HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 893 Transportation Facility Designations
SPONSOR(S): Transportation & Modals Subcommittee, Brannan
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee 16 Y, 0 N, As CS Lewis Hinshelwood
2) Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations 10 Y, 0 N McAuliffe Davis
Subcommittee
3) Infrastructure Strategies Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
State law authorizes legislative designations of transportation facilities, such as bridges, interchanges, or
portions of roads, for honorary or memorial purposes or to distinguish a particular facility. Legislative
designations do not change the official names of the facilities and do not require local governments and private
entities to change street signs, mailing addresses, or 911 emergency telephone system listings to account for
the designations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) may not erect the markers for a designation unless
the appropriate city or county commission enacts a resolution supporting the designation.
The bill designates:
The “Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway” in Duval County.
The “Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway” in Duval County.
The “Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway" in Jefferson County.
The “Michael Scott Williams Parkway” in Taylor County.
Under the bill, DOT must erect suitable markers for each road designation.
The bill will have an insignificant negative fiscal impact to the State Transportation Trust Fund associated with
erecting suitable markers for each designation. The costs can be absorbed within DOT’s existing resources.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2023.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
STORAGE NAME: h0893c.ITA
DATE: 3/21/2023
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
Transportation Facility Designations
Under current law, the Legislature may designate a transportation facility, such as a bridge,
interchange, or portion of a road, for honorary or memorial purposes or to distinguish a particular
facility. Legislative designations do not officially change the existing names of the facilities and do not
require local governments or private entities to change street signs, mailing addresses, or 911
emergency telephone-number system listings to account for the designations. 1
Regarding the naming of state buildings and other facilities, state law provides that except as
specifically provided by law, state buildings, roads, bridges, parks, recreational complexes, and other
similar facilities may not be named for a living person.2
Road Markers
When the Legislature establishes road or bridge designations, the Department of Transportation (DOT)
is required to place a marker at each terminus or intersection of the highway segment or bridge
designated and may erect other markers it deems appropriate for the designated transportation facility. 3
Markers may not be erected until the appropriate city or county commission passes a resolution in
support of the particular designation. Additionally, if the designated facility is located in multiple cities or
counties, each affected local government must pass a resolution in support of the designation before
DOT can install the markers.4
Effect of the Bill
The bill requires DOT to erect suitable markers for each of the following designations.
Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway
The bill designates the portion of S.R. 105/Heckscher Drive between New Berlin Road East and
Orahood Lane in Duval County as "Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway."
On October 12, 2007, Officer Scott Eric Bell was killed when a vehicle operated by an intoxicated driver
pulled out in front of his patrol car.5 Officer Bell joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served over
20 years before serving with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 7 years as a patrolman. 6
Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway
The bill designates the portion of S.R. 9A/East Beltway 295 between Gate Parkway and Baymeadows
Road in Duval County as "Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway."
1 S. 334.071(1), F.S.
2 S. 267.062(1), F.S.
3 S. 334.071(2), F.S.
4 S. 334.071(3), F.S.
5 Officer Down Memorial Page, Officer Scott Eric Bell, https://www.odmp.org/officer/19030-officer-scott-eric-bell (last
visited Mar. 13, 2023).
6 Email from Jason Lee Carter, Legislative Aide to Representative Chuck Brannan, Florida House of Representatives, RE:
Officer Biographies HB 893 (Feb. 22, 2023).
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On September 4, 2008, Officer Christopher Michael Kane was killed when his patrol car collided with
the back of a semi carrying construction equipment in a construction zone.7 Officer Kane served in the
Marine Corp before serving with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. 8
Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway
The bill designates the portion of I-10 between mile markers 222 and 228 in Jefferson County as
"Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway."
Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall spent over 27 years in law enforcement and the protection of citizens of
the State of Florida. She was a police officer for the Tallahassee Police Department and the Monticello
Police Department.9 Within the Department of Corrections, Senior Inspector Hall held the positions of
Fugitive Unit Coordinator, where she is still unsurpassed in her success in apprehending criminals who
had escaped custody, and Senior Inspector for the Office of the Inspector General. Senior Inspector
Hall passed away unexpectedly on December 27, 2018. 10
Michael Scott Williams Parkway
The bill designates the portion of U.S. 19 between C.R. 361/Beach Road and C.R. 30/Foley Road in
Taylor County as "Michael Scott Williams Parkway."
On October 31, 2016, Deputy Sheriff Michael Scott Williams was killed when his patrol car collided with
the rear of a logging truck.11 Deputy Williams served with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office for 17
months and had previously served with the Brooksville Police Department. 12
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Designates “Officer Scott Eric Bell Highway”; designates “Officer Christopher Michael
Kane Highway”; designates “Officer Christopher Michael Kane Highway”; designates
“Senior Inspector Rita Jane Hall Memorial Highway"; directs DOT to erect suitable
markers.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2023
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
DOT estimates a cost of $1,480 per designation for the appropriate markers, which provides for two
signs per designation at $740 per sign.13 Therefore, the bill has an estimated negative fiscal impact
of $5,920 to the State Transportation Trust Fund. This cost can be absorbed within existing DOT
resources.14
7 Officer Down Memorial Page, Officer Christopher Michael Kane, https://www.odmp.org/officer/19540-officer-christopher-
michael-kane (last visited Mar. 13, 2023).
8 Supra note 6.
9 Email from LeAnn Bunton, Legislative Aide to Representative Jason Shoaf, Florida House of Representatives, RE:
Amendment to HB 893 (Mar. 8, 2023).
10 Tallahassee Democrat, Rita Jane Hall, https://www.tallahassee.com/obituaries/tad045823 (last visited Mar. 13, 2023).
11 Officer Down Memorial Page, Deputy Sheriff Michael Scott Williams, https://www.odmp.org/ officer/23007-deputy-
sheriff-michael-scott-williams (last visited Mar. 13, 2023).
12 Supra note 9.
13 Email from Amanda Marsh, Legislative Programs Office, Florida Department of Transportation, RE: FDOT Memorial
Roadway Designation Sign Estimate (Dec. 28, 2022).
14 Id.
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B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
None.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On March 10, 2023, the Transportation and Modals Subcommittee considered two amendments, which were
adopted, and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendments:
Clarify that the designation for Officer Christopher Michael Kane would be on the East beltway of I-295.
Add two designations to the bill, in total designating four transportation facilities, and directs DOT to
erect suitable markers for each of the designations.
The staff analysis has been updated to reflect the committee substitute.
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DATE: 3/21/2023