Bill Text: FL S1608 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Fiscal Policy [S1608 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S1608-Introduced.html

---

       Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1608
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-01535A-23                                          20231608__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to retail fresh market farm stand
    3         signage; creating s. 570.851, F.S.; defining the term
    4         “retail fresh market farm stand”; establishing the
    5         Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
    6         Signage Program within the Department of Agriculture
    7         and Consumer Services to provide directional signage
    8         for certified retail fresh market farm stands;
    9         providing qualification and certification
   10         requirements; providing an exception; authorizing the
   11         Commissioner of Agriculture to designate certified
   12         retail fresh market farm stands as state tourist
   13         attractions; requiring the department, in consultation
   14         with the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm
   15         Stand Advisory Council, to develop uniform directional
   16         signage; requiring the Department of Transportation,
   17         upon request, to place signage at specified locations;
   18         requiring owners and operators of certified retail
   19         fresh market farm stands to pay specified fees;
   20         requiring the department to adopt rules; providing
   21         construction; creating s. 570.8511, F.S.; establishing
   22         the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
   23         Advisory Council within the department; providing for
   24         council membership, meetings, powers, duties, and
   25         procedures; providing an effective date.
   26          
   27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   28  
   29         Section 1. Section 570.851, Florida Statutes, is created to
   30  read:
   31         570.851 Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
   32  Signage Program.—
   33         (1) As used in this section, the term “retail fresh market
   34  farm stand” means any facility located on a farm and used to
   35  market farm products as those terms are defined in s. 823.14(3).
   36         (2) The Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
   37  Signage Program is established within the department to provide
   38  directional signage for certified retail fresh market farm
   39  stands.
   40         (3)(a) To qualify as a certified retail fresh market farm
   41  stand, a stand must:
   42         1. Offer farm products for sale that are produced on the
   43  premises.
   44         2. Be open for business at least 4 days a week, 10 months
   45  of the year.
   46         3. Have an actual growing area of at least 87,120 square
   47  feet.
   48         4. Offer tours of the growing area located on the premises.
   49         5. Display permanent signage on the premises specifying the
   50  times for the tours and hours of operation of the agricultural
   51  facility.
   52         (b) To participate in the program, the owner or operator of
   53  a qualified retail fresh market farm stand must apply to the
   54  department to register as a certified retail fresh market farm
   55  stand and pay application and registration fees.
   56         (c) To maintain designation as a certified retail fresh
   57  market farm stand, a stand must annually meet the requirements
   58  under paragraphs (a) and (b).
   59         (d) An agricultural facility that produces wine or other
   60  agricultural products but does not have a growing area on the
   61  property does not qualify for the program.
   62         (e) The commissioner may officially recognize a certified
   63  retail fresh market farm stand as a state tourist attraction.
   64         (4)(a) The department, in consultation with the Fresh From
   65  Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council, shall
   66  develop uniform directional signage bearing a uniform Fresh From
   67  Florida retail fresh market farm stand logo and emblem.
   68         (b) Upon request of a certified retail fresh market farm
   69  stand, the Department of Transportation shall place directional
   70  signage bearing the uniform Fresh From Florida retail fresh
   71  market farm stand logo and emblem on the rights-of-way of
   72  interstate highways and primary and secondary roads. The owner
   73  or operator of the certified retail fresh market farm stand must
   74  pay a fee for the signage placement.
   75         (5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
   76  section.
   77         (6) This section does not prevent retail fresh market farm
   78  stands from qualifying as an agritourism activity as defined in
   79  s. 570.86.
   80         Section 2. Section 570.8511, Florida Statutes, is created
   81  to read:
   82         570.8511 Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
   83  Advisory Council.—
   84         (1) The Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand
   85  Advisory Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7),
   86  is established within the department. The council shall consist
   87  of 12 members to be appointed by the commissioner. Initially, 6
   88  members shall be appointed by the commissioner for a 1-year term
   89  and 6 members for a 2-year term. Thereafter, members shall be
   90  appointed for 2-year terms.
   91         (2) The meetings, powers, duties, procedures, and
   92  recordkeeping of the advisory council shall be pursuant to s.
   93  570.232.
   94         (3) The council may annually submit to the commissioner
   95  recommendations relating to the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh
   96  Market Farm Stand Signage Program.
   97         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.