Senate Bill 1284 (2020) — Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative
SB 1284
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2020 SB By Senator Diaz 36-01825-20 20201284__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled
An act relating to the Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative; creating s. 380.29, F.S.; 3 providing legislative intent; establishing the Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative as a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection and Florida International University; providing the goal of the initiative; directing the department to contract with, and allocate certain funds to, Florida International University to implement the initiative; 10 requiring Florida International University to collaborate with other state universities, develop data collection and reporting specifications, and submit reports to the Governor and Legislature by specified dates; providing report requirements; 15 providing an effective date. 16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18
Section
Section 380.29, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 21 380.29 Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative.— 22
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an independent and coordinated effort among state universities to determine the rate of land subsidence in the state by measuring changes in land elevation. 26 (2)(
a) The Florida Land Subsidence Research Initiative is established as a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection and Florida International University. 29 Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1284 36-01825-20 20201284__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. The goal of the initiative is to collect and analyze data using geodetic techniques, including global positioning system and other satellite approaches, to understand natural hazards, such as land subsidence and sinkholes, and their effects on sea-level rise. 34
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b) To implement the initiative, the department shall contract with Florida International University, which shall collaborate with Florida State University, the University of Florida, the University of North Florida, and the University of South Florida. 39
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c) Funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for the initiative shall be allocated by the department to Florida International University to achieve the goals of the initiative. 42 Florida International University shall use a portion of the funds to facilitate additional engagement with other state universities to assist in implementing the initiative statewide. 45
(3) Florida International University shall develop specifications for the collection and reporting of data for the initiative that all participating state universities must use. 48 (4)(
a) Beginning July 1, 2022, Florida International University shall submit a biennial report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must provide an update on the progress of the research and include a
summary and analysis of the data collected by each state university. 54
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b) By July 1, 2030, Florida International University, in coordination with contributing state universities pursuant to subsection (2), shall submit a final report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Florida Senate - 2020 SB 1284 36-01825-20 20201284__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Representatives. The final report must include the following: 59 1. The assessment methodologies for data collection used by each university. 61 2. A
summary of the data collected by each university. 62 3. An analysis, using all relevant data, of the trends in land subsidence in the state. 64 4. An estimation of current and future sea level risks, 65 including land subsidence and other natural hazards, such as coastal flooding and sinkholes. 67