RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68-1.003: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Grants Program
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: This rule development will delete the reference to a repealed rule for the Florida Boating Improvement Program and incorporate program policies and guidelines by reference in compliance with statutory changes. It will also delete the reference to a repealed rule for the Boating Safety Grant Program, change the program title to Boating Safety and Education Grant Program to better relate the overall objective, and incorporate policies and guidelines by reference. The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program is also being added with the program policies and guidelines incorporated by reference.
The Florida Boating Improvement Program policies and guidelines are being changed to comply with Section 206.606, Florida Statutes, that was amended to add other uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and hoists, marine railways, and other public launching facilities, and derelict vessel removal as eligible uses of program funds and deleted aquatic weed control. Changes also include a new funding source for public launching facilities, giving priority to counties with more than 35,000 registered vessels, pursuant to Section 328.72(15), Florida Statutes.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program policies and guidelines will follow the requirements of Section 7404 of the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 and the Federal Register, 50 CFR Part 86.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Statewide.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 20.331, 206.606, 327.47, 328.72 FS., 50 CFR Part 86 Federal Register.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 20.331, 206.606, 327.47, 328.72 FS., Section 7404 of the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Susanna Stephens, FBIP Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Room 235, Tallahassee, FL 32399, telephone (850)410-0656, Ext. 17127, email susanna.stephens@myfwc.com. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Susanna Stephens, FBIP Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Room 235, Tallahassee, FL 32399, telephone (850)410-0656, Ext. 17127, email susanna.stephens@myfwc.com

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.