Senate Bill sb0666c1

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666

    By the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Productivity;
    and Senator Pruitt




    302-2285-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to environmental control;

  3         amending s. 403.4131, F.S.; replacing "Keep

  4         Florida Beautiful, Incorporated" with the Clean

  5         Florida Commission; providing membership and

  6         duties of the commission; providing rulemaking

  7         authority; providing for an executive director

  8         and other commission employees; providing for

  9         the commission to contract for the development

10         of a statewide anti-litter campaign; providing

11         for local governments and nonprofit

12         organizations to receive grants to be used for

13         community litter prevention programs; providing

14         priorities for the award of grants; requiring

15         an annual report to the Governor and to

16         legislative leaders; requiring the Department

17         of Transportation to erect anti-litter signs;

18         providing requirements for litter reduction

19         programs; placing the Wildflower Advisory

20         Council under the control of the Department of

21         Agriculture and Consumer Services; amending

22         duties of the council; amending s. 403.41315,

23         F.S.; amending cross-references, to conform;

24         amending s. 403.709, F.S.; transferring

25         proceeds to be used in litter prevention from

26         the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund to the

27         Clean Florida Commission; imposing a duty on

28         the commission; amending s. 320.08058, F.S.;

29         providing that the proceeds of fees paid for

30         Wildflower license plates must be distributed

31         to the Wildflower Trust Fund in the Department

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1         of Agriculture and Consumer Services; creating

 2         the Wildflower Advisory Council and providing

 3         for membership, powers, and duties; specifying

 4         uses of the proceeds; transferring the balance

 5         of such proceeds from "Keep Florida Beautiful,

 6         Incorporated" to the department; providing an

 7         effective date.

 8  

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

10  

11         Section 1.  Section 403.4131, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         403.4131  The Clean Florida Commission "Keep Florida

14  Beautiful, Incorporated"; placement of signs.--

15         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a

16  coordinated effort of interested businesses, environmental and

17  civic organizations, and state and local agencies of

18  government be developed to plan for and assist in implementing

19  solutions to the litter and solid waste problems in this state

20  and that the state provide funding as set forth in s.

21  403.709(4) to the Clean Florida Commission financial

22  assistance for the establishment of a nonprofit organization

23  with the name of "Keep Florida Beautiful, Incorporated," which

24  shall be registered, incorporated, and operated in compliance

25  with chapter 617. The Clean Florida Commission This nonprofit

26  organization shall coordinate the statewide campaign, provide

27  and operate as the grassroots arm of the state's portion of

28  the effort, and shall serve as an umbrella organization for

29  volunteer-based community programs. The Clean Florida

30  Commission organization shall be dedicated to helping Florida

31  and its local communities solve solid waste problems, to

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  developing and implementing a sustained litter prevention

 2  campaign, and to act as a working public-private partnership

 3  in helping to implement the state's Solid Waste Management

 4  Act. The commission may enter into such contracts and

 5  agreements with other agencies, organizations, associations,

 6  corporations, individuals, or federal agencies as it

 7  determines are necessary, expedient, or incidental to the

 8  performance of its duties or the execution of its powers under

 9  this chapter. The commission may accept gifts, grants,

10  bequests, loans, and endowments for purposes not inconsistent

11  with its responsibilities under this chapter. The Clean

12  Florida Commission shall have rulemaking authority. As part of

13  this effort, the Clean Florida Commission Keep Florida

14  Beautiful, Incorporated, in cooperation with the Environmental

15  Education Foundation, shall strive to educate citizens,

16  visitors, and businesses about the important relationship

17  between the state's environment and economy. The Clean Florida

18  Commission shall Keep Florida Beautiful, Incorporated, is

19  encouraged to explore and identify economic incentives to

20  improve environmental initiatives in the area of solid waste

21  management. The Clean Florida Commission shall coordinate with

22  the Department of Transportation to approve appropriate

23  segments of roadway for adoption and specific locations for

24  placement of adopt-a-highway signs. To assure the safety of

25  the volunteers and the motoring public, litter pick-up

26  activities must be conducted in accordance with safety

27  standards of the Department of Transportation and

28  adopt-a-highway litter pick-up processes.

29         (2)  There is created within the Department of

30  Community Affairs the Clean Florida Commission, which shall

31  coordinate a statewide public awareness and education campaign

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  involving state agencies, local governments, local

 2  organizations, and individuals. The Clean Florida Commission

 3  shall consist of the following members:

 4         (a)  The Secretary of Environmental Protection or the

 5  secretary's designee.

 6         (b)  The Secretary of Transportation or the secretary's

 7  designee.

 8         (c)  The Commissioner of Education or the

 9  commissioner's designee.

10         (d)  The Commissioner of Agriculture or the

11  commissioner's designee.

12         (e)  The Secretary of Community Affairs or the

13  secretary's designee, who shall serve as chairman.

14         (f)  Any additional members from interested state

15  agencies, local governments, and state and local organizations

16  who are appointed by unanimous consent of the members listed

17  in paragraphs (a)-(e).

18         (3)  The commission has the following powers and

19  duties:

20         (a)  To appoint an executive director, who may employ

21  such other administrative and clerical staff as are necessary

22  to carry out the purpose of litter prevention in this state as

23  set forth in this section. Such employment by the commission

24  may be pursuant to contract with a public entity or a private

25  entity.

26         (b)  To establish an "adopt-a-highway" program to allow

27  volunteers from local organizations to be identified with

28  specific highway cleanup and such organizations shall

29  coordinate such efforts with the Clean Florida Commission.

30         (c)  To contract for the development of a highly

31  visible anti-litter campaign that, at a minimum, includes:

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1         1.  Identifying groups that habitually litter.

 2         2.  Designing appropriate advertising to promote proper

 3  disposal of litter by groups that habitually litter.

 4         3.  Fostering public awareness of the litter problem in

 5  this state and the litter prevention program.

 6         4.  Developing educational programs and materials for

 7  promoting the proper disposal of litter; acting as the state

 8  clearinghouse for educational programs and materials

 9  developed, distributed, and promoted by state agencies; and

10  coordinating efforts and resources among agencies to ensure

11  minimal duplication of efforts and efficient use of state

12  funds.

13         5.  Using talent, equipment, or expertise donated by

14  the private sector for producing multimedia materials.

15         (d)  To make and execute contracts necessary to the

16  exercise of its powers, including interagency agreements.

17         (e)  To engage in the planning of a litter prevention

18  program.

19         (f)  To conduct, direct, encourage, coordinate, and

20  organize a continuous program of public education relating to

21  litter prevention.

22         (g)  To review, upon request, all plans and activities

23  pertinent to reducing litter and littering and to coordinate

24  these activities with the various levels of government, as

25  well as with other local organizations.

26         (h)  To coordinate with state and local organizations

27  to market programs promoting litter prevention and to

28  facilitate the exchange of such programs between local

29  organizations through annual conferences.

30  

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1         (i)  To make available to elementary and secondary

 2  schools and other public forums educational programs and

 3  materials for promoting the proper disposal of litter.

 4         (j)  To develop and implement statewide incentive

 5  programs designed to motivate individual residents of this

 6  state, local organizations, local governments, and other

 7  groups interested in participating in litter prevention

 8  program activities.

 9         (k)  To provide to local governments and nonprofit

10  organizations grants to be used for implementing and

11  maintaining certified Keep America Beautiful Florida Systems

12  litter prevention programs through education and broadbased

13  public involvement at the community level. Except as

14  specifically appropriated, such a grant may provide up to

15  one-half of the first-year costs of initiating and operating

16  such a program, or $25,000, whichever is less. Certified Keep

17  America Beautiful Florida Systems are eligible to apply for

18  the funding of local level litter prevention and educational

19  programs and projects, and must receive first priority in the

20  award of such grants.

21         (l)  To monitor the effectiveness of the statewide

22  litter prevention campaign annually and to prepare an annual

23  report of operations which includes the results of such

24  monitoring. The commission shall submit the annual report to

25  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of

26  the House of Representatives no later than February 1 of each

27  year, beginning in 2004.

28         (4)  The Department of Transportation shall place signs

29  discouraging litter at all off-ramps of the interstate highway

30  system in the state. The department shall place other highway

31  signs as necessary to discourage littering, in accordance with

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  the anti-litter program developed by the commission. The

 2  membership of the board of directors of this nonprofit

 3  organization may include representatives of the following

 4  organizations: the Florida League of Cities, the Florida

 5  Association of Counties, the Governor's Office, the Florida

 6  Chapter of the National Solid Waste Management Association,

 7  the Florida Recyclers Association, the Center for Marine

 8  Conservation, Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Associated

 9  Industries of Florida, the Florida Soft Drink Association, the

10  Florida Petroleum Council, the Retail Grocers Association of

11  Florida, the Florida Retail Federation, the Pulp and Paper

12  Association, the Florida Automobile Dealers Association, the

13  Beer Industries of Florida, the Florida Beer Wholesalers

14  Association, and the Distilled Spirits Wholesalers.

15         (2)  As a partner working with government, business,

16  civic, environmental, and other organizations, Keep Florida

17  Beautiful, Incorporated, shall strive to assist the state and

18  its local communities by contracting for the development of a

19  highly visible antilitter campaign that, at a minimum,

20  includes:

21         (a)  Coordinating with the Center for Marine

22  Conservation and the Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste

23  Management to identify components of the marine debris and

24  litter stream and groups that habitually litter.

25         (b)  Designing appropriate advertising to promote the

26  proper management of solid waste, with emphasis on educating

27  groups that habitually litter.

28         (c)  Fostering public awareness and striving to build

29  an environmental ethic in this state through the development

30  of educational programs that result in an understanding and in

31  action on the part of individuals and organizations about the

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  role they must play in preventing litter and protecting

 2  Florida's environment.

 3         (d)  Developing educational programs and materials that

 4  promote the proper management of solid waste, including the

 5  proper disposal of litter.

 6         (e)  Administering grants provided by the state.

 7  Grants authorized under this section shall be subject to

 8  normal department audit procedures and review.

 9         (3)  The Department of Transportation shall establish

10  an "adopt-a-highway" program to allow local organizations to

11  be identified with specific highway cleanup and highway

12  beautification projects authorized under s. 339.2405 and shall

13  coordinate such efforts with Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc.  The

14  department shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on

15  the progress achieved and the savings incurred by the

16  "adopt-a-highway" program.  The department shall also monitor

17  and report on compliance with provisions of the

18  adopt-a-highway program to ensure that organizations that

19  participate in the program comply with the goals identified by

20  the department.

21         (4)  The Department of Transportation shall place signs

22  discouraging litter at all off-ramps of the interstate highway

23  system in the state.  The department shall place other highway

24  signs as necessary to discourage littering through use of the

25  antilitter program developed by Keep Florida Beautiful,

26  Incorporated.

27         (5)  Each county is encouraged to initiate a litter

28  control and prevention program or to expand upon its existing

29  program.  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

30  establish a system of grants for municipalities and counties

31  to implement litter control and prevention programs.  In

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  addition to the activities described in subsection (1), such

 2  grants shall at a minimum be used for litter cleanup,

 3  grassroots educational programs involving litter removal and

 4  prevention, and the placement of litter and recycling

 5  receptacles. Counties are encouraged to form working public

 6  private partnerships as authorized under this section to

 7  implement litter control and prevention programs at the

 8  community level. The grants authorized pursuant to this

 9  section shall be incorporated as part of the recycling and

10  education grants. Counties that have a population under 75,000

11  are encouraged to develop a regional approach to administering

12  and coordinating their litter control and prevention programs.

13         (6)  The department may contract with Keep Florida

14  Beautiful, Incorporated, to help carry out the provisions of

15  this section.  All contracts authorized under this section are

16  subject to normal department audit procedures and review.

17         (6)(7)  In order to establish continuity for the

18  statewide program, those local governments and community

19  programs receiving grants for litter prevention and control

20  must use the official State of Florida litter control or

21  campaign symbol adopted by the Clean Florida Commission Keep

22  Florida Beautiful, Incorporated, for use on various

23  receptacles and program material.

24         (8)  The Legislature establishes a litter reduction

25  goal of 50 percent reduction from the period January 1, 1994,

26  to January 1, 1997.  The method of determination used to

27  measure the reduction in litter is the survey conducted by the

28  Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management.  The center

29  shall consider existing litter survey methodologies.

30         (7)(9)  The Department of Environmental Protection

31  shall contract with the Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  Management for an ongoing annual litter survey, the first of

 2  which is to be conducted by January 1, 1994. The center shall

 3  appoint a broad-based work group not to exceed seven members

 4  to assist in the development and implementation of the survey.

 5  Representatives from the university system, business,

 6  government, and the environmental community shall be

 7  considered by the center to serve on the work group. Final

 8  authority on implementing and conducting the survey rests with

 9  the center. The first survey is to be designed to serve as a

10  baseline by measuring the amount of current litter and marine

11  debris, and is to include a methodology for measuring the

12  reduction in the amount of litter and marine debris to

13  determine the progress toward the litter reduction goal

14  established in subsection (8). Annually thereafter, additional

15  surveys are to be conducted and must also include a

16  methodology for measuring the reduction in the amount of

17  litter and for determining progress toward the litter

18  reduction goal established in subsection (8).

19         (8)(10)(a)  There is created within the Department of

20  Agriculture and Consumer Services Keep Florida Beautiful,

21  Inc., the Wildflower Advisory Council, consisting of a maximum

22  of nine members to direct and oversee the expenditure of the

23  Wildflower Account. The Wildflower Advisory Council shall

24  include a representative from the University of Florida

25  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida

26  Department of Transportation, and the Florida Department of

27  Environmental Protection, the Florida League of Cities, and

28  the Florida Association of Counties. Other members of the

29  committee may include representatives from the Florida

30  Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., Think Beauty Foundation, the

31  Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1  Architects, Inc., and a representative of the Master

 2  Gardener's Program.

 3         (b)  The Wildflower Advisory Council shall be

 4  controlled and directed by the Department of Agriculture and

 5  Consumer Services and shall serve in an advisory capacity to

 6  the department with respect to the award of develop procedures

 7  of operation, research contracts, educational programs, and

 8  wildflower planting grants for Florida native wildflowers,

 9  plants, and grasses. The council shall also make

10  recommendations to the department concerning the final

11  determination of what constitutes acceptable species of

12  wildflowers and other plantings supported by these programs.

13         Section 2.  Paragraphs (a) and (j) of subsection (2) of

14  section 403.41315, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         403.41315  Comprehensive illegal dumping, litter, and

16  marine debris control and prevention.--

17         (2)  The comprehensive illegal dumping, litter, and

18  marine debris control and prevention program at a minimum must

19  include the following:

20         (a)  A statewide public awareness and educational

21  campaign, coordinated by the Clean Florida Commission Keep

22  Florida Beautiful, Incorporated, to educate individuals,

23  government, businesses, and other organizations concerning the

24  role they must assume in preventing and controlling litter.

25         (j)  Other educational programs that are implemented at

26  the grassroots level coordinated through the Clean Florida

27  Commission Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc., involving volunteers

28  and community programs that clean up and prevent litter,

29  including Youth Conservation Corps activities.

30         Section 3.  Subsection (4) of section 403.709, Florida

31  Statutes, is amended to read:

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1         403.709  Solid Waste Management Trust Fund; use of

 2  waste tire fees.--There is created the Solid Waste Management

 3  Trust Fund, to be administered by the department. From the

 4  annual revenues deposited in the trust fund, unless otherwise

 5  specified in the General Appropriations Act:

 6         (4)  Up to 4.5 percent shall be used for funding to the

 7  Clean Florida Commission Department of Transportation for the

 8  coordination, development, and establishment of a statewide

 9  public awareness litter prevention and education campaign

10  control programs coordinated by Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc.

11  The Clean Florida Commission shall establish a competitive and

12  innovative grant program pursuant to s. 403.4131.

13         Section 4.  Subsection (28) of section 320.08058,

14  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

15         320.08058  Specialty license plates.--

16         (28)  FLORIDA WILDFLOWER LICENSE PLATES.--

17         (a)  The department shall develop a Florida Wildflower

18  license plate as provided in this section. The word "Florida"

19  must appear at the top of the plate, and the words "State

20  Wildflower" and "coreopsis" must appear at the bottom of the

21  plate.

22         (b)  The annual use fees shall be distributed to the

23  Wildflower Trust Fund in the Department of Agriculture and

24  Consumer Services Account established by Keep Florida

25  Beautiful, Inc., created by s. 403.4131. The proceeds must be

26  used to establish native Florida wildflower research programs,

27  wildflower educational programs, and wildflower grant programs

28  to municipal, county, and community-based groups in this

29  state. A maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale

30  of such plates may be used for administrative costs.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                            CS for SB 666
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 1         Section 5.  (1)  All unexpended proceeds of fees paid

 2  for Wildflower license plates which are held by Keep Florida

 3  Beautiful, Inc., must be transferred to the Wildflower Trust

 4  Fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

 5  promptly after the effective date of this act.

 6         Section 6.  There is created within the Florida

 7  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the Florida

 8  Wildflower Advisory Council. The department shall enter into a

 9  memorandum or letter of agreement with the Wildflower Advisory

10  Council, which shall specify the approval of the department,

11  the powers and duties of the council, and rules with which the

12  council shall comply. The head of the department shall provide

13  from existing personnel staff support services to the council

14  as are necessary to enable the council to fulfill its duties

15  and responsibilities. The council shall consist of a maximum

16  of 15 members who shall direct the revenues and expenditures

17  of the Wildflower Trust Fund. The council members shall serve

18  without compensation but are entitled to per diem and travel

19  expenses pursuant to section 112.061, Florida Statutes. The

20  council shall include a representative from the University of

21  Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the

22  Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Department

23  of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of

24  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida League of

25  Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties. Other members

26  of the council may include representatives from the Florida

27  Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., Think Beauty Foundation,

28  Inc., the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape

29  Architects, Inc., the Florida Master Gardner Program, Keep

30  Florida Beautiful, Inc., the Florida Nurserymen and Growers

31  Association, Inc., the Association of Florida Native

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 1  Nurseries, Inc., and two members of the Florida Wildflower

 2  Foundation, Inc. The Commissioner of Agriculture, based on

 3  recommendations from the above listed organizations, shall

 4  appoint members to the council.

 5         (2)  The Florida Wildflower Advisory Council shall

 6  develop operational procedures, marketing initiatives,

 7  research contracts, educational programs, and wildflower

 8  planting grants for native wildflowers, plants, and grasses

 9  and shall submit their recommendations for approval to the

10  Commissioner of Agriculture. The council shall make the final

11  determination of what constitutes acceptable species of

12  wildflowers and other plantings to be supported by these

13  programs.

14         Section 7.  Wildflower Trust Fund.--

15         (1)  Funds in the Wildflower Trust Fund in the

16  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may be used by

17  the department only to:

18         (a)  Market the Wildflower license plate;

19         (b)  Establish native wildflower research programs;

20         (c)  Conduct wildflower educational programs; and

21         (d)  Provide wildflower grant programs to state,

22  municipal, county, and community-based groups in this state.

23         (2)  The department and the Wildflower Advisory Council

24  shall identify, develop, and collect sources of public and

25  private funding for native wildflower and grass development

26  projects. The department may accept, apply for, expend, and

27  use any gift, grant of money, or property for projects deemed

28  worthy by the Florida Wildflower Advisory Council and the

29  Commissioner of Agriculture.

30  

31  

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 1         (3)  The Wildflower Trust Fund is exempt from service

 2  charges and the appropriation required by section 215.20(1),

 3  (2), and (4), Florida Statutes.

 4         Section 8.  All unexpended proceeds of fees paid for

 5  Wildflower license plates which are held by Keep Florida

 6  Beautiful, Inc., must be transferred to the Department of

 7  Agriculture and Consumer Services promptly after the effective

 8  date of this act.

 9         Section 9.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.

10  

11          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
12                              SB 666

13                                 

14  Creates within the Department of Community Affairs the Clean
    Florida Commission to coordinate a statewide public awareness
15  and education campaign. The commission consists of the
    secretaries of the Departments of Environmental Protection,
16  Transportation, Education, and Community Affairs, as well as
    the Commissioner of Agriculture.
17  
    Permits the commission to employ an executive director.
18  
    Authorizes the commission to establish an adopt-a-highway
19  program.

20  Provides for the Wildflower Advisory Council within the
    Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The council
21  is controlled and directed by that department.

22  Provides that annual use fees from the wildflower license
    plates are distributed to the Wildflower Trust Fund in the
23  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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