1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to the protection of wild and aquatic |
3 | life; amending s. 253.03, F.S.; requiring the Board of |
4 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to provide |
5 | for the establishment of seagrass mitigation banks for |
6 | specified purposes; amending s. 253.04, F.S.; providing |
7 | that careless operation of a vessel outside a marked |
8 | channel that causes seagrass scarring within certain |
9 | aquatic preserves is a civil infraction; defining the |
10 | terms "seagrass scarring" and "seagrasses"; providing that |
11 | refusal to post bond or sign a boating citation is a |
12 | second degree misdemeanor; providing criminal penalties; |
13 | requiring that civil penalties collected for the careless |
14 | operation of a vessel causing seagrass scarring be |
15 | deposited into the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and |
16 | used for specified purposes; amending s. 253.034, F.S.; |
17 | creating a monitoring team for the purposes of reviewing |
18 | management plans of state-owned lands; providing review |
19 | procedures; amending s. 259.037, F.S.; requiring agencies |
20 | to report additional information to the Division of State |
21 | Lands; amending s. 327.73, F.S.; providing civil penalties |
22 | for seagrass scarring; amending s. 372.73, F.S.; providing |
23 | for the forfeiture of illegally taken wildlife, freshwater |
24 | fish, and saltwater fish to investigating law enforcement |
25 | agencies; authorizing investigating law enforcement |
26 | agencies to dispose of such wildlife, freshwater fish, and |
27 | saltwater fish in a specified manner; requiring certain |
28 | documentation; requiring the release of certain wildlife, |
29 | freshwater fish, and saltwater fish to native habitats; |
30 | providing for release of nonnative species by rule; |
31 | revising provisions for the deposit of certain proceeds |
32 | relating to the confiscation and disposition of illegally |
33 | taken wildlife, freshwater fish, and saltwater fish; |
34 | authorizing certain law enforcement agencies to receive |
35 | specified portions of forfeited property; creating s. |
36 | 372.731, F.S.; providing for photographs of illegally |
37 | taken wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish to be |
38 | admissible as evidence in the prosecution of certain |
39 | violations; specifying requirements and procedures for |
40 | such photographs; amending ss. 370.021, 370.061, 372.9901, |
41 | 372.9904, and 932.7055, F.S.; conforming cross-references; |
42 | repealing s. 327.803, F.S., relating to the Boating |
43 | Advisory Council; repealing s. 372.107, F.S., relating to |
44 | the Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund within the Fish and |
45 | Wildlife Conservation Commission; providing an effective |
46 | date. |
47 |
|
48 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
49 |
|
50 | Section 1. Subsection (18) is added to section 253.03, |
51 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
52 | 253.03 Board of trustees to administer state lands; lands |
53 | enumerated.-- |
54 | (18) The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement |
55 | Trust Fund shall ensure the preservation and regeneration of |
56 | seagrass, as defined in s. 253.04(4)(b)2., by providing for the |
57 | establishment of seagrass mitigation banks, pursuant to s. |
58 | 373.4136, to offset the unavoidable impacts of projects where |
59 | such banks meet the applicable public interest test of chapters |
60 | 253 and 258. This subsection shall not prohibit mitigation for |
61 | impacts to seagrass or other habitats on sovereignty submerged |
62 | lands for other types of projects, or for projects occurring on |
63 | nonsovereign submerged lands, upon applicable approval of the |
64 | board of trustees. |
65 | Section 2. Subsections (4) through (7) of section 253.04, |
66 | Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through (8), |
67 | respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that section |
68 | to read: |
69 | 253.04 Duty of board to protect, etc., state lands; state |
70 | may join in any action brought.-- |
71 | (4)(a) The duty to conserve and improve state-owned lands |
72 | and the products thereof shall include the preservation and |
73 | regeneration of seagrass, which is deemed essential to the |
74 | oceans, gulfs, estuaries, and shorelines of the state. |
75 | (b) Any person operating a vessel outside a lawfully |
76 | marked channel in a careless manner that causes seagrass |
77 | scarring within an aquatic preserve established in ss. 258.39- |
78 | 258.399 with the exception of the Lake Jackson, Wekiva River, |
79 | and Rainbow River aquatic preserves, commits a civil infraction, |
80 | punishable as provided in s. 327.73. Each violation is a |
81 | separate offense. As used in this subsection, the term: |
82 | 1. "Seagrass scarring" means the destruction of roots, |
83 | shoots, or stems of seagrass plants that results in tracks on |
84 | the substrate caused by the operation of a motorized vessel in |
85 | waters supporting seagrasses, commonly known as prop-scars or |
86 | propeller scars. |
87 | 2. "Seagrasses" means Cuban shoal grass (Halodule |
88 | wrightii), turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), manatee grass |
89 | (Syringodium filiforme), star grass (Halophila engelmannii), |
90 | paddle grass (Halophila decipiens), Johnson's seagrass |
91 | (Halophila johnsonii), or widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima). |
92 | (c) Any violation of this subsection is a violation of the |
93 | boating laws of this state and shall be charged on a uniform |
94 | boating citation as provided in s. 327.74. Any person who |
95 | refuses to post a bond or accept and sign a uniform boating |
96 | citation commits a misdemeanor of the second degree as provided |
97 | in s. 327.73(3), punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
98 | 775.083. |
99 | (d) All civil penalties imposed and collected pursuant to |
100 | this subsection shall be deposited into the Internal Improvement |
101 | Trust Fund and used solely to implement, administer, and enforce |
102 | this subsection; provide for seagrass restoration; conduct a |
103 | program to educate vessel operators about the need to protect |
104 | seagrasses from damage caused by the operation of vessels; and |
105 | fund the marking of seagrass. |
106 | Section 3. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (5) of |
107 | section 259.034, Florida Statutes, to read: |
108 | 253.034 State-owned lands; uses.-- |
109 | (5) Each manager of conservation lands shall submit to the |
110 | Division of State Lands a land management plan at least every 10 |
111 | years in a form and manner prescribed by rule by the board and |
112 | in accordance with the provisions of s. 259.032. Each manager of |
113 | conservation lands shall also update a land management plan |
114 | whenever the manager proposes to add new facilities or make |
115 | substantive land use or management changes that were not |
116 | addressed in the approved plan, or within 1 year of the addition |
117 | of significant new lands. Each manager of nonconservation lands |
118 | shall submit to the Division of State Lands a land use plan at |
119 | least every 10 years in a form and manner prescribed by rule by |
120 | the board. The division shall review each plan for compliance |
121 | with the requirements of this subsection and the requirements of |
122 | the rules established by the board pursuant to this section. All |
123 | land use plans, whether for single-use or multiple-use |
124 | properties, shall include an analysis of the property to |
125 | determine if any significant natural or cultural resources are |
126 | located on the property. Such resources include archaeological |
127 | and historic sites, state and federally listed plant and animal |
128 | species, and imperiled natural communities and unique natural |
129 | features. If such resources occur on the property, the manager |
130 | shall consult with the Division of State Lands and other |
131 | appropriate agencies to develop management strategies to protect |
132 | such resources. Land use plans shall also provide for the |
133 | control of invasive nonnative plants and conservation of soil |
134 | and water resources, including a description of how the manager |
135 | plans to control and prevent soil erosion and soil or water |
136 | contamination. Land use plans submitted by a manager shall |
137 | include reference to appropriate statutory authority for such |
138 | use or uses and shall conform to the appropriate policies and |
139 | guidelines of the state land management plan. Plans for managed |
140 | areas larger than 1,000 acres shall contain an analysis of the |
141 | multiple-use potential of the property, which analysis shall |
142 | include the potential of the property to generate revenues to |
143 | enhance the management of the property. Additionally, the plan |
144 | shall contain an analysis of the potential use of private land |
145 | managers to facilitate the restoration or management of these |
146 | lands. In those cases where a newly acquired property has a |
147 | valid conservation plan that was developed by a soil and |
148 | conservation district, such plan shall be used to guide |
149 | management of the property until a formal land use plan is |
150 | completed. |
151 | (c) Beginning July 1, 2010, and every 3 years thereafter, |
152 | state-owned lands with an approved land management plan shall be |
153 | monitored for land management activities by a monitoring team. |
154 | The Division of State Lands shall coordinate the activities of |
155 | the monitoring team, which shall consist of three members. One |
156 | member shall be selected by the Executive Director of the Fish |
157 | and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a designee, and shall |
158 | have experience with applied habitat management. One member |
159 | shall be selected by the Secretary of the Department of |
160 | Environmental Protection or a designee, and shall have |
161 | experience with public recreation or use administration. One |
162 | member shall be selected by the Commissioner of Agriculture or a |
163 | designee, and shall have experience with applied land |
164 | management. The Division of State Lands shall provide the |
165 | monitoring team with the operational report prepared pursuant to |
166 | s. 259.037(6). The monitoring team shall prepare a monitoring |
167 | report that assesses the progress towards achieving short-term |
168 | and long-term land management goals, as identified in the |
169 | operational report, and shall propose corrective actions for |
170 | identified deficiencies in management activities. The monitoring |
171 | report shall be submitted to the Acquisition and Restoration |
172 | Council and the managing agency. The Acquisition and Restoration |
173 | Council shall review the monitoring report and determine whether |
174 | the deficiencies warrant a corrective action plan or revisions |
175 | to the management plan. Significant and recurring deficiencies |
176 | shall be brought to the Board of Trustees, which shall determine |
177 | whether the corrective actions being proposed by the land |
178 | manager and the Acquisition and Restoration Council sufficiently |
179 | address the deficiencies. Corrective actions plans shall be |
180 | prepared and submitted in the same manner as land management |
181 | plans. |
182 | Section 4. Subsection (6) is added to section 259.037, |
183 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
184 | 259.037 Land Management Uniform Accounting Council.-- |
185 | (6) Beginning July 1, 2010, and every 3 years thereafter, |
186 | each reporting agency shall also submit an operational report |
187 | for each management area along with an approved management plan. |
188 | The report should assess the progress toward achieving short- |
189 | term and long-term management goals of the approved management |
190 | plan, including all land management activities, and identify any |
191 | deficiencies in management and corrective actions to address |
192 | identified deficiencies as appropriate. This report shall be |
193 | submitted to the Division of State Lands for inclusion in its |
194 | annual report required pursuant to s. 259.036. |
195 | Section 5. Paragraph (x) is added to subsection (1) of |
196 | section 327.73, Florida Statutes, and subsection (8) of that |
197 | section is amended, to read: |
198 | 327.73 Noncriminal infractions.-- |
199 | (1) Violations of the following provisions of the vessel |
200 | laws of this state are noncriminal infractions: |
201 | (x) Section 253.04(4)(a), relating to carelessly causing |
202 | seagrass scarring, for which the civil penalty is: |
203 | 1. Fifty dollars upon conviction for a first offense. |
204 | 2. Two hundred and fifty dollars upon conviction for a |
205 | second offense occurring within 12 months after a prior |
206 | conviction. |
207 | 3. Five hundred dollars upon conviction for a third |
208 | offense occurring within 36 months after a prior conviction. |
209 | 4. One thousand dollars upon conviction for a fourth or |
210 | subsequent offense. |
211 | |
212 | Any person cited for a violation of any such provision shall be |
213 | deemed to be charged with a noncriminal infraction, shall be |
214 | cited for such an infraction, and shall be cited to appear |
215 | before the county court. The civil penalty for any such |
216 | infraction is $50, except as otherwise provided in this section. |
217 | Any person who fails to appear or otherwise properly respond to |
218 | a uniform boating citation shall, in addition to the charge |
219 | relating to the violation of the boating laws of this state, be |
220 | charged with the offense of failing to respond to such citation |
221 | and, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second |
222 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A |
223 | written warning to this effect shall be provided at the time |
224 | such uniform boating citation is issued. |
225 | (8) Except as otherwise provided by s. 253.04(4)(c), all |
226 | fees and civil penalties assessed and collected pursuant to this |
227 | section shall be remitted by the clerk of the court to the |
228 | Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources |
229 | Conservation Trust Fund for boating safety education purposes. |
230 | Section 6. Section 372.73, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
231 | read: |
232 | 372.73 Confiscation and disposition of illegally taken |
233 | wildlife, freshwater fish, and saltwater fish game.-- |
234 | (1)(a) All wildlife, game and freshwater fish, and |
235 | saltwater fish seized under the authority of this chapter, any |
236 | other chapter, or rules of the commission shall, upon conviction |
237 | of the offender or sooner in accordance with a court order if |
238 | the court so orders, be forfeited to the investigating law |
239 | enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency may elect to |
240 | retain the wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish for the |
241 | agency's official use; transfer the wildlife, freshwater fish, |
242 | or saltwater fish to another unit of state or local government |
243 | for official use; donate the wildlife, freshwater fish, or |
244 | saltwater fish to a charitable organization; sell the wildlife, |
245 | freshwater fish, or saltwater fish at a public sale, pursuant to |
246 | the provisions of s. 705.103; or destroy the wildlife, |
247 | freshwater fish, or saltwater fish if none of the other options |
248 | are practicable or if the wildlife, freshwater fish, or |
249 | saltwater fish is unwholesome or otherwise not of appreciable |
250 | value. |
251 | (b) All live wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish, |
252 | the possession of which is unlawful, shall be properly |
253 | documented as evidence under s. 372.731 and returned to the |
254 | habitat unharmed, except that nonnative species may be released |
255 | only as allowed by rules of the commission. Any unclaimed |
256 | wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish shall be retained |
257 | by the investigating law enforcement agency and disposed of in |
258 | accordance with the provisions of this subsection and given to |
259 | some hospital or charitable institution and receipt therefor |
260 | sent to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. |
261 | (2) All furs or hides or fur-bearing animals seized under |
262 | the authority of this chapter shall, upon conviction of the |
263 | offender, be forfeited and sent to the commission, which shall |
264 | sell such hides and furs the same and deposit the proceeds of |
265 | such sale to the credit of the State Game Trust Fund or into the |
266 | commission's Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund as provided in |
267 | s. 372.107, as applicable. If any such hides or furs are seized |
268 | and the offender is unknown, the court shall order such hides or |
269 | furs sent to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission, |
270 | which shall sell such hides and furs. |
271 | (3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), and |
272 | deposit the proceeds of any such sale pursuant to this section |
273 | shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit to |
274 | the credit of the State Game Trust Fund or the Marine Resources |
275 | Conservation Trust Fund into the commission's Federal Law |
276 | Enforcement Trust Fund as provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. |
277 | (4) Any state, municipal, or county law enforcement agency |
278 | that enforces or assists the commission in enforcing the |
279 | provisions of this chapter, which enforcement or assistance |
280 | results in a forfeiture of property as provided in this section, |
281 | shall be entitled to receive all or a share of any property |
282 | based upon the agency's participation in such enforcement. |
283 | Section 7. Section 372.731, Florida Statutes, is created |
284 | to read: |
285 | 372.731 Photographs of illegally taken wildlife, |
286 | freshwater fish, and saltwater fish.--In any prosecution for a |
287 | violation of this chapter, chapter 370, or rules of the |
288 | commission, a photograph of the illegally taken wildlife, |
289 | freshwater fish, or saltwater fish may be deemed competent |
290 | evidence of such property and may be admissible in the |
291 | prosecution to the same extent as if such wildlife, freshwater |
292 | fish, or saltwater fish were introduced as evidence. Such |
293 | photograph shall bear a written description of the wildlife, |
294 | freshwater fish, or saltwater fish alleged to have been |
295 | illegally taken, the name of the violator, the location where |
296 | the alleged wrongful taking occurred, the name of the |
297 | investigating law enforcement officer, the date the photograph |
298 | was taken, and the name of the photographer. Such writing shall |
299 | be made under oath by the investigating law enforcement officer, |
300 | and the photograph shall be identified by the signature of the |
301 | photographer. |
302 | Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 370.021, Florida |
303 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
304 | 370.021 Administration; rules, publications, records; |
305 | penalties; injunctions.-- |
306 | (2) MAJOR VIOLATIONS.--In addition to the penalties |
307 | provided in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), the court shall assess |
308 | additional penalties against any commercial harvester convicted |
309 | of major violations as follows: |
310 | (a) For a violation involving more than 100 illegal blue |
311 | crabs, spiny lobster, or stone crabs, an additional penalty of |
312 | $10 for each illegal blue crab, spiny lobster, stone crab, or |
313 | part thereof. |
314 | (b) For a violation involving the taking or harvesting of |
315 | shrimp from a nursery or other prohibited area, or any two |
316 | violations within a 12-month period involving shrimping gear, |
317 | minimum size (count), or season, an additional penalty of $10 |
318 | for each pound of illegal shrimp or part thereof. |
319 | (c) For a violation involving the taking or harvesting of |
320 | oysters from nonapproved areas or the taking or possession of |
321 | unculled oysters, an additional penalty of $10 for each bushel |
322 | of illegal oysters. |
323 | (d) For a violation involving the taking or harvesting of |
324 | clams from nonapproved areas, an additional penalty of $100 for |
325 | each 500 count bag of illegal clams. |
326 | (e) For a violation involving the taking, harvesting, or |
327 | possession of any of the following species, which are |
328 | endangered, threatened, or of special concern: |
329 | 1. Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum); |
330 | 2. Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus); |
331 | 3. Common snook (Centropomus undecimalis); |
332 | 4. Atlantic loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta caretta); |
333 | 5. Atlantic green turtle (Chelonia mydas mydas); |
334 | 6. Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea); |
335 | 7. Atlantic hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata |
336 | imbracata); |
337 | 8. Atlantic ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempi); or |
338 | 9. West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), |
339 |
|
340 | an additional penalty of $100 for each unit of marine life or |
341 | part thereof. |
342 | (f) For a second or subsequent conviction within 24 months |
343 | for any violation of the same law or rule involving the taking |
344 | or harvesting of more than 100 pounds of any finfish, an |
345 | additional penalty of $5 for each pound of illegal finfish. |
346 | (g) For any violation involving the taking, harvesting, or |
347 | possession of more than 1,000 pounds of any illegal finfish, an |
348 | additional penalty equivalent to the wholesale value of the |
349 | illegal finfish. |
350 | (h) Permits issued to any commercial harvester by the |
351 | commission to take or harvest saltwater products, or any license |
352 | issued pursuant to s. 370.06 or s. 370.07 may be suspended or |
353 | revoked by the commission, pursuant to the provisions and |
354 | procedures of s. 120.60, for any major violation prescribed in |
355 | this subsection: |
356 | 1. Upon a first conviction, for up to 30 calendar days. |
357 | 2. Upon a second conviction which occurs within 12 months |
358 | after a prior violation, for up to 90 calendar days. |
359 | 3. Upon a third conviction which occurs within 24 months |
360 | after a prior conviction, for up to 180 calendar days. |
361 | 4. Upon a fourth conviction which occurs within 36 months |
362 | after a prior conviction, for a period of 6 months to 3 years. |
363 | (i) Upon the arrest and conviction for a major violation |
364 | involving stone crabs, the licenseholder must show just cause |
365 | why his or her license should not be suspended or revoked. For |
366 | the purposes of this paragraph, a "major violation" means a |
367 | major violation as prescribed for illegal stone crabs; any |
368 | single violation involving possession of more than 25 stone |
369 | crabs during the closed season or possession of 25 or more |
370 | whole-bodied or egg-bearing stone crabs; any violation for trap |
371 | molestation, trap robbing, or pulling traps at night; or any |
372 | combination of violations in any 3-consecutive-year period |
373 | wherein more than 75 illegal stone crabs in the aggregate are |
374 | involved. |
375 | (j) Upon the arrest and conviction for a major violation |
376 | involving spiny lobster, the licenseholder must show just cause |
377 | why his or her license should not be suspended or revoked. For |
378 | the purposes of this paragraph, a "major violation" means a |
379 | major violation as prescribed for illegal spiny lobster; any |
380 | single violation involving possession of more than 25 spiny |
381 | lobster during the closed season or possession of more than 25 |
382 | wrung spiny lobster tails or more than 25 egg-bearing or |
383 | stripped spiny lobster; any violation for trap molestation, trap |
384 | robbing, or pulling traps at night; or any combination of |
385 | violations in any 3-consecutive-year period wherein more than 75 |
386 | illegal spiny lobster in the aggregate are involved. |
387 | (k) Upon the arrest and conviction for a major violation |
388 | involving blue crabs, the licenseholder shall show just cause |
389 | why his or her saltwater products license should not be |
390 | suspended or revoked. This paragraph shall not apply to an |
391 | individual fishing with no more than five traps. For the |
392 | purposes of this paragraph, a "major violation" means a major |
393 | violation as prescribed for illegal blue crabs, any single |
394 | violation wherein 50 or more illegal blue crabs are involved; |
395 | any violation for trap molestation, trap robbing, or pulling |
396 | traps at night; or any combination of violations in any 3- |
397 | consecutive-year period wherein more than 100 illegal blue crabs |
398 | in the aggregate are involved. |
399 | (l) Upon the conviction for a major violation involving |
400 | finfish, the licenseholder must show just cause why his or her |
401 | saltwater products license should not be suspended or revoked. |
402 | For the purposes of this paragraph, a major violation is |
403 | prescribed for the taking and harvesting of illegal finfish, any |
404 | single violation involving the possession of more than 100 |
405 | pounds of illegal finfish, or any combination of violations in |
406 | any 3-consecutive-year period wherein more than 200 pounds of |
407 | illegal finfish in the aggregate are involved. |
408 | (m) For a violation involving the taking or harvesting of |
409 | any marine life species, as those species are defined by rule of |
410 | the commission, the harvest of which is prohibited, or the |
411 | taking or harvesting of such a species out of season, or with an |
412 | illegal gear or chemical, or any violation involving the |
413 | possession of 25 or more individual specimens of marine life |
414 | species, or any combination of violations in any 3-year period |
415 | involving more than 70 such specimens in the aggregate, the |
416 | suspension or revocation of the licenseholder's marine life |
417 | endorsement as provided in paragraph (h). |
418 |
|
419 | The penalty provisions of this subsection apply to commercial |
420 | harvesters and wholesale and retail dealers as defined in s. |
421 | 370.07. Any other person who commits a major violation under |
422 | this subsection commits a Level Three violation under s. 372.83. |
423 | Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 948.01, no court may |
424 | suspend, defer, or withhold adjudication of guilt or imposition |
425 | of sentence for any major violation prescribed in this |
426 | subsection. The proceeds from the penalties assessed pursuant to |
427 | this subsection shall be deposited into the Marine Resources |
428 | Conservation Trust Fund to be used for marine fisheries research |
429 | or into the commission's Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund as |
430 | provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. |
431 | Section 9. Subsection (4) and paragraph (c) of subsection |
432 | (5) of section 370.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
433 | 370.061 Confiscation, seizure, and forfeiture of property |
434 | and products.-- |
435 | (4) DESTRUCTION OR DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.--All property |
436 | forfeited under this section may be destroyed, used by the |
437 | commission, disposed of by gift to charitable or state |
438 | institutions, or sold, with the proceeds derived from the sale |
439 | deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund to |
440 | be used for law enforcement purposes, or into the commission's |
441 | Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund as provided in s. 372.107, as |
442 | applicable. |
443 | (5) CONFISCATION AND SALE OF PERISHABLE SALTWATER |
444 | PRODUCTS; PROCEDURE.-- |
445 | (c) In the event of acquittal, the proceeds of a sale or |
446 | the bond or cash deposit required by this subsection shall be |
447 | returned to the defendant. In the event of a conviction, the |
448 | proceeds of a sale or the bond or cash deposit required by this |
449 | subsection shall be deposited into the Marine Resources |
450 | Conservation Trust Fund to be used for law enforcement purposes |
451 | or into the commission's Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund as |
452 | provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. Such deposit into the |
453 | Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund or the Federal Law |
454 | Enforcement Trust Fund shall constitute confiscation. |
455 | Section 10. Subsection (5) of section 372.9901, Florida |
456 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
457 | 372.9901 Seizure of illegal hunting devices; disposition; |
458 | notice; forfeiture.--In order to protect the state's wildlife |
459 | resources, any vehicle, vessel, animal, gun, light, or other |
460 | hunting device used or attempted to be used in connection with, |
461 | as an instrumentality of, or in aiding and abetting in the |
462 | commission of an offense prohibited by s. 372.99 is subject to |
463 | seizure and forfeiture. The provisions of chapter 932 do not |
464 | apply to any seizure or forfeiture under this section. For |
465 | purposes of this section, a conviction is any disposition other |
466 | than acquittal or dismissal. |
467 | (5) All amounts received from the sale or other |
468 | disposition of the property shall be paid into the State Game |
469 | Trust Fund or into the commission's Federal Law Enforcement |
470 | Trust Fund as provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. If the |
471 | property is not sold or converted, it shall be delivered to the |
472 | executive director of the commission. |
473 | Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 372.9904, Florida |
474 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
475 | 372.9904 Seizure of illegal transportation devices; |
476 | disposition; appraisal; forfeiture.-- |
477 | (3) Upon conviction of the violator, the property, if |
478 | owned by the person convicted, shall be forfeited to the state |
479 | under the procedure set forth in ss. 370.061 and 370.07, when |
480 | not inconsistent with this section. All amounts received from |
481 | the sale or other disposition of the property shall be paid into |
482 | the State Game Trust Fund or into the commission's Federal Law |
483 | Enforcement Trust Fund as provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. |
484 | If the property is not sold or converted, it shall be delivered |
485 | to the director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
486 | Commission. |
487 | Section 12. Paragraph (e) of subsection (6) of section |
488 | 932.7055, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
489 | 932.7055 Disposition of liens and forfeited property.-- |
490 | (6) If the seizing agency is a state agency, all remaining |
491 | proceeds shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. |
492 | However, if the seizing agency is: |
493 | (e) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the |
494 | proceeds accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Florida |
495 | Contraband Forfeiture Act shall be deposited into the State Game |
496 | Trust Fund as provided in ss. 372.73, 372.9901, and 372.9904, |
497 | into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund as provided in |
498 | s. 370.061, or into the commission's Federal Law Enforcement |
499 | Trust Fund as provided in s. 372.107, as applicable. |
500 | Section 13. Sections 327.803 and 372.107, Florida |
501 | Statutes, are repealed. |
502 | Section 14. This act shall take effect October 1, 2008. |