Bill Text: FL S0234 | 2017 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Land Acquisition Trust Fund

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Messages [S0234 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S0234-Engrossed.html

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       CS for CS for SB 234                       First Engrossed (ntc)
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2017234e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund;
    3         amending s. 375.041, F.S.; requiring a specified
    4         appropriation for certain projects related to the St.
    5         Johns River and its tributaries or the Keystone Lake
    6         Region; requiring the distribution to be reduced by an
    7         amount equal to the debt service paid on certain
    8         bonds; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 375.041, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         375.041 Land Acquisition Trust Fund.—
   15         (3) Funds distributed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund
   16  pursuant to s. 201.15 shall be applied:
   17         (a) First, to pay debt service or to fund debt service
   18  reserve funds, rebate obligations, or other amounts payable with
   19  respect to Florida Forever bonds issued under s. 215.618; and
   20  pay debt service, provide reserves, and pay rebate obligations
   21  and other amounts due with respect to Everglades restoration
   22  bonds issued under s. 215.619; and
   23         (b) Of the funds remaining after the payments required
   24  under paragraph (a), but before funds may be appropriated,
   25  pledged, or dedicated for other uses:
   26         1. A minimum of the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million
   27  shall be appropriated annually for Everglades projects that
   28  implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set
   29  forth in s. 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning
   30  Project subject to Congressional authorization; the Long-Term
   31  Plan as defined in s. 373.4592(2); and the Northern Everglades
   32  and Estuaries Protection Program as set forth in s. 373.4595.
   33  From these funds, $32 million shall be distributed each fiscal
   34  year through the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the South Florida
   35  Water Management District for the Long-Term Plan as defined in
   36  s. 373.4592(2). After deducting the $32 million distributed
   37  under this subparagraph, from the funds remaining, a minimum of
   38  the lesser of 76.5 percent or $100 million shall be appropriated
   39  each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the
   40  planning, design, engineering, and construction of the
   41  Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set forth in s.
   42  373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning Project
   43  subject to Congressional authorization. The Department of
   44  Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management
   45  District shall give preference to those Everglades restoration
   46  projects that reduce harmful discharges of water from Lake
   47  Okeechobee to the St. Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries in a
   48  timely manner. For the purpose of performing the calculation
   49  provided in this subparagraph, the amount of debt service paid
   50  pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds issued after July 1, 2016,
   51  for the purposes set forth under paragraph (b) shall be added to
   52  the amount remaining after the payments required under paragraph
   53  (a). The amount of the distribution calculated shall then be
   54  reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
   55  paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
   56  purposes set forth under this subparagraph.
   57         2. A minimum of the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million
   58  shall be appropriated annually for spring restoration,
   59  protection, and management projects. For the purpose of
   60  performing the calculation provided in this subparagraph, the
   61  amount of debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds
   62  issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under
   63  paragraph (b) shall be added to the amount remaining after the
   64  payments required under paragraph (a). The amount of the
   65  distribution calculated shall then be reduced by an amount equal
   66  to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
   67  issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
   68  subparagraph.
   69         3. The sum of $5 million shall be appropriated annually
   70  each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the St.
   71  Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to
   72  the restoration of Lake Apopka. This distribution shall be
   73  reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
   74  paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
   75  purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
   76         4. The sum of $20 million shall be appropriated annually to
   77  the St. Johns River Water Management District for projects
   78  dedicated to the restoration of the St. Johns River and its
   79  tributaries or the Keystone Heights Lake Region. Such funds may
   80  be used for land management and acquisition and for recreational
   81  opportunity and public access improvements connected with these
   82  areas. This distribution shall be reduced by an amount equal to
   83  the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds issued
   84  after July 1, 2017, for the purposes set forth in this
   85  subparagraph.
   86         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.