Florida Senate - 2020                                    SB 1878
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       5-01697C-20                                           20201878__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to environmental protection; creating
    3         s. 373.477, F.S.; requiring a minimum annual
    4         appropriation for Everglades restoration and the
    5         protection of water resources in this state beginning
    6         in a specified fiscal year; providing requirements for
    7         the allocation of such funding; providing for future
    8         repeal of the appropriation unless reviewed and saved
    9         from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 373.477, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         373.477 Everglades restoration and protection of water
   17  resources.—For fiscal year 2020-2021, and annually thereafter, a
   18  minimum of $625 million shall be appropriated as provided in
   19  this section for the purposes of Everglades restoration and the
   20  protection of water resources in this state. The funding must be
   21  used for a science-based process to identify projects that are
   22  needed to achieve such restoration and protection.
   23         (1) The annual appropriations to the Department of
   24  Environmental Protection must provide for the following
   25  distributions:
   26         (a) The greater of $300 million or as provided pursuant to
   27  s. 375.041(3)(b)1., for Everglades restoration, and s.
   28  375.041(3)(b)4., for the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir
   29  project.
   30         (b) The sum of $50 million to the South Florida Water
   31  Management District for the design, engineering, and
   32  construction of aquifer storage and recovery wells.
   33         (c) Funding for spring restoration pursuant to s.
   34  375.041(3)(b)2.
   35         (d) The sum of $40 million for alternative water supplies
   36  or water conservation.
   37         (e) The sum of $15 million for projects within the
   38  watersheds of the St. Johns River, the Suwannee River, and the
   39  Apalachicola River.
   40         (f) The sum of $15 million for projects within the
   41  watersheds of the Indian River Lagoon.
   42         (g) The sum of $10 million for coral reef protection and
   43  restoration.
   44         (2) The sum of $4 million to the Fish and Wildlife
   45  Conservation Commission for red tide research.
   46         (3) Any remaining balance shall be allocated to fund any of
   47  the following:
   48         (a) Targeted water quality improvements.
   49         (b) Alternative water supplies or water conservation.
   50         (c) Water quality enhancements and accountability,
   51  innovative technologies, and harmful algal bloom prevention and
   52  mitigation.
   53         (d) Land acquisition or easement acquisition, including,
   54  but not limited to, lands or easements purchased pursuant to the
   55  Florida Forever program or the Rural and Family Lands Protection
   56  Program.
   57         (4) This section is repealed on June 30, 2023, unless
   58  reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the
   59  Legislature.
   60         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.