The Legislative Affairs Office is responsible for the Commissions legislative program: developing legislation and support information and serving as the central point of contact for legislators and their staffs for information about the FWCs programs and activities. The office coordinates the Commissions legislative lobbying efforts and prepares legislative proposals, as well as any planning, policy and budgetary analyses or recommendations on legislative bills. This information helps the Legislature, Governors Office and the public understand the Commissions legislative proposals. In addition, the Legislative Affairs Office handles agency Congressional issues. Reports to the Legislature and Governor At designated times throughout the year, the Commission is required by statute to report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor on various programs and/or uses of revenues within the agency. Following are the current reports that have been submitted to the Legislature and Governor: Agency Rule Plan Report Section 120.74(3), Florida Statutes, requires each agency in Florida to annually provide the Legislature with a plan identifying and describing each rule the agency proposes to adopt in the following year. This report is the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s plan for statutory rules from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. View the 2014-2015 Agency Rule Plan Report Adobe PDF Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program Report The Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program began in 2009 when the Legislature directed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to select five participating local governments and to use those local governments to test a variety of boat anchoring ordinances. The five-year program originally sunset July 1, 2014, but was extended to July 1, 2017, during the 2014 Session. The Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section of FWC manages this program. A report was required to be submitted by January 1, 2014, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that describes a history and overview of the program, details of the individual local ordinances, results of data collection and a public perception survey, and FWCs findings and recommendations to the Legislature, as required by section 327.4105, F.S. An additional report, containing the same information, is required to be submitted by January 1, 2017. View the 2014 Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program Report Adobe PDF. Boating Improvement Program Report The Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP) is a state financial assistance program that provides funding through competitive grants for boating access projects and boating-related activities on coastal and inland waters within the state. Eligible program participants include county governments, municipalities, and other governmental entities of the State of Florida. The program is administered by the Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This report provides a brief description of the FBIP and outlines the status of the program as required by s. 206.606(3), F.S. View the 2013-2014 Boating Improvement Program Report Adobe PDF Citizen Support Organization Report In 2014, the Florida Legislature passed and the Governor approved CS/SB 1194, requiring agencies utilizing the services of a Citizen Support Organization (CSO) to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature, by August 15: the CSO’s statutory authorization; a description of the CSO, including its mission, results, and a three-year plan; the CSO’s code of ethics; and to provide the CSO’s most recent tax return. Each agency is also required to advise whether it recommends continuing association with the CSO. This report covers the required information for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s CSO, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, for 2014. View the 2014 Citizen Support Organization Report Adobe PDF Endangered and Threatened Species Management and Conservation Plan Report This document constitutes the 34th progress report and update of the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Management and Conservation Plan as required by the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Act of 1977 [s. 379.2291(5), Florida Statutes]. Subsection five of the Act required the preparation of an initial plan for submission to the 1978 Florida Legislature, and the annual preparation of a revised and updated plan for management and conservation of endangered and threatened species. Species of special concern also are included in this report. Species designated as endangered, threatened, or species of special concern are collectively referred to as listed species. View the 2012-2013 Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Management and Conservation Plan Report Adobe PDF No Net Loss Report The 2006 Legislature took action to commit the State of Florida to preserving hunting lands and hunting opportunities for the future. Pursuant to section 379.3001, Florida Statutes, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature and Governor on the status of hunting lands available to the public. View the 2013-2014 No Net Loss Report Adobe PDF Prohibited Species, Conditional Species, and Reptiles of Concern Report The Commission, charged with regulating captive wildlife, has created regulatory categories for wildlife. These categories include, but are not limited to prohibited species, conditional species, and reptiles of concern. Prohibited species are species nonnative to Florida that pose a very high risk to native fish and wildlife, to the ecology of native wildlife communities, or to human safety. Conditional species are non-native species that pose a high risk to native fish and wildlife or to the ecology of native wildlife communities. Reptiles of Concern include any species, subspecies, or hybrid of reptile, which due to their nature have habits or the potential to harm humans and the environment. The 2010 Legislature passed legislation requiring the Commission to report annually, on January 1, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate, the animals on each of the prohibited species, conditional species, and reptile of concern lists. View the 2014 Report to the Speaker of the House Adobe PDF View the 2014 Report to the President of the Senate Adobe PDF Report on Agency Statutes and Rules that Disqualify from Employment or Licensure Persons Who Have Been Convicted of a Crime In 2011, the Legislature passed SB 146 (Chapter 2011-207, Laws of Florida), requiring all state agencies to submit a report listing all agency statutes and rules that disqualify from employment or licensure persons who have been convicted of a crime who have completed any incarceration and restitution to which they have been sentenced for the crime. The report also discusses whether the statute or rule is readily available to prospective employees and licensees, and also considers any potential alternatives to the rules and statutes that protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public without impeding the gainful employment of ex-offenders. The report is due every four years (beginning in 2011) to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, by December 31. View the 2011 Agency Statutes and Rules Disqualifying Criminal Offenders from Employment or Licensure Report Adobe PDF Save the Manatee Trust Fund Report Due December 1 is the annual report on the Save the Manatee Trust Fund. As required by s. 379.2431(4)(b), Florida Statutes, the report is provided to the President of the Florida Senate and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. The Trust Fund receives money from sales of manatee license plates and decals, boat registration fees, and voluntary donations. It is the primary source of funding for the States manatee-related research and conservation activities. View the 2013-2014 Save the Manatee Trust Fund Report Adobe PDF Ships-2-Reefs Report In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed the Ships-2-Reefs Program legislation (SB 432), whose guiding language and objectives were incorporated in s. 379.249(8) and s. 379.2495, Florida Statutes. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) was authorized to establish a matching grants program, in partnership with local coastal governments and eligible nonprofit corporations, for purposes of securing, cleaning, and placement of appropriate available U.S. Navy and U.S. Maritime Administration inactive reserve fleet ships in state coastal and adjacent federal waters as artificial reefs. Implementation of the program is subject to available appropriations. Section 379.2495(6), Florida Statutes, requires the Commission to submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives detailing the expenditure of the funds appropriated to it for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section. This report covers the period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. View the 2013 - 2014 Ships-2-Reefs report Adobe PDF Waterfowl Permit Revenues Report Waterfowl are among the most recognized and economically important wild animals in North America. Florida is visited by more than 20 species of migratory waterfowl each year. Four species of ducks regularly nest in the State during spring and summer. The passage of the Florida Duck Stamp Act in 1979 created the Waterfowl Management Program. This act requires that all Florida waterfowl hunters purchase a waterfowl permit. Section 379.354 (8), Florida Statutes, requires that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Florida Senate, and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives documenting the use of Florida waterfowl permit revenues. This report covers the period from July 30, 2013, to July 1, 2014. View the 2013-2014 Waterfowl Permit Revenues Report Adobe PDF Wild Turkey Permit Revenues Report Since the wild turkey occupies a wide variety of habitat in all 67 counties of Florida and Florida is the only home of the prize Osceola turkey - one of the four grand slam species - a comprehensive program, involving management, restoration, technical assistance, data analysis, and research, is necessary to properly manage these species. The FWCs Wild Turkey Management Program coordinates these activities with other state and federal agencies, conservation groups, private landowners, and the general public, using revenues primarily from the sale of turkey permits. Florida law that became effective on June 1, 1986, requires all individuals hunting wild turkeys in Florida to purchase and possess a turkey permit unless exempt from permit requirements. Section 379.354(8), Florida Statutes, requires that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Florida Senate, and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives documenting the use of Florida Wild Turkey permit revenues. This report covers the period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. View the 2013-2014 Wild Turkey Permit Revenues Report Adobe PDF Youth Hunting and Fishing Programs Report The 2007 Florida Legislature passed legislation (House Bill 7173) that authorizes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission), Tax Collectors, and subagents to request and collect donations when selling recreational licenses or permits associated with hunting and fishing, as authorized under section 379.3511, Florida Statutes. Section 379.352(13), Florida Statutes, specifies that all such donations shall be deposited into the State Game Trust Fund to be used solely for the purpose of enhancing youth hunting and youth freshwater and saltwater fishing programs. The legislation further requires the Commission to provide an annual report on the status of this program by January 1 of each year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This report covers the period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:30:52 +0000
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