Title: Long-term Cleanup of Harmful Algal Blooms

Summary: Citing this act as the "Implementation of Long-term Solutions for Cleaning Florida's Water Bodies Act"; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to take certain actions to physically remove, reduce, clean up, and respond to harmful algal blooms; requiring the department to give preference to innovative technologies that meet certain standards, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, Governor Ron DeSantis created the Blue-Green Algae Task Force in 2019 to  improve water quality for the benefit of all Floridians,  and WHEREAS, the task force and the Department of Environmental Protection are working together to pilot innovative technologies to eliminate the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and to clean water bodies throughout this state, and WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that funding is necessary to implement a long-term program to clean water bodies that are high in nitrates and nutrients that foster algal blooms, and WHEREAS, the department is the responsible entity for cleanup of this state s water bodies to protect the health, safety, and wellness of all residents, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  This act may be cited as the  Implementation of Long-term Solutions for Cleaning Florida s Water Bodies Act.  Section 2.  Long-term cleanup of harmful algal blooms.  (1)   To address the growing threat to the general public from harmful algal blooms, the Department of Environmental Protection shall procure innovative technologies that will physically remove harmful algal blooms, toxins, algae, and nutrients from water bodies in this state;provide resources to reduce harmful algal blooms; provide the best available technolog yfor the long-term cleanup of the harmful algal blooms;and develop a plan for emergency response action. (2)   The department shall give preference to innovative technologies that reduce the nitrates and toxins foster ing harmful algal blooms, are scalable, and are proven to improve water quality in freshwater bodies. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.