Bill Text: FL S1544 | 2016 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Natural Hazards
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Failed) 2016-03-11 - Died in Fiscal Policy [S1544 Detail]
Download: Florida-2016-S1544-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2016 CS for SB 1544 By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; and Senators Clemens, Bullard, and Soto 583-02863-16 20161544c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to natural hazards; creating s. 3 252.3655, F.S.; creating an interagency workgroup to 4 share information, coordinate ongoing efforts, and 5 collaborate on initiatives relating to natural 6 hazards; defining the term “natural hazards”; 7 requiring certain agencies to designate liaisons to 8 the workgroup; designating the director of the 9 Division of Emergency Management or his or her 10 designee as the liaison to and coordinator of the 11 workgroup; specifying duties and responsibilities of 12 each liaison and the workgroup; requiring the division 13 to prepare an annual report; specifying report 14 requirements; requiring each agency liaison to ensure 15 that the report is posted on his or her agency’s 16 website; requiring the workgroup to submit the report 17 to the Governor and the Legislature; providing an 18 effective date. 19 20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21 22 Section 1. Section 252.3655, Florida Statutes, is created 23 to read: 24 252.3655 Natural hazards interagency workgroup.— 25 (1)(a) An interagency workgroup is created for the purpose 26 of sharing information on the current and potential impacts of 27 natural hazards throughout the state, coordinating the ongoing 28 efforts of state agencies in addressing the impacts of natural 29 hazards, and collaborating on statewide initiatives to address 30 the impacts of natural hazards. As used in this section, the 31 term “natural hazards” includes, but is not limited to, extreme 32 heat, drought, wildfire, sea-level change, high tides, storm 33 surge, saltwater intrusion, stormwater runoff, flash floods, 34 inland flooding, and coastal flooding. 35 (b) Each agency within the executive branch of state 36 government, each water management district, and the Florida 37 Public Service Commission shall select from within such agency a 38 person to be designated as the agency liaison to the workgroup. 39 (c) The director of the Division of Emergency Management or 40 his or her designee shall serve as the liaison to and 41 coordinator of the workgroup. 42 (d) Each liaison shall provide information from his or her 43 respective agency on the current and potential impacts of 44 natural hazards to his or her agency, agency resources available 45 to mitigate against natural hazards, and efforts made by the 46 agency to address the impacts of natural hazards. 47 (e) The workgroup shall meet in person or by teleconference 48 on a quarterly basis to share information, leverage agency 49 resources, coordinate ongoing efforts, and provide information 50 for inclusion in the annual progress report submitted pursuant 51 to subsection (2). 52 (2)(a) On behalf of the workgroup, the Division of 53 Emergency Management shall prepare an annual progress report on 54 the implementation of the state’s hazard mitigation plan, 55 developed and submitted in accordance with 42 U.S.C. s. 5165 and 56 any implementing regulations, as it relates to natural hazards. 57 At a minimum, the annual progress report must: 58 1. Assess the relevance, level, and significance of current 59 agency efforts to address the impacts of natural hazards; and 60 2. Strategize and prioritize ongoing efforts to address the 61 impacts of natural hazards. 62 (b) Each liaison is responsible for ensuring that the 63 workgroup’s annual progress report is posted on his or her 64 agency’s website. 65 (c) By January 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, the 66 workgroup shall submit the annual progress report to the 67 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 68 House of Representatives. 69 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.