Protect Florida Springs License Plate

[DeepSea]

As some of you may be aware, the Florida Wildlife Trust (http://wildlifefoundationofflorida.com/page.asp?page=2088) has been trying to get a license plate to fund some of their projects. The preliminary hearing for this is today (3.14.2007). Letters of support would be very beneficial for this cause and when the bill comes out for a final hearing, Wildlife Trust would love all hands to be on deck. Packing a room makes a difference!

What can you do? Please contact your state Senator and Representative and let them know you want them to support passage of the Protect Florida Springs license plate:


To contact your representative in the House of Representatives, click here (http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx) and click the FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE icon
To contact the Senator for your district, click here (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Legislators/index.cfm?Chamber=Senate&Submenu=1) for your Senator's information


The bill is Senate Bill 2593 and our Senate sponsor is Sen. Argenziano. Rep. Boyd is supporting us on the house side and the legislation is HB 973.

I also have some more information about this initiative on my home page - www.tampadiving.com

[DeepSea]

Here is a picture of the plate:

http://www.tampadiving.com/images/home/pfs_plate.jpg

[FW]

Is it too late to get a picture of a diver in proper trim, fins up, and no dangling OW console?

[billyf]

The plate is cool, I want one!

I tried to the links but they die out, I set the webmaster an email telling them the links are dead.

Also this link is dead
http://www.tampadiving.com/www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

Is it too late to get a picture of a diver in proper trim, fins up, and no dangling OW console?

No, I believe the idea is, "Protect the springs; keep gooberheads like this out of the caves!"

[skip]

Is it too late to get a picture of a diver in proper trim, fins up, and no dangling OW console?

something like this?

http://www.mtsu.edu/~psyskip/pfs_plate.jpg

-skip

[DeepSea]

Is it too late to get a picture of a diver in proper trim, fins up, and no dangling OW console?

I tried that route with Wildlife Trust. Here is the response I got...

"We are more than happy for the cave divers' support. Wes Skiles is on our planning team, and I think that may qualify us as having the cave diving community a "little" involved."

I look at this as winning a war...not winning all the battles.

[DeepSea]

I fixed the Representative link...

[deepdiver4]

but the spring will not benefit the money will probly go to well fare
so the fine people that collect that can drive around in 30.000 dollar
cars sure i"ll take one

[DeepSea]

but the spring will not benefit the money will probly go to well fare
so the fine people that collect that can drive around in 30.000 dollar
cars sure i"ll take one

English please?

[DeepSea]

The proceeds of the Protect Florida Springs license plate annual use fee shall be forwarded to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., a citizen support organization created pursuant to s. 372.0215, which shall administer the fees as follows:

Wildlife Trust of Florida, Inc, shall retain the first $60,000 in proceeds from the annual use fees as direct reimbursement for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the development and approval process.

Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs directly associated with education programs, conservation, springs research and grant administration, of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Additionally, up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.

At least 55 percent of the Fees shall be available in the form of competitive grants, with highest priorities given to community-based springs programs, and projects specifically related to education, outreach, and springs protection. Springs research, not eligible for funding elsewhere, that addresses specific conservation and management needs may be considered.

Up to 20 percent of the Fees shall be distributed to the Wildlife Trust of Florida, Inc., for competitive grants and support for Wildlife Trust’s Florida springs conservation and research activities specifically to collect, analyze, archive, and publish scientific data regarding Florida's springs, their associated habitats, recharge areas and the diversity of species that use them; to train teachers and students about the importance of Florida’s springs; to develop and support public educational opportunities and materials aimed at increasing the understanding of the importance, economically and biologically, of protecting Florida’s Springs; to develop new technologies enabling a better understanding of spring ecology; to support spring enhancement and restoration; to conduct research on economic benefits of the state's springs and to implement programs that seek objective, common-sense, scientific solutions to the complex issues associated with protecting and managing Florida Springs - one of the most valuable and important resources in Florida.

[DeepSea]

Well, the measure to approve this plate was tabled and they until Monday to get some support.

Please e-mail Rep Boyd and others on house infrastructure committee. If support is not generated then this will simply die on the vine.

[DeepSea]

More information on the House bill can be found at http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=35830

Please take 5 minutes this morning and send your support to Rep. Boyd (http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4371&SessionId=54) and Senator Argenziano (http://www.nancyargenziano.com/contact.html)

[Oceanus]

Well, the measure to approve this plate was tabled and they until Monday to get some support.

Please e-mail Rep Boyd and others on house infrastructure committee. If support is not generated then this will simply die on the vine.

Right, it has to pass the Florida House of Representatives - Committee on Infrastructure (http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=2336) before it gets to the floor. Folks need to email the committee members.

[Oceanus]

Looks like it passed the House Committee, but picked up 3 changes/amendments (committee voted 7-1-1 (http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Committees/billvote.aspx?VoteId=13776&IsPCB=0&BillId=35830&))

It would now have to pass the Senate's Committee on Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations (http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=committees&Submenu=1&File=index.html&Directory=committees/senate/ta/)

You should email each of 5 Senate Committee members expressing your support. Something like
"Just wanted to express and document my support for SB 2592 - Protect Fla. Springs License Plate. Thank you for your efforts."
fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov, hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov, webster.daniel.web@flsenate.gov


I was a little surprised to learn it costs the HSMV $60k just to startup a new specialty plate. At $25 each, that's the first 2,400 plates... just to break even.

[skip]

if they let out of staters buy some dummy version of the plate, they'd get the first 2400 in no time at all....

-skip

[DeepSea]

Looks like it passed the House Committee, but picked up 3 changes/amendments (committee voted 7-1-1 (http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Committees/billvote.aspx?VoteId=13776&IsPCB=0&BillId=35830&))

It would now have to pass the Senate's Committee on Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations (http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=committees&Submenu=1&File=index.html&Directory=committees/senate/ta/)

You should email each of 5 Senate Committee members expressing your support. Something like
"Just wanted to express and document my support for SB 2592 - Protect Fla. Springs License Plate. Thank you for your efforts."
fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov, hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov, webster.daniel.web@flsenate.gov


I was a little surprised to learn it costs the HSMV $60k just to startup a new specialty plate. At $25 each, that's the first 2,400 plates... just to break even.

Thanks for supporting this. I hope everyone is emailing there representatives.

[Oceanus]

I understand the Protect Florida Springs license plate was recently approved, but it probably won't be available until Dec or Jan.
Possible design change also

http://www.floridapl8s.com/pl8s2b/spring.jpg


Out-of-staters should be able to get a "SAM PLE" plate for $10 (here's the PDF form (http://www3.hsmv.state.fl.us/Intranet/dmv/Forms/BTR/83000.pdf))

[DeepSea]

I heard the same from the Wildlife Trust (January). She showed me a different plate but anything will be good.

[Oceanus]

Plate is now available in most counties

http://www3.hsmv.state.fl.us/Intranet/dmv/specialtytags/a.cfm?id=167
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/graphics/Protect_Florida_Springs.jpg

[DeepSea]

Got mine today!

[BgDadddy]

Is there a way to get one online? I tried to renew my tags but could not find an option to order specialty plates.

Thanks

[trogloxene]

Nice plate! I will get one when my tag is up for renewal later this year

Sean

[jj1987]

but the spring will not benefit the money will probly go to well fare
so the fine people that collect that can drive around in 30.000 dollar
cars sure i"ll take one

English please?

He's expressing a concern that the government will give money to the non working class and increase handouts with the money. I think the post on page 2 cleared this up and laid this concern to rest.