Senate Bill 2582

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    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2582

    By Senator Latvala





    19-1639-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to lighthouses; directing the

  3         Department of Community Affairs and the

  4         Department of State to conduct a study of

  5         lighthouses in the state; providing for

  6         planning and funding responsibilities;

  7         directing each department to make a budget

  8         request for funding purposes; providing an

  9         effective date.

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11         WHEREAS, Florida is a maritime state and has depended

12  on the sea for commerce and transportation throughout its

13  history, and

14         WHEREAS, lighthouses have facilitated that maritime

15  development, saving many lives and vessels, and

16         WHEREAS, many historic lighthouses in this state are in

17  poor and unstable condition, and

18         WHEREAS, it is declared to be the public policy of the

19  state to identify historic lighthouses, assess their

20  condition, stabilize them, and make them available to the

21  public in recognition of the history and heritage of Florida,

22  NOW, THEREFORE,

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24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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26         Section 1.  (1)  The Coastal Management Program of the

27  Department of Community Affairs and the Division of Historical

28  Resources of the Department of State shall undertake a study

29  of the lighthouses in the state. The study must determine the

30  location, ownership, condition, and historical significance of

31  all lighthouses in the state and ensure that all historically

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    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2582
    19-1639-00




  1  significant lighthouses are nominated for inclusion on the

  2  National Register of Historic Places. The study must assess

  3  the condition and restoration needs of historic lighthouses

  4  and develop plans for appropriate future public access and

  5  use. The Coastal Management Program and the Division of

  6  Historical Resources shall take a leadership role in

  7  implementing plans to stabilize lighthouses and associated

  8  structures and to preserve and protect them from future

  9  deterioration. When possible, the lighthouses and associated

10  buildings should be made available to the public for

11  educational and recreational purposes. The Department of

12  Community Affairs should consider these responsibilities to be

13  a priority of the Florida Coastal Management Program and

14  implementation of this act should be a priority in the use of

15  Coastal Management funds.

16         (2)  The Department of Community Affairs and the

17  Department of State shall request in their annual legislative

18  budget requests funding necessary to carry out the duties and

19  responsibilities specified in this act. Funds for the

20  rehabilitation of lighthouses should be allocated through

21  matching grants-in-aid to state and local government agencies

22  and to nonprofit organizations. The Department of Community

23  Affairs may assist the Division of Historical Resources in

24  projects to accomplish lighthouse identification, assessment,

25  restoration, and interpretation.

26         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

27  law.

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    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2582
    19-1639-00




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  2                          SENATE SUMMARY

  3    Directs the Department of Community Affairs and the
      Department of State to conduct a study of lighthouses in
  4    the state and plan for the funding, restoration, and
      public access and use of the facilities.
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