Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control; establishment; membership; organization; responsibilities.

(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL; LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is declared to be in the best interest of the state that public agencies responsible for and involved in arthropod control activities work together to reduce duplication of effort, foster maximum efficient use of existing resources, advise and assist the agencies involved in arthropod control in implementing best management practices and best available technology in controlling arthropods, develop outside funding sources and establish priorities for research into the environmental effects of arthropod control, and enhance communication between all interests involved in arthropod control activities. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to establish the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control within the department. The Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control shall be an advisory body.

(2) MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—

(a) Membership.—The Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control shall be composed of the following representatives or their authorized designees:

1. The Secretary of Environmental Protection.

2. The State Surgeon General.

3. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

4. The state epidemiologist.

5. The Commissioner of Agriculture.

6. The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.

7. Representatives from:

a. The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Florida Medical Entomological Research Laboratory.

b. The United States Environmental Protection Agency.

c. The United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology.

d. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

8. Four mosquito control directors to be nominated by the Florida Mosquito Control Association, two representatives of Florida environmental groups, and two private citizens who are property owners whose lands are regularly subject to mosquito control operations, to be appointed to 4-year terms by the Commissioner of Agriculture and serve until his or her successor is appointed.

(b) Organization.—The council shall be chaired by the Commissioner of Agriculture or the commissioner’s authorized designee. A majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. The chair shall be responsible for recording and distributing to the members a summary of the proceedings of all council meetings. The council shall meet at least three times each year, or as needed. The council may designate subcommittees from time to time to assist in carrying out its responsibilities, provided that the Subcommittee on Managed Marshes shall be the first subcommittee appointed by the council. The subcommittee shall continue to provide technical assistance and guidance on saltmarsh management plans and research proposals, taking into account the mosquito control source reduction implications and natural resource interests in these habitats.

(c) Responsibilities.—The council shall:

1. Develop and implement guidelines to assist the department in resolving disputes arising over the control of arthropods on publicly owned lands.

2. Develop and recommend to the department a request for proposal process for arthropod control research.

3. Identify potential funding sources for research or implementation projects and evaluate and prioritize proposals upon request by the funding source.

4. Prepare and present reports, as needed, on arthropod control activities in the state to other governmental organizations, as appropriate.