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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 cybersecurity; amending s. 2
1004.444, F.S.; providing that the Florida Center for 3
Cybersecurity may also be referred to as "Cyber 4
Florida"; providing that the center is established 5
under the direction of the president of the University 6
of South Florida, or his or her designee; revising the 7
mission and goals of the center; authorizing the 8
center to take certain actions relating to cer tain 9
initiatives; providing an effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Section 1004.444, Florida Statutes, is amended 14
to read: 15
1004.444 Florida Center for Cybersecurity. — 16
(1) The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, which may also 17
be referred to as "Cyber Florida," is established within the 18
University of South Florida , under the direction of the 19
president of the university or the president's designee . 20
(2) The mission and goals of the center are to: 21
(a) Position Florida as the national leader in 22
cybersecurity and its related workforce primarily through 23
advancing and funding education and, research and development 24
initiatives in cybersecurity and related fields, with a 25
CS/CS/CS/HB 1555, Engrossed 1 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
secondary emphasis on , and community engagement and 26
cybersecurity awareness . 27
(b) Assist in the creation of jobs in the state's 28
cybersecurity industry and enhance the existing cybersecurity 29
workforce through education, research, applied science, and 30
engagements and partnerships with the private and military 31
sectors. 32
(c) Act as a cooperative facilitator for state business 33
and higher education communities to share cybersecurity 34
knowledge, resources, and training. 35
(d) Seek out research and development agreements and other 36
partnerships with major military installations and affiliated 37
contractors to assist, when possible, in homeland cybersecurity 38
defense initiatives. 39
(e) Attract cybersecurity companies and jobs to this the 40
state, with an emphasis on the defense, finance, health care, 41
transportation, and utility sectors. 42
(f) Conduct, fund, and facilitate research and applied 43
science that leads to the creation of new technologies and 44
software packages that have military and civilian applications 45
and that can be transferred for military a nd homeland defense 46
purposes or for sale or use in the private sector. 47
(3) Upon receiving a request for assistance from the 48
Department of Management Services, the Florida Digital Service, 49
or another state agency, the center is authorized, but may not 50
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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
be compelled by the agency, to conduct, consult on, or otherwise 51
assist any state-funded initiatives related to: 52
(a) Cybersecurity training, professional development, and 53
education for state and local government employees, including 54
school districts and the judicial branch; and 55
(b) Increasing the cybersecurity effectiveness of the 56
state's and local governments' technology platforms and 57
infrastructure, including school districts and the judicial 58
branch. 59
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 60