HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LOCAL BILL STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 787 St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority, St. Johns County
SPONSOR(S): Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, Stevenson
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Local Administration & Veterans Affairs 17 Y, 1 N, As Renner Miller
Subcommittee CS
2) State Affairs Committee 23 Y, 0 N Renner Williamson
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority (Authority) is an independent special district that was
created in 1963 and its charter was recodified in 2002. The Authority is governed by a five-member board with
members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The board may levy ad valorem taxes in
order to pay for interest and principle of issued bonds, and for general purposes, at a rate not to exceed 0.5
mills. Board members are authorized to be reimbursed for verified travel and other expenses, which
reimbursements must be paid from Authority funds.
The bill amends ch. 2002-347, Laws of Fla., to rename the Authority the St. Johns County Airport Authority.
The bill authorizes the St. Johns County Airport Authority to conduct airport operations under the name
“Northeast Florida Regional Airport.”
The Economic Impact Statement filed with the bill indicates that it does not appear to have a fiscal impact on
the state or local governments.
This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
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DATE: 3/29/2021
 FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
Independent Special Districts
A “special district” is a unit of local government created for a particular purpose, with jurisdiction to
operate within a limited geographic boundary.1 Special districts are created by general law, special act,
local ordinance, or by rule of the Governor and Cabinet.2 A special district has only those powers
expressly provided by, or reasonably implied from, the authority provided in the district’s charter.
Special districts provide specific municipal services in addition to, or in place of, those provided by a
municipality or county.3
A “dependent special district” is a special district where the membership of the governing body is
identical to the governing body of a single county or municipality, all members of the governing body
are appointed by the governing body of a single county or municipality, members of the district’s
governing body are removable at will by the governing body of a single county or municipality, or the
district’s budget is subject to the approval of governing body of a single county or municipality. 4 An
“independent special district” is any district that is not a dependent special district.5
Special districts do not possess “home rule” powers and may impose only those taxes, assessments,
or fees authorized by special or general law. The special act creating an independent special district
may provide for funding from a variety of sources while prohibiting others. For example, ad valorem tax
authority is not mandatory for a special district.6
St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority
The St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority (Authority) is an independent special district that
was created in 19637 and its charter was recodified in 2002.8
The Authority is governed by a five-member board. Board members serve staggered four-year terms
with vacancies appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.9 Board members are
authorized to be reimbursed for verified travel and other expenses, which reimbursements must be paid
from Authority funds.10
The board has the power to hire employees, acquire property, maintain and operate airport facilities,
enter into contracts, own aviation vehicles and equipment, conduct aviation related research and
development, and issue revenue and general obligation bonds.11 The board may levy ad valorem taxes
1 See Halifax Hospital Medical Center v. State of Fla., et al., 278 So. 3d 545, 547 (Fla. 2019).
2 See ss. 189.031(3), 189.02(1), and 190.005(1), F.S. See, generally, s. 189.012(6), F.S.
3 2020 – 2022 Local Gov’t Formation Manual, pp. 60-61, at
https://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?PublicationType=Committees&CommitteeId=3117&Sessio
n=2021&DocumentType=General+Publications&FileName=2021-2022+Local+Government+Formation+Manual.pdf (last
visited Feb. 5, 2021).
4 S. 189.012(2), F.S.
5 S. 189.012(3), F.S.
6 Art. VII, s. 9(a), Fla. Const.
7 Ch. 63-1853, Laws of Fla.
8 Ch. 2002-347, Laws of Fla.
9 Ch. 2002-347, s. 3(3), Laws of Fla.
10 Supra note 7.
11 Ch. 2002-347 s. 3(4)-(10), Laws of Fla.
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 in order to pay for interest and principle of issued bonds, and for general purposes, at a rate not to
exceed 0.5 mills.12
The financial statements filed with the Department of Financial Services in the below chart show the
total revenue and expenditures for the Authority for years 2016-2019, which is the latest financial
information available:13
Year Expenditures Revenues
2016 $7,683,704 $4,834,763
2017 $7,339,781 $8,090,240
2018 $8,159,080 $5,928,287
2019 $7,577,435 $9,932,602
Effect of the Bill
The bill amends ch. 2002-347, Laws of Fla., to rename the Authority the St. Johns County Airport
Authority. The bill authorizes the St. Johns County Airport Authority to conduct airport operations under
the name “Northeast Florida Regional Airport.”
The Economic Impact Statement filed with the bill indicates that the bill does not appear to have a fiscal
impact on the state or local governments.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1. Amends ch. 2002-347, Laws of Fla., renaming the St. Augustine-St. Johns County
Airport Authority the St. Johns County Airport Authority.
Section 2. Provides an effective date of upon becoming a law.
II. NOTICE/REFERENDUM AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A. NOTICE PUBLISHED? Yes [X] No []
IF YES, WHEN? December 18, 2020
WHERE? St. Augustine Record, a daily newspaper published in St. Augustine, St. Johns County,
Florida
B. REFERENDUM(S) REQUIRED? Yes [] No [X]
IF YES, WHEN?
C. LOCAL BILL CERTIFICATION FILED? Yes [X] No []
D. ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT FILED? Yes [X] No []
12 Ch. 2002-347, s. 3(11), Laws of Fla.
13 Department of Financial Services, Local Government Ad Hoc Report 2016-2019,
file:///C:/Users/Renner.Jennifer/Downloads/AdhocAdvanced%20(2).pdf (last visited March 1, 2021).
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 III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill neither authorizes nor requires administrative rulemaking by executive branch agencies.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/ COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On March 23, 2021, the Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee adopted one amendment and
reported the bill favorably. The amendment corrected a cross-reference and removed compensation for board
members.
This analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as approved by the Local Administration & Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee.
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