Florida Senate - 2023 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 724
Ì431188>Î431188
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/13/2023 .
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The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and
General Government (Grall) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 46 - 110
4 and insert:
5 and expedite the development of cost-efficient innovative
6 technologies and approaches that are critically needed to
7 restore coastal seagrass ecosystems by building upon research
8 and restoration efforts in the public and private sectors.
9 (b) The goal of the initiative is to develop, test, and
10 implement innovative, effective, cost-efficient, and
11 environmentally sustainable technologies and approaches for
12 restoring coastal seagrass ecosystems.
13 (c) The department shall award funds specifically
14 appropriated by the Legislature for the initiative to Mote
15 Marine Laboratory, which shall function as the lead
16 administrative component to achieve the goals of the initiative.
17 1. Mote Marine Laboratory may, with the concurrence of the
18 department, use a portion of the awarded funds to facilitate
19 additional engagement with other pertinent marine science and
20 technology development organizations in this state and around
21 the world to pursue applied research and technology for the
22 successful restoration of seagrass ecosystems.
23 2. Mote Marine Laboratory may not use more than 5 percent
24 of its awarded funds for direct annual initiative administration
25 and coordination costs.
26 3. The initiative shall leverage state-appropriated funds
27 with additional funds from private and federal sources.
28 (d) In collaboration with the program, Mote Marine
29 Laboratory and the University of Florida shall create a 10-year
30 Florida Seagrass Restoration Plan to implement tools and
31 technologies developed under the initiative.
32 (e) Beginning January 15, 2024, and each January 15
33 thereafter until its expiration, the initiative shall submit a
34 report that contains an overview of its accomplishments to date
35 and priorities for subsequent years to the Governor, the
36 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
37 Representatives, the Secretary of Environmental Protection, and
38 the executive director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
39 Commission.
40 (4) The Initiative Technology Advisory Council, an advisory
41 council as defined in s. 20.03, is established as part of the
42 initiative. The advisory council’s membership must include
43 marine science, technology development, and natural resource
44 management representatives from this state’s aquatic preserves,
45 private organizations, and public or private research
46 institutions. The council shall meet at least twice annually.
47 (a) The council shall be co-chaired by the president and
48 chief executive officer of Mote Marine Laboratory and a
49 representative from the University of Florida and shall be
50 composed of the following members:
51 1. One member from a private commercial enterprise,
52 appointed by the Governor.
53 2. One member from a public or private university in this
54 state, appointed by the President of the Senate.
55 3. One member from a non-university public or private
56 marine environmental organization, appointed by the Speaker of
57 the House of Representatives.
58 4. One member from the program who has expertise in
59 seagrass ecosystems, appointed by the Secretary of Environmental
60 Protection.
61 5. One member from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
62 who has expertise in seagrass, appointed by the executive
63 director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
64 (b) Council members shall serve staggered 2-year terms and
65 may be reappointed.
66 (c) Council members shall serve without compensation, and
67 each organization represented shall cover all expenses of its
68 respective representative.
69 (5) Pending the completion of the research conducted
70 pursuant to this section and any recommendations of the council,
71 the department shall, subject to legislative appropriation,
72 implement seagrass restoration projects that are procured on a
73 payment-for-performance basis to protect the investment made by
74 this state in seagrass restoration efforts.
75 (6) This section expires June 30, 2028.
76
77 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
78 And the title is amended as follows:
79 Delete line 19
80 and insert:
81 council; requiring the department to implement
82 seagrass restoration projects, subject to legislative
83 appropriation, that are procured on a specified basis;
84 providing for the expiration of the