Senate Bill sb0628

    Florida Senate - 2001                                   SB 628

    By Senator Mitchell





    4-463-01

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to water; creating the "Safe

  3         Water Assurance Act"; directing the Department

  4         of Environmental Protection to establish a

  5         Water and Wastewater Treatment Grant Program

  6         for local governments; providing standards;

  7         requiring that grant criteria be adopted by

  8         rule; providing funding; providing an effective

  9         date.

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

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13         Section 1.  This act may be cited as the "Safe Water

14  Assurance Act."

15         Section 2.  (1)  The Department of Environmental

16  Protection, as lead agency, in conjunction with the Department

17  of Community Affairs shall establish a Water and Wastewater

18  Treatment Grant Program for local governments and shall

19  develop a priority list of local governments eligible for

20  grants under the program.  In developing the priority list,

21  the department shall first consider:

22         (a)  Counties having a population of less than 125,000.

23         (b)  Municipalities having a population of less than

24  12,500.

25         (2)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

26  adopt rules for awarding water and wastewater treatment grants

27  based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

28         (a)  The need for water and wastewater utilities; and

29         (b)  Environmental issues related to septic tanks or

30  the lack of utilities, such as:

31         1.  Public health and safety;

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2001                                   SB 628
    4-463-01




  1         2.  Lack of local fiscal resources;

  2         3.  Consent orders or other state or federal regulatory

  3  action; and

  4         4.  Coordination or leverage of federal funds.

  5         (3)  Notwithstanding section 216.3541, Florida

  6  Statutes, beginning with fiscal year 2001-2002 and until

  7  fiscal year 2011-2012, $100 million shall be annually

  8  deposited into the Water and Wastewater Treatment Grant

  9  Program Trust Fund from the General Revenue Fund for the

10  purpose of funding the Water and Wastewater Treatment Grant

11  Program established in this section.

12         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.

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15                          SENATE SUMMARY

16    Directs the Department of Environmental Protection in
      conjunction with the Department of Community Affairs to
17    establish a Water and Wastewater Treatment Grant Program
      for local governments. Requires that criteria for
18    awarding grants be adopted by rule. Provides funding for
      10 years.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.