MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Lawmakers gave final passage Thursday to a bill creating the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force.
House Bill 38, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger’s Island, creates a body to spearhead the restoration of winnowing seagrass in Alabama’s marine ecosystems via a 10-year plan.
“Seagrass anchors numerous aquatic ecosystems throughout the Gulf Coast area, and its loss is resulting in a domino effect of negative environmental impacts,” Brown said in a press release after the bill’s passage. “This task force will bring experts and stakeholders together to ensure they are all rowing in the same direction as we work to preserve the beautiful coastal and bay environments that Alabama has been blessed to enjoy.”
The Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force will be composed of members from the public and private sectors, including state lawmakers, university representatives, environmental organization members and marine experts.
The executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the president of the University of South Alabama or someone they appoint in their place will co-chair the group.
Each year before the start of the legislative session, the group will present a report on its progress on the 10-year plan and any legislation it recommends to the governor, Senate president pro tem, speaker of the House and the commissioner of conservation and natural resources.
The bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the Legislature. It now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk.