Title: Issuance of Licenses/Certifications/Registrations

Summary: Cites this act as the "Florida's One-Stop Business Connect Act." Requires the Governor to establish the One-Stop Business Workgroup. Requires that the workgroup submit a plan for establishing a business licensing portal to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date. Provides requirements for the plan to implement a technology solution that provides businesses and individuals with easy access to state and local requirements for business licenses, certifications, and registrations, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to streamlining the issuance of licenses, certifications, and registrations issued by state agencies; providing a short title; providing legislative findings and intent; requiring the Governor to establish the One-Stop Business Workgroup; providing for the membership of the workgroup; authorizing the workgroup to consult with other agencies and use consultants; providing duties of the workgroup; requiring that the workgroup submit a plan for establishing a business licensing portal to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date; providing requirements for the plan to implement a technology solution that provides businesses and individuals with easy access to state and local requirements for business licenses, certifications, and registrations; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  (1) This act may be cited as  Florida s One-Stop Business Connect Act.  (2) The Legislature finds that: (a) Individuals who start and operate businesses in this state must interact with multiple state agencies to obtain licenses, registrations, and tax certificates needed to legally operate in this state. This process can be time-consuming and frustrating for businesses and often requires business owners to provide similar information to multiple agencies. (b) State government requirements for starting and operating a business in this state are often cumbersome and place avoidable burdens on business owners. For several years, the Legislature has recognized that these requirements do not serve to promote this state as a business-friendly state that actively supports the growth of jobs, businesses, and economic opportunities. (c) A phased, deliberative, and collaborative approach is necessary to streamline and automate the state s business processes; to simplify business requirements and eliminate unnecessary business requirements; and to provide a single point of entry for businesses to complete business transactions with the state. (3)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1, 2013, the state establish an online connection that is easily accessible through the state s official portal,  MyFlorida.com,  and that provides an efficient and effective online, self service method for an individual to access state requirements for starting, licensing, and operating a business. (b) Once the state s online business licensing connection is available, it is the intent of the Legislature that local governments have the opportunity to make accessible in a similar manner through the state s portal,  MyFlorida.com,  local requirements for starting, licensing, and operating a business. (4)(a) The Governor shall establish a One-Stop Business Connect Workgroup composed of, at a minimum, the secretary or agency head, or his or her designee, of the following state agencies: 1. The Agency for Health Care Administration. 2. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation. 3. The Department of Children and Family Services. 4. The Department of Health. 5. The Department of State. 6. The Department of Revenue. (b) The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation shall serve as the chair of the workgroup. The workgroup shall be supported by staff from the participating agencies. (c) The workgroup may consult with other agencies throughout the state, including the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology, and those agencies must provide requested assistance to the workgroup. (d) To the extent that funds are available within the participating agencies  budgets, the workgroup may use the services of consultants. (5)(a) The workgroup shall: 1. Compile a complete, categorical inventory of all business licenses, certifications, and registrations required by each participating agency, including information regarding relevant laws and rules. 2. Analyze the business licensing, certification, and registration processes for each agency and identify processes that disrupt workflow and result in duplication, waste, unnecessary complexity, and errors and the root causes of those errors. 3. Recommend the standardization and automation of business licensing, certification, and registration processes where appropriate. (b) By December 15, 2011, the workgroup shall submit a plan for establishing the business licensing portal to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that identifies: 1. Business requirements and the costs associated with implementation of a technology solution for businesses and individuals that provides easy access to state and local business licensing, certification, and registration requirements through MyFlorida.com. 2. Clear systemwide objectives, a governance structure, accountability measures, and an opportunity for stakeholders to make suggestions regarding the use of the business licensing portal. 3. Issues that need to be addressed before a technology solution is implemented. 4. Issues that need to be addressed to enable local governments to make accessible through the state s business licensing portal local requirements for starting, licensing, and operating a business. Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.