§ 7. Rights of employees.

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (2), all employment rights and employee benefits authorized under section 11, chapter 63-1447, Laws of Florida, as amended, are hereby confirmed, ratified, and continued, notwithstanding the repeal of said chapter 63-1447, Laws of Florida, as amended. Effective October 1, 2001, in order to preserve the rights of employees of the former Jacksonville Port Authority to continue participation in the Florida Retirement System pursuant to chapter 121, Florida Statutes, the authority created by this act (and its predecessor act) shall be a county agency and employees of the authority shall participate in the Florida Retirement System, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. Effective October 1, 2001, those employees of the former Jacksonville Port Authority who were assigned to any activity related to the operation of the airport facilities shall become employees of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority created by this act (and its predecessor act). Effective October 1, 2001, central administrative employees shall be employed by either the Jacksonville Aviation Authority or the Jacksonville Port Authority, formerly known as the Jacksonville Seaport Authority, created by this act (and its predecessor act) or as otherwise agreed by both. It is expressly provided that none of those employees of the former Jacksonville Port Authority who remain with the authority created by this act (and its predecessor act) shall lose any rights or benefits of whatsoever kind or nature afforded to them by any law, ordinance, collective bargaining agreement, or existing policy or plan, including, but not limited to, pension benefits by virtue of the change in corporate structure. In order to effectively implement the foregoing, the authority shall perform all functions with regard to its own employees that prior to the operation of the two authorities created by this act (and its predecessor act) were performed by the former Jacksonville Port Authority. In order to specifically preserve the rights of employees of the former Jacksonville Port Authority to continue participation in the Florida Retirement System, pursuant to chapter 121, Florida Statutes, the authority created by this act (and its predecessor act) shall be a county authority and employees of this authority who are currently participating in the Florida Retirement System and all employees of the authority after October 1, 2001, shall be eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System.

(2)

Effective October 1, 2001, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority firefighters shall be merged into the City of Jacksonville's Fire and Rescue Department and shall become employees of the City of Jacksonville; however, with respect to pension benefits such Jacksonville Aviation Authority Fire Department employees shall have a one-time option to continue participation in the Florida Retirement System or to participate in the City of Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund. Such option must be exercised no later than November 1, 2001. Upon such merger, firefighting services for the airports owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority shall be provided by the Fire and Rescue Department of the City of Jacksonville pursuant to a written contract to be entered into by and between the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. Notwithstanding any provision in this act to the contrary, such merger and contract shall become effective October 1, 2001. If any firefighter who has vested in the Florida Retirement System exercises the option to become a member of the City of Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund, such vested time shall not be included in the City of Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund.

(Laws of Fla., Ch. 2004-464, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 2005-328, § 1)