1 | The State Resources Council recommends the following: |
2 |
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3 | Council/Committee Substitute |
4 | Remove the entire bill and insert: |
5 | A bill to be entitled |
6 | An act relating to vessels; amending s. 206.606, F.S.; |
7 | authorizing the use of certain funds for local boating |
8 | related projects and activities; amending s. 327.59, F.S.; |
9 | authorizing marina owners, operators, employees, and |
10 | agents to take actions to secure vessels during severe |
11 | weather and to charge fees and be held harmless for such |
12 | service; holding marina operators, employees, and agents |
13 | liable for damage caused by intentional acts or negligence |
14 | while removing or securing vessels; authorizing contract |
15 | provisions and providing contract notice requirements |
16 | relating to removing or securing vessels; amending s. |
17 | 327.60, F.S.; providing for local regulation of anchoring |
18 | within mooring fields; amending s. 328.64, F.S.; requiring |
19 | the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to |
20 | provide forms for certain notification related to vessels; |
21 | requiring the department to provide by rule for the |
22 | surrender and replacement of certificates of registration |
23 | to reflect change of address; amending s. 328.72, F.S.; |
24 | requiring counties to use funds for specific boating |
25 | related purposes; requiring counties to provide reports |
26 | demonstrating specified expenditure of such funds; |
27 | providing penalties for failure to comply; amending s. |
28 | 376.11, F.S.; authorizing the distribution of revenues |
29 | from the Florida Coastal Protection Trust Fund to all |
30 | local governments for the removal of certain vessels; |
31 | amending s. 376.15, F.S.; revising provisions relating to |
32 | the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels; specifying |
33 | officers authorized to remove such vessels; providing that |
34 | certain costs are recoverable; requiring the Department of |
35 | Legal Affairs to represent the Fish and Wildlife |
36 | Conservation Commission in certain actions; expanding |
37 | eligibility for disbursement of grant funds for the |
38 | removal of certain vessels; amending s. 403.813, F.S.; |
39 | providing exemptions from permitting, registration, and |
40 | regulation of floating vessel platforms or floating boat |
41 | lifts by a local government; authorizing local governments |
42 | to require certain permits or registration for floating |
43 | vessel platforms or floating boat lifts under certain |
44 | circumstances; amending s. 705.101, F.S.; revising the |
45 | definition of "abandoned property" to include certain |
46 | vessels; amending s. 705.103, F.S.; revising the |
47 | terminology relating to abandoned or lost property to |
48 | conform; amending s. 823.11, F.S.; revising provisions |
49 | relating to abandoned and derelict vessels and the removal |
50 | of such vessels; providing a definition of "derelict |
51 | vessel"; specifying which officers may remove such |
52 | vessels; directing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
53 | Commission to implement a plan for the procurement of |
54 | federal disaster funds for the removal of derelict |
55 | vessels; requiring the Department of Legal Affairs to |
56 | represent the commission in certain actions; deleting a |
57 | provision authorizing the commission to delegate certain |
58 | authority to local governments under certain |
59 | circumstances; authorizing private property owners to |
60 | remove certain vessels with required notice; providing |
61 | that cost of such removal is recoverable; prohibiting |
62 | private property owners from hindering the removal of |
63 | certain vessels by vessel owners or agents; providing for |
64 | jurisdictional imposition of civil penalties for |
65 | violations relating to certain vessels; providing an |
66 | effective date. |
67 |
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68 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
69 |
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70 | Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
71 | 206.606, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
72 | 206.606 Distribution of certain proceeds.-- |
73 | (1) Moneys collected pursuant to ss. 206.41(1)(g) and |
74 | 206.87(1)(e) shall be deposited in the Fuel Tax Collection Trust |
75 | Fund. Such moneys, after deducting the service charges imposed |
76 | by s. 215.20, the refunds granted pursuant to s. 206.41, and the |
77 | administrative costs incurred by the department in collecting, |
78 | administering, enforcing, and distributing the tax, which |
79 | administrative costs may not exceed 2 percent of collections, |
80 | shall be distributed monthly to the State Transportation Trust |
81 | Fund, except that: |
82 | (b) $2.5 million shall be transferred to the State Game |
83 | Trust Fund in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in |
84 | each fiscal year and used for recreational boating activities, |
85 | and freshwater fisheries management and research. The transfers |
86 | must be made in equal monthly amounts beginning on July 1 of |
87 | each fiscal year. The commission shall annually determine where |
88 | unmet needs exist for boating-related activities, and may fund |
89 | such activities in counties where, due to the number of vessel |
90 | registrations, sufficient financial resources are unavailable. |
91 | 1. A minimum of $1.25 million shall be used to fund local |
92 | projects to provide recreational channel marking and other |
93 | uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and hoists, |
94 | marine railways, and other public launching facilities, derelict |
95 | vessel removal aquatic plant control, and other local boating |
96 | related activities. In funding the projects, the commission |
97 | shall give priority consideration as follows: |
98 | a. Unmet needs in counties with populations of 100,000 or |
99 | less. |
100 | b. Unmet needs in coastal counties with a high level of |
101 | boating related activities from individuals residing in other |
102 | counties. |
103 | 2. The remaining $1.25 million may be used for |
104 | recreational boating activities and freshwater fisheries |
105 | management and research. |
106 | 3. The commission is authorized to adopt rules pursuant to |
107 | ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement a Florida Boating |
108 | Improvement Program similar to the program administered by the |
109 | Department of Environmental Protection and established in rules |
110 | 62D-5.031 - 62D-5.036, Florida Administrative Code, to determine |
111 | projects eligible for funding under this subsection. |
112 |
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113 | On February 1 of each year, the commission shall file an annual |
114 | report with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the |
115 | House of Representatives outlining the status of its Florida |
116 | Boating Improvement Program, including the projects funded, and |
117 | a list of counties whose needs are unmet due to insufficient |
118 | financial resources from vessel registration fees. |
119 | Section 2. Section 327.59, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
120 | read: |
121 | 327.59 Marina evacuations.-- |
122 | (1) After June 1, 1994, marinas may not adopt, maintain, |
123 | or enforce policies pertaining to evacuation of vessels which |
124 | require vessels to be removed from marinas following the |
125 | issuance of a hurricane watch or warning, in order to ensure |
126 | that protecting the lives and safety of vessel owners is placed |
127 | before interests of protecting property. |
128 | (2) Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict |
129 | the ability of an owner of a vessel or the owner's authorized |
130 | representative to remove a vessel voluntarily from a marina at |
131 | any time or to restrict a marina owner from dictating the kind |
132 | of cleats, ropes, fenders, and other measures that must be used |
133 | on vessels as a condition of use of a marina. After a tropical |
134 | storm or hurricane watch has been issued, a marina owner or |
135 | operator, or an employee or agent of such owner or operator, may |
136 | take reasonable actions to further secure any vessel within the |
137 | marina to minimize damage to a vessel and to protect marina |
138 | property, private property, and the environment and may charge a |
139 | reasonable fee for such services. |
140 | (3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, |
141 | in order to minimize damage to a vessel and to protect marina |
142 | property, private property, and the environment, a marina owner |
143 | may provide by contract that in the event a vessel owner fails |
144 | to promptly remove a vessel from a marina after a tropical storm |
145 | or hurricane watch has been issued, the marina owner, operator, |
146 | employee, or agent may remove the vessel, if reasonable, from |
147 | its slip or take whatever reasonable actions are deemed |
148 | necessary to properly secure a vessel to minimize damage to a |
149 | vessel and to protect marina property, private property, and the |
150 | environment and may charge the vessel owner a reasonable fee for |
151 | any such services rendered. In order to add such a provision to |
152 | a contract, the marina owner must provide notice to the vessel |
153 | owner in any such contract in a font size of at least 10 points |
154 | and in substantially the following form: |
155 |
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156 | NOTICE TO VESSEL OWNER |
157 |
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158 | The undersigned hereby informs you that in the event you fail to |
159 | remove your vessel from the marina promptly (timeframe to be |
160 | determined between the marina owner or operator and the vessel |
161 | owner) after the issuance of a tropical storm or hurricane watch |
162 | for (insert geographic area), Florida, under Florida law, the |
163 | undersigned or his or her employees or agents are authorized to |
164 | remove your vessel, if reasonable, from its slip or take any and |
165 | all other reasonable actions deemed appropriate by the |
166 | undersigned or his or her employees or agents in order to better |
167 | secure your vessel and to protect marina property, private |
168 | property, and the environment. You are further notified that you |
169 | may be charged a reasonable fee for any such action. |
170 | (4) A marina owner, operator, employee, or agent shall not |
171 | be held liable for any damage incurred to a vessel from storms |
172 | or hurricanes and is held harmless as a result of such actions. |
173 | Nothing in this section may be construed to provide immunity to |
174 | a marina operator, employee, or agent for any damage caused by |
175 | intentional acts or negligence when removing or securing a |
176 | vessel as permitted under this section. |
177 | Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 327.60, Florida |
178 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
179 | 327.60 Local regulations; limitations.-- |
180 | (2) Nothing contained in the provisions of this section |
181 | shall be construed to prohibit local governmental authorities |
182 | from the enactment or enforcement of regulations which prohibit |
183 | or restrict the mooring or anchoring of floating structures or |
184 | live-aboard vessels within their jurisdictions or of any vessels |
185 | within the marked boundaries of mooring fields permitted as |
186 | provided in s. 327.40. However, local governmental authorities |
187 | are prohibited from regulating the anchoring outside of such |
188 | mooring fields anchorage of non-live-aboard vessels engaged in |
189 | the exercise of rights of navigation. |
190 | Section 4. Section 328.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
191 | read: |
192 | 328.64 Change of interest and address.-- |
193 | (1) The owner shall furnish the Department of Highway |
194 | Safety and Motor Vehicles notice of the transfer of all or any |
195 | part of his or her interest in a vessel registered or titled in |
196 | this state pursuant to this chapter or chapter 328 or of the |
197 | destruction or abandonment of such vessel, within 30 days |
198 | thereof, on a form prescribed by the department. Such transfer, |
199 | destruction, or abandonment shall terminate the certificate for |
200 | such vessel, except that in the case of a transfer of a part |
201 | interest which does not affect the owner's right to operate such |
202 | vessel, such transfer shall not terminate the certificate. The |
203 | department shall provide the form for such notice and shall |
204 | attach the form to every vessel title issued or reissued. |
205 | (2) Any holder of a certificate of registration shall |
206 | notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or |
207 | the county tax collector within 30 days, if his or her address |
208 | no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate |
209 | and shall, as a part of such notification, furnish the |
210 | department or such county tax collector with the new address. |
211 | The department shall may provide in its rules and regulations |
212 | for the surrender of the certificate bearing the former address |
213 | and its replacement with a certificate bearing the new address |
214 | or for the alteration of an outstanding certificate to show the |
215 | new address of the holder. |
216 | Section 5. Subsection (15) of section 328.72, Florida |
217 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
218 | 328.72 Classification; registration; fees and charges; |
219 | surcharge; disposition of fees; fines; marine turtle stickers.-- |
220 | (15) DISTRIBUTION OF FEES.--Except for the first $2, $1 of |
221 | which shall be remitted to the state for deposit into the Save |
222 | the Manatee Trust Fund created within the Fish and Wildlife |
223 | Conservation Commission and $1 of which shall be remitted to the |
224 | state for deposit into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust |
225 | Fund to fund a grant program for public launching facilities, |
226 | pursuant to s. 206.606 327.47, giving priority consideration to |
227 | counties with more than 35,000 registered vessels, moneys |
228 | designated for the use of the counties, as specified in |
229 | subsection (1), shall be distributed by the tax collector to the |
230 | board of county commissioners for use only as provided in this |
231 | section. Such moneys to be returned to the counties are for the |
232 | sole purposes of providing recreational channel marking and |
233 | other uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and |
234 | hoists, marine railways, and other public launching facilities, |
235 | derelict vessel removal, and other boating-related activities, |
236 | for removal of vessels and floating structures deemed a hazard |
237 | to public safety and health for failure to comply with s. |
238 | 327.53, and for manatee and marine mammal protection and |
239 | recovery. Counties shall that demonstrate through an annual |
240 | detailed accounting report of vessel registration revenues that |
241 | at least $1 of the registration fees were spent as provided in |
242 | this subsection on boating infrastructure shall only be required |
243 | to transfer the first $1 of the fees to the Save the Manatee |
244 | Trust Fund. This report shall be provided to the Fish and |
245 | Wildlife Conservation Commission no later than November 1 of |
246 | each year. If, prior to January 1 of each calendar year, the |
247 | annual detailed accounting report meeting the prescribed |
248 | criteria has still not been provided to the commission, the tax |
249 | collector of that county shall not distribute the moneys |
250 | designated for the use of counties, as specified in subsection |
251 | (1), to the board of county commissioners but shall, instead, |
252 | for the next calendar year, remit such moneys to the state for |
253 | deposit into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund. The |
254 | commission shall return those moneys to the county if the county |
255 | fully complies with this section within that calendar year. If |
256 | the county does not fully comply with this section within that |
257 | calendar year, the moneys shall remain within the Marine |
258 | Resources Trust Fund and may be appropriated for the purposes |
259 | specified in this subsection The commission shall provide an |
260 | exemption letter to the department by December 15 of each year |
261 | for qualifying counties. |
262 | Section 6. Paragraph (g) of subsection (4) of section |
263 | 376.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
264 | 376.11 Florida Coastal Protection Trust Fund.-- |
265 | (4) Moneys in the Florida Coastal Protection Trust Fund |
266 | shall be disbursed for the following purposes and no others: |
267 | (g) The funding of a grant program to coastal local |
268 | governments, pursuant to s. 376.15(2)(b) and (c), for the |
269 | removal of derelict vessels from the public waters of the state. |
270 | Section 7. Section 376.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
271 | read: |
272 | 376.15 Derelict vessels; removal from public waters.-- |
273 | (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to |
274 | store, leave, or abandon any derelict vessel as defined in s. |
275 | 823.11(1) in this state or leave any vessel in a wrecked, |
276 | junked, or substantially dismantled condition or abandoned upon |
277 | any public waters or at any port in this state without the |
278 | consent of the agency having jurisdiction thereof or docked at |
279 | any private property without the consent of the owner of the |
280 | private property. |
281 | (2)(a) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and |
282 | its officers and all law enforcement officers as specified in s. |
283 | 327.70 are is hereby designated as the agency of the state |
284 | authorized and empowered to remove any derelict vessel as |
285 | defined in s. 823.11(1) described in subsection (1) from public |
286 | waters. All costs incurred by the commission or other law |
287 | enforcement agency in the removal of any abandoned or derelict |
288 | vessel shall be recoverable against the owner of the vessel. The |
289 | Department of Legal Affairs shall represent the commission in |
290 | such actions. |
291 | (b) The commission may establish a program to provide |
292 | grants to coastal local governments for the removal of derelict |
293 | vessels from the public waters of the state. The program shall |
294 | be funded from the Florida Coastal Protection Trust Fund. |
295 | Notwithstanding the provisions in s. 216.181(11), funds |
296 | available for grants may only be authorized by appropriations |
297 | acts of the Legislature. |
298 | (c) The commission shall adopt by rule procedures for |
299 | submitting a grant application and criteria for allocating |
300 | available funds. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited |
301 | to, the following: |
302 | 1. The number of derelict vessels within the jurisdiction |
303 | of the applicant. |
304 | 2. The threat posed by such vessels to public health or |
305 | safety, the environment, navigation, or the aesthetic condition |
306 | of the general vicinity. |
307 | 3. The degree of commitment of the local government to |
308 | maintain waters free of abandoned and derelict vessels and to |
309 | seek legal action against those who abandon vessels in the |
310 | waters of the state. |
311 | (d) This section shall constitute the authority of the |
312 | commission for such removal, but is not intended to be in |
313 | contravention of any applicable federal act. |
314 | (e) The Department of Legal Affairs shall represent the |
315 | Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in such actions. |
316 | Section 8. Paragraph (s) of subsection (2) of section |
317 | 403.813, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
318 | 403.813 Permits issued at district centers; exceptions.-- |
319 | (2) A permit is not required under this chapter, chapter |
320 | 373, chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, or chapter 25214 or |
321 | chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of Florida, for activities associated |
322 | with the following types of projects; however, except as |
323 | otherwise provided in this subsection, nothing in this |
324 | subsection relieves an applicant from any requirement to obtain |
325 | permission to use or occupy lands owned by the Board of Trustees |
326 | of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or any water management |
327 | district in its governmental or proprietary capacity or from |
328 | complying with applicable local pollution control programs |
329 | authorized under this chapter or other requirements of county |
330 | and municipal governments: |
331 | (s) The construction, installation, operation, or |
332 | maintenance of floating vessel platforms or floating boat lifts, |
333 | provided that such structures: |
334 | 1. Float at all times in the water for the sole purpose of |
335 | supporting a vessel so that the vessel is out of the water when |
336 | not in use; |
337 | 2. Are wholly contained within a boat slip previously |
338 | permitted under ss. 403.91-403.929, 1984 Supplement to the |
339 | Florida Statutes 1983, as amended, or part IV of chapter 373, or |
340 | do not exceed a combined total of 500 square feet, or 200 square |
341 | feet in an Outstanding Florida Water, when associated with a |
342 | dock that is exempt under this subsection or associated with a |
343 | permitted dock with no defined boat slip or attached to a |
344 | bulkhead on a parcel of land where there is no other docking |
345 | structure, do not exceed a combined total of 500 square feet, or |
346 | 200 square feet in an Outstanding Florida Water; |
347 | 3. Are not used for any commercial purpose or for mooring |
348 | vessels that remain in the water when not in use, and do not |
349 | substantially impede the flow of water, create a navigational |
350 | hazard, or unreasonably infringe upon the riparian rights of |
351 | adjacent property owners, as defined in s. 253.141; |
352 | 4. Are constructed and used so as to minimize adverse |
353 | impacts to submerged lands, wetlands, shellfish areas, aquatic |
354 | plant and animal species, and other biological communities, |
355 | including locating such structures in areas where no seagrasses |
356 | are least dense exist if such areas are present adjacent to the |
357 | dock or bulkhead; and |
358 | 5. Are not constructed in areas specifically prohibited |
359 | for boat mooring under conditions of a permit issued in |
360 | accordance with ss. 403.91-403.929, 1984 Supplement to the |
361 | Florida Statutes 1983, as amended, or part IV of chapter 373, or |
362 | other form of authorization issued by a local government. |
363 |
|
364 | Structures that qualify for this exemption are relieved from any |
365 | requirement to obtain permission to use or occupy lands owned by |
366 | the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and |
367 | shall not be subject to any more stringent permitting |
368 | requirements, registration requirements, or other regulation by |
369 | any local government. Local governments may require either |
370 | permitting or one-time registration of floating vessel platforms |
371 | as necessary to ensure compliance with the exemption criteria in |
372 | this section; to ensure compliance with local ordinances, codes, |
373 | or regulations relating to building or zoning, which are no more |
374 | stringent than the exemption criteria in this section; and to |
375 | ensure proper installation and maintenance of a floating vessel |
376 | platform or floating boat lift that is proposed to be attached |
377 | to a bulkhead or parcel of land where there is no other docking |
378 | structure. The exemption provided in this paragraph shall be in |
379 | addition to the exemption provided in paragraph (b). By January |
380 | 1, 2003, The department shall adopt a general permit by rule for |
381 | the construction, installation, operation, or maintenance of |
382 | those floating vessel platforms or floating boat lifts that do |
383 | not qualify for the exemption provided in this paragraph but do |
384 | not cause significant adverse impacts to occur individually or |
385 | cumulatively. The issuance of such general permit shall also |
386 | constitute permission to use or occupy lands owned by the Board |
387 | of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. Upon the |
388 | adoption of the rule creating such general permit, No local |
389 | government shall impose a more stringent regulation, permitting |
390 | requirement, registration requirement, or other regulation |
391 | covered by such general permit. Local governments may require |
392 | either permitting or one-time registration of floating vessel |
393 | platforms as necessary to ensure compliance with the general |
394 | permit in this section; to ensure compliance with local |
395 | ordinances, codes, or regulations relating to building or zoning |
396 | that are no more stringent than the general permit in this |
397 | section; and to ensure proper installation and maintenance of a |
398 | floating vessel platform or floating boat lift that is proposed |
399 | to be attached to a bulkhead or parcel of land where there is no |
400 | other docking structure on floating vessel platforms or floating |
401 | boat lifts covered by such general permit. |
402 | Section 9. Subsection (3) of section 705.101, Florida |
403 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
404 | 705.101 Definitions.--As used in this chapter: |
405 | (3) "Abandoned property" means all tangible personal |
406 | property that does not have an identifiable owner and that has |
407 | been disposed on public property in a wrecked, inoperative, or |
408 | partially dismantled condition or has no apparent intrinsic |
409 | value to the rightful owner. The term includes derelict vessels |
410 | as defined in s. 823.11(1) Vessels determined to be derelict by |
411 | the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a county or |
412 | municipality in accordance with the provisions of s. 823.11 are |
413 | included within this definition. |
414 | Section 10. Subsection (4) of section 705.103, Florida |
415 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
416 | 705.103 Procedure for abandoned or lost property.-- |
417 | (4) The owner of any abandoned or lost property who, after |
418 | notice as provided in this section, does not remove such |
419 | property within the specified period shall be liable to the law |
420 | enforcement agency for all costs of removal, storage, and |
421 | destruction of such property, less any salvage value obtained by |
422 | disposal of the property. Upon final disposition of the |
423 | property, the law enforcement officer shall notify the owner, if |
424 | known, of the amount owed. In the case of an abandoned vessel |
425 | boat or motor vehicle, any person who neglects or refuses to pay |
426 | such amount is not entitled to be issued a certificate of |
427 | registration for such vessel boat or motor vehicle, or any other |
428 | vessel boat or motor vehicle, until such costs have been paid. |
429 | The law enforcement officer shall supply the Department of |
430 | Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles with a list of persons whose |
431 | vessel boat registration privileges or whose motor vehicle |
432 | privileges have been revoked under this subsection. Neither the |
433 | department nor any other person acting as agent thereof shall |
434 | issue a certificate of registration to a person whose vessel |
435 | boat or motor vehicle registration privileges have been revoked, |
436 | as provided by this subsection, until such costs have been paid. |
437 | Section 11. Section 823.11, Florida Statutes, is amended |
438 | to read: |
439 | 823.11 Abandoned and derelict vessels; removal; penalty.-- |
440 | (1) "Derelict vessel" means any vessel, as defined in s. |
441 | 327.02, that is left stored or abandoned: |
442 | (a) In a wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled |
443 | condition upon any public waters of this state. |
444 | (b) At any port in this state without the consent of the |
445 | agency having jurisdiction thereof. |
446 | (c) Docked or grounded at or beached upon the property of |
447 | another without the consent of the owner of the property. |
448 | (2) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to |
449 | store, leave, or abandon any derelict vessel as defined in this |
450 | section in this state or leave any vessel as defined by maritime |
451 | law in a wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled condition |
452 | or abandoned upon or in any public water or at any port in this |
453 | state without the consent of the agency having jurisdiction |
454 | thereof, or docked at any private property without the consent |
455 | of the owner of such property. |
456 | (3)(a)(2) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
457 | and its officers and all law enforcement officers as specified |
458 | in s. 327.70 are is designated as the agency of the state |
459 | authorized and empowered to remove or cause to be removed any |
460 | abandoned or derelict vessel from public waters in any instance |
461 | when the same obstructs or threatens to obstruct navigation or |
462 | in any way constitutes a danger to the environment. Removal of |
463 | vessels pursuant to this section may be funded by grants |
464 | provided in ss. 206.606 and 376.15. The Fish and Wildlife |
465 | Conservation Commission is directed to implement a plan for the |
466 | procurement of any available federal disaster funds and to use |
467 | such funds for the removal of derelict vessels. All costs |
468 | incurred by the commission or other law enforcement agency in |
469 | the removal of any abandoned or derelict vessel as set out above |
470 | shall be recoverable against the owner thereof. The Department |
471 | of Legal Affairs shall represent the commission in such actions. |
472 | As provided in s. 705.103(4), any person who neglects or refuses |
473 | to pay such amount is not entitled to be issued a certificate of |
474 | registration for such vessel or for any other vessel or motor |
475 | vehicle until the costs have been paid. |
476 | (b) When a derelict vessel is docked or grounded at or |
477 | beached upon private property without the consent of the owner |
478 | of the property, the owner of the property may remove the vessel |
479 | at the vessel owner's expense 60 days after compliance with the |
480 | notice requirements specified in s. 328.17(5). The private |
481 | property owner may not hinder reasonable efforts by the vessel |
482 | owner or agent to remove the vessel. Any notice given pursuant |
483 | to this paragraph shall be presumed delivered when it is |
484 | deposited with the United States Postal Service, certified, and |
485 | properly addressed with prepaid postage. Pursuant to an |
486 | agreement with the governing body of a county or municipality, |
487 | and upon a finding by the commission that the county or |
488 | municipality is competent to undertake said responsibilities, |
489 | the commission may delegate to the county or municipality its |
490 | authority to remove or cause to be removed an abandoned or |
491 | derelict vessel from public waters within the county or |
492 | municipality. |
493 | (4)(3) Any person, firm, or corporation violating this act |
494 | commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall |
495 | be punished as provided by law. Conviction under this section |
496 | shall not bar the assessment and collection of the civil penalty |
497 | provided in s. 376.16 for violation of s. 376.15. The court |
498 | having jurisdiction over the criminal offense, notwithstanding |
499 | any jurisdictional limitations on the amount in controversy, may |
500 | order the imposition of such civil penalty in addition to any |
501 | sentence imposed for the first criminal offense. |
502 | Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |