Strategic Port Investment Initiative.

(1) There is created the Strategic Port Investment Initiative within the Department of Transportation. Beginning in fiscal year 2012-2013, a minimum of $35 million annually shall be made available from the State Transportation Trust Fund to fund the Strategic Port Investment Initiative. The Department of Transportation shall work with the deepwater ports listed in s. 311.09 to develop and maintain a priority list of strategic investment projects. Project selection shall be based on projects that meet the state’s economic development goal of becoming a hub for trade, logistics, and export-oriented activities by:

(a) Providing important access and major on-port capacity improvements;

(b) Providing capital improvements to strategically position the state to maximize opportunities in international trade, logistics, or the cruise industry;

(c) Achieving state goals of an integrated intermodal transportation system; and

(d) Demonstrating the feasibility and availability of matching funds through local or private partners.

(2) Prior to making final project allocations, the Department of Transportation shall schedule a publicly noticed workshop with the Department of Commerce and the deepwater ports listed in s. 311.09 to review the proposed projects. After considering the comments received, the Department of Transportation shall finalize a prioritized list of potential projects.

(3) The Department of Transportation shall, to the maximum extent feasible, include the seaport projects proposed to be funded under this section in the tentative work program developed under s. 339.135(4).

(4) As a condition of receiving a project grant under any program established in this chapter and as a condition of receiving state funds as described in s. 215.31, a seaport that is located in a county in which real property is designated as spaceport territory under s. 331.304 and that uses land, facilities, or infrastructure for the purpose of supporting spacecraft launch and recovery operations must, in any agreement with the Department of Transportation, agree that the seaport may not convert any planned or existing land, facility, or infrastructure that supports cargo purposes to any alternative purpose unless the conversion is approved by the seaport’s governing board at a publicly noticed meeting as a separate line on the agenda and with a reasonable opportunity for public comment, and, if approved, the Legislature expressly approves the use of state funds for a project that includes such a conversion, whether by a work program amendment or through the General Appropriations Act. As used in this subsection, the term “cargo purposes” includes, but is not limited to, any facility, activity, property, energy source, or infrastructure asset that supports spaceport activities.