| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund; |
| 3 | providing legislative intent with respect to the need to |
| 4 | expeditiously implement the Comprehensive Everglades |
| 5 | Restoration Plan; amending s. 373.470, F.S.; removing |
| 6 | obsolete provisions; directing the deposit of funds into |
| 7 | the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund within the Department |
| 8 | of Environmental Protection; requiring that a portion of |
| 9 | those funds be used for land acquisition; providing an |
| 10 | appropriation; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. The Legislature finds that increases in land |
| 15 | prices and market competition for lands that are appropriate for |
| 16 | acquisition under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan |
| 17 | may increase overall costs or limit implementation of the |
| 18 | restoration of the Everglades. The Legislature intends that the |
| 19 | restoration of the Everglades under the comprehensive plan be |
| 20 | implemented expeditiously to avoid increasing land acquisition |
| 21 | costs and competition for available lands. As used in this |
| 22 | section, the term "Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan" or |
| 23 | "comprehensive plan" has the same meaning as "comprehensive |
| 24 | plan" in s. 373.470(2), Florida Statutes. |
| 25 | Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section |
| 26 | 373.470, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 27 | 373.470 Everglades restoration.-- |
| 28 | (5) SAVE OUR EVERGLADES TRUST FUND SUPPLEMENTED.-- |
| 29 | (a)1. For fiscal year 2000-2001, $50 million of state |
| 30 | funds shall be deposited into the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund |
| 31 | created by s. 373.472. |
| 32 | 2. For each year of the 5 9 consecutive years beginning |
| 33 | with the 2006-2007 fiscal year, $200 2001-2002, $75 million of |
| 34 | state funds shall be deposited into the Save Our Everglades |
| 35 | Trust Fund created by s. 373.472; however, $100 million of the |
| 36 | deposit must be used solely to acquire lands for the |
| 37 | comprehensive plan. |
| 38 | 2. For each year of the 5 consecutive years beginning with |
| 39 | the 2006-2007 fiscal year, $200 million is appropriated from the |
| 40 | General Revenue Fund to the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund for |
| 41 | the purpose of implementing this section. |
| 42 | 3. As an alternative to subparagraph 1. 2., proceeds of |
| 43 | bonds issued under s. 215.619 may be deposited into the Save Our |
| 44 | Everglades Trust Fund created under s. 373.472. To enhance |
| 45 | flexibility, funds to be deposited into the Save Our Everglades |
| 46 | Trust Fund may consist of any combination of state funds and |
| 47 | Everglades restoration bonds. |
| 48 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |