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2012 Florida Statutes

Title XXVIII NATURAL RESOURCES; CONSERVATION, RECLAMATION, AND USE
Chapter 377 ENERGY RESOURCES Entire Chapter
SECTION 43
Disbursement of funds received for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
F.S. 377.43
1377.43 Disbursement of funds received for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.—
(1) For purposes of this section, the term “Disproportionally Affected County” means Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, or Wakulla County.
(2) Any funds received by the state from any governmental or private entity for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill shall be deposited into the applicable state trust funds and expended pursuant to state law or as approved by the Legislative Budget Commission.
(3) Seventy-five percent of such moneys may be used for:
(a) Scientific research into the impact of the oil spill on fisheries and coastal wildlife and vegetation along any Disproportionally Affected County’s shoreline and the development of strategies to implement restoration measures suggested by such research;
(b) Environmental restoration of coastal areas damaged by the oil spill in any Disproportionally Affected County;
(c) Economic incentives directed to any Disproportionally Affected County; and
(d) Initiatives to expand and diversify the economies of any Disproportionally Affected County.
(4) The remaining 25 percent of such moneys may be used for:
(a) Scientific research into the impact of the oil spill on fisheries and coastal wildlife and vegetation along any of the state’s shoreline that is not a Disproportionally Affected County’s shoreline, and the development of strategies to implement restoration measures suggested by such research;
(b) Environmental restoration of coastal areas damaged by the oil spill in any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County;
(c) Economic incentives directed to any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County; and
(d) Initiatives to expand and diversify the economies of any county other than a Disproportionally Affected County.
(5)(a) The Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency for expending the funds designated for environmental restoration efforts.
(b) The Department of Economic Opportunity is the lead agency for expending the funds designated for economic incentives and diversification efforts.
History.—s. 499, ch. 2011-142.
1Note.—Section 496, ch. 2011-142, as amended by s. 34, ch. 2012-119, provides:

“Commission on Oil Spill Response Coordination.—

“(1) The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall appoint a commission consisting of a representative of the office of each board member, a representative of each state agency that directly and materially responded to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and the chair of the board of county commissioners of each of the following counties: Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, and Wakulla County. The Governor shall select the chair of the commission from among the appointees.

“(2) The commission shall prepare a report for review and approval by the board of trustees which:

“(a) Identifies potential changes to state and federal law and regulations which will improve the oversight and monitoring of offshore drilling activities and increase response capabilities to offshore oil spills.

“(b) Identifies potential changes to state and federal law and regulations which will improve protections for public health and safety, occupational health and safety, and the environment and natural resources.

“(c) Evaluates the merits of the establishment of a federal Gulf-wide disaster relief fund.

“(d) Evaluates the need for a unified and uniform advocacy process for damage claims.

“(e) Evaluates the need for changes to interstate coordination agreements in order to reduce the potential for damage claims and lawsuits.

“(f) Addresses any other related issues as determined by the commission.

“(3) The board of trustees shall deliver the report 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 Department of Economic Opportunity by January 1, 2013.

“(4) This section expires January 1, 2013.”