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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to springs protection; creating part IV of

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ch. 369, F.S., entitled "Springs Protection"; providing a

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short title; providing legislative findings and intent;

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providing definitions; establishing the Florida Springs

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Stewardship Task Force; providing for task force

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membership and duties; requiring a report to the Governor

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and Legislature; providing for assistance and cooperation

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from state agencies and local governments; providing for

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expiration of the task force; 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.  Part IV of chapter 369, Florida Statutes,

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consisting of sections 369.401, 369.402, 369.403, and 369.404, is

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created to read:

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Part IV

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SPRINGS PROTECTION

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     369.401 Short title.--This part may be cited as the

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"Florida Springs Stewardship Act."

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     369.402 Legislative findings and intent.--The Legislature

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finds that:

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     (1) Florida's springs are valuable resources that provide

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recreational and tourism opportunities and are a great financial

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benefit to local economies and that Florida's springs provide

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critical habitat for endangered or threatened species of plants

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and animals.

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     (2) The flow and water quality of Florida's springs are

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direct reflections of the aquifer systems in Florida and

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consequently are indicators of the condition of a significant

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portion of the state's water resources.

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     (3) Cooperative efforts can best develop the mechanisms to

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identify best management practices for the protection,

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restoration, and preservation of Florida's water resources,

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including springs.

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     (4) The citizens of Florida desire to be good stewards of

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the state's resources and that through educational awareness

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programs will voluntarily implement best management practices

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into their daily activities.

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     369.403 Definitions.--For purposes of this part, the term:

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     (1) "Seep" means a place where the water table aquifer

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intersects the land surface and flows onto the land.

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     (2) "Spring" means a point where groundwater is discharged

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onto the earth's surface, including under any surface water of

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the state, and excluding seeps.

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     (3) "Zone of influence" means the geographic area that

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contributes most directly to the water quantity and quality of a

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spring.

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     369.404 Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force.--

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     (1) The Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force is hereby

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created and shall consist of nine members as follows:

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     (a) One representative from the Department of Environmental

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Protection to be appointed by the Secretary of Environmental

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Protection.

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     (b) One representative from the Department of Agriculture

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and Consumer Services to be appointed by the Commissioner of

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Agriculture.

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     (c) One representative from the Department of Community

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Affairs to be appointed by the Secretary of Community Affairs.

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     (d) One representative from the water management district

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with the greatest number of first magnitude springs within its

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jurisdiction to be appointed by the executive director of that

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water management district.

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     (e) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate,

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one of whom shall be a representative of the development

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community and one of whom shall be a representative of a local

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chamber of commerce.

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     (f) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives, one of whom shall be a locally elected county or

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municipal official and one of whom shall be a representative of

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the environmental community.

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     (g) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture

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who shall be a representative of the agricultural community.

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     (2) Task force members shall be appointed no later than

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August 1, 2008. Members shall choose a chair and vice chair from

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the membership of the task force.

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     (3) The task force shall:

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     (a) Collect and inventory all existing data identifying

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zones of influence for each of Florida's 33 known first magnitude

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springs and identifying land uses in these areas.

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     (b) Identify and compile a list of existing best management

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practices for identified land uses and other water pollutant

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controls.

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     (c) Identify any and all existing and reasonably expected

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funding sources available to implement best management practices

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and other water pollutant controls that protect Florida's first

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magnitude springs and propose a priority list of projects for the

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funding.

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     (d) Take public input and testimony regarding issues

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related to spring protection, restoration, and preservation.

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     (e) Propose a program of increased emphasis on education

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and outreach that encourages the implementation of best

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management practices for agricultural and nonagricultural land

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uses and other water pollutant controls, including specific

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provisions for cost-share assistance with the implementation of

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best management practices as well as recognition of agricultural

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and nonagricultural landowners who participate in the best

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management practices program.

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     (4) The task force shall submit a report summarizing the

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data collected, public input and testimony, and the findings and

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proposals of the task force to the President of the Senate and

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the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than January

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31, 2009.

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     (5) All state agencies are directed, and all other agencies

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and local governments are requested, to render assistance to and

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cooperate with the task force.

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     (6) The task force shall expire on January 31, 2009.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.