Beekeeper Protection Legislation
A phenomenal team of legislative conoscienti are working behind the scenes to pass what is being called “beekeeper protection legis- lation” in Florida. The beekeeper team consists of Tom Nolan and Nancy Gentry, who have combined their efforts with Mr. Ben Parks of the Florida Farm Bureau, who was asked to write legisla- tion as part of the “Right to Farm” act. This initiative is now mak- ing its way through the Florida Legislature. It consists of Senate Bill 1132 and House Bill 1197. In summary, they propose the fol- lowing:
“Agriculture; Revising definitions relating to the Florida Right to Farm Act to include beekeeping; revising the definition of the term
“apiary” and adding a definition for the term “apiculture”; provid- ing that authority to regulate honeybee colonies is preempted to the state; requiring that the Department of Agriculture and Con- sumer Services adopt rules after consulting with local govern- ments and other affected stakeholders; providing an exemption from the Florida Building Code for farm signs, etc.”
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1132
The background on this legislation can be found in the September 2011 issue of The Florida Beekeeper
http://free.yudu.com/item/details/416870/September-2011-issue- of-the-Florida-Beekeeper. The group that visited Tallahassee dur- ing Farm Bureau days was pleased to find the bills literally “ sail- ing” through committees at a rapid pace, with little opposition. All the legislators who were visited supported the legislation and there was no lack of bee-related jokes and puns as they discussed the issue. The legislative committee is now watching carefully as the bills make the rounds. One concern is that all too often legisla- tion that is uniformly supported may attract amendments, which often may have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
In essence, this legislation makes bee inspection regulators at the Division of Plant industry the final arbiters on keeping bees in both urban and rural areas. However, none of this is called into play unless there are complaints, reinforcing the fact that beekeep- ers should continue to be the best of all possible neighbors.
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