Bill > S1392

This bill establishes a Seaport Security Advisory Committee under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council to discuss seaport security issues and make recommendations for a new Seaport Security Grant Program, which will assist seaports in implementing security measures and purchasing equipment, with grants not exceeding 75% of the total cost and subject to legislative appropriation. It also defines "driver-assistive truck platooning technology" and directs the Department of Transportation to study and potentially pilot this technology, requiring manufacturers to provide $5 million in insurance or bonds for the pilot project. The bill modifies regulations regarding traffic control devices, allowing the Department of Transportation to direct the removal of non-compliant devices, and updates rules for bus deceleration lighting systems. It also clarifies that television receivers in vehicles are prohibited while in motion unless the vehicle has autonomous technology and is operating in autonomous mode, or if the vehicle is operating with driver-assistive truck platooning technology. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority of municipal parking enforcement specialists to enforce parking laws and ordinances within their county through a memorandum of understanding, and it introduces "Chloe's Law," requiring the installation of roadside barriers along state roads adjacent to water bodies where fatal drowning accidents have occurred between 2006 and 2016, unless engineering assessments determine it would increase risk. The bill also makes changes to surety bond requirements for construction contracts, allowing for waivers or alternative security for certain projects, and modifies toll collection and revenue use for specific expressways, including the transfer of the Pinellas Bayway System to the Florida Turnpike Enterprise. It also adjusts the inactive period for prepaid toll accounts to 10 years before they are considered unclaimed property and updates the definition of "small county" for the Small County Outreach Program. Additionally, the bill allows the state-funded infrastructure bank to provide loans for natural gas or fuel production and distribution facilities supporting transportation activities at seaports or intermodal facilities, and requires transportation planning organizations to consider infrastructure and technological improvements for autonomous vehicles. Finally, it makes adjustments to the composition and duties of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) governing board and its coordination with the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization, and allows for the refinancing of certain expressway projects and capital projects by the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.