Example Of "How Unified Collaboration Can Expedite The Process"

Swift efforts by state leadership and the aerospace industry resulted in the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation acknowledgment of the State of Florida as a nation's leader in developing robust legislative and space transportation incentives that foster commercial space industry growth.

Space Florida tells ANN the FAA report was released last week, just as pre-session hearings and space-related bills are being drafted for the upcoming legislative session, beginning March 4, 2009.

During the 2008 Space Day in Tallahassee, Florida's aerospace community advocated for legislative action to create Informed Consent legislation. More than 80 companies and organizations participated in the largest ever unified community effort showing paramount support for the industry.

As a result, Governor Charlie Crist, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottcamp, former state Senator and current Congressman Bill Posey, and the Florida legislature set the bar for rapid response by passing key legislation, the new Informed Consent Bill, allowing the State's aerospace recruiting arm, Space Florida, to provide incentives that only two states offer -- Florida and Virginia.

"According to the FAA State Support for Commercial Space Activities, these aggressive actions took other states and much of the industry by surprise, given the speed in which it was accomplished," said Steve Kohler, president of Space Florida. "This is a perfect example of how unified collaboration can expedite the process, and speaks to the value the leadership of Florida places on sustaining and growing the commercial launch industry in our State. It also showcases the unified efforts of the space community, partner organizations, and others to advocate its importance."

The outcome in terms of regulatory incentives was the 2008 Spaceflight Informed Consent legislation, allowing spaceflight entities to be exempt from liability for injury or death of a spaceflight participant. A similar Virginia bill passed three years ago contained a five-year sunset clause; the Florida bill passed in 2008 has a 10-year sunset provision.

"It is Space Florida's mission to develop the next generation of commercial space business, providing the incentives necessary to bring that business to Florida, maintaining the United States' preeminent role in the space industry," said Kohler.

FMI: www.spaceflorida.gov