Title XXV, Aviation

Airport security plans of an aviation authority created by act of the Legislature or of an aviation department of a county or municipality which operates an international airport are exempt from provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. In additio…

This act may be cited as the “Space Florida Act.”History.—ss. 1, 61, ch. 89-300; ss. 7, 8, ch. 90-192; s. 10, ch. 2002-183; s. 1, ch. 2006-60.

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the aerospace industry of this state is integral to the state’s long-term success in diversifying its economy and building a knowledge-based economy that is able to support the creation of high-value-added businesses and jobs. Further, …

(1) There is established, formed, and created Space Florida, which is created as an independent special district, a body politic and corporate, and a subdivision of the state, to foster the growth and development of a sustainable and world-leading aerospace industry in this state…

(1) “Aerospace” means the technology and industry related to the design, manufacture, maintenance, repair, and operation of aircraft or any other device intended to be used or designed for flight or reentry, including rockets, missiles, spacecraft, satellites, space vehicles, spa…

The following property shall constitute spaceport territory:(1) Certain real property located in Brevard County that is included within the 1998 boundaries of Patrick Space Force Base, formerly Patrick Air Force Base; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, formerly Cape Canaveral Ai…

Space Florida may:(1) Sue and be sued by its name in any court of law or in equity.(2) Adopt and use a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure.(3) Conduct its affairs, carry on its operations, and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this act in any state, territ…

Space Florida shall:(1) Create a business plan to foster the growth and development of the aerospace industry. The business plan must address business development, finance, spaceport operations, research and development, workforce development, and education. The business plan mus…

In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration procedures, Space Florida shall file the appropriate federal notification to activate special use airspace in support of its launch operations.History.—ss. 6, 61, ch. 89-300; ss. 7, 8, ch. 90-192; s. 7, ch. 2006-60.

The spaceport facility at Cape San Blas may only be developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Spaceport Florida Feasibility Study upon the following conditions:(1) Construction at the site shall not cause significant degradation of the water quality or injure aquati…

(1) Space Florida shall be governed by an independent board of directors that consists of the Governor, who shall serve ex officio, or who may appoint a designee to serve, as the chair and a voting member of the board, and the following appointed members:(a) The Secretary of Tran…

(1) The board shall designate an individual who is a resident of the state, or a qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02, as treasurer of Space Florida, who shall have charge of the funds of Space Florida. Such funds shall be disbursed only upon the order of or pursua…

(1) The board of directors may:(a) Enter, and authorize any agent or employee of Space Florida to enter, upon any lands, waters, and premises, upon giving reasonable notice and due process to the land owner, for the purposes of making surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals, an…

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 112.061, Space Florida shall adopt rules by which it may make expenditures by advancement or reimbursement, or a combination thereof, to Space Florida officers and employees; reimburse business clients, guests, and authorized persons as de…

Space Florida may exercise any of its rights, powers, privileges, and authority in any and all portions of any spaceport territory lying within the boundaries of any municipal corporation or other political subdivision, heretofore or hereafter created or organized, whose boundari…

Space Florida may own, acquire, construct, develop, create, maintain, equip, extend, improve, reconstruct, and operate its projects within the geographical limits of the spaceport territory, including any portions of the spaceport territory located inside the boundaries of any po…

(1) Within the territorial limits of any spaceport territory, Space Florida may acquire, through purchase or interagency agreement, or as otherwise provided in law, and construct, control, and maintain, roads deemed necessary by Space Florida and connections thereto and extension…

(1) To recover the costs of the spaceport facility or system, Space Florida may prescribe, fix, establish, and collect rates, fees, rentals, tolls, fares, or other charges (hereinafter referred to as “revenues”), and revise the same from time to time, for the facilities and servi…

In the event that any of the rates, fees, rentals, tolls, fares, other charges, or delinquent penalties shall not be paid as and when due and shall be in default for 30 days or more, the unpaid balance thereof and all interest accrued thereon, together with attorney’s fees and co…

In the event that the rates, fees, rentals, tolls, fares, or other charges for the services and facilities of any project are not paid when due, the board may discontinue and shut off the same until such rates, fees, rentals, tolls, fares, or other charges, including interest, pe…

The board of directors may:(1) Adopt, and from time to time review, amend, supplement, or repeal, a comprehensive general plan for the physical development of the area within the spaceport territory in accordance with the objectives and purposes of this act and consistent with th…

The board of directors may within any spaceport territory:(1) Adopt regulations to prohibit or control the pollution of air and water, and require certain location and placement of electrical power, telephone, and other utility lines, cables, pipes, and ducts.(2) Divide the space…

Space Florida may accept, receive, and receipt for federal moneys, property, and other moneys or properties, either public or private, for the acquisition, planning, operation, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, or development of programs, facilities,…

The board of directors and the governing body or bodies of any one or more municipalities located wholly or partly within any spaceport territory, whether now in existence or hereafter created, may enter into and carry into effect contracts and agreements relating to the common p…

(1) The state and the counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions, public bodies, and agencies thereof, or any of them, whether now existing or hereafter created, are authorized to aid and cooperate with Space Florida in carrying out any of the purposes and project…

(1) Space Florida may make and enter all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of the functions of Space Florida and the execution of its powers, and contract with, and accept and receive grants or loans of money, material, or property from, any pers…

Space Florida shall obtain required environmental permits in accordance with federal and state law and shall comply with the provisions of chapter 380.History.—ss. 29, 61, ch. 89-300; ss. 7, 8, ch. 90-192; s. 24, ch. 2006-60.

Space Florida may apply to the Federal Government for a grant allowing the designation of any spaceport territory as a foreign trade zone pursuant to ss. 288.36 and 288.37. However, the designation of any spaceport territory as a foreign trade zone does not authorize an exemption…

As an independent special district, Space Florida has sovereign immunity in the same manner as the state under the laws and Constitution of the State of Florida. The state, by this section, hereby waives the sovereign immunity granted to the same extent as waived by the state und…

(1) The board of directors may at any time strike out or correct the description of any land within or claimed to be within the boundary lines of any spaceport territory upon the written consent of the owners of all the land that would be included or excluded from the boundary li…

The board or any aggrieved person may have recourse to such remedies in law and equity as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this act, including injunctive relief to enjoin or restrain any person violating the provisions of this act, and any bylaws, reso…

(1) Revenue bonds issued by Space Florida shall not be deemed revenue bonds issued by the state or its agencies for purposes of s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and ss. 215.57-215.83. Space Florida shall include in its annual report to the Governor and Legislature, as pr…

If the proceeds of any bonds shall be less than the cost of completing the project in connection with which such bonds are issued, the board may authorize the issuance of additional bonds, upon such terms and conditions as the board may provide in the resolution authorizing the i…

Space Florida through its board may issue bonds to provide for the retirement or refunding of any bonds or obligations of Space Florida that at the time of such issuance are or subsequently thereto become due and payable, or that at the time of issuance have been called or are or…

All pledges of revenues made pursuant to this act shall be valid and binding from the time when such pledges are made. All such revenues so pledged and thereafter collected shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledges without any physical delivery thereof or further a…

In the discretion of the board, any issue of bonds may be secured by a trust agreement by and between Space Florida and a corporate trustee which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state. The resolution authorizing the issu…

Bonds may be sold in blocks or installments at different times, or an entire issue or series may be sold at one time. Bonds may only be sold at public sale after being advertised and publicly noticed, unless Space Florida has previously complied with the provisions of s. 218.385.…

Bonds may be authorized by resolution or resolutions of the board which are adopted by a majority of all of the members thereof then in office and present at the meeting at which the resolution or resolutions are adopted and shall be approved as provided in s. 331.305. The resolu…

Pending the preparation of definitive bonds, the board may issue interim certificates or receipts or temporary bonds, in such form and with such provisions as the board may determine, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds shall have been executed and are available for…

Any bond issued under this act and any interim certificate, receipt, or temporary bond shall, in the absence of an express recital on the face thereof that it is nonnegotiable, be fully negotiable and shall be and constitute negotiable instruments within the meaning and for all p…

The board may make such provision with respect to the defeasance of the right, title, and interest of the holders of any of the bonds and obligations of Space Florida in any revenues, funds, or other properties by which such bonds are secured as the board deems appropriate and, w…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall constitute legal investments for savings banks, banks, trust companies, insurance companies, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and other fiduciaries a…

Any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds may contain such covenants as the board may deem advisable and all such covenants shall constitute valid and legally binding and enforceable contracts between Space Florida and the bondholders, regardless of the time of issuance th…

Any bonds issued by Space Florida shall be incontestable in the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders for value and shall not be invalid because of any irregularity or defect in the proceedings for the issue and sale thereof. Before the issuance of any bonds, Space Florida sha…

This act constitutes full and complete authority for the issuance of bonds and the exercise of the powers of Space Florida provided herein. Any and all bonds issued by Space Florida shall not be secured by the full faith and credit of the State of Florida and do not constitute an…

The board may in its discretion invest funds of Space Florida through the Chief Financial Officer or in:(1) Direct obligations of or obligations guaranteed by the United States or for the payment of the principal and interest of which the faith and credit of the United States is …