Senate Bill 1280

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1280

    By Senator Latvala





    312-894-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to water management; amending

  3         s. 373.59, F.S.; correcting cross-references;

  4         providing an effective date.

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  6  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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  8         Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and

  9  subsection (6) of section 373.59, Florida Statutes, are

10  amended to read:

11         373.59  Water Management Lands Trust Fund.--

12         (2)(a)  By January 15 of each year, each district shall

13  file with the Legislature and the Secretary of Environmental

14  Protection a report of acquisition activity together with

15  modifications or additions to its 5-year plan of acquisition.

16  Included in the report shall be an identification of those

17  lands which require a full fee simple interest to achieve

18  water management goals and those lands which can be acquired

19  using alternatives to fee simple acquisition techniques and

20  still achieve such goals.  In their evaluation of which lands

21  would be appropriate for acquisition through alternatives to

22  fee simple, district staff shall consider criteria including,

23  but not limited to, acquisition costs, the net present value

24  of future land management costs, the net present value of ad

25  valorem revenue loss to the local government, and the

26  potential for revenue generated from activities compatible

27  with acquisition objectives. The report shall also include a

28  description of land management activity. Expenditure of moneys

29  from the Water Management Lands Trust Fund shall be limited to

30  the costs for acquisition, management, maintenance, and

31  capital improvements of lands included within the 5-year plan

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1280
    312-894-98




  1  as filed by each district and to the department's costs of

  2  administration of the fund. The department's costs of

  3  administration shall be charged proportionally against each

  4  district's allocation using the formula provided in subsection

  5  (8) (7). However, no acquisition of lands shall occur without

  6  a public hearing similar to those held pursuant to the

  7  provisions set forth in s. 120.54. In the annual update of its

  8  5-year plan for acquisition, each district shall identify

  9  lands needed to protect or recharge groundwater and shall

10  establish a plan for their acquisition as necessary to protect

11  potable water supplies. Lands which serve to protect or

12  recharge groundwater identified pursuant to this paragraph

13  shall also serve to protect other valuable natural resources

14  or provide space for natural resource based recreation.

15         (6)  If a district issues revenue bonds or notes under

16  s. 373.584, the district may pledge its share of the moneys in

17  the Water Management Lands Trust Fund as security for such

18  bonds or notes. The Department of Environmental Protection

19  shall pay moneys from the trust fund to a district or its

20  designee sufficient to pay the debt service, as it becomes

21  due, on the outstanding bonds and notes of the district;

22  however, such payments shall not exceed the district's

23  cumulative portion of the trust fund. However, any moneys

24  remaining after payment of the amount due on the debt service

25  shall be released to the district pursuant to subsection (4)

26  (3).

27         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

28  law.

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1280
    312-894-98




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  2                          SENATE SUMMARY

  3    Corrects internal cross-references in s. 373.59, F.S.,
      relating to the Water Management Lands Trust Fund.
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