I have learned more about SB 320 amendments and who and why proposed them. You can see it yourself in the Tourism and Commerce Committee meeting video from Monday at:
http://www.flsenate.gov/media/VideoP...804_2014031125
The overall discussion of the parasailing bill occurs between 30.43 and 43.20 minutes.
The amendment is discussed by Senator Detert of Sarasota County and parts of Charlotte County between 33.29 and 36.00 minutes. More about the Senator at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_C._Detert
The Senator wanted to extend enforcement power of the 51 year old and out of date, FAA
FARs relating to kites and airports from the USCG alone which she stated was 40 miles away from the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport SRQ to local municipal police and county sheriffs offices and their marine units. She implied an unspecified "problem" with kiters launching in the "bay" within five miles of the airport and wanted to use this out of date FAR to
prohibit kiting within five miles of this and all other airports within Florida. She indicated the amendment was "beneficial to all of Florida" given the abundance of coastal airports in the state. She further stated this move was supported by the
Florida Airports Council (FAC).
She said the House bill sponsor did not agree to do the amendment and therefore she withdrew it. I am still unclear about the actual motivations for this amendment with the lack of apparent documented actual problems to my knowledge and am concerned it might pop up again. I view it as a serious threat to kiting access in Florida sad to say.
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