Florida Senate - 2021                             CS for SB 1312
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       577-03173-21                                          20211312c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to a zoological and aquarium grant
    3         program; creating s. 288.1259, F.S.; authorizing the
    4         Department of Economic Opportunity to establish a
    5         grant program for the support of zoos and aquariums
    6         located within the state; providing eligibility
    7         requirements; authorizing the use of grant funds for
    8         certain purposes; requiring the department to adopt
    9         rules; providing that the department has final grant
   10         approval authority; providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 288.1259, Florida Statutes, is created
   15  to read:
   16         288.1259 Zoological and aquarium grant program.—
   17         (1) The department is authorized to establish a grant
   18  program for the support of zoos and aquariums located within the
   19  state. To be eligible for grant funding under this section, the
   20  facility must be accredited by the Association of Zoos and
   21  Aquariums or the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
   22  Grant funds awarded to a facility may be used for capital
   23  expenditures, operational support, and educational,
   24  conservation, and research initiatives.
   25         (2) The department shall adopt rules establishing grant
   26  application requirements, a timeline for submission of grant
   27  applications, a timeline for announcement of awards, and any
   28  procedures necessary for the prudent administration of the grant
   29  program.
   30         (3) The department has final approval authority for grants
   31  made under this section.
   32         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.