HB 1029

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to funding for dredging projects; creating
3s. 311.115, F.S.; requiring the Florida Seaport
4Transportation and Economic Development Council to
5establish a matching funds program for certain dredging
6projects; requiring the adoption of rules and criteria for
7project evaluation; requiring approved projects to be
8reviewed by the Department of Community Affairs, the
9Department of Transportation, and the Office of Tourism,
10Trade, and Economic Development; providing an effective
11date.
12
13Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15     Section 1.  Section 311.115, Florida Statutes, is created
16to read:
17     311.115  Dredging projects matching funds program.--
18     (1)  The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic
19Development Council shall establish a program to fund dredging
20projects in counties having a population of less than 300,000
21according to the last official census. Funds made available
22under this program shall be used to fund approved projects for
23dredging or deepening of channels, turning basins, or harbors.
24Funding shall be on a 50-50 matching basis with any port
25authority, as defined in s. 315.02(2), that complies with the
26water quality provisions of s. 403.061 and the local financial
27management and reporting provisions of part III of chapter 218.
28     (2)  The council shall adopt rules for evaluating projects
29submitted for funding pursuant to this section and establish
30criteria for evaluating the economic benefit of such projects.
31The rules shall also establish and require an administrative
32review process similar to the process contained in s. 311.09(5)-
33(9) for projects approved for funding pursuant to this section
34to be reviewed by the Department of Community Affairs, the
35Department of Transportation, and the Office of Tourism, Trade,
36and Economic Development.
37     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


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