State Senator Linda Stewart has filed our Florida Forever amendment to Senate Bill 234 which comes up for a vote TODAY, Wednesday, April 12th in the full Senate.
TAKE ACTION!!!
Please call your State Senator NOW! Ask him/her to support Senator Stewart's amendment to Senate Bill 234, barcode 466492, requiring that a minimum of 25% of Land Acquisition Trust Funds shall be appropriated annually for land acquisition in the Florida Forever program.
Call your Senator using this toll free number provided by Florida Conservation Voters:
844-899-8866
This bill is coming up for a vote TODAY, Wednesday, April 12. We need your calls now!
Talking Points:
But once again our legislators up in Tallahassee are failing to meet the will of the voters:
(1) The House has zero funding in the budget for the Florida Forever program.
(2) The Senate has only $15.2 million in the budget for Florida Forever projects.
(3) Multiple bills in both chambers threaten to use LATF funds for everything but Florida Forever!
Setting aside a minimum of 25% of Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF) dollars would provide more than $160 million next year for land acquisitions vetted and identified by the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) as the most valuable for conservation and to improve open spaces and parks in our communities.
Here is the text of Senator Stewart's Amendment:
| 466492 - Amendment |
Senator Stewart moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Between lines 85 and 86
4 insert:
5 5. A minimum of 25 percent shall be appropriated annually
6 for land acquisition in the Florida Forever program, where $50
7 million shall be appropriated each fiscal year for grants to
8 local governments under the Florida Communities Trust program
9 pursuant to s. 259.105(3)(c). The remaining funds shall be
10 appropriated to projects on the Acquisition and Restoration
11 Council’s approved list developed pursuant to s. 259.035(4).
12 This distribution shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
13 debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds issued
14 after July 1, 2017, for the purposes set forth in this
15 subparagraph.
16
17 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
18 And the title is amended as follows:
19 Delete line 6
20 and insert:
21 Region; requiring a specified appropriation for
22 certain projects related to the Florida Forever
23 program; requiring the distributions to be reduced by
24 an
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Between lines 85 and 86
4 insert:
5 5. A minimum of 25 percent shall be appropriated annually
6 for land acquisition in the Florida Forever program, where $50
7 million shall be appropriated each fiscal year for grants to
8 local governments under the Florida Communities Trust program
9 pursuant to s. 259.105(3)(c). The remaining funds shall be
10 appropriated to projects on the Acquisition and Restoration
11 Council’s approved list developed pursuant to s. 259.035(4).
12 This distribution shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
13 debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds issued
14 after July 1, 2017, for the purposes set forth in this
15 subparagraph.
16
17 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
18 And the title is amended as follows:
19 Delete line 6
20 and insert:
21 Region; requiring a specified appropriation for
22 certain projects related to the Florida Forever
23 program; requiring the distributions to be reduced by
24 an
Pine Flatwoods
Photo Credit: Joe Guthrie
