No. HB 53
Rapid Rail Transit Compact; Authorizes Governor to execute rapid rail transit compact with specified states, to join Southern Rail Commission & provides form of compact.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates section 351.41, Florida Statutes, letting the Governor sign a four-state compact with Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to study rapid rail transit between the states, with the Legislature pre-approving the compact's exact text.
The compact establishes the Southern Rail Commission, made up of each state's governor, one appointee from a named state transportation or energy agency, and five citizens the governor appoints to four-year terms.
The commission can hold hearings, study rail feasibility, accept money or property from private and public sources, and lobby Congress, but no state is required to fund it at any particular level.
Any party state's legislature or governor, acting alone, may withdraw from the compact with six months' notice; joining required the Legislature's advance approval, but leaving does not.
AILets the Governor sign the compact with Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi on Florida's behalf, with the Legislature approving the exact compact text in advance so no separate ratification vote is needed afterward.
AIEstablishes a joint commission made up of each party state's governor, one representative from a named state transportation or energy agency, and five gubernatorial appointees per state serving four-year terms.
AIGives the commission power to acquire money or property by gift or grant from local, state, federal, or private sources, and to hold or dispose of it, without a stated dollar limit.
AIAllows any party state to leave the compact through action of either its legislature or its governor alone, taking effect six months after notice, even though joining required the Legislature's advance approval.