THE FLORIDA SENATE

COMMITTEES:
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 Commerce and Tourism, Chair
Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities, Vice
Chair
Appropriations,
Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Health Policy
Rules

SENATOR BILL MONTFORD

3rd District

For Immediate Release

May 2, 2017

Contact:
Andrea Gainey, Senator Gainer
(850) 527-2234

Kevin Brown, Senator Broxson

(850) 595-1036

Marcia Mathis, Senator Montford

(850) 487-5003

Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida

Legislation passed by Senate and House now heads to Governor Scott

TallahasseeThe Florida Senate passed House Bill 7077, Gulf Coast Economic Corridor. The legislation,
sponsored by Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), Senator Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), and Senator
Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee), will ensure funds received in the settlement of the states economic
damage claims caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill remain in Northwest Floridas eight
disproportionately affected counties.

Settlement funds represent a historic opportunity for our communities. We need to make certain that
not only the currently-held settlement payments, but also all future settlement payments are
transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, where we know they will be used to ensure the ongoing
economy recovery of Northwest Florida, said Senator Gainer. I am pleased to see this legislation
advance to Governor Scott with provisions that ensure we take into account feedback from local
governments in the eight disproportionately affected counties.

The eight Florida counties disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon Spill include: Bay,
Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla Counties.

The initial settlement payment was received by the state in July of 2016, and future payments are
scheduled to be paid annually from 2019 through 2033. Under current law, the eight counties are to
receive 75 percent of all economic damage settlement funds received by the state. House Bill 7077
immediately appropriates the initial settlement payment to Triumph Gulf Coast, and releases future
settlement payments, received on or after July 1, 2017, directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, no later than 30
days after they are received by the state.
REPLY TO:
214 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5003
20 East Washington Street, Suite D, Quincy, Florida 32351 (850) 627-9100

Senates Website: www.flsenate.gov

JOE NEGRON ANITERE FLORES

President of the Senate President Pro Tempore
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Triumph Gulf Coast will develop a comprehensive economic improvement plan for Northwest Florida to
ensure that our communities benefit from these funds now and in the future. In keeping with the initial
Senate position on this critical legislation, the bill makes it clear that settlement funds should be
transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, said Senator Broxson. We have waited for far too long, and
now is the time to transfer these funds back to Floridas Panhandle.

This legislation is very important to our constituents. Families and businesses across Northwest Florida
have been counting on us to get this right. They expect current and future settlement funds to benefit
our disproportionately affected counties, and they want to see progress as soon as possible, said
Senator Montford. For the better part of the last decade, our communities have been feeling the
impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This legislation affirms our longstanding commitment to
keep these critical funds in Northwest Florida, and I am pleased to see it unanimously pass the Senate
today.

The legislation requires each board of county commissioners in the eight counties to solicit proposed
projects and programs from other elected local governing boards within the county and provide
Triumph Gulf Coast, with a list of proposed projects and programs located within its county. The
submitted list must include projects and programs submitted by other elected local governing boards
and recommendations by the board of county commissioners. Triumph Gulf Coast, must allocate at least
five percent of the initial $300 million to projects and programs in each county, and must allocate at
least four percent of future settlement funds to projects and programs in each county. Remaining funds
are unrestricted can be appropriated at the discretion of Triumph Gulf Coast, provided they meet other
legal requirements.

Currently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Governor, the
Attorney General, and the Chief Financial Officer, each appoint one board member. House Bill 7077
expands the number of board members from five to seven. The President of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives will each appoint an additional private sector member from one of the
four least populous disproportionately affected counties, so that two such counties are represented on
the board. All employees and board members appointed after July 1, 2017, are subject to a six-year
lobbying ban.

Background:
In 2013, the Legislature created Triumph Gulf Coast to ensure economic damage settlement funds
coming to the state would both benefit the eight disproportionately affected counties and be properly
accounted for. The Triumph Gulf Coast Board is tasked to make awards to programs and projects that
meet the priorities for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the disproportionately
affected counties. The corporation is required to abide by the states public record laws and public
meeting notice requirements.

For more information, please visit www.FLSenate.gov.

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