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2017 Florida Statutes

Title XXVIII NATURAL RESOURCES; CONSERVATION, RECLAMATION, AND USE
Chapter 375 OUTDOOR RECREATION AND CONSERVATION LANDS Entire Chapter
SECTION 075
Outdoor recreation; financial assistance to local governments.
F.S. 375.075
375.075 Outdoor recreation; financial assistance to local governments.—
(1) The Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to establish the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program to provide grants, subject to legislative appropriation, to qualified local governmental entities to acquire or develop land for public outdoor recreation purposes. The department shall develop and plan a program that must be based upon the funding appropriated by the Legislature for such purpose.
(2)(a) The department shall adopt, by rule, procedures to govern the program, which shall include, but need not be limited to, a competitive project selection process designed to maximize the outdoor recreation benefit to the public.
(b) Selection criteria shall, at a minimum, rank:
1. The extent to which the project would implement the outdoor recreation goals, objectives, and priorities specified in the state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan; and
2. The extent to which the project would provide for priority resource or facility needs in the region as specified in the state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.
(c) Funds may not be released under this program for these public recreation projects until the projects have been selected through the competitive selection process provided for in this section.
(3) A local government may submit up to two grant applications during each application period announced by the department. However, a local government may not have more than three active projects expending grant funds during any state fiscal year. The maximum project grant for each project application may not exceed $200,000 in state funds.
(4)(a) For the 2016-2017 fiscal year:
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, at least $3 million of the program funds for projects must be used exclusively for projects that provide recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities. The department shall conduct a separate grant application process exclusively for such projects. The department shall make the schedule for the grant application process for projects that provide recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities publicly available and shall award the grants for such projects by December 31, 2016.
2. Notwithstanding subsection (3), a local government may submit up to three grant applications for projects, if at least one of those projects provides recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities. The maximum project grant for each project application that provides recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities may not exceed $500,000 in state funds.
(b) The selection criteria used by the department for grant applications submitted pursuant to this subsection shall prioritize projects that allocate the greatest share of state funds to provide recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities.
(c) The term “projects that provide recreational enhancements and opportunities for individuals with unique abilities” means those projects that incorporate adaptations or modifications to the design and development of recreational resources or equipment to meet the needs of all potential participants including those with physical or developmental disabilities.
(d) This subsection expires July 1, 2017.
History.—s. 1, ch. 86-293; s. 16, ch. 90-217; s. 287, ch. 94-356; s. 39, ch. 99-247; s. 20, ch. 2000-170; s. 32, ch. 2000-197; s. 42, ch. 2006-1; s. 53, ch. 2015-229; s. 83, ch. 2016-62.