Florida Senate - 2008 CS for SB 1286
By the Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation; and Senator Saunders
592-04966-08 20081286c1
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to a review of the Fish and Wildlife
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Conservation Commission under the Florida Government
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Accountability Act; reenacting s. 20.331, F.S., relating
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to the establishment of the commission; amending ss.
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and vessel registration numbers; clarifying the term "non-
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motor-powered vessel" for purposes of an exception from
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registration requirements; amending s. 328.72, F.S.,
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relating to vessel registration fees; increasing such fees
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for all vessels requiring registration; providing for
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future adjustment of the vessel registration fees based on
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the percentage change in the Consumer Pricing Index;
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requiring the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to
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report to the Legislature on how the increase in fees will
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be used; amending s. 372.57, F.S., relating to
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recreational hunting and fishing licenses; providing for
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future adjustment of the recreational hunting and fishing
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licenses based on the percentage change in the Consumer
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Pricing Index; requiring the Fish and Wildlife
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Conservation Commission to report to the Legislature on
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how the increase in license and permit fees will be used;
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requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
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Government Accountability to review and report on the Fish
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and Wildlife Conservation Commission's public relations,
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outreach, and education activities and staffing levels by
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a date certain; requiring the Fish and Wildlife
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Conservation Commission to review and report on specific
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activities within the agency by a date certain; repealing
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relating to the Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund, the
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Waterfowl Advisory Council, the Florida Panther Technical
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Advisory Council, and the regulation of certain land-based
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commercial and recreational fishing activities; providing
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an effective date.
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Government Accountability Act, subjects the Fish and Wildlife
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Conversation Commission and its respective advisory committees
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to a sunset review process in order to determine whether the
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agency should be retained, modified, or abolished, and
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WHEREAS, the Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission
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produced a report providing specific information, as enumerated
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in s. 11.906, Florida Statutes, and
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WHEREAS, upon receipt of the report, the Joint Legislative
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Sunset Committee and committees of the Senate and the House of
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Representatives assigned to act as sunset review committees
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reviewed the report and requested studies by the Office of
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Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, and
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WHEREAS, based on the commission's report, studies of the
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Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
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Accountability, and public input, the Joint Legislative Sunset
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Committee and legislative sunset review committees made
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recommendations on the abolition, continuation, or
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reorganization of the Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission
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and its advisory committees; on the need for the functions
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performed by the agency and its advisory committees; and on the
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consolidation, transfer, or reorganization of programs within
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the Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission, NOW, THEREFORE,
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 20.331, Florida Statutes, is reenacted.
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Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 328.48, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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328.48 Vessel registration, application, certificate,
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number, decal, duplicate certificate.--
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(2) All vessels used on the waters of the state must be
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registered, either commercial or recreational as defined in this
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chapter, except as follows:
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(a) A vessel used exclusively on private lakes and ponds.
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(b) A vessel owned by the United States Government.
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(c) A vessel used exclusively as a ship's lifeboat.
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(d) A non-motor-powered vessel less than 16 feet in length,
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and any non-motor-powered canoe, kayak, racing shell, or rowing
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scull, regardless of length.
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Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 328.56, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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328.56 Vessel registration number.--Each vessel that is
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used on the waters of the state must display a commercial or
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recreational Florida registration number, unless it is:
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(4) A non-motor-powered vessel less than 16 feet in length,
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and any non-motor-powered canoe, kayak, racing shell, or rowing
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scull, regardless of length.
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Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 328.72, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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328.72 Classification; registration; fees and charges;
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surcharge; disposition of fees; fines; marine turtle stickers.--
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(1) VESSEL REGISTRATION FEE.--
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(a) Vessels that are required to be registered shall be
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classified for registration purposes according to the following
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schedule, and the registration certificate fee shall be in the
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following amounts:
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Class A-1--Less than 12 feet in length, and all canoes to
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which propulsion motors have been attached, regardless of length:
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$5.50 $3.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class A-2--12 feet or more and less than 16 feet in length:
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$16.25 10.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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(To county): 2.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class 1--16 feet or more and less than 26 feet in length:
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$28.75 18.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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(To county): 8.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class 2--26 feet or more and less than 40 feet in length:
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$78.25 50.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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(To county): 32.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class 3--40 feet or more and less than 65 feet in length:
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$127.75 82.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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(To county): 56.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class 4--65 feet or more and less than 110 feet in length:
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$152.75 98.50 for each 12-month period registered.
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(To county): 68.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Class 5--110 feet or more in length: $189.75 122.50 for each
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12-month period registered.
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(To county): 86.85 for each 12-month period registered.
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Dealer registration certificate: $25.50 16.50 for each 12-
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month period registered.
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The county portion of the vessel registration fee is derived from
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recreational vessels only.
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(b) In 2013 and every 5 years thereafter, vessel
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registration fees shall be adjusted by the percentage change in
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the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers since the fees
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were last adjusted, unless otherwise provided by general law. By
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February 1 of each year in which an adjustment is scheduled to
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occur, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall submit
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a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives detailing how the increase in vessel
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registration fees will be used within the agency. The vessel
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registration fee increases shall take effect July 1 of each
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adjustment year.
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Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 372.57, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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372.57 Recreational licenses, permits, and authorization
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numbers; fees established.--
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(1) LICENSE, PERMIT, OR AUTHORIZATION NUMBER REQUIRED.--
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(a) Except as provided in s. 372.562, no person shall take
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game, freshwater or saltwater fish, or fur-bearing animals within
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this state without having first obtained a license, permit, or
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authorization number and paid the fees set forth in this chapter.
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Such license, permit, or authorization number shall authorize the
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person to whom it is issued to take game, freshwater or saltwater
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fish, or fur-bearing animals, and participate in outdoor
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recreational activities in accordance with the laws of the state
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and rules of the commission.
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(b) In 2013 and every 5 years thereafter, license and
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permit fees established in subsections (4) and (5) shall be
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adjusted by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for
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All Urban Consumers since the fees were last adjusted, unless
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otherwise provided by general law. By February 1 of each year in
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which an adjustment is scheduled to occur, the Fish and Wildlife
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Conservation Commission shall submit a report to the President of
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the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
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detailing how the increase in license and permit fees will be
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used within the agency. The license and permit fee increases
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shall take effect July 1 of each adjustment year.
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Section 6. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
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Government Accountability is directed to review and compare the
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Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's public relations and
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outreach staffing levels in its Executive Direction and
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Administrative Services division to an agency of similar makeup
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and size in order to determine whether any efficiencies can be
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achieved through restructuring or downsizing. The office shall
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provide its findings and recommendations in the form of a report
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to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives by January 1, 2009.
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Section 7. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
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Government Accountability is directed to review the outreach and
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education activities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Commission's Freshwater Fisheries and Marine Fisheries Management
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divisions in order to determine if there is any duplication of
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efforts with other state agencies or if efficiencies can be
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achieved through restructuring or combining programs. The office
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shall provide its findings and recommendations in the form of a
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report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by January 1, 2009.
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Section 8. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is
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directed to complete a 5-year "Air Station" conceptual plan,
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designed to improve agency aircraft operations and maintenance
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efficiency, and provide its finding and recommendations in a
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report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by January 1, 2009.
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Section 9. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is
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directed to review its current land management activities and
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provide recommendations for combining duplicative activities with
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other state agencies or for outsourcing activities in order to
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gain efficiencies or create cost-saving benefits. The commission
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shall provide its findings and recommendations in a report to the
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President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives by January 1, 2009.
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Section 10. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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is directed to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the activities
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of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), such as, but
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not limited to, its geographic information system (GIS) technical
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support, and provide recommendations on any efficiencies or cost-
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savings benefits that may be gained from outsourcing those
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activities. The commission shall provide its findings and
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recommendations in a report to the President of the Senate and
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the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2009.
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372.992, Florida Statutes, are repealed.
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Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.