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2014 Florida Statutes

Title XXVIII NATURAL RESOURCES; CONSERVATION, RECLAMATION, AND USE
Chapter 377 ENERGY RESOURCES Entire Chapter
SECTION 43
Disbursement of funds received for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
F.S. 377.43
377.43 Disbursement of funds received for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.—
(1) For purposes of this section, the term “Disproportionally Affected County” means Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, or Wakulla County.
(2) Any funds received by the state from any governmental or private entity for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill shall be deposited into the applicable state trust funds and expended pursuant to state law or as approved by the Legislative Budget Commission.
(3) Seventy-five percent of such moneys may be used for:
(a) Scientific research into the impact of the oil spill on fisheries and coastal wildlife and vegetation along any Disproportionally Affected County’s shoreline and the development of strategies to implement restoration measures suggested by such research;
(b) Environmental restoration of coastal areas damaged by the oil spill in any Disproportionally Affected County;
(c) Economic incentives directed to any Disproportionally Affected County; and
(d) Initiatives to expand and diversify the economies of any Disproportionally Affected County.
(4) The remaining 25 percent of such moneys may be used for:
(a) Scientific research into the impact of the oil spill on fisheries and coastal wildlife and vegetation along any of the state’s shoreline that is not a Disproportionally Affected County’s shoreline, and the development of strategies to implement restoration measures suggested by such research;
(b) Environmental restoration of coastal areas damaged by the oil spill in any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County;
(c) Economic incentives directed to any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County; and
(d) Initiatives to expand and diversify the economies of any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County.
(5)(a) The Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency for expending the funds designated for environmental restoration efforts.
(b) The Department of Economic Opportunity is the lead agency for expending the funds designated for economic incentives and diversification efforts.
History.—s. 499, ch. 2011-142.