Bill Text: FL S0798 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Issuance of Licenses/Certifications/Registrations
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S0798 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-S0798-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2011 SB 798 By Senator Altman 24-01184-11 2011798__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to streamlining the issuance of 3 licenses, certifications, and registrations issued by 4 state agencies; providing a short title; providing 5 legislative findings and intent; requiring the 6 Governor to establish the One-Stop Business Workgroup; 7 providing for the membership of the workgroup; 8 authorizing the workgroup to consult with other 9 agencies and use consultants; providing duties of the 10 workgroup; requiring that the workgroup submit a plan 11 for establishing a business licensing portal to the 12 Governor and Legislature by a specified date; 13 providing requirements for the plan to implement a 14 technology solution that provides businesses and 15 individuals with easy access to state and local 16 requirements for business licenses, certifications, 17 and registrations; providing an effective date. 18 19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20 21 Section 1. (1) This act may be cited as “Florida’s One-Stop 22 Business Connect Act.” 23 (2) The Legislature finds that: 24 (a) Individuals who start and operate businesses in this 25 state must interact with multiple state agencies to obtain 26 licenses, registrations, and tax certificates needed to legally 27 operate in this state. This process can be time-consuming and 28 frustrating for businesses and often requires business owners to 29 provide similar information to multiple agencies. 30 (b) State government requirements for starting and 31 operating a business in this state are often cumbersome and 32 place avoidable burdens on business owners. For several years, 33 the Legislature has recognized that these requirements do not 34 serve to promote this state as a business-friendly state that 35 actively supports the growth of jobs, businesses, and economic 36 opportunities. 37 (c) A phased, deliberative, and collaborative approach is 38 necessary to streamline and automate the state’s business 39 processes; to simplify business requirements and eliminate 40 unnecessary business requirements; and to provide a single point 41 of entry for businesses to complete business transactions with 42 the state. 43 (3)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1, 44 2013, the state establish an online connection that is easily 45 accessible through the state’s official portal, “MyFlorida.com,” 46 and that provides an efficient and effective online, self 47 service method for an individual to access state requirements 48 for starting, licensing, and operating a business. 49 (b) Once the state’s online business licensing connection 50 is available, it is the intent of the Legislature that local 51 governments have the opportunity to make accessible in a similar 52 manner through the state’s portal, “MyFlorida.com,” local 53 requirements for starting, licensing, and operating a business. 54 (4)(a) The Governor shall establish a One-Stop Business 55 Connect Workgroup composed of, at a minimum, the secretary or 56 agency head, or his or her designee, of the following state 57 agencies: 58 1. The Agency for Health Care Administration. 59 2. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation. 60 3. The Department of Children and Family Services. 61 4. The Department of Health. 62 5. The Department of State. 63 6. The Department of Revenue. 64 (b) The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation 65 shall serve as the chair of the workgroup. The workgroup shall 66 be supported by staff from the participating agencies. 67 (c) The workgroup may consult with other agencies 68 throughout the state, including the Agency for Enterprise 69 Information Technology, and those agencies must provide 70 requested assistance to the workgroup. 71 (d) To the extent that funds are available within the 72 participating agencies’ budgets, the workgroup may use the 73 services of consultants. 74 (5)(a) The workgroup shall: 75 1. Compile a complete, categorical inventory of all 76 business licenses, certifications, and registrations required by 77 each participating agency, including information regarding 78 relevant laws and rules. 79 2. Analyze the business licensing, certification, and 80 registration processes for each agency and identify processes 81 that disrupt workflow and result in duplication, waste, 82 unnecessary complexity, and errors and the root causes of those 83 errors. 84 3. Recommend the standardization and automation of business 85 licensing, certification, and registration processes where 86 appropriate. 87 (b) By December 15, 2011, the workgroup shall submit a plan 88 for establishing the business licensing portal to the Governor, 89 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 90 Representatives that identifies: 91 1. Business requirements and the costs associated with 92 implementation of a technology solution for businesses and 93 individuals that provides easy access to state and local 94 business licensing, certification, and registration requirements 95 through MyFlorida.com. 96 2. Clear systemwide objectives, a governance structure, 97 accountability measures, and an opportunity for stakeholders to 98 make suggestions regarding the use of the business licensing 99 portal. 100 3. Issues that need to be addressed before a technology 101 solution is implemented. 102 4. Issues that need to be addressed to enable local 103 governments to make accessible through the state’s business 104 licensing portal local requirements for starting, licensing, and 105 operating a business. 106 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.