The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: CS/SB 388
INTRODUCER: Committee on Appropriations and Senator Rodriguez
SUBJECT: Trust Funds for Wildlife Management
DATE: April 4, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Carroll Rogers EN Favorable
2. Reagan Betta AEG Favorable
3. Reagan Sadberry AP Fav/CS
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 388 amends statutes that provide for two trust funds created within the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The bill specifies that the Grants and Donations Trust Fund must be used for grant and donor
agreement activities regardless of the source of funding for those activities.
The bill authorizes the FWC to use proceeds from the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund for law
enforcement purposes. It also allows the FWC to enter into cooperative agreements, voluntary
agreements, or memoranda of understanding with related agencies and private landowners to
coordinate nongame programs.
The bill has no fiscal impact on state resources or expenditures. See Section V. Fiscal Impact
Statement.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2025.
REVISED: BILL: CS/SB 388 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Trust Funds
The FWC uses 13 trust funds to support its operations.
1
The FWC invests the proceeds and cash
balances in the trust funds.
2
The Grants and Donations Trust Fund
The Grants and Donations Trust Fund is a depository for funds to be used for allowable grant
and donor agreement activities funded by restricted contractual revenue.
3
Moneys to be credited
to the trust fund include grants and donations from private and public nonfederal sources,
development-of-regional-impact wildlife mitigation contributions, interest earnings, and cash
advances from other trust funds.
4
The Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund
The Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund is credited with funds collected from fees for the issuance of
original certificates of title for vehicles previously registered out-of-state and from donations
from applicants who are registering their motor vehicles.
5
Any additional funds may be provided
by legislative appropriation and donations from interested individuals and organizations.
6
The
FWC may invest and reinvest funds in the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund and the interest thereof
of the trust fund and must designate an identifiable unit to administer the trust fund.
7
Proceeds from the trust fund must be used to:
• Document the population trends of nongame wildlife and assess wildlife habitat in
coordination with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory database.
• Establish effective conservation, management, and regulatory programs for nongame
wildlife.
• Provide for public education programs.
8
The FWC is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements or memoranda of understanding
with related agencies to coordinate nongame programs.
9
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 amends the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in s. 379.206, F.S. Current language
provides that the trust fund is a depository for funds that will be used for allowable grant and
1
FWC, Agency Analysis of SB 388, 2 (Feb. 2025), on file with the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
2
Id.
3
Section 379.206(2), F.S.
4
Id.
5
Section 379.209(2)(a), F.S.; see sections 319.32(3) and 320.10(8), F.S.
6
Section 379.209(2)(a), F.S.
7
Id.
8
Section 379.209(2)(b), F.S.
9
Section 379.209(3), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 388 Page 3
donor agreement activities funded by restricted contractual revenue. The bill removes the
language that requires the grant and donor agreement activities to be funded by restricted
contractual revenue.
Section 2 amends the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund in s. 379.209, F.S. The bill removes the
current requirement that the FWC must designate an identifiable unit to administer the trust fund.
In addition to the current purposes of the trust fund, the bill requires the proceeds from the trust
fund may also be used for law enforcement purposes.
Current law authorizes the FWC to enter into cooperative agreements or memoranda of
understanding with related agencies to coordinate nongame programs. The bill adds that the
FWC may enter into voluntary agreements. It also allows the FWC to enter into cooperative
agreements, voluntary agreements, or memoranda of understanding with private landowners.
Section 3 provides an effective date of July 1, 2025.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None. BILL: CS/SB 388 Page 4
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 379.206 and
379.209.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Committee on Appropriations on April 3, 2025:
The committee on substitute removes all amendments to the underlying bill to the FWC’s
Administrative Trust Fund and the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust
Fund.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.