CS/HB 357 - Manufacturing Competitiveness Act

• Establishes the Manufacturing Competitiveness Act allowing local governments to create local manufacturing development programs that grant master development approval for manufacturer sites, with ordinances submitted to the Department of Economic Opportunity within 20 days of enactment.

• Requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to develop a model ordinance by December 1, 2013, containing procedures for master plan applications, identification of eligible areas, minimum plan elements (site map, land uses, building heights, development conditions), and development impacts to be addressed.

• Creates a coordinated state approval process for manufacturers in participating local programs, requiring simultaneous review of state permits by the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and water management districts.

• Establishes 60-day deadlines for participating agencies to take final action on state development approvals, with requests for additional information limited to one 20-day request plus one 10-day clarification request, and automatic approval by default if no action is taken within the timeframe.

• Prevents local governments from abolishing programs for at least 24 months and requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to develop and distribute materials identifying all local governments with active manufacturing development programs, effective July 1, 2013.