Senate Bill sb1722

    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1722

    By Senator Posey





    24-1270-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to regulation of watercraft

  3         speed in manatee slow-speed zones; directing

  4         the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

  5         to conduct a study of the effectiveness of

  6         signs warning boaters of manatee slow-speed

  7         zones in the inland and ocean waters of this

  8         state; providing legislative intent regarding

  9         certain areas to be studied in the

10         effectiveness evaluation; directing the

11         commission to prepare a report and submit the

12         report to the Governor, the President of the

13         Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

14         Representatives; directing the commission to

15         make specific policy recommendations regarding

16         signs in manatee slow-speed zones; providing an

17         effective date.

18  

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

20  

21         Section 1.  Manatee slow-speed zones; signs warning

22  boaters; conduct of study.--

23         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the Fish

24  and Wildlife Conservation Commission conduct a study of the

25  effectiveness of signs warning boaters of manatee slow-speed

26  zones in the inland and ocean waters of this state.

27  Specifically, the commission shall undertake a quantitative

28  effectiveness evaluation to determine the impact of signs

29  posted in each manatee slow-speed zone. The evaluation must

30  take into consideration the manatee mortality rates in each

31  

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






    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1722
    24-1270-04




 1  zone before and after the signs indicating the slow-speed zone

 2  were posted. The evaluation shall determine if:

 3         (a)  Existing signs are effective in the manatee

 4  slow-speed zones. If the placement of signs in any one zone

 5  appears to be ineffective, the commission must state its

 6  reasons if it believes that the signs should not be removed.

 7         (b)  Removal of all signs from speed and buffer zones

 8  and placement of shore-based signs at boat launches and

 9  marinas would be more effective.

10         (c)  Unlighted, multiple-piling large signs should be

11  replaced by marker buoys.

12         (d)  Higher-speed travel corridors should be permitted

13  in all slow-speed zone areas that have a navigable channel.

14  Outside the high-speed corridor, the maximum allowable speed

15  would be 7 miles per hour.

16         (2)  The commission shall complete its evaluation of

17  the speed zones by January 1, 2005. The commission shall

18  submit a report of its findings to the Governor, the President

19  of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

20  by February 1, 2005. The report must detail the results of the

21  evaluation program and shall include specific recommendations

22  for developing state and local policies relating to the

23  appropriate placement of signs in manatee slow-speed zones.

24         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.

25  

26            *****************************************

27                          SENATE SUMMARY

28    Directs the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to
      study the effectiveness of signs warning boaters of
29    manatee slow-speed zones in the inland and ocean waters
      of this state. Directs the commission to submit a report
30    to the Governor and Legislature. Requires the commission
      to make specific policy recommendations regarding signs
31    in manatee slow-speed zones.

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