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| 3 | 3 | | HB 91 2023 |
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| 7 | 7 | | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 8 | 8 | | hb0091-00 |
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| 9 | 9 | | Page 1 of 2 |
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| 10 | 10 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 14 | 14 | | A bill to be entitled 1 |
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| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to the release of balloons; amending 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | s. 379.233, F.S.; removing a provision authorizing the 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | specified release of certain balloons; removing an 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | exemption from such provision for biodegradable or 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | photodegradable balloons; conforming a provision; 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | providing an effective date. 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | Section 1. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 379.233, 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 379.233 Release of balloons. — 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | intentionally release, organize the release, or intentionally 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | cause to be released within a 24-hour period 10 or more balloons 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | inflated with a gas that is lighter than air except for: 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | (a) Balloons released by a person on behalf of a 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | scientific or meteorological purposes; 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (b) Hot air balloons that are recovered afte r launching; 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | or 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | (c) Balloons released indoors ; or 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (d) Balloons that are either biodegradable or 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | photodegradable, as determined by rule of the Fish and Wildlife 25 |
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| 40 | 40 | | HB 91 2023 |
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| 44 | 44 | | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 45 | 45 | | hb0091-00 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 2 |
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| 47 | 47 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 51 | 51 | | Conservation Commission, and which are closed by a hand -tied 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | knot in the stem of the balloon without string, ribbon, or other 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | attachments. In the event that any balloons are released 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | pursuant to the exemption established in this paragraph, the 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | party responsible for the release shall make available to any 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | law enforcement officer evidence of the bi odegradability or 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | photodegradability of said balloons in the form of a certificate 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | executed by the manufacturer. Failure to provide said evidence 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this act . 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | (4) Any person may petition the circuit court to e njoin 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | the release of 10 or more balloons if that person is a citizen 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | of the county in which the balloons are to be released. 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 38 |
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