1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to the Division of Forestry; amending s. |
3 | 20.14, F.S.; renaming the Division of Forestry of the |
4 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the |
5 | Florida Forest Service; amending ss. 121.0515, 125.27, |
6 | 253.036, and 258.501, F.S.; conforming provisions; |
7 | amending s. 259.035, F.S.; redesignating the director of |
8 | the division as the State Forester; amending ss. 259.036, |
9 | 259.037, 259.101, 259.105, 259.10521, 260.0142, 261.03, |
10 | 261.04, 261.06, 261.12, 317.0010, 317.0016, 373.591, |
11 | 379.226, 403.7071, 479.16, 570.29, and 570.548, F.S.; |
12 | conforming provisions; transferring, renumbering, and |
13 | amending s. 570.549, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending |
14 | ss. 570.903, 581.1843, 589.01, 589.011, 589.012, 589.04, |
15 | 589.06, and 589.07, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending |
16 | s. 589.071, F.S.; clarifying what constitutes a violation |
17 | of certain rules regulating traffic control in state |
18 | forests for which penalties apply; conforming provisions; |
19 | amending ss. 589.08, 589.081, 589.09, and 589.10, F.S.; |
20 | conforming provisions; amending s. 589.101, F.S.; |
21 | clarifying requirements for leases of the state's interest |
22 | in oil, gas, and minerals in the Blackwater River State |
23 | Forest; conforming provisions; amending s. 589.11, F.S.; |
24 | clarifying an authorization for the state's cooperation |
25 | with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under the |
26 | federal Clarke-McNary Act; conforming a cross-reference to |
27 | the repeal of certain federal provisions; conforming |
28 | provisions; amending ss. 589.12, 589.13, 589.14, 589.18, |
29 | 589.19, 589.20, and 589.21, F.S.; conforming provisions; |
30 | amending s. 589.26, F.S.; clarifying requirements for the |
31 | dedication of state park lands for public use; conforming |
32 | provisions; amending ss. 589.27, 589.275, and 589.277, |
33 | F.S.; conforming provisions; amending ss. 589.28, 589.29, |
34 | 589.30, 589.31, 589.32, 589.33, and 589.34, F.S.; |
35 | clarifying requirements for assistance provided to |
36 | counties and municipalities by the Florida Forest Service |
37 | under cooperative agreements; conforming cross-references; |
38 | conforming provisions; amending ss. 590.01, 590.015, |
39 | 590.02, 590.081, 590.091, 590.125, 590.14, 590.16, 590.25, |
40 | 590.33, 590.34, and 590.35, F.S.; conforming provisions; |
41 | amending s. 590.42, F.S.; clarifying that funds received |
42 | or contributed by counties under a certain federal fire |
43 | assistance program are supplementary to certain county |
44 | fire control funds and assessments; conforming provisions; |
45 | redesignating the title of chapter 591, F.S.; amending s. |
46 | 591.15, F.S.; conforming a short title; amending ss. |
47 | 591.16, 591.17, 591.18, 591.19, and 591.20, F.S.; revising |
48 | terminology used in provisions relating to community |
49 | forests; conforming provisions; transferring, renumbering, |
50 | and amending ss. 591.21 and 591.22, F.S.; conforming |
51 | provisions; amending ss. 591.23, 591.24, and 591.25, F.S.; |
52 | conforming provisions; amending s. 591.26, F.S.; |
53 | clarifying provisions authorizing sale of community |
54 | forests upon referendum election; amending ss. 633.115, |
55 | 633.821, and 790.15, F.S.; conforming provisions; |
56 | providing an effective date. |
57 |
|
58 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
59 |
|
60 | Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section |
61 | 20.14, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
62 | 20.14 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.- |
63 | There is created a Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
64 | Services. |
65 | (2) The following divisions of the Department of |
66 | Agriculture and Consumer Services are established: |
67 | (h) Florida Forest Service Forestry. |
68 | Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
69 | 121.0515, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
70 | 121.0515 Special risk membership.- |
71 | (2) CRITERIA.-A member, to be designated as a special risk |
72 | member, must meet the following criteria: |
73 | (b) The member must be employed as a firefighter and be |
74 | certified, or required to be certified, in compliance with s. |
75 | 633.35 and be employed solely within the fire department of a |
76 | local government employer or an agency of state government with |
77 | firefighting responsibilities. In addition, the member's duties |
78 | and responsibilities must include on-the-scene fighting of |
79 | fires, fire prevention, or firefighter training; direct |
80 | supervision of firefighting units, fire prevention, or |
81 | firefighter training; or aerial firefighting surveillance |
82 | performed by fixed-wing aircraft pilots employed by the Florida |
83 | Forest Service Division of Forestry of the Department of |
84 | Agriculture and Consumer Services; or the member must be the |
85 | supervisor or command officer of a member or members who have |
86 | such responsibilities; provided, however, administrative support |
87 | personnel, including, but not limited to, those whose primary |
88 | duties and responsibilities are in accounting, purchasing, |
89 | legal, and personnel, shall not be included and further provided |
90 | that all periods of creditable service in fire prevention or |
91 | firefighter training, or as the supervisor or command officer of |
92 | a member or members who have such responsibilities, and for |
93 | which the employer paid the special risk contribution rate, |
94 | shall be included; |
95 | Section 3. Section 125.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
96 | read: |
97 | 125.27 Countywide forest fire protection; authority of |
98 | Florida Forest Service the Division of Forestry; state funding; |
99 | county fire control assessments; disposition; equipment |
100 | donations.- |
101 | (1) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the |
102 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the board of |
103 | county commissioners of each county in this state shall enter |
104 | into agreements for the establishment and maintenance of |
105 | countywide fire protection of all forest and wild lands within |
106 | the said county, with the total cost of such fire protection |
107 | being funded by state and federal funds. Each county shall, |
108 | under the terms of such agreements, be assessed each fiscal |
109 | year, as its share of the cost of providing such fire |
110 | protection, a sum in dollars equal to the total forest and wild |
111 | land acreage of the county, as determined by the Florida Forest |
112 | Service Division of Forestry, multiplied by 7 cents. The forest |
113 | and wild lands acreage included in such agreements shall be |
114 | reviewed each year by the contracting parties and the number of |
115 | forest and wild land acres and the annual fire control |
116 | assessment adjusted so as to reflect the current forest acreage |
117 | of the county. If In the event the Florida Forest Service |
118 | division and the county commissioners do not agree, the Board of |
119 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall make such |
120 | acreage determination. All fire control assessments received by |
121 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry from the several |
122 | counties under agreements made under pursuant to this section |
123 | shall be deposited as follows: |
124 | (a) An amount equal to the total forest land and wild land |
125 | acreage of the counties, multiplied by 4 cents, shall be |
126 | distributed to the Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida Forest |
127 | Service Division of Forestry; and |
128 | (b) An amount equal to the total forest land and wild land |
129 | acreage of the counties, multiplied by 3 cents, shall be |
130 | distributed to the General Revenue Fund. |
131 | (2) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry may |
132 | include provisions in the agreements authorized in this section, |
133 | or execute separate or supplemental agreements with the several |
134 | counties, county agencies, or municipalities, to provide |
135 | communication services and other services directly related to |
136 | fire protection within the county, other than forest fire |
137 | control, on a cost reimbursable basis only, but provided the |
138 | rendering of such services may does not hinder or impede in any |
139 | way the Florida Forest Service's division's ability to |
140 | accomplish its primary function with respect to forest fire |
141 | control. |
142 | (3) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
143 | may lease, loan, or otherwise make available, without charge, to |
144 | state, county, and local governmental entities that have fire- |
145 | rescue fire/rescue responsibilities, new or used fire protection |
146 | equipment, vehicles, or supplies, including which shall include |
147 | all such items received from public or private entities. The |
148 | department, and those private or public entities providing at no |
149 | cost, or de minimis cost, such items for loan or lease through |
150 | the department are, shall not be held liable for civil damages |
151 | resulting from use or possession of such items. Private or |
152 | public entities that donate fire-rescue fire/rescue equipment, |
153 | vehicles, or supplies directly to state, county, or local |
154 | governmental entities having fire-rescue fire/rescue |
155 | responsibilities are shall not be held liable for civil damages |
156 | resulting from use or possession of such items. |
157 | Section 4. Section 253.036, Florida Statutes, is amended |
158 | to read: |
159 | 253.036 Forest management.-All land management plans |
160 | described in s. 253.034(5) that which are prepared for parcels |
161 | larger than 1,000 acres shall contain an analysis of the |
162 | multiple-use potential of the parcel, which analysis shall |
163 | include the potential of the parcel to generate revenues to |
164 | enhance the management of the parcel. The lead agency shall |
165 | prepare the analysis, which shall contain a component or section |
166 | prepared by a qualified professional forester that which |
167 | assesses the feasibility of managing timber resources on the |
168 | parcel for resource conservation and revenue generation purposes |
169 | through a stewardship ethic that embraces sustainable forest |
170 | management practices if the lead management agency determines |
171 | that the timber resource management is not in conflict with the |
172 | primary management objectives of the parcel. For purposes of |
173 | this section, practicing sustainable forest management means |
174 | meeting the needs of the present without compromising the |
175 | ability of future generations to meet their own needs by |
176 | practicing a land stewardship ethic that which integrates the |
177 | reforestation, managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of |
178 | trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and |
179 | water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, and aesthetics. The |
180 | Legislature intends that each lead management agency, whenever |
181 | practicable and cost effective, use the services of the Florida |
182 | Forest Service Division of Forestry of the Florida Department of |
183 | Agriculture and Consumer Services or other qualified private |
184 | sector professional forester in completing such feasibility |
185 | assessments and implementing timber resource management. The |
186 | Legislature further intends that the lead management agency |
187 | develop a memorandum of agreement with the Florida Forest |
188 | Service Division of Forestry to provide for full reimbursement |
189 | for any services provided for the feasibility assessments or |
190 | timber resource management. All additional revenues generated |
191 | through multiple-use management or compatible secondary use |
192 | management shall be returned to the lead agency responsible for |
193 | such management and shall be used to pay for management |
194 | activities on all conservation, preservation, and recreation |
195 | lands under the agency's jurisdiction. In addition, such revenue |
196 | shall be segregated in an agency trust fund and shall remain |
197 | available to the agency in subsequent fiscal years to support |
198 | land management appropriations. |
199 | Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section |
200 | 258.501, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
201 | 258.501 Myakka River; wild and scenic segment.- |
202 | (7) MANAGEMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL.- |
203 | (a) Upon designation, the department shall create a |
204 | permanent council to provide interagency and intergovernmental |
205 | coordination in the management of the river. The coordinating |
206 | council shall be composed of one representative appointed from |
207 | each of the following: the department, the Department of |
208 | Transportation, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, |
209 | the Department of Community Affairs, the Florida Forest Service |
210 | Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and |
211 | Consumer Services, the Division of Historical Resources of the |
212 | Department of State, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, |
213 | the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Southwest |
214 | Florida Regional Planning Council, Manatee County, Sarasota |
215 | County, Charlotte County, the City of Sarasota, the City of |
216 | North Port, agricultural interests, environmental organizations, |
217 | and any others deemed advisable by the department. |
218 | Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
219 | 259.035, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
220 | 259.035 Acquisition and Restoration Council.- |
221 | (1) There is created the Acquisition and Restoration |
222 | Council. |
223 | (b) The five remaining appointees shall be composed of the |
224 | Secretary of Environmental Protection, the State Forester |
225 | director of the Division of Forestry of the Department of |
226 | Agriculture and Consumer Services, the executive director of the |
227 | Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the director of the |
228 | Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State, and |
229 | the secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, or their |
230 | respective designees. |
231 | Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
232 | 259.036, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
233 | 259.036 Management review teams.- |
234 | (1) To determine whether conservation, preservation, and |
235 | recreation lands titled in the name of the Board of Trustees of |
236 | the Internal Improvement Trust Fund are being managed for the |
237 | purposes for which they were acquired and in accordance with a |
238 | land management plan adopted pursuant to s. 259.032, the board |
239 | of trustees, acting through the Department of Environmental |
240 | Protection, shall cause periodic management reviews to be |
241 | conducted as follows: |
242 | (a) The department shall establish a regional land |
243 | management review team composed of the following members: |
244 | 1. One individual who is from the county or local |
245 | community in which the parcel or project is located and who is |
246 | selected by the county commission in the county which is most |
247 | impacted by the acquisition. |
248 | 2. One individual from the Division of Recreation and |
249 | Parks of the department. |
250 | 3. One individual from the Florida Forest Service Division |
251 | of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
252 | Services. |
253 | 4. One individual from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
254 | Commission. |
255 | 5. One individual from the department's district office in |
256 | which the parcel is located. |
257 | 6. A private land manager mutually agreeable to the state |
258 | agency representatives. |
259 | 7. A member of the local soil and water conservation |
260 | district board of supervisors. |
261 | 8. A member of a conservation organization. |
262 | Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 259.037, Florida |
263 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
264 | 259.037 Land Management Uniform Accounting Council.- |
265 | (1) The Land Management Uniform Accounting Council is |
266 | created within the Department of Environmental Protection and |
267 | shall consist of the director of the Division of State Lands, |
268 | the director of the Division of Recreation and Parks, the |
269 | director of the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, and |
270 | the director of the Office of Greenways and Trails of the |
271 | Department of Environmental Protection; the State Forester |
272 | director of the Division of Forestry of the Department of |
273 | Agriculture and Consumer Services; the executive director of the |
274 | Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and the director of |
275 | the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State, |
276 | or their respective designees. Each state agency represented on |
277 | the council has shall have one vote. The chair of the council |
278 | shall rotate annually in the foregoing order of state agencies. |
279 | The agency of the representative serving as chair of the council |
280 | shall provide staff support for the council. The Division of |
281 | State Lands shall serve as the recipient of and repository for |
282 | the council's documents. The council shall meet at the request |
283 | of the chair. |
284 | Section 9. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) and subsection |
285 | (5) of section 259.101, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
286 | 259.101 Florida Preservation 2000 Act.- |
287 | (3) LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENTED.-Less the costs |
288 | of issuance, the costs of funding reserve accounts, and other |
289 | costs with respect to the bonds, the proceeds of bonds issued |
290 | pursuant to this act shall be deposited into the Florida |
291 | Preservation 2000 Trust Fund created by s. 375.045. In fiscal |
292 | year 2000-2001, for each Florida Preservation 2000 program |
293 | described in paragraphs (a)-(g), that portion of each program's |
294 | total remaining cash balance which, as of June 30, 2000, is in |
295 | excess of that program's total remaining appropriation balances |
296 | shall be redistributed by the department and deposited into the |
297 | Save Our Everglades Trust Fund for land acquisition. For |
298 | purposes of calculating the total remaining cash balances for |
299 | this redistribution, the Florida Preservation 2000 Series 2000 |
300 | bond proceeds, including interest thereon, and the fiscal year |
301 | 1999-2000 General Appropriations Act amounts shall be deducted |
302 | from the remaining cash and appropriation balances, |
303 | respectively. The remaining proceeds shall be distributed by the |
304 | Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner: |
305 | (e) Two and nine-tenths percent to the Florida Forest |
306 | Service Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture |
307 | and Consumer Services to fund the acquisition of state forest |
308 | inholdings and additions pursuant to s. 589.07. |
309 |
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310 | Local governments may use federal grants or loans, private |
311 | donations, or environmental mitigation funds, including |
312 | environmental mitigation funds required pursuant to s. 338.250, |
313 | for any part or all of any local match required for the purposes |
314 | described in this subsection. Bond proceeds allocated pursuant |
315 | to paragraph (c) may be used to purchase lands on the priority |
316 | lists developed pursuant to s. 259.035. Title to lands purchased |
317 | pursuant to paragraphs (a), (d), (e), (f), and (g) shall be |
318 | vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement |
319 | Trust Fund. Title to lands purchased pursuant to paragraph (c) |
320 | may be vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal |
321 | Improvement Trust Fund. The board of trustees shall hold title |
322 | to land protection agreements and conservation easements that |
323 | were or will be acquired pursuant to s. 380.0677, and the |
324 | Southwest Florida Water Management District and the St. Johns |
325 | River Water Management District shall monitor such agreements |
326 | and easements within their respective districts until the state |
327 | assumes this responsibility. |
328 | (5) Any funds received by the Florida Forest Service |
329 | Division of Forestry from the Preservation 2000 Trust Fund |
330 | pursuant to paragraph (3)(e) may only shall be used only to pay |
331 | the cost of the acquisition of lands in furtherance of outdoor |
332 | recreation and natural resources conservation in this state. The |
333 | administration and use of any funds received by the Florida |
334 | Forest Service Division of Forestry from the Preservation 2000 |
335 | Trust Fund are will be subject to such terms and conditions |
336 | imposed thereon by the agency of the state responsible for the |
337 | issuance of the revenue bonds, the proceeds of which are |
338 | deposited in the Preservation 2000 Trust Fund, including |
339 | restrictions imposed to ensure that the interest on any such |
340 | revenue bonds issued by the state as tax-exempt revenue bonds |
341 | are will not be included in the gross income of the holders of |
342 | such bonds for federal income tax purposes. All deeds for or |
343 | leases of with respect to any real property acquired with funds |
344 | received by the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry from |
345 | the Preservation 2000 Trust Fund shall contain such covenants |
346 | and restrictions as are sufficient to ensure that the use of |
347 | such real property at all times complies with s. 375.051 and s. |
348 | 9, Art. XII of the 1968 Constitution of Florida; and shall |
349 | contain reverter clauses providing for the reversion of title to |
350 | such property to the Board of Trustees of the Internal |
351 | Improvement Trust Fund or, in the case of a lease of such |
352 | property, providing for termination of the lease upon a failure |
353 | to use the property conveyed thereby for such purposes. |
354 | Section 10. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section |
355 | 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
356 | 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.- |
357 | (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding |
358 | reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the |
359 | proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this |
360 | section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund |
361 | created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the |
362 | Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner: |
363 | (f) One and five-tenths percent to the Florida Forest |
364 | Service Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture |
365 | and Consumer Services to fund the acquisition of state forest |
366 | inholdings and additions pursuant to s. 589.07, the |
367 | implementation of reforestation plans or sustainable forestry |
368 | management practices, and for capital project expenditures as |
369 | described in this section. At a minimum, 1 percent, but and no |
370 | more than 10 percent, of the funds allocated for the acquisition |
371 | of inholdings and additions pursuant to this paragraph may shall |
372 | be spent on capital project expenditures identified during the |
373 | time of acquisition which meet land management planning |
374 | activities necessary for public access. |
375 | Section 11. Subsections (1) and (2) and paragraph (b) of |
376 | subsection (3) of section 259.10521, Florida Statutes, are |
377 | amended to read: |
378 | 259.10521 Citizen support organization; use of property.- |
379 | (1) DEFINITION DEFINITIONS.-As used in For the purpose of |
380 | this section, the term "citizen support organization" means an |
381 | organization that is: |
382 | (a) a Florida corporation not for profit incorporated |
383 | under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the |
384 | Department of State that is:; |
385 | (a)(b) Organized and operated to conduct programs and |
386 | activities in the best interest of the state; raise funds; |
387 | request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of money; |
388 | acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, |
389 | securities, funds, objects of value, or other property, real or |
390 | personal; and make expenditures to or for the direct or indirect |
391 | benefit of the Babcock Crescent B Ranch; |
392 | (b)(c) Determined by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
393 | Commission and the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry |
394 | within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to be |
395 | consistent with the goals of the state in acquiring the ranch |
396 | and in the best interests of the state; and |
397 | (c)(d) Approved in writing by the Fish and Wildlife |
398 | Conservation Commission and the Florida Forest Service Division |
399 | of Forestry to operate for the direct or indirect benefit of the |
400 | ranch and in the best interest of the state. Such approval must |
401 | shall be given in a letter of agreement from the Fish and |
402 | Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Forest Service |
403 | Division of Forestry. Only one citizen support organization may |
404 | be created to operate for the direct or indirect benefit of the |
405 | Babcock Crescent B Ranch. |
406 | (2) USE OF PROPERTY.- |
407 | (a) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the |
408 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry may permit, without |
409 | charge, appropriate use of fixed property and facilities of the |
410 | Babcock Crescent B Ranch by a citizen support organization, |
411 | subject to the provisions of this section. Such use must be |
412 | directly in keeping with the approved purposes of the citizen |
413 | support organization and may not be made at times or places that |
414 | would unreasonably interfere with recreational opportunities for |
415 | the general public. |
416 | (b) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the |
417 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry may adopt rules |
418 | prescribing the conditions prescribe by rule any condition with |
419 | which the citizen support organization must shall comply in |
420 | order to use fixed property or facilities of the ranch. |
421 | (c) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the |
422 | Florida Forest Service may Division of Forestry shall not permit |
423 | the use of any fixed property or facilities of the ranch by a |
424 | citizen support organization that does not provide equal |
425 | membership and employment opportunities to all persons |
426 | regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national |
427 | origin. |
428 | (3) PARTNERSHIPS.- |
429 | (b) The Legislature may annually appropriate funds from |
430 | the Land Acquisition Trust Fund for use only as state matching |
431 | funds, in conjunction with private donations in aggregates of at |
432 | least $60,000, matched by $40,000 of state funds, for a total |
433 | minimum project amount of $100,000 for capital improvement |
434 | facility development at the ranch at either individually |
435 | designated locations or for priority projects within the overall |
436 | ranch system. The citizen support organization may acquire |
437 | private donations under pursuant to this section, and matching |
438 | state funds for approved projects may be provided in accordance |
439 | with this subsection. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
440 | Commission and the Florida Forest Service may Division of |
441 | Forestry are authorized to properly recognize and honor a |
442 | private donor by placing a plaque or other appropriate |
443 | designation noting the contribution on project facilities or by |
444 | naming project facilities after the person or organization that |
445 | provided matching funds. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation |
446 | Commission and the Florida Forest Service may Division of |
447 | Forestry are authorized to adopt necessary administrative rules |
448 | to administer carry out the purposes of this subsection. |
449 | Section 12. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section |
450 | 260.0142, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
451 | 260.0142 Florida Greenways and Trails Council; |
452 | composition; powers and duties.- |
453 | (1) There is created within the department the Florida |
454 | Greenways and Trails Council which shall advise the department |
455 | in the execution of the department's powers and duties under |
456 | this chapter. The council shall be composed of 21 members, |
457 | consisting of: |
458 | (d) The following 10 remaining members shall include: |
459 | 1. The Secretary of Environmental Protection or a |
460 | designee. |
461 | 2. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife |
462 | Conservation Commission or a designee. |
463 | 3. The Secretary of Community Affairs or a designee. |
464 | 4. The Secretary of Transportation or a designee. |
465 | 5. The State Forester Director of the Division of Forestry |
466 | of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or a |
467 | designee. |
468 | 6. The director of the Division of Historical Resources of |
469 | the Department of State or a designee. |
470 | 7. A representative of the water management districts. |
471 | Membership on the council shall rotate among the five districts. |
472 | The districts shall determine the order of rotation. |
473 | 8. A representative of a federal land management agency. |
474 | The Secretary of Environmental Protection shall identify the |
475 | appropriate federal agency and request designation of a |
476 | representative from the agency to serve on the council. |
477 | 9. A representative of the regional planning councils to |
478 | be appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection in |
479 | consultation with the Secretary of Community Affairs. Membership |
480 | on the council shall rotate among the seven regional planning |
481 | councils. The regional planning councils shall determine the |
482 | order of rotation. |
483 | 10. A representative of local governments to be appointed |
484 | by the Secretary of Environmental Protection in consultation |
485 | with the Secretary of Community Affairs. Membership shall |
486 | alternate between a county representative and a municipal |
487 | representative. |
488 | Section 13. Subsections (5) through (12) of section |
489 | 261.03, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) |
490 | through (11), respectively, and present subsections (4) and (11) |
491 | of that section are amended to read: |
492 | 261.03 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: |
493 | (4) "Division" means the Division of Forestry of the |
494 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
495 | (10)(11) "Trust fund" means the Incidental Trust Fund of |
496 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the |
497 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
498 | Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 261.04, Florida |
499 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
500 | 261.04 Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee; |
501 | members; appointment.- |
502 | (1) Effective July 1, 2003, the Off-Highway Vehicle |
503 | Recreation Advisory Committee is created within the Florida |
504 | Forest Service Division of Forestry and consists of nine |
505 | members, all of whom are appointed by the Commissioner of |
506 | Agriculture. The appointees shall include one representative of |
507 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, one |
508 | representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor |
509 | Vehicles, one representative of the Department of Environmental |
510 | Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails, one representative |
511 | of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, one citizen |
512 | with scientific expertise in disciplines relating to ecology, |
513 | wildlife biology, or other environmental sciences, one |
514 | representative of a licensed off-highway vehicle dealer, and |
515 | three representatives of off-highway vehicle recreation groups. |
516 | In making these appointments, the commissioner shall consider |
517 | the places of residence of the members to ensure statewide |
518 | representation. |
519 | Section 15. Section 261.06, Florida Statutes, is amended |
520 | to read: |
521 | 261.06 Florida Forest Service; functions, duties, and |
522 | responsibilities of the department.-The following are functions, |
523 | duties, and responsibilities of the Florida Forest Service |
524 | department through the division: |
525 | (1) Coordinating Coordination of the planning, |
526 | development, conservation, and rehabilitation of state lands in |
527 | and for the system. |
528 | (2) Coordinating Coordination of the management, |
529 | maintenance, administration, and operation of state lands in the |
530 | system and providing the provision of law enforcement and |
531 | appropriate public safety activities. |
532 | (3) Managing Management of the trust fund and approving |
533 | approval of the advisory committee's budget recommendations. |
534 | (4) Implementing Implementation of the program, including |
535 | the ultimate approval of grant applications submitted by |
536 | governmental agencies or entities or nongovernmental entities. |
537 | (5) Coordinating the program Coordination to help ensure |
538 | compliance with environmental laws and regulations for of the |
539 | public program and lands in the system. |
540 | (6) Implementing Implementation of the policies |
541 | established by the advisory committee. |
542 | (7) Providing Provision of staff assistance to the |
543 | advisory committee. |
544 | (8) Preparing Preparation of plans for public lands in, or |
545 | proposed to be included in, the system. |
546 | (9) Conducting surveys and preparing the preparation of |
547 | studies as are necessary or desirable for implementing the |
548 | program. |
549 | (10) Recruiting Recruitment and using utilization of |
550 | volunteers to further the program. |
551 | (11) Adopting rules Rulemaking authority to administer |
552 | implement the provisions of ss. 261.01-261.10. |
553 | Section 16. Section 261.12, Florida Statutes, is amended |
554 | to read: |
555 | 261.12 Designated off-highway vehicle funds within the |
556 | Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida Forest Service Division of |
557 | Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
558 | Services.- |
559 | (1) The designated off-highway vehicle funds of the trust |
560 | fund shall consist of deposits from the following sources: |
561 | (a) Fees paid to the Department of Highway Safety and |
562 | Motor Vehicles for the titling of off-highway vehicles. |
563 | (b) Revenues and income from any other sources required by |
564 | law or as appropriated by the Legislature for deposit to be |
565 | deposited into the trust fund as designated off-highway vehicle |
566 | funds. |
567 | (c) Donations from private sources that are designated as |
568 | off-highway vehicle funds. |
569 | (d) Interest earned on designated off-highway vehicle |
570 | funds on deposit in the trust fund. |
571 | (2) Designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust fund |
572 | shall be available for recommended allocation by the Off-Highway |
573 | Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee and the department of |
574 | Agriculture and Consumer Services and upon annual appropriation |
575 | by the Legislature, exclusively for the following: |
576 | (a) Implementation of the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation |
577 | Program by the department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, |
578 | including which includes personnel and other related expenses,; |
579 | administrative and operating expenses, and; expenses related to |
580 | safety, training, and rider education programs;, managing, |
581 | maintaining, and rehabilitating management, maintenance, and |
582 | rehabilitation of lands in the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation |
583 | Program's system of lands and trails; and, if funds are |
584 | available, acquiring acquisition of lands for inclusion to be |
585 | included in the system and managing, maintaining, and |
586 | rehabilitating the management, maintenance, and rehabilitation |
587 | of such lands. |
588 | (b) Approved grants to governmental agencies or entities |
589 | or nongovernmental entities that wish to provide or improve off- |
590 | highway vehicle recreation areas or trails for public use on |
591 | public lands, provide environmental protection and restoration |
592 | to affected natural areas in the system, provide enforcement of |
593 | applicable regulations related to the system and off-highway |
594 | vehicle activities, or provide education in the operation of |
595 | off-highway vehicles. |
596 | (c) Matching funds to be used to match grant funds |
597 | available from other sources. |
598 | (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, |
599 | any balance of designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust |
600 | fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust |
601 | fund therein and shall be available for the purposes set out in |
602 | this section and as otherwise provided by law. |
603 | Section 17. Section 317.0010, Florida Statutes, is amended |
604 | to read: |
605 | 317.0010 Disposition of fees.-The department shall deposit |
606 | all funds received under this chapter, less administrative costs |
607 | of $2 per title transaction, into the Incidental Trust Fund of |
608 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the |
609 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
610 | Section 18. Section 317.0016, Florida Statutes, is amended |
611 | to read: |
612 | 317.0016 Expedited service; applications; fees.-The |
613 | department shall provide, through its agents and for use by the |
614 | public, expedited service on title transfers, title issuances, |
615 | duplicate titles, recordation of liens, and certificates of |
616 | repossession. A fee of $7 shall be charged for this service, |
617 | which is in addition to the fees imposed by ss. 317.0007 and |
618 | 317.0008, and $3.50 of this fee shall be retained by the |
619 | processing agency. All remaining fees shall be deposited in the |
620 | Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida Forest Service Division of |
621 | Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
622 | Application for expedited service may be made by mail or in |
623 | person. The department shall issue each title applied for under |
624 | pursuant to this section within 5 working days after receipt of |
625 | the application except for an application for a duplicate title |
626 | certificate covered by s. 317.0008(3), in which case the title |
627 | must be issued within 5 working days after compliance with the |
628 | department's verification requirements. |
629 | Section 19. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section |
630 | 373.591, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
631 | 373.591 Management review teams.- |
632 | (1) To determine whether conservation, preservation, and |
633 | recreation lands titled in the names of the water management |
634 | districts are being managed for the purposes for which they were |
635 | acquired and in accordance with land management objectives, the |
636 | water management districts shall establish land management |
637 | review teams to conduct periodic management reviews. The land |
638 | management review teams shall be composed of the following |
639 | members: |
640 | (h) One individual from the Florida Forest Service |
641 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of |
642 | Forestry. |
643 | Section 20. Subsection (10) of section 379.226, Florida |
644 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
645 | 379.226 Florida Territorial Waters Act; alien-owned |
646 | commercial fishing vessels; prohibited acts; enforcement.- |
647 | (10) Harbormasters and law enforcement agencies may are |
648 | authorized to request assistance from the Civil Air Patrol in |
649 | the surveillance of suspect vessels. Aircraft of the Florida |
650 | Forest Service Division of Forestry of the Department of |
651 | Agriculture and Consumer Services or other state or county |
652 | agencies which are conveniently located and not otherwise |
653 | occupied may be similarly used utilized. |
654 | Section 21. Subsection (6) of section 403.7071, Florida |
655 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
656 | 403.7071 Management of storm-generated debris.-Solid waste |
657 | generated as a result of a storm event that is the subject of an |
658 | emergency order issued by the department may be managed as |
659 | follows: |
660 | (6) Local governments or their agents may conduct the |
661 | burning of storm-generated yard trash, other storm-generated |
662 | vegetative debris, or untreated wood from construction and |
663 | demolition debris in air-curtain incinerators without prior |
664 | notice to the department. Within 10 days after commencing such |
665 | burning, the local government shall notify the department in |
666 | writing describing the general nature of the materials burned; |
667 | the location and method of burning; and the name, address, and |
668 | telephone number of the representative of the local government |
669 | to contact concerning the work. The operator of the air-curtain |
670 | incinerator is subject to any requirement of the Florida Forest |
671 | Service Division of Forestry or of any other agency concerning |
672 | authorization to conduct open burning. Any person conducting |
673 | open burning of vegetative debris is also subject to such |
674 | requirements. |
675 | Section 22. Subsection (5) of section 479.16, Florida |
676 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
677 | 479.16 Signs for which permits are not required.-The |
678 | following signs are exempt from the requirement that a permit |
679 | for a sign be obtained under the provisions of this chapter but |
680 | are required to comply with the provisions of s. 479.11(4)-(8): |
681 | (5) Danger or precautionary signs relating to the premises |
682 | on which they are located; forest fire warning signs erected |
683 | under the authority of the Florida Forest Service Division of |
684 | Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; |
685 | and signs, notices, or symbols erected by the United States |
686 | Government under the direction of the United States Forestry |
687 | Service. |
688 | Section 23. Subsection (8) of section 570.29, Florida |
689 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
690 | 570.29 Departmental divisions.-The department shall |
691 | include the following divisions: |
692 | (8) Florida Forest Service Forestry. |
693 | Section 24. Section 570.548, Florida Statutes, is amended |
694 | to read: |
695 | 570.548 Florida Forest Service; State Forester Division of |
696 | Forestry; powers and duties.- |
697 | (1) The duties of the Florida Forest Service Division of |
698 | Forestry include, but are not limited to, administering and |
699 | enforcing those powers and responsibilities of the Florida |
700 | Forest Service division prescribed in chapters 589, 590, and 591 |
701 | and the rules adopted under those chapters pursuant thereto and |
702 | in other forest fire, forest protection, and forest management |
703 | laws of this state. |
704 | Section 25. Section 570.549, Florida Statutes, is |
705 | transferred, renumbered as subsection (2) of section 570.548, |
706 | Florida Statutes, and amended to read: |
707 | 570.549 Director; duties.- |
708 | (2)(a)(1) The head director of the Florida Forest Service |
709 | shall be the State Forester, who Division of Forestry shall be |
710 | appointed by the commissioner and shall serve at the |
711 | commissioner's pleasure. |
712 | (b)(2) It shall be the duty of The State Forester shall |
713 | director of this division to direct and supervise the overall |
714 | operation of the Florida Forest Service division and to exercise |
715 | such other powers and duties as authorized by the department. |
716 | Section 26. Subsection (1) of section 570.903, Florida |
717 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
718 | 570.903 Direct-support organization.- |
719 | (1) When the Legislature authorizes the establishment of a |
720 | direct-support organization to provide assistance for the |
721 | museums, the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Program, the |
722 | Florida State Collection of Arthropods, the Friends of the |
723 | Florida State Forests Program of the Florida Forest Service |
724 | Division of Forestry, and the Forestry Arson Alert Program, and |
725 | other programs of the department, the following provisions shall |
726 | govern the creation, use, powers, and duties of the direct- |
727 | support organization:. |
728 | (a) The department shall enter into a memorandum or letter |
729 | of agreement with the direct-support organization, which shall |
730 | specify the approval of the department, the powers and duties of |
731 | the direct-support organization, and rules with which the |
732 | direct-support organization must shall comply. |
733 | (b) The department may permit, without charge, appropriate |
734 | use of property, facilities, and personnel of the department by |
735 | a direct-support organization, subject to the provisions of ss. |
736 | 570.902 and 570.903. The use shall be directly in keeping with |
737 | the approved purposes of the direct-support organization and may |
738 | shall not be made at times or places that would unreasonably |
739 | interfere with opportunities for the general public to use |
740 | department facilities for established purposes. |
741 | (c) The department shall prescribe by contract or by rule |
742 | conditions with which a direct-support organization must shall |
743 | comply in order to use property, facilities, or personnel of the |
744 | department or museum. Such rules shall provide for budget and |
745 | audit review and oversight by the department. |
746 | (d) The department may shall not permit the use of |
747 | property, facilities, or personnel of the museum, department, or |
748 | designated program by a direct-support organization that which |
749 | does not provide equal employment opportunities to all persons |
750 | regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national |
751 | origin. |
752 | Section 27. Subsection (7) of section 581.1843, Florida |
753 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
754 | 581.1843 Citrus nursery stock propagation and production |
755 | and the establishment of regulated areas around citrus |
756 | nurseries.- |
757 | (7) The department shall relocate foundation source trees |
758 | maintained by the Division of Plant Industry from various |
759 | locations, including those in Dundee and Winter Haven, to |
760 | protective structures at the Florida Forest Service's Division |
761 | of Forestry nursery in Chiefland or to other protective sites |
762 | located a minimum of 10 miles from any commercial citrus grove. |
763 | Section 28. Section 589.01, Florida Statutes, is amended |
764 | to read: |
765 | 589.01 Florida Forestry Council.-The Florida Forestry |
766 | Council, hereinafter called the "council," is hereby created |
767 | within the Florida Forest Service in the Division of Forestry of |
768 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The council |
769 | shall be composed of five members appointed by the Department of |
770 | Agriculture and Consumer Services for terms of 4 years. |
771 | (1) There shall be one member of the council from each of |
772 | the following areas of forestry: |
773 | (a) The pulp and paper manufacturing industry. |
774 | (b) A forest products industry other than that described |
775 | in paragraph (a). |
776 | (c) A timber or timber products dealer. |
777 | (d) An individual forest landowner. |
778 | (e) An active member of a statewide conservation |
779 | organization having as one of its principal objectives the |
780 | conservation and development of the forest resource. |
781 | (2) At least Not fewer than two but not or more than three |
782 | nominations must shall be made for each appointment to |
783 | membership on the council, and any statewide organization |
784 | representing an area of forestry represented on the council may |
785 | make nominations. |
786 | (3) The council shall meet at the call of its chair, at |
787 | the request of a majority of its membership or of the Department |
788 | of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or at such times as the |
789 | department may prescribe be prescribed by rule its rules. |
790 | (4) A majority of the members of the council constitutes |
791 | shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, and an act by a |
792 | majority of such quorum at any meeting constitutes shall |
793 | constitute an official act of the council. |
794 | (5) The powers and duties of the council are to shall be |
795 | as follows: |
796 | (a) To Consider and study the entire field of forestry.; |
797 | (b) To Advise, counsel, and consult, upon request, with |
798 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the |
799 | State Forester director of the Division of Forestry upon request |
800 | in connection with the adoption promulgation, administration, |
801 | and enforcement of all laws and rules relating to forestry.; |
802 | (c) To Consider all matters submitted to the council it by |
803 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the State |
804 | Forester. director of the Division of Forestry; |
805 | (d) To Offer suggestions and recommendations to the |
806 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the State |
807 | Forester director of the Division of Forestry on the council's |
808 | its own initiative with in regard to changes in the laws and |
809 | rules relating to forestry for as may be deemed advisable to |
810 | secure the effective administration and enforcement of such laws |
811 | and rules relating to the work of the Florida Forest Service. |
812 | division; and |
813 | (e) To Keep a complete record of all of the council's its |
814 | proceedings, showing the names of the members present at each |
815 | meeting and any action taken by the council, and to file and |
816 | maintain such records in the Florida Forest Service Division of |
817 | Forestry as a public record. |
818 | Section 29. Section 589.011, Florida Statutes, is amended |
819 | to read: |
820 | 589.011 Use of state forest lands; fees; rules.-The |
821 | Florida Forest Service may: |
822 | (1) The Division of Forestry of the Department of |
823 | Agriculture and Consumer Services may Grant privileges, permits, |
824 | leases, and concessions for the use of state forest lands, |
825 | timber, and forest products for purposes not inconsistent with |
826 | the provisions of this chapter. |
827 | (2) The Division of Forestry is authorized to Grant |
828 | easements for rights-of-way, over, across, and upon state forest |
829 | lands for the construction and maintenance of public roads, |
830 | poles and lines for the transmission and distribution of |
831 | electrical power, pipelines for the distribution and |
832 | transportation of oils and gases, and poles and lines for |
833 | telephone and telegraphic purposes and for public roads, under |
834 | such conditions and limitations as the Florida Forest Service |
835 | division may impose. |
836 | (3) The Division of Forestry shall have the power to Set |
837 | and charge reasonable fees or rent for the use or operation of |
838 | facilities on state forests or any lands leased by or otherwise |
839 | assigned to the Florida Forest Service division for management |
840 | purposes. Moneys collected from such fees and rent shall be |
841 | deposited into the Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida Forest |
842 | Service division. |
843 | (4) The Division of Forestry may Adopt and enforce rules |
844 | necessary for the protection, use utilization, occupancy, and |
845 | development of state forest lands or any lands leased by or |
846 | otherwise assigned to the Florida Forest Service division for |
847 | management purposes. Any person who violates violating or |
848 | otherwise fails failing to comply with any provision of this |
849 | subsection or any rule adopted under this subsection commits a |
850 | noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08(3), punishable |
851 | only by a fine, not to exceed $500 per violation. Jurisdiction |
852 | shall be with The appropriate county court has jurisdiction. |
853 | (5) The Division of Forestry may Prohibit on state forest |
854 | lands, or any lands leased by or otherwise assigned to the |
855 | Florida Forest Service division for management purposes, |
856 | activities that interfere with management objectives, create a |
857 | nuisance, or pose a threat to public safety. Such prohibited |
858 | activities must be posted with signs not more than 500 feet |
859 | apart along, and at each corner of, the boundaries of the land. |
860 | The signs must be placed along the boundary line of posted land |
861 | in a manner and in such position as to be clearly noticeable |
862 | from outside the boundary line. A person who violates the |
863 | provisions of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the |
864 | second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
865 | 775.083. |
866 | (6) The Division of Forestry may Enter into contracts or |
867 | agreements, with or without competitive bidding or procurement, |
868 | to make available, on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory |
869 | basis, property and other structures under the Florida Forest |
870 | Service's division control for the placement of new facilities |
871 | by any wireless provider of mobile service as defined in 47 |
872 | U.S.C. s. 153(27) or 47 U.S.C. s. 332(d) or any |
873 | telecommunications company as defined in s. 364.02 when it is |
874 | determined to be practical and feasible to make such property or |
875 | other structures available. The Florida Forest Service division |
876 | may, without adopting a rule, charge a just, reasonable, and |
877 | nondiscriminatory fee for the placement of the facilities, |
878 | payable annually, based on the fair market value of space used |
879 | by comparable communications facilities in the state. The |
880 | Florida Forest Service division and a wireless provider or |
881 | telecommunications company may negotiate the reduction or |
882 | elimination of a fee in consideration of services provided to |
883 | the Florida Forest Service division by the wireless provider or |
884 | telecommunications company. All such fees collected by the |
885 | Florida Forest Service division shall be deposited in the |
886 | Incidental Trust Fund. |
887 | Section 30. Section 589.012, Florida Statutes, is amended |
888 | to read: |
889 | 589.012 Friends of Florida State Forests Program.-The |
890 | Friends of Florida State Forests Program is established within |
891 | the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its purpose |
892 | is to provide support and assistance for existing and future |
893 | programs of the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry. |
894 | These programs must be consistent with the division's mission |
895 | statement which is incorporated by reference. The purpose of the |
896 | program is to: |
897 | (1) Conduct programs and activities related to |
898 | environmental education, fire prevention, recreation, and forest |
899 | management. |
900 | (2) Identify and pursue methods to provide resources and |
901 | materials for these programs. |
902 | (3) Establish a statewide method to integrate these |
903 | resources and materials. |
904 | Section 31. Section 589.04, Florida Statutes, is amended |
905 | to read: |
906 | 589.04 Florida Forest Service; duties of division.- |
907 | (1) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry shall |
908 | cooperate with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, |
909 | nonprofit organizations, and other persons to: |
910 | (a) Promote and encourage forest fire protection, forest |
911 | environmental education, forest land stewardship, good forest |
912 | management, tree planting and care, forest recreation, and the |
913 | proper management of public lands. |
914 | (b) Apply for, solicit, and receive grants, funds, |
915 | services, equipment, and supplies from those agencies, |
916 | organizations, firms, and individuals. |
917 | (2) All grant proceeds and funds received for these |
918 | purposes shall be deposited in the Incidental Trust Fund of the |
919 | Florida Forest Service. Expenditures of these funds shall be for |
920 | the purposes established in this section. |
921 | (3) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry shall |
922 | provide direction for the multiple-use management of forest |
923 | lands owned by the state; serve as the lead management agency |
924 | for state-owned land primarily suited for forest resource |
925 | management; and provide to other state agencies having land |
926 | management responsibilities technical guidance and management |
927 | plan development for managing the forest resources on state- |
928 | owned lands managed for other objectives. Multiple-use |
929 | management includes Multiple-purpose use shall include, but is |
930 | not limited to, water-resource protection, forest-ecosystems |
931 | protection, natural-resource-based low-impact recreation, and |
932 | sustainable timber management for forest products. |
933 | (4) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry shall |
934 | begin immediately an aggressive program to reforest and |
935 | afforest, with appropriate tree species, lands over which the |
936 | Florida Forest Service division has forest resource management |
937 | responsibility. |
938 | Section 32. Section 589.06, Florida Statutes, is amended |
939 | to read: |
940 | 589.06 Warrants for payment of accounts.-Upon the |
941 | presentation to the Chief Financial Officer of any accounts duly |
942 | approved by the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry, |
943 | accompanied by such itemized vouchers or accounts as shall be |
944 | required by her or him, the Chief Financial Officer shall audit |
945 | the same and draw a warrant for the amount for which the account |
946 | is audited, payable out of funds to the credit of the Florida |
947 | Forest Service division. |
948 | Section 33. Section 589.07, Florida Statutes, is amended |
949 | to read: |
950 | 589.07 Florida Forest Service Division may acquire lands |
951 | for forest purposes.-The Florida Forest Service Division of |
952 | Forestry, on behalf of the state and subject to the restrictions |
953 | mentioned in s. 589.08, may acquire lands, suitable for state |
954 | forest purposes, by gift, donation, contribution, purchase, or |
955 | otherwise and may enter into agreements with the Federal |
956 | Government, or any other agency, for acquiring by gift, |
957 | purchase, or otherwise, such lands as are, in the judgment of |
958 | the Florida Forest Service division, suitable and desirable for |
959 | state forests. The acquisition procedures for state lands |
960 | provided in s. 259.041 do not apply to acquisition of land by |
961 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry. |
962 | Section 34. Section 589.071, Florida Statutes, is amended |
963 | to read: |
964 | 589.071 Traffic control within state forest or division- |
965 | assigned lands assigned to Florida Forest Service.-The Florida |
966 | Forest Service, Division of Forestry on behalf of the state, may |
967 | adopt rules to control ingress, egress, and all other movement |
968 | of motor vehicles, bicycles, horses, and pedestrians, as well as |
969 | all other types of traffic, within a state forest or any lands |
970 | leased by or otherwise assigned to the Florida Forest Service |
971 | division for management purposes, outside of the designated |
972 | right-of-way of state or county-maintained roads, and may |
973 | designate special areas off the roadways for the operation of |
974 | recreational type vehicles that which need not be licensed or |
975 | operated by licensed drivers. Any person who violates violating |
976 | or otherwise fails failing to comply with any of the provisions |
977 | of this section or any rule rules adopted under this section |
978 | commits pursuant hereto is guilty of a noncriminal violation as |
979 | defined in s. 775.08(3), punishable only by a fine not to exceed |
980 | $500. Jurisdiction shall be with The appropriate county court |
981 | has jurisdiction. |
982 | Section 35. Section 589.08, Florida Statutes, is amended |
983 | to read: |
984 | 589.08 Land acquisition restrictions.- |
985 | (1) The Florida Forest Service may not Division of |
986 | Forestry shall enter into an no agreement for the acquisition, |
987 | lease, or purchase of any land or for any other purpose that |
988 | pledges whatsoever which shall pledge the credit of, or |
989 | obligates obligate in any manner whatsoever, the state to pay |
990 | any sum of money or other thing of value for such purpose, and |
991 | the Florida Forest Service may said division shall not in any |
992 | manner or for any purpose pledge the credit of or obligate the |
993 | state to pay any sum of money. |
994 | (2) The Florida Forest Service division may receive, hold |
995 | the custody of, and exercise the control of any lands, and set |
996 | aside into a separate, distinct, and inviolable fund, any |
997 | proceeds derived from the sales of the products of such lands, |
998 | the use thereof in any manner, or the sale of such lands, except |
999 | for save the 25 percent of the proceeds to be paid into the |
1000 | State School Fund as provided by law. The Florida Forest Service |
1001 | division may use and apply such funds for the acquisition, use, |
1002 | custody, management, development, or improvement of any lands |
1003 | vested in or subject to the control of the Florida Forest |
1004 | Service division. After full payment is has been made for the |
1005 | purchase of a state forest to the Federal Government or other |
1006 | grantor, 15 percent of the gross receipts from a state forest |
1007 | shall be paid to the fiscally constrained county or counties, as |
1008 | described in s. 218.67(1), in which it is located in proportion |
1009 | to the acreage located in each county for use by the county or |
1010 | counties for school purposes. |
1011 | Section 36. Section 589.081, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1012 | to read: |
1013 | 589.081 Withlacoochee State Forest and Goethe State |
1014 | Forest; payment of portion of gross receipts.-The Florida Forest |
1015 | Service Division of Forestry shall pay 15 percent of the gross |
1016 | receipts from Withlacoochee State Forest and the Goethe State |
1017 | Forest to each fiscally constrained county, as described in s. |
1018 | 218.67(1), in which a portion of the respective forest is |
1019 | located in proportion to the forest acreage located in such |
1020 | county. The funds must be equally divided between the board of |
1021 | county commissioners and the school board of each fiscally |
1022 | constrained county. |
1023 | Section 37. Section 589.09, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1024 | to read: |
1025 | 589.09 Use of lands acquired.-All lands acquired by the |
1026 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry on behalf of the |
1027 | state shall be in the custody of and subject to the |
1028 | jurisdiction, management, and control of the Florida Forest |
1029 | Service said division, and, for such purposes and the use |
1030 | utilization and development of such land, the Florida Forest |
1031 | Service said division may use the proceeds of the sale of any |
1032 | products therefrom, the proceeds of the sale of any such lands, |
1033 | except for save the 25 percent of such proceeds which shall be |
1034 | paid into the State School Fund as required by s. 1010.71(1), |
1035 | and such other funds as may be appropriated for use by the |
1036 | Florida Forest Service division, and in the opinion of the |
1037 | Florida Forest Service such division, available for such uses |
1038 | and purposes. |
1039 | Section 38. Section 589.10, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1040 | to read: |
1041 | 589.10 Disposition of lands.-The Florida Forest Service |
1042 | Division of Forestry, with the concurrence of the Board of |
1043 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and the |
1044 | Governor, may sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of any |
1045 | lands under its jurisdiction by the provisions of this chapter |
1046 | when in its judgment it is advantageous to the state to do so in |
1047 | the interest of the highest orderly development, improvement, |
1048 | and management of the state forests and state parks. All such |
1049 | sales, exchanges, leases, or dispositions of such lands require, |
1050 | shall be at least 30 days' upon a 30-day public notice, to be |
1051 | given in the manner deemed reasonable by the Florida Forest |
1052 | Service division. |
1053 | Section 39. Section 589.101, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1054 | to read: |
1055 | 589.101 Blackwater River State Forest; lease of board's |
1056 | interest in gas, oil, and other minerals.-Notwithstanding the |
1057 | provisions of ss. 253.51-253.61, the Florida Forest Service may |
1058 | Division of Forestry is hereby expressly granted the authority |
1059 | to lease its 25-percent interest in oil, gas, and other minerals |
1060 | within the boundaries of the Blackwater River State Forest; |
1061 | provided, however, such leases may only that grants shall be |
1062 | made only to the lessee or lessees holding the 75-percent |
1063 | interest in such said minerals retained by the United States in |
1064 | its conveyance to this state. The concurrence of the Board of |
1065 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund required by s. |
1066 | 589.10 is shall not be necessary under the provisions of this |
1067 | section. |
1068 | Section 40. Section 589.11, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1069 | to read: |
1070 | 589.11 Duties of Florida Forest Service under federal |
1071 | division as to Clarke-McNary Act Law.- |
1072 | (1) The Florida Forest Service may, Division of Forestry |
1073 | is designated and authorized as an the agent of the state, to |
1074 | cooperate with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under |
1075 | s. 5 of the federal the provisions of "ss. 4 and 5, Chapter 348, |
1076 | 43 Statutes 654, Acts of Congress, June 7, 1924, known as the |
1077 | Clarke-McNary Act, 16 U.S.C. s. 568, Law," to assist owners of |
1078 | farms in establishing, improving, and renewing woodlots, |
1079 | shelterbelts, windbreaks, and other valuable forest growth; in |
1080 | growing and renewing useful timber crops; and in cooperating to |
1081 | cooperate with the wood-using industries or other agencies, |
1082 | governmental or otherwise, interested in proper land use, forest |
1083 | management, and conservative forest utilization. |
1084 | (2) As a means of providing seedling trees for the |
1085 | purposes of this section, the Florida Forest Service may |
1086 | division is authorized to operate a seedling tree nursery |
1087 | program and to set reasonable prices for the sale to the public |
1088 | of seedling trees. Receipts from the sale of seedling trees |
1089 | shall be deposited into the Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida |
1090 | Forest Service division. |
1091 | Section 41. Section 589.12, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1092 | to read: |
1093 | (Substantial rewording of section. See |
1094 | s. 589.12, F.S., for present text.) |
1095 | 589.12 Rulemaking.-The Florida Forest Service may adopt |
1096 | rules and take other reasonable and necessary actions to |
1097 | administer ss. 589.07-589.11. |
1098 | Section 42. Section 589.13, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1099 | to read: |
1100 | 589.13 Lien of Florida Forest Service division and other |
1101 | parties, for forestry work, etc.-Liens prior in dignity to all |
1102 | others accruing thereafter shall exist in favor of the following |
1103 | persons, boards, firms, or corporations upon the following |
1104 | described real estate, under the following circumstances |
1105 | hereinafter mentioned: |
1106 | (1) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry, the |
1107 | United States Government, or other governmental authority, upon |
1108 | all lands covered in any cooperative or other agreement entered |
1109 | into between the landowner and the Florida Forest Service |
1110 | division (which term shall embrace and include agreements with |
1111 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry).; |
1112 | (2) The United States Government or other governmental |
1113 | authority, for the prevention and control of woods fires and |
1114 | other forestry work to the extent of the amounts expended by the |
1115 | Florida Forest Service such division, service, or other |
1116 | governmental authority for and on behalf of the landowner and |
1117 | not paid by the landowner under the terms of such said |
1118 | agreement. |
1119 | Section 43. Section 589.14, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1120 | to read: |
1121 | 589.14 Enforcement of lien; notice.-The Florida Forest |
1122 | Service Division of Forestry, United States Government, or other |
1123 | governmental authority is shall be entitled to the subject said |
1124 | real estate in equity for the value of such expenditures made by |
1125 | it in pursuance of any such agreement, and may, at any time |
1126 | after the expenditure thereof and after default in payment |
1127 | thereof by the landowner in accordance with the terms of such |
1128 | agreement, file in the office of the clerk of the circuit court |
1129 | of the county in which the property is located, and have |
1130 | recorded in the record of liens kept by such clerk, a notice of |
1131 | the expenditures made in pursuance of such agreement and of |
1132 | default of the landowner in the payment of same in accordance |
1133 | with the terms thereof (the form of notice being provided in s. |
1134 | 589.15), and from the date of the filing of such notice, the |
1135 | rights of purchasers or creditors of such landowner shall be |
1136 | subject and subordinate to the claim set out in the notice. |
1137 | Section 44. Section 589.18, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1138 | to read: |
1139 | 589.18 Florida Forest Service; Division to make certain |
1140 | investigations.-The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry |
1141 | shall conduct investigations and make surveys to determine the |
1142 | areas of land in the state that which are available and suitable |
1143 | for reforestation projects and state forests, and may make |
1144 | recommendations recommend to the Board of Trustees of the |
1145 | Internal Improvement Trust Fund, any state agency, or any agency |
1146 | created by state law that which is authorized to accept lands in |
1147 | the name of the state, concerning their acquisition. The Florida |
1148 | Forest Service is division shall be considered as a state agency |
1149 | for purposes of under this section law. |
1150 | Section 45. Section 589.19, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1151 | to read: |
1152 | 589.19 Creation of certain state forests; naming of |
1153 | certain state forests.- |
1154 | (1) When the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement |
1155 | Trust Fund, any state agency, or any agency created by state law |
1156 | that is, authorized to accept reforestation lands in the name of |
1157 | the state, approves the recommendations of the Florida Forest |
1158 | Service Division of Forestry in reference to the acquisition of |
1159 | land and acquires acquire such land, such the said board, state |
1160 | agency, or agency created by state law, may formally designate |
1161 | and dedicate any area as a reforestation project, or state |
1162 | forest, and where so designated and dedicated, such area shall |
1163 | be under the administration of the Florida Forest Service, |
1164 | division which may shall be authorized to manage and administer |
1165 | such said area according to the purpose for which it was |
1166 | designated and dedicated. |
1167 | (2) The first state forest acquired by the Board of |
1168 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund in Baker County |
1169 | is designated as to be named the John M. Bethea State Forest. |
1170 | This designation honors is to honor Mr. John M. Bethea, who was |
1171 | Florida's fourth State Forester and a native of Baker County, |
1172 | and whose distinguished career in state government spanned 46 |
1173 | years and who is a native of Baker County. |
1174 | (3) The state forest managed by the Florida Forest Service |
1175 | Division of Forestry in Seminole County is designated as to be |
1176 | named the Charles H. Bronson State Forest. This designation |
1177 | honors to honor Charles H. Bronson, the tenth Commissioner of |
1178 | Agriculture, for his distinguished contribution to this state's |
1179 | agriculture and natural resources. |
1180 | Section 46. Section 589.20, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1181 | to read: |
1182 | 589.20 Cooperation by Florida Forest Service division.-The |
1183 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry may cooperate with |
1184 | other state agencies that, who are custodians of lands that |
1185 | which are suitable for forestry purposes, in the designation and |
1186 | dedication of such lands for forestry purposes when, in the |
1187 | opinion of the state agencies concerned, such lands are suitable |
1188 | for these purposes and can be so administered. Upon the |
1189 | designation and dedication of such said lands for these purposes |
1190 | by the agencies concerned, such said lands shall be administered |
1191 | by the Florida Forest Service division. |
1192 | Section 47. Section 589.21, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1193 | to read: |
1194 | 589.21 Management to be for public interest.-All state |
1195 | forests and reforestation projects mentioned in this chapter |
1196 | shall be managed and administered by the Florida Forest Service |
1197 | Division of Forestry in the interests of the public. If the |
1198 | public interests are not already safeguarded and clearly defined |
1199 | by law or by regulations adopted by the state agencies |
1200 | authorized by law to administer such lands, or in the papers |
1201 | formally transferring such said projects to the Florida Forest |
1202 | Service division for administration, then, and in that event, |
1203 | the Florida Forest Service division may define the purposes |
1204 | purpose of such projects said project. Such definition of |
1205 | purposes shall be construed to have the authority of law. |
1206 | Section 48. Section 589.26, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1207 | to read: |
1208 | 589.26 Dedication of state park lands for public use.-The |
1209 | Florida Forest Service may periodically Division of Forestry is |
1210 | authorized and empowered, from time to time, to dedicate and |
1211 | reserve for the use of the public all or any part of the lands |
1212 | heretofore or hereafter acquired by the Florida Forest Service |
1213 | said Division of Forestry for park purposes, regardless of when |
1214 | such lands are acquired; provided, however, such that said |
1215 | dedication and reservation are shall be subject to such rules |
1216 | and regulations, as to reasonable use by the public, as may be |
1217 | adopted by the Division of Recreation and Parks of the |
1218 | Department of Environmental Protection. |
1219 | Section 49. Section 589.27, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1220 | to read: |
1221 | 589.27 Power of eminent domain; procedure.-Whenever the |
1222 | Florida Forest Service finds Division of Forestry shall find it |
1223 | necessary to acquire private property for state forests, for or |
1224 | rights-of-way for state forest roads, or for exercising any of |
1225 | the powers and duties assigned authorized and prescribed by law |
1226 | to be exercised and performed by the Florida Forest Service |
1227 | Division of Forestry, the Florida Forest Service may Division of |
1228 | Forestry is hereby empowered and authorized to exercise the |
1229 | right of eminent domain and to proceed to condemn such said |
1230 | property in the same manner as provided by law for the |
1231 | condemnation of private property by counties. |
1232 | Section 50. Section 589.275, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1233 | to read: |
1234 | 589.275 Planting of indigenous trees on state lands.-The |
1235 | It is the intent of the Legislature intends to partially restore |
1236 | the character of the state's original domain of Florida by |
1237 | planting native trees on state lands, and to this end all state |
1238 | lands shall have a portion of such lands designated for |
1239 | indigenous trees, to be established and maintained by the using |
1240 | agency with the assistance of the Florida Forest Service |
1241 | Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and |
1242 | Consumer Services. If the Florida Forest Service division, or |
1243 | primary managing agency, determines that any state lands are |
1244 | unsuitable for this purpose, such lands are shall be exempt from |
1245 | this requirement. |
1246 | Section 51. Section 589.277, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1247 | to read: |
1248 | 589.277 Tree planting programs.- |
1249 | (1) The Division of Forestry of the Florida Forest Service |
1250 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall administer |
1251 | federal, state, and privately sponsored tree planting programs |
1252 | designed to assist private rural landowners and urban |
1253 | communities. |
1254 | (2) Contributions from governmental and private sources |
1255 | for tree planting programs may be accepted into the Federal |
1256 | Grants Trust Fund. |
1257 | (3) The Florida Forest Service shall Division of Forestry |
1258 | is authorized and directed to develop and implement guidelines |
1259 | and procedures under which the financial resources of the fund |
1260 | allocated for tree planting programs may be used utilized for |
1261 | urban and rural reforestation. |
1262 | (4) Grants to municipalities, counties, nonprofit |
1263 | organizations, and qualifying private landowners may be made |
1264 | from allocated moneys in the fund for the purpose of purchasing, |
1265 | planting, and maintaining native tree species. |
1266 | (5) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry shall |
1267 | assist the Department of Education in developing programs that |
1268 | teach the importance of trees in the urban, rural, and global |
1269 | environment. |
1270 | Section 52. Section 589.28, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1271 | to read: |
1272 | 589.28 County commissions or municipalities authorized to |
1273 | cooperate with Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry.- |
1274 | County commissions or municipalities may are authorized to |
1275 | cooperate with the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry |
1276 | of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in |
1277 | providing assistance in forestry and forest-related knowledge |
1278 | and skills to stimulate the production of timber wealth through |
1279 | the proper use of forest land and to protect and improve the |
1280 | beauty of urban and suburban areas by helping to create in them |
1281 | an attractive and healthy environment through the proper use of |
1282 | trees and related plant associations. County commissions or |
1283 | municipalities may are hereby authorized to appropriate funds |
1284 | and enter into cooperative agreements with the Florida Forest |
1285 | Service Division of Forestry under the terms and conditions set |
1286 | forth in ss. 589.28-589.34. |
1287 | Section 53. Section 589.29, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1288 | to read: |
1289 | 589.29 Quality of assistance.-Any advice and assistance |
1290 | provided under ss. 589.28-589.34 is shall be the responsibility |
1291 | of the State Forester and the Florida Forest Service Division of |
1292 | Forestry and shall be conducted under the supervision of a |
1293 | professional forester in an efficient and competent manner by |
1294 | personnel who have the required education, training, and |
1295 | experience to accomplish the objectives of these sections. |
1296 | Section 54. Section 589.30, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1297 | to read: |
1298 | 589.30 Duty of district forester.-It shall be the duty of |
1299 | The district forester shall to direct all work in accordance |
1300 | with the law and with rules adopted by regulations of the |
1301 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry; gather and |
1302 | disseminate information in the management of commercial timber, |
1303 | including establishment, protection, and use utilization; and |
1304 | assist in the development and use of forest lands for outdoor |
1305 | recreation, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat. The |
1306 | district forester or his or her representative shall provide |
1307 | encouragement and technical assistance to individuals and urban |
1308 | and county officials in the planning, establishment, and |
1309 | management of trees and plant associations to enhance the beauty |
1310 | of the urban and suburban environment and meet outdoor |
1311 | recreational needs. |
1312 | Section 55. Section 589.31, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1313 | to read: |
1314 | 589.31 Cooperative agreement.-Before any assistance is |
1315 | provided under ss. 589.28-589.34 this law, the county or |
1316 | municipality and the Florida Forest Service Division of |
1317 | Forestry, through their duly constituted representatives, shall |
1318 | enter into a mutually satisfactory cooperative agreement |
1319 | covering the specific duties, and set up a budget for any fiscal |
1320 | period beginning July 1 and ending June 30., and The county's or |
1321 | municipality's share of the budget provided shall be remitted |
1322 | turned over to the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry, |
1323 | one-half on or before July 1, and the remainder on or before |
1324 | January 1, and deposited placed in the Incidental Trust Fund of |
1325 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry. |
1326 | Section 56. Section 589.32, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1327 | to read: |
1328 | 589.32 Cost of providing county or municipal forestry |
1329 | assistance.-The cost of county or municipal forestry assistance |
1330 | provided under the provisions of ss. 589.28-589.34 shall be |
1331 | jointly determined and paid by the Florida Forest Service |
1332 | Division of Forestry and the county commission or municipality. |
1333 | Such cost must and shall be at least not less than 40 percent of |
1334 | the cost of the equivalent of 1 person-year of assistance. |
1335 | However, the county or municipality share may shall not exceed |
1336 | the sum of $3,000 per annum for each person-year of assistance |
1337 | provided. |
1338 | Section 57. Section 589.33, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1339 | to read: |
1340 | 589.33 Expenditure of budgeted funds.-The Florida Forest |
1341 | Service shall expend any money budgeted for a fiscal period |
1342 | shall be expended by the Division of Forestry during the period |
1343 | for which it was budgeted, and amounts not expended or |
1344 | specifically obligated by contract or other legal procedure |
1345 | during that period shall be available for the next fiscal period |
1346 | or shall be returned to the Florida Forest Service Division of |
1347 | Forestry and the county or municipality in the same proportions |
1348 | as appropriated. However, if when 40 percent of the cost of 1 |
1349 | person-year of assistance equals or exceeds $3,000, then in that |
1350 | event all of the budget balance reverts will revert to the |
1351 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry. |
1352 | Section 58. Section 589.34, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1353 | to read: |
1354 | 589.34 Revocation of agreement.-Any agreement or revision |
1355 | thereof entered into by the Florida Forest Service Division of |
1356 | Forestry and a county or municipality under ss. 589.28-589.34 |
1357 | the provisions of this law shall continue from year to year, |
1358 | unless written notice is given to the other party 30 days before |
1359 | prior to July 1 of any year of the intention to discontinue the |
1360 | work and cancel the agreement. |
1361 | Section 59. Section 590.01, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1362 | to read: |
1363 | 590.01 Wildfire protection.-The Florida Forest Service |
1364 | division has the primary responsibility for preventing, |
1365 | detecting, and suppressing prevention, detection, and |
1366 | suppression of wildfires wherever they may occur. The Florida |
1367 | Forest Service division shall provide leadership and direction |
1368 | in evaluating, coordinating, allocating the evaluation, |
1369 | coordination, allocation of resources for, and monitoring of |
1370 | wildfire management and protection. The Florida Forest Service |
1371 | division shall promote natural resource management and fuel |
1372 | reduction through the use of prescribed fire and other fuel |
1373 | reduction measures. |
1374 | Section 60. Subsections (2) through (5) of section |
1375 | 590.015, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (1) |
1376 | through (4), respectively, and present subsection (1) of that |
1377 | section is amended to read: |
1378 | 590.015 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: |
1379 | (1) "Division" means the Division of Forestry of the |
1380 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
1381 | Section 61. Section 590.02, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1382 | to read: |
1383 | 590.02 Florida Forest Service; Division powers, authority, |
1384 | and duties; liability; building structures; Florida Center for |
1385 | Wildfire and Forest Resources Management Training.- |
1386 | (1) The Florida Forest Service division has the following |
1387 | powers, authority, and duties: |
1388 | (a) To enforce the provisions of this chapter.; |
1389 | (b) To prevent, detect, suppress, and extinguish wildfires |
1390 | wherever they may occur on public or private land in this state |
1391 | and to do all things necessary in the exercise of such powers, |
1392 | authority, and duties.; |
1393 | (c) To provide firefighting crews, who shall be under the |
1394 | control and direction of the Florida Forest Service division and |
1395 | its designated agents.; |
1396 | (d) To appoint center managers, forest area supervisors, |
1397 | forestry program administrators, a forest protection bureau |
1398 | chief, a forest protection assistant bureau chief, a field |
1399 | operations bureau chief, deputy chiefs of field operations, |
1400 | district managers, senior forest rangers, investigators, forest |
1401 | rangers, firefighter rotorcraft pilots, and other employees who |
1402 | may, at the division's discretion of the Florida Forest Service, |
1403 | be certified as forestry firefighters under pursuant to s. |
1404 | 633.35(4). Notwithstanding any other provisions of law |
1405 | notwithstanding, center managers, district managers, the forest |
1406 | protection assistant bureau chief, and deputy chiefs of field |
1407 | operations shall have Selected Exempt Service status in the |
1408 | state personnel designation.; |
1409 | (e) To develop a training curriculum for forestry |
1410 | firefighters that contains which must contain the basic |
1411 | volunteer structural fire training course approved by the |
1412 | Florida State Fire College of the Division of State Fire Marshal |
1413 | and a minimum of 250 hours of wildfire training.; |
1414 | (f) To adopt make rules to administer accomplish the |
1415 | purposes of this chapter.; |
1416 | (g) To provide fire management services and emergency |
1417 | response assistance and to set and charge reasonable fees for |
1418 | performance of those services. Moneys collected from such fees |
1419 | shall be deposited into the Incidental Trust Fund of the Florida |
1420 | Forest Service. division; and |
1421 | (h) To require all state, regional, and local government |
1422 | agencies operating aircraft in the vicinity of an ongoing |
1423 | wildfire to operate in compliance with the applicable state |
1424 | Wildfire Aviation Plan. |
1425 | (2) Division Employees of the Florida Forest Service, and |
1426 | the firefighting crews under their control and direction, may |
1427 | enter upon any lands for the purpose of preventing and |
1428 | suppressing wildfires and investigating smoke complaints or open |
1429 | burning not in compliance with authorization and to enforce the |
1430 | provisions of this chapter. |
1431 | (3) Employees of the Florida Forest Service division and |
1432 | of federal, state, and local agencies, and all other persons and |
1433 | entities that are under contract or agreement with the Florida |
1434 | Forest Service division to assist in firefighting operations as |
1435 | well as those entities, called upon by the Florida Forest |
1436 | Service division to assist in firefighting may, in the |
1437 | performance of their duties, set counterfires, remove fences and |
1438 | other obstacles, dig trenches, cut firelines, use water from |
1439 | public and private sources, and carry on all other customary |
1440 | activities in the fighting of wildfires without incurring |
1441 | liability to any person or entity. |
1442 | (4) The department may build structures, notwithstanding |
1443 | chapters 216 and 255, not to exceed a cost of $50,000 per |
1444 | structure from existing resources on forest lands, federal |
1445 | excess property, and unneeded existing structures. These |
1446 | structures must meet all applicable building codes. |
1447 | (5) The Florida Forest Service division shall organize its |
1448 | operational units to most effectively prevent, detect, and |
1449 | suppress wildfires, and, to that end, may employ the necessary |
1450 | personnel to manage its activities in each unit. The Florida |
1451 | Forest Service division may construct lookout towers, roads, |
1452 | bridges, firelines, and other facilities and may purchase or |
1453 | fabricate tools, supplies, and equipment for firefighting. The |
1454 | Florida Forest Service division may reimburse the public and |
1455 | private entities that it engages to assist in the suppression of |
1456 | wildfires for their personnel and equipment, including aircraft. |
1457 | (6) The Florida Forest Service division shall undertake |
1458 | privatization alternatives for fire prevention activities |
1459 | including constructing fire lines and conducting prescribed |
1460 | burns and, where appropriate, entering into agreements or |
1461 | contracts with the private sector to perform such activities. |
1462 | (7) The Florida Forest Service division may organize, |
1463 | staff, equip, and operate the Florida Center for Wildfire and |
1464 | Forest Resources Management Training. The center shall serve as |
1465 | a site where fire and forest resource managers can obtain |
1466 | current knowledge, techniques, skills, and theory as they relate |
1467 | to their respective disciplines. |
1468 | (a) The center may establish cooperative efforts involving |
1469 | federal, state, and local entities; hire appropriate personnel; |
1470 | and engage others by contract or agreement with or without |
1471 | compensation to assist in carrying out the training and |
1472 | operations of the center. |
1473 | (b) The center shall provide wildfire suppression training |
1474 | opportunities for rural fire departments, volunteer fire |
1475 | departments, and other local fire response units. |
1476 | (c) The center shall will focus on curriculum related to, |
1477 | but not limited to, fuel reduction, an incident management |
1478 | system, prescribed burning certification, multiple-use land |
1479 | management, water quality, forest health, environmental |
1480 | education, and wildfire suppression training for structural |
1481 | firefighters. |
1482 | (d) The center may assess appropriate fees for food, |
1483 | lodging, travel, course materials, and supplies in order to meet |
1484 | its operational costs and may grant free meals, room, and |
1485 | scholarships to persons and other entities in exchange for |
1486 | instructional assistance. |
1487 | (e) An advisory committee consisting of the following |
1488 | individuals or their designees must review program curriculum, |
1489 | course content, and scheduling: |
1490 | 1. The State Forester or his or her designee. Director of |
1491 | the Florida Division of Forestry; the assistant director of the |
1492 | Florida Division of Forestry; |
1493 | 2. The director of the School of Forest Resources and |
1494 | Conservation of the University of Florida.; |
1495 | 3. The director of the Division of Recreation and Parks of |
1496 | the Department of Environmental Protection.; |
1497 | 4. The director of the Division of the State Fire |
1498 | Marshal.; |
1499 | 5. The director of the Florida Chapter of The Nature |
1500 | Conservancy.; |
1501 | 6. The executive vice president of the Florida Forestry |
1502 | Association.; |
1503 | 7. The president of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation.; |
1504 | 8. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife |
1505 | Conservation Commission.; |
1506 | 9. The executive director of a water management district |
1507 | as appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.; |
1508 | 10. The supervisor of the National Forests in Florida.; |
1509 | 11. The president of the Florida Fire Chief's |
1510 | Association.; and |
1511 | 12. The executive director of the Tall Timbers Research |
1512 | Station. |
1513 | (8) The Cross City Work Center is designated as shall be |
1514 | named the L. Earl Peterson Forestry Station. This designation |
1515 | honors is to honor Mr. L. Earl Peterson, Florida's sixth State |
1516 | Forester and a native of Dixie County, whose distinguished |
1517 | career in state government has spanned 44 years, and who is a |
1518 | native of Dixie County. |
1519 | Section 62. Subsection (3) of section 590.081, Florida |
1520 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1521 | 590.081 Severe drought conditions; burning prohibited.- |
1522 | (3) It is unlawful for any person to set fire to, or cause |
1523 | fire to be set to, any wild lands or to build a campfire or |
1524 | bonfire or to burn trash or other debris within the designated |
1525 | area of a severe drought emergency unless a written permit is |
1526 | obtained from the Florida Forest Service division or its |
1527 | designated agent. |
1528 | Section 63. Section 590.091, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1529 | to read: |
1530 | 590.091 Designation of railroad rights-of-way as wildfire |
1531 | hazard areas.- |
1532 | (1) The Florida Forest Service division may annually |
1533 | designate, on or before October 1, those railroad rights-of-way |
1534 | in this state that which are known wildfire hazard areas. |
1535 | (2) It shall be the duty of all railroad companies |
1536 | operating in this state to maintain their rights-of-way |
1537 | designated as provided in subsection (1), as known wildfire |
1538 | hazard areas, in an approved condition as shall be prescribed by |
1539 | rule of the Florida Forest Service division and to provide |
1540 | adequate firebreaks where needed, so as to prevent fire from |
1541 | igniting or spreading from rights-of-way to adjacent property. |
1542 | Section 64. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1), paragraph (a) |
1543 | of subsection (2), paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) of subsection |
1544 | (3), and subsection (4) of section 590.125, Florida Statutes, |
1545 | are amended to read: |
1546 | 590.125 Open burning authorized by the Florida Forest |
1547 | Service division.- |
1548 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
1549 | (b) "Certified prescribed burn manager" means an |
1550 | individual who successfully completes the certification program |
1551 | of the Florida Forest Service division and possesses a valid |
1552 | certification number. |
1553 | (2) NONCERTIFIED BURNING.- |
1554 | (a) Persons may be authorized to burn wild land or |
1555 | vegetative land-clearing debris in accordance with this |
1556 | subsection if: |
1557 | 1. There is specific consent of the landowner or his or |
1558 | her designee; |
1559 | 2. Authorization has been obtained from the Florida Forest |
1560 | Service division or its designated agent before starting the |
1561 | burn; |
1562 | 3. There are adequate firebreaks at the burn site and |
1563 | sufficient personnel and firefighting equipment for the control |
1564 | of the fire; |
1565 | 4. The fire remains within the boundary of the authorized |
1566 | area; |
1567 | 5. Someone is present at the burn site until the fire is |
1568 | extinguished; |
1569 | 6. The Florida Forest Service division does not cancel the |
1570 | authorization; and |
1571 | 7. The Florida Forest Service division determines that air |
1572 | quality and fire danger are favorable for safe burning. |
1573 | (3) CERTIFIED PRESCRIBED BURNING; LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND |
1574 | PURPOSE.- |
1575 | (a) The application of prescribed burning is a land |
1576 | management tool that benefits the safety of the public, the |
1577 | environment, and the economy of the state. The Legislature finds |
1578 | that: |
1579 | 1. Prescribed burning reduces vegetative fuels within wild |
1580 | land areas. Reduction of the fuel load reduces the risk and |
1581 | severity of wildfire, thereby reducing the threat of loss of |
1582 | life and property, particularly in urban areas. |
1583 | 2. Most of Florida's natural communities require periodic |
1584 | fire for maintenance of their ecological integrity. Prescribed |
1585 | burning is essential to the perpetuation, restoration, and |
1586 | management of many plant and animal communities. Significant |
1587 | loss of the state's biological diversity will occur if fire is |
1588 | excluded from fire-dependent systems. |
1589 | 3. Forestland and rangeland constitute significant |
1590 | economic, biological, and aesthetic resources of statewide |
1591 | importance. Prescribed burning on forestland prepares sites for |
1592 | reforestation, removes undesirable competing vegetation, |
1593 | expedites nutrient cycling, and controls or eliminates certain |
1594 | forest pathogens. On rangeland, prescribed burning improves the |
1595 | quality and quantity of herbaceous vegetation necessary for |
1596 | livestock production. |
1597 | 4. The state purchased hundreds of thousands of acres of |
1598 | land for parks, preserves, wildlife management areas, forests, |
1599 | and other public purposes. The use of prescribed burning for |
1600 | management of public lands is essential to maintain the specific |
1601 | resource values for which these lands were acquired. |
1602 | 5. A public education program is necessary to make |
1603 | citizens and visitors aware of the public safety, resource, and |
1604 | economic benefits of prescribed burning. |
1605 | 6. Proper training in the use of prescribed burning is |
1606 | necessary to ensure maximum benefits and protection for the |
1607 | public. |
1608 | 7. As Florida's population continues to grow, pressures |
1609 | from liability issues and nuisance complaints inhibit the use of |
1610 | prescribed burning. Therefore, the Florida Forest Service |
1611 | division is urged to maximize the opportunities for prescribed |
1612 | burning conducted during its daytime and nighttime authorization |
1613 | process. |
1614 | (b) Certified prescribed burning pertains only to |
1615 | broadcast burning. It must be conducted in accordance with this |
1616 | subsection and: |
1617 | 1. May be accomplished only when a certified prescribed |
1618 | burn manager is present on site with a copy of the prescription |
1619 | from ignition of the burn to its completion. |
1620 | 2. Requires that a written prescription be prepared before |
1621 | receiving authorization to burn from the Florida Forest Service |
1622 | division. |
1623 | 3. Requires that the specific consent of the landowner or |
1624 | his or her designee be obtained before requesting an |
1625 | authorization. |
1626 | 4. Requires that an authorization to burn be obtained from |
1627 | the Florida Forest Service division before igniting the burn. |
1628 | 5. Requires that there be adequate firebreaks at the burn |
1629 | site and sufficient personnel and firefighting equipment for the |
1630 | control of the fire. |
1631 | 6. Is considered to be in the public interest and does not |
1632 | constitute a public or private nuisance when conducted under |
1633 | applicable state air pollution statutes and rules. |
1634 | 7. Is considered to be a property right of the property |
1635 | owner if vegetative fuels are burned as required in this |
1636 | subsection. |
1637 | (e) The Florida Forest Service division shall adopt rules |
1638 | for the use of prescribed burning and for certifying and |
1639 | decertifying certified prescribed burn managers based on their |
1640 | past experience, training, and record of compliance with this |
1641 | section. |
1642 | (4) WILDFIRE HAZARD REDUCTION TREATMENT BY THE FLORIDA |
1643 | FOREST SERVICE DIVISION.-The Florida Forest Service division may |
1644 | conduct fuel reduction initiatives, including, but not limited |
1645 | to, burning and mechanical and chemical treatment, on any area |
1646 | of wild land within the state which is reasonably determined to |
1647 | be in danger of wildfire in accordance with the following |
1648 | procedures: |
1649 | (a) Describe the areas that will receive fuels treatment |
1650 | to the affected local governmental entity. |
1651 | (b) Publish a treatment notice, including a description of |
1652 | the area to be treated, in a conspicuous manner in at least one |
1653 | newspaper of general circulation in the area of the treatment |
1654 | not less than 10 days before the treatment. |
1655 | (c) Prepare, and the county tax collector shall include |
1656 | with the annual tax statement, a notice to be sent to all |
1657 | landowners in each township designated by the Florida Forest |
1658 | Service division as a wildfire hazard area. The notice must |
1659 | describe particularly the area to be treated and the tentative |
1660 | date or dates of the treatment and must list the reasons for and |
1661 | the expected benefits from the wildfire hazard reduction. |
1662 | (d) Consider any landowner objections to the fuels |
1663 | treatment of his or her property. The landowner may apply to the |
1664 | State Forester director of the division for a review of |
1665 | alternative methods of fuel reduction on the property. If the |
1666 | State Forester director or his or her designee does not resolve |
1667 | the landowner objection, the State Forester director shall |
1668 | convene a panel made up of the local forestry unit manager, the |
1669 | fire chief of the jurisdiction, and the affected county or city |
1670 | manager, or any of their designees. If the panel's |
1671 | recommendation is not acceptable to the landowner, the landowner |
1672 | may request further consideration by the Commissioner of |
1673 | Agriculture or his or her designee and shall thereafter be |
1674 | entitled to an administrative hearing pursuant to the provisions |
1675 | of chapter 120. |
1676 | Section 65. Section 590.14, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1677 | to read: |
1678 | 590.14 Notice of violation; penalties.- |
1679 | (1) If a Florida Forest Service division employee |
1680 | determines that a person has violated chapter 589 or this |
1681 | chapter, he or she may issue a notice of violation indicating |
1682 | the statute violated. This notice shall will be filed with the |
1683 | Florida Forest Service division and a copy forwarded to the |
1684 | appropriate law enforcement entity for further action if |
1685 | necessary. |
1686 | (2) In addition to any penalties provided by law, any |
1687 | person who causes a wildfire or permits any authorized fire to |
1688 | escape the boundaries of the authorization or to burn past the |
1689 | time of the authorization is liable for the payment of all |
1690 | reasonable costs and expenses incurred in suppressing the fire |
1691 | or $150, whichever is greater. All costs and expenses incurred |
1692 | by the Florida Forest Service division shall be payable to the |
1693 | Florida Forest Service division. When such costs and expenses |
1694 | are not paid within 30 days after demand, the Florida Forest |
1695 | Service division may take proper legal proceedings for the |
1696 | collection of the costs and expenses. Those costs incurred by an |
1697 | agency acting at the division's direction of the Florida Forest |
1698 | Service are recoverable by that agency. |
1699 | (3) The department may also impose an administrative fine, |
1700 | not to exceed $1,000 per violation of any section of chapter 589 |
1701 | or this chapter. The fine shall be based upon the degree of |
1702 | damage, the prior violation record of the person, and whether |
1703 | the person knowingly provided false information to obtain an |
1704 | authorization. The fines shall be deposited in the Incidental |
1705 | Trust Fund of the Florida Forest Service division. |
1706 | (4) The penalties provided in this section shall extend to |
1707 | both the actual violator and the person or persons, firm, or |
1708 | corporation causing, directing, or permitting the violation. |
1709 | Section 66. Section 590.16, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1710 | to read: |
1711 | 590.16 Rewards.-The Florida Forest Service division, in |
1712 | its discretion, may offer and pay rewards for information |
1713 | leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who violates |
1714 | any provision of this chapter. |
1715 | Section 67. Section 590.25, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1716 | to read: |
1717 | 590.25 Penalty for preventing or obstructing |
1718 | extinguishment of wildfires.-Any person who interferes Whoever |
1719 | shall interfere with, obstructs, obstruct or commits commit any |
1720 | act aimed to obstruct the extinguishment of wildfires by the |
1721 | employees of the Florida Forest Service division or any other |
1722 | person engaged in the extinguishment of a wildfire, or who |
1723 | damages or destroys any equipment being used for such purpose, |
1724 | commits shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, |
1725 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
1726 | Section 68. Section 590.33, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1727 | to read: |
1728 | 590.33 State compact administrator; compact advisory |
1729 | committee.-In pursuance of art. III of the compact, the State |
1730 | Forester director of the division shall act as compact |
1731 | administrator for Florida of the Southeastern Interstate Forest |
1732 | Fire Protection Compact during his or her term of office as |
1733 | State Forester director, and his or her successor as compact |
1734 | administrator shall be his or her successor as State Forester |
1735 | director of the division. As compact administrator, he or she |
1736 | shall be an ex officio member of the advisory committee of the |
1737 | Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact, and |
1738 | chair ex officio of the Florida members of the advisory |
1739 | committee. There shall be four members of the Southeastern |
1740 | Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact Advisory Committee |
1741 | from Florida. Two of the members from Florida shall be members |
1742 | of the Legislature of Florida, one from the Senate and one from |
1743 | the House of Representatives, and the terms of any such members |
1744 | shall terminate at the time they cease to hold legislative |
1745 | office, and their successors as members shall be named in like |
1746 | manner. The Governor shall appoint the other two members from |
1747 | Florida, one of whom shall be associated with forestry or forest |
1748 | products industries. The terms of such members shall be 3 years |
1749 | and such members shall hold office until their respective |
1750 | successors are shall be appointed and qualified. Vacancies |
1751 | occurring in the office of such members for from any reason or |
1752 | cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the |
1753 | unexpired term. The State Forester, director of the division as |
1754 | compact administrator for Florida, may delegate, from time to |
1755 | time, to any deputy or other subordinate in his or her |
1756 | department or office, the power to be present and participate, |
1757 | including voting, as his or her representative or substitute at |
1758 | any meeting of or hearing by or other proceeding of the compact |
1759 | administrators or of the advisory committee. The terms of each |
1760 | of the initial four memberships, whether appointed at said time |
1761 | or not, shall begin upon the date upon which the compact becomes |
1762 | shall become effective in accordance with art. II of said |
1763 | compact. Any member of the advisory committee may be removed |
1764 | from office by the Governor upon charges and after a hearing. |
1765 | Section 69. Section 590.34, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1766 | to read: |
1767 | 590.34 State compact administrator and compact advisory |
1768 | committee members; powers; aid from other state agencies.-There |
1769 | is hereby granted to the State Forester director of the |
1770 | division, as compact administrator and chair ex officio of the |
1771 | Florida members of the advisory committee, and to the members |
1772 | from Florida of the advisory committee all the powers provided |
1773 | for in the compact and all the powers necessary or incidental to |
1774 | the carrying out of the compact in every particular. All |
1775 | officers of Florida are hereby authorized and directed to do all |
1776 | things falling within their respective provinces and |
1777 | jurisdiction necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the |
1778 | compact in every particular; it being hereby declared to be the |
1779 | policy of the state to perform and carry out the said compact |
1780 | and to accomplish the purposes thereof. All officers, bureaus, |
1781 | departments, and persons of and in the state government or |
1782 | administration of the state are hereby authorized and directed |
1783 | at convenient times and upon request of the compact |
1784 | administrator or of the advisory committee to furnish |
1785 | information data relating to the purposes of the compact |
1786 | possessed by them or any of them to the compact administrator of |
1787 | the advisory committee. They are further authorized to aid the |
1788 | compact administrator or the advisory committee by loan of |
1789 | personnel, equipment, or other means in carrying out the |
1790 | purposes of the compact. |
1791 | Section 70. Section 590.35, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1792 | to read: |
1793 | 590.35 Construction of ss. 590.31-590.34.-Any powers |
1794 | herein granted to the Florida Forest Service division shall be |
1795 | regarded as in aid of and supplemental to and in no case a |
1796 | limitation upon any of the powers vested in the Florida Forest |
1797 | Service division by other laws of Florida or by the laws of the |
1798 | States of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North |
1799 | Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia |
1800 | or by the Congress or the terms of the compact. |
1801 | Section 71. Section 590.42, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1802 | to read: |
1803 | 590.42 Federally funded fire protection assistance |
1804 | programs.- |
1805 | (1) The Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the |
1806 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may enter into |
1807 | agreements with the United States Secretary of Agriculture of |
1808 | the United States in order to participate in the federal |
1809 | Volunteer Rural Community Fire Assistance Protection Program |
1810 | authorized by 16 U.S.C. s. 2106 Pub. L. No. 92-419, whereby the |
1811 | Federal Government provides financial assistance to the states |
1812 | on a matching basis of up to 50 percent of expenditures for such |
1813 | purposes. |
1814 | (2) With respect to the formulation of projects relating |
1815 | to fire protection of livestock, wildlife, crops, pastures, |
1816 | orchards, rangeland, woodland, farmsteads, or other |
1817 | improvements, and other values in rural areas, for which such |
1818 | federal matching funds are available, any participating county |
1819 | or fire department may contribute to the nonfederal matching |
1820 | share and may also contribute such other nonfederal cooperation |
1821 | as may be deemed necessary by the Florida Forest Service |
1822 | division. |
1823 | (3) Any financial assistance received by, or contributions |
1824 | to the nonfederal matching share provided by, a participating |
1825 | county under The provisions of this section are supplementary to |
1826 | any county fire control funds or assessments under the |
1827 | provisions of s. 125.27. |
1828 | Section 72. The title of chapter 591, Florida Statutes, is |
1829 | redesignated as "COMMUNITY FORESTS." |
1830 | Section 73. Section 591.15, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1831 | to read: |
1832 | (Substantial rewording of section. See |
1833 | s. 591.15, F.S., for present text.) |
1834 | 591.15 Short title.-This chapter may be cited as the |
1835 | "Florida Community Forest Law." |
1836 | Section 74. Subsection (1) of section 591.16, Florida |
1837 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1838 | 591.16 Community forests; purposes.-The general purposes |
1839 | of this law are: |
1840 | (1) To encourage counties, municipalities cities, towns, |
1841 | and school districts to utilize idle lands for productive forest |
1842 | purposes. |
1843 | Section 75. Section 591.17, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1844 | to read: |
1845 | 591.17 Community forests; Definitions.-As used in this |
1846 | chapter, the term terms hereinafter used, unless the text |
1847 | clearly indicates a different meaning, shall be as follows: |
1848 | (1)(2) The term "Community forest" means shall mean any |
1849 | forest area established under this chapter law by a county, |
1850 | municipality city, town, or school district. |
1851 | (2)(8) The term "Contiguous sale" means shall mean sale of |
1852 | like forest products from adjoining areas that normally would be |
1853 | in the same sale area as determined by the forester on the |
1854 | forestry committee. |
1855 | (3)(4) "County" or "municipality" includes The term |
1856 | "counties, cities, towns" shall mean any recognized political |
1857 | subdivision of the state government. |
1858 | (4)(7) The term "Forest products" means shall mean any |
1859 | product produced from trees. |
1860 | (5)(3) The term "Forestry committee" means shall mean the |
1861 | appointed committee for directing the activities of community |
1862 | forests. |
1863 | (6)(1) The term "Governing board" means a board of shall |
1864 | mean county commissioners, city commission commissioners, town |
1865 | council councils, school board boards, or any other governing |
1866 | body of a county, municipality counties, cities, towns, or |
1867 | school district districts. |
1868 | (6) The term "division" shall mean the Division of |
1869 | Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
1870 | (7)(5) The term "School district" means an shall mean |
1871 | individual school district districts of a county or a vocational |
1872 | agricultural department departments located in such a district |
1873 | these districts. |
1874 | Section 76. Section 591.18, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1875 | to read: |
1876 | 591.18 Community forests; Purchase or establishment.-All |
1877 | counties, municipalities cities, towns, or school districts, |
1878 | through their governing boards, may are hereby empowered to |
1879 | establish, from lands owned by such county, municipality city, |
1880 | town, or school district in fee simple, or to acquire by |
1881 | purchase or gift, lands at present covered with forest or tree |
1882 | growth, or suitable for the growth of trees, and to administer |
1883 | the same under the direction of the Florida Forest Service |
1884 | Division of Forestry, in accordance with the practice and |
1885 | principles of scientific forestry, for the benefit of such the |
1886 | said counties, municipalities cities, towns, or school |
1887 | districts. Such tracts may be of any size suitable for the |
1888 | purpose but must be located within the county embracing the |
1889 | county, municipality city, town, or school district., provided |
1890 | that it shall be requisite for The governing board availing |
1891 | itself of the provisions of this chapter shall law to submit to |
1892 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry, and secure its |
1893 | approval of the area and location of any lands proposed to be |
1894 | acquired or used for the purposes of county, municipality city, |
1895 | town, or school district forests. |
1896 | Section 77. Section 591.19, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1897 | to read: |
1898 | 591.19 Community forests; Tax delinquent lands.-The |
1899 | Department of Revenue, the Board of Trustees of the Internal |
1900 | Improvement Trust Fund, and counties, municipalities cities, |
1901 | towns, school districts, or any other public agency holding fee |
1902 | simple or tax certificate lands are hereby empowered to, and |
1903 | may, upon application to them, transfer title of fee simple |
1904 | lands not in other public use to any county, municipality city, |
1905 | town, or school district for forest purposes as described under |
1906 | this chapter if law, provided such lands are approved by the |
1907 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry for this purpose. |
1908 | Section 78. Section 591.20, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1909 | to read: |
1910 | 591.20 Community forests; Forestry committee; duties; |
1911 | appropriations.- |
1912 | (1) The governing board of any county, municipality city, |
1913 | town, or school district desiring to establish community forests |
1914 | after enactment of this law shall appoint a forestry committee, |
1915 | consisting of three members, as follows: one member of governing |
1916 | board, one member from the Florida Forest Service Division of |
1917 | Forestry to be designated by the Florida Forest Service |
1918 | division, and one taxpayer of the county, municipality city, |
1919 | town, or school district who is not a member of the governing |
1920 | board. The first two members of such committee shall hold office |
1921 | until replaced in their respective official positions. The third |
1922 | member shall hold office for 3 years. Any vacancy shall be |
1923 | filled at the first regular session of the governing board after |
1924 | the vacancy occurs. The president of the committee shall be |
1925 | selected by the three members for a 1-year term at their first |
1926 | regular meeting. The representative of the Florida Forest |
1927 | Service may Division of Forestry shall not serve as an officer |
1928 | of the committee or nor be responsible for making reports. All |
1929 | members shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to |
1930 | reimbursement shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as |
1931 | provided in s. 112.061. |
1932 | Section 79. Section 591.21, Florida Statutes, is |
1933 | transferred, renumbered as subsections (2) and (3) of section |
1934 | 591.20, Florida Statutes, and amended to read: |
1935 | 591.21 Community forests; duties of forestry committee.- |
1936 | (2)(1) It shall be the duty of The forestry committee |
1937 | shall to advise the governing board in acquiring, developing, |
1938 | and managing the forest, and in making contracts, agreements, |
1939 | and permits for and with the forest, and, if desirable, in |
1940 | hiring a qualified forester and laborers and in making rules and |
1941 | regulations for operating the forest. |
1942 | (3)(2) For any sale in excess of $100, the governing body |
1943 | must shall ask for and receive open competitive bids and |
1944 | purchase from the lowest and best bidder. For sale of forest |
1945 | products in excess of $500 for the total contract, the sale |
1946 | shall be advertised in one issue each of 2 consecutive weeks in |
1947 | a county newspaper of general circulation, and the highest and |
1948 | best bid shall be accepted. Contiguous sales may shall not be |
1949 | made. |
1950 | Section 80. Section 591.22, Florida Statutes, is |
1951 | transferred, renumbered as subsection (4) of section 591.20, |
1952 | Florida Statutes, and amended to read: |
1953 | 591.22 Community forests; appropriations.- |
1954 | (4) Counties, municipalities cities, towns, or school |
1955 | districts in which forestry committees are have been appointed |
1956 | may appropriate money from available funds to be used by such |
1957 | committees said committee to carry out the purposes of this |
1958 | chapter law. Each The forestry committee shall annually adopt |
1959 | each year make a budget of recommendation for acquisition and |
1960 | operation and management of the forest for approval by the |
1961 | governing board. |
1962 | Section 81. Section 591.23, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1963 | to read: |
1964 | 591.23 Community forests; Revenues;, use.-Revenue from the |
1965 | forests shall be credited to the general fund of counties, |
1966 | municipalities cities, towns, or school districts; provided, |
1967 | however, revenues from lands under land use agreements with |
1968 | youth organizations such as chapters of the Future Farmers of |
1969 | America must, shall be disposed of subject to the terms of such |
1970 | agreements. When the revenue from any forest other than these |
1971 | under such land use agreements, exceeds the necessary expenses |
1972 | of the forest, including desirable acquisition, the excess shall |
1973 | will be used by the governing board for regular purposes and in |
1974 | reduction of taxation. |
1975 | Section 82. Section 591.24, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1976 | to read: |
1977 | 591.24 Community forests; Fiscal reports.-A fiscal year |
1978 | report of expenditures, income, sales, development, and |
1979 | management shall be made by the forestry committee to the |
1980 | governing board of the county, municipality city, town, or |
1981 | school district, and a copy shall be sent to the Florida Forest |
1982 | Service Division of Forestry. All reports shall be audited by |
1983 | the regular auditor of the county, municipality city, town, or |
1984 | school district. |
1985 | Section 83. Section 591.25, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1986 | to read: |
1987 | 591.25 Community forests; Fire protection, etc.-All lands |
1988 | entered or acquired under the provisions of this chapter law |
1989 | shall be protected at all times from wildfire and shall be kept |
1990 | and maintained as a permanent public forest except as |
1991 | hereinafter provided. The timber growing on such forest lands |
1992 | thereon shall be cut in accordance with forestry methods |
1993 | approved by the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry and |
1994 | in such a manner as to perpetuate succeeding stands of trees. |
1995 | All such forest lands shall be open to the use of the public for |
1996 | recreational purposes so far as such recreational purposes do |
1997 | not interfere with, or prevent the use of, such lands to the |
1998 | best advantage as a public forest as determined by the forestry |
1999 | committee. |
2000 | Section 84. Section 591.26, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2001 | to read: |
2002 | 591.26 Community forests; Sale upon referendum approval.-A |
2003 | If it becomes desirable to sell any community forest or portion |
2004 | thereof may be sold if such sale is as determined jointly |
2005 | proposed by the governing board and forestry committee and |
2006 | approved by a majority, it shall be put to a vote of those |
2007 | electors voting the people at any regular election and a |
2008 | majority of those voting must approve the action. If such sale |
2009 | is approved by the electors, any funds received from the such |
2010 | sale shall be deposited in the general fund of the county, |
2011 | municipality city, town, or school district making the sale and |
2012 | used in consolidating existing community forests or in |
2013 | establishing another community forest. |
2014 | Section 85. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph |
2015 | (b) of subsection (2) of section 633.115, Florida Statutes, are |
2016 | amended to read: |
2017 | 633.115 Fire and Emergency Incident Information Reporting |
2018 | Program; duties; fire reports.- |
2019 | (1) |
2020 | (b) The Division of State Fire Marshal shall consult with |
2021 | the Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the |
2022 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Bureau |
2023 | of Emergency Medical Services of the Department of Health to |
2024 | coordinate data, ensure accuracy of the data, and limit |
2025 | duplication of efforts in data collection, analysis, and |
2026 | reporting. |
2027 | (2) The Fire and Emergency Incident Information System |
2028 | Technical Advisory Panel is created within the Division of State |
2029 | Fire Marshal. The panel shall advise, review, and recommend to |
2030 | the State Fire Marshal with respect to the requirements of this |
2031 | section. The membership of the panel shall consist of the |
2032 | following 15 members: |
2033 | (b) One member from the Florida Forest Service Division of |
2034 | Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, |
2035 | appointed by the State Forester division director. |
2036 | Section 86. Paragraph (e) of subsection (6) of section |
2037 | 633.821, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
2038 | 633.821 Workplace safety.- |
2039 | (6) |
2040 | (e) This subsection does not apply to wildland or |
2041 | prescribed live fire training exercises sanctioned by the |
2042 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry of the Department of |
2043 | Agriculture and Consumer Services or the National Wildfire |
2044 | Coordinating Group. |
2045 | Section 87. Subsection (1) of section 790.15, Florida |
2046 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
2047 | 790.15 Discharging firearm in public.- |
2048 | (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or subsection |
2049 | (3), any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public |
2050 | place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, |
2051 | or street or who whosoever knowingly discharges any firearm over |
2052 | the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or |
2053 | over any occupied premises commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of |
2054 | the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
2055 | 775.083. This section does not apply to a person lawfully |
2056 | defending life or property or performing official duties |
2057 | requiring the discharge of a firearm or to a person discharging |
2058 | a firearm on public roads or properties expressly approved for |
2059 | hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the |
2060 | Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry. |
2061 | Section 88. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |