Fla. Stat. § 311.12 — Florida Code / Title XXII / Chapter 311 / Section 311.12
311.12 Seaport security.
Status: in_force

(1) SECURITY STANDARDS. — (a) A seaport may implement security measures that are more stringent, more extensive, or supplemental to the applicable federal security regulations, including federal facility security assessment requirements under 33 C.F.R. s. 105.305. (b) The provisions of s. 790.251 are not superseded, preempted, or otherwise modified in any way by the provisions of this section.

(2) SECURITY PLAN. — (a) Each seaport listed in s. 311.09 shall adopt and maintain a security plan specific to that seaport which provides for a secure seaport infrastructure that promotes the safety and security of state residents and visitors and the flow of legitimate trade and travel. (b) Each seaport shall periodically revise the seaport’s security plan based on the seaport’s ongoing assessment of security risks, the risks of terrorist activities, and the specific and identifiable needs of the seaport for ensuring that the seaport is in substantial compliance with applicable federal security regulations, including federal facility security assessment requirements under 33 C.F.R. s. 105.305.

(3) SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS. — Each seaport listed in s. 311.09 must clearly designate in seaport security plans, and clearly identify with appropriate signs and markers on the premises of a seaport, all secure and restricted areas as defined by 33 C.F.R. part 105. (a)1. All seaport employees and other persons working at the seaport who have regular access to secure or restricted areas must comply with federal access control regulations as prescribed in this section. 2. All persons and objects in secure and restricted areas are subject to search by a sworn state-certified law enforcement officer, a Class D seaport security officer certified under Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 guidelines, or an employee of the seaport security force certified under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 guidelines. 3. Persons found in these areas without the proper permission are subject to the trespass provisions of ss. 810.08 and 810.09. (b) The seaport must provide clear notice of the prohibition against possession of concealed weapons and other contraband material on the premises of the seaport. Any person in a restricted area who has in his or her possession a concealed weapon, or who operates or has possession or control of a vehicle in or upon which a concealed weapon is placed or stored, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. This paragraph does not apply to active-duty certified federal or state law enforcement personnel or persons so designated by the seaport director in writing. (c) During a period of high terrorist threat level, as designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the management or controlling authority of the port may temporarily designate any part of the seaport property as a secure or restricted area. The duration of such designation is limited to the period in which the high terrorist threat level is in effect or a port emergency exists.

(4) ACCESS TO SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS. — (a) Any person seeking authorization for unescorted access to secure and restricted areas of a seaport must possess a valid federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). (b) A seaport may not charge a fee for the administration or production of any access control credential that requires or is associated with a fingerprint-based background check, in addition to the fee for the federal TWIC. Beginning July 1, 2013, a seaport may not charge a fee for a seaport-specific access credential issued in addition to the federal TWIC, except under the following circumstances: 1. The individual seeking to gain secured access is a new hire as defined under 33 C.F.R. part 105; or 2. The individual has lost or misplaced his or her federal TWIC.

(5) ADVISORY COMMITTEE. — (a) There is created the Seaport Security Advisory Committee, which shall be under the direction of the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council. (b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 1. Five or more port security directors appointed by the council chair shall serve as voting members. The council chair shall designate one member of the committee to serve as committee chair. 2. A designee from the United States Coast Guard shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member. 3. A designee from United States Customs and Border Protection shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member. 4. Two representatives from local law enforcement agencies providing security services at a Florida seaport shall serve ex officio as nonvoting members. (c) The committee shall meet at the call of the chair but at least annually. A majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum for the purpose of transacting business of the committee, and a vote of the majority of the voting members present is required for official action by the committee. (d) The committee shall provide a forum for discussion of seaport security issues, including, but not limited to, matters such as national and state security strategy and policy, actions required to meet current and future security threats, statewide cooperation on security issues, and security concerns of the state’s maritime industry.

(6) GRANT PROGRAM. — (a) The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council shall establish a Seaport Security Grant Program for the purpose of assisting in the implementation of security plans and security measures at the seaports listed in s. 311.09(1). Funds may be used for the purchase of equipment, infrastructure needs, cybersecurity programs, and other security measures identified in a seaport’s approved federal security plan. Such grants may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the request and are subject to legislative appropriation. (b) The Seaport Security Advisory Committee shall review applications for the grant program and make recommendations to the council for grant approvals. The council shall adopt by rule criteria to implement this subsection.

History: s. 1, ch. 2000-360; s. 1, ch. 2001-112; s. 1, ch. 2003-96; s. 1, ch. 2004-261; s. 6, ch. 2005-128; s. 2, ch. 2006-193; s. 2, ch. 2009-171; s. 55, ch. 2010-5; s. 2, ch. 2011-41; s. 4, ch. 2011-51; s. 31, ch. 2016-10; s. 4, ch. 2016-239; s. 8, ch. 2022-204.