Bill Text: FL S1512 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Release of Balloons
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Environment and Natural Resources [S1512 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S1512-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1512 By Senator Pizzo 37-00292-23 20231512__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the release of balloons; amending 3 s. 379.233, F.S.; removing a provision authorizing the 4 specified release of certain balloons; removing an 5 exemption from such provision for biodegradable or 6 photodegradable balloons; conforming a provision to 7 changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 8 9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10 11 Section 1. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 379.233, 12 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 13 379.233 Release of balloons.— 14 (2) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to 15 intentionally release, organize the release, or intentionally 16 cause to be releasedwithin a 24-hour period 10 or moreballoons 17 inflated with a gas that is lighter than air except for: 18 (a) Balloons released by a person on behalf of a 19 governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for 20 scientific or meteorological purposes; 21 (b) Hot air balloons that are recovered after launching; or 22 (c) Balloons released indoors; or23(d)Balloons that are either biodegradable or24photodegradable, as determined by rule of the Fish and Wildlife25Conservation Commission, and which are closed by a hand-tied26knot in the stem of the balloon without string, ribbon, or other27attachments. In the event that any balloons are released28pursuant to the exemption established in this paragraph, the29party responsible for the release shall make available to any30law enforcement officer evidence of the biodegradability or31photodegradability of said balloons in the form of a certificate32executed by the manufacturer. Failure to provide said evidence33shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this act. 34 (4) Any person may petition the circuit court to enjoin the 35 release of10 or moreballoons if that person is a citizen of 36 the county in which the balloons are to be released. 37 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.