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CS/CS/CS/HB 967 — Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification
by State Affairs Committee; Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Environment, Agriculture and Flooding Subcommittee; and Rep. Truenow and others (CS/CS/SB 1556 by Appropriations Committee; Environment and Natural Resources Committee; and Senator Gruters)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EN)
The bill directs the turfgrass science program at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS), in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to administer a golf course best management practices certification to ensure compliance with fertilizer best management practices.
The bill requires UF/IFAS, in coordination with DEP, to provide training and testing certification programs. An applicant for certification must submit a copy of the training certificate. When the certificate expires, the bill allows for recertification after eight hours of continuing education.
The bill exempts a person certified in golf course best management practices from additional local testing and local ordinances relating to water and fertilizer use restrictions, unless a state of emergency is declared. The bill requires the certified person to ensure that they adhere to comprehensive best management practices for a specific community by coordinating with local government.
The bill specifies that a person certified in golf course best management practices is not exempt from complying with the rules and requirements for basin management action plans if the golf course is located in an area with a basin management action plan.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2022.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 112-1