CS/HB 1311 2024
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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 bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Office of the Blue Economy; 2
creating s. 288.102, F.S.; providing definitions; 3
creating the Office of the Blue Economy; providing 4
that the Office of the Blue Economy shall be housed 5
within a state university and administered by the 6
Board of Governors; providing duties of the Office of 7
the Blue Economy; requiring the Office of the Blue 8
Economy to annually provide a certain report to t he 9
Governor and the Legislature; providing an effective 10
date. 11
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 288.102, Florida Statutes, is created 15
to read: 16
288.102 Office of the Blue Economy. — 17
(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 18
(a) "Blue economy" means the economic uses of ocean and 19
coastal resources with a focus on sustainable practices that 20
benefit the long-term outlook of relevant industry sectors and 21
the competitive positioning of the state in a glo bal economy, 22
including, but not limited to, maritime industries such as 23
shipyards, marinas, marine terminals, piers, fishing, 24
aquaculture, seafood processing, commercial diving, and marine 25
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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
transportation; floating and amphibious housing; tourism; and 26
outdoor recreational activities, including, but not limited to, 27
boating and industry sectors dependent on such activities. 28
(b) "Office" means the Office of the Blue Economy. 29
(2) The Office of the Blue Economy is created within the 30
State University System to promote economic development by 31
connecting the state's research institutions with financial 32
resources to facilitate the transfer of innovative technology 33
into marketable goods and services. The office shall be housed 34
within a state university and administ ered by the Board of 35
Governors of the State University System. 36
(3) The Office of the Blue Economy shall: 37
(a) Support the state's economy by connecting the state's 38
ocean and coastal resources to economic development strategies 39
that enhance or contribute to the blue economy with a focus on 40
research and development, technological innovation, emerging 41
industries, strategic business recruitment, public and private 42
funding opportunities, and workforce training and education. 43
(b) Survey state universities an d Florida College System 44
institutions on the development of academic research relating to 45
the blue economy across all disciplines. The office shall 46
encourage collaboration between state universities and Florida 47
College System institutions that have overlap ping areas of 48
academic research. The office shall publish on the office's 49
website information on such collaboration and the current 50
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research inventory. 51
(c) Collaborate with relevant industries to identify 52
economic challenges that may be solved through in novation in the 53
blue economy by commercializing or otherwise providing public 54
access to academic research and resources. 55
(d) Develop and facilitate a pipeline of academic 56
research, commercialization, accelerator programs, and startup 57
funding. 58
(e) Publish on the office's website reports on the number, 59
growth, and average wages of jobs included in the blue economy. 60
Such reports must identify and address any relevant labor 61
shortages projected by the Labor Market Estimating Conference 62
pursuant to s. 216.136 (7). 63
(f) Educate other state and local entities on the 64
interests of the blue economy and how such entities may 65
positively address environmental issues while simultaneously 66
considering the economic impact of their policies. 67
(g) Communicate the state's role as an integral component 68
of the blue economy by promoting the state on national and 69
international platforms and other appropriate forums as the 70
premier destination for convening on pertinent subject matters. 71
(h) Maintain a website on which the office shall publish 72
information as required under this subsection. 73
(4) Beginning January 1, 2025, by December 30 of each 74
year, the Office of the Blue Economy shall provide to the 75
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Spe aker of the 76
House of Representatives a detailed report demonstrating the 77
economic benefits of the office and the development of emerging 78
blue economy industries. 79
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 80