1The Legislature finds that the expansion of international trade and tourism is vital to the overall health and growth of the economy of this state. This expansion is hampered by the lack of technical and business assistance, financial assistance, and information services for businesses in this state. The Legislature finds that these businesses could be assisted by providing these services at State of Florida international offices. The Legislature further finds that the accessibility and provision of services at these offices can be enhanced through cooperative agreements or strategic alliances between private businesses and state, local, and international governmental entities.100(1) 101The department is authorized to:106(a) 107Establish and operate offices in other countries for the purpose of promoting trade and economic development opportunities of the state, and promoting the gathering of trade data information and research on trade opportunities in specific countries.
143(b) 144Enter into agreements with governmental and private sector entities to establish and operate offices in other countries which contain provisions that may conflict with the general laws of the state pertaining to the purchase of office space, employment of personnel, and contracts for services. When agreements pursuant to this section are made which set compensation in another country’s currency, such agreements shall be subject to the requirements of s. 213215.425, 214but the purchase of another country’s currency by the department to meet such obligations shall be subject only to s. 234216.311235. 236(2) 237Each international office shall have in place an operational plan approved by the participating boards or other governing authority, a copy of which shall be provided to the department. These operating plans shall be reviewed and updated each fiscal year and shall include, at a minimum, the following:285(a) 286Specific policies and procedures encompassing the entire scope of the operation and management of each office.
302(b) 303A comprehensive, commercial strategic plan identifying marketing opportunities and industry sector priorities for the country in which an international office is located.
325(c) 326Provisions for access to information for Florida businesses related to trade leads and inquiries.
340(d) 341Identification of new and emerging market opportunities for Florida businesses. This information shall be provided either free of charge or on a fee basis with fees set only to recover the costs of providing the information.
377(e) 378Provision of access for Florida businesses to international trade assistance services provided by state and local entities, seaport and airport information, and other services identified by the department.
406(f) 407Qualitative and quantitative performance measures for each office, including, but not limited to, the number of businesses assisted, the number of trade leads and inquiries generated, the number of international buyers and importers contacted, and the amount and type of marketing conducted.
449(3) 450Each international office shall annually submit to Enterprise Florida, Inc., a complete and detailed report on its activities and accomplishments during the previous fiscal year for inclusion in the annual report required under s. 484288.906485. In the format and by the annual date prescribed by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the report must set forth information on:506(a) 507The number of Florida companies assisted.
513(b) 514The number of inquiries received about investment opportunities in this state.
525(c) 526The number of trade leads generated.
532(d) 533The number of investment projects announced.
539(e) 540The estimated U.S. dollar value of sales confirmations.
548(f) 549The number of representation agreements.
554(g) 555The number of company consultations.
560(h) 561Barriers or other issues affecting the effective operation of the office.
572(i) 573Changes in office operations which are planned for the current fiscal year.
585(j) 586Marketing activities conducted.
589(k) 590Strategic alliances formed with organizations in the country in which the office is located.
604(l) 605Activities conducted with Florida’s other international offices.
612(m) 613Any other information that the office believes would contribute to an understanding of its activities.
628(4) 629The Department of Economic Opportunity, in connection with the establishment, operation, and management of any of its offices located in another country, is exempt from the provisions of ss. 658255.21, 659255.25, 660and 661255.254 662relating to leasing of buildings; ss. 668283.33 669and 670283.35 671relating to bids for printing; ss. 677287.001678-679287.20 680relating to purchasing and motor vehicles; and ss. 688282.003689-690282.00515 691and 692282.702693-694282.7101 695relating to communications, and from all statutory provisions relating to state employment.707(a) 708The department may exercise such exemptions only upon prior approval of the Governor.
721(b) 722If approval for an exemption under this section is granted as an integral part of a plan of operation for a specified international office, such action shall constitute continuing authority for the department to exercise the exemption, but only in the context and upon the terms originally granted. Any modification of the approved plan of operation with respect to an exemption contained therein must be resubmitted to the Governor for his or her approval. An approval granted to exercise an exemption in any other context shall be restricted to the specific instance for which the exemption is to be exercised.
822(c) 823As used in this subsection, the term “plan of operation” means the plan developed pursuant to subsection (2).
841(d) 842Upon final action by the Governor with respect to a request to exercise the exemption authorized in this subsection, the department shall report such action, along with the original request and any modifications thereto, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within 30 days.
893(5) 894Where feasible and appropriate, international offices established and operated under this section may provide one-stop access to the economic development, trade, and tourism information, services, and programs of the state. Where feasible and appropriate, such offices may also be collocated with other international offices of the state.
941(6) 942The department is authorized to make and to enter into contracts with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to carry out the provisions of this section. The authority, duties, and exemptions provided in this section apply to Enterprise Florida, Inc., to the same degree and subject to the same conditions as applied to the department. To the greatest extent possible, such contracts shall include provisions for cooperative agreements or strategic alliances between private businesses and state, international, and local governmental entities to operate international offices.
