House Bill 0773

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 773

        By Representative Ogles






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to agricultural pests and

  3         diseases; creating the Task Force on

  4         Agricultural Pests and Diseases; providing for

  5         its membership and duties; directing the

  6         Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

  7         to establish a program for the reimbursement of

  8         temporary relocation expenses incurred to avoid

  9         Malathion spraying; providing an appropriation;

10         providing an effective date.

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12         WHEREAS, the introduction of agricultural pests and

13  diseases poses a serious threat to the physical health,

14  safety, and economic well-being of the people of the state,

15  and

16         WHEREAS, imported agricultural products provide a means

17  by which pests and diseases enter this state, resulting in

18  costly detection, eradication, and control programs, and

19         WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

20  Services is responsible for the early detection, eradication,

21  and control of agricultural pests and diseases in a reasonable

22  and well-justified manner, NOW, THEREFORE,

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24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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26         Section 1.  There is created the Task Force on

27  Agricultural Pests and Diseases consisting of the following

28  members or their designees: the Commissioner of Agriculture;

29  the Secretary of the Department of Health; the Secretary of

30  the Department of Environmental Regulation; the Executive

31  Director of the Department of Citrus; the Executive Director

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 773

    520-187A-99






  1  of the Florida Farm Bureau; the Executive Director of the

  2  Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; the Executive

  3  Director of Florida Citrus Mutual; the Executive Director of

  4  the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the

  5  University of Florida; the Executive Director of the Florida

  6  Cattlemen's Association; an employee of the United States

  7  Department of Agriculture appointed by the Commissioner of

  8  Agriculture; a private physician appointed by the Secretary of

  9  the Department of Health; and three residents-at-large

10  appointed by the Governor, one from north Florida, one from

11  central Florida, and one from south Florida.

12         Section 2.  The task force shall:

13         (1)  Identify current eradication and prevention

14  efforts with regard to pest and disease eradication within the

15  state.

16         (2)  Identify any current areas of lack of coverage or

17  applicability, unaddressed problems, and lack of resources.

18         (3)  Initiate a feasibility study for an on-going

19  sterile medfly release program for the state in general, as

20  well as a limited area within Dade County.

21         (4)  Investigate the need for baseline medical data for

22  comparison purposes in determining adverse reactions to the

23  use of pesticides in eradication efforts.

24         (5)  Identify areas of scientific research necessary

25  for effective eradication of plant and animal pests.

26         (6)  Report findings and recommendations to the

27  Legislature by January 1, 2001.

28         Section 3.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer

29  Services shall establish a program to reimburse residents of

30  the state for medically necessary temporary relocation to

31  avoid Malathion spraying. Persons may be reimbursed for

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 773

    520-187A-99






  1  temporary and reasonable travel expenses to the closest

  2  location outside the spray zone for the duration of each

  3  individual spray application. Persons seeking reimbursement

  4  must provide documented evidence of medical necessity for the

  5  temporary relocation, receipts for travel and other expenses,

  6  including reasonable lodging costs, not exceeding $80 per

  7  night, and reasonable meal costs, not exceeding $21 per person

  8  per day.

  9         Section 4.  The sum of $100,000 is appropriated from

10  the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture and

11  Consumer Services for the purpose of paying the costs of

12  relocation reimbursement expenses provided for in section 3 of

13  this act during the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

14         Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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17                          SENATE SUMMARY

18    Creates the Task Force on Agricultural Pests and Diseases
      and provides for its membership and duties. Directs the
19    Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
      establish a program to reimburse persons for medically
20    necessary temporary relocation expenses to avoid
      Malathion spraying. Provides an appropriation for
21    reimbursement costs.

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