Florida 2023 Regular Session

Florida Senate Bill S1512 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 03/02/2023

 Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1512  By Senator Pizzo 37-00292-23 20231512__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the release of balloons; amending 3 s. 379.233, F.S.; removing a provision authorizing the 4 specified release of certain balloons; removing an 5 exemption from such provision for biodegradable or 6 photodegradable balloons; conforming a provision to 7 changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 8 9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10 11 Section 1.Subsections (2) and (4) of section 379.233, 12 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 13 379.233Release of balloons. 14 (2)It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to 15 intentionally release, organize the release, or intentionally 16 cause to be released within a 24-hour period 10 or more balloons 17 inflated with a gas that is lighter than air except for: 18 (a)Balloons released by a person on behalf of a 19 governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for 20 scientific or meteorological purposes; 21 (b)Hot air balloons that are recovered after launching; or 22 (c)Balloons released indoors; or 23 (d)Balloons that are either biodegradable or 24 photodegradable, as determined by rule of the Fish and Wildlife 25 Conservation Commission, and which are closed by a hand-tied 26 knot in the stem of the balloon without string, ribbon, or other 27 attachments. In the event that any balloons are released 28 pursuant to the exemption established in this paragraph, the 29 party responsible for the release shall make available to any 30 law enforcement officer evidence of the biodegradability or 31 photodegradability of said balloons in the form of a certificate 32 executed by the manufacturer. Failure to provide said evidence 33 shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this act. 34 (4)Any person may petition the circuit court to enjoin the 35 release of 10 or more balloons if that person is a citizen of 36 the county in which the balloons are to be released. 37 Section 2.This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.