Senate panel signs off on possible fix to death penalty

Legislation that would make it easier for oil and gas companies to bring controversial drilling technologies known as fracking to the state was narrowly defeated by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

Sen. Tom Lee, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he believes the bill sponsored by Sen. But Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, kept the bill alive by asking it be reconsidered. Opponents say drinking water could be contaminated by the process.

But Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat and former Leon County superintendent of schools, expressed concerns that traditional foreign languages will suffer if computer coding is added as an option.

The House needs to approve the bill before Governor Scott can sign it into law. “That is never going to happen in my lifetime”, Richter said.

The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday for the bill that is a top priority of Attorney General Pam Bondi. It is controversial because of fears the chemical mixture poisons groundwater.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a better tap dance than what the (state regulators) did today on the subject of trade secrets and the disclosure of the chemicals”, Latvala said. “Until I get comfortable on that issue I’m a “no” on the bill”. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami; Sen.

Richter said state law regulating oil drilling, which includes fracking, already trumps local laws. The company refused to stop drilling despite requests from DEP and was eventually fined $20,000.

The bill (SB 318) would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to study the effects of fracking and then write regulations for the practice. The agency would use that study to create rules that would be approved by the Legislature.

Arek Sarkissian covers the Florida Statehouse for Treasure Coast Newspapers, the Naples Daily News and the Tampa Tribune.