Florida Senate - 2022                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS/CS/HB 741, 1st Eng.
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì1260763Î126076                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                  Floor: WD            .                                
             03/07/2022 08:36 AM       .                                
       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————




       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
       Senator Gibson moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Before line 23
    4  insert:
    5         Section 1. Energy Equity Task Force.—
    6         (1) The Energy Equity Task Force, a task force as defined
    7  in s. 20.03(8), Florida Statutes, is created adjunct to the
    8  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide
    9  recommendations for fostering a fair and equitable transition of
   10  this state’s energy infrastructure to renewable energy
   11  technologies within minority, underserved, rural, and low-income
   12  communities. The task force shall comply with the requirements
   13  of s. 20.052, Florida Statutes.
   14         (2) The task force shall consist, at a minimum, of the
   15  following 11 members who reflect the ethnic and gender diversity
   16  of this state:
   17         (a) The following private citizen members appointed by the
   18  Commissioner of Agriculture:
   19         1. Four representatives from minority, underserved, rural,
   20  or low-income communities from different regions of this state.
   21         2. At least one environmental justice expert.
   22         3. At least one representative from the electrical workers
   23  profession.
   24         4. At least two energy industry liaisons.
   25         5. At least one representative from a statewide
   26  environmentally focused group.
   27         (b) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.
   28         (c) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   29  Representatives.
   30         (3) The task force shall:
   31         (a) Recommend appropriate policies, including any necessary
   32  statutory changes, for the equitable siting of energy
   33  infrastructure throughout this state, including, but not limited
   34  to:
   35         1. The siting of utility-scale solar arrays in
   36  nonresidential neighborhoods, nonrural residential communities,
   37  and rural communities; and
   38         2. The siting of industrial solar array facility sites in a
   39  manner compatible with county or municipality comprehensive
   40  plans.
   41         (b) Examine strategies to assist minority, underserved,
   42  rural, and low-income communities in transitioning to energy
   43  efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances,
   44  weatherization, and other methods, to benefit from lower energy
   45  costs.
   46         (4) The department shall provide staffing and
   47  administrative support to the task force in performing its
   48  duties.
   49         (5) The task force shall submit a report of its
   50  recommendations to the Governor, the Commissioner of
   51  Agriculture, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   52  House of Representatives by September 30, 2023, and this section
   53  shall expire upon submission of the report.
   54  
   55  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   56  And the title is amended as follows:
   57         Delete line 2
   58  and insert:
   59         An act relating to renewable energy regulation;
   60         creating the Energy Equity Task Force adjunct to the
   61         Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a
   62         specified purpose; providing for the membership and
   63         duties of the task force; requiring the department to
   64         provide staffing and administrative support to the
   65         task force; requiring the task force to submit a
   66         report to certain officials by a specified date;
   67         providing for expiration of the task force; amending
   68         s. 366.91,