¹229.8058  Advisory Council on Environmental Education; establishment; responsibilities.--

(1)  There is created within the Legislature the Advisory Council on Environmental Education. The council shall have 14 voting members, including:

(a)  Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(b)  Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(c)  Five members appointed by the Governor.

(d)  A representative of the Department of Education.

(e)  A representative of the Department of Environmental Protection.

(f)  A representative of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

(g)  A representative of the Executive Office of the Governor.

(h)  The chair of the Environmental Education Foundation.

(2)  Each member who is a public official shall perform the duties of a member of the council as additional duties required of that member in his or her other official capacity.

(3)  Legislative members shall be appointed to terms that correspond to their terms of office. All other members shall be appointed to staggered 4-year terms. All members may be reappointed.

(4)  The council shall elect a chairperson from among its legislator members and a vice chairperson and other officers as it finds necessary. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve for 1 year and may be reelected.

(5)  If a legislator who is a member of the council, or a legislator who appointed a member, ceases to be a member or officer of the unit he or she was selected to represent, the legislator or the member he or she appointed shall resign from the council immediately and a vacancy shall exist in the membership. A vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the regular appointment, and the person so appointed shall serve only to the end of the unexpired term or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later, or as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(6)  A member of the council shall not be compensated for his or her services but shall be entitled to per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

(7)  The council shall hold meetings at least semiannually at the call of the chairperson.

(8)(a)  The council shall employ and set the compensation of an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure. Within available funds, the executive director may employ and set the compensation of professional, technical, legal, or clerical staff as needed. With the consent of the council, the executive director may employ consultants and enter into contracts on behalf of the council.

(b)  The staff of the council shall be governed by the same rules as are the personnel of the Legislature and shall receive the same rights and benefits, including membership in the Florida Retirement System. The council shall make employer contributions for this purpose.

(c)  The Joint Legislative Management Committee shall assist the council in obtaining office space and equipment for council staff.

(9)  The council shall:

(a)  Advise the Governor and Cabinet and the Legislature on policies and practices needed to provide environmental education to visitors and residents who have little contact with the public education system of this state.

(b)  Serve as a forum for the discussion and study of problems that affect the environment and environmental education.

(c)  Recommend a priority list for the types of programs to be funded.

(d)  Recommend, with the assistance of the Office of Environmental Education of the Department of Education, five regional service projects to be funded for the purpose of serving the public education system in each of the five regions of the Department of Education. The council shall advise the Office of Environmental Education in administering the regional service projects, in accordance with the objectives of s. 229.8055(5)(f).

(e)  Not less than 90 days prior to the convening of each regular session of the Legislature, prepare an annual report of its findings and recommendations and transmit it to the Governor, each officer of the Cabinet, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The annual report must state the reasons and supporting data for each recommendation and may include draft legislation or rules as needed to implement such recommendations. In addition to the regular annual report, the council may issue interim or special reports on specific subjects as appropriate.

(10)  The council may:

(a)  To the extent not otherwise provided by law, evaluate the environmental education programs for visitors and residents who do not regularly receive services from the public education system of Florida provided by state, local, and private agencies and organizations and, as appropriate, prepare studies and recommendations to improve the effect of those programs on public support for environmental protection;

(b)  Examine proposed and existing programs that affect the environment and recommend statewide policies that will direct a unified, coordinated effort to educate the public about the programs; and

(c)  Encourage and, when appropriate, coordinate studies relating to the environment and environmental education conducted by universities, state, local, and federal agencies.

History.--s. 1, ch. 86-172; ss. 32, 38, 39, ch. 89-175; s. 11, ch. 90-192; ss. 3, 9, ch. 91-161; s. 5, ch. 91-429; ss. 3, 7, 8, ch. 92-128; s. 6, ch. 94-356; s. 1524, ch. 95-147; s. 12, ch. 96-321.