The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
Development
BILL: CS/CS/SB 96
INTRODUCER: Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development;
Transportation Committee; and Senator DiCeglie
SUBJECT: Transportation Facility Designations
DATE: April 14, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Price Vickers TR Fav/CS
2. Nortelus Jerrett ATD Fav/CS
3. FP
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 96 creates the following honorary or memorial road and bridge designations:
The portion of I-275 between mile markers 30 and 31 in Pinellas County as “Deputy Sheriff
Michael Hartwick Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 87 between E. Bay Boulevard (mile post 2.182) and Bob Tolbert Road
(mile post 6.308) in Santa Rosa County as “Sgt. Maj. Thomas Richard “Ric” Landreth
Memorial Highway.”
The portion of Alternate U.S. 19/Bayshore Boulevard between Orange Street and Michigan
Boulevard in Pinellas County as “SPC Zachary L. Shannon Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 105/Heckscher Drive between New Berlin Road East and Orahood Lane
in Duval County as “Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 9A/East Beltway 295 between Gate Parkway and Baymeadows Road in
Duval County as “Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway.”
The bridge on Howell Drive over the Ribault River in Duval County as “Coach Gwendolyn
Maxwell Bridge to Ribault.”
Upon completion of construction, the new NASA Causeway Bridge on S.R. 405 over the
Indian River in Brevard County as “Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Bridge.”
The portion of I-95 between mile markers 380 and 381 in Nassau County as “Corporal James
McWhorter Memorial Highway.”
REVISED: BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 2
The portion of Cortez Boulevard between U.S. 41 and S.R. 50/50A in Hernando County as
“Rush Limbaugh Way.”
The portion of I-10 between mile markers 222 and 228 in Jefferson County as “Senior
Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway.”
The portion of U.S. 19 between C.R. 361/Beach Road and C.R. 30/Foley road in Taylor
County as “Michael Scott Williams Parkway.”
The portion of S.R. 435 between Conroy Road and Vineland Road in Orange County as
“Officer Kevin Valencia Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 46 between East Lake Mary Boulevard in Seminole County and the
Brevard County line as “Deputy Sheriff Eugene ‘Stetson’ Gregory Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 70/Okeechobee Road between Ideal Holding Road and C.R. 613/Carlton
Road in St. Lucie County is designated as “Kyle Lee Patterson Memorial Highway.”
The bill also revises a designation enacted in 1991.
The estimated cost to the FDOT to install the designation markers required under the bill,
including revising or replacing the signs for the revised 1991 designation, is $22,200. See the
“Fiscal Impact Statement” below for details.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
II. Present Situation:
Section 334.071, F.S., provides that legislative designations of transportation facilities are for
honorary or memorial purposes or to distinguish a particular facility. Such designations are not to
be construed as requiring any action by local governments or private parties regarding the
changing of any street signs, mailing addresses, or 911 emergency telephone number system
listings, unless the legislation specifically provides for such changes.
1
When the Legislature establishes road or bridge designations, the FDOT is required to place
markers only at the termini specified for each highway segment or bridge designated by the law
creating the designation and to erect any other markers it deems appropriate for the
transportation facility.
2
The FDOT may not erect the markers for honorary road or bridge designations unless the
affected city or county commission enacts a resolution supporting the designation. When the
designated road or bridge segment is located in more than one city or county, each affected local
government must pass resolutions supporting the designations before the installation of the
markers.
3
1
Section 334.071(1), F.S.
2
Section 334.071(2), F.S.
3
Section 334.071(3), F.S. BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 3
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick
On September 22, 2022, Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick succumbed to
injuries he received while working an overnight traffic-directing assignment in a construction
zone at I-275 and Ulmerton Road, near the Howard Frankland Bridge. Deputy Hartwick was
outside his cruiser when he was struck by a front-end loader hauling concrete barriers. Deputy
Hartwick served with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He was 51 and was
survived by his two sons and his mother.
4
Sgt. Maj. Thomas Richard “Ric” Landreth
Sergeant Major Thomas Richard “Ric” Landreth, Retired US Army, of Southern Pines, North
Carolina, was born on April 1, 1957, at Eglin Air Force Base to the late Thomas and Peggy
Landreth. He had over 30 years of military service, including deployments to Grenada, Panama,
Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and served in the US Army Special Ops Command until
his retirement in 2005. During his tour in Somalia, Sergeant Major Landreth and his squadron
were involved in the Battle of Mogadishu in October of 1993, depicted in the “Black Hawk
Down” movie in 2001. He passed away on April 25, 2020, after a brief illness. Preceded in death
by one son, Sergeant Major Landreth was survived by his wife, three children, one grandchild,
and many other family and friends.
5
SPC Zachary L. Shannon
SPC Zachary L. Shannon of Dunedin was born October 28th, 1991, to Kim and Chip Allison.
SPC Shannon, a Black Hawk crew chief, joined the Army in August of 2010 and arrived at the
unit in April 2012. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat
Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. This was his first
deployment. On March 11, 2013, while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom in
Kandahar, Afghanistan, SPC Shannon lost his life in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash. He
was 21.
6
Officer Scott Eric Bell
Officer Scott Eric Bell was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He had been a resident of Jacksonville
for over 20 years and was a retired U.S. Navy Chief with 23 years of service. For the last seven
years before his death, Officer Bell served as a police officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s
Office.
7
On October 12, 2007, Officer Bell was killed when a vehicle operated by an intoxicated
4
See odmp.org, Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Florida (odmp.org), and foxnews.com,
Florida deputy killed by illegal immigrant in hit-and-run before fleeing scene, sheriff says | Fox News (last visited January
10, 2023).
5
See findagrave.com, Thomas Richard Landreth (1957-2020) - Find a Grave Memorial, and pnj.com, State Road 87 could be
named after Black Hawk Down vet from Santa Rosa (pnj.com) (last visited January 25, 2023).
6
See fallenheroesproject.org, Zachary L. Shannon (fallenheroesproject.org), and thefallen.militarytimes.com, Army Spc.
Zachary L. Shannon| Military Times (last visited January 10, 2023).
7
See legacy.com, Scott Bell Obituary (2007) - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Times-Union (legacy.com) (last visited March 13,
2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 4
driver pulled out in front of his patrol car. Officer Bell was 50
8
and was survived by his wife,
mother, and brother, as well as other family members.
9
Officer Christopher Michael Kane
Officer Christopher Kane was a 12-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO),
having previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received the JSO’s Lifesaving Award in
2003 for helping to save an officer who was severely injured in a personal watercraft accident.
He was also an assistant coach of the championship Pop Warner football team from the Orange
Park Athletic Association, the Cyclones, who finished third in the national Championships in
2007.
10
Officer Kane was killed on September 4, 2008, in a construction zone on Route 9A when
his patrol car collided with the back of a semi-truck carrying construction equipment. He was 38
and was survived by his wife and two children.
11
Coach Gwendolyn Maxwell
Gwendolyn Maxwell, recognized as one of the most successful girls’ track and field coaches in
the history of Florida, was a lifelong educator for 36 years and the track and field coach at
Ribault High School in Jacksonville for 20 years. Among other accomplishments, Coach
Maxwell directed five teams to state titles, was named coach of the year five times, and was the
Florida representative for the national track coach of the year three times.
12
She was inducted
into the Ribault Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 2018, as well as the Florida Athletics
Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. Coach Maxwell passed away on June 16, 2020, at
the age of 86, after a nearly decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s.
13
Dr. Sally Ride
In 1977, Dr. Sally Ride was one of only six women selected for the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Astronaut Class of 1978. On June 18, 1983, Dr. Ride became
the first American woman in space, and at the age of 32, the youngest American in space as one
of five crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger STS-7. Dr. Ride returned to space on
October 5, 1984, aboard another shuttle mission, the STS-41G, and continued working for
NASA until 1987. Dr. Ride was passionate about improving science and mathematics education
and helping young women and girls foster an interest in science. Dr. Ride passed away on July
23, 2012, after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.
14
8
See odmp.org, Officer Scott Eric Bell, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida (odmp.org) (last visited march 13, 2023).
9
Id.
10
See legacy.com, Christopher Kane Obituary (2008) - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Times-Union (legacy.com) (last visited
March 13, 2023).
11
See odmp.org, Officer Christopher Michael Kane, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida (odmp.org) (last visited March 13,
2023).
12
See Pepper, C., news4jax.com, Legendary Ribault track coach Gwendolyn Maxwell dies at 86 (news4jax.com) (last visited
March 13, 2023).
13
See Frenette, G., Jacksonville.com, Gwendolyn Maxwell, state championship track coach at Ribault, dies at 86
(jacksonville.com) (last visited March 13, 2023).
14
See womenshistory.org, Sally Ride (womenshistory.org), and sallyridescience.ucsd.edu, Dr. Sally Ride – Sally Ride
Science (ucsd.edu) (last visited January 25, 2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 5
Corporal James McWhorter
Officer James McWhorter was hired by the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement of the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in January 2019 and
sponsored through the law enforcement academy at the Florida Gateway College Public Safety
Training Center where he graduated and was certified in June 2019. Officer McWhorter died in
the line of duty in a vehicle crash near the Agricultural Inspection Station on I-95 in Yulee on
February 12, 2022, when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle while crossing from the
northbound inspection station to the southbound station. He had served with the FDACS for 2 ½
years, was 31 years old, and was survived by his four children and fiancée. Officer McWhorter
was posthumously promoted to Corporal.
15
Rush Limbaugh
Florida resident Rush Limbaugh was a U.S. radio personality and political commentator. Former
President Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian
honor.
16
He was once ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of most generous celebrities, having donated
$4.2 million to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.
17
Mr. Limbaugh passed away on
February 17, 2021, following a battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
18
Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall
Rita Jane Hall devoted her career to the service and protection of others. She served with the
Tallahassee Police Department from 1988 – 1994, and with the Monticello Police Department
from 1997 – 2000, holding the position of Fugitive Unit Coordinator. Ms. Hall also served with
the Emergency Action Center, which coordinates emergency responses for all Florida
correctional facilities. More recently, she held the position of Senior Inspector for the Office of
the Inspector General, Department of Corrections. Ms. Hall passed unexpectedly on December
27
th
, 2018.
19
Deputy Michael Scott Williams
Deputy Michael Scott Williams served as a City of Brooksville Police Officer from 2005 to
2012, prior to moving to Steinhatchee. He served for 17 months with the Taylor County Sheriff’s
Office.
20
During his law enforcement career, he received numerous certifications in various law
enforcement fields of studies, including Traffic Law Enforcement, Advanced Interviews and
Interrogations, Community Policing, Field Training, and Drug Investigations. Deputy Williams
was praised for his professionalism and dedication by members of the public.
21
On Monday,
15
See FDACS email to committee staff dated February 1, 2023 (on file in the Senate Transportation Committee).
16
See nbcnews.com, Trump giving Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom was controversial — and fitting (nbcnews.com)
(last visited March 13, 2023).
17
See cnn.com, Rush Limbaugh, conservative media icon, dead at 70 following battle with cancer | CNN Business (last
visited March 13, 2023).
18
Id.
19
See tallahassee.com, Rita Jane Hall Obituary - Tallahassee Democrat (last visited March 13, 2023).
20
See archive.bluelivesmatter.blue, Officer Down: Hero Michael Scott Williams Killed In Crash - Blue Lives Matter (lasts
visited March 13, 2023).
21
See email to committee staff dated March 13, 2023 (on file in the Senate Transportation Committee). BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 6
October 31, 2016, while serving with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Williams was
killed in a vehicle collision with a logging truck at the Intersection of U.S. 98 and U.S. 19.
22
Officer Kevin Valencia
Born in Queens, New York, on April 16, 1991, Kevin Valencia honorably served the Doral
Police Department from 2014 to 2016. He began his career with the Orlando Police Department
in 2016, earning numerous awards, including two life-saving awards. On June 11, 2018, Officer
Valencia was shot during a domestic violence incident and spent almost the next three years
fighting in rehabilitation facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, and Mt. Dora, Florida. On March 15,
2021, Officer Valencia succumbed to the injuries sustained during the domestic violence incident
in Tavares, Florida. He was survived by his wife, his two young sons, and many other relatives
and friends.
23
Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory
Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory served the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office for seven years.
Deputy Gregory was shot and killed after responding to a shots-fired call on July 8, 1998, while
handling an aggravated assault call involving an armed, mentally ill person. He is said to have
exemplified the spirit of community policing in his day-to-day service, prompting the Sheriff’s
Office to take a proactive role in mental health intervention and treatment. Deputy Gregory was
55 years old at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and three children.
24
Kyle Lee Patterson
Senior Investigator Kyle Lee Patterson served with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) for 15 years.
25
During his career he received numerous awards, including a
Lifesaving Award in 2010, an Exceptional Performance Award in 2015, a Letter of
Commendation in 2017, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Award in 2018, and recognition for
his performance during FWC’s responses to Hurricanes Irma and Michael. On June 9, 2022,
Senior Investigator Kyle Lee Patterson succumbed to injuries sustained in a head-on collision in
which a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction crashed into Investigator Patterson's FWC truck.
He was 35 at the time of his death and was survived by his wife and two young children.
26
Armand and Perry Lovell
In 1991, the Legislature enacted an honorary road designation for Armand Keith Lovell in
recognition of his service to the community of Ocala, Florida. Armand passed away on February
13, 1991, at the age of 61. He was survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, and his brother,
22
Supra note 20.
23
See legacy.com, Kevin Valencia, Kevin Valencia Obituary (1991 - 2021) - Orlando, FL - Orlando Sentinel (legacy.com)
(last visited March 13, 2023).
24
See seminolesheriff.org, In Memoriam (seminolesheriff.org), and odmp.org, Deputy Sheriff Eugene Andrew Gregory,
Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Florida (odmp.org) (last visited March 17, 2023).
25
See odmp.org, Senior Investigator Kyle Lee Patterson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida
(odmp.org) (last visited April 6, 2023).
26
See wptv.com, Papaycik, M. and Bohman, D., June 10, 2022, FWC wildlife officer killed in St. Lucie County wrong-way
crash identified (wptv.com) (last visited April 6, 2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 7
Perry.
27
Armand and Perry were co-owners of Lovell Brothers Auto Parts, serving seven
counties in north central Florida beginning in 1956. Perry moved to Ocala as a young child and
remained an Ocala resident for the remainder of his life. Perry passed away on February 20,
2022, at the age of 89. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, a stepdaughter, and three
stepsons.
28
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates the following honorary or memorial road and bridge designations:
The portion of I-275 between mile markers 30 and 31 in Pinellas County as “Deputy Sheriff
Michael Hartwick Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 87 between E. Bay Boulevard (mile post 2.182) and Bob Tolbert Road
(mile post 6.308) in Santa Rosa County as “Sgt. Maj. Thomas Richard ‘Ric’ Landreth
Memorial Highway.”
The portion of Alternate U.S. 19/Bayshore Boulevard between Orange Street and Michigan
Boulevard in Pinellas County as “SPC Zachary L. Shannon Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 105/Heckscher Drive between New Berlin Road East and Orahood Lane
in Duval County as “Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 9A/East Beltway 295 between Gate Parkway and Baymeadows Road in
Duval County as “Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway.”
The bridge on Howell Drive over the Ribault River in Duval County as “Coach Gwendolyn
Maxwell Bridge to Ribault.”
Upon completion of construction, the new NASA Causeway Bridge on S.R. 405 over the
Indian River in Brevard County as “Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Bridge.”
The portion of I-95 between mile markers 380 and 381 in Nassau County as “Corporal James
McWhorter Memorial Highway.”
The portion of Cortez Boulevard between U.S. 41 and S.R. 50/50A in Hernando County as
“Rush Limbaugh Way.”
The portion of I-10 between mile markers 222 and 228 in Jefferson County as “Senior
Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway.”
The portion of U.S. 19 between C.R. 361/Beach Road and C.R. 30/Foley road in Taylor
County as “Michael Scott Williams Parkway.”
The portion of S.R. 435 between Conroy Road and Vineland Road in Orange County as
“Officer Kevin Valencia Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 46 between East Lake Mary Boulevard in Seminole County and the
Brevard County line as “Deputy Sheriff Eugene ‘Stetson’ Gregory Memorial Highway.”
The portion of S.R. 70/Okeechobee Road between Ideal Holding Road and C.R. 613/Carlton
Road in St. Lucie County is designated as “Kyle Lee Patterson Memorial Highway.”
The bill also revises the 1991 honorary designation of the “Armand Keith Lovell Memorial
Highway” to read “Armand and Perry Lovell Memorial Highway.”
27
See Ch. 91-315, Laws of Florida, and findagrave.com, Armand Keith Lovell (1927-1991) - Find a Grave Memorial (last
visited April 6, 2023).
28
See hiers-baxley.com, Obituary of Perry Bryan Lovell | Funeral Homes & Cremation Services... (hiers-baxley.com) (last
visited April 6, 2023). BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 8
The bill directs the FDOT to erect suitable markers.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The estimated cost to erect the designation markers required under this bill is $22,200,
based on the assumption that a minimum of two markers are required for each
designation at a cost to the FDOT of no less than $740 each. The estimate includes labor,
materials, manufacturing, and installation, as well as modifying or replacing the existing
signs for the revised 1991 designation. The FDOT is expected to absorb the estimated
cost within existing resources.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None. BILL: CS/CS/SB 96 Page 9
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates an undesignated section of Florida law.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic
Development on April 12, 2023:
The committee substitute adds the designation for “Kyle Lee Patterson Memorial
Highway” in St. Lucie County and revises an honorary designation enacted in 1991.
CS by Transportation on March 20, 2023:
The committee substitute adds the following designations to the bill:
“Sgt. Maj. Thomas Richard ‘Ric’ Landreth Memorial Highway” in Santa Rosa
County.
“SPC Zachary L. Shannon Memorial Highway” in Pinellas County.
“Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway” in Duval County.
“Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway” in Duval County.
“Coach Gwendolyn Maxwell Bridge to Ribault” in Duval County.
“Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Bridge” in Brevard County.
“Corporal James McWhorter Memorial Highway” in Nassau County.
“Rush Limbaugh Way” in Hernando County.
“Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway” in Jefferson County.
“Michael Scott Williams Parkway” in Taylor County.
“Officer Kevin Valencia Memorial Highway” in Orange County.
“Deputy Sheriff Eugene ‘Stetson’ Gregory Memorial Highway” in Seminole and
Volusia counties.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.