(1) Pursuant to statutory authority granted to the Commission in Florida Statutes § 327.4107, the Commission hereby establishes the Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), as part of a derelict vessel prevention program. The VTIP program will be administered by the Commission to allow a vessel owner whose vessel has been determined by law enforcement to be at risk of becoming derelict, as provided in Florida Statutes § 327.4107, to turn his or her vessel title over to the Commission so the vessel can be destroyed and disposed of without penalty or cost to the owner. The VTIP program will be subject to appropriation and availability of funding.
    (2) FWC Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) Guidelines (7/2022), which govern the VTIP program, are hereby incorporated by reference and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14653. In order to be considered for eligibility to participate in the VTIP program, prospective participants must submit a Vessel-Turn In Program (VTIP) Application, form FWCDLE_192 (7/2022), which is hereby incorporated by reference and which is available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14654, as well as a Vessel Turn-In Program Waiver and Release, form FWCDLE_193 (7/2022), which is hereby incorporated by reference and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14655. Once an applicant has been determined to be pre-eligible in accordance with the program guidelines, he or she will receive the Notice of Pre-Eligibility for VTIP Program and Instructions for Delivery of Junked Title, form FWCDLE_194 (7/2022), which is hereby incorporated by reference and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14656.
Rulemaking Authority 327.04, 327.4107(7) FS. Law Implemented 327.4107(7) FS. History-New 9-12-22.