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SB 1552 — Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative
by Senators Gruters and Hooper
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EN)
The bill establishes the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative as a partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory. The purpose of the initiative is to develop technologies and approaches needed to address the control and mitigation of red tide and its impacts. The bill requires funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for the initiative to be awarded by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to Mote Marine Laboratory to achieve the goals of the initiative. The bill establishes within the initiative the Initiative Technology Advisory Council.
The bill requires the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative to submit an annual report, beginning January 15, 2021, containing an overview of the initiative’s accomplishments and priorities to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Environmental Protection, and the Executive Director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The section authorizing the initiative expires on June 30, 2025.
The bill provides for an annual appropriation of $3 million beginning in the 2019-2020 fiscal year and going through the 2024-2025 fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the purpose of implementing the bill.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2019.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 112-1