Florida Legislature oks bill that frees up oil spill money

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Legislature is signing off on bill that frees up money given to the state for damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Florida House on Tuesday voted unanimously for the measure that guarantees the distribution of $300 million to eight Panhandle counties that were hardest hit by the spill.

The Florida Senate approved the bill (HB 7007) a day earlier. A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott said the governor is "reviewing" the bill.

In 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, leased by energy giant BP, killed 11 workers and caused a blow-out that began spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Under a settlement reached with BP, Florida is to receive $2 billion for economic losses related to the spill over a 17-year-period.

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