New bills in the State Legislature, HB1473 & SB1614, propose creating citizen advisory committees to approve boat speed limits in manatee zones and approve other critical decisions regarding manatees. These county government appointed committees would be composed of fishermen, boaters, environmentalists, and shorefront homeowners. Proponents of the bill like the local input into decision making. Critics complain that the makeup of the committees leave only a single vote for environmentalists. Critics also note that if scientific decisions by experts are subject to a veto by those being regulated, it will be the same as letting users regulate themselves. The bill is supported by the National Marine Manufactures Association and Standing Watch, a boater’s rights group, and opposed by Audubon, Save the Manatee, and the Sierra Club.