April 11, 2008 The sixth week of Session has ended – only three weeks are left. Session ends Friday, May 2. A couple of things to note - committee meetings are winding down and more Floor time is being scheduled. By Wednesday of the second to the last week of Session (April 23 this year) both the House and Senate are traditionally on the Floor full-time for the remainder of the Session. They are considering bills that have made it through their committees of reference in their respective chamber and that are in Messages from the other chamber. A bill must pass both houses in order to pass and be sent to the Governor for his action. If a bill has not been heard in at least one substantive committee by now, it will be very difficult to pass. It was a busy week with the House and Senate passing their respective budgets. The stage is now set for Conference negotiations to begin, which we expect to start this next week. See Sandy Wilson’s sixth week budget report for an update on the status of FWC’s budget issues. Of particular interest to FWC’s law enforcement officers is a bill that was just filed this week, HB 7121, after passing out of the Safety and Security Council (as a proposed council bill), April 9. The bill authorizes the $2 surcharge assessed on felony probationers and parolees to be used for salary increases for all state law enforcement, corrections and probation officers. The surcharge currently is used for correctional officers’ training and equipment and is deposited into the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. HB 7121 has not been referred yet, but most likely will either be referred to the Policy and Budget Council or go directly to the Calendar. If the bill passes, salary increases will still have to be appropriated as part of the budget. As can be seen in Sandy Wilson’s budget report, salary increases have not been decided yet and are one of the last issues decided in budget negotiations. Please note that in this very tight budget year, when cuts are being realized by every state agency, salary increases are going to be difficult. The Commission, at its meeting this past week, passed a resolution expressing strong support of HB 7121. Regarding FWC’s legislative package, Tuesday, April 8, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 1300, creation of a seagrass scarring violation with penalties and revisions to the handling of evidence in recreational fishing and hunting/wildlife cases. The bill is scheduled in its last committee of reference, General Government Appropriations, this next week. The House companion,
HB 7059, is also scheduled this next Tuesday in the Policy and Budget Council. Both bills are on track; we are hopeful that the legislation will pass. SB 1286, the Sunset Review legislation of FWC, passed the full Senate, Wednesday and was sent to the House. The House took it up, deleted everything after the enacting clause, and sent it back to the Senate. This was a procedural move by the House to get the bill in the posture of being available for budget conference negotiations this next week. SB 1286 is tied to the budget because it increases vessel registration fees, as well as reauthorizing FWC in statute. The new vessel registration fees are used in the Senate budget to fund 66 law enforcement officers at $3 million and marine mammal care at $2 million, both of which are cut in the House budget. The new revenues are also used in the Senate budget to fund $900,000 for law enforcement fuel costs and $1.5 million for derelict vessel removal. The Senate successor program for Florida Forever, SB 542, passed out of the General Government Appropriations Committee, Thursday. It is scheduled on the Senate Floor for its Second Reading, Wednesday, April 16. Major amendments approved allow for: The transfer of the Florida Communities Trust program from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); land acquisition monies re-directed to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) from water management districts to be used for the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands. The House successor program for Florida Forever, PCB-ENRC 08-09, passed the Environment and Natural Resources Council, Friday. The major change to this bill, which already directs monies to DACS for the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands, adds the funding of working waterfront protection agreements or acquisition of working waterfronts as an allowable use of agricultural easement funds. The provision that designates FWC and DACS as the “primary land managers” of state-owned conservation lands was not changed. FWC is working with the House, Senate, DACS, DEP, and interested stakeholders in the development of the successor program to Florida Forever. If it passes and is approved by the Governor, it will be one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation of the 2008 Session. Top of page Following is a summary of FWC’s legislative package, Sunset Review, as well as other bills of interest to the agency: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Legislative ProposalsHB 7091 (formerly PCB ENRC 08-02)
Combines Chapter 370 (commercial saltwater fisheries) and Chapter 372 (wildlife, freshwater fisheries, and recreational saltwater fisheries) of the Florida Statutes into a new Chapter 379; this is a technical rewriting of the chapters – no substantive changes (no changes in meaning of current law) are part of the project. Chapter 379 is divided into eight parts: I - General Provisions; II - Marine Life; III - Freshwater Aquatic Life; IV - Wild Animal Life; V - Law Enforcement; VI - Licenses for Recreational Activities; VII - Non-Recreational Licenses; and VIII – Penalties. PCB ENRC 08-02 was approved by the House Conservation and State Lands Committee, Wednesday, March 12, and the Environment and Natural Resources Council, March 19. Filed as HB 7091, it was scheduled for the Policy and Budget Council on April 15, but has been referred to the Calendar, making it available to be heard by the full House. It has not been heard by the Senate. HB 7059 by Environment and Natural Resources Council, Mayfield, Kendrick/
SB 1300 by Environmental Protection and Conservation Committee, Saunders –Protection of Wild and Aquatic Life, Seagrass Scarring
Modifies and clarifies how officers may dispose of evidence in recreational fishing and hunting cases; currently, evidence in recreational freshwater fish and hunting cases may be donated to charity or disposed of in other ways; current law is silent on the disposition of recreational saltwater fishing cases; this proposal would provide consistency among the disposition of evidence in all recreational fish and wildlife cases; it also would clarify how law enforcement handles the evidence. Creates a non-criminal penalty ($50 fine) for scarring seagrasses when carelessly operating a vessel. SB 1300 directs fine revenues to the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to be used for seagrass restoration, education, signage, and enforcement; HB 7059, in effect, directs fine revenues to the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund to be used for boating safety education. Revenues. HB 7059 also repeals references to the Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund that was repealed in 2005. HB 7059 (formerly PCB ENRC 08-11) was recommended by the House Conservation and State Lands Committee to the House Environment and Natural Resources Council. The Council approved the legislation and filed it - HB 7059 is scheduled for the Policy and Budget Council, April 15. SB 1300 was approved by Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, and Judiciary, April 8, and is scheduled to be heard in General Government Appropriations, April 15.
A variation of the following issue, submitted to the Legislature by the agency, has been placed in SB 406, but was amended out of HB 919, April 9 (see below): Agency request - Increase the age requirement for mandatory wear of life vests when a boat is underway; currently, Florida law requires everyone under six (6) years old to wear a life jacket on a boat less than 26 feet in length; it would require everyone under 13 years of age to wear a life jacket on a boat less than 26 feet in length, while it is underway; the proposed age requirement is consistent with Federal law.
The Commission also submitted the following issues to the Legislature, but they are no longer being considered: Increase the age requirement for those having to take the boater’s education course; currently, the age requirement is for anyone 21 years old and younger operating a boat powered by 10 horsepower or more (some exemptions apply); the proposal would use a phased-in schedule to increase the age requirement by five years each year. For example, by Jan.1, 2009, everyone 25 years old or younger would be required to take the course; by Jan. 1, 2010, everyone 30 years old and younger would be required to take the course; by Jan. 1, 2011, everyone 35 years old and younger would be required to take the course, etc. By 2019, anyone operating a vessel in Florida waters would be required to take the course. Repeal the shoreline exemption that is currently allowed for Florida residents to fish saltwater species on the shoreline. Seagrass scarring – while the noncriminal infraction is in HB 7059 and SB 1300, the Commission also requested a criminal violation for the “willful and wanton” scarring of seagrasses that would result in a 1st degree misdemeanor penalty (up to $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail). The criminal violation has not been picked up by either chamber. Top of page
Other Legislation of InterestHouse PCB-ENRC 08-09/SB 542 by House Environment and Natural Resources Council/Senator Saunders – Florida Forever Successor
Both bills create the successor program for Florida Forever, the State’s land acquisition program that is set to expire in 2010; they increase the authorization for land acquisition funding from $3 billion to $5.3 billion over ten years, and require a minimum of 1.5% of land acquisition funds to be used for land management (current law allows up to 1.5% to be used for land management;) they transfer Florida Communities Trust from the Dept. of Community Affairs to the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP); they redirect some land acquisition funding from water management districts to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) to be used for the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands. PCB-ENRC 08-09 designates FWC and DACS as the State’s “primary land managers” for conservation lands (an earlier version gave DACS all land management responsibilities; in the latest version, FWC’s current land management responsibilities are not only maintained, they are enhanced); it substantially revises the processes for developing land management plans on all state-owned conservation lands, requiring short-term (two years) and long-term (ten years) goals with associated performance measures, monitoring the progress of the implementation of those plans with a third party review, and the preparation of corrective actions; requires each agency to evaluate if the development of land management plans and monitoring services can be delivered more cost effectively by the private sector; places specific emphasis on protecting imperiled species on state-owned conservation lands based on FWC recommendations; requires FWC, DEP, and DACS to report to the Legislature by Dec. 31, 2008, on a new allocation formula used for funding land management with specific criteria identified (which includes costs associated for agencies who are co-lead managers - this will positively impact FWC); substantially revises the land management uniform cost accounting system to better reflect the full costs of land management and to tie it to the new allocation formula; adds working waterfront protection agreements or acquisition of working waterfronts as an allowable use of agricultural easement funds; requires DEP, with assistance from FWC and DACS, to develop a land acquisition and land management information system that maps natural communities. SB 542 maintains the current land management structure within FWC, DACS, and DEP; it substantially revises the processes for developing land management plans on all state-owned conservation lands, requiring short-term (two years) and long-term (ten years) goals with associated performance measures; it substantially revises the land management uniform cost accounting system to better reflect the full costs of land management; allows FWC managed lands to manage/restore habitat for native and imperiled species, and if so used, an annual work plan must be submitted to the Acquisition and Restoration Council and the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Governor and Cabinet) for approval; requires enhanced performance measures for land management to be adopted; requires state land acquisitions over $100 million to be approved by the Legislative Budget Commission; authorizes agriculture activities as an allowable use on state lands; requires prioritization of future state land purchases based on uniform data; requires state agencies to coordinate expenditures; requires public-private partnerships and agencies to plan and share resources to achieve state land management goals; allows for water supply and water access to be approved purposes for land acquisition; reduces funding going to the water management districts for land acquisition and redirects those funds to DEP; requires DEP to develop a work plan that prioritizes land acquisition projects under Florida Forever and specifies the categories to consider in the prioritization and requires the Acquisition and Restoration Council to approve the work plan. PCB-ENRC 08-09 was workshopped by the Conservation and State Lands Committee, March 12 and March 19, and was recommended as a Council bill, March 26; it was approved as a Council bill by Environment and Natural Resource Council, April 11. SB 542 was approved by the Environmental Preservation and Conservation, April 3, General Government Appropriations, April 10, and is scheduled for the Senate Special Order Calendar, April 16. HB 31/SB 2078 by Rep. Boyd/Sen. Oelrich - Springs Protection; SB 2394 by Sen. Saunders – Springs Protection
HB 31 and SB 2078 create the Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force to inventory and collect data on all first magnitude springs in Florida, examine land uses in the surrounding areas and determine best management practices (BMPs) for those land uses, identify funding sources to assist implementation of BMPs and water pollutants, propose a public education and outreach program, and report findings to the Legislature; the Task Force is scheduled for sunset, January 2009. SB 2394 creates the “Florida Springs Protection Act” and provides legislative findings and intent with respect to the need to protect and restore springs and groundwater. HB 31 was approved by Conservation and State Lands, March 26, and Environment and Natural Resources Council, April 9, and will go next to the Policy and Budget Council. SB 2078 was approved by Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 27, and goes next to Community Affairs, and General Government Appropriations. SB 2394 was approved by Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 27, and goes next to Community Affairs, Health Regulation, and General Government Appropriations HB 37 by Rep. McKeel – Contracting for Efficiency or Conservation Measures by Governmental Agencies
Requires state agencies, municipalities, or political subdivisions, when contracting for water and wastewater services, to include efficiency and conservation measures; approved by House Audit and Performance Committee, Jan. 9, and Government Efficiency and Accountability Council, March 12; it is now in Policy and Budget Council. Top of page HB 179/SB 432 by Rep. Holder/Sen. Bennett – Artificial Reefs
Creates “Ships-to-Reefs” program within FWC that is a matching grant program for local governments to place U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and U.S. Navy decommissioned ships off of Florida’s coastline as artificial reefs; authorizes FWC to plan and develop the program by rule; implementation of the program is subject to appropriations by the Legislature. HB 179 was approved by the House Conservation and State Lands Committee, Dec. 12, 2007, Environment and Natural Resources Council April 9, and goes next to Policy and Budget Council. SB 432 was approved by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 6, and was scheduled in Community Affairs, April 9, but was not considered. SB 406/HB 919 by Sen. Margolis/Rep. Domino – Commercial Parasailing
Requires owners of parasailing vessels to carry liability insurance of $500,000 per person and $1 million per event; requires commercial parasail operators to have an appropriate Coast Guard license; requires safety measures when offering parasailing activities, but SB 406 has more restrictive safety measures. SB 406 names the bill the ”Amber May White Act”, and also repeals current law requiring everyone under six (6) years old to wear a life jacket on a boat less than 26 feet in length; the effect of the repeal is for federal law to apply, which requires everyone under 13 years of age to wear a life jacket on a recreational boat, while it is underway. SB 406 was approved by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 6, Banking and Insurance, April 1, and goes next to General Government Appropriations. HB 919 was approved by Conservation and State Lands, March 19, Environment and Natural Resources Council, April 9, and goes next to Policy and Budget Council. SB 420/HB 1519 by Sen. Deutch/Rep. Sasso – State Purchasing of Hybrid Vehicles
Requires state agencies and certain local governments to purchase hybrid, flex-fuel, or biodiesel vehicles if such are available; requires the Department of Management Service to adopt rules establishing criteria for such purchases. SB 420 has been referred to Senate committees on Environmental Preservation and Conservation, Community Affairs, Governmental Operations, and General Government Appropriations. HB 1519 has been referred to Government Efficiency and Accountability Council, and Policy and Budget Council. SM 426/HM 221 by Sen. Bennett/Rep. Richter – Oil and Gas Drilling off Florida’s Coastline
Memorial urging Congress to stand strong and united against any attempt to allow oil or gas drilling off of Florida’s coastline. SB 426 has been referred to Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee; HB 221 was referred to Energy Committee, Environment and Natural Resource Council and the Rules and Calendar Council; it was temporarily deferred in Energy Committee, February 20. HJR 433 by Rep. Needelman – FWC Rule Challenges Procedures
Joint resolution proposing an amendment to Florida’s Constitution that would require FWC to provide rule challenge procedures based on the Administrative Procedures Act for its rules passed under its Constitutional authority. Referred to House Conservation and State Lands Committee and Environment and Natural Resources Council. SB 660 by Sen. Bennett – Seagrass Beds Protection and Restoration
Creates a pilot program for the restoration and stabilization of seagrass beds in Brevard, Charlotte, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, and Pinellas counties; restoration would be provided by contracting with a qualified person; the Dept. of Environmental Protection would be required to submit a report to the Legislature on the pilot program. Creates a non-criminal infraction ($50 fine) for scarring seagrass within an aquatic preserve when operating a boat in a careless manner; additional fines are authorized for repeat offenders; requires damages recovered for injury to seagrasses to be used for restoration and education. Adds an airboater to the Boating Advisory Council. SB 660 was approved by Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 6, and goes next to Community Affairs, and General Government Appropriations. HB 703/SB 1192 by Rep. Kiar/Sen.Rich – Personal Watercraft
Revises age restriction of personal watercraft operators to 16 years of age and older (from 14) and prohibits operators that are not in compliance with the boating safety education law; requires livery operators to attend and complete a boating safety education course. HB 703 was approved by Conservation and State Lands Committee, March 19, and Environment and Natural Resources Council April 9; it will go next to the Calendar and will be available to be heard by the full House. SB 1192 was approved by Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 6, Commerce, March 18, and goes next to General Government Appropriations. Top of page SB 758/HB 635 by Sen. Bennett/Rep. Needelman – Inland Navigation Districts
Among other provisions, deletes the requirement that the Florida Inland Navigation District post waterway signage and requires FWC to take over the responsibility (FWC has worked with the inland navigation districts, which will contract with FWC to provide funding). SB 758 was approved by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 6, Commerce, March 18, and General Government Appropriations, April 10; it will go next to the Calendar and will be available to be considered by the full Senate. HB 635 was approved by the Environmental Protection Committee, March 5, Environment and Natural Resources Council, April 2, and goes next to Policy and Budget Council. HB 819/SB 2058 by Rep. Kendrick/Sen. Dean – Hunter Safety Course Requirements
HB 819 provides that the hunter safety course requirements for resident active duty members of the military may be satisfied without the shooting range requirement. SB 2058 also authorizes active Reservists to participate in the shooting range exemption. HB 819 was approved by Conservation and State Lands Committee, Feb. 20, and the Environment and Natural Resources Council, March 5, and the Policy and Budget Council, March 11; it is now on the House Calendar, available to be considered by the full House (for its Second Reading). SB 2058 was approved by Military Affairs and Domestic Security, March 18, Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 27, and goes next to General Government Appropriations. SB 1212 by Sen. Constantine – Lake Jesup Restoration
Requires FWC, Department of Environmental Protection, St. Johns River Water Management District, and City of Sanford to develop a plan concerning FWC’s progress to restore Lake Jesup’s aquatic habitat. SB 1212 is referred to committees on Environmental Preservation and Conservation and General Government Appropriations. SB 1286 by Sen. Saunders – Sunset Review of FWC
Reenacts s. 20.331 of the Florida Statutes that establishes FWC in statute; requires non-motor powered vessels over 16 feet to be registered, increases vessel registration fees (which are utilized in the Senate budget to fund 66 FWC law enforcement officers and marine mammal care, which are cut in the House budget, and to fund FWC law enforcement fuel costs and derelict vessel removal); authorizes the use of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to increase boating registration fees beginning in 2013; authorizes use of the CPI to increase hunting and fishing licenses beginning in 2013; requires the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to compare FWC’s public relations and outreach staffing with other agencies and recommend where efficiencies may be gained; requires OPPAGA to review FWC’s Freshwater Fisheries Management and Marine Fisheries Management outreach and education activities and staffing with other agencies to determine if efficiencies can be gained; requires FWC to report on certain aviation activities; requires FWC to report on its land management activities for efficiencies and duplication of services with other agencies; requires FWC to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s activities such as its GIS technical support services and provide recommendations on efficiencies that may be gained from outsourcing such services. All reports are due January 1, 2009. SB 1286 was approved by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 13, Governmental Operations, March 19, General Government Appropriations, April 2, and the full Senate, April 9; it was heard and amended by the full House, April 10, and returned to the Senate. The House amendment was a procedural maneuver to allow the bill to be part of the budget conference negotiations, which are scheduled for the week of April 14. SB 1304 by Sen. Saunders – Saltwater Fisheries
Eliminates obsolete provisions relating to the issuance of a marine life fishing endorsement. Referred to Senate committees on Environmental Preservation and Conservation, General Government Appropriations; Rules. SB 1330 by Sen. Siplin – Law Enforcement Officers/Annual Salary Increase
Provides for an annual salary increase for certified law enforcement officers which shall be paid in accordance with the officer’s collective bargaining agreement. Referred to Senate committees on Criminal Justice; Governmental Operations; General Government Appropriations. HB 1427/SB 1672 by Rep. Mayfield/Sen. Jones – Beach Management
Provides requirements for quality and quantity of dredged sand placed on certain beaches; requires estimation of requisite quantity of beach-quality sand by DEP; applies requirements for dredging and certain inlet management projects and activities; enhances protections for marine turtles and requires protection of shorebirds during inlet management projects. HB 1427 was approved by Environmental Protection Committee, March 12, and Environment and Natural Resource Council, March 19; it is on the House Calendar, available for consideration by the full House (for its Second Reading). SB 1672 was approved by Environmental Preservation and Conservation, March 13, Community Affairs, April 3, and goes next to General Government Appropriations. Top of page SB 1486 by Sen. Saunders – State Tortoise
Designates the Gopher Tortoise as the official state tortoise. Approved by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, March 6, and goes next to Governmental Operations. SB 1546 by Sen. Saunders – Personal Floatation Devices
Prohibits the operation of a vessel less than 26 feet in length unless every person under 6 years of age is wearing a personal floatation device approved by the Coast Guard while vessel is underway. Referred to Senate committees on Environmental Preservation and Conservation; General Government Appropriations. SB 1702 by Sen. Alexander – Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Re-creates various provisions relating to the department and increases the fee on wholesale and retail saltwater products dealer licenses. SB 1702 was approved by Agriculture, March 19, General Government Appropriations, April 2, and the full Senate, April 9; it was heard and amended by the full House, April 10, and returned to the Senate. The House amendment was a procedural maneuver to allow the bill to be part of the budget conference negotiations, which are scheduled for the week of April 14. SB 1992 by Senator Baker – Moratorium on New Specialty License Plates
Among other provisions, the bill establishes a three-year moratorium on the creation of new specialty license plates. SB 1992 has passed out of Transportation, March 11; Criminal Justice, March 25; Finance and Tax, April 2; and Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations, April 10; it is scheduled before the full Senate (for Second Reading), April 16. SB 2128/HB 5037 by Sen. Alexander/Environment & Natural Resource Council – Administrative Trust Fund/FWC
Re-creates the Administrative Trust Fund within FWC without modification.
SB 2128 was approved by General Government Appropriations, March 13, and the full Senate, March 26. HB 5037 is sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resources Council, and was approved by the Policy and Budget Council, March 25. SB 2128 was substituted for HB 5037 and was passed by the full House, April 2. SB 2128 goes next to the Governor for his action. SB 2130/HB 5039 by Sen. Alexander/Environment & Natural Resource Council – Federal Grants Trust Fund/FWC
Re-creates the Federal Grants Trust Fund within FWC without modification.
SB 2130 was approved by General Government Appropriations, March 13, and by the full Senate, March 26. HB 5039 is sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resources Council and was approved by the Policy and Budget Council, March 25. SB 2130 was substituted for HB 5039 and was passed by full House, April 2. SB 2130 goes next to the Governor for his action. SB 2132/HB 5041 by Sen. Alexander/Environment & Natural Resource Council – Grants and Donations Trust Fund/FWC
Re-creates the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within FWC without modification. SB 2132 was approved by General Government Appropriations, March 13, and the full Senate, March 26. HB 5041 is sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resources Council and was approved by the Policy and Budget Council, March 25. SB 2132 was substituted for HB 5041 and passed by the full House, April 2. SB 2132 goes next to the Governor for his action. SB 2336 by Sen. Crist – State Lands/Acquisition
Changes the minimum estimated value of a parcel allowed, from $1 million to $500,000, before two appraisals are required. If two appraisals are required, directs the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services to select one of the appraisers; allows for a third appraisal, if the first two are significantly different, and directs the Dept. of Financial Services to select the third appraiser; directs the Dept. of Financial Services to select a review appraiser if the estimated value of a parcel exceeds $500,000; allows the Division of State Lands to prepare an appraisal on lands valued less than $100,000. SB 2336 has been referred to committees on Environmental Preservation and Conservation, Agriculture, Governmental Operations, and General Government Appropriations. HB 5079 by Environment & Natural Resources Council – Department of Environmental Protection
Among other provisions, HB 5079 provides a type two transfer (complete) of the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management within DEP to FWC and transfers specific permitting authority relating to aquatic plants and invasive nonnative plants to DACS; the bill is considered and implementing bill for the House Appropriations bill and will be part of the budget’s Conference negotiations. HB 5079 is sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resource Council and was approved by the Policy and Budget Council, April 3. HB 5079 was passed by the full House, April 10, and the Senate, upon receiving the bill, referred it to the Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee. HB 5081 by Rep. Mayfield – Trust Funds of FWC
Provides for transfer of $2 million from the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund and State Game Trust Fund within FWC to General Revenue Fund for specified period; the legislation is considered an implementing bill for the House Appropriations bill, as statutory authority is needed to make these transfers in the budget, and will be part of the budget’s Conference negotiations. HB 5081 is sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resource Council and was approved by the Policy and Budget Council, April 3. HB 5081 was passed by the full House, April 10, and the Senate, upon receiving the bill, referred it to the Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee. HB 7121 by Safety and Security Council and Rep. Snyder – Law Enforcement Salaries
Allows the $2 surcharge assessed on probationers and parolees, who have committed a felony, to be used for supplemental salary increases for all state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and probation officers. The $2 surcharge is deposited into the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Trust Fund, within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. HB 7121 passed out of the Safety and Security Council, as a proposed council bill, April 9; it was filed by the Council, April 11. Top of page |
