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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to saltwater fisheries; amending s.

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370.06, F.S.; eliminating obsolete provisions relating to

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the issuance of a marine life fishing endorsement;

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providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section

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370.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     370.06  Licenses.--

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     (2)  SALTWATER PRODUCTS LICENSE.--

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     (j)1.  In addition to the saltwater products license, a

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marine life fishing endorsement is required for the harvest of

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marine life species as defined by rule of the Fish and Wildlife

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Conservation Commission. This endorsement may be issued only to a

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person who is at least 16 years of age or older or to a

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corporation holding a valid restricted species endorsement.

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     2.a. Effective July 1, 1998, and until July 1, 2002, a

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marine life endorsement may not be issued under this paragraph,

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except that those endorsements that are active during the 1997-

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1998 fiscal year may be renewed.

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     b. In 1998 persons or corporations holding a marine life

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endorsement that was active in the 1997-1998 fiscal year or an

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immediate family member of that person must request renewal of

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the marine life endorsement before December 31, 1998.

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     a.c. In subsequent years and until July 1, 2002, A marine

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life endorsement holder or member of his or her immediate family

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must request renewal of the marine life endorsement before

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September 30 of each year.

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     b.d. If a person or corporation holding an active marine

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life fishing endorsement or a member of that person's immediate

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family does not request renewal of the endorsement before the

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applicable dates specified in this paragraph, the commission

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shall deactivate that marine life fishing endorsement.

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     c.e. In the event of the death or disability of a person

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holding an active marine life fishing endorsement, the

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endorsement may be transferred by the person to a member of his

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or her immediate family or may be renewed by any person so

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designated by the executor of the person's estate.

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     d.f. Persons or corporations who hold saltwater product

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licenses with marine life fishing endorsements issued to their

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vessel registration numbers and who subsequently replace their

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existing vessels with new vessels may transfer the existing

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marine life fishing endorsement to the new boat registration

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numbers.

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     e.g. Persons or corporations who hold saltwater product

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licenses with marine life fishing endorsements issued to their

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name and who subsequently incorporate or unincorporate may

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transfer the existing marine life fishing endorsement to the new

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corporation or person.

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     2.3. The fee for a marine life fishery endorsement on a

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saltwater products license shall be $75.  These license fees

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shall be collected and deposited in the Marine Resources

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Conservation Trust Fund and used for the purchase and

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installation of vessel mooring buoys at coral reef sites and for

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research related to marine fisheries.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.