HB 1275 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to water resources; creating the 2020
3	Water Study Commission; providing for appointment and
4	qualification of members, providing duties of the
5	commission; providing for public hearings; providing for
6	an executive director and technical advisory committees;
7	requiring reports; providing duties of the Department of
8	Environmental Protection; providing an appropriation;
9	providing an effective date.
10
11	WHEREAS, the management of the water resources of the state
12	is critical to the preservation of Florida's unique natural
13	systems and to the protection of the health and welfare of the
14	people of the state, and
15	WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has enacted into law a
16	series of water resource planning and regulatory programs aimed
17	at the protection, preservation, restoration, and enhancement of
18	the state's water resources, and
19	WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has also enacted laws to
20	encourage conservation, the efficient use of water, and the
21	development of cost-effective alternative water supply
22	technologies in order to minimize dependence upon historic water
23	supply sources, and
24	WHEREAS, despite these efforts, the future availability of
25	water necessary to maintain the state's natural systems, and to
26	meet the future demands of the state's agricultural and urban
27	areas, remains in question, and
28	WHEREAS, regular evaluation of the Florida Water Plan and
29	district or regional water supply plans, including the
30	alternative water supply development provisions, is necessary to
31	determine whether state goals are being attained and necessary
32	revisions should be prepared through coordinated action by state
33	and regional agencies and local governments, and
34	WHEREAS, local and regional governments throughout the
35	state repeatedly request funding assistance from the state to
36	address their water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure
37	needs, and
38	WHEREAS, the Legislature finds there is a need to
39	comprehensively consider how the multi-billion dollar water
40	resources infrastructure needs are to be met, in order to
41	preserve and enhance the quality of the state's water resources
42	and protect the health and welfare of the people of the state,
43	NOW, THEREFORE,
44
45	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47	Section 1. (1) The 2020 Water Study Commission is
48	created. The commission shall be composed of 17 voting members,
49	7 of whom are appointed by the Governor, 5 of whom are appointed
50	by the President of the Senate, and 5 of whom are appointed by
51	the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In addition, the
52	Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of Community Affairs,
53	and the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection
54	or their designees shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members
55	of the commission. The Governor's appointments must include at
56	least one appointment from each of the following interest
57	groups:
58	(a) Business interests, such as development or real
59	estate.
60	(b) Agricultural interests, such as farming, forestry,
61	aquaculture, or silvaculture.
62	(c) Environmental interests, such as resource-based
63	conservation and environmental quality or conservation groups.
64	(d) Community representatives, such as citizen groups,
65	not-for-profit community associations, citizen planners, or
66	affordable housing groups.
67	(e) Local and regional governments, such as
68	municipalities, counties, special districts, metropolitan
69	planning organizations, water management districts, or regional
70	planning councils.
71	(f) Water resources management and planning specialists,
72	such as professional planners, attorneys, engineers, or
73	architects.
74
75	The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
76	Representatives shall each select one appointee from five of the
77	six categories listed in paragraphs (a)-(f) and, in addition,
78	shall each appoint two members from their respective chambers of
79	the Legislature to serve on the commission as ex officio
80	nonvoting members. Appointments under this subsection shall be
81	made by July 1, 2003, and the first meeting of the commission
82	shall be held no later than September 1, 2003. The chair of the
83	commission shall be elected from the voting members by the
84	majority of the membership at its first meeting. Any vacancy
85	occurring in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
86	the same manner as the original appointment.
87	(2) Each voting member of the commission is entitled to
88	one vote, and action of the commission requires a two-thirds
89	vote of the members present. However, action of the commission
90	may be taken only at a meeting at which a majority of the voting
91	commission members are present.
92	(3) The commission shall review the operation and
93	implementation of Florida's water resource management and
94	planning laws, including, but not limited to, chapters 163, 373,
95	and 403, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of formulating
96	specific recommendations relating to the following:
97	(a) The funding for the cleanup of all the water bodies
98	that have been determined by the Department of Environmental
99	Protection pursuant to section 403.067, Florida Statutes, to be
100	impaired;
101	(b) Identification of regulatory and financial incentives
102	to local governments to increase the amount of water utility
103	collection fees dedicated to the implementation of conservation
104	and water-reclamation projects;
105	(c) Simplification and streamlining of permitting
106	processes at both the state and federal levels for alternative
107	water supply technologies;
108	(d) Increased use of water reuse, including resolution of
109	disputes relating to the determination of feasibility of
110	infrastructure financing and development and colocation of power
111	generating facilities;
112	(e) Identification of the appropriate role of the state in
113	assisting local governments in the implementation of alternative
114	water supply projects, including, without limitation, the
115	provision of further financial and technical assistance;
116	(f) Promotion of cost-effective agricultural water
117	conservation practices, including providing long-term funding
118	support for the Urban Irrigation Laboratory Programs; and
119	(g) Citizen participation in education about and the
120	promotion of water resource protection and conservation
121	programs.
122	(4) At least six public hearings must be held by the
123	commission in different regions of the state to solicit input
124	from the public on how they want the state, regional agencies,
125	and their municipalities and counties to provide for the
126	protection and enhancement of the state's water resources.
127	(5) The commission shall, by February 1, 2004, provide to
128	the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
129	Representatives, and the Governor an interim written report of
130	the specific recommendations that may be formulated at that
131	time. A final written report shall be provided to the same
132	officers by February 1, 2005, with recommendations for all the
133	issues identified in paragraphs (3)(a)-(g), including
134	legislative recommendations.
135	(6) The commission may establish and appoint any necessary
136	technical advisory committees. Commission members, and the
137	members of any technical advisory committees that are appointed,
138	shall not receive remuneration for their services, but members
139	other than public officers and employees are entitled to be
140	reimbursed by the Department of Environmental Protection for
141	travel or per diem expenses in accordance with chapter 112,
142	Florida Statutes. Public officers and employees shall be
143	reimbursed by their respective agencies in accordance with
144	chapter 112, Florida Statutes.
145	(7) The commission may select an executive director who
146	shall report to the commission and serve at its pleasure. The
147	Department of Environmental Protection shall provide other staff
148	and consultants after consultation with the commission. Funding
149	for these expenses shall be provided through the Department of
150	Environmental Protection.
151	(8) Each commission member may receive per diem and
152	expenses for travel, as provided in section 112.061, Florida
153	Statutes, while carrying out official business of the
154	commission.
155	(9) All agencies under the control of the Governor are
156	directed, and all other agencies are requested, to render
157	assistance and cooperation to the commission.
158	(10) The commission shall continue in existence until its
159	objectives are achieved, but not later than September 1, 2005.
160	Section 2. The sum of $250,000 is appropriated from the
161	General Revenue Fund to the Department of Environmental
162	Protection to implement this act.
163	Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.