(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an independent and coordinated effort among public and private research entities to develop prevention, control, and mitigation technologies and approaches to address the impacts of red tide on coastal environments and communities in this state.
(2) The Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative is established as a partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute within the commission and Mote Marine Laboratory.(a) The purpose of the initiative is to lead the development of innovative technologies and approaches that are critically needed to address the control and mitigation of red tide and its impacts by building upon the ongoing cooperative red tide research and monitoring program between the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory.
(b) The goal of the initiative is to develop, test, and implement innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable technologies and approaches for controlling and mitigating the impacts of red tide.
(c) Upon successful completion of science-based laboratory testing of prevention, control, and mitigation technologies and approaches, the initiative shall develop recommendations for field trial deployment of the technologies and approaches in state waters. The initiative shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the department, the commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other state agencies with regulatory oversight of field trial deployment of the technologies and approaches in state waters. The department shall evaluate the technologies and approaches and identify all existing state permits Mote Marine Laboratory may use to deploy and test the technologies and approaches in state waters. The department shall submit its evaluation to Mote Marine Laboratory within 60 days after receipt of the report. If the department determines existing state permits may not be used, the department shall amend its regulatory or permitting processes to ensure the timely deployment of any red tide or similar harmful algal bloom mitigation and control technologies and approaches recommended by the initiative. Upon successful testing of the technologies and approaches, the department shall expedite regulatory reviews for the recurring use of the technologies and approaches in state waters to control and mitigate the impacts of red tide or similar harmful algal blooms.
(d) Funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for red tide mitigation technology development projects shall be awarded by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to Mote Marine Laboratory to achieve the goals of the initiative.1. Mote Marine Laboratory may, with the concurrence of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, use a portion of the awarded funds to facilitate additional engagement with other pertinent marine science and technology development organizations in this state and around the world to pursue applied research and technology for the control and mitigation of the impacts of red tide.
2. Mote Marine Laboratory may not use more than 5 percent of its awarded funds for direct annual initiative administration coordination costs.
3. The initiative shall leverage state-appropriated funds with additional funds from private and federal sources.
(e) Each January 15 until its expiration, the initiative shall submit a report that contains an overview of its accomplishments to date and priorities for subsequent years to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Environmental Protection, and the executive director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(3) There is established within the initiative the Initiative Technology Advisory Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7), that includes marine science, technology development, and natural resource management representatives from governmental entities, private organizations, and public or private research institutions. The council shall meet at least twice annually.(a) The council shall be chaired by the president and chief executive officer of Mote Marine Laboratory and shall consist of the following:1. One member from a private commercial enterprise, appointed by the Governor.
2. One member from a public or private university in this state, appointed by the President of the Senate.
3. One member from a nonuniversity public or private marine environmental organization, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
4. One member from the Department of Environmental Protection who has expertise in red tide, appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection.
5. One member from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute who has expertise in red tide, appointed by the executive director of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
(b) Council members shall serve staggered 2-year terms and may be reappointed.
(c) Council members shall serve without compensation, and each organization represented shall cover all expenses of its respective representative.
