Senate Bill 1694c2

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    Florida Senate - 2000                    CS for CS for SB 1694

    By the Committees on Fiscal Resource, Natural Resources and
    Senator Saunders




    314-1979-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to Everglades restoration and

  3         funding; amending s. 201.15, F.S.; authorizing

  4         the distribution of documentary stamp tax funds

  5         to the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust

  6         Fund; amending s. 215.22, F.S.; excluding the

  7         trust fund from the general revenue surcharge;

  8         amending s. 259.101, F.S.; providing for a

  9         redistribution of Preservation 2000 program

10         cash balances; deleting a requirement for the

11         redistribution of specified unencumbered

12         balances; deleting a provision for the carrying

13         forward of unspent funds; abrogating the repeal

14         of provisions relating to the acquisition of

15         less than fee-simple title to lands; abrogating

16         for scheduled repeal of s. 259.101(3), F.S.;

17         amending s. 259.105, F.S.; providing for the

18         transfer of funds from the Florida Forever

19         Trust Fund into the Everglades Restoration

20         Reserve Trust Fund; amending s. 259.1051, F.S.;

21         excluding Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust

22         Fund distributions from a requirement that the

23         funds be spent within a specified time after

24         transfer; creating s. 373.470, F.S.; creating

25         the "Everglades Investment and Accountability

26         Act"; defining terms; providing legislative

27         intent; providing for a planning process;

28         providing for a project implementation report;

29         providing for the deposit of specified funds

30         into the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust

31         Fund; providing for supplemental funds;

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  1         providing for distributions from the trust

  2         fund; providing for credit for work performed;

  3         providing for an annual report and a progress

  4         report; amending s. 375.045, F.S.; excluding

  5         Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund

  6         distributions from a requirement that they be

  7         spent within a specified time after transfer;

  8         requiring the South Florida Water Management

  9         District to take action to assure that a

10         specified deed reservation is terminated by a

11         specified date; providing effective dates.

12

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

14

15         Section 1.  Effective July 1, 2001, section 201.15,

16  Florida Statutes, as amended by section 2 of chapter 99-247,

17  Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

18         201.15  Distribution of taxes collected.--All taxes

19  collected under this chapter shall be distributed as follows

20  and shall be subject to the service charge imposed in s.

21  215.20(1), except that such service charge shall not be levied

22  against any portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds

23  to the extent that the amount of the service charge is

24  required to pay any amounts relating to the bonds:

25         (1)  Sixty-two and sixty-three hundredths percent of

26  the remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be used

27  for the following purposes:

28         (a)  Amounts as shall be necessary to pay the debt

29  service on, or fund debt service reserve funds, rebate

30  obligations, or other amounts payable with respect to

31  Preservation 2000 bonds issued pursuant to s. 375.051 and

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  1  Florida Forever bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618, shall be

  2  paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Land

  3  Acquisition Trust Fund to be used for such purposes. The

  4  amount transferred to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund for such

  5  purposes shall not exceed $300 million in fiscal year

  6  1999-2000 and thereafter for Preservation 2000 bonds and bonds

  7  issued to refund Preservation 2000 bonds, and $300 million in

  8  fiscal year 2000-2001 and thereafter for Florida Forever

  9  bonds. The annual amount transferred to the Land Acquisition

10  Trust Fund for Florida Forever bonds shall not exceed $30

11  million in the first fiscal year in which bonds are issued.

12  The limitation on the amount transferred shall be increased by

13  an additional $30 million in each subsequent fiscal year in

14  which bonds are authorized to be issued, but shall not exceed

15  a total of $300 million in any fiscal year for all bonds

16  issued. It is the intent of the Legislature that all bonds

17  issued to fund the Florida Forever Act be retired by December

18  31, 2030. Except for bonds issued to refund previously issued

19  bonds, no series of bonds may be issued pursuant to this

20  paragraph unless such bonds are approved and the first year's

21  debt service for such bonds is specifically appropriated in

22  the General Appropriations Act. For purposes of refunding

23  Preservation 2000 bonds, amounts designated within this

24  section for Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever bonds may be

25  transferred between the two programs to the extent provided

26  for in the documents authorizing the issuance of the bonds.

27  The Preservation 2000 bonds and Florida Forever bonds shall be

28  equally and ratably secured by moneys distributable to the

29  Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to this section, except

30  to the extent specifically provided otherwise by the documents

31  authorizing the issuance of the bonds. No moneys transferred

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  1  to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to this paragraph,

  2  or earnings thereon, shall be used or made available to pay

  3  debt service on the Save Our Coast revenue bonds.

  4         (b)  The remainder of the moneys distributed under this

  5  subsection, after the required payment under paragraph (a),

  6  shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the

  7  Land Acquisition Trust Fund and may be used for any purpose

  8  for which funds deposited in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund

  9  may lawfully be used. Payments made under this paragraph shall

10  continue until the cumulative amount credited to the Land

11  Acquisition Trust Fund for the fiscal year under this

12  paragraph and paragraph (2)(b) equals 70 percent of the

13  current official forecast for distributions of taxes collected

14  under this chapter pursuant to subsection (2). As used in this

15  paragraph, the term "current official forecast" means the most

16  recent forecast as determined by the Revenue Estimating

17  Conference. If the current official forecast for a fiscal year

18  changes after payments under this paragraph have ended during

19  that fiscal year, no further payments are required under this

20  paragraph during the fiscal year.

21         (c)  The remainder of the moneys distributed under this

22  subsection, after the required payments under paragraph (a),

23  shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the

24  General Revenue Fund of the state to be used and expended for

25  the purposes for which the General Revenue Fund was created

26  and exists by law or to the Ecosystem Management and

27  Restoration Trust Fund as provided in subsection (11) or to

28  the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund as provided in

29  subsection (12).

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  1         (2)  Seven and fifty-six hundredths percent of the

  2  remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be used for

  3  the following purposes:

  4         (a)  Beginning in the month following the final payment

  5  for a fiscal year under paragraph (1)(b), available moneys

  6  shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the

  7  General Revenue Fund of the state to be used and expended for

  8  the purposes for which the General Revenue Fund was created

  9  and exists by law or to the Ecosystem Management and

10  Restoration Trust Fund as provided in subsection (11) or to

11  the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund as provided in

12  subsection (12). Payments made under this paragraph shall

13  continue until the cumulative amount credited to the General

14  Revenue Fund for the fiscal year under this paragraph equals

15  the cumulative payments made under paragraph (1)(b) for the

16  same fiscal year.

17         (b)  The remainder of the moneys distributed under this

18  subsection shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit

19  of the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. Sums deposited in the fund

20  pursuant to this subsection may be used for any purpose for

21  which funds deposited in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund may

22  lawfully be used.

23         (3)  One and ninety-four hundredths percent of the

24  remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid

25  into the State Treasury to the credit of the Land Acquisition

26  Trust Fund. Moneys deposited in the trust fund pursuant to

27  this section shall be used for the following purposes:

28         (a)  Sixty percent of the moneys shall be used to

29  acquire coastal lands or to pay debt service on bonds issued

30  to acquire coastal lands; and

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  1         (b)  Forty percent of the moneys shall be used to

  2  develop and manage lands acquired with moneys from the Land

  3  Acquisition Trust Fund.

  4         (4)  Four and two-tenths percent of the remaining taxes

  5  collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State

  6  Treasury to the credit of the Water Management Lands Trust

  7  Fund. Sums deposited in that fund may be used for any purpose

  8  authorized in s. 373.59.

  9         (5)  Four and two-tenths percent of the remaining taxes

10  collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State

11  Treasury to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation

12  Lands Trust Fund to carry out the purposes set forth in s.

13  259.032. Nine and one-half percent of the amount credited to

14  the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund pursuant to

15  this subsection shall be transferred to the State Game Trust

16  Fund and used for land management activities.

17         (6)  Two and twenty-eight hundredths percent of the

18  remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid

19  into the State Treasury to the credit of the Aquatic Plant

20  Control Trust Fund to carry out the purposes set forth in ss.

21  369.22 and 369.252.

22         (7)  One-half of one percent of the remaining taxes

23  collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State

24  Treasury to the credit of the State Game Trust Fund to be used

25  exclusively for the purpose of implementing the Lake

26  Restoration 2020 Program.

27         (8)  One-half of one percent of the remaining taxes

28  collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State

29  Treasury and divided equally to the credit of the Department

30  of Environmental Protection Grants and Donations Trust Fund to

31  address water quality impacts associated with nonagricultural

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  1  nonpoint sources and to the credit of the Department of

  2  Agriculture and Consumer Services General Inspection Trust

  3  Fund to address water quality impacts associated with

  4  agricultural nonpoint sources, respectively. These funds shall

  5  be used for research, development, demonstration, and

  6  implementation of suitable best management practices or other

  7  measures used to achieve water quality standards in surface

  8  waters and water segments identified pursuant to ss. 303(d) of

  9  the Clean Water Act, Pub. L. No. 92-500, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et

10  seq. Implementation of best management practices and other

11  measures may include cost-share grants, technical assistance,

12  implementation tracking, and conservation leases or other

13  agreements for water quality improvement.

14         (9)  Seven and fifty-three hundredths percent of the

15  remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid

16  into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing

17  Trust Fund and shall be used as follows:

18         (a)  Half of that amount shall be used for the purposes

19  for which the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists

20  by law.

21         (b)  Half of that amount shall be paid into the State

22  Treasury to the credit of the Local Government Housing Trust

23  Fund and shall be used for the purposes for which the Local

24  Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.

25         (10)  Eight and sixty-six hundredths percent of the

26  remaining taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid

27  into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing

28  Trust Fund and shall be used as follows:

29         (a)  Twelve and one-half percent of that amount shall

30  be deposited into the State Housing Trust Fund and be expended

31  by the Department of Community Affairs and by the Florida

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  1  Housing Finance Corporation Agency for the purposes for which

  2  the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.

  3         (b)  Eighty-seven and one-half percent of that amount

  4  shall be distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust

  5  Fund and shall be used for the purposes for which the Local

  6  Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.

  7  Funds from this category may also be used to provide for state

  8  and local services to assist the homeless.

  9         (11)  From the moneys specified in paragraphs (1)(c)

10  and (2)(a) and prior to deposit of any moneys into the General

11  Revenue Fund, $10 million shall be paid into the State

12  Treasury to the credit of the Ecosystem Management and

13  Restoration Trust Fund in fiscal year 1998-1999, $20 million

14  in fiscal year 1999-2000, and $30 million in fiscal year

15  2000-2001 and each fiscal year thereafter, to be used for the

16  preservation and repair of the state's beaches as provided in

17  ss. 161.091-161.212.

18         (12)  Beginning in fiscal year 2001-2002, from the

19  moneys specified in paragraphs (1)(c) and (2)(a) and before

20  deposit of any moneys into the General Revenue Fund, $75

21  million shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of

22  the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund. This subsection

23  expires June 30, 2010.

24         (13)(12)  The Department of Revenue may use the

25  payments credited to trust funds pursuant to paragraphs (1)(b)

26  and (2)(b) and subsections (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9),

27  and (10) to pay the costs of the collection and enforcement of

28  the tax levied by this chapter. The percentage of such costs

29  which may be assessed against a trust fund is a ratio, the

30  numerator of which is payments credited to that trust fund

31  under this section and the denominator of which is the sum of

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  1  payments made under paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(b) and

  2  subsections (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10).

  3         (14)(13)  The distribution of proceeds deposited into

  4  the Water Management Lands Trust Fund and the Conservation and

  5  Recreation Lands Trust Fund, pursuant to subsections (4) and

  6  (5), shall not be used for land acquisition, but may be used

  7  for preacquisition costs associated with land purchases.  The

  8  Legislature intends that the Florida Forever program supplant

  9  the acquisition programs formerly authorized under ss. 259.032

10  and 373.59. Prior to the 2005 Regular Session of the

11  Legislature, the Acquisition and Restoration Council shall

12  review and make recommendations to the Legislature concerning

13  the need to repeal this provision.  Based on these

14  recommendations, the Legislature shall review the need to

15  repeal this provision during the 2005 Regular Session.

16         (15)(14)  Amounts distributed pursuant to subsections

17  (5), (6), (7) and (8) are subject to the payment of debt

18  service on outstanding Conservation and Recreation Lands

19  revenue bonds.

20         Section 2.  Paragraph (v) is added to subsection (1) of

21  section 215.22, Florida Statutes, to read:

22         215.22  Certain income and certain trust funds

23  exempt.--

24         (1)  The following income of a revenue nature or the

25  following trust funds shall be exempt from the deduction

26  required by s. 215.20(1):

27         (v)  The Everglades Restoration Trust Fund.

28         Section 3.  Subsections (3) and (9) of section 259.101,

29  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         259.101  Florida Preservation 2000 Act.--

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  1         (3)  LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENTED.--Less the

  2  costs of issuance, the costs of funding reserve accounts, and

  3  other costs with respect to the bonds, the proceeds of bonds

  4  issued pursuant to this act shall be deposited into the

  5  Florida Preservation 2000 Trust Fund created by s. 375.045.

  6  Ten percent of the proceeds of any bonds deposited into the

  7  Preservation 2000 Trust Fund shall be distributed by the

  8  Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of

  9  Environmental Protection for the purchase by the South Florida

10  Water Management District of lands in Dade, Broward, and Palm

11  Beach Counties identified in s. 7, chapter 95-349, Laws of

12  Florida. This distribution shall apply for any bond issue for

13  the 1995-1996 fiscal year. For the 1997-1998 fiscal year only,

14  $20 million per year from the proceeds of any bonds deposited

15  into the Florida Preservation 2000 Trust Fund shall be

16  distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection to

17  the St. Johns Water Management District for the purchase of

18  lands necessary to restore Lake Apopka. In fiscal year

19  2000-2001, for each Florida Preservation 2000 program

20  described in paragraphs (3)(a) through (3)(g), that portion of

21  each program's total remaining cash balance which, as of June

22  30, 2000, exceeds the program's total remaining appropriation

23  balances shall be redistributed by the department and

24  deposited into the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund

25  for land acquisition. For purposes of calculating the total

26  remaining cash balances for this redistribution, the Florida

27  Preservation 2000 Series 2000 bond proceeds, including

28  interest thereon, and the fiscal year 1999-2000 General

29  Appropriations Act amounts shall be deducted from the

30  remaining cash and appropriation balances, respectively. The

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  1  remaining proceeds shall be distributed by the Department of

  2  Environmental Protection in the following manner:

  3         (a)  Fifty percent to the Department of Environmental

  4  Protection for the purchase of public lands as described in s.

  5  259.032.  Of this 50 percent, at least one-fifth shall be used

  6  for the acquisition of coastal lands.

  7         (b)  Thirty percent to the Department of Environmental

  8  Protection for the purchase of water management lands pursuant

  9  to s. 373.59, to be distributed among the water management

10  districts as provided in that section. Funds received by each

11  district may also be used for acquisition of lands necessary

12  to implement surface water improvement and management plans

13  approved in accordance with s. 373.456 or for acquisition of

14  lands necessary to implement the Everglades Construction

15  Project authorized by s. 373.4592.

16         (c)  Ten percent to the Department of Community Affairs

17  to provide land acquisition grants and loans to local

18  governments through the Florida Communities Trust pursuant to

19  part III of chapter 380.  From funds allocated to the trust,

20  $3 million annually shall be used by the Green Swamp Land

21  Authority specifically for the purchase through land

22  protection agreements, as defined in s. 380.0677(4) s.

23  380.0677(5), of lands, or severable interests or rights in

24  lands, in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.

25  From funds allocated to the trust, $3 million annually shall

26  be used by the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority

27  specifically for the purchase of any real property interest in

28  either those lands subject to the Rate of Growth Ordinances

29  adopted by local governments in Monroe County or those lands

30  within the boundary of an approved Conservation and Recreation

31  Lands project located within the Florida Keys or Key West

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  1  Areas of Critical State Concern; however, title to lands

  2  acquired within the boundary of an approved Conservation and

  3  Recreation Lands project may, in accordance with an approved

  4  joint acquisition agreement, vest in the Board of Trustees of

  5  the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.  Of the remaining funds

  6  allocated to the trust after the above transfers occur,

  7  one-half shall be matched by local governments on a

  8  dollar-for-dollar basis.  To the extent allowed by federal

  9  requirements for the use of bond proceeds, the trust shall

10  expend Preservation 2000 funds to carry out the purposes of

11  part III of chapter 380.

12         (d)  Two and nine-tenths percent to the Department of

13  Environmental Protection for the purchase of inholdings and

14  additions to state parks. For the purposes of this paragraph,

15  "state park" means all real property in the state under the

16  jurisdiction of the Division of Recreation and Parks of the

17  department, or which may come under its jurisdiction.

18         (e)  Two and nine-tenths percent to the Division of

19  Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

20  Services to fund the acquisition of state forest inholdings

21  and additions pursuant to s. 589.07.

22         (f)  Two and nine-tenths percent to the Fish and

23  Wildlife Conservation Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to

24  fund the acquisition of inholdings and additions to lands

25  managed by the commission which are important to the

26  conservation of fish and wildlife.

27         (g)  One and three-tenths percent to the Department of

28  Environmental Protection for the Florida Greenways and Trails

29  Program, to acquire greenways and trails or greenways and

30  trails systems pursuant to chapter 260, including, but not

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  1  limited to, abandoned railroad rights-of-way and the Florida

  2  National Scenic Trail.

  3

  4  Local governments may use federal grants or loans, private

  5  donations, or environmental mitigation funds, including

  6  environmental mitigation funds required pursuant to s.

  7  338.250, for any part or all of any local match required for

  8  the purposes described in this subsection.  Bond proceeds

  9  allocated pursuant to paragraph (c) may be used to purchase

10  lands on the priority lists developed pursuant to s. 259.035.

11  Title to lands purchased pursuant to paragraphs (a), (d), (e),

12  (f), and (g) shall be vested in the Board of Trustees of the

13  Internal Improvement Trust Fund, except that title to lands,

14  or rights or interests therein, acquired by either the

15  Southwest Florida Water Management District or the St. Johns

16  River Water Management District in furtherance of the Green

17  Swamp Land Authority's mission pursuant to s. 380.0677(2) s.

18  380.0677(3), shall be vested in the district where the

19  acquisition project is located.  Title to lands purchased

20  pursuant to paragraph (c) may be vested in the Board of

21  Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, except that

22  title to lands, or rights or interests therein, acquired by

23  either the Southwest Florida Water Management District or the

24  St. Johns River Water Management District in furtherance of

25  the Green Swamp Land Authority's mission pursuant to s.

26  380.0677(2) s. 380.0677(3), shall be vested in the district

27  where the acquisition project is located. This subsection is

28  repealed effective October 1, 2000. Prior to repeal, the

29  Legislature shall review the provisions scheduled for repeal

30  and shall determine whether to reenact or modify the

31  provisions or to take no action.

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  1         (9)(a)  The Legislature finds that, with the increasing

  2  pressures on the natural areas of this state, the state must

  3  develop creative techniques to maximize the use of acquisition

  4  and management moneys.  The Legislature also finds that the

  5  state's environmental land-buying agencies should be

  6  encouraged to augment their traditional, fee simple

  7  acquisition programs with the use of alternatives to fee

  8  simple acquisition techniques.  The Legislature also finds

  9  that using alternatives to fee simple acquisition by public

10  land-buying agencies will achieve the following public policy

11  goals:

12         1.  Allow more lands to be brought under public

13  protection for preservation, conservation, and recreational

14  purposes at less expense using public funds.

15         2.  Retain, on local government tax rolls, some portion

16  of or interest in lands which are under public protection.

17         3.  Reduce long-term management costs by allowing

18  private property owners to continue acting as stewards of the

19  land, where appropriate.

20

21  Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that public

22  land-buying agencies develop programs to pursue alternatives

23  to fee simple acquisition and to educate private landowners

24  about such alternatives and the benefits of such alternatives.

25  It also is the intent of the Legislature that the department

26  and the water management districts spend a portion of their

27  shares of Preservation 2000 bond proceeds to purchase eligible

28  properties using alternatives to fee simple acquisition.

29  Finally, it is the intent of the Legislature that public

30  agencies acquire lands in fee simple for public access and

31  recreational activities.  Lands protected using alternatives

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  1  to fee simple acquisition techniques shall not be accessible

  2  to the public unless such access is negotiated with and agreed

  3  to by the private landowners who retain interests in such

  4  lands.

  5         (b)  The Land Acquisition Advisory Council and the

  6  water management districts shall identify, within their 1997

  7  acquisition plans, those projects which require a full fee

  8  simple interest to achieve the public policy goals, along with

  9  the reasons why full title is determined to be necessary.  The

10  council and the water management districts may use

11  alternatives to fee simple acquisition to bring the remaining

12  projects in their acquisition plans under public protection.

13  For the purposes of this subsection, the term "alternatives to

14  fee simple acquisition" includes, but is not limited to:

15  purchase of development rights; conservation easements;

16  flowage easements; purchase of timber rights, mineral rights,

17  or hunting rights; purchase of agricultural interests or

18  silvicultural interests; land protection agreements; fee

19  simple acquisitions with reservations; or any other

20  acquisition technique which achieves the public policy goals

21  listed in paragraph (a).  It is presumed that a private

22  landowner retains the full range of uses for all the rights or

23  interests in the landowner's land which are not specifically

24  acquired by the public agency.  Life estates and fee simple

25  acquisitions with leaseback provisions shall not qualify as an

26  alternative to fee simple acquisition under this subsection,

27  although the department and the districts are encouraged to

28  use such techniques where appropriate.

29         (c)  Beginning in fiscal year 1996-1997, the department

30  and each water management district shall implement initiatives

31  to use alternatives to fee simple acquisition and to educate

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  1  private landowners about such alternatives. These initiatives

  2  shall include at least two acquisitions a year by the

  3  department and each water management district utilizing

  4  alternatives to fee simple.

  5         (d)  The Legislature finds that the lack of direct

  6  sales comparison information has served as an impediment to

  7  successful implementation of alternatives to fee simple

  8  acquisition.  It is the intent of the Legislature that, in the

  9  absence of direct comparable sales information, appraisals of

10  alternatives to fee simple acquisitions be based on the

11  difference between the full fee simple valuation and the value

12  of the interests remaining with the seller after acquisition.

13         (e)  The public agency which has been assigned

14  management responsibility shall inspect and monitor any

15  less-than-fee-simple interest according to the terms of the

16  purchase agreement relating to such interest.

17         (f)1.  Pursuant to subsection (3) and beginning in

18  fiscal year 1999-2000, that portion of the unencumbered

19  balances of each program described in paragraphs (3)(c), (d),

20  (e), (f), and (g) which has been on deposit in such program's

21  Preservation 2000 account for more than 3 fiscal years shall

22  be redistributed equally to the Department of Environmental

23  Protection, Division of State Lands P2000 sub account for the

24  purchase of State Lands as described in s. 259.032 and Water

25  Management District P2000 sub account for the purchase of

26  Water Management Lands pursuant to ss. 373.456, 373.4592 and

27  373.59. For the purposes of this subsection, the term

28  "unencumbered balances" means the portion of Preservation 2000

29  bond proceeds which is not obligated through the signing of a

30  purchase contract between a public agency and a private

31  landowner, except that the program described in paragraph

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  1  (3)(c) may not lose any portion of its unencumbered funds

  2  which remain unobligated because of extraordinary

  3  circumstances that hampered the affected local governments'

  4  abilities to close on land acquisition projects approved

  5  through the Florida Communities Trust program. Extraordinary

  6  circumstances shall be determined by the Florida Communities

  7  Trust governing body and may include such things as death or

  8  bankruptcy of the owner of property; a change in the land use

  9  designation of the property; natural disasters that affected a

10  local government's ability to consummate the sales contract on

11  such property; or any other condition that the Florida

12  Communities Trust governing board determined to be

13  extraordinary. The portion of the funds redistributed in the

14  Water Management District P2000 sub account shall be

15  distributed to the water management districts as provided in

16  s. 373.59(8).

17         2.  The department and the water management districts

18  may enter into joint acquisition agreements to jointly fund

19  the purchase of lands using alternatives to fee simple

20  techniques.

21         (g)  If the department or any water management district

22  is unable to spend the funds it receives pursuant to paragraph

23  (f) within the same fiscal year, the unspent funds shall be

24  carried forward to the subsequent fiscal year.

25         (h)  This subsection is repealed July 1 of the year

26  following the final authorization of Preservation 2000 bonds.

27         Section 4.  Subsection (11) of section 259.105, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         259.105  The Florida Forever Act.--

30         (11)  For the purposes of funding projects pursuant to

31  paragraph (3)(a), the Secretary of Environmental Protection

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  1  shall ensure that each water management district receives the

  2  following percentage of funds annually:

  3         (a)  Thirty-five percent to the South Florida Water

  4  Management District, of which amount $25 million shall be

  5  transferred by the Department of Environmental Protection to

  6  the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund.

  7         (b)  Twenty-five percent to the Southwest Florida Water

  8  Management District.

  9         (c)  Twenty-five percent to the St. John's River Water

10  Management District.

11         (d)  Seven and one-half percent to the Suwannee River

12  Water Management District.

13         (e)  Seven and one-half percent to the Northwest

14  Florida Water Management District.

15         Section 5.  Subsection (2) of section 259.1051, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         259.1051  Florida Forever Trust Fund.--

18         (2)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

19  distribute revenues from the Florida Forever Trust Fund only

20  to programs of state agencies or local governments as set out

21  in s. 259.105(3). Excluding distributions to the Everglades

22  Restoration Reserve Trust Fund, the distributions shall be

23  spent by the recipient within 90 days after the date on which

24  the Department of Environmental Protection initiates the

25  transfer.

26         Section 6.  Section 373.470, Florida Statutes, is

27  created to read:

28         373.470  EVERGLADES RESTORATION.--

29         (1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the

30  "Everglades Investment and Accountability Act."

31         (2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

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  1         (a)  "Comprehensive plan" means the recommended

  2  comprehensive plan contained within the "Final Integrated

  3  Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact

  4  Statement, April 1999" and submitted to Congress on July 1,

  5  1999.

  6         (b)  "Corps" means the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

  7         (c)  "District" means the South Florida Water

  8  Management District.

  9         (d)  "Project" means the Central and Southern Florida

10  Project authorized under the heading "CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN

11  FLORIDA" in section 203 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (62

12  Stat. 1176), and any modification to the project authorized by

13  law.

14         (e)  "Project component" means any structural or

15  operational change, resulting from the comprehensive plan, to

16  the project as it existed and was operated as of January 1,

17  1999.

18         (f)  "Project implementation report" means the project

19  implementation report as described in the "Final Integrated

20  Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact

21  Statement, April 1999" and submitted to Congress on July 1,

22  1999.

23         (3)  FURTHER ANALYSIS; AGREEMENTS FOR PROJECT

24  COMPONENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PROJECT BENEFITS.--

25         (a)  The Legislature intends to establish a full and

26  equal partnership between the state and federal governments

27  for the implementation of the comprehensive plan.

28         (b)  The comprehensive plan shall be used as a guide

29  and framework for a continuing planning process to:

30

31

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  1         1.  Reflect new scientific knowledge, the results of

  2  pilot projects, and the results of new and continuing

  3  feasibility studies with the Corps; and

  4         2.  Ensure that project components will be implemented

  5  to achieve the purposes provided in the Federal Water Resource

  6  Development Act of 1996 that include restoring, preserving,

  7  and protecting the South Florida ecosystem, providing for the

  8  protection of water quality in and the reduction of the loss

  9  of fresh water from the Everglades, and providing such

10  features as are necessary to meet the other water-related

11  needs of the region, including flood control, the enhancement

12  of water supplies, and other objectives served by the project.

13         (c)  Prior to executing a project cooperation agreement

14  with the Corps for the construction of a project component,

15  the district, in cooperation with the Corps, shall complete a

16  project implementation report to address the project

17  component's economic and environmental benefits, engineering

18  feasibility, and other factors provided in s. 373.1501

19  sufficient to allow the district to obtain approval under s.

20  373.026. Each project implementation report shall also

21  identify the increase in water supplies resulting from the

22  project component. The additional water supply shall be

23  allocated or reserved by the district under chapter 373.

24         (4)  EVERGLADES RESTORATION RESERVE TRUST FUND; FUNDS

25  AUTHORIZED FOR DEPOSIT.--The following funds may be deposited

26  into the Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund created by

27  s. 373.472 to finance implementation of the Comprehensive

28  Plan:

29         (a)  In fiscal year 2000-2001, funds described in s.

30  259.101(3);

31         (b)  Funds described in s. 373.470(5);

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  1         (c)  Federal funds appropriated by the United States

  2  Congress for implementation of the Comprehensive Plan;

  3         (d)  Any additional funds appropriated by the

  4  Legislature for the purpose of implementing the Comprehensive

  5  Plan; and

  6         (e)  Gifts designated for implementation of the

  7  Comprehensive Plan from individuals, corporations, or other

  8  entities.

  9         (5)  EVERGLADES RESTORATION RESERVE TRUST FUND

10  SUPPLEMENTED.--

11         (a)  For each year of the 9 consecutive years beginning

12  with fiscal year 2001-2002, $75 million of the funds described

13  in s. 201.15(12) shall be deposited into the Everglades

14  Restoration Reserve Trust Fund created by s. 373.472.

15         (b)  For each year of the 10 consecutive years

16  beginning with fiscal year 2000-2001, the department shall

17  deposit $25 million of the funds allocated to the district by

18  the department under s. 259.105(11)(a) into the Everglades

19  Restoration Reserve Trust Fund created by s. 373.472.

20         (6)  DISTRIBUTIONS FROM EVERGLADES RESTORATION RESERVE

21  TRUST FUND.--The department shall distribute funds in the

22  Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund to the district in

23  accordance with a legislative appropriation and s.

24  373.026(8)(b)-(c). Distributions of funds from the Everglades

25  Restoration Reserve Trust Fund shall be equally matched by

26  each local sponsor on a cumulative basis over the period of

27  Fiscal Year 2000-2001 through Fiscal Year 2009-2010 by

28  providing funding or credits toward project components.

29         (7)  CREDITS TOWARD LOCAL SPONSOR SHARE.--The dollar

30  value of in-kind work by the local sponsor in furtherance of

31  the Comprehensive Plan and existing interest in public lands

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  1  needed for a project component are credits toward the local

  2  sponsor's share of funds required for implementation of the

  3  Comprehensive Plan under this section.

  4         (8)  ANNUAL REPORT.--To provide enhanced oversight of

  5  and accountability for the financial commitments established

  6  under this act and the progress made in the implementation of

  7  the Comprehensive Plan, the following report must be prepared

  8  annually:

  9         (a)  The district, in cooperation with the department,

10  shall provide the following information as it relates to

11  implementation of the Comprehensive Plan:

12         1.  An identification of funds, by source and amount,

13  received by the state and by each local sponsor during the

14  fiscal year;

15         2.  An itemization of expenditures, by source and

16  amount, made by the state and by each local sponsor during the

17  fiscal year;

18         3.  A description of the purpose for which the funds

19  were expended;

20         4.  The unencumbered balance of funds remaining in

21  trust funds or other accounts designated for implementation of

22  the Comprehensive Plan; and

23         5.  A schedule of anticipated expenditures for the next

24  fiscal year.

25         (b)  The department shall prepare a detailed report on

26  all funds expended by the state and credited toward the

27  state's share of funding for implementation of the

28  Comprehensive Plan. The report shall include:

29         1.  A description of all expenditures, by source and

30  amount, from the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund,

31  the Land Acquisition Trust Fund, the Preservation 2000 Trust

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  1  Fund, the Florida Forever Trust Fund, the Everglades

  2  Restoration Reserve Trust Fund, and other named funds or

  3  accounts for the acquisition or construction of project

  4  components or other features or facilities that benefit the

  5  Comprehensive Plan;

  6         2.  A description of the purposes for which the funds

  7  were expended; and

  8         3.  The unencumbered fiscal-year-end balance that

  9  remains in each trust fund or account identified in

10  subparagraph 1.

11         (c)  The district, in cooperation with the department,

12  shall provide a detailed report on progress made in the

13  implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, including the status

14  of all project components initiated after the date this act

15  takes effect or the date of the last report prepared under

16  this subsection, whichever is later.

17

18  The information required in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) shall

19  be provided annually in a single report to the Governor, the

20  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

21  Representatives, and copies must be made available to the

22  public. The initial report is due by November 30, 2000, and on

23  November 30 annually thereafter.

24         Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 375.045, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         375.045  Florida Preservation 2000 Trust Fund.--

27         (2)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

28  distribute revenues from the Florida Preservation 2000 Trust

29  Fund only to programs of state agencies or local governments

30  as set out in s. 259.101(3). Excluding distributions to the

31  Everglades Restoration Reserve Trust Fund, such distributions

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  1  shall be spent by the recipient within 90 days after the date

  2  on which the Department of Environmental Protection initiates

  3  the transfer.

  4         Section 8.  The South Florida Water Management District

  5  shall issue, on or before April 30, 2002, the "Advance Notice

  6  of Construction" referenced in paragraph 31(c) of the General

  7  Warranty Deed dated March 26, 1999, recorded at ORB 11016,

  8  page 546, Records of Palm Beach County, Florida. Subsequent to

  9  the issuance of the Advance Notice of Construction, the South

10  Florida Water Management District shall issue each "Notice of

11  Construction Impact" and "Notice to Vacate" referenced in

12  paragraph 31(c) of the aforementioned General Warranty Deed at

13  the earliest possible dates permissible under the terms of

14  that instrument. The intent of this section is to require that

15  the South Florida Water Management District take action to

16  assure that the reservation provided for in the deed to the

17  Talisman Lower Ranch and associated tradeland parcels is

18  terminated no later than March 31, 2005, and that all lands

19  specifically subject to the March 31, 2005, Reservation

20  Termination provision are removed from agricultural production

21  and immediately available for the construction of water

22  storage, Everglades restoration, and related water management

23  projects on that date.

24         Section 9.  Except as otherwise provided in this act,

25  this act shall take effect June 30, 2000.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                            CS/SB 1694

  3

  4  The committee substitute revises definitions, including adding
    a definition of "project implementation report". It also does
  5  the following:

  6  -     revises provisions relating to legislative intent to
          clarify the need to protect water quality;
  7
    -     provides for other water-related needs;
  8
    -     requires the completion of a project implementation
  9        report to address a project component's economic and
          environmental benefits and engineering feasibility prior
10        to project approval, and;

11  -     revises provisions requiring the water management
          district to match the distributions.
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