HB 0445 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to specialty license plates; amending ss.
3	320.08056 and 320.08058, F.S.; creating the Save Our Seas
4	license plate; creating the Aquaculture license plate;
5	providing for the distribution of annual use fees received
6	from the sale of such plates; providing an effective date.
7
8	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10	Section 1. Paragraphs (ss) and (tt) are added to
11	subsection (4) of section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, to read:
12	320.08056 Specialty license plates.--
13	(4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be
14	collected for the appropriate specialty license plates:
15	(ss) Save Our Seas license plate, $25, except that for
16	commercial vehicle fleets of more than 10 vehicles, the annual
17	use fee shall be $10 per plate.
18	(tt) Aquaculture license plate, $25, except that for
19	commercial vehicle fleets of more than 10 vehicles, the annual
20	use fee shall be $10 per plate.
21	Section 2. Subsections (45) and (46) are added to section
22	320.08058, Florida Statutes, to read:
23	320.08058 Specialty license plates.--
24	(45) SAVE OUR SEAS LICENSE PLATES.--
25	(a) The department shall develop a Save Our Seas license
26	plate as provided in this section. Save Our Seas license plates
27	must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The
28	word "Florida" must appear at the top of the plate, and the
29	words "Save Our Seas" must appear at the bottom of the plate.
30	(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor
31	Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. After reimbursement for
32	documented costs expended for establishing the license plate,
33	the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., shall use the
34	remaining funds for marine science research and education
35	programs as follows:
36	1. Ten percent of the funds shall be distributed to the
37	Guy Harvey Research Foundation to conduct fisheries and shark
38	research in the state.
39	2. Up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for
40	administrative costs directly associated with the Harbor Branch
41	Oceanographic Institution's marine science and marine education
42	programs and administrative costs associated with the Save Our
43	Seas license plate.
44	3. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for
45	continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
46	4. The remaining funds shall be used to conduct scientific
47	research and education on marine plants and animals and coastal
48	oceanography in state marine waters; to collect and analyze
49	long-term data sets on the state's critical marine habitats; to
50	determine changes in populations and communities of marine
51	organisms and their impacts on the use of the state's marine
52	resources; to maintain reference collections of scientific
53	specimens and photographic archives of the state's marine plants
54	and animals; and to conduct scientific conferences of relevance
55	to the state's marine resources and their management,
56	utilization, and conservation.
57	(46) AQUACULTURE LICENSE PLATES.--
58	(a) The department shall develop an Aquaculture license
59	plate as provided in this section. Aquaculture license plates
60	must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The
61	word "Florida" must appear at the top of the plate, and the word
62	"Aquaculture" must appear at the bottom of the plate.
63	(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor
64	Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. After reimbursement for
65	documented costs expended for establishing the license plate,
66	the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., shall use the
67	remaining funds for aquaculture research and education programs
68	as follows:
69	1. Ten percent of the funds shall be distributed to the
70	Guy Harvey Research Foundation to conduct outreach and education
71	regarding aquaculture in the state.
72	2. Up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for
73	administrative costs directly associated with the Harbor Branch
74	Oceanographic Institution's aquaculture programs and
75	administrative costs associated with the Aquaculture license
76	plate.
77	3. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for
78	continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
79	4. The remaining funds shall be used to conduct scientific
80	research on environmentally responsible and sustainable methods
81	of farming freshwater and saltwater organisms such as fish,
82	shellfish, and crustaceans for food; biomedical species for
83	pharmaceutical and nutriceutical compounds; and marine
84	ornamentals for the aquarium trade. These funds shall also be
85	used to expand the institution's educational programs that
86	include secondary school field experiences, college degree
87	programs, and intensive courses in order to further the
88	objective of increasing aquaculture's contribution to the
89	state's economy.
90	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.