SB 602 — Release of Balloons

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 602 By the CommitteesCommittee on FiscalEnvironment Policy;and Natural Resources;

and EnvironmentSenator andDiCeglie Natural592-02016-24 Resources;2024602c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the release of balloons;

and Senator DiCeglie 594-03823-24 2024602c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the release of balloons;

providing applicability;

exempting certain persons from litter law penalties relating to the release of balloons;

379.233 Release of balloons.— (2) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to intentionally release, organize the release of, or intentionally cause to be released within a 24-hour period 10 or more balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air except for any of Pagethe 1following: of 5 CODING:

(a) Balloons released by a person on behalf of a Page 1 of 3 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 602 594-03823-24592-02016-24 2024602c22024602c1 thegovernmental following:agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes.;

(a) Balloons released by a person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes.;

(4) This section does not apply to a person 6 years of age or younger Any person may petition the circuit court to enjoin the release of 10 or more balloons if that person is a citizen of the county in which the balloons are to be released.

Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 403.413, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

Page(d) 2“Dump” ofmeans 5to CODING:dump, throw, discard, place, deposit, drain, discharge, or dispose of, or intentionally release.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 602 594-03823-24 2024602c2 (d) “Dump” means to dump, throw, discard, place, deposit, drain, discharge, or dispose of.

The term includes, with respect to balloons, to intentionally release, organize the release of, or intentionally cause to be released.

tobaccoPage product;2 of 3 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 602 592-02016-24 2024602c1 tobacco product;

(6) PENALTIES;

ENFORCEMENT.— (a)1.

Except as provided in subparagraphs subparagraph 2.

and 3., any person who dumps litter in violation of subsection (4) in an amount not exceeding 15 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable by a civil penalty of $150, from which $50 shall be deposited into the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund to be used for the solid waste management grant program pursuant to s.

403.7095.

2.a.

If a person violates subparagraph 1.

by intentionally dumping litter onto private property for the purpose of intimidating or threatening the owner, resident, or invitee of Page 3 of 5 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 602 594-03823-24 2024602c2 such property, the person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

775.082 or s.

775.083.

b.

If a person violates subparagraph 1.

by intentionally dumping litter onto private property for the purpose of intimidating the owner, resident, or invitee of such property and such litter contains a credible threat, the person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

775.082, s.

775.083, or s.

775.084.

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “credible threat” has the same meaning as in s.