Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1278
       
       
        
       By Senator Ausley
       
       
       
       
       
       3-01512A-21                                           20211278__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Apalachicola Bay Area of
    3         Critical State Concern; amending s. 259.105, F.S.;
    4         requiring that certain funds distributed into the
    5         Florida Forever Trust Fund be spent on projects that
    6         improve surface water and groundwater quality in the
    7         Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State Concern;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   13  259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
   15         (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
   16  reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
   17  proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
   18  section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
   19  created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
   20  Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
   21         (b) Thirty-five percent to the Department of Environmental
   22  Protection for the acquisition of lands and capital project
   23  expenditures described in this section. Of the proceeds
   24  distributed pursuant to this paragraph, it is the intent of the
   25  Legislature that an increased priority be given to those
   26  acquisitions which achieve a combination of conservation goals,
   27  including protecting Florida’s water resources and natural
   28  groundwater recharge.
   29         1. At a minimum, 3 percent, and no more than 10 percent, of
   30  the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be spent on
   31  capital project expenditures identified during the time of
   32  acquisition which meet land management planning activities
   33  necessary for public access.
   34         2. Beginning in the 2017-2018 fiscal year and continuing
   35  through the 2026-2027 fiscal year, at least $5 million of the
   36  funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be spent on
   37  land acquisition within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State
   38  Concern as authorized pursuant to s. 259.045.
   39         3. Beginning in the 2021-2022 fiscal year and continuing
   40  through the 2025-2026 fiscal year, at least $100,000 of the
   41  funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be spent on
   42  projects that improve surface water and groundwater quality
   43  within the Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State Concern as
   44  designated under s. 380.0555, including the construction and
   45  replacement of stormwater management facilities and central
   46  sewage collection facilities, installation of onsite sewage
   47  treatment and disposal systems, direct and indirect potable
   48  reuse, and other water quality and water supply projects.
   49         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.