Eligible blind persons; operation of vending stands.

(1) This section may be cited as the Little Randolph Sheppard Act.

(2) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Blind licensee” means any blind person trained and licensed by the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education to operate a vending stand.

(b) “Vending stand” means any manually operated cafeteria, snack bar, cart service, shelter, counter, or other manually operated facility for the sale of newspapers, periodicals, confections, tobacco products, foods, beverages, or other such articles or services.

(c) “State agency” means any agency of the state.

(d) “State property” means any building or land owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the state, but does not include any building or land under the control of a state university board of trustees, a community college district board of trustees, or any state correctional institution as defined in s. 944.02.

(e) “Property custodian” or “person in charge” means any employee, agent, or person who is in control of or responsible for the maintenance, operation, and protection of any state property.

(3) Blind licensees shall be given the first opportunity to participate in the operation of vending stands on all state properties acquired after July 1, 1979, when such facilities are operated under the supervision of the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education.

(4) The Division of Blind Services shall conduct a periodic survey of all state properties and, where feasible, shall establish vending facilities to be operated by blind licensees.

(5) All property custodians and duly authorized agents or employees of the state shall cooperate with the division in its survey of state properties and shall make available adequate space, electrical wiring, plumbing, and ventilation necessary to the installation of a vending facility on any state property designated as suitable by the division.

(6) The division shall be notified by property custodians or persons in charge at least 180 days prior to the initiation of any new construction, expansion, leasing, or acquisition of property occupied or to be occupied by a state agency.

(7) A person or persons may not be offered or granted any concession by any property custodian or person in charge to operate a vending stand on any state property acquired after July 1, 1979, unless the division is notified of that proposed concession.

(8) Income from new vending machines or replacement of existing machines installed on state property after July 1, 1979, shall accrue to the blind licensee who operates a vending facility on the same property or, if none, to the division. The division shall be responsible for the servicing and maintenance of all vending machines.

(9) This section does not divest any person or organization presently operating a vending stand on state, county, or municipal property from continuing to do so; however, the property custodian or person in charge shall notify the Division of Blind Services at least 180 days prior to the expiration whether the vending facility location is suitable for operation by a blind licensee.

(10) All the preceding provisions are permissive regarding all political subdivisions of the state.

(11) Effective July 1, 1996, blind licensees who remain members of the Florida Retirement System pursuant to s. 121.051(6)(b)1. shall pay any unappropriated retirement costs from their net profits or from program income. Within 30 days after the effective date of this act, each blind licensee who is eligible to maintain membership in the Florida Retirement System under s. 121.051(6)(b)1., but who elects to withdraw from the system as provided in s. 121.051(6)(b)3., must, on or before July 31, 1996, notify the Division of Blind Services and the Department of Management Services in writing of his or her election to withdraw. Failure to timely notify the divisions shall be deemed a decision to remain a compulsory member of the Florida Retirement System. However, if, at any time after July 1, 1996, sufficient funds are not paid by a blind licensee to cover the required contribution to the Florida Retirement System, that blind licensee shall become ineligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System on the last day of the first month for which no contribution is made or the amount contributed is insufficient to cover the required contribution. For any blind licensee who becomes ineligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System as described in this subsection, no creditable service shall be earned under the Florida Retirement System for any period following the month that retirement contributions ceased to be reported. However, any such person may participate in the Florida Retirement System in the future if employed by a participating employer in a covered position.

(12) The Division of Blind Services may adopt rules to permit the division to establish and maintain vending facilities, issue licenses, establish and maintain a vending facility training program, provide vendors access to financial data of the program, set aside funds from net proceeds of the vending facility, provide for the transfer and promotion of vendors, establish a vendors committee, provide for an operation agreement, provide duties and responsibilities of the division with respect to the vending facility program, and provide procedures for newspaper vending sales.