HB 283 Summary

• Adds Port Citrus as the 18th member of the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council, with membership terminating if a feasibility study determines a port in Citrus County is not feasible.

• Allows Citrus County to apply for a grant to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a port, with the study to be included in the Department of Transportation's budget request if approved.

• Eliminates statewide minimum seaport security standards, security plan approval requirements, the statewide access eligibility reporting system, and fingerprint-based criminal history checks for seaport employees and authorized persons.

• Prohibits seaports from charging fees for fingerprint-based background check credentials in addition to federal TWIC fees, with limited exceptions for new hires and lost TWIC replacements.

• Repeals the Seaport Security Standards Advisory Council and simplifies seaport security requirements by referencing applicable federal regulations under 33 C.F.R. part 105 instead of state-specific standards.