| 1 | House Joint Resolution |
| 2 | A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 7 of |
| 3 | Article II of the State Constitution to prohibit the |
| 4 | exploration, drilling, extraction, or production of oil |
| 5 | beneath Florida waters between the mean high-water line |
| 6 | and the seaward limit of Florida's boundaries. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 10 | That the following amendment to Section 7 of Article II of |
| 11 | the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to |
| 12 | the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next |
| 13 | general election: |
| 14 | ARTICLE II |
| 15 | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
| 16 | SECTION 7. Natural resources and scenic beauty.- |
| 17 | (a) It shall be the policy of the state to conserve and |
| 18 | protect its natural resources and scenic beauty. Adequate |
| 19 | provision shall be made by law for the abatement of air and |
| 20 | water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise and for |
| 21 | the conservation and protection of natural resources. |
| 22 | (b) Those in the Everglades Agricultural Area who cause |
| 23 | water pollution within the Everglades Protection Area or the |
| 24 | Everglades Agricultural Area shall be primarily responsible for |
| 25 | paying the costs of the abatement of that pollution. For the |
| 26 | purposes of this subsection, the terms "Everglades Protection |
| 27 | Area" and "Everglades Agricultural Area" shall have the meanings |
| 28 | as defined in statutes in effect on January 1, 1996. |
| 29 | (c) The exploration for, the drilling for, the extraction |
| 30 | of, or the production of oil is prohibited in and beneath all |
| 31 | Florida waters located between the mean high-water line along |
| 32 | the coastline of Florida and the seaward limit of Florida as now |
| 33 | or hereafter fixed by this constitution or the Congress of the |
| 34 | United States, whichever such boundary is farther from the |
| 35 | coastline. This prohibition does not apply to the transportation |
| 36 | of oil produced outside these waters. This subsection is self- |
| 37 | executing. |
| 38 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be |
| 39 | placed on the ballot: |
| 40 | CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT |
| 41 | ARTICLE II, SECTION 7 |
| 42 | BAN OF EXPLORATION, DRILLING, EXTRACTION, AND PRODUCTION OF |
| 43 | OIL IN FLORIDA TERRITORIAL SEAS.-This amendment to the State |
| 44 | Constitution prohibits the exploration for, the drilling for, |
| 45 | the extraction of, and the production of oil in and beneath all |
| 46 | Florida waters between the mean high-water line and the seaward |
| 47 | limit of Florida as now or hereafter fixed, whichever boundary |
| 48 | is farther from the coastline. This amendment is self-executing |
| 49 | and does not apply to the transportation of oil produced outside |
| 50 | Florida's territorial waters. |