List, and shall cease 534 engagement, investment prohibitions, and divestment: 535 1. The Congress and or President of the United States 536 affirmatively and unambiguously state states, by means 537 including, but not limited to, legislation, executive order, or 538 written certification from the President to Congress, that the 539 government of Iran has ceased to ac quire weapons of mass 540 destruction and support international terrorism; and or 541 2. The United States revokes all sanctions imposed against 542 the government of Iran. 543 544 The board, on behalf of the public fund, may reinvest in such 545 companies if such companies do not satisfy the criteria for 546 inclusion in the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan 547 List. The board, acting as a fiduciary in accordance with s. 548 215.47(10), shall monitor events relating to subparagraphs 1. 549 and 2., and, upon finding that the cond itions in subparagraph 1. 550 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 23 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S or subparagraph 2. have occurred, the board shall report such 551 finding at a quarterly meeting of its trustees. At each 552 quarterly meeting of the trustees, the board shall report on the 553 status of events relating to subparagraphs 1. a nd 2. 554 (6) INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT OBLIGATIONS. —The board's 555 actions taken in compliance with this act, including all good 556 faith determinations regarding companies as required by this 557 act, shall be adopted and incorporated into the public fund's 558 investment policy statement as provided in s. 215.475. 559 (7) REINVESTMENT IN CERTAIN COMPANIES HAVING SCRUTINIZED 560 ACTIVE BUSINESS OPERATIONS. —Notwithstanding any other provision 561 of this act to the contrary, the public fund may cease divesting 562 from certain scrutinized companies pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) 563 or reinvest in certain scrutinized companies from which it 564 divested pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) if clear and convincing 565 evidence shows that the value of all assets of the public fund 566 becomes equal to or less th an 99.50 percent, or 50 basis points, 567 of the hypothetical value of all assets of the public fund 568 assuming no divestment for any company had occurred under 569 paragraph (3)(b). Cessation of divestment, reinvestment, or any 570 subsequent ongoing investment authori zed by this act is limited 571 to the minimum steps necessary to avoid the contingency set 572 forth in this subsection or that no divestment of any company is 573 required for less than fair value. For any cessation of 574 divestment, reinvestment, or subsequent ongoing investment 575 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 24 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S authorized by this act, the board shall provide a written report 576 to each member of its Board of Trustees, the President of the 577 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 578 advance of initial reinvestment, updated semiannually there after 579 as applicable, setting forth the reasons and justification, 580 supported by clear and convincing evidence, for its decisions to 581 cease divestment, reinvest, or remain invested in companies 582 having scrutinized active business operations. This act does not 583 apply to reinvestment in companies on the grounds that they have 584 ceased to have scrutinized active business operations. 585 Section 2. Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, is amended 586 to read: 587 287.135 Prohibition against contracting with scrutinized 588 companies.— 589 (1) In addition to the terms defined in ss. 287.012 and 590 215.473, as used in this section, the term: 591 (a) "Awarding body" means, for purposes of state 592 contracts, an agency or the department, and for purposes of 593 local contracts, the governing body of the local governmental 594 entity. 595 (b) "Boycott of Israel" has the same meaning as defined in 596 s. 215.4725. 597 (c) "Business operations" means, for purposes specifically 598 related to Cuba or Syria, engaging in commerce in any form in 599 Cuba or Syria, including, b ut not limited to, acquiring, 600 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 25 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S developing, maintaining, owning, selling, possessing, leasing, 601 or operating equipment, facilities, personnel, products, 602 services, personal property, real property, military equipment, 603 or any other apparatus of business or comm erce. 604 (d) "Local governmental entity" means a county, 605 municipality, special district, or other political subdivision 606 of the state. 607 (2) A company is ineligible to, and may not, bid on, 608 submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew a contract with an 609 agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of: 610 (a) Any amount if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a 611 proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the 612 company is on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel 613 List, created pursuant to s. 215.4725, or is engaged in a 614 boycott of Israel; or 615 (b) One million dollars or more if, at the time of bidding 616 on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such 617 contract, the company: 618 1. Is on the Scrutinized Companies w ith Activities in 619 Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the 620 Iran Terrorism Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List, created 621 pursuant to s. 215.473; or 622 2. Is engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria. 623 (3)(a) Any contract with an agency or local governmental 624 entity for goods or services of $1 million or more entered into 625 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 26 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S or renewed on or after: 626 1. July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, must contain a 627 provision that allows for the termination of such contract at 628 the option of the aw arding body if the company is found to have 629 submitted a false certification as provided under subsection (5) 630 or been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in 631 Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the 632 Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List. 633 2. July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2016, must contain 634 a provision that allows for the termination of such contract at 635 the option of the awarding body if the company is found to have 636 submitted a false certification as provided under subs ection 637 (5), been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in 638 Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the 639 Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, or been engaged in business 640 operations in Cuba or Syria. 641 3. October 1, 2016, through June 30, 2018, must contain a 642 provision that allows for the termination of such contract at 643 the option of the awarding body if the company: 644 a. Is found to have submitted a false certification as 645 provided under subsection (5); 646 b. Has been placed on the Scrutinized Companies that 647 Boycott Israel List, or is engaged in a boycott of Israel; 648 c. Has been placed on the Scrutinized Companies with 649 Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with 650 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 27 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List; or 651 d. Has been engaged in business operations in Cuba or 652 Syria. 653 4. July 1, 2018, must contain a provision that allows for 654 the termination of such contract at the option of the awarding 655 body if the company is found to have submitted a false 656 certification as provided under subsection (5), been placed on 657 the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the 658 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum 659 Energy Sector List, or been engaged in business operations in 660 Cuba or Syria. 661 5. July 1, 2018, must contain a provision that allows for 662 the termination of such contract at the option of the awarding 663 body if the company is found to have submitted a false 664 certification as provided under subsection (5) or has been 665 placed on a list created p ursuant to s. 215.473, relating to 666 scrutinized active business operations in Iran. 667 (b) Any contract with an agency or local governmental 668 entity for goods or services of any amount entered into or 669 renewed on or after July 1, 2018, must contain a provision that 670 allows for the termination of such contract at the option of the 671 awarding body if the company is found to have been placed on the 672 Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List or is engaged i n 673 a boycott of Israel. 674 (4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) or subsection (3), an 675 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 28 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S agency or local governmental entity, on a case -by-case basis, 676 may allow permit a company on the Scrutinized Companies with 677 Activities in Sudan List , or the Scrutinized Compan ies with 678 Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, or the 679 Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors 680 List, or a company engaged in business operations in Cuba or 681 Syria, to be eligible for, bid on, submit a proposal for, or 682 enter into or renew a contract for goods or services of $1 683 million or more, or may allow permit a company on the 684 Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List to be eligible 685 for, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew a 686 contract for goods or services of any amount, under the 687 conditions set forth in paragraph (a) or the conditions set 688 forth in paragraph (b): 689 (a)1. With respect to a company on the Scrutinized 690 Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized 691 Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector 692 List, all of the following occur: 693 a. The scrutinized business operations were made before 694 July 1, 2011. 695 b. The scrutinized business operations have not been 696 expanded or renewed after July 1, 2011. 697 c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that 698 it is in the best interest of the state or local community to 699 contract with the company. 700 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 29 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S d. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is 701 implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business 702 operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized 703 business operations. 704 2. With respect to a company engaged in business 705 operations in Cuba or Syria, all of the following occur: 706 a. The business operations were made before July 1, 2012. 707 b. The business operations have not been expanded or 708 renewed after July 1, 2012. 709 c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that 710 it is in the best interest of the state or local community to 711 contract with the company. 712 d. The company has adopted, has publici zed, and is 713 implementing a formal plan to cease business operations and to 714 refrain from engaging in any new business operations. 715 3. With respect to a company on the Scrutinized Companies 716 that Boycott Israel List, all of the following occur: 717 a. The boycott of Israel was initiated before October 1, 718 2016. 719 b. The company certifies in writing that it has ceased its 720 boycott of Israel. 721 c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that 722 it is in the best interest of the state or local co mmunity to 723 contract with the company. 724 d. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is 725 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 30 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business 726 operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized 727 business operations. 728 4. With respect to a c ompany on the Scrutinized Companies 729 with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List as of 730 November 6, 2023, all of the following occur: 731 a. The scrutinized business operations were made before 732 July 1, 2011. 733 b. The scrutinized business operation s have not been 734 expanded or renewed after July 1, 2011. 735 c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that 736 it is in the best interest of the state or local community to 737 contract with the company. 738 d. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is 739 implementing a formal plan to cease scrutinized business 740 operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized 741 business operations. 742 5. With respect to a company on the Scrutinized Companies 743 with Activities in Iran Terrorism Sectors List other than those 744 companies included on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities 745 in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List as of November 6, 2023, 746 all of the following occur: 747 a. The scrutinized business operations were made before 748 January 10, 2024. 749 b. The scrutinized business operations have not been 750 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 31 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S expanded or renewed on or after January 10, 2024. 751 c. The agency or local governmental entity determines that 752 it is in the best interest of the state or local community to 753 contract with the company. 754 d. The company has adopted, has publicized, and is 755 implementing a formal plan to cease those scrutinized business 756 operations and to refrain from engaging in any new scrutinized 757 business operations. 758 (b) One of the following occurs: 759 1. The local governmental entit y makes a public finding 760 that, absent such an exemption, the local governmental entity 761 would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which the 762 contract is offered. 763 2. For a contract with an executive agency, the Governor 764 makes a public finding that , absent such an exemption, the 765 agency would be unable to obtain the goods or services for which 766 the contract is offered. 767 3. For a contract with an office of a state constitutional 768 officer other than the Governor, the state constitutional 769 officer makes a public finding that, absent such an exemption, 770 the office would be unable to obtain the goods or services for 771 which the contract is offered. 772 (5) At the time a company submits a bid or proposal for a 773 contract or before the company enters into or renews a contract 774 with an agency or local governmental entity for goods or 775 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 32 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S services of $1 million or more, the company must certify that 776 the company is not on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities 777 in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in 778 the Iran Terrorism Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List and that 779 it does not have business operations in Cuba or Syria. At the 780 time a company submits a bid or proposal for a contract or 781 before the company enters into or renews a contract with an 782 agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of any 783 amount, the company must certify that the company is not 784 participating in a boycott of Israel. 785 (a) If, after the agency or the local governmental entity 786 determines, using credible information availabl e to the public, 787 that the company has submitted a false certification, the agency 788 or local governmental entity shall provide the company with 789 written notice of its determination. The company shall have 90 790 days following receipt of the notice to respond in writing and 791 to demonstrate that the determination of false certification was 792 made in error. If the company does not make such demonstration 793 within 90 days after receipt of the notice, the agency or the 794 local governmental entity shall bring a civil action a gainst the 795 company. If a civil action is brought and the court determines 796 that the company submitted a false certification, the company 797 shall pay the penalty described in subparagraph 1. and all 798 reasonable attorney fees and costs, including any costs for 799 investigations that led to the finding of false certification. 800 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 33 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1. A civil penalty equal to the greater of $2 million or 801 twice the amount of the contract for which the false 802 certification was submitted shall be imposed. 803 2. The company is ineligible to bi d on any contract with 804 an agency or local governmental entity for 3 years after the 805 date the agency or local governmental entity determined that the 806 company submitted a false certification. 807 (b) A civil action to collect the penalties described in 808 paragraph (a) must commence within 3 years after the date the 809 false certification is submitted. 810 (6) Only the agency or local governmental entity that is a 811 party to the contract may cause a civil action to be brought 812 under this section. This section does not cre ate or authorize a 813 private right of action or enforcement of the penalties provided 814 in this section. An unsuccessful bidder, or any other person 815 other than the agency or local governmental entity, may not 816 protest the award of a contract or contract renewal on the basis 817 of a false certification. 818 (7) This section preempts any ordinance or rule of any 819 agency or local governmental entity involving public contracts 820 for goods or services of: 821 (a) One million dollars or more with a company engaged in 822 scrutinized business operations. 823 (b) Any amount with a company that has been placed on the 824 Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List or is engaged in 825 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 34 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S a boycott of Israel. 826 (8) The contracting prohibitions in this section 827 applicable to companies on the Scruti nized Companies with 828 Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with 829 Activities in the Iran Terrorism Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector 830 List or to companies engaged in business operations in Cuba or 831 Syria become inoperative on the date that federa l law ceases to 832 authorize the states to adopt and enforce such contracting 833 prohibitions. 834 Section 3. Section 624.449, Florida Statutes, is amended 835 to read: 836 624.449 Insurer investment in foreign companies. —A 837 domestic insurer shall provide to the office on an annual basis 838 a list of investments that the insurer has in companies included 839 on the "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List " and 840 the "Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Terrorism 841 Sectors Petroleum Energy Sector List" compiled by the State 842 Board of Administration pursuant to s. 215.473(2). The insurer's 843 list must include the name of the issuer and the stock, bond, 844 security, and other evidence of indebtedness. 845 Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 846 made by this act to section 215.473, Florida Statutes, in a 847 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section 848 215.47, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 849 215.47 Investments; authorized securitie s; loan of 850 ENROLLED HB 5C 2023C Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0005c-01-er Page 35 of 35 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S securities.—Subject to the limitations and conditions of the 851 State Constitution or of the trust agreement relating to a trust 852 fund, moneys available for investments under ss. 215.44 -215.53 853 may be invested as follows: 854 (10) 855 (b) Notwithstanding any other law except for ss. 215.471, 856 215.4725, and 215.473, when deciding whether to invest and when 857 investing the assets of any fund, the State Board of 858 Administration must make decisions based solely on pecuniary 859 factors and may not subordinate the inte rests of the 860 participants and beneficiaries of the fund to other objectives, 861 including sacrificing investment return or undertaking 862 additional investment risk to promote any nonpecuniary factor. 863 The weight given to any pecuniary factor must appropriately 864 reflect a prudent assessment of its impact on risk or returns. 865 Section 5. If any provision of this act or its application 866 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity 867 does not affect other provisions or applications of this act 868 which can be given effect without the invalid provision or 869 application, and to this end the provisions of this act are 870 severable. 871 Section 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 872