TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday issued an government order geared toward governments in China, Iran, Russia, Cuba and “others hostile to American interests,” as he pointed to considerations about points similar to cybersecurity.
DeSantis, who’s operating for re-election in November, stated he additionally will ask lawmakers in 2023 to make modifications in state legislation that may additional block enterprise actions in Florida by these governments.
“I think we’ve stood strong against this type of ideology in a variety of ways, and this just continues us on that course,” DeSantis stated throughout an occasion at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus that targeted closely on China.
The government order, partly, bars the state and native governments from procuring or utilizing know-how companies that any federal company has prohibited based mostly on national-security considerations.
The order additionally directs the state Department of Management Services to take steps to make sure commodities and companies utilized by the state and native governments aren’t inclined to exploitation by “foreign countries of concern.”
“This will prevent the exposure of Floridians’ personal information and technology systems in Florida to foreign entities and bad actors,” DeSantis stated.
DeSantis stated he needs lawmakers to stop the focused countries from having the ability to buy agricultural land in Florida and land surrounding navy bases. DeSantis’ workplace cited “instances of Chinese Communist Party-affiliated companies purchasing land near military bases in other states, including Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.”
DeSantis additionally needs to develop a 2021 legislation that created new reporting necessities for entities searching for grants or contracts from the state.
The legislation requires state businesses and universities to report receiving items or grants “from any foreign source” valued at $50,000 or extra. DeSantis needs to revise the legislation to bar items to Florida schools and universities from residents, governments or other entities in countries of concern.
Lawmakers authorised modifications in 2021 after high-profile Florida instances involving medical and tutorial researchers. Among the other modifications, individuals “trafficking in trade secrets” would face second-degree felony fees for “trafficking in trade secrets,” with the fees raised to first-degree felonies if overseas governments benefited.
Lawmakers additionally required individuals and entities searching for state grants or contracts of greater than $100,000 to reveal contracts, donations or grants linking them to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. State universities and other entities with analysis budgets of $10 million or extra have been directed to create “international travel approval and monitoring” applications.
