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March 22, 2002
Great News!
Manatee and FWC Law Enforcement Bills Gain Final Legislative Approval
On March 22, at 4:30 p.m. the House passed the legislative package HB 1243 which contained the FWC's improved net ban and other enforcement measures and Representative Lindsay Harrington's compromise manatee bill which was supported in the end by all the boating, fishing, manatee and environmental groups. Many thanks to everyone who made calls and sent E-mails during the session.
Read more in the May Seawatch newsletter: 2002 Florida Legislature Yields Conservation Gains
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March 19, 2002
Manatee Compromise Bill Passes out of House
On March 15, CS / HB 1473 by Rep. Harrington, a compromise version of the manatee bill, was passed out of the House with about 5 minutes of discussion and only one negative vote. The compromise legislation was agreed to by virtually all of the boating, fishing, manatee and environmental groups which have been working the legislation. As with all compromises, there are various measures which one side likes and the other side is not particularly fond of. The primary issues which CCA Florida has been supporting - establishing measurable biological goals for manatee recovery and setting up balanced local advisory groups to review proposed speed zones are in the compromise bill. It is now up to the Senate to take up the manatee bill which was passed by the House.
Prior Senate Committee Action
On March 12, (three days before the House passed the compromise bill) the Senate Comprehensive Planning Committee chaired by Senator Lee Constantine took up the Senate's version of the manatee legislation (SB 1614 by Senator Posey). The good news was that the bill passed out; however, the bad news was that the version which passed out was not the one supported by the boating and fishing groups. What passed was a substitute bill developed by the manatee groups and sponsored by Senator Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Voting for the Wasserman-Schultz version were Senators Constantine (R - Altamonte Springs), Wasserman-Schultz (D - Pembroke Pines), Rossin (D - Royal Palm Beach), Geller (D - Hallandale Beach) and Lee (R - Brandon). The only Senator to vote against that version and support the original Posey bill was Senator Charlie Clary (R - Destin). The Senate committee action and the detailed substitute bill submitted by Senator Wasserman-Schultz served to focus the debate on specific issues which were ultimately resolved in the House compromise bill which passed on March 15.
Final Week for the Session
The regular 2002 Legislative session is scheduled to end this week. With virtually all groups agreeing with the House compromise bill, all attention has been shifted to the Senate where it becomes a question of time and process as to whether final action by the Senate can occur before the session ends.
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February 28, 2002
Manatee Bill (SB 1614) Passes Senate Natural Resources Committee
On February 26, SB 1614 by Senator Bill Posey (R - Rockledge) passed out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee by a 7-3 vote. Initially, the bill was amended to be identical to the current House version (HB 1473 by Representative Harrington). Several Senators also had concerns about the bill because of issues raised by opponents to the legislation. However, through the efforts of Senator Jim King and Committee Chair Senator Ginny Brown-Waite and amendments offered by Senator Jack Latvala, most of those concerns were resolved. None of the amendments affected the "measurable biological goal" or "local advisory group" requirements in the bill. The final vote was 7-3 with Senators Ginny Brown-Waite (R - Brooksville), Jim King (R - Jacksonville), Jack Latvala (R - Palm Harbor), Ken Pruitt (R - Port St. Lucie), John Laurent (R - Bartow), Donald Sullivan (R - St. Petersburg) and Mandy Dawson (D - Ft. Lauderdale) in favor and Senators Al Lawson (D - Tallahassee), Richard Mitchell (D - Jasper) and Rod Smith (D-Gainesville) opposed.
House Floor Debate is Next Stop for Representative Harrington's Manatee Bill
The last hurdle for HB 1473, the House version of the manatee bills, will be
a floor debate and final vote by all House members. This could take place as early as this week. Check this site regularly for updates on the bill's progress. Manatee and animal rights groups opposing the bill are cranking up the emotion and rhetoric and are spreading some pretty wild and false stories about what the bill does. It's important that CCA members and others in support of this legislation use the link on this page to contact their local legislator and urge them to support HB 1473 when it comes up for final vote.
FWC Enforcement Bill Passes Two More Committees
SB 556 by Senator Rod Smith (D - Gainesville) and HB 1243 by Representative Pickens (R - Palatka), were reviewed and passed out of another committee in their respective Houses. Both bills passed out of the committees by unanimous votes. The FWC's bill contains several statutory amendments which will enhance net ban enforcement efforts against repeat violators and commercial fish houses that purchase illegally netted fish.
NOTE: Copies of any legislation can be obtained by going to www.leg.state.fl.us.
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February 22, 2002
Manatee Bill (HB 1473) Passes At House Ready Infrastructure Council Meeting
On February 21, HB 1473 by Representative Lindsay Harrington (R - Punta Gorda) passed out of the House Council for Ready Infrastructure by a whopping 13-3 vote. HB 1473 is supported by a statewide coalition of boating and fishing groups including CCA Florida. The Council Chairman Representative Allan Bense organized the agenda for the meeting so that both proponents and opponents of the manatee bill had plenty of time to speak. The prime spokesman for the Manatee Club was given almost 20 minutes. The overwhelming positive vote gives the bill great momentum as it moves forward to its next and final step in the House - a vote by the full House.
Manatee Bill Up Next in Senate
The Senate companion to Representative Harrington's manatee bill (SB 1614) by Senator Bill Posey (R - Rockledge) may be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee next week.
FWC'S Law Enforcement Bill Passes House Natural Resources Committee
On February 20, HB 1243 by Representative Joe Pickens (R - Palatka) was heard by the House Natural Resources Committee. This bill was developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to address a number of FWC enforcement issues; including closing some loopholes relating to fines and penalties for illegal netting. This is the House companion bill to Senator Rod Smith's legislation (SB 556). Again, commercial netting interests from Wakulla and Lee counties showed up to oppose the bill. CCA Florida spoke in support of the bill. The Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill.
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February 5, 2002
Good News For Net Ban Enforcement
Today, the Senate Natural Resource Committee unanimously approved (9-0) the FWC's Criminal Justice bill (SB 556) sponsored by Senator Rod Smith (D-Gainesville).The FWC's bill contains several statutory amendments which will enhance net ban enforcement efforts against repeat violators and commercial fish houses that purchase illegally netted fish. CCA Florida and Organized Fishermen of Florida's Jerry Sansom spoke in favor of the bill. Individuals representing commercial fishing interests in Wakulla and Lee counties spoke against the bill. Voting for Senator Smith's bill were Senators Jack Latvala (R - Palm Harbour), Ginny Brown-Waite (R - Brooksville), Jim King (R - Jacksonville), Ken Pruitt (R - Port St. Lucie), John Laurent (R - Bartow), Al Lawson (D - Tallahassee), Richard Mitchell (D - Jasper), and Donald Sullivan (R - St. Petersburg). The bill still has a long way to go; however, the committee's unanimous vote gives it great momentum.
Manatee Bill Filed In House
Representative Lindsay Harrington's (R - Punta Gorda) bill regarding manatee protection and boating issues is now officially filed and numbered (HB1473). In addition to Harrington, the bill has 20 more legislators as co-sponsors. The Harrington bill is backed by boating and fishing interests. There are two measures in the bill which are strongly supported by CCA Florida.
- The first is a requirement to establish a "balanced" local advisory group to review and comment on proposed FWC manatee speed zone rules.
- The second is a requirement for the FWC to develop a "measurable biological goal" for manatee recovery by February 2003. The measurable goal shall be used by the FWC in developing manatee management plans and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing and proposed rules.
Nothing in the bill alters the final decision making authority on all manatee protection rules which currently rests with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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