House Bill hb1221e2

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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to water resources; amending s.

  3         373.1961, F.S.; allowing certain alternative

  4         water supply facilities to recover the cost of

  5         such facilities through rate structures;

  6         amending s. 373.083, F.S.; authorizing water

  7         management districts to solicit donations;

  8         amending s. 373.093, F.S.; authorizing water

  9         management districts to lease certain personal

10         property; creating s. 373.608, F.S.;

11         authorizing water management districts to

12         obtain and enforce patents, copyrights, and

13         trademarks on work products of the district;

14         providing for rules; creating s. 373.610, F.S.;

15         authorizing water management districts to

16         suspend contractors who have defaulted on

17         contracts; providing procedure; providing for

18         rules; creating s. 373.611, F.S.; authorizing

19         water management districts to enter into

20         contracts to limit or alter the measure of

21         damages recoverable from a vendor; amending s.

22         373.0693, F.S.; providing for membership on the

23         Manasota Basin Board and for the resolution of

24         tie votes; amending s. 73.015, F.S.; clarifying

25         time-frame for providing specific information

26         to fee-owners; requiring agencies to provide

27         specified portions of statute to fee-owners;

28         amending s. 270.11, F.S.; providing discretion

29         to water management districts, local

30         governments, board of trustees and other state

31         agencies to determine whether to reserve


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         mineral interests when selling lands;

  2         clarifying the types of information to be given

  3         by land-owner wanting a release of a

  4         reservation; amending s. 373.056, F.S.;

  5         granting water management districts the

  6         authority to grant utility easements on

  7         district-owned land for providing utility

  8         service; amending s. 373.093, F.S.; granting

  9         additional time to water management districts

10         to provide notification before executing lease

11         agreements; amending s. 373.096, F.S.;

12         providing for release of certain easements,

13         reservations, or right-of-way interests;

14         amending s. 373.139, F.S.; authorizing water

15         management districts to cure title defects

16         after a land sale is executed; allowing water

17         management districts to disclose appraisal

18         information, offers and counter offers to third

19         parties working on the district's behalf;

20         allowing third party appraisals to be used

21         under specific circumstances; amending s.

22         373.1401, F.S.; allowing water management

23         districts to contract with private entities for

24         management, improvement, or maintenance of land

25         held by the districts; amending s. 374.984,

26         F.S.; revising powers and duties of the Board

27         of Commissioners of the Florida Inland

28         Navigation District; amending s. 110.152, F.S.;

29         specifying employees who are entitled to

30         receive such benefits for adopting a

31         special-needs child; deleting references to


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         water management district employees;

  2         prescribing the manner of establishing the

  3         amount of such benefits; amending s. 110.15201,

  4         F.S.; providing that rules for administering

  5         such adoption benefits may provide for an

  6         application process; deleting a reference to

  7         water management district employees; amending

  8         s. 215.32, F.S.; requiring the Comptroller and

  9         the Department of Management Services to

10         transfer funds to water management districts to

11         pay monetary benefits to water management

12         district employees; creating s. 373.6065, F.S.;

13         providing child-adoption monetary benefits to

14         water management district employees; amending

15         s. 373.536, F.S.; revising notice and hearing

16         provisions relating to the adoption of a final

17         budget for the water management districts;

18         specifying to whom a copy of the water

19         management districts' tentative budget must be

20         sent for review; specifying the contents of the

21         tentative budget; requiring the Executive

22         Office of the Governor to file with the

23         Legislature a report summarizing its review of

24         the water management districts' tentative

25         budgets and displaying the adopted budget

26         allocations by program area; requiring the

27         water management districts to submit certain

28         budget documents to specified officials;

29         amending s. 373.079, F.S.; deleting a

30         requirement that the water management districts

31         submit a 5-year capital improvement plan and


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         fiscal report to the Governor, the President of

  2         the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

  3         Representatives, and the Secretary of

  4         Environmental Protection; amending s. 373.59,

  5         F.S.; providing for the transfer of certain

  6         funds; amending s. 373.501, F.S.; providing for

  7         the release of moneys from the Water Management

  8         Lands Trust Fund; repealing s. 373.507, F.S.,

  9         relating to postaudits and budgets of water

10         management districts and basins; repealing s.

11         373.589, F.S., relating to audits of water

12         management districts; providing an

13         appropriation; providing an effective date.

14

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

16

17         Section 1.  Paragraph (k) is added to subsection (2) of

18  section 373.1961, Florida Statutes, to read:

19         373.1961  Water production.--

20         (2)  The Legislature finds that, due to a combination

21  of factors, vastly increased demands have been placed on

22  natural supplies of fresh water, and that, absent increased

23  development of alternative water supplies, such demands may

24  increase in the future.  The Legislature also finds that

25  potential exists in the state for the production of

26  significant quantities of alternative water supplies,

27  including reclaimed water, and that water production includes

28  the development of alternative water supplies, including

29  reclaimed water, for appropriate uses.  It is the intent of

30  the Legislature that utilities develop reclaimed water

31  systems, where reclaimed water is the most appropriate


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  alternative water supply option, to deliver reclaimed water to

  2  as many users as possible through the most cost-effective

  3  means, and to construct reclaimed water system infrastructure

  4  to their owned or operated properties and facilities where

  5  they have reclamation capability. It is also the intent of the

  6  Legislature that the water management districts which levy ad

  7  valorem taxes for water management purposes should share a

  8  percentage of those tax revenues with water providers and

  9  users, including local governments, water, wastewater, and

10  reuse utilities, municipal, industrial, and agricultural water

11  users, and other public and private water users, to be used to

12  supplement other funding sources in the development of

13  alternative water supplies. The Legislature finds that public

14  moneys or services provided to private entities for such uses

15  constitute public purposes which are in the public interest.

16  In order to further the development and use of alternative

17  water supply systems, including reclaimed water systems, the

18  Legislature provides the following:

19         (k)  The Florida Public Service Commission shall allow

20  entities under its jurisdiction constructing alternative water

21  supply facilities, including but not limited to aquifer

22  storage and recovery wells, to recover the full, prudently

23  incurred cost of such facilities through their rate structure.

24  Every component of an alternative water supply facility

25  constructed by an investor-owned utility shall be recovered in

26  current rates.

27         Section 2.  Subsection (4) of section 373.083, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         373.083  General powers and duties of the governing

30  board.--In addition to other powers and duties allowed it by

31  law, the governing board is authorized to:


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         (4)  Solicit and accept donations or grants of funds or

  2  services from both public and private sources for the planning

  3  and implementation of district undertakings and delegations,

  4  including, but not limited to, projects, programs, works, and

  5  studies.

  6         Section 3.  Subsection (4) of section 373.093, Florida

  7  Statutes, is created to read:

  8         373.093  Lease of lands or interest in land and

  9  personal property.--The governing board of the district may

10  lease any lands or interest in land, including but not limited

11  to oil and mineral rights, to which the district has acquired

12  title, or to which it may hereafter acquire title in the

13  following manner, as long as the lease is consistent with the

14  purposes for which the lands or any interest in land was

15  acquired:

16         (4)  The governing board of the district may lease

17  existing communications towers and other similar structures

18  which the district owns or which it may hereafter acquire, for

19  the best price and terms obtainable, to be determined by the

20  board.

21         Section 4.  Section 373.608, Florida Statutes, is

22  created to read:

23         373.608  Patents, copyrights, and trademarks.--Each

24  district may, in its own name:

25         (1)  Perform all things necessary to secure letters of

26  patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any work products of the

27  district and enforce its rights therein. Each district shall

28  consider contributions by district personnel in the

29  development of trademarks, copyrights, and patents and shall

30  enter into written contracts with such personnel in each

31  trademark, copyright, or patent.


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         (2)  License, lease, assign, or otherwise give written

  2  consent to any person, firm, or corporation for the

  3  manufacture or use of such district work products, on a

  4  royalty basis or for such other consideration as the

  5  applicable governing board shall deem proper.

  6         (3)  Take any action necessary, including legal action,

  7  to protect such district work products against improper or

  8  unlawful use or infringement.

  9         (4)  Enforce the collection of any sums due to the

10  district for the manufacture or use of such district work

11  products by other party.

12         (5)  Sell any of such district work products and

13  execute all instruments necessary to consummate any such sale.

14         (6)  Do all other acts necessary and proper for the

15  execution of powers and duties conferred upon the districts by

16  this section, including adopting rules, as necessary, in order

17  to administer this section.

18         Section 5.  Section 373.610, Florida Statutes, is

19  created to read:

20         373.610  Defaulting vendors and contractors.--The

21  district may suspend a contractor on a temporary or permanent

22  basis, from doing work with the district if such contractor

23  has materially breached its contract with the district.  The

24  district shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of

25  this section to specify the circumstances and conditions that

26  constitute a materially breached contract and conditions that

27  constitute the period for temporary or permanent suspension

28  and for reinstatement.

29         Section 6.  Section 373.611, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         373.611  Modification or limitation of remedy.--In

  2  order to promote the cost-effective procurement of commodities

  3  and contractual services by the water management districts, a

  4  district may enter into contracts to limit or alter the

  5  measure of damages recoverable from a vendor consistent with

  6  the provisions contained in s. 672.719.

  7         Section 7.  Subsection (7) of section 373.0693, Florida

  8  Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         373.0693  Basins; basin boards.--

10         (7)  At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, the Manasota

11  Watershed Basin of the Ridge and Lower Gulf Coast Water

12  Management District, which is annexed to the Southwest Florida

13  Water Management District by change of its boundaries pursuant

14  to chapter 76-243, Laws of Florida, shall be formed into a

15  subdistrict or basin of the Southwest Florida Water Management

16  District, subject to the same provisions as the other basins

17  in such district.  Such subdistrict shall be designated

18  initially as the Manasota Basin. The members of the governing

19  board of the Manasota Watershed Basin of the Ridge and Lower

20  Gulf Coast Water Management District shall become members of

21  the governing board of the Manasota Basin of the Southwest

22  Florida Water Management District. Notwithstanding other

23  provisions in this section, beginning on July 1, 2001, the

24  membership of the Manasota Basin Board shall be comprised of

25  three members from Manatee County and three members from

26  Sarasota County. Matters relating to tie votes shall be

27  resolved pursuant to subsection (6) by the ex officio chair

28  designated by the governing board to vote in case of a tie

29  vote.

30         Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

31  73.015, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         73.015  Presuit negotiation.--

  2         (1)  Effective July 1, 2000, before an eminent domain

  3  proceeding is brought under this chapter or chapter 74, the

  4  condemning authority must attempt to negotiate in good faith

  5  with the fee owner of the parcel to be acquired, must provide

  6  the fee owner with a written offer and, if requested, a copy

  7  of the appraisal upon which the offer is based, and must

  8  attempt to reach an agreement regarding the amount of

  9  compensation to be paid for the parcel.

10         (a)  No later than the time the initial written or oral

11  offer of compensation for acquisition is made to the fee

12  owner, At the inception of negotiation for acquisition, the

13  condemning authority must notify the fee owner of the

14  following:

15         1.  That all or a portion of his or her property is

16  necessary for a project.

17         2.  The nature of the project for which the parcel is

18  considered necessary, and the parcel designation of the

19  property to be acquired.

20         3.  That, within 15 business days after receipt of a

21  request by the fee owner, the condemning authority will

22  provide a copy of the appraisal report upon which the offer to

23  the fee owner is based; copies, to the extent prepared, of the

24  right-of-way maps or other documents that depict the proposed

25  taking; and copies, to the extent prepared, of the

26  construction plans that depict project improvements to be

27  constructed on the property taken and improvements to be

28  constructed adjacent to the remaining property, including, but

29  not limited to, plan, profile, cross-section, drainage, and

30  pavement marking sheets, and driveway connection detail.  The

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  condemning authority shall provide any additional plan sheets

  2  within 15 days of request.

  3         4.  The fee owner's statutory rights under ss. 73.091

  4  and 73.092, or alternatively provide copies of these

  5  provisions of law.

  6         5.  The fee owner's rights and responsibilities under

  7  paragraphs (b) and (c) and subsection (4), or alternatively

  8  provide copies of these provisions of law.

  9         Section 9.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section 270.11,

10  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

11         270.11  Contracts for sale of public lands to reserve

12  certain mineral rights; prohibition on exercise of right of

13  entry in certain cases.--

14         (1)  Unless the applicable agency chooses not to

15  reserve such interest and except Except as otherwise provided

16  by law, in all contracts and deeds for the sale of land

17  executed by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement

18  Trust Fund or by any local government, water management

19  district, or other agency of the state, there shall be

20  reserved for such local government, water management district,

21  other agency of the state, or the board of trustees and its

22  successors an undivided three-fourths interest in, and title

23  in and to an undivided three-fourths interest in, all the

24  phosphate, minerals, and metals that are or may be in, on, or

25  under the said land and an undivided one-half interest in all

26  the petroleum that is or may be in, on, or under said land

27  with the privilege to mine and develop the same.

28         (3)  A local government, water management district, or

29  agency of the state may, at its discretion, sell or release

30  such reserved interest in any parcel of land, except that such

31  sale or release shall be made upon petition of the purchaser


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  for such interest and with upon submission by the local

  2  government, water management district, or agency of the state

  3  which owns the parcel of a statement of reasons justifying

  4  such sale or release.

  5         Section 10.  Subsection (4) of section 373.056, Florida

  6  Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         373.056  State agencies, counties, drainage districts,

  8  municipalities, or governmental agencies or public

  9  corporations authorized to convey or receive land from water

10  management districts.--

11         (4)  Any water management district within this chapter

12  shall have authority to convey or lease to any governmental

13  entity, other agency described herein or to the United States

14  Government, including its agencies, land or rights in land

15  owned by such district not required for its purposes under

16  such terms and conditions as the governing board of such

17  district may determine. In addition to other general law

18  authorizing the grant of utility easements, any water

19  management district may grant utility easements on land owned

20  by such district to any private or public utility for the

21  limited purpose of obtaining utility service to district

22  property under such terms and conditions as the governing

23  board of such district may determine.

24         Section 11.  Section 373.096, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         373.096  Releases.--The governing board of the district

27  may release any canal easement, reservation or right-of-way

28  interests, conveyed to it for which it has no present or

29  apparent future use under terms and conditions determined by

30  the board.

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         Section 12.  Subsection (2) of section 373.093, Florida

  2  Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         373.093  Lease of lands or interest in land.--The

  4  governing board of the district may lease any lands or

  5  interest in land, including but not limited to oil and mineral

  6  rights, to which the district has acquired title, or to which

  7  it may hereafter acquire title in the following manner, as

  8  long as the lease is consistent with the purposes for which

  9  the lands or any interest in land was acquired:

10         (2)  Before leasing any land, or interest in land

11  including but not limited to oil and mineral rights, the

12  district shall cause a notice of intention to lease to be

13  published in a newspaper published in the county in which said

14  land is situated and such other places as the board may

15  determine once each week for 3 successive weeks (three

16  insertions being sufficient), the first publication of which

17  shall be not less than 30 nor more than 90 45 days prior to

18  the date the board executes the any lease, which said notice

19  shall set forth the time and place of leasing and a

20  description of the lands to be leased.

21         Section 13.  Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of

22  subsection (3) of section 373.139, Florida Statutes, are

23  amended to read:

24         373.139  Acquisition of real property.--

25         (2)  The governing board of the district is empowered

26  and authorized to acquire in fee or less than fee title to

27  real property, and easements and other interests or rights

28  therein, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, eminent domain, or

29  otherwise for flood control, water storage, water management,

30  conservation and protection of water resources, aquifer

31  recharge, water resource and water supply development, and


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  preservation of wetlands, streams, and lakes. Eminent domain

  2  powers may be used only for acquiring real property for flood

  3  control and water storage or for curing title defects or

  4  encumbrances to real property owned by the district or to be

  5  acquired by the district from a willing seller.

  6         (3)  The initial 5-year work plan and any subsequent

  7  modifications or additions thereto shall be adopted by each

  8  water management district after a public hearing. Each water

  9  management district shall provide at least 14 days' advance

10  notice of the hearing date and shall separately notify each

11  county commission within which a proposed work plan project or

12  project modification or addition is located of the hearing

13  date.

14         (a)  Title information, Appraisal reports, offers, and

15  counteroffers are confidential and exempt from the provisions

16  of s. 119.07(1) until an option contract is executed or, if no

17  option contract is executed, until 30 days before a contract

18  or agreement for purchase is considered for approval by the

19  governing board.  However, each district may, at its

20  discretion, disclose appraisal reports to private landowners

21  during negotiations for acquisitions using alternatives to fee

22  simple techniques, if the district determines that disclosure

23  of such reports will bring the proposed acquisition to

24  closure. In the event that negotiation is terminated by the

25  district, the title information, appraisal report, offers, and

26  counteroffers shall become available pursuant to s. 119.07(1).

27  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s. 259.041,

28  a district and the Division of State Lands may share and

29  disclose title information, appraisal reports, appraisal

30  information, offers, and counteroffers when joint acquisition

31  of property is contemplated. A district and the Division of


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  State Lands shall maintain the confidentiality of such title

  2  information, appraisal reports, appraisal information, offers,

  3  and counteroffers in conformance with this section and s.

  4  259.041, except in those cases in which a district and the

  5  division have exercised discretion to disclose such

  6  information. A district may disclose appraisal information,

  7  offers, and counteroffers to a third party who has entered

  8  into a contractual agreement with the district to work with or

  9  on the behalf of or to assist the district in connection with

10  land acquisitions. The third party shall maintain the

11  confidentiality of such information in conformance with this

12  section. In addition, a district may use, as its own,

13  appraisals obtained by a third party provided the appraiser is

14  selected from the district's list of approved appraisers and

15  the appraisal is reviewed and approved by the district.

16         Section 14.  Section 373.1401, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         373.1401  Management of lands of water management

19  districts.--In addition to provisions contained in s.

20  373.1391(1) for soil and water conservation districts, the The

21  governing board of each water management district may contract

22  with a non-governmental person or entity, any federal or state

23  agency, a county, a municipality, or any other governmental

24  entity, or environmental nonprofit organization to provide for

25  the improvement, management, or maintenance of any real

26  property owned by or under the control of the district.

27         Section 15.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section

28  374.984, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         374.984  Purpose; powers and duties.--It is the purpose

30  and intent of this act that the board perform and do all

31  things which shall be requisite and necessary to comply with


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  the requirements and conditions imposed upon a "local

  2  interest" by the Congress of the United States in the several

  3  acts authorizing and directing the improvement and maintenance

  4  of the Intracoastal Waterway from St. Mary's River to the

  5  southernmost boundary of Dade County. Said acts include but

  6  are not limited to:  the Rivers and Harbors Act approved

  7  January 21, 1927, as amended by the River and Harbor Act

  8  approved July 3, 1930; the River and Harbor Act of June 20,

  9  1938; and s. 107 of the Federal River and Harbor Act of 1960.

10  Pursuant thereto, the powers of the board shall include, but

11  not be limited to:

12         (6)(a)  Contracting directly for, or entering into

13  agreement from time to time with the district engineer of the

14  Jacksonville, Florida, United States Army Corps of Engineers

15  district, or other agency or party duly authorized

16  representative of the United States, to contribute toward the

17  cost of dredging performed on the waterway by the United

18  States, to construct retaining bulkheads, dikes, and levees,

19  to construct ditches for the control of water discharged by

20  the dredges, and to do all other work and/or things which, in

21  the judgment of the board, shall be proper and necessary to

22  produce economies in meeting the conditions with respect to

23  right-of-way and dredged material management areas imposed

24  upon a "local interest" by the Congress of the United States

25  in the several acts authorizing and directing the improvement,

26  navigability, and maintenance of the Intracoastal Waterway

27  from St. Mary's River to the southernmost boundary of Dade

28  County.

29         Section 16.  Section 110.152, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         110.152  Adoption benefits for state or water

  2  management district employees; parental leave.--

  3         (1)(a)  Any full-time or part-time employee of the

  4  state who is paid from regular salary appropriations and or of

  5  a water management district who adopts a special-needs child,

  6  as defined in paragraph (b), is eligible to receive a monetary

  7  benefit in the amount of $10,000 per child, $5,000 of which is

  8  payable in equal monthly installments over a 2-year period.

  9  Any employee of the state or of a water management district

10  who adopts a child whose permanent custody has been awarded to

11  the Department of Children and Family Services or to a

12  Florida-licensed child-placing agency, other than a

13  special-needs child as defined in paragraph (b), shall be

14  eligible to receive a monetary benefit in the amount of $5,000

15  per child, $2,000 of which is payable in equal monthly

16  installments over a 2-year period. Benefits paid under this

17  subsection to a part-time employee must be prorated based on

18  the employee's full-time-equivalency status at the time of

19  applying for the benefits.

20         (b)  For purposes of this section, a "special-needs

21  child" is a child whose permanent custody has been awarded to

22  the Department of Children and Family Services or to a

23  Florida-licensed child-placing agency and who is not likely to

24  be adopted because he or she is:

25         1.  Eight years of age or older.

26         2.  A person with a developmental disability.

27         3.  A person with a physical or emotional handicap.

28         4.  Of a minority race or of a racially mixed heritage.

29         5.  A member of a sibling group of any age, provided

30  that two or more members of a sibling group remain together

31  for the purposes of adoption.


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         (2)  An employee of the state or of a water management

  2  district who adopts a special-needs child must apply to his or

  3  her agency head to obtain the monetary benefit provided in

  4  subsection (1). Applications must be on forms approved by the

  5  department and must include a certified copy of the final

  6  order of adoption naming the applicant as the adoptive parent.

  7         (3)  Nothing in this section shall affect the right of

  8  any state employee who adopts a special-needs child to receive

  9  financial aid for adoption expenses pursuant to s. 409.166 or

10  any other statute that provides financial incentives for the

11  adoption of children.

12         (4)  Any employee of the state or of a water management

13  district who has a child placed in the custody of the employee

14  for adoption, and who continues to reside in the same

15  household as the child placed for adoption, shall be granted

16  parental leave for a period not to exceed 6 months as provided

17  in s. 110.221.

18         Section 17.  Section 110.15201, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         110.15201  Adoption benefits for state or water

21  management district employees; rulemaking authority.--The

22  Department of Management Services may adopt rules to

23  administer the provisions of this act. Such rules may provide

24  for an application process such as, but not limited to, an

25  open-enrollment period during which employees may apply for

26  monetary benefits as provided in s. 110.152(1).

27         Section 18.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

28  215.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         215.32  State funds; segregation.--

30         (2)  The source and use of each of these funds shall be

31  as follows:


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         (c)1.  The Budget Stabilization Fund shall consist of

  2  amounts equal to at least 5 percent of net revenue collections

  3  for the General Revenue Fund during the last completed fiscal

  4  year. The Budget Stabilization Fund's principal balance shall

  5  not exceed an amount equal to 10 percent of the last completed

  6  fiscal year's net revenue collections for the General Revenue

  7  Fund. As used in this paragraph, the term "last completed

  8  fiscal year" means the most recently completed fiscal year

  9  prior to the regular legislative session at which the

10  Legislature considers the General Appropriations Act for the

11  year in which the transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund

12  must be made under this paragraph.

13         2.  By September 15 of each year, the Governor shall

14  authorize the Comptroller to transfer, and the Comptroller

15  shall transfer pursuant to appropriations made by law, to the

16  Budget Stabilization Fund the amount of money needed for the

17  balance of that fund to equal the amount specified in

18  subparagraph 1., less any amounts expended and not restored.

19  The moneys needed for this transfer may be appropriated by the

20  Legislature from any funds.

21         3.  Unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph, an

22  expenditure from the Budget Stabilization Fund must be

23  restored pursuant to a restoration schedule that provides for

24  making five equal annual transfers from the General Revenue

25  Fund, beginning in the fiscal year following that in which the

26  expenditure was made. For any Budget Stabilization Fund

27  expenditure, the Legislature may establish by law a different

28  restoration schedule and such change may be made at any time

29  during the restoration period. Moneys are hereby appropriated

30  for transfers pursuant to this subparagraph.

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         4.  The Budget Stabilization Fund and the Working

  2  Capital Fund may be used as revolving funds for transfers as

  3  provided in s. 18.125; however, any interest earned must be

  4  deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

  5         5.  The Comptroller and the Department of Management

  6  Services shall transfer funds to water management districts to

  7  pay eligible water management district employees for all

  8  benefits due under s. 373.6065, as long as funds remain

  9  available for the program described under s. 100.152.

10         Section 19.  Section 373.6065, Florida Statutes, is

11  created to read:

12         373.6065  Adoption benefits for water management

13  district employees.--

14         (1)  Any employee of a water management district is

15  eligible to receive monetary benefits for child adoption to

16  the same extent as is an employee of the state, as described

17  in s. 110.152. The employee shall apply for such benefits

18  pursuant to s. 110.15201.

19         (2)  The Comptroller and the Department of Management

20  Services shall transfer funds to water management districts to

21  pay eligible water management district employees for these

22  child adoption monetary benefits in accordance with s.

23  215.32(1)(c)5., as long as funds remain available for the

24  program described under s. 110.152.

25         (3)  Parental leave for eligible water management

26  district employees shall be provided according to the policies

27  and procedures of the individual water management district in

28  existence at the time eligibility is determined.

29         (4)  Each water management district shall develop means

30  of implementing these monetary adoption benefits for water

31  management district employees, consistent with its current


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  practices. Water management district rules, policies,

  2  guidelines, or procedures so implemented will remain valid and

  3  enforceable as long as they do not conflict with the express

  4  terms of s. 110.152.

  5         Section 20.  Section 373.536, Florida Statutes, is

  6  amended to read:

  7         373.536  District budget and hearing thereon.--

  8         (1)  FISCAL YEAR.--The fiscal year of districts created

  9  under the provisions of this chapter shall extend from October

10  1 of one year through September 30 of the following year.

11         (2)  BUDGET SUBMITTAL.--The budget officer of the

12  district shall, on or before July 15 of each year, submit for

13  consideration by the governing board of the district a

14  tentative budget for the district covering its proposed

15  operations operation and funding requirements for the ensuing

16  fiscal year.

17         (3)  BUDGET HEARINGS AND WORKSHOPS; NOTICE.--

18         (a)  Unless alternative notice requirements are

19  otherwise provided by law, notice of all budget hearings

20  conducted by the governing board or district staff must be

21  published in a newspaper of general paid circulation in each

22  county in which the district lies not less than 5 days nor

23  more than 15 days before the hearing.

24         (b)  Budget workshops conducted for the public and not

25  governed by s. 200.065 must be advertised in a newspaper of

26  general paid circulation in the community or area in which the

27  workshop will occur not less than 5 days nor more than 15 days

28  before the workshop.

29         (c)  The tentative budget shall be adopted in

30  accordance with the provisions of s. 200.065; however, if the

31  mailing of the notice of proposed property taxes is delayed


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  beyond September 3 in any county in which the district lies,

  2  the district shall advertise its intention to adopt a

  3  tentative budget and millage rate, pursuant to s.

  4  200.065(3)(g), in a newspaper of general paid circulation in

  5  that county. The budget shall set forth, classified by object

  6  and purpose, and by fund if so designated, the proposed

  7  expenditures of the district for bonds or other debt, for

  8  construction, for acquisition of land, for operation and

  9  maintenance of the district works, for the conduct of the

10  affairs of the district generally, and for other purposes, to

11  which may be added an amount to be held as a reserve. District

12  administrative and operating expenses must be identified in

13  the budget and allocated among district programs.

14         (2)  The budget shall also show the estimated amount

15  which will appear at the beginning of the fiscal year as

16  obligated upon commitments made but uncompleted.  There shall

17  be shown the estimated unobligated or net balance which will

18  be on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, and the

19  estimated amount to be raised by district taxes and from other

20  sources for meeting the requirements of the district.

21         (d)(3)  As provided in s. 200.065(2)(d), the board

22  shall publish one or more notices of its intention to finally

23  adopt a final budget for the district for the ensuing fiscal

24  year. The notice shall appear adjacent to an advertisement

25  that sets which shall set forth the tentative budget in a

26  format meeting the budget summary requirements of s.

27  129.03(3)(b) in full. The district shall not include

28  expenditures of federal special revenues and state special

29  revenues when preparing the statement required by s.

30  200.065(3)(l). The notice and advertisement shall be published

31  in one or more newspapers having a combined general paid


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  circulation in each county the counties having land in which

  2  the district lies. Districts may include explanatory phrases

  3  and examples in budget advertisements published under s.

  4  200.065 to clarify or illustrate the effect that the district

  5  budget may have on ad valorem taxes.

  6         (e)(4)  The hearing for adoption of to finally adopt a

  7  final budget and millage rate shall be by and before the

  8  governing board of the district as provided in s. 200.065 and

  9  may be continued from day to day until terminated by the

10  board.

11         (4)  BUDGET CONTROLS.--

12         (a)  The final adopted budget for the district will

13  thereupon be the operating and fiscal guide for the district

14  for the ensuing year; however, transfers of funds may be made

15  within the budget by action of the governing board at a public

16  meeting of the governing board.

17         (b)  The district shall control its budget, at a

18  minimum, by funds and shall provide to the Executive Office of

19  the Governor a description of its budget control mechanisms.

20         (c)  Should the district receive unanticipated funds

21  after the adoption of the final budget, the final budget may

22  be amended by including such funds, so long as notice of

23  intention to amend is published in the notice of the governing

24  board meeting at which the amendment will be considered,

25  pursuant to s. 120.525 one time in one or more newspapers

26  qualified to accept legal advertisements having a combined

27  general circulation in the counties in the district. The

28  notice shall set forth a summary of the proposed amendment and

29  shall be published at least 10 days prior to the public

30  meeting of the board at which the proposed amendment is to be

31  considered. However, in the event of a disaster or of an


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  emergency arising to prevent or avert the same, the governing

  2  board shall not be limited by the budget but shall have

  3  authority to apply such funds as may be available therefor or

  4  as may be procured for such purpose.

  5         (5)  TENTATIVE BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION; REVIEW

  6  AND APPROVAL.--

  7         (a)  The Executive Office of the Governor is authorized

  8  to approve or disapprove, in whole or in part, the budget of

  9  each water management district and shall analyze each budget

10  as to the adequacy of fiscal resources available to the

11  district and the adequacy of district expenditures related to

12  water supply, including water resource development projects

13  identified in the district's regional water supply plans;

14  water quality; flood protection and floodplain management; and

15  natural systems.  This analysis shall be based on the

16  particular needs within each water management district in

17  those four areas of responsibility.

18         (b)  The Executive Office of the Governor and the water

19  management districts shall develop a process to facilitate

20  review and communication regarding water management district

21  budgets, as necessary.  Written disapproval of any provision

22  in the tentative budget must be received by the district at

23  least 5 business days prior to the final district budget

24  adoption hearing conducted under s. 200.065(2)(d).  If written

25  disapproval of any portion of the budget is not received at

26  least 5 business days prior to the final budget adoption

27  hearing, the governing board may proceed with final adoption.

28  Any provision rejected by the Governor shall not be included

29  in a district's final budget.

30         (c)  Each water management district shall, by August 1

31  of each year, submit for review a tentative budget to the


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the

  2  House of Representatives, the chairs of all legislative

  3  committees and subcommittees with substantive or fiscal

  4  jurisdiction over water management districts, as determined by

  5  the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of

  6  Representatives as applicable, the secretary of the

  7  department, and the governing body of each county in which the

  8  district has jurisdiction  or derives any funds for the

  9  operations of the district.

10         (d)  The tentative budget must set forth the proposed

11  expenditures of the district, to which may be added an amount

12  to be held as reserve. The tentative budget must include, but

13  is not limited to, the following information for the preceding

14  fiscal year and the current fiscal year, and the proposed

15  amounts for the upcoming fiscal year, in a standard format

16  prescribed by the Executive Office of the Governor which is

17  generally consistent with the format prescribed by legislative

18  budget instructions for state agencies and the format

19  requirements of s. 216.031:

20         1.  The estimated amount of funds remaining at the

21  beginning of the fiscal year which have been obligated for the

22  payment of outstanding commitments not yet completed.

23         2.  The estimated amount of unobligated funds or net

24  cash balance on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, and

25  the estimated amount of funds to be raised by district taxes

26  or received from other sources to meet the requirements of the

27  district.

28         3.  The millage rates and the percentage increase above

29  the rolled-back rate, together with a summary of the reasons

30  the increase is required, and the percentage increase in

31


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  taxable value resulting from new construction within the

  2  district.;

  3         4.2.  The salaries salary and benefits, expenses,

  4  operating capital outlay, number of authorized positions, and

  5  other personal services for the following program areas of the

  6  district, including a separate section for lobbying,

  7  intergovernmental relations, and advertising:

  8         a.  Water resource planning and monitoring;

  9         b.  Land acquisition, restoration, and public works;

10         c.  Operation and maintenance of works and lands;

11         d.  Regulation;

12         e.  Outreach for which the information provided must

13  contain a full description and accounting of expenditures for

14  water resources education; public information and public

15  relations, including public service announcements and

16  advertising in any media; and lobbying activities related to

17  local, regional, state and federal governmental affairs,

18  whether incurred by district staff or through contractual

19  services; and

20         f.  Management and administration.

21         a.  District management and administration;

22         b.  Implementation through outreach activities;

23         c.  Implementation through regulation;

24         d.  Implementation through acquisition, restoration,

25  and public works;

26         e.  Implementation through operations and maintenance

27  of lands and works;

28         f.  Water resources planning and monitoring; and

29         g.  A full description and accounting of expenditures

30  for lobbying activities relating to local, regional, state,

31  and federal governmental affairs, whether incurred by district


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  staff or through contractual services and all expenditures for

  2  public relations, including all expenditures for public

  3  service announcements and advertising in any media.

  4

  5  In addition to the program areas reported by all water

  6  management districts, the South Florida Water Management

  7  District shall include in its budget document a separate

  8  sections section on all costs associated with the Everglades

  9  Construction Project and the Comprehensive Everglades

10  Restoration Plan.

11         5.3.  The total estimated amount in the district budget

12  for each area of responsibility listed in subparagraph 4.

13  paragraph (a) and for water resource development projects

14  identified in the district's regional water supply plans.

15         4.  A 5-year capital improvements plan.

16         6.5.  A description of each new, expanded, reduced, or

17  eliminated program.

18         6.  A proposed 5-year water resource development work

19  program, that describes the district's implementation strategy

20  for the water resource development component of each approved

21  regional water supply plan developed or revised pursuant to s.

22  373.0361.  The work program shall address all the elements of

23  the water resource development component in the district's

24  approved regional water supply plans.  The office of the

25  Governor, with the assistance of the department, shall review

26  the proposed work program.  The review shall include a written

27  evaluation of its consistency with and furtherance of the

28  district's approved regional water supply plans, and adequacy

29  of proposed expenditures. As part of the review, the Executive

30  Office of the Governor and the department shall afford to all

31  interested parties the opportunity to provide written comments


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  on each district's proposed work program. At least 7 days

  2  prior to the adoption of its final budget, the governing board

  3  shall state in writing to the Executive Office of the Governor

  4  which changes recommended in the evaluation it will

  5  incorporate into its work program, or specify the reasons for

  6  not incorporating the changes.  The office of the Governor

  7  shall include the district's responses in the written

  8  evaluation and shall submit a copy of the evaluation to the

  9  Legislature; and

10         7.  The funding sources, including, but not limited to,

11  ad valorem taxes, Surface Water Improvement and Management

12  Program funds, other state funds, federal funds, and user fees

13  and permit fees for each program area.

14         (e)(d)  By September 5 of the year in which the budget

15  is submitted, the House and Senate appropriations chairs may

16  transmit to each district comments and objections to the

17  proposed budgets.  Each district governing board shall include

18  a response to such comments and objections in the record of

19  the governing board meeting where final adoption of the budget

20  takes place, and the record of this meeting shall be

21  transmitted to the Executive Office of the Governor, the

22  department, and the chairs of the House and Senate

23  appropriations committees.

24         (f)(e)  The Executive Office of the Governor shall

25  annually, on or before December 15, file with the Legislature

26  a report that summarizes its review the expenditures of the

27  water management districts' tentative budgets and displays the

28  adopted budget allocations districts by program area. The

29  report must identify and identifies the districts that are not

30  in compliance with the reporting requirements of this section.

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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  State funds shall be withheld from a water management district

  2  that fails to comply with these reporting requirements.

  3         (6)  FINAL BUDGET; ANNUAL AUDIT; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

  4  PLAN; WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT WORK PROGRAM.--

  5         (a)  Each district must, by the date specified for each

  6  item, furnish copies of the following documents to the

  7  Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the

  8  House of Representatives, the chairs of all legislative

  9  committees and subcommittees having substantive or fiscal

10  jurisdiction over the districts, as determined by the

11  President or Speaker as applicable, the secretary of the

12  department, and the governing board of each county in which

13  the district has jurisdiction or derives any funds for the

14  operations of the district:

15         1.  The adopted budget, to be furnished within 10 days

16  after its adoption.

17         2.  A financial audit of its accounts and records, to

18  be furnished within 10 days after its acceptance by the

19  governing board. The audit must be conducted in accordance

20  with the provisions of s. 11.45 and the rules adopted

21  thereunder. In addition to the entities named above, the

22  district must provide a copy of the audit to the Auditor

23  General within 10 days after its acceptance by the governing

24  board.

25         3.  A 5-year capital improvements plan, to be furnished

26  within 45 days after the adoption of the final budget. The

27  plan must include expected sources of revenue for planned

28  improvements and must be prepared in a manner comparable to

29  the fixed capital outlay format set forth in s. 216.043.

30         4.  A 5-year water resource development work program to

31  be furnished within 45 days after the adoption of the final


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  budget. The program must describe the district's

  2  implementation strategy for the water resource development

  3  component of each approved regional water supply plan

  4  developed or revised under s. 373.0361. The work program must

  5  address all the elements of the water resource development

  6  component in the district's approved regional water supply

  7  plans. Within 45 days after its submittal, the department

  8  shall review the proposed work program and submit its

  9  findings, questions, and comments to the district. The review

10  must include a written evaluation of the program's consistency

11  with the furtherance of the district's approved regional water

12  supply plans, and the adequacy of proposed expenditures. As

13  part of the review, the department shall give interested

14  parties the opportunity to provide written comments on each

15  district's proposed work program. Within 60 days after receipt

16  of the department's evaluation, the governing board shall

17  state in writing to the department which changes recommended

18  in the evaluation it will incorporate into its work program or

19  specify the reasons for not incorporating the changes. The

20  department shall include the district's responses in a final

21  evaluation report and shall submit a copy of the report to the

22  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

23  House of Representatives.

24         (b)  If any entity listed in paragraph (a) provides

25  written comments to the district regarding any document

26  furnished under this subsection, the district must respond to

27  the comments in writing and furnish copies of the comments and

28  written responses to the other entities.

29         Section 21.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section

30  373.079, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         373.079  Members of governing board; oath of office;

  2  staff.--

  3         (4)

  4         (b)1.  The governing board of each water management

  5  district shall employ an inspector general, who shall report

  6  directly to the board. However, the governing boards of the

  7  Suwannee River Water Management District and the Northwest

  8  Florida Water Management District may jointly employ an

  9  inspector general, or provide for inspector general services

10  by interagency agreement with a state agency or water

11  management district inspector general.

12         2.  An inspector general must have the qualifications

13  prescribed and perform the applicable duties of state agency

14  inspectors general as provided in s. 20.055.

15         3.  Within 45 days of the adoption of the final budget,

16  the governing board shall submit a 5-year capital improvement

17  plan and fiscal report for the district to the Governor, the

18  President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

19  Representatives, and the Secretary of Environmental

20  Protection. The capital improvement plan must include expected

21  sources of revenue for planned improvements and shall be

22  prepared in a manner comparable to the fixed capital outlay

23  format set forth in s. 216.043. The fiscal report shall cover

24  the preceding fiscal year and shall include a summary

25  statement of the financial operations of the district.

26         Section 22.  Section 373.501, Florida Statutes, is

27  amended to read:

28         373.501  Appropriation of funds to water management

29  districts.--

30         (1)  The department may allocate to the water

31  management districts, from funds appropriated to the


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1  department, such sums as may be deemed necessary to defray the

  2  costs of the administrative,  regulatory, and other activities

  3  of the districts. The governing boards shall submit annual

  4  budget requests for such purposes to the department, and the

  5  department shall consider such budgets in preparing its budget

  6  request for the Legislature.

  7         (2)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the

  8  purpose of funding a specific water management district

  9  project shall be transferred to the water management district

10  when the proposed project has been reviewed by the secretary

11  of the pertinent state agency and upon receipt of a governing

12  board resolution requesting such funds.

13         Section 23.  Subsection (11) of section 373.59, Florida

14  Statutes, is amended to read:

15         373.59  Water Management Lands Trust Fund.--

16         (11)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to

17  the contrary, and for the 2000-2001 fiscal year only, the

18  governing board of a water management district may request,

19  and the Secretary of Environmental Protection shall release

20  upon such request, moneys allocated to the districts pursuant

21  to subsection (8) for the purpose of carrying out the purposes

22  consistent with the provisions of s. 373.0361, s. 373.0831 s.

23  375.0831, s. 373.139, or ss. 373.451-373.4595 and for

24  legislatively authorized land acquisition and water

25  restoration initiatives. No funds may be used pursuant to this

26  subsection until necessary debt service obligations,

27  requirements for payments in lieu of taxes, and land

28  management obligations that may be required by this chapter

29  are provided for. This subsection is repealed on July 1, 2001.

30         Section 24.  Sections 373.507 and 373.589, Florida

31  Statutes, are repealed.


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                                         HB 1221, Second Engrossed



  1         Section 25.  Funds from Specific Appropriations 1591G

  2  of Chapter 2000-166, Laws of Florida, in the amount of

  3  $1,000,000 for Wastewater (Sewer) Infrastructure - City of

  4  South Miami shall revert and are hereby reappropriated for

  5  drinking water facility construction for the City of South

  6  Miami.

  7         Section 26.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  8  law.

  9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

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