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The Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation

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(Saunders) recommended the following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with directory and title amendments)

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     Between line(s) 372 and 373

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insert:  

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     Section 5. Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force.--

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(1) The Department of Environmental Protection is directed

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to establish the Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force (task

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force) that shall consist of nine members as follows:

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(a) One representative from the Department of

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Environmental Protection, to be appointed by the Secretary of

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Environmental Protection, who will serve as chair.

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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 a 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 official

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of a county or municipality, and one of whom shall be a

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representative of the environmental community.

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(g) One member appointed by the Commissioner of

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Agriculture who shall be a representative of the agricultural

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community.

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

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August 1, 2008 and shall serve without compensation.

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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 the remaining 31 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 all existing best

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management practices for the identified land uses and other

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water pollutant controls.

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(c) Identify all existing and reasonably expected funding

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sources available to implement best management practices and

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other water pollutant controls for the identified land uses and

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propose a priority list of projects for the funding.

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(d) Take public input and testimony regarding issues

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related to spring protection, and restoration.

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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 non-agricultural 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 findings and

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recommendations of the task force to the President of the Senate

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and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than

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January 31, 2009.

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

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agencies and local governments are requested, to render

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assistance to and cooperate with the task force.

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

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(renumber subsequent sections)

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     Delete line(s) 37

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and insert:

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date; directing the Department of Environmental Protection

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to establish the Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force;

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providing for task force membership and duties; requiring

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a report to the Legislature by a date certain; providing

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for assistance and support from state agencies and local

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governments; providing for expiration of the task force by

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a date certain; providing an effective date.

3/12/2008  11:46:00 AM     EP.EP.04890