HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/HB 255
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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5 ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW
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11 The Committee on General Government Appropriations offered the
12 following:
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14 Amendment (with title amendment)
15 Remove from the bill: Everything after the enacting clause
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17 and insert in lieu thereof:
18 Section 1. (1) The Department of Agriculture and
19 Consumer Services shall provide compensation to eligible
20 homeowners whose citrus trees have been removed under a citrus
21 canker eradication program. Funds to pay this compensation may
22 be derived from both state and federal matching sources, and
23 shall be specifically appropriated by law. Eligible homeowners
24 shall be compensated subject to the availability of
25 appropriated funds.
26 (2) To be eligible to receive compensation under the
27 program, a homeowner must:
28 (a) Be the homeowner of record on the effective date
29 of this act for residential property where one or more citrus
30 trees have been removed as part of a citrus canker eradication
31 program;
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File original & 9 copies 04/17/01
hap0008 07:28 pm 00255-gga -382191
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/HB 255
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 (b) Have had one or more citrus trees removed from the
2 property by a tree-cutting contractor as part of a citrus
3 canker eradication program on or after January 1, 1995; and
4 (c) Have received no commercial compensation and is
5 not eligible to receive commercial compensation from the
6 United States Department of Agriculture for citrus trees
7 removed as part of a citrus canker eradication program.
8 (3) The amount of compensation for each tree removed
9 from residential property by the citrus canker eradication
10 program shall be $55 per tree. If the homeowner's property is
11 eligible for a Shade Dade or a Shade Florida Card, the
12 homeowner may not receive compensation under this section for
13 the first citrus tree removed from the property as part of a
14 citrus canker eradication program.
15 (4) The specification of a per-tree amount paid for
16 the residential citrus canker compensation program does not
17 limit the amount of any other compensation that may be paid by
18 another entity or pursuant to court order for the removal of
19 citrus trees as part of a citrus canker eradication program.
20 (5) Of the funds appropriated to the department for
21 the residential citrus canker compensation program, the
22 department may use up to $500,000 to administer the program.
23 Specifically, the department shall:
24 (a) Take reasonable steps to identify and notify
25 owners of citrus trees removed as part of a citrus canker
26 eradication program of the availability of the compensation
27 program.
28 (b) Notify homeowners of the manner in which the owner
29 may request funding.
30 (c) Develop a compensation request form and make it
31 available to eligible homeowners.
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HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/HB 255
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 (d) Develop a process to resolve disputes relating to
2 compensation. The department's decision is final and is not
3 subject to chapter 120, Florida Statutes.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
5 law.
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8 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ===============
9 And the title is amended as follows:
10 remove from the title of the bill: the entire title
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12 and insert in lieu thereof:
13 A bill to be entitled
14 An act relating to citrus canker compensation;
15 requiring the Department of Agriculture and
16 Consumer Services to administer a residential
17 citrus canker compensation program; providing
18 for sources of funds; providing for homeowners
19 to receive compensation for citrus trees
20 removed on or after a specified date as part of
21 a citrus canker eradication program; providing
22 eligibility criteria for receiving
23 compensation; specifying the amount of
24 compensation provided under the program,
25 subject to availability of funds; requiring
26 that the department notify homeowners of the
27 program and develop a dispute-resolution
28 process; providing an effective date.
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File original & 9 copies 04/17/01
hap0008 07:28 pm 00255-gga -382191