SB 168                                           First Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2018168e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to nonnative animals; creating s.
    3         379.2311, F.S.; defining the term “priority invasive
    4         species”; providing legislative findings; requiring
    5         the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to
    6         establish a pilot program for the eradication of
    7         priority invasive species; providing the goal of the
    8         pilot program; authorizing the commission to enter
    9         into specified contracts; specifying parameters for
   10         the implementation of the pilot program; specifying
   11         procedures for the capture and disposal of animals
   12         that belong to priority invasive species; requiring
   13         the commission to submit a report to the Governor and
   14         the Legislature by a specified date; providing an
   15         effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 379.2311, Florida Statutes, is created
   20  to read:
   21         379.2311 Nonnative animal management.—
   22         (1) As used in this section, the term “priority invasive
   23  species” means the following:
   24         (a) Lizards of the genus Tupinambis, also known as tegu
   25  lizards;
   26         (b) Species identified in s. 379.372(2)(a);
   27         (c) Pterois volitans, also known as red lionfish; and
   28         (d) Pterois miles, also known as the common lionfish or
   29  devil firefish.
   30         (2) The Legislature finds that priority invasive species
   31  continue to expand their range and to decimate the fauna and
   32  flora of the Everglades and other natural areas and ecosystems
   33  in the southern and central parts of the state at an
   34  accelerating rate. Therefore, the commission shall establish a
   35  pilot program to mitigate the impact of priority invasive
   36  species on the public lands or waters of this state.
   37         (a) The goal of the pilot program is to examine the
   38  benefits of using strategically deployed, trained private
   39  contractors to slow the advance of priority invasive species,
   40  contain their populations, and eradicate them from this state.
   41         (b) In implementing the pilot program, the commission may
   42  enter into contracts in accordance with chapter 287 with
   43  entities or individuals to capture or destroy animals belonging
   44  to priority invasive species found on public lands or in the
   45  waters of this state. Any private contracted work to be
   46  performed on public land or in the waters of the state not owned
   47  or managed by the commission must have the consent of the owner.
   48         (c) The commission shall ensure that all captures and
   49  disposals of animals that belong to these priority invasive
   50  species are documented and photographed and that the geographic
   51  location of the take is recorded for research purposes. The
   52  commission shall direct the disposal of all animals captured and
   53  not destroyed in removal efforts.
   54         (d) The commission shall submit a report of findings and
   55  recommendations regarding its implementation of the pilot
   56  program to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
   57  Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2021.
   58         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.