Scott consolidates development

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation consolidating the state's economic development functions into a new Department of Economic Opportunity.

The bill also designates the president of Enterprise Florida, Gray Swoope, as Florida's secretary of commerce, and dismantles the Department of Community Affairs. Staff responsible for administering community planning will be transferred to the Department of Economic Opportunity.

The measure, Senate Bill 2156, cuts to 10 days the required time to approve or deny requests for state incentive funds. Currently, the process can take up to 42 days.

The bill also authorizes the governor to approve economic development incentive awards of less than $2 million without legislative approval or consultation, and for awards from $2 million to $5 million, the governor must notify the chairs and vice chairs of the Legislative Budget Commission. Awards that exceed $5 million require commission approval.