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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
1
An act relating to the designation of the Gulf of 2
Mexico; amending ss. 7.03, 7.08, 7.09, 7.11, 7.15, 3
7.17, 7.19, 7.23, 7.27, 7.29, 7.33, 7.36, 7.38, 7.41, 4
7.46, 7.51, 7.52, 7.55, 7.56, 7.62, 7.65, 7.66, 5
125.0104, 161.052, 161.053, 161.088, 161.141, 161.151, 6
161.161, 161.54, 161.55, 206.9935, 253.03, 253.12, 7
253.783, 258.09, 258.395, 258.3991, 327.02, 327.60, 8
331.307, 373.019, 373.069, 375.031, 376.25, 377.24 2, 9
377.2431, 379.101, 379.2254, 379.244, 379.248, 10
380.0555, and 380.24, F.S.; changing the designation 11
of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America; 12
providing an effective date. 13
14
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
16
Section 1. Section 7.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to 17
read: 18
7.03 Bay County.—The boundary lines of Bay County are as 19
follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of section eighteen 20
in township two, north, range eleven, west; thence west on the 21
section line to the southwest corner of section eighteen in 22
township two, north, range twelve, west; thence south on the 23
range line dividing ranges twelve and thirteen, west, to the 24
Meridian base line; thence west on the base line to the thread 25
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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
of Pine Log Creek in range si xteen, west; thence southwesterly 26
along the thread of said creek into the Choctawhatchee River to 27
the thread of said river; thence southwesterly along the thread 28
of said river to a point where said river intersects the range 29
line dividing ranges seventeen and eighteen, west; thence south 30
on said range line to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence in a 31
southeastwardly direction following the meanderings of said 32
gulf, including the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction 33
of the State of Florida, including al l islands opposite the 34
shoreline to a point where range line dividing ranges eleven and 35
twelve, west, intersects with said gulf; thence north on said 36
range line to place of beginning. 37
Section 2. Section 7.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to 38
read: 39
7.08 Charlotte County.—The boundary lines of Charlotte 40
County are as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of 41
township forty south, range twenty -seven east; thence south on 42
range line dividing ranges twenty -seven and twenty-eight east, 43
to the township line dividing townships forty -two and forty-44
three south, and Lee County; thence west on said township line 45
to the waters of the Gulf of America Mexico; thence northerly 46
and westerly along said Gulf of America Mexico, including the 47
waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of 48
Florida, to the intersection therewith of the township line 49
dividing townships forty and forty -one south; thence east on 50
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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
said township line to the southeast corner of township forty 51
south, range twenty east; thence north on the range line 52
dividing ranges twenty and twenty -one east to the northwest 53
corner of township forty south, range twenty -one east; thence 54
east on township line dividing townships thirty -nine and forty 55
south to the place of beginning. 56
Section 3. Section 7.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to 57
read: 58
7.09 Citrus County. —The boundary lines of Citrus County 59
are as follows: Beginning at a point in the thread or center of 60
the Withlacoochee River on the section line dividing sections 61
twelve and thirteen, townsh ip twenty-one south, range twenty 62
east; thence on said line west to the southwest corner of 63
section nine, township twenty -one south, range nineteen east; 64
thence north on said section line to township line dividing 65
townships twenty and twenty -one south; thence west on said 66
township line to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence north along 67
said gulf, including all islands along said gulf coast, and 68
including the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the 69
State of Florida, to the most southern outlet of t he 70
Withlacoochee River at its mouth, leaving out all the islands in 71
the mouth of said river; thence easterly along the thread of 72
said river to the point of beginning, including all the lands 73
and islands which said river line may enclose. 74
Section 4. Section 7.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to 75
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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
read: 76
7.11 Collier County. —The boundary lines of Collier County 77
are as follows: Beginning where the north line to township 78
forty-eight south extended westerly intersects the western 79
boundary of the State of Flor ida in the waters of the Gulf of 80
America Mexico; thence easterly on said township line to the 81
northwest corner of section four of township forty -eight south 82
of range twenty-five east; thence south to the northwest corner 83
of section nine of said township an d range; thence east to the 84
eastern boundary line of range twenty -six east; thence north on 85
said range line to the northwest corner of township forty -seven 86
south of range twenty -seven east; thence east on the north line 87
of township forty-seven south to the east line of range twenty -88
seven east; thence north on said range line to the north line of 89
township forty-six south; thence east on the north line of 90
township forty-six south to the east line of range thirty east; 91
thence south on said range line to the no rth line of township 92
forty-nine south; thence east on the north line of said township 93
forty-nine south to the east line of range thirty -four east and 94
the west boundary of Broward County; thence south on said range 95
line, concurrent with the west boundary of Broward and Miami-96
Dade Counties, to the point of intersection with the south line 97
of township fifty-three south; thence west on the south line of 98
said township fifty-three south to where that line extended 99
intersects the western boundary of the State of F lorida in the 100
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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
waters of the Gulf of America Mexico; thence northwesterly and 101
along the waters of said Gulf of America Mexico, including the 102
waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of 103
Florida, to the point of beginning. 104
Section 5. Section 7.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to 105
read: 106
7.15 Dixie County.—The boundary lines of Dixie County are 107
as follows: Beginning at a point where township line between 108
townships seven and eight south, intersects the Suwannee River, 109
thence southerly down th e thread of the main stream of said 110
Suwannee River to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence along said 111
Gulf of America Mexico, including the waters of said gulf within 112
the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the mouth of the 113
Steinhatchee River; thence no rtherly along the thread of the 114
said Steinhatchee River to the point where it is intersected by 115
the section line between sections fifteen and sixteen, in 116
township eight, south of range ten east; thence north on said 117
section line and other sections to the t ownship line between 118
townships seven and eight south; thence east on said township 119
line dividing townships seven and eight south, to the point of 120
beginning. 121
Section 6. Section 7.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to 122
read: 123
7.17 Escambia County. —The County of Escambia comprehends 124
all that part of the State of Florida lying to the west and 125
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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
south of a line beginning at the Alabama line where said line 126
crosses the Escambia River; running thence down the thread of 127
said river to Escambia Bay; thence along said bay to Deer Point, 128
at the intersection of Santa Rosa Sound with said bay; thence up 129
said Santa Rosa Sound to a line parallel to and exactly 1 mile 130
west of the range line dividing ranges twenty -six and twenty-131
seven west, thence south along such parallel li ne to the waters 132
of the Gulf of America Mexico; and the Counties of Escambia and 133
Santa Rosa shall have concurrent jurisdiction of any offenses 134
committed on the waters of Santa Rosa Sound. 135
Section 7. Section 7.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to 136
read: 137
7.19 Franklin County. —The boundary lines of Franklin 138
County are as follows: Beginning at a point on the Apalachicola 139
River, known as the mouth of Black or Owl Creek; thence 140
northerly up the western bank of said creek to where the same 141
intersects the middl e section line of section twenty -six, 142
township five south, range eight west; thence due east on the 143
middle section line to the thread of the Ochlockonee River; 144
thence south and easterly following the thread of said river, 145
and the thread of such channel the reof as may be necessary to 146
include the islands in said river; to a point directly south of 147
the southernmost point of Grass Island; thence along a straight 148
line to the center point of the U.S. 98 (State Road 30) bridge 149
across Ochlockonee Bay; thence east -southeast to a point 150
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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
directly north of the easternmost point of James Island; thence 151
easterly to the boundary line of the State of Florida; thence 152
south and westerly along said boundary line, including the 153
waters of the Gulf of America Mexico within the jurisdiction of 154
the State of Florida, to the Forbes line, produced southerly; 155
thence following the Forbes line to the Jackson River; thence 156
follow the Jackson River until it joins the Apalachicola River; 157
thence northerly along the Apalachicola River to the mo uth of 158
the Brothers River; thence follow the Brothers River until it 159
intersects the stream known as Brickyard Cutoff; thence follow 160
Brickyard Cutoff to the Apalachicola River; thence northerly 161
along the thread of said river to the place of beginning. 162
Section 8. Section 7.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to 163
read: 164
7.23 Gulf County.—The boundary lines of Gulf County are as 165
follows: Beginning at a point in the Apalachicola River where 166
said river is intersected by the section line between sections 167
twenty-three and twenty-six, township three south, range nine 168
west; thence west on said section line and other section lines 169
across the remainder of ranges nine west and ranges ten and 170
eleven west to the southwest corner of section nineteen, 171
township three south, range eleven west, at the Bay County line; 172
thence south on the range line between ranges eleven and twelve 173
west, concurrent with the eastern boundary of Bay County, to the 174
Gulf of America Mexico; thence south and easterly through said 175
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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
gulf, including the w aters of the Gulf of America Mexico within 176
the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to a point where the 177
Forbes line would intersect said boundary line; thence 178
northeasterly with said line until same crosses the waters of 179
the Apalachicola River; thence no rtherly up the thread of said 180
river to the place of beginning. 181
Section 9. Section 7.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to 182
read: 183
7.27 Hernando County. —The boundary lines of Hernando 184
County are as follows: Beginning at a point on the Withlacoochee 185
River where the same is intersected by the section line dividing 186
sections twelve and thirteen, township twenty -one south, range 187
twenty east; thence southeasterly along the thread of said river 188
to the juncture therewith of the Little Withlacoochee River; 189
thence southeasterly along the thread of said Little 190
Withlacoochee River to the head of same; thence east to the 191
range line between ranges twenty -two and twenty-three east; 192
thence south on said range line to the line dividing sections 193
twenty-four and thirteen, tow nship twenty-three south, range 194
twenty-two east; thence west on said section line and other 195
section lines to the line between ranges twenty and twenty -one 196
east; thence south on said range line to the line dividing 197
townships twenty-three and twenty-four south; thence west on 198
said township line to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence 199
northerly, including the waters of said gulf within the 200
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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
jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the township line 201
dividing townships twenty and twenty -one south; thence east, 202
concurrent with the south boundary line of Citrus County, on 203
said township line to where same is intersected by the section 204
line dividing sections four and five, township twenty -one south, 205
range nineteen east; thence south on said section line and other 206
section lines to the southwest corner of section nine, township 207
twenty-one south, range nineteen east; thence east on the south 208
line of said section nine and other sections to the place of 209
beginning. 210
Section 10. Section 7.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to 211
read: 212
7.29 Hillsborough County. —The boundary lines of 213
Hillsborough County are as follows: Beginning at the northeast 214
corner of section one in township twenty -seven south, range 215
sixteen east; thence east on the north line of township twenty -216
seven south to the line between ranges twenty -two and twenty-217
three east; thence south on said range line to the line between 218
townships thirty-two and thirty-three south; thence west on said 219
township line to the south bank of Tampa bay; thence in a direct 220
line to a point midway between Egmont and Passage Keys in the 221
Gulf of America Mexico; thence westerly to the boundary of the 222
State of Florida; thence northerly on the boundary of the State 223
of Florida to a point in the Gulf of America Mexico due west of 224
the northern shore of Mullet Key; thence due east to a point one 225
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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
hundred yards due west of the northernmost shore of Mullet Key; 226
thence in a line one hundred yards from the shore line around 227
the southern portion of Mullet Key to a point one hundred yards 228
due east of the easternmost shore of Mullet Key; thence due 229
north to a point due east of the northernmost shore of Mullet 230
Key; thence due east to the middle waters of Tampa Bay; thence 231
in a northerly direction through the middle waters of Tampa Bay 232
and Old Tampa Bay to a point where the range line between ranges 233
sixteen and seventeen east strikes said shore; thence north on 234
said range line to the place of beginning. 235
Section 11. Section 7.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to 236
read: 237
7.33 Jefferson County. —The boundary lines of Jefferson 238
County are as follows: Beginning at the point on the Gulf of 239
America Mexico where the line between ranges two and three east 240
strikes said gulf; thence north on said line to the base 241
parallel line; thence in a direction north east to the point 242
where the sections twenty -one, and twenty-eight and twenty-nine 243
of township one north, range three east, corner; thence north on 244
the section line dividing sections twenty and twenty -one and 245
other sections of township one north, range thre e east, to 246
township line dividing townships one and two north, range three 247
east; thence east on said township line to the waters of the 248
Miccosukee; thence up Lake Miccosukee to the south boundary of 249
township three north, range three east; thence on said to wnship 250
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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
line to the east line of section thirty -four in said township 251
three north, range three east; thence north on the east line of 252
section thirty-four and other sections in said township and said 253
range to the boundary line between the States of Georgia a nd 254
Florida; thence east along said boundary line to the northwest 255
corner of lot number one hundred eighty, township three north, 256
range seven east, or the west boundary of Madison County; thence 257
south to the southwest corner of said lot number one hundred 258
eighty; thence east on the south boundary of said lot number one 259
hundred eighty to the northeast corner of section twenty -seven, 260
township three north, range seven east; thence due south to the 261
southeast corner of section ten, township two north, range seven 262
east; thence due west to the southwest corner of the said 263
section ten; thence due south to the southeast corner of section 264
sixteen, township two north, range seven east; thence due west 265
to the southwest corner of said section sixteen; thence due 266
south to the southeast corner of section twenty, township two 267
north, range seven east; thence due west to the southwest corner 268
of section nineteen, township two north, range seven east; 269
thence due south to the southeast corner of section twenty -five, 270
township two north, range six east; thence due west to the 271
southwest corner of section twenty -six, township two north, 272
range six east; thence due south to the southwest corner of 273
section thirty-five, township two north, range six east; thence 274
due west to the thread of t he Big Aucilla River; thence 275
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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
southerly along the thread of said river, concurrent with the 276
west boundary of Madison and Taylor Counties, to the mouth of 277
said Big Aucilla River; thence westerly through the waters of 278
the Gulf of America Mexico, including the waters of said gulf 279
within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the point of 280
beginning. 281
Section 12. Section 7.36, Florida Statutes, is amended to 282
read: 283
7.36 Lee County.—The boundary lines of Lee County are as 284
follows: Beginning where the nor th line of township forty -three 285
south, intersects the range line between ranges twenty -seven and 286
twenty-eight east, at the line between Charlotte and Glades 287
Counties; thence west on said township line to the Gulf of 288
America Mexico; thence southerly along s aid gulf, including all 289
islands and the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of 290
the State of Florida, to the north line of township forty -eight 291
south, extended westward; thence east on said township line to 292
the northwest corner of section four, town ship forty-eight 293
south, range twenty-five east; thence south to the northwest 294
corner of section nine of said township and range; thence east 295
on the north boundary of said section nine and other sections to 296
the eastern boundary of range twenty -six east; thence north on 297
said range line to the northwest corner of township forty -seven 298
south, range twenty-seven east; thence east on the north line of 299
township forty-seven south, to the east line of range twenty -300
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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
seven east; thence north on said range line to the pl ace of 301
beginning. 302
Section 13. Section 7.38, Florida Statutes, is amended to 303
read: 304
7.38 Levy County.—The boundary lines of Levy County are as 305
follows: Beginning at the mouth of the most southern outlet of 306
the Big Withlacoochee River, running in an eas twardly direction, 307
including all the islands in the mouth of said river, along the 308
thread of said river to where the range line dividing ranges 309
seventeen and eighteen east intersects said river; thence north 310
on said range line to the township line between townships 311
fourteen and fifteen south; thence east on said township line to 312
the middle line of township fourteen south, range nineteen east; 313
thence north on said middle line to the township line between 314
townships eleven and twelve south; thence west on said township 315
line to the range line between ranges seventeen and eighteen 316
east; thence north on said range line to the northeast corner of 317
section thirteen, township eleven south, range seventeen east; 318
thence west on the north line of said section thirteen an d other 319
sections to the range line between ranges sixteen and seventeen 320
east; thence north on said range line to the township line 321
between townships ten and eleven south; thence west on said 322
township line to the range line between ranges fifteen and 323
sixteen east; thence north on said range line to the northeast 324
corner of section thirty -six, township ten south, range fifteen 325
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east; thence west on the north boundary of said section thirty -326
six to the northwest corner of said section thirty -six, thence 327
north one half mile to the middle line of section twenty -six, 328
township ten south, range fifteen east; thence west on the 329
middle line of said section twenty -six and other sections to the 330
range line between ranges fourteen and fifteen east; thence 331
north to the northeast corner of section twenty -five, township 332
ten south, range fourteen east; thence west on the north line of 333
said section twenty-five and other sections to the thread of the 334
Suwannee River; thence southerly along the thread of the main 335
stream of said river to its mouth; thence south and easterly 336
along the Gulf of America Mexico, including all the islands, 337
keys, and the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the 338
State of Florida, to the point of beginning. 339
Section 14. Section 7.41, Florida Statut es, is amended to 340
read: 341
7.41 Manatee County. —The boundary lines of Manatee County 342
are as follows: Beginning on the south bank of Tampa Bay where 343
the line between townships thirty -two and thirty-three south 344
strikes said bay; thence east on said township l ine to where 345
same is intersected by the line dividing ranges twenty -two and 346
twenty-three east; thence south on said range line, known as the 347
Washington line, to the southeast corner of township thirty -348
seven south, range twenty -two east; thence west on the township 349
line between townships thirty -seven and thirty-eight south to 350
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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
the southwest corner of township thirty -seven south, range 351
twenty-one east; thence north on the range line between ranges 352
twenty and twenty-one east to the southeast corner of township 353
thirty-five south, range twenty east; thence west on the 354
township line between townships thirty -five and thirty-six south 355
to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence northward along the said 356
gulf, including the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction 357
of the State of Florida, to a point midway between Egmont and 358
Passage Keys; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning. 359
Section 15. Section 7.46, Florida Statutes, is amended to 360
read: 361
7.46 Okaloosa County. —The boundary lines of Okaloosa 362
County are as follows: Beginning on the Alabama state line where 363
same is intersected by range line dividing ranges twenty -five 364
and twenty-six west; thence east on said state line to the 365
intersection of said state line with the range line dividing 366
ranges twenty-one and twenty-two west; thence south on said 367
range line to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence in a westerly 368
direction following the meanderings of said gulf, including the 369
waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of 370
Florida, to the line dividing r anges twenty-five and twenty-six 371
west; thence north on said range line to the place of beginning; 372
provided that the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa 373
shall have concurrent jurisdiction of any offenses committed on 374
the waters of Santa Rosa Sound . 375
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Section 16. Section 7.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to 376
read: 377
7.51 Pasco County.—The boundary lines of Pasco County are 378
as follows: Beginning at the intersection of the section line 379
between sections thirty -three and thirty-four of township 380
twenty-six south, of range twenty -two east, with the township 381
line between townships twenty -six and twenty-seven south, of 382
range twenty-two east; thence north along the section lines to 383
the line dividing sections three and four of said township and 384
to the township line dividing townships twenty -five and twenty-385
six; thence east on said township line to the range line 386
dividing ranges twenty -two and twenty-three east; thence north 387
on said range line to the line dividing sections twenty -four and 388
thirteen of township twenty-three south, of range twenty -two 389
east; thence west to the line dividing ranges twenty and twenty -390
one east; thence south to the line dividing townships twenty -391
three and twenty-four south; thence west on said line to the 392
Gulf of America Mexico; thence southerly along the gulf coast, 393
including islands and the waters of said gulf within the 394
jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the north line of 395
Pinellas County, the township line dividing townships twenty -six 396
and twenty-seven south; thence east on sai d line to the place of 397
beginning. 398
Section 17. Section 7.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to 399
read: 400
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7.52 Pinellas County. —The boundary lines of Pinellas 401
County are as follows: Beginning at a point where the line 402
dividing townships twenty -six and twenty-seven south if 403
projected in a westerly direction intersects with the western 404
boundary of the jurisdictional waters of the State of Florida in 405
the Gulf of America Mexico; thence east on said line to the 406
northeast corner of section one in township twenty -seven south, 407
range sixteen east; thence south to the shore of old Tampa Bay; 408
thence in a southerly direction through the middle waters of old 409
Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay, to a point in Tampa Bay due east of the 410
north shore of Mullet Key; thence due west to a poi nt due north 411
of a point 100 yards due east from the easternmost point of 412
Mullet Key; thence in a line 100 yards from the shoreline around 413
the southern portion of Mullet Key to a point 100 yards west of 414
the northernmost shore of Mullet Key; thence west to a point 415
where such line intersects the western boundary of the 416
jurisdictional waters of the State of Florida in the Gulf of 417
America Mexico and northward, including the waters of said gulf 418
within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to point of 419
beginning; provided however that nothing herein contained shall 420
now or at any time hereafter in any manner whatsoever repeal, 421
amend, change or disturb in any manner whatsoever the 422
apportionment, allotment, allocation, basis of computation, or 423
other formula wherein and whereby the participation in the gas 424
tax by both counties hereto under and by virtue of ss. 206.41 425
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and 206.47 or any law hereafter enacted, is changed so that 426
Hillsborough County would receive a lesser amount and Pinellas 427
County would receive a greate r amount of such gas funds or tax 428
by reason of the change of the boundary line herein authorized. 429
Section 18. Section 7.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to 430
read: 431
7.55 Santa Rosa County. —The boundary lines of Santa Rosa 432
County are as follows: Beginnin g at the Alabama line, where said 433
line crosses the Escambia River; thence down the thread of said 434
river to Escambia Bay; thence along said bay to Deer Point, at 435
the intersection of Santa Rosa Sound with said bay; thence up 436
said Santa Rosa Sound to a line p arallel to and exactly 1 mile 437
westerly of the line dividing range twenty -six west and range 438
twenty-seven west; thence southerly along said line to the 439
waters of the Gulf of America Mexico; thence easterly along the 440
waters of the Gulf of America Mexico to a point of intersection 441
with the range line dividing range twenty -five west and range 442
twenty-six west; thence northerly along said range line to the 443
dividing line between the State of Florida and the State of 444
Alabama, thence westerly along said dividing lin e to the point 445
of beginning; provided that the Counties of Escambia, Santa 446
Rosa, and Okaloosa shall have concurrent jurisdiction of any 447
offenses committed on the waters of Santa Rosa Sound. 448
Section 19. Section 7.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to 449
read: 450
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7.56 Sarasota County. —The boundary lines of Sarasota 451
County are as follows: Beginning in the Gulf of America Mexico 452
at a point on a prolongation of the township line between 453
townships thirty-five and thirty-six south; thence east on said 454
prolongation and said line to the southeast corner of township 455
thirty-five south, range twenty east; thence south on the range 456
line between ranges twenty and twenty -one east, to the southwest 457
corner of township thirty -seven south, range twenty -one east; 458
thence east on the township line between townships thirty -seven 459
and thirty-eight south to the southeast corner of township 460
thirty-seven south, range twenty -two east; thence south on the 461
range line between ranges twenty -two and twenty-three east, to 462
the southeast corner of township thirty-nine south, range 463
twenty-two east; thence west on the township line between 464
townships thirty-nine and forty south to the southwest corner of 465
township thirty-nine south, range twenty -one east; thence south 466
on the range line between ranges t wenty and twenty-one east to 467
the southeast corner of township forty south, range twenty east; 468
thence west on the township line between townships forty and 469
forty-one south to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence northerly 470
along the coast of the Gulf of America Mexico, including the 471
waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of 472
Florida, to the place of beginning. 473
Section 20. Section 7.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to 474
read: 475
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7.62 Taylor County. —The boundary lines of Taylor County 476
are as follows: Beginning in the mouth of the Big Aucilla River; 477
thence northerly, concurrent with the east boundary of Jefferson 478
County, along the thread of said river to where same is 479
intersected by the middle line of township two south, range five 480
east; thence east on said middle township line, concurrent with 481
the south boundary line of Madison County, across ranges six, 482
seven and eight east to the range line between ranges eight and 483
nine east; thence south on said range line to the township line 484
between townships two and three south; thence east on said 485
township line to the range line between ranges nine and ten 486
east; thence south on said range line, concurrent with the west 487
boundary of Lafayette County to the middle line of section 488
seven, township seven south, ra nge ten east; thence east on said 489
middle line to the east line of said section seven; thence due 490
south on the east line of said section seven and other sections 491
to the township line between townships seven and eight south; 492
thence east on said township line to the east line of section 493
four, township eight south, range ten east, or the northwest 494
corner of Dixie County; thence south, concurrent with the west 495
boundary of Dixie County, on the east line of said section four 496
and other sections to where same inters ects the thread of the 497
Steinhatchee River; thence southerly along the thread of the 498
said Steinhatchee River to the mouth of said river; thence 499
northerly through the Gulf of America Mexico, including the 500
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waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the St ate of 501
Florida, to the place of beginning. 502
Section 21. Section 7.65, Florida Statutes, is amended to 503
read: 504
7.65 Wakulla County. —The boundary lines of Wakulla County 505
are as follows: Beginning on the range line between ranges two 506
and three east where the same strikes the Gulf of America 507
Mexico; thence north on said range line to the north boundary of 508
section thirty-six, township two south, range two east; thence 509
due west on the north line of said section thirty -six and other 510
sections to the railroad leading from Tallahassee to St. Marks; 511
thence north along said railroad two sections; thence west on 512
the north line of section twenty, township two south, range one 513
east, and other sections, to the thread of Ochlockonee River; 514
thence southerly and easterly along the thread of said river 515
concurrent with the north and east boundary of Franklin County 516
to a point directly south of the southernmost point of Grass 517
Island; thence along a straight line to the center point of the 518
U.S. 98 (State Road 30) bridge across Ochlockonee Bay; thence 519
east-southeast to a point directly north of the easternmost 520
point of James Island; thence easterly to the boundary line of 521
the State of Florida in the Gulf of America Mexico; thence north 522
and easterly along said gulf, including the waters of said gulf 523
within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the place of 524
beginning. 525
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Section 22. Section 7.66, Florida Statutes, is amended to 526
read: 527
7.66 Walton County. —The boundary lines of Walton County 528
are as follows: Beginning on the Alabama state line where same 529
is intersected by the line dividing centrally range eighteen 530
west; thence south on the section lines to the line dividing 531
townships two and three north, in range eighteen west; thence 532
east to the Choctawhat chee River; thence down the thread of the 533
Choctawhatchee River to a point where said Choctawhatchee River 534
intersects the range line dividing ranges seventeen and eighteen 535
west; thence south on said range line to the Gulf of America 536
Mexico; thence in a westwardly direction following the 537
meanderings of said gulf, including the waters of said gulf 538
within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the range 539
line dividing ranges twenty -one and twenty-two west; thence 540
north on said line to the dividing line bet ween Florida and 541
Alabama; thence easterly along said state line to the place of 542
beginning. 543
Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section 544
125.0104, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 545
125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for levying; 546
authorized uses; referendum; enforcement. — 547
(5) AUTHORIZED USES OF REVENUE. — 548
(c) A county located adjacent to the Gulf of America 549
Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean, except a county that receives 550
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revenue from taxes levied pursuant to s. 125.0108, which meets 551
the following criteria may use up to 10 percent of the tax 552
revenue received pursuant to this section to reimburse expenses 553
incurred in providing public safety services, including 554
emergency medical services as defined in s. 401.107(3), and law 555
enforcement services, which are needed to address impacts 556
related to increased tourism and visitors to an area. However, 557
if taxes collected pursuant to this section are used to 558
reimburse emergency medical services or public safety services 559
for tourism or special event s, the governing board of a county 560
or municipality may not use such taxes to supplant the normal 561
operating expenses of an emergency medical services department, 562
a fire department, a sheriff's office, or a police department. 563
To receive reimbursement, the co unty must: 564
1.a. Generate a minimum of $10 million in annual proceeds 565
from any tax, or any combination of taxes, authorized to be 566
levied pursuant to this section; 567
b. Have at least three municipalities; and 568
c. Have an estimated population of less than 275,000, 569
according to the most recent population estimate prepared 570
pursuant to s. 186.901, excluding the inmate population; or 571
2. Be a fiscally constrained county as described in s. 572
218.67(1). 573
574
The board of county commissioners must by majority vote appr ove 575
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reimbursement made pursuant to this paragraph upon receipt of a 576
recommendation from the tourist development council. 577
Section 24. Subsections (1), (5), and (10) of section 578
161.052, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 579
161.052 Coastal constructio n and excavation; regulation. — 580
(1) No person, firm, corporation, municipality, county, or 581
other public agency shall excavate or construct any dwelling 582
house, hotel, motel, apartment building, seawall, revetment, or 583
other structure incidental to or relate d to such structure, 584
including but not limited to such attendant structures or 585
facilities as a patio, swimming pool, or garage, within 50 feet 586
of the line of mean high water at any riparian coastal location 587
fronting the Gulf of America Mexico or Atlantic coast shoreline 588
of the state, exclusive of bays, inlets, rivers, bayous, creeks, 589
passes, and the like. In areas where an erosion control line has 590
been established under the provisions of ss. 161.141 -161.211, 591
that line, or the presently existing mean high -water line, 592
whichever is more landward, shall be considered to be the mean 593
high-water line for the purposes of this section. 594
(5) The setback requirements as defined herein shall not 595
apply to any riparian coastal locations fronting the Atlantic 596
Ocean or Gulf of America Mexico which have vegetation -type 597
nonsandy shores. 598
(10) A coastal county or municipality fronting on the Gulf 599
of America Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean shall advise the 600
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department within 5 days after receipt of any permit application 601
for construction or other activities proposed to be located 602
within 50 feet of the line of mean high water. Within 5 days 603
after receipt of such application, the county or municipality 604
shall notify the applicant of the requirements for state 605
permits. 606
Section 25. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsections (1) and 607
subsection (14) of section 161.053, Florida Statutes, are 608
amended to read: 609
161.053 Coastal construction and excavation; regulation on 610
county basis.— 611
(1)(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the beache s 612
in this state and the coastal barrier dunes adjacent to such 613
beaches, by their nature, are subject to frequent and severe 614
fluctuations and represent one of the most valuable natural 615
resources of Florida and that it is in the public interest to 616
preserve and protect them from imprudent construction which can 617
jeopardize the stability of the beach -dune system, accelerate 618
erosion, provide inadequate protection to upland structures, 619
endanger adjacent properties, or interfere with public beach 620
access. In furtherance of these findings, it is the intent of 621
the Legislature to provide that the department establish coastal 622
construction control lines on a county basis along the sand 623
beaches of the state fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of 624
America Mexico, or the Straits of Florida. Such lines shall be 625
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established so as to define that portion of the beach -dune 626
system which is subject to severe fluctuations based on a 100 -627
year storm surge, storm waves, or other predictable weather 628
conditions. However, the departmen t may establish a segment or 629
segments of a coastal construction control line further landward 630
than the impact zone of a 100 -year storm surge, provided such 631
segment or segments do not extend beyond the landward toe of the 632
coastal barrier dune structure that intercepts the 100-year 633
storm surge. Such segment or segments shall not be established 634
if adequate dune protection is provided by a state -approved dune 635
management plan. Special siting and design considerations shall 636
be necessary seaward of established coa stal construction control 637
lines to ensure the protection of the beach -dune system, 638
proposed or existing structures, and adjacent properties and the 639
preservation of public beach access. 640
(b) As used in this subsection: 641
1. When establishing coastal constr uction control lines as 642
provided in this section, the definition of "sand beach" shall 643
be expanded to include coastal barrier island ends contiguous to 644
the sand beaches of the state fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, 645
the Gulf of America Mexico, or the Straits of Florida. 646
2. "Coastal barrier island ends" means those areas on the 647
ends of barrier islands fronting the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of 648
America Mexico, or the Straits of Florida, which are subject to 649
severe fluctuations based on a 100 -year storm surge, storm 650
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waves, or other predictable weather conditions. 651
3. "Coastal barrier islands" means geological features 652
which are completely surrounded by marine waters that front upon 653
the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of America 654
Mexico, or the Straits of Florida and are composed of quartz 655
sands, clays, limestone, oolites, rock, coral, coquina, 656
sediment, or other material, including spoil disposal, which 657
features lie above the line of mean high water. Mainland areas 658
which were separated from the mainlan d by artificial 659
channelization for the purpose of assisting marine commerce 660
shall not be considered coastal barrier islands. 661
(14) A coastal county or municipality fronting on the Gulf 662
of America Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, or the Straits of Florida 663
shall advise the department within 5 days after receipt of any 664
permit application for construction or other activities proposed 665
to be located seaward of the line established by the department 666
pursuant to this section. Within 5 days after receipt of such 667
application, the county or municipality shall notify the 668
applicant of the requirements for state permits. 669
Section 26. Section 161.088, Florida Statutes, is amended 670
to read: 671
161.088 Declaration of public policy respecting beach 672
erosion control and beach rest oration and nourishment projects. —673
Because beach erosion is a serious menace to the economy and 674
general welfare of the people of this state and has advanced to 675
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emergency proportions, it is hereby declared to be a necessary 676
governmental responsibility to pro perly manage and protect 677
Florida beaches fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America 678
Mexico, and Straits of Florida from erosion and that the 679
Legislature make provision for beach restoration and nourishment 680
projects, including inlet management projects that cost-681
effectively provide beach -quality material for adjacent 682
critically eroded beaches. The Legislature declares that such 683
beach restoration and nourishment projects, as approved pursuant 684
to s. 161.161, are in the public interest; must be in an area 685
designated as critically eroded shoreline, or benefit an 686
adjacent critically eroded shoreline; must have a clearly 687
identifiable beach management benefit consistent with the 688
state's beach management plan; and must be designed to reduce 689
potential upland dama ge or mitigate adverse impacts caused by 690
improved, modified, or altered inlets, coastal armoring, or 691
existing upland development. Given the extent of the problem of 692
critically eroded beaches, it is also declared that beach 693
restoration and nourishment proje cts shall be funded in a manner 694
that encourages all cost -saving strategies, fosters regional 695
coordination of projects, improves the performance of projects, 696
and provides long-term solutions. The Legislature further 697
declares that nothing herein is intended to reduce or amend the 698
beach protection programs otherwise established in this chapter 699
or to result in local governments altering the coastal 700
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management elements of their local government comprehensive 701
plans pursuant to chapter 163. 702
Section 27. Section 161.141, Florida Statutes, is amended 703
to read: 704
161.141 Property rights of state and private upland owners 705
in beach restoration project areas. —The Legislature declares 706
that it is the public policy of the state to cause to be fixed 707
and determined, pursuant to beach restoration, beach 708
nourishment, and erosion control projects, the boundary line 709
between sovereignty lands of the state bordering on the Atlantic 710
Ocean, the Gulf of America Mexico, or the Straits of Florida, 711
and the bays, lagoons, and other tidal reaches thereof, and the 712
upland properties adjacent thereto; except that such boundary 713
line shall not be fixed for beach restoration projects that 714
result from inlet or navigation channel maintenance dredging 715
projects unless such pro jects involve the construction of 716
authorized beach restoration projects. However, prior to 717
construction of such a beach restoration project, the board of 718
trustees must establish the line of mean high water for the area 719
to be restored; and any additions to the upland property 720
landward of the established line of mean high water which result 721
from the restoration project remain the property of the upland 722
owner subject to all governmental regulations and are not to be 723
used to justify increased density or the rel ocation of the 724
coastal construction control line as may be in effect for such 725
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upland property. The resulting additions to upland property are 726
also subject to a public easement for traditional uses of the 727
sandy beach consistent with uses that would have bee n allowed 728
prior to the need for the restoration project. It is further 729
declared that there is no intention on the part of the state to 730
extend its claims to lands not already held by it or to deprive 731
any upland or submerged land owner of the legitimate and 732
constitutional use and enjoyment of his or her property. If an 733
authorized beach restoration, beach nourishment, and erosion 734
control project cannot reasonably be accomplished without the 735
taking of private property, the taking must be made by the 736
requesting authority by eminent domain proceedings. In any 737
action alleging a taking of all or part of a property or 738
property right as a result of a beach restoration project, in 739
determining whether such taking has occurred or the value of any 740
damage alleged with resp ect to the owner's remaining upland 741
property adjoining the beach restoration project, the 742
enhancement, if any, in value of the owner's remaining adjoining 743
property of the upland property owner by reason of the beach 744
restoration project shall be considered. If a taking is 745
judicially determined to have occurred as a result of a beach 746
restoration project, the enhancement in value to the owner's 747
remaining adjoining property by reason of the beach restoration 748
project shall be offset against the value of the dama ge, if any, 749
resulting to such remaining adjoining property of the upland 750
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property owner by reason of the beach restoration project, but 751
such enhancement in the value shall not be offset against the 752
value of the property or property right alleged to have be en 753
taken. If the enhancement in value shall exceed the value of the 754
damage, if any, to the remaining adjoining property, there shall 755
be no recovery over against the property owner for such excess. 756
Section 28. Subsection (3) of section 161.151, Florida 757
Statutes, is amended to read: 758
161.151 Definitions; ss. 161.141 -161.211.—As used in ss. 759
161.141-161.211: 760
(3) "Erosion control line" means the line determined in 761
accordance with the provisions of ss. 161.141 -161.211 which 762
represents the landward extent o f the claims of the state in its 763
capacity as sovereign titleholder of the submerged bottoms and 764
shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of America Mexico, and 765
the bays, lagoons and other tidal reaches thereof on the date of 766
the recording of the survey as au thorized in s. 161.181. 767
Section 29. Subsection (1) of section 161.161, Florida 768
Statutes, is amended to read: 769
161.161 Procedure for approval of projects. — 770
(1) The department shall develop and maintain a 771
comprehensive long-term beach management plan for the 772
restoration and maintenance of the state's critically eroded 773
beaches fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America Mexico, and 774
Straits of Florida. In developing and maintaining this plan, the 775
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department shall: 776
(a) Address long-term solutions to th e problem of 777
critically eroded beaches in this state. 778
(b) Evaluate each improved, modified, or altered inlet and 779
determine whether the inlet is a significant cause of beach 780
erosion. With respect to each inlet determined to be a 781
significant cause of beach erosion, the plan shall include the 782
extent to which such inlet causes beach erosion and 783
recommendations to mitigate the erosive impact of the inlet, 784
including, but not limited to, inlet sediment bypassing; 785
improvement of infrastructure to facilitate sand bypassing; 786
modifications to channel dredging, jetty design, and disposal of 787
spoil material; establishment of feeder beaches; and beach 788
restoration and beach nourishment. 789
(c) Evaluate criteria for beach restoration and beach 790
nourishment projects, includin g, but not limited to, dune 791
elevation and width and revegetation and stabilization 792
requirements and beach profiles. 793
(d) Consider the establishment of regional sediment 794
management alternatives for one or more individual beach and 795
inlet sand bypassing proj ects as an alternative to beach 796
restoration when appropriate and cost -effective, and recommend 797
the location of such regional sediment management alternatives 798
and the source of beach -compatible sand. 799
(e) Identify causes of shoreline erosion and change, 800
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determine erosion rates, and maintain an updated list of 801
critically eroded sandy beaches based on data, analyses, and 802
investigations of shoreline conditions. 803
(f) Assess impacts of development and coastal protection 804
structures on shoreline change and erosio n. 805
(g) Identify short-term and long-term economic costs and 806
benefits of beaches to the state and individual beach 807
communities. 808
(h) Study dune and vegetation conditions, identify 809
existing beach projects without dune features or with dunes 810
without adequate elevations, and encourage dune restoration and 811
revegetation to be incorporated as part of storm damage recovery 812
projects or future dune maintenance events. 813
(i) Identify beach areas used by marine turtles and 814
develop strategies for protection of the tu rtles and their nests 815
and nesting locations. 816
(j) Identify alternative management responses to preserve 817
undeveloped beach and dune systems and to restore damaged beach 818
and dune systems. In identifying such management responses, the 819
department shall consid er, at a minimum, beach restoration and 820
nourishment, armoring, relocation, dune and vegetation 821
restoration, and acquisition. 822
(k) Document procedures and policies for preparing 823
poststorm damage assessments and corresponding recovery plans, 824
including repair cost estimates. 825
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(l) Identify and assess appropriate management measures 826
for all of the state's critically eroded sandy beaches. 827
Section 30. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 161.54, 828
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 829
161.54 Definitions. —In construing ss. 161.52 -161.58: 830
(1) "Coastal building zone" means the land area from the 831
seasonal high-water line landward to a line 1,500 feet landward 832
from the coastal construction control line as established 833
pursuant to s. 161.053, and, for those coastal areas fronting on 834
the Gulf of America Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, or 835
Straits of Florida and not included under s. 161.053, the land 836
area seaward of the most landward velocity zone (V -zone) line as 837
established by the Federal Emergency Management A gency and shown 838
on flood insurance rate maps. 839
(2) "Coastal barrier islands" means geological features 840
which are completely surrounded by marine waters that front upon 841
the open waters of the Gulf of America Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, 842
Florida Bay, or Straits of Florida and are composed of quartz 843
sands, clays, limestone, oolites, rock, coral, coquina, 844
sediment, or other material, including spoil disposal, which 845
features lie above the line of mean high water. Mainland areas 846
which were separated from the mainland by artificial 847
channelization for the purpose of assisting marine commerce 848
shall not be considered coastal barrier islands. 849
Section 31. Subsection (4) of section 161.55, Florida 850
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Statutes, is amended to read: 851
161.55 Requirements for activities or construction within 852
the coastal building zone. —The following requirements shall 853
apply beginning March 1, 1986, to construction within the 854
coastal building zone and shall be minimum standards for 855
construction in this area: 856
(4) APPLICATION TO COASTAL BARRIER ISLANDS. —All 857
requirements of this part which are applicable to the coastal 858
building zone shall also apply to coastal barrier islands. The 859
coastal building zone on coastal barrier islands shall be the 860
land area from the seasonal high -water line to a line 5,000 feet 861
landward from the coastal construction control line established 862
pursuant to s. 161.053, or the entire island, whichever is less. 863
For coastal barrier islands on which a coastal construction 864
control line has not been establish ed pursuant to s. 161.053, 865
the coastal building zone shall be the land area seaward of the 866
most landward velocity zone (V -zone) boundary line fronting upon 867
the Gulf of America Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, or 868
Straits of Florida. All land area in the Florida Keys located 869
within Monroe County shall be included in the coastal building 870
zone. The coastal building zone on any coastal barrier island 871
between Sebastian Inlet and Fort Pierce Inlet may be reduced in 872
size upon approval of the Land and Water Adju dicatory 873
Commission, if it determines that the local government with 874
jurisdiction has provided adequate protection for the barrier 875
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island. In no case, however, shall the coastal building zone be 876
reduced to an area less than a line 2,500 feet landward of th e 877
coastal construction control line. The Land and Water 878
Adjudicatory Commission shall withdraw its approval for a 879
reduced coastal building zone if it determines that 6 months 880
after a local government comprehensive plan is due for 881
submission to the state la nd planning agency pursuant to s. 882
163.3167 the local government with jurisdiction has not adopted 883
a coastal management element which is in compliance with s. 884
163.3178. 885
Section 32. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 886
206.9935, Florida Statutes, i s amended to read: 887
206.9935 Taxes imposed. — 888
(1) TAX FOR COASTAL PROTECTION. — 889
(c)1. Excluding natural gas drilling activities, if 890
offshore oil drilling activity is approved by the United States 891
Department of the Interior for the waters off the coast of this 892
state in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America Mexico, or Straits 893
of Florida, paragraph (b) shall not apply. Instead, the excise 894
tax shall be 2 cents per barrel of pollutant, or equivalent 895
measure as established by the department, produced in or 896
imported into this state, and the proceeds shall be deposited 897
into the Coastal Protection Trust Fund with a cap of $100 898
million. 899
2. If a discharge of catastrophic proportions occurs, the 900
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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
results of which could significantly reduce the balance in the 901
fund, the Secretary of Environmental Protection may, by rule, 902
increase the levy of the excise tax to an amount not to exceed 903
10 cents per barrel for a period of time sufficient to pay any 904
proven claim against the fund and restore the balance in the 905
fund until it again equals or exceeds $50 million; except that 906
for any fiscal year immediately following the year in which the 907
fund is equal to or exceeds $50 million, the excise tax and fund 908
shall be governed by th e provisions of subparagraph 1. 909
Section 33. Paragraph (a) of subsection (10) of section 910
253.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 911
253.03 Board of trustees to administer state lands; lands 912
enumerated.— 913
(10) The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement 914
Trust Fund and the state through any of its agencies are hereby 915
prohibited from levying any charge, by whatever name known, or 916
attaching any lien, on any and all materials dredged from state 917
sovereignty tidal lands or submerged bottom lands or on the 918
lands constituting the spoil areas on which such dredged 919
materials are placed, except as otherwise provided for in this 920
subsection, when such materials are dredged by or on behalf of 921
the United States or the local sponsors of active federal 922
navigation projects in the pursuance of the improvement, 923
construction, maintenance, and operation of such projects or by 924
a public body authorized to operate a public port facility (all 925
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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
such parties referred to herein shall hereafter be called 926
"public body") in pur suance of the improvement, construction, 927
maintenance, and operation of such facility, including any 928
public transfer and terminal facilities, which actions are 929
hereby declared to be for a public purpose. The term "local 930
sponsor" means the local agency desig nated pursuant to an act of 931
Congress to assume a portion of the navigation project costs and 932
duties. Active federal navigation projects are those 933
congressionally approved projects which are being performed by 934
the United States Army Corps of Engineers or ma intained by the 935
local sponsors. 936
(a) Except for beach nourishment seaward of existing lines 937
of vegetation on privately owned or publicly owned uplands 938
fronting on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of America 939
Mexico and authorized pursuant to the pr ovisions of part I of 940
chapter 161, no materials dredged from state sovereignty tidal 941
or submerged bottom lands by a public body shall be deposited on 942
private lands until: 943
1. The United States Army Corps of Engineers or the local 944
sponsor has first certifi ed that no public lands are available 945
within a reasonable distance of the dredging site; and 946
2. The public body has published notice of its intention 947
to utilize certain private lands for the deposit of materials, 948
in a newspaper published and having gener al circulation in the 949
appropriate county at least three times within a 60 -day period 950
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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
prior to the date of the scheduled deposit of any such material, 951
and therein advised the general public of the opportunity to bid 952
on the purchase of such materials for dep osit on the purchaser's 953
designated site, provided any such deposit shall be at no 954
increased cost to the public body. Such notice shall state the 955
terms, location, and conditions for receipt of bids and shall 956
state that the public body shall accept the highe st responsible 957
bid. All bids shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees of the 958
Internal Improvement Trust Fund. All moneys obtained from such 959
purchases of materials shall be remitted forthwith to the Board 960
of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fun d. Compliance 961
with this subsection shall vest, without any obligation, full 962
title to the materials in the owner of the land where deposited. 963
Section 34. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 964
253.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 965
253.12 Title to tidal lands vested in state. — 966
(5) 967
(b) Neither this subsection nor any other provision of 968
this chapter shall be construed to permit any state agency or 969
county, city, or other political subdivision to construct 970
islands or extend or add to existing lands or islands bordering 971
on or being in the navigable waters as defined herein or drain 972
such waters for a municipal, county, state, or other public 973
purpose unless such agency is the riparian upland owner or holds 974
the consent in writing of the riparian u pland owner consenting 975
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to such construction or extension or drainage operation. For the 976
purposes of this subsection, "riparian upland owners" shall be 977
defined as those persons owning upland property abutting those 978
portions of the waters to be filled or dra ined, which are within 979
1,000 feet outboard of said riparian upland, but not more than 980
one-half the distance to the opposite upland, if any, and within 981
the extensions of the side boundary lines thereof, when said 982
side boundary lines are extended in the dire ction of the channel 983
along an alignment which would be required to distribute 984
equitably the submerged land between the upland and the channel. 985
However, nothing herein shall be construed to deny or limit any 986
state agency or county, city, or other political subdivision 987
from exercising the right of eminent domain to the extent and 988
for the purposes authorized by law in connection with such 989
construction, extension, or drainage projects; and nothing 990
herein shall be construed to have application in those instances 991
when the board is authorized by law to establish an erosion 992
control line to implement an authorized beach nourishment, 993
replenishment, or erosion -control project, or for the placement 994
of sand dredged from navigation channels on beaches fronting the 995
waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of America Mexico, 996
provided such sand is not placed landward of existing lines of 997
vegetation. 998
Section 35. Section 253.783, Florida Statutes, is amended 999
to read: 1000
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253.783 Expenditures for acquisition of land for a cana l 1001
connecting the waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of 1002
America Mexico via the St. Johns River prohibited. —The 1003
department shall make no expenditures for the purpose of 1004
acquiring land for constructing, operating, or promoting a canal 1005
across the peninsula of Florida connecting the waters of the 1006
Atlantic Ocean with the waters of the Gulf of America Mexico via 1007
the St. Johns River. 1008
Section 36. Section 258.09, Florida Statutes, is amended 1009
to read: 1010
258.09 Rauscher Park designated. —There is designated and 1011
established as a state park to be known as Rauscher Park, in 1012
Escambia County, the lands lying between the Big Lagoon and the 1013
Gulf of America Mexico, now owned by Escambia County, or 1014
hereafter acquired by Escambia County, adjacent or contiguous 1015
thereto, from private owners or from the United States 1016
Government; and the board of county commissioners of Escambia 1017
County may execute proper conveyance to the board of 1018
commissioners of state institutions covering the property now 1019
owned by Escambia County, as afo resaid, and said board of county 1020
commissioners of Escambia County may acquire in the name of the 1021
Division of Recreation and Parks of the Department of 1022
Environmental Protection any property adjacent or contiguous 1023
thereto, from private owners or from the Uni ted States 1024
Government; and said division may accept in the name of the 1025
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state the title to any such lands, whether from said Escambia 1026
County, or whether same be property acquired from private owners 1027
or the United States Government. 1028
Section 37. Section 2 58.395, Florida Statutes, is amended 1029
to read: 1030
258.395 Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve. —The 1031
following described area in Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, 1032
and Levy Counties is hereby designated by the Legislature for 1033
inclusion in the aquatic preserve system under the Florida 1034
Aquatic Preserve Act of 1975. Such area, to be known as the Big 1035
Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, shall be included in the 1036
aquatic preserve system and shall include all the sovereignty 1037
submerged lands lying within the following de scribed boundaries: 1038
Begin where the northerly mean high water line of Withlacoochee 1039
River meets the mean high water line of the Gulf of America 1040
Mexico, Township 17 South, Range 15 East, Levy County: Thence 1041
from the said point of beginning proceed northwest erly along the 1042
mean high water line of the coast and its navigable tributaries 1043
to the intersection of the westerly mean high water line of St. 1044
Marks River with the mean high water line of the Gulf of America 1045
Mexico, in Township 4 South, Range 1 East, Wakul la County; 1046
thence proceed south three marine leagues into the Gulf of 1047
America Mexico; thence proceed southeasterly along a line three 1048
marine leagues from and parallel to the line of mean high water 1049
previously described to an intersection with a line projec ted 1050
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west from the point of beginning; thence proceed east to the 1051
point of beginning. Less and except all those sovereignty 1052
submerged lands within 500 feet of any incorporated or 1053
unincorporated municipality within the above described lands. 1054
Less and except: Begin at the intersection of the southerly 1055
projection of the east line of Range line 4 East with the mean 1056
high water line of the Gulf of America Mexico; thence proceed 1057
southwest to a point on the three marine league line; thence 1058
proceed southeasterly thre e marine leagues from and parallel to 1059
the mean high water line to a point which is southwest of the 1060
intersection of the southerly line of Section 22, Township 6 1061
South, Range 6 East, Taylor County, with the mean high water 1062
line of the Gulf of America Mexico; thence proceed Northeast to 1063
the foresaid point of intersection; thence proceed northwesterly 1064
along the mean high water line of the Gulf of America Mexico and 1065
its tributaries to the point of beginning. Less and except all 1066
those local access channels adjac ent to Keaton Beach and a 1067
proposed navigational channel more particularly described as 1068
follows: Begin at State Plane Coordinate; X=2,288,032; 1069
Y=298,365: Thence proceed West 11,608 feet; thence proceed south 1070
1,440 feet; thence proceed east 11,608 feet; then ce proceed 1071
north 1,440 feet to the point of beginning; less and except all 1072
those sovereign submerged lands lying northerly and easterly of 1073
U.S. Highway 19. 1074
Section 38. Subsection (2) of section 258.3991, Florida 1075
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Statutes, is amended to read: 1076
258.3991 Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. — 1077
(2) BOUNDARIES.—For purposes of this section, the Nature 1078
Coast Aquatic Preserve consists of the state -owned submerged 1079
lands lying west of a meandering line following the westernmost 1080
shorelines of Citrus, Hernando, and Pas co Counties, excluding 1081
artificial waterways, canals, inland rivers, and tributaries. 1082
Such state-owned submerged lands include all those lands seaward 1083
of the mean high-water line and tidally connected to the Gulf of 1084
America Mexico, lying south of a line ext ending westerly 1085
approximately 4.5 miles along Latitude 28.910000°, Florida West 1086
Zone (NAD83) from the mean high -water line of the corresponding 1087
shoreline at Fort Island Gulf Beach Park, Latitude 28.910000°, 1088
Longitude -82.690000°, and lying westward of a li ne extending 1089
north approximately 1.8 miles from Latitude 28.909402°, 1090
Longitude -82.764° to Latitude 28.9355°, Longitude -82.764°, 1091
lying southward of a line extending westerly approximately 2.0 1092
miles to Latitude 28.9355°, Longitude -82.798214°, lying 1093
westward of a line extending north approximately 4.5 miles to 1094
the easternmost point of the southern boundary of the Big Bend 1095
Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve at point Latitude 29.001614°, 1096
Longitude -82.798921°, and will be continuous with the eastern 1097
shoreline of the northern boundary of the Pinellas County 1098
Aquatic Preserve, respectively. The boundary of the Nature Coast 1099
Aquatic Preserve designated as the shoreline will be the mean 1100
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high-water line along such shoreline unless otherwise stated and 1101
will not supersede the boundaries of currently designated 1102
Outstanding Florida Waters, state parks, national wildlife 1103
refuges, or aquatic preserves. 1104
Section 39. Subsection (15) of section 327.02, Florida 1105
Statutes, is amended to read: 1106
327.02 Definitions. —As used in this chapter and in chapter 1107
328, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, 1108
the term: 1109
(15) "Florida Intracoastal Waterway" means the Atlantic 1110
Intracoastal Waterway, the Georgia state line north of 1111
Fernandina to Miami; the Port Canaveral lock and ca nal to the 1112
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; the Atlantic Intracoastal 1113
Waterway, Miami to Key West; the Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart to 1114
Fort Myers; the St. Johns River, Jacksonville to Sanford; the 1115
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Anclote to Fort Myers; the Gulf 1116
Intracoastal Waterway, Carrabelle to Tampa Bay; Carrabelle to 1117
Anclote open bay section, using the Gulf of America Mexico; the 1118
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Carrabelle to the Alabama state line 1119
west of Pensacola; and the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and 1120
Flint Rivers in Florida. 1121
Section 40. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 1122
327.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1123
327.60 Local regulations; limitations. — 1124
(4) 1125
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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
(c) Upon approval of the Administrator of the United 1126
States Environmental Protectio n Agency pursuant to 33 U.S.C. s. 1127
1322, a county designated as a rural area of opportunity may 1128
create a no-discharge zone for freshwater water bodies within 1129
the county's jurisdiction to prohibit treated and untreated 1130
sewage discharges from floating structu res and live-aboard 1131
vessels not capable of being used as a means of transportation 1132
and from houseboats. Within no -discharge zone boundaries, 1133
operators of such floating structures, live -aboard vessels, and 1134
houseboats shall retain their sewage on board for d ischarge at a 1135
pumpout facility or for discharge more than 3 miles off the 1136
coast in the Atlantic Ocean or more than 9 miles off the coast 1137
in the Gulf of America Mexico. Violations of this paragraph are 1138
punishable as provided in s. 327.53(6) and (7). 1139
Section 41. Subsection (1) of section 331.307, Florida 1140
Statutes, is amended to read: 1141
331.307 Development of Cape San Blas facility. —The 1142
spaceport facility at Cape San Blas may only be developed in 1143
accordance with the recommendations of the Spaceport Florida 1144
Feasibility Study upon the following conditions: 1145
(1) Construction at the site shall not cause significant 1146
degradation of the water quality or injure aquatic life in St. 1147
Joseph Bay or the adjace nt water of the Gulf of America Mexico. 1148
Section 42. Subsection (3) of section 373.019, Florida 1149
Statutes, is amended to read: 1150
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373.019 Definitions. —When appearing in this chapter or in 1151
any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, the 1152
term: 1153
(3) "Coastal waters" means waters of the Atlantic Ocean or 1154
the Gulf of America Mexico within the jurisdiction of the state. 1155
Section 43. Paragraphs (a), (b), (d), and (e) of 1156
subsection (2) of section 373.069, Florida Statutes, are amended 1157
to read: 1158
373.069 Creation of water management districts. — 1159
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other special or 1160
general act to the contrary, the boundaries of the respective 1161
districts named in subsection (1) shall include the areas within 1162
the following bounda ries: 1163
(a) Northwest Florida Water Management District. —Begin at 1164
the point where the section line between Sections 26 and 27, 1165
Township 4 South, Range 3 East intersects the Gulf of America 1166
Mexico; thence north along the section line to the northwest 1167
corner of Section 2, Township 1 South, Range 3 East; thence east 1168
along the Tallahassee Base Line to the southeast corner of 1169
Section 36, Township 1 North, Range 4 East; thence north along 1170
the range line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 1 1171
North, Range 5 East; thence east along the township line to the 1172
southeast corner of Section 36, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; 1173
thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of 1174
Section 24, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence west along 1175
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the section line to the southwest corner of the east 1/2 of 1176
Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence north to the 1177
northwest corner of the east 1/2 of Section 13, Township 2 1178
North, Range 5 East; thence east along the section line to the 1179
southeast corner of Sect ion 12, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; 1180
thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of 1181
Section 24, Township 3 North, Range 5 East; thence west along 1182
the Watson Line to the southwest corner of Lot Number 168; 1183
thence north along the line betwee n Lot Numbers 168 and 169, 154 1184
and 155 to the Georgia line; thence westward along the Georgia -1185
Florida line to the intersection of the south boundary of the 1186
State of Alabama; thence west along the Alabama -Florida line to 1187
the intersection of the northwest co rner Alabama-Florida 1188
Boundary; thence south along the Alabama -Florida line to the 1189
Gulf of America Mexico; thence east along the Gulf of America 1190
Mexico, including the waters of said Gulf within the 1191
jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the Point of Begin ning. 1192
(b) Suwannee River Water Management District. —Begin in the 1193
Gulf of America Mexico on the section line between Sections 29 1194
and 32, Township 15 South, Range 15 East; thence east along the 1195
section lines to the southwest corner of Section 27, Township 15 1196
South, Range 17 East; thence north along the section line to the 1197
northwest corner of Section 3, Township 15 South, Range 17 East; 1198
thence east along the section line to the easterly right -of-way 1199
line of State Road No. 337; thence northerly along said eas terly 1200
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right-of-way line of State Road No. 337 to the southerly right -1201
of-way line of State Road No. 24; thence northeasterly along 1202
said southerly right -of-way line of State Road No. 24 to the 1203
Levy-Alachua county line; thence south along the Levy -Alachua 1204
county line, also being the range line between Range 17 and 18 1205
East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11 South, 1206
Range 17 East; thence easterly along the Levy -Alachua county 1207
line, also being the township line between Townships 11 and 12 1208
South, to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11 South, 1209
Range 18 East; thence north along the range line to the 1210
northwest corner of Section 19, Township 9 South, Range 19 East; 1211
thence east along the section line to the southeast corner of 1212
Section 13, Township 9 South, Range 19 East; thence north along 1213
the range line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 9 1214
South, Range 20 East; thence eastward along the township line to 1215
the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 20 1216
East; thence north along the township line to the northwest 1217
corner of Section 18, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence 1218
east along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 1219
15, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence south along the 1220
section line to the southwes t corner of Section 23, Township 8 1221
South, Range 21 East; thence east along the section line to the 1222
northeast corner of Section 26, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; 1223
thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of 1224
the north 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; 1225
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thence east along a line to the northeast corner of the south 1226
half of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence 1227
south along the range line to the southwest corner of Section 1228
30, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; t hence east along the 1229
section line to the northeast corner of Section 32, Township 8 1230
South, Range 22 East; thence south along the section line to the 1231
southwest corner of Section 16, Township 9 South, Range 22 East; 1232
thence eastward along the section line to the southeast corner 1233
of the west 1/8 of Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East; 1234
thence northward to the northeast corner of the west 1/8 of 1235
Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East; thence west to the 1236
southwest corner of Section 7, Township 9 Sou th, Range 23 East; 1237
thence northward along the Bradford -Clay County line to the 1238
northeast corner of Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; 1239
thence west along the section line to the southwest corner of 1240
the east 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Ran ge 22 East; 1241
thence north to the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 1242
24, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence west along the 1243
section line to the southwest corner of Section 13, Township 8 1244
South, Range 22 East; thence north along the section line to the 1245
northwest corner of Section 25, Township 7 South, Range 22 East; 1246
thence east along the section line to the southeast corner of 1247
Section 24, Township 7 South, Range 22 East; thence north along 1248
the Bradford-Clay County line to the intersection of the south 1249
boundary of Baker County; thence west along the Baker -Bradford 1250
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County line to the intersection of the east boundary of Union 1251
County; thence west along the Union -Baker County line to the 1252
southwest corner of Section 18, Township 4 South, Range 20 East; 1253
thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of 1254
Section 1, Township 3 South, Range 19 East; thence west along 1255
the township line to the intersection of the east boundary of 1256
Columbia County; thence north along the Baker -Columbia County 1257
line to the intersection of the north boundary line of the State 1258
of Florida; thence westward along the Georgia -Florida line to 1259
the northwest corner of Lot Number 155; thence south along the 1260
line between Lot Number 154 and 155, 168 and 169 to the Watson 1261
Line; thence east along the Watson Line to the northeast corner 1262
of Section 24, Township 3 North, Range 5 East; thence south 1263
along the range line between Ranges 5 and 6 East to the 1264
southeast corner of Section 12, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; 1265
thence west along the s ection line to the northwest corner of 1266
the east 1/2 of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; 1267
thence south to the southwest corner of the east 1/2 of Section 1268
13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence east along the 1269
section line to the northeast cor ner of Section 24, Township 2 1270
North, Range 5 East; thence south along the range line between 1271
Ranges 5 and 6 East to the southeast corner of Section 36, 1272
Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence west along the township 1273
line between Townships 1 and 2 North to t he northwest corner of 1274
Section 6, Township 1 North, Range 5 East; thence south along 1275
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hb575 -00-er
Page 52 of 79
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
the range line between Ranges 4 and 5 East to the southeast 1276
corner of Section 36, Township 1 North, Range 4 East; thence 1277
west along the Tallahassee Base Line to the northw est corner of 1278
Section 2, Township 1 South, Range 3 East; thence south along 1279
the section line to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence along the 1280
shore of the Gulf of America Mexico, including the waters of 1281
said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of Flor ida, to 1282
the point of the beginning. 1283
(d) Southwest Florida Water Management District. —Begin at 1284
the intersection of the north boundary of Lee County with the 1285
Gulf of America Mexico; thence eastward along the Lee -Charlotte 1286
County line to the Southeast corne r of Section 33, Township 42 1287
South, Range 24 East; thence North into Charlotte County, along 1288
the section lines to the Northeast corner of Section 4, Township 1289
42 South, Range 24 East; thence East along the township line 1290
between Townships 41 and 42 South to the Southeast corner of 1291
Section 36, Township 41 South, Range 25 East; thence north along 1292
the section line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 1293
41 South, Range 26 East; thence east along the section line to 1294
the southeast corner of Section 36, Town ship 40 South, Range 26 1295
East; thence North along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27 1296
to the Northeast corner of Section 1, Township 40 South, Range 1297
26 East, and the Charlotte -Desoto County line; thence east along 1298
the Charlotte-Desoto County line to the southeast corner of 1299
Section 36, Township 39 South, Range 27 East; thence north along 1300
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 53 of 79
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
the DeSoto-Highlands County line to the intersection of the 1301
South boundary of Hardee County; thence north along the Hardee -1302
Highlands County line to the southwest corner o f Township 35 1303
South, Range 28 East; thence east along the north boundary of 1304
Township 36 South to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 1305
36 South, Range 28 East; thence south along the range line to 1306
the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 37 South , Range 28 1307
East; thence east along the section line to the northeast corner 1308
of Section 15, Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence south 1309
along the section line to the southeast corner of Section 34, 1310
Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence east along the township 1311
line to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 38 South, 1312
Range 29 East; thence south along the range line to the 1313
southeast corner of Section 1, Township 39 South, Range 29 East; 1314
thence east along the section line to the northwest corner of 1315
Section 11, Township 39 South, Range 30 East; thence north along 1316
the section line to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 1317
38 South, Range 30 East; thence east along the township line to 1318
the southeast corner of the west 1/4 of Section 35, Township 38 1319
South, Range 30 East; thence north along the 1/4 -section line 1320
of Sections 35, 26, and 23, Township 38 South, Range 30 East to 1321
the northeast corner of the west 1/4 section of Section 23, 1322
Township 38 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the section 1323
line to the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 38 South, 1324
Range 30 East; thence north along the section line to the 1325
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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Page 54 of 79
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
northwest corner of Section 2, Township 37 South, Range 30 East; 1326
thence west along the township line to the southwest corner of 1327
Section 34, Township 36 South, Range 30 East; thence north along 1328
the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 1329
36 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the township line to 1330
the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 30 1331
East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 29 and 30 1332
East, through Townships 35, 34, and 33 South, to the northeast 1333
corner of Township 33 South, Range 29 East, being on the 1334
Highlands-Polk County line; thence west along the Highlands -Polk 1335
County line to the southeast corner of Township 32 South, Range 1336
28 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 28 and 1337
29 East, in Townships 32 and 31 South, to the northeast corner 1338
of Section 12 in Township 31 South, Range 28 East; thence east 1339
along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 7, 1340
Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence north along the section 1341
line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 30 South, 1342
Range 29 East; thence east along the section line to the 1343
northeast corner of the we st 1/2 of Section 17, Township 30 1344
South, Range 29 East; thence north along the 1/2 -section line 1345
to the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 5, Township 1346
30 South, Range 29 East; thence west along the section line to 1347
the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 29 South, Range 29 1348
East; thence north along the section line to the northeast 1349
corner of Section 19 in Township 29 South, Range 29 East; thence 1350
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 55 of 79
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
west along the north boundaries of Section 19, Township 29 1351
South, Range 29 East, and Sections 24, 2 3, 22, 21, and 20, 1352
Township 29 South, Range 28 East, to the northwest corner of 1353
said Section 20; thence north along the section line to the 1354
intersection of said section line with the west shore line of 1355
Lake Pierce in Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thenc e 1356
following the west shore of Lake Pierce to its intersection 1357
again with the west section line of Section 5, Township 29 1358
South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the 1359
northwest corner of Section 5, Township 29 South, Range 28 East; 1360
thence east along the township line to the southwest corner of 1361
Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along 1362
the section line to the northwest corner of the southwest 1/4 1363
of the southwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 1364
East; thence east along the 1/4 -section line to the 1365
intersection of said 1/4 -section line with Lake Pierce; thence 1366
follow the shore line northeasterly to its intersection with the 1367
1/2-section line of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 1368
East; thence north on the 1/2-section line to the northwest 1369
corner of the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, 1370
Range 28 East; thence east to the northeast corner of the 1371
southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; 1372
thence south along the secti on line to the northwest corner of 1373
Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence east along 1374
the section line to the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 1375
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 56 of 79
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
29 South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to 1376
the northwest corner of Sectio n 23, Township 28 South, Range 28 1377
East; thence west along the section line to the southwest corner 1378
of Section 16, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north 1379
along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 16, 1380
Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along the section 1381
line to the southwest corner of Section 8, Township 28 South, 1382
Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the 1383
northwest corner of Section 5, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; 1384
thence west along the township line to t he intersection of said 1385
township line with Lake Marion; thence following the south shore 1386
line of Lake Marion to its intersection again with said township 1387
line; thence west along the township line to the southeast 1388
corner of Section 36, Township 37 South, Ra nge 27 East; thence 1389
north along the range line between Ranges 27 and 28 East to the 1390
intersection of said range line with Lake Marion; thence 1391
following the west shore of Lake Marion to its intersection 1392
again with the range line between Ranges 27 and 28 East ; thence 1393
north along said range line, in Townships 27 and 26 South, to 1394
the northeast corner of Township 26 South, Range 27 East, being 1395
on the Polk-Osceola County line; thence west along the Polk -1396
Osceola County line to the northwest corner of Township 26 1397
South, Range 27 East; thence north along the section line to the 1398
Lake-Polk County line; thence west along the county line to the 1399
southwest corner of Section 32, Township 24 South, Range 26 1400
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 57 of 79
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
East; thence into Lake County, north along the section lines to 1401
the northeast corner of Section 30, Township 24 South, Range 26 1402
East; thence west along the section lines to the northeast 1403
corner of Section 28, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence 1404
north along the section lines to the northeast corner of Section 1405
16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence west along the 1406
section line to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 24 1407
South, Range 25 East; thence north along the section line to the 1408
northeast corner of Section 8, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; 1409
thence west along the section lines to the range line between 1410
Ranges 24 and 25; thence north along the range line to the 1411
northeast corner of Section 1, Township 23 South, Range 24 East, 1412
also being on the township line between Townships 22 and 23 1413
South; thence west alo ng the township line to the northwest 1414
corner of Section 6, Township 23 South, Range 24 East also being 1415
on the Sumter-Lake County line; thence north along the Sumter -1416
Lake County line, also being the range line between Ranges 23 1417
and 24, to the northeast corn er of Section 1, Township 18 South, 1418
Range 23 East and the Marion County line; thence west, along the 1419
Sumter-Marion County line, also being the township line between 1420
Townships 17 and 18 South, to the westerly right -of-way line of 1421
Interstate Highway 75; then ce northerly along the westerly 1422
right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75 to the Alachua -Marion 1423
County line, said line also being the township line between 1424
Townships 11 and 12 South; thence west along the Alachua -Marion 1425
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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Page 58 of 79
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
County line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12 1426
South, Range 19 East and the Levy County line; thence westerly 1427
along the Levy-Alachua County line, also being the township line 1428
between Townships 11 and 12 South, to the southeast corner of 1429
Section 36, Township 11 South, Range 17 East; thence north along 1430
the Levy-Alachua County line, also being the range line between 1431
Ranges 17 and 18 East, to the southerly right -of-way line of 1432
State Road No. 24; thence southwesterly along said southerly 1433
right-of-way line to the easterly right -of-way line of State 1434
Road No. 337; thence southerly, along said easterly right -of-way 1435
line of State Road No. 337, to the south line of Section 35, 1436
Township 14 South, Range 17 East; thence west along the section 1437
line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Townsh ip 15 South, 1438
Range 17 East; thence south along the section lines to the 1439
southwest corner of Section 27, Township 15 South, Range 17 1440
East; thence west to the Gulf of America Mexico; thence south 1441
along the Gulf of America Mexico, including the waters of said 1442
gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the 1443
point of beginning. 1444
(e) South Florida Water Management District. —Begin at the 1445
intersection of the north boundary of Lee County with the Gulf 1446
of America Mexico; thence easterly along the Lee -Charlotte 1447
County line to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 42 1448
South, Range 24 East; thence northerly along the section lines 1449
to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 42 South, Range 1450
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 59 of 79
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
24 East; thence easterly along the Township line between 1451
Townships 41 and 42 South to the southwest corner of Section 31, 1452
Township 41 South, Range 26 East; thence northerly along the 1453
Range line between Ranges 25 and 26 East to the northwest corner 1454
of Section 6, Township 41 South, Range 26 East; thence easterly 1455
along the Township line between Townships 40 and 41 South to the 1456
southwest corner of Section 31, Township 40 South, Range 27 1457
East; thence northerly along the Range line between Ranges 26 1458
and 27 East to the Charlotte -DeSoto County line; thence easterly 1459
along the Charlotte-Desoto County line to the west line of 1460
Highlands County; thence northerly along the Highlands -Desoto 1461
County line and along the Highlands -Hardee County line to the 1462
northwest corner of Township 36 South, Range 28 East; thence 1463
east along the north boundary of Township 36 South to the 1464
northeast corner of Section 1, Township 36 South, Range 28 East; 1465
thence south along the range line to the southeast corner of 1466
Section 12, Township 37 South, Range 28 East; thence east along 1467
the section line to the nor theast corner of Section 15, Township 1468
37 South, Range 29 East; thence south along the section line to 1469
the southeast corner of Section 34, Township 37 South, Range 29 1470
East; thence east along the township line to the northeast 1471
corner of Section 1, Township 3 8 South, Range 29 East; thence 1472
south along the range line to the southeast corner of Section 1, 1473
Township 39 South, Range 29 East; thence east along the section 1474
line to the northwest corner of Section 11, Township 39 South, 1475
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 60 of 79
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
Range 30 East; thence north along the section line to the 1476
southwest corner of Section 35, Township 38 South, Range 30 1477
East; thence east along the township line to the southeast 1478
corner of the west 1/4 of Section 35, Township 38 South, Range 1479
30 East; thence north along the 1/4 -section line of Sections 1480
35, 26, and 23, Township 38 South, Range 30 East to the 1481
northeast corner of the west 1/4 section of Section 23, 1482
Township 38 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the section 1483
line to the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 38 South, 1484
Range 30 East; thence north along the section line to the 1485
northwest corner of Section 2, Township 37 South, Range 30 East; 1486
thence west along the township line to the southwest corner of 1487
Section 34, Township 36 South, Range 30 East; thence north along 1488
the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 1489
36 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the township line to 1490
the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 30 1491
East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 29 and 30 1492
East, through Townships 35, 34, and 33 South, to the northwest 1493
corner of Township 33 South, Range 30 East, being on the 1494
Highlands-Polk County line; thence west along the Highlands -Polk 1495
County line to the southwest corner of Township 32 South, Range 1496
29 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 28 and 1497
29 East, in Townships 32 and 31 South, to the northwest corner 1498
of Section 7 in Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence east 1499
along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 7, 1500
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 61 of 79
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
Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence north along the section 1501
line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 30 South, 1502
Range 29 East; thence east along the section line to the 1503
northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 17, Township 30 1504
South, Range 29 East; thence north along the 1/2 -section line 1505
to the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 5, Township 1506
30 South, Range 29 East; thence west along the section line to 1507
the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 29 South, Range 29 1508
East; thence north along the s ection line to the northeast 1509
corner of Section 19 in Township 29 South, Range 29 East; thence 1510
west along the south boundaries of Section 18, Township 29 1511
South, Range 29 East and Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 in 1512
Township 29 South, Range 28 East, to the so uthwest corner of 1513
said Section 17; thence north along the section line to the 1514
intersection of said section line with the west shore line of 1515
Lake Pierce in Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence 1516
following the west shore of Lake Pierce to its intersection 1517
again with the west section line of Section 5, Township 29 1518
South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the 1519
northwest corner of Section 5, Township 29 South, Range 28 East; 1520
thence east along the township line to the southwest corner of 1521
Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along 1522
the section line to the northwest corner of the southwest 1/4 1523
of the southwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 1524
East; thence east along the 1/4 -section line to the 1525
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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Page 62 of 79
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
intersection of said 1/4-section line with Lake Pierce; thence 1526
follow the shore line northeasterly to its intersection with the 1527
1/2-section line of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 1528
East; thence north on the 1/2 -section line to the northwest 1529
corner of the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, 1530
Range 28 East; thence east along the 1/2 -section line to the 1531
northeast corner of the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 1532
28 South, Range 28 East; thence south along the section line to 1533
the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28 1534
East; thence east along the section line to the northeast corner 1535
of Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence north 1536
along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 23, 1537
Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along the section 1538
line to the southwest corner of Section 16, Township 28 South, 1539
Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the 1540
northwest corner of Section 16, Township 28 South, Range 28 1541
East; thence west along the section lin e to the southwest corner 1542
of Section 8, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north 1543
along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 5, 1544
Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along the township 1545
line to the intersection of said township l ine with Lake Marion; 1546
thence following the south shore line of Lake Marion to its 1547
intersection again with said township line; thence west along 1548
the township line to the southeast corner of Section 36, 1549
Township 27 South, Range 27 East; thence north along th e range 1550
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HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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Page 63 of 79
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
line between Ranges 27 and 28 East to the intersection of said 1551
range line with Lake Marion; thence following the west shore of 1552
Lake Marion to its intersection again with the range line 1553
between Ranges 27 and 28 East; thence north along said range 1554
line, in Townships 27 and 26 South, to the northwest corner of 1555
Township 26 South, Range 28 East, being on the Polk -Osceola 1556
County line; thence west along the Polk -Osceola County line to 1557
the southwest corner of Township 25 South, Range 27 East; thence 1558
northerly along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27 East to 1559
the northwest corner of Section 18, Township 23 South, Range 27 1560
East; thence easterly along the section lines to the southwest 1561
corner of Section 12, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence 1562
northerly along the section lines to the northwest corner of 1563
Section 1, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence easterly 1564
along the Township line between Townships 22 and 23 South to the 1565
southwest corner of Section 31, Township 22 South, Range 29 1566
East; thence northerly along the Range line between Ranges 28 1567
and 29 East to the northwest corner of Section 30, Township 22 1568
South, Range 29 East; thence easterly along the section lines to 1569
the westerly right-of-way line of U.S. Highway 441; thence 1570
southerly along the weste rly right-of-way line to the 1571
intersection with the northerly right -of-way line of State Road 1572
528A; thence easterly along the northerly right -of-way line to 1573
the intersection with the northerly right -of-way line of State 1574
Road 528, also known as the Bee Line Expressway; thence easterly 1575
ENROLLED
HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb575 -00-er
Page 64 of 79
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
along the northerly right -of-way line of State Road 528 to the 1576
intersection with the range line between Township 23 South, 1577
Range 31 East and Township 23 South, Range 32 East; thence 1578
southerly along the Range line between Ranges 31 and 32 East to 1579
the Orange-Osceola County line; thence easterly along said 1580
county line between Townships 24 and 25 South to the northeast 1581
corner of Section 5, Township 25 South, Range 32 East; thence 1582
southerly along the section lines to the southeast cor ner of 1583
Section 32, Township 25 South, Range 32 East; thence easterly 1584
along the Township line between Townships 25 and 26 South to the 1585
northeast corner of Section 1, Township 26 South, Range 32 East; 1586
thence southerly along the Range line between Ranges 32 a nd 33 1587
East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 27 South, 1588
Range 32 East; thence westerly along the township line between 1589
Townships 27 and 28 South, to the northeast corner of Section 1, 1590
Township 28 South, Range 32 East; thence southerly along th e 1591
Range line between Ranges 32 and 33 East to the southeast corner 1592
of Section 36, Township 29 South, Range 32 East; thence easterly 1593
along the Township line between Townships 29 and 30 South to the 1594
northeast corner of Section 1, Township 30 South, Range 33 East; 1595
thence southerly along the Range line between Ranges 33 and 34 1596
East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 30 South, 1597
Range 33 East; thence westerly along the Township line between 1598
Townships 30 and 31 South to the northeast corner of Section 4, 1599
Township 31 South, Range 33 East; thence southerly along the 1600
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HB 575 2025 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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Page 65 of 79
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
section lines to the Osceola -Okeechobee County line; thence 1601
easterly along said county line to the northeast corner of 1602
Section 3, Township 33 South, Range 34 East; thence southerly 1603
along the section lines to the southeast corner of Section 34, 1604
Township 34 South, Range 34 East; thence easterly along the 1605
Township line between Townships 34 and 35 South to the southwest 1606
corner of Section 36, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence 1607
northerly along the section lines to the northwest corner of 1608
Section 13, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence easterly 1609
along the section line to the Range line between Ranges 35 and 1610
36 East; thence northerly along said Range line to the northwest 1611
corner of Section 18, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence 1612
easterly along the section lines to the southwest corner of 1613
Section 10, Township 34 south, Range 36 East; thence northerly 1614
along the section line to the northwest corner of said Section 1615
10; thence easterly along th e section lines to the Okeechobee -1616
St. Lucie County line; thence northerly along said county line 1617
to the south line of Indian River County; thence easterly along 1618
the St. Lucie-Indian River County line to the Atlantic Ocean; 1619
thence southerly along the Atlant ic Ocean to the Gulf of America 1620
Mexico; thence northerly along the Gulf of America Mexico, 1621
including the waters of said Ocean and of said Gulf and the 1622
islands therein within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, 1623
to the point of beginning. 1624
Section 44. Subsection (10) of section 375.031, Florida 1625
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Page 66 of 79
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
Statutes, is amended to read: 1626
375.031 Acquisition of land; procedures. — 1627
(10) The department is empowered and authorized to provide 1628
matching funds to counties and municipalities of up to 50 1629
percent of the cost of purchasing, exclusive of condemnation, 1630
rights-of-way for access roads or walkways to public beaches 1631
contiguous with the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of America 1632
Mexico. 1633
Section 45. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 1634
376.25, Florida Statutes , is amended to read: 1635
376.25 Gambling vessels; registration; required and 1636
prohibited releases. — 1637
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 1638
(c) "Coastal waters" means waters of the Atlantic Ocean 1639
within 3 nautical miles of the coastline of th e state and waters 1640
of the Gulf of America Mexico within 9 nautical miles of the 1641
coastline of the state. 1642
Section 46. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 1643
377.242, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1644
377.242 Permits for drilling or exploring an d extracting 1645
through well holes or by other means. —The department is vested 1646
with the power and authority: 1647
(1)(a) To issue permits for the drilling for, exploring 1648
for, or production of oil, gas, or other petroleum products 1649
which are to be extracted from b elow the surface of the land, 1650
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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
including submerged land, only through the well hole drilled for 1651
oil, gas, and other petroleum products. 1652
1. No structure intended for the drilling for, or 1653
production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may be 1654
permitted or constructed on any submerged land within any bay or 1655
estuary. 1656
2. No structure intended for the drilling for, or 1657
production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may be 1658
permitted or constructed within 1 mile seaward of the coastline 1659
of the state. 1660
3. No structure intended for the drilling for, or 1661
production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may be 1662
permitted or constructed within 1 mile of the seaward boundary 1663
of any state, local, or federal park or aquatic or wildlife 1664
preserve or on the sur face of a freshwater lake, river, or 1665
stream. 1666
4. No structure intended for the drilling for, or 1667
production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may be 1668
permitted or constructed within 1 mile inland from the shoreline 1669
of the Gulf of America Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, or any bay or 1670
estuary or within 1 mile of any freshwater lake, river, or 1671
stream unless the department is satisfied that the natural 1672
resources of such bodies of water and shore areas of the state 1673
will be adequately protected in the event of accident or 1674
blowout. 1675
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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
5. Without exception, after July 1, 1989, no structure 1676
intended for the drilling for, or production of, oil, gas, or 1677
other petroleum products may be permitted or constructed south 1678
of 26°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's west coast and south 1679
of 27°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's east coast, within the 1680
boundaries of Florida's territorial seas as defined in 43 U.S.C. 1681
s. 1301. After July 31, 1990, no structure intended for the 1682
drilling for, or production of, oil, gas, or other petr oleum 1683
products may be permitted or constructed north of 26°00′00″ 1684
north latitude off Florida's west coast to the western boundary 1685
of the state bordering Alabama as set forth in s. 1, Art. II of 1686
the State Constitution, or located north of 27°00′00″ north 1687
latitude off Florida's east coast to the northern boundary of 1688
the state bordering Georgia as set forth in s. 1, Art. II of the 1689
State Constitution, within the boundaries of Florida's 1690
territorial seas as defined in 43 U.S.C. s. 1301. 1691
1692
Each permit shall contain an agreement by the permitholder that 1693
the permitholder will not prevent inspection by division 1694
personnel at any time. The provisions of this section 1695
prohibiting permits for drilling or exploring for oil in coastal 1696
waters do not apply to any leases entered into before June 7, 1697
1991. 1698
Section 47. Subsection (5) of section 377.2431, Florida 1699
Statutes, is amended to read: 1700
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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
377.2431 Conditions for granting permits for natural gas 1701
storage facilities.— 1702
(5) A permit may not be issued for a natural gas storage 1703
facility that includes a natural gas storage reservoir located 1704
beneath an underground source of drinking water unless the 1705
applicant demonstrates that the injection, storage, or recovery 1706
of natural gas will not cause or allow natural gas to migrate 1707
into the underground source of drinking water; in any offshore 1708
location in the Gulf of America Mexico, the Straits of Florida, 1709
or the Atlantic Ocean; or in any solution -mined cavern within a 1710
salt formation. 1711
Section 48. Subsection (2) of section 379.101, Florid a 1712
Statutes, is amended to read: 1713
379.101 Definitions. —In construing these statutes, where 1714
the context does not clearly indicate otherwise, the word, 1715
phrase, or term: 1716
(2) "Beaches" and "shores" shall mean the coastal and 1717
intracoastal shoreline of this st ate bordering upon the waters 1718
of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of America Mexico, the Straits 1719
of Florida, and any part thereof, and any other bodies of water 1720
under the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, between the mean 1721
high-water line and as far seaward as may be necessary to 1722
effectively carry out the purposes of this act. 1723
Section 49. Subsection (1) of section 379.2254, Florida 1724
Statutes, is amended to read: 1725
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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
379.2254 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Compact; 1726
implementing legislation. — 1727
(1) FORM.—The Governor of this state is hereby authorized 1728
and directed to execute the compact on behalf of the State of 1729
Florida with any one or more of the States of Alabama, 1730
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and with such other state as 1731
may enter into a compact, legal joining therein in the form 1732
substantially as follows: 1733
GULF STATES MARINE FISHERIES 1734
COMPACT 1735
The contracting states solemnly agree: 1736
ARTICLE I 1737
Whereas the gulf coast states have the proprietary interest 1738
in and jurisdiction over fisheries in t he waters within their 1739
respective boundaries, it is the purpose of this compact to 1740
promote the better utilization of the fisheries, marine, shell 1741
and anadromous, of the seaboard of the Gulf of America Mexico, 1742
by the development of a joint program for the p romotion and 1743
protection of such fisheries and the prevention of the physical 1744
waste of the fisheries from any cause. 1745
ARTICLE II 1746
This compact shall become operative immediately as to those 1747
states ratifying it whenever any two or more of the States of 1748
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas have ratified 1749
it and the Congress has given its consent subject to article I, 1750
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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
s. 10 of the Constitution of the United States. Any state 1751
contiguous to any of the aforementioned states or riparian upon 1752
waters which flow into waters under the jurisdiction of any of 1753
the aforementioned states and which are frequented by anadromous 1754
fish or marine species may become a party hereto as hereinafter 1755
provided. 1756
ARTICLE III 1757
Each state joining herein shall appoint three 1758
representatives to a commission hereby constituted and 1759
designated as the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. One 1760
shall be the head of the administrative agency of such state 1761
charged with the conservation of the fishery resources to which 1762
this compact pertains or, if there be more than one officer or 1763
agency, the official of that state named by the governor 1764
thereof. The second shall be a member of the legislature of such 1765
state designated by such legislature or in the absence of such 1766
designation, such legislato r shall be designated by the governor 1767
thereof, provided that if it is constitutionally impossible to 1768
appoint a legislator as a commissioner from such state, the 1769
second member shall be appointed in such manner as may be 1770
established by law. The third shall b e a citizen who shall have 1771
a knowledge of and interest in the marine fisheries, to be 1772
appointed by the governor. This commission shall be a body 1773
corporate with the powers and duties set forth herein. 1774
ARTICLE IV 1775
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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
The duty of the said commission shall be to make inquiry 1776
and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, 1777
circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing 1778
about the conservation and the prevention of the depletion and 1779
physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous , 1780
of the gulf coast. The commission shall have power to recommend 1781
the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the 1782
several states within their respective jurisdiction to promote 1783
the preservation of these fisheries and their protection against 1784
overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever and to 1785
assure a continuing yield from the fishery resources of the 1786
aforementioned states. 1787
To that end the commission shall draft and recommend to the 1788
governors and the legislatures of the various signat ory states, 1789
legislation dealing with the conservation of the marine, shell 1790
and anadromous fisheries of the gulf seaboard. The commission 1791
shall from time to time present to the governor of each 1792
compacting state its recommendations relating to enactments to 1793
be presented to the legislature of the state in furthering the 1794
interest and purposes of this compact. 1795
The commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent 1796
administrative agencies in the states party hereto with regard 1797
to problems connected with the fisheries and recommend the 1798
adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable. 1799
The commission shall have power to recommend to the states 1800
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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
party hereto the stocking of the waters of such states with fish 1801
and fish eggs or joint stocking by some or all of t he states 1802
party hereto and when two or more states shall jointly stock 1803
waters the commission shall act as the coordinating agency for 1804
such stocking. 1805
ARTICLE V 1806
The commission shall elect from its number a chair and vice 1807
chair and shall appoint and at its p leasure remove or discharge 1808
such officers and employees as may be required to carry the 1809
provisions of this compact into effect and shall fix and 1810
determine their duties, qualifications and compensation. Said 1811
commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of 1812
its business. It may establish and maintain one or more offices 1813
for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or 1814
place but must meet at least once a year. 1815
ARTICLE VI 1816
No action shall be taken by the commission in regard to its 1817
general affairs except by the affirmative vote of a majority of 1818
the whole number of compacting states. No recommendation shall 1819
be made by the commission in regard to any species of fish 1820
except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting 1821
states which have an interest in such species. The commission 1822
shall define which shall be an interest. 1823
ARTICLE VII 1824
The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the 1825
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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
Interior of the Government of the United States shall act as the 1826
primary research agency of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries 1827
Commission cooperating with the research agencies in each state 1828
for that purpose. Representatives of the said fish and wildlife 1829
service shall attend the meetings of the commission. An advisory 1830
committee to be representativ e of the commercial salt water 1831
fishers and the salt water anglers and such other interests of 1832
each state as the commissioners deem advisable may be 1833
established by the commissioners from each state for the purpose 1834
of advising those commissioners upon such r ecommendations as it 1835
may desire to make. 1836
ARTICLE VIII 1837
When any state other than those named specifically in 1838
article II of this compact shall become a party hereto for the 1839
purpose of conserving its anadromous fish or marine species in 1840
accordance with the provisions of article II, the participation 1841
of such state in the action of the commission shall be limited 1842
to such species of fish. 1843
ARTICLE IX 1844
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the 1845
powers or the proprietary interest o f any signatory state or to 1846
repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the 1847
enforcement of any requirement by a signatory state imposing 1848
additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its 1849
fisheries. 1850
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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
ARTICLE X 1851
It is agreed that any two or mor e states party hereto may 1852
further amend this compact by acts of their respective 1853
legislatures subject to approval of Congress as provided in 1854
article I, s. 10, of the Constitution of the United States, to 1855
designate the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissio n as a joint 1856
regulating authority for the joint regulation of specific 1857
fisheries affecting only such states as shall be compact, and at 1858
their joint expense. The representatives of such states shall 1859
constitute a separate section of the Gulf States Marine 1860
Fisheries Commission for the exercise of the additional powers 1861
so granted but the creation of such section shall not be deemed 1862
to deprive the states so compacting of any of their privileges 1863
or powers in the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission as 1864
constituted under the other articles of this compact. 1865
ARTICLE XI 1866
Continued absence of representation or of any 1867
representative on the commission from any state party hereto 1868
shall be brought to the attention of the governor thereof. 1869
ARTICLE XII 1870
The operating expenses of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries 1871
Commission shall be borne by the states party hereto. Such 1872
initial appropriations as are set forth below shall be made 1873
available yearly until modified as hereinafter provided: 1874
Florida................................ ...............$3,500 1875
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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
Alabama................................ ................1,000 1876
Mississippi................................ ............1,000 1877
Louisiana................................ ..............5,000 1878
Texas................................ ..................2,500 1879
................................................................ 1880
Total................................ ................$13,000 1881
The proration and total cost per annum of $13,000, above -1882
mentioned, is estimated only, for initial operations, and may be 1883
changed when found necessary by the commission and approved by 1884
the legislatures of the respective states. Each state party 1885
hereto agrees to provide in the manner most acceptable to it, 1886
the travel costs and necessary expenses of its commissioners and 1887
other representative s to and from meetings of the commission or 1888
its duly constituted sections or committees. 1889
ARTICLE XIII 1890
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding 1891
upon each compacting state until renounced by act of the 1892
legislature of such state, in such form as it may choose; 1893
provided that such renunciation shall not become effective until 1894
6 months after the effective date of the action taken by the 1895
legislature. Notice of such renunciation shall be given to the 1896
other states party hereto by the secretary of sta te of the 1897
compacting state so renouncing upon passage of the act. 1898
Section 50. Subsection (1) of section 379.244, Florida 1899
Statutes, is amended to read: 1900
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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
379.244 Crustacea, marine animals, fish; regulations; 1901
general provisions.— 1902
(1) OWNERSHIP OF FISH, SPONGES, ETC.—All fish, shellfish, 1903
sponges, oysters, clams, and crustacea found within the rivers, 1904
creeks, canals, lakes, bayous, lagoons, bays, sounds, inlets, 1905
and other bodies of water within the jurisdiction of the state, 1906
and within the Gulf of America Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean 1907
within the jurisdiction of the state, excluding all privately 1908
owned enclosed fish ponds not exceeding 150 acres, are the 1909
property of the state and may be taken and used by its citizens 1910
and persons not citizens, subject to the reservations and 1911
restrictions imposed by these statutes. No water bottoms owned 1912
by the state shall ever be sold, transferred, dedicated, or 1913
otherwise conveyed without reserving in the people the absolute 1914
right to fish thereon, except as otherwise provided in these 1915
statutes. 1916
Section 51. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 1917
379.248, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1918
379.248 Sponges; regulation. — 1919
(3) TAKING, POSSESSING COMMERCIAL; SIZE. — 1920
(a) No person may take, by any means or method, from the 1921
waters of the Gulf of America Mexico, the straits of this state 1922
or the other waters within the territorial limits of this state, 1923
any commercial sponges, measuring, when wet, less than 5 inches 1924
in their maximum diameter. 1925
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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
Section 52. Subsection (3) of section 380.0555, Florida 1926
Statutes, is amended to read: 1927
380.0555 Apalachicola Bay Area; protection and designation 1928
as area of critical state concern. — 1929
(3) DESIGNATION.—Franklin County, as described in s. 7.19, 1930
less all federally owned lands, less all lands lying east of the 1931
line formed by the eastern boundary of State Road 319 running 1932
from the Ochlockonee River to the intersection of State Road 319 1933
and State Road 98 and thence due south to the Gulf of America 1934
Mexico, and less any lands removed under subsection (4), is 1935
hereby designated an area of critical state concern on June 18, 1936
1985. State road, for the purpose of this section, shall be 1937
defined as in s. 334.03. For the purposes of this act, this area 1938
shall be known as th e Apalachicola Bay Area. 1939
Section 53.55. Section 380.24, Florida Statutes, is 1940
amended to read: 1941
380.24 Local government participation. —Units of local 1942
government abutting the Gulf of America Mexico or the Atlantic 1943
Ocean, or which include or are contiguo us to waters of the state 1944
where marine species of vegetation listed by rule as ratified in 1945
s. 373.4211 constitute the dominant plant community, shall 1946
develop a coastal zone protection element pursuant to s. 1947
163.3177. Such units of local government shall be eligible to 1948
receive technical assistance from the state in preparing coastal 1949
zone protection elements and shall be the only units of local 1950
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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
government eligible to apply to the department for available 1951
financial assistance. Local government participation in the 1952
coastal management program authorized by this act shall be 1953
voluntary. All permitting and enforcement of dredged -material 1954
management and other related activities subject to permit under 1955
the provisions of chapters 161 and 253 and part IV of chapter 1956
373 for deepwater ports identified in s. 403.021(9)(b) shall be 1957
done through the department consistent with the provisions of s. 1958
403.021(9). 1959
Section 54. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 1960