Florida Senate - 2022                                     SB 834
       
       
        
       By Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00759B-22                                            2022834__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the long-term cleanup of harmful
    3         algal blooms; providing a short title; requiring the
    4         Department of Environmental Protection to take certain
    5         actions to physically remove, reduce, clean up, and
    6         respond to harmful algal blooms; requiring the
    7         department to give preference to innovative
    8         technologies that meet certain standards; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10  
   11         WHEREAS, Governor Ron DeSantis created the Blue-Green Algae
   12  Task Force in 2019 to “improve water quality for the benefit of
   13  all Floridians,” and
   14         WHEREAS, the task force and the Department of Environmental
   15  Protection are working together to pilot innovative technologies
   16  to eliminate the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and to clean
   17  water bodies throughout this state, and
   18         WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that funding is
   19  necessary to implement a long-term program to clean water bodies
   20  that are high in nitrates and nutrients that foster algal
   21  blooms, and
   22         WHEREAS, the department is the responsible entity for
   23  cleanup of this state’s water bodies to protect the health,
   24  safety, and wellness of all residents, NOW, THEREFORE,
   25  
   26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   27  
   28         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Implementation of
   29  Long-term Solutions for Cleaning Florida’s Water Bodies Act.”
   30         Section 2. Long-term cleanup of harmful algal blooms.—
   31         (1) To address the growing threat to the general public
   32  from harmful algal blooms, the Department of Environmental
   33  Protection shall procure innovative technologies that will
   34  physically remove harmful algal blooms, toxins, algae, and
   35  nutrients from water bodies in this state; provide resources to
   36  reduce harmful algal blooms; provide the best available
   37  technology for the long-term cleanup of the harmful algal
   38  blooms; and develop a plan for emergency response action.
   39         (2) The department shall give preference to innovative
   40  technologies that reduce the nitrates and toxins fostering
   41  harmful algal blooms, are scalable, and are proven to improve
   42  water quality in freshwater bodies.
   43         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.