Bill creates statewide climate change office and task force
This week, Rep. Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) filed HB 315 – Resiliency to set up a statewide climate change office to lead the charge on the impacts of major climate-related issues. The legislation would set up the Office of Resiliency, housed within the Executive of the Governor, and establish a nine-member Sea Level Rise Task Force. HB 315 is the companion bill to Senate Bill 514 (SB 514) filed by Sen. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero).
Rep. Chip LaMarca said, “Climate change is an issue that has been a priority for me since my days in local government, and I’m proud to partner with Sen. Rodrigues on this legislation. Climate change isn’t a tomorrow issue, it’s a right now issue. Banning offshore drilling, investing in shore protection and beach renourishment projects, and supporting clean energy solutions are important, but we need smarter investment so that we can develop science-based solutions to this growing problem. Resiliency is a climate issue, it’s an environmental issue, and it’s a financial issue. It’s time that Florida becomes a leader on climate change.”
Sen. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero), who filed SB 514 last week, said, “I’m grateful to have a partner in Rep. LaMarca who, like me, has been a tireless champion on the environment. Together, we can address the emerging threat of flooding in our great state and become a leader for resiliency. Flooding not only impacts our beautiful natural resources but also our property values and our tourism economy.
SB 514 & HB 315 will establish a Statewide Sea-Level Rise Task Force under the Office of Resiliency established within the Executive Office of the Governor. The purpose of the task force is to recommend consensus projections of the anticipated sea-level rise and flooding impacts along this state’s coastline.
The task force will develop official scientific information, from appropriate sources as determined by the task force in order to make recommendations on consensus baseline projections of the expected rise in sea level on the state’s coastline for planning horizons. By January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit its recommended projections to the Environmental Regulation Commission. If the task force’s projections are adopted by the commission, they will serve as the state’s official estimate of sea-level rise and flooding impacts to develop future state plans and programs.
The Chief Resilience Officer of Florida shall convene the task force by no later than October 1, 2021. The task force will be comprised of the following members:
- Chief Resilience Officer of the Dept. of Environmental Protection (Chair)
- Chief Science Officer of the Dept. of Environmental Protection (Vice Chair)
- One member appointed by the President of the Senate
- One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- One member from the Dept. of Transportation
- One member from the Division of Emergency Management
- One member from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- One member from the Dept. of Economic Opportunity
