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Sen. Bill Nelson calls on Gov. Rick Scott to fix beach access law

The Florida beach access law that went into effect in July has lawmakers calling for changes.

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla.—Florida’s U.S. Senator Bill Nelson on Friday called on Gov. Rick Scott to fix the beach problem he said Scott created.

Nelson asked Scott to call the state legislature into session to repeal the beach law that left many Florida residents and tourists confused.

MORE: Florida's public beaches won’t be so public anymore under new law

The law gives private property owners with beachfront property the option to allow people on it or not.

“This law - and the confusion it has created - is turning residents and visitors away from our world-renowned sugar-white sand beaches and that's just not what Florida is all about,” Senator Nelson said standing on Santa Rosa Beach. “Our tourism-driven economy is at risk and there’s only one way to make it right: a special session of the state Legislature to fix the law. Beachgoers should be able to enjoy the sun and the sand without being harassed and without worrying whether they’ll be arrested and what they've been experiencing on our beaches is just not right.”

Gov. Scott signed an executive order in early July that urged counties not to limit public access to beaches.

READ: Gov. Scott signs order urging counties to not limit public access to beaches

Nelson said Scott’s executive order didn’t do anything and only created more confusion -- an assertion Scott's campaign denied in a statement.

"It’s been widely reported that this legislation, which was passed with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans, does not privatize Florida’s beaches," the Scott Campaign wrote in a statement to 10News. "Unlike Washington politicians like Bill Nelson, when there was confusion regarding the interpretation of a new law, Governor Scott took action to address it. Governor Scott took executive action to protect beach access and has been clear that he is committed to keeping our beaches open to public. With the national flood insurance program days away from expiring, Bill Nelson should be in Washington doing his job – not intentionally misleading Floridians at a political stunt. If Nelson and Congress actually worked on Fridays like the Governor proposed, millions of Floridians might not be worrying about losing critical insurance coverage in the middle of hurricane season."

The law went into effect July 1, 2018.

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