Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1284
By Senator Diaz
36-01825-20 20201284__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Florida Land Subsidence
3 Research Initiative; creating s. 380.29, F.S.;
4 providing legislative intent; establishing the Florida
5 Land Subsidence Research Initiative as a partnership
6 between the Department of Environmental Protection and
7 Florida International University; providing the goal
8 of the initiative; directing the department to
9 contract with, and allocate certain funds to, Florida
10 International University to implement the initiative;
11 requiring Florida International University to
12 collaborate with other state universities, develop
13 data collection and reporting specifications, and
14 submit reports to the Governor and Legislature by
15 specified dates; providing report requirements;
16 providing an effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Section 380.29, Florida Statutes, is created to
21 read:
22 380.29 Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative.—
23 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an
24 independent and coordinated effort among state universities to
25 determine the rate of land subsidence in the state by measuring
26 changes in land elevation.
27 (2)(a) The Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative is
28 established as a partnership between the Department of
29 Environmental Protection and Florida International University.
30 The goal of the initiative is to collect and analyze data using
31 geodetic techniques, including global positioning system and
32 other satellite approaches, to understand natural hazards, such
33 as land subsidence and sinkholes, and their effects on sea-level
34 rise.
35 (b) To implement the initiative, the department shall
36 contract with Florida International University, which shall
37 collaborate with Florida State University, the University of
38 Florida, the University of North Florida, and the University of
39 South Florida.
40 (c) Funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for
41 the initiative shall be allocated by the department to Florida
42 International University to achieve the goals of the initiative.
43 Florida International University shall use a portion of the
44 funds to facilitate additional engagement with other state
45 universities to assist in implementing the initiative statewide.
46 (3) Florida International University shall develop
47 specifications for the collection and reporting of data for the
48 initiative that all participating state universities must use.
49 (4)(a) Beginning July 1, 2022, Florida International
50 University shall submit a biennial report to the Governor, the
51 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
52 Representatives. The report must provide an update on the
53 progress of the research and include a summary and analysis of
54 the data collected by each state university.
55 (b) By July 1, 2030, Florida International University, in
56 coordination with contributing state universities pursuant to
57 subsection (2), shall submit a final report to the Governor, the
58 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
59 Representatives. The final report must include the following:
60 1. The assessment methodologies for data collection used by
61 each university.
62 2. A summary of the data collected by each university.
63 3. An analysis, using all relevant data, of the trends in
64 land subsidence in the state.
65 4. An estimation of current and future sea level risks,
66 including land subsidence and other natural hazards, such as
67 coastal flooding and sinkholes.
68 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.