SB447: Bill Text

SB447, s. 29 Section 29. 84.06 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,27,9 84.06 (4) Special contracts with railroads and utilities. If an improvement undertaken by the department will cross or affect the property or facilities of a railroad or public utility company, the department may, upon finding that it is feasible and advantageous to the state, arrange to perform portions of the improvement work affecting such facilities or property or perform work of altering, rearranging, or relocating such facilities by contract with the railroad or public utility. Such contract shall be between the railroad company or public utility and the state and need not be based on bids. The contract may be entered into on behalf of the state by the secretary. Every such contract is exempted from s. 779.14 and from all provisions of chs. 16 and 230, except ss. 16.528, 16.752, 16.753, and 16.754, 16.771, and 16.871. No such contract in which the total estimated debt to be incurred exceeds $5,000 shall be valid until approved by the governor. As used in this subsection, "public utility" means the same as in s. 196.01 (5), and includes a telecommunications carrier as defined in s. 196.01 (8m), and "railroad" means the same as in s. 195.02. "Property" as used in this subsection includes but is not limited to tracks, trestles, signals, grade crossings, rights-of-way, stations, pole lines, plants, substations, and other facilities. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to relieve any railroad or public utility from any financial obligation, expense, duty, or responsibility otherwise provided by law relative to such property.

SB447, s. 30 Section 30. 84.06 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

SB447,27,13 84.06 (13) Tests of concrete thickness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and s. 84.01 (13), the department shall conduct all tests of concrete thickness on highway improvements within its jurisdiction.

SB447, s. 31 Section 31. 85.015 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,27,19 85.015 Transportation assistance contracts. All contracts entered into under this chapter to provide financial assistance in the areas of railroads, urban mass transit, specialized transportation, and harbors are subject to ss. 16.528, 16.752, and 16.753, 16.771, and 16.871 but are exempt from ss. 16.70 to 16.75, 16.755 to 16.77, 16.78 to 16.82, 16.85 to 16.87, and 16.875 to 16.89.

SB447, s. 32 Section 32. 102.81 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,28,8 102.81 (2) The department may retain an insurance carrier or insurance service organization to process, investigate and pay claims under this section and may obtain excess or stop-loss reinsurance with an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state in an amount that the secretary determines is necessary for the sound operation of the uninsured employers fund. In cases involving disputed claims, the department may retain an attorney to represent the interests of the uninsured employers fund and to make appearances on behalf of the uninsured employers fund in proceedings under ss. 102.16 to 102.29. Section 20.930 and all provisions of subch. IV of ch. 16, except s. ss. 16.753 and 16.771, do not apply to an attorney hired under this subsection. The charges for the services retained under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (rp). The cost of any reinsurance obtained under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (sm).

SB447, s. 33 Section 33. 165.08 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,28,18 165.08 Power to compromise. Any civil action prosecuted by the department by direction of any officer, department, board or commission, shall be compromised or discontinued when so directed by such officer, department, board or commission. Except as provided in s. ss. 20.931 (7) (b) and 20.932 (7) (b), any civil action prosecuted by the department on the initiative of the attorney general, or at the request of any individual may be compromised or discontinued with the approval of the governor. In any criminal action prosecuted by the attorney general, the department shall have the same powers with reference to such action as are vested in district attorneys.

SB447, s. 34 Section 34. 165.25 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,28,23 165.25 (11) False claims. Diligently investigate possible violations of s. 20.931 or 20.932, and, if the department determines that a person has committed an act that is punishable under s. 20.931 or 20.932, whichever is being investigated, may bring a civil action against that person.

SB447, s. 35 Section 35. 221.0903 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,29,7 221.0903 (4) (b) Contracts for examination services. The division may enter into contracts with any bank supervisory agency with concurrent jurisdiction over a state bank or an in-state branch of an out-of-state state bank to engage the services of the agency's examiners at a reasonable rate of compensation, or to provide the services of the division's examiners to the agency at a reasonable rate of compensation. Contracts entered into under this paragraph are exempt from ss. 16.70 to 16.752, 16.754 to 16.76, and 16.767 to 16.77, and 16.78 to 16.82.

SB447, s. 36 Section 36. 801.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,29,13 801.02 (1) Except as provided in s. ss. 20.931 (5) (b) and 20.932 (5) (b), a civil action in which a personal judgment is sought is commenced as to any defendant when a summons and a complaint naming the person as defendant are filed with the court, provided service of an authenticated copy of the summons and of the complaint is made upon the defendant under this chapter within 90 days after filing.

SB447, s. 37 Section 37. 803.09 (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB447,29,20 803.09 (1) Except as provided in s. ss. 20.931 and 20.932, upon timely motion anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action when the movant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and the movant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect that interest, unless the movant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties.

SB447,30,5 (2) Except as provided in s. ss. 20.931 and 20.932, upon timely motion anyone may be permitted to intervene in an action when a movant's claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common. When a party to an action relies for ground of claim or defense upon any statute or executive order or rule administered by a federal or state governmental officer or agency or upon any regulation, order, rule, requirement or agreement issued or made pursuant to the statute or executive order, the officer or agency upon timely motion may be permitted to intervene in the action. In exercising its discretion the court shall consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties.

SB447, s. 38 Section 38. 804.01 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,30,9 804.01 (2) Scope of discovery. (intro.) Except as provided in s. ss. 20.931 (9) and 20.932 (9), and unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the scope of discovery is as follows:

SB447, s. 39 Section 39. 805.04 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,30,14 805.04 (2m) False claims. An action filed under s. 20.931 or 20.932 may be dismissed only by order of the court. In determining whether to dismiss the action filed under s. 20.931 or 20.932, the court shall take into account the best interests of the parties and the purposes of s. 20.931 or 20.932, whichever is appropriate.

SB447, s. 40 Section 40. 893.981 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB447,30,18 893.981 False claims. An action or claim under s. 20.931 or 20.932 shall be commenced within 10 years after the cause of the action or claim accrues or be barred.

SB447, s. 41 Section 41. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB447,30,23 (1) Report on local road projects. No later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection, the department of transportation shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance that contains all of the following:

SB447,31,3 (a) Recommendations on actions that the department and local governments can take to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and timeliness of local road construction projects.

SB447,31,5 (b) Any proposed legislative changes that the legislature can consider that may help to implement the recommendations under paragraph (a ).

SB447, s. 42 Section 42. Initial applicability.

SB447,31,11 (1) The treatment of section 16.705 (5g), (5m), and (5r) of the statutes, the renumbering and amendment of section 16.705 (1), (2), (3), and (6) of the statutes, and the creation of section 16.705 (1) (a) 3. and (b), (2) (a) 3. and 4., (b), and (c), (3) (am) 4. and (bm), and (6) (a) of the statutes first apply to solicitations for contractual services issued on the effective date of this subsection.

SB447,31,14 (2) The creation of section 16.705 (1) (c) of the statutes first applies to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or extended, whichever occurs first, on the effective date of this subsection.

SB447,31,17 (3) The treatment of section 16.705 (4) of the statutes first applies to a solicitation or a letter of intent to contract issued on the effective date of this subsection.

SB447,31,21 (4) The treatment of sections 16.771, 16.871, 23.41 (5), 25.18 (1) (a), (f), and (m), 66.0902, 84.01 (13), 84.06 (2) (a), (3), and (4), 85.015, 102.81 (2), and 221.0903 (4) (b) of the statutes first applies with respect to false claims that are presented or caused to be presented on the effective date of this subsection.

SB447,31,22 (End)