| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the protection of manatees; amending s. |
| 3 | 370.12, F.S.; creating an exception from penalties for |
| 4 | activities that are otherwise prohibited if the activity |
| 5 | is reasonably necessary in order to prevent the loss of |
| 6 | life or property or render necessary assistance to persons |
| 7 | or property; providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 11 | Section 1. Paragraph (s) of subsection (2) of section |
| 12 | 370.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 13 | 370.12 Marine animals; regulation.-- |
| 14 | (2) PROTECTION OF MANATEES OR SEA COWS.-- |
| 15 | (s) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, any |
| 16 | person violating the provisions of this subsection or any rule |
| 17 | or ordinance adopted pursuant to this subsection shall be guilty |
| 18 | of a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in s. 370.021(1)(a) or |
| 19 | (b). |
| 20 | 1. Any person operating a vessel in excess of a posted |
| 21 | speed limit shall be guilty of a civil infraction, punishable as |
| 22 | provided in s. 327.73, except as provided in subparagraph 2. |
| 23 | 2. This paragraph does not apply to persons violating |
| 24 | restrictions governing "No Entry" zones or "Motorboat |
| 25 | Prohibited" zones, who, if convicted, shall be guilty of a |
| 26 | misdemeanor, punishable as provided in s. 370.021(1)(a) or (b), |
| 27 | or, if such violation demonstrates blatant or willful action, |
| 28 | may be found guilty of harassment as described in paragraph (d). |
| 29 |
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| 30 | A person may engage in any activity otherwise prohibited by this |
| 31 | subsection if the activity is reasonably necessary in order to |
| 32 | prevent the loss of life or property due to weather conditions |
| 33 | or other reasonably unforeseen circumstances, or in order to |
| 34 | render necessary assistance to persons or property. |
| 35 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |