Florida Senate - 2020              PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
       Bill No. SB 638
       
       
       
       
       
                               Ì595990LÎ595990                          
       
       576-04130-20                                                    
       Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
       (Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and
       General Government)
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Apalachicola Environmental
    3         Stewardship Act; providing a short title; amending s.
    4         259.105, F.S.; requiring specified funds from the
    5         Florida Forever Fund to be spent on projects within
    6         the Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State Concern
    7         for specified purposes; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. This act may be referred to as “The Apalachicola
   12  Environmental Stewardship Act.”
   13         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   14  259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
   16         (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
   17  reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
   18  proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
   19  section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
   20  created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
   21  Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
   22         (b) Thirty-five percent to the Department of Environmental
   23  Protection for the acquisition of lands and capital project
   24  expenditures described in this section. Of the proceeds
   25  distributed pursuant to this paragraph, it is the intent of the
   26  Legislature that an increased priority be given to those
   27  acquisitions which achieve a combination of conservation goals,
   28  including protecting Florida’s water resources and natural
   29  groundwater recharge. At a minimum, 3 percent, and no more than
   30  10 percent, of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph
   31  shall be spent on capital project expenditures identified during
   32  the time of acquisition which meet land management planning
   33  activities necessary for public access. Beginning in the 2017
   34  2018 fiscal year and continuing through the 2026-2027 fiscal
   35  year, at least $5 million of the funds allocated pursuant to
   36  this paragraph shall be spent on land acquisition within the
   37  Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern as authorized
   38  pursuant to s. 259.045. Beginning in the 2020-2021 fiscal year
   39  and continuing through the 2024-2025 fiscal year, at least $5
   40  million of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall
   41  be spent on projects that improve surface water and groundwater
   42  quality within the Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State
   43  Concern as designated under s. 380.0555, including the
   44  construction and replacement of stormwater management facilities
   45  and central sewage collection facilities, installation of onsite
   46  sewage treatment and disposal systems, direct and indirect
   47  potable reuse, and other water quality and water supply
   48  projects.
   49         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.