Gov. Rick Scott headed to Tampa on Tuesday, where he signed into law a measure that eliminates state security measures that duplicated federal security regulations at Florida's 14 seaports.
As the best place for international companies to import and export their products, Floridas 14 deepwater ports will now be able to compete with any port in the Southeast or on the entire Eastern seaboard, said Scott. In Florida, we are taking a common-sense approach to reducing burdensome and expensive regulation so that businesses can grow and expand and create the jobs Floridians need.
The bill, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, and in the House by freshman Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, eliminates the need for a state security card known as TWIC, which was implemented in 2000, shortly before the federal seaport regulations that came about in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, atrocities that rendered those security measures redundant. Supporters maintain that the new law will save businesses dealing with the ports $3 million each year.
Florida's ports are seen as vital to sparking the state's exports, and by extension, its economy. Scott has pushed for $77 million to be used to make improvements to the Port of Miami to attract larger cargo ships that will be coming through the Panama Canal after it is widened in 2014.
The law won the backing of several business groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce which had the bill as one of its chief priorities during the 2011 legislative session that ended earlier in the month. The Florida Chamber maintained that the additional security measures put Florida at a disadvantage compared to other states in the region in luring shipping companies.
We applaud the elimination of duplicative security requirements, said Bill Johnson, the Port of Miami director and a board member of the Florida Chamber. Effective and efficient security protocols are a top priority for all ports; the elimination of duplicative requirements makes good sense. Now that the measure has been signed into law, its important that we continue to work closely with our partners in law enforcement to keep our ports safe and secure.
Johnson and the team at the Florida Chamber pointed to a study they commissioned that found almost 1.3 million Floridians relied on jobs connected through the ports and more than $55 billion of goods flowed out of the state through the 14 seaports. The study found that 143,000 jobs could be added to the Sunshine State if business in the ports continued to expand.
The bill also won the support of the Florida Ports Council.
Governor Scott continues to be a tremendous advocate for Floridas ports and signing this bill into law only confirms his commitment to helping the ports and its users remain competitive by leveling the playing field with ports in other states, insisted Doug Wheeler, the president of the Florida Ports Council. The bottom line is this common-sense solution will allow Floridas ports to be more competitive, which also saves businesses, port users and workers money.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com. Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com. They both can be reached at (850) 727-0859.
