HB 1405, Engrossed 1 2003
1	An act relating to water policy; repealing s.
2	373.0693(11), F.S.; deleting a provision requiring
3	legislative approval to abolish or combine basins existing
4	within the Southwest Florida Water Management District;
5	amending s. 373.0693, F.S.; authorizing basin board
6	boundaries within the Southwest Florida Water Management
7	District to be amended by governing board resolution;
8	amending s. 373.451, F.S.; revising legislative intent
9	with respect to the Surface Water Improvement and
10	Management Act; deleting requirement that state and local
11	funds be provided for certain purposes; amending s.
12	373.453, F.S.; revising criteria to be applied in
13	determining the priority of water bodies under surface
14	water and management plans and programs; providing for
15	periodic lists of water bodies of regional or statewide
16	significance; authorizing participation by additional
17	persons in the development of plans and programs; deleting
18	certain reporting requirements; requiring identification
19	of potential funding sources for the plans and programs;
20	requiring review of plans developed by water management
21	districts by various state agencies within a specified
22	time; deleting the requirement that state agencies be on
23	certain advisory committees; authorizing water management
24	districts to enter into contracts with governmental
25	agencies regarding the development and implementation of
26	water improvement and management programs; amending s.
27	373.459, F.S.; providing for appropriation of funds for
28	surface water improvement and management activities by
29	water management districts; providing for release of funds
30	by the Department of Environmental Protection; repealing
31	s. 373.455, F.S., relating to review of surface water
32	improvement and management plans; repealing s. 373.456,
33	F.S., relating to approval of surface water improvement
34	and management plans; repealing s. 373.457, F.S., relating
35	to implementation of surface water improvement and
36	management plans and programs; amending s. 373.079, F.S.;
37	relating to the hiring of legal staff in the water
38	management districts; amending ss. 259.101, 373.4136,
39	403.067, and 403.1835, F.S.; deleting cross references;
40	amending s. 373.2295, F.S.; redefining the term
41	“interdistrict transfer and use” to exclude transfers of
42	water within a single county; providing for criteria for
43	the issuance of permits for transfer of water from one
44	water management district to another within a single
45	county; validating and providing continued effect of
46	agreements between water management districts which were
47	entered into before the effective date of the act;
48	amending s. 373.069, F.S.; revising boundaries of the St.
49	Johns River and Southwest Florida Water Management
50	Districts; amending s. 373.0691, F.S.; providing for the
51	transfer of land and other incidentals from the St. Johns
52	River Water Management District to the Southwest Florida
53	Water Management District; amending s. 403.1837, F.S.;
54	removing the cap on the issuance of bonds by the Florida
55	Water Pollution Control Financing Corporation; deleting
56	obsolete language; providing an effective date.
57
58	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
59
60	Section 1. Subsection (11) of section 373.0693, Florida
61	Statutes, is amended to read:
62	373.0693 Basins; basin boards.--
63	(11)(a) Basins existing within the Southwest Florida Water
64	Management District, as described in rule 40D-0.061, Florida
65	Administrative Code, may not be abolished or combined without
66	the approval of the Legislature, except that the entire area
67	lying to the East of the Hillsborough County line and presently
68	located within the Hillsborough Basin is hereby annexed into the
69	Peace River Basin. Within the Southwest Florida Water Management
70	District, the entire area lying to the East of the Hillsborough
71	County line and presently located within the Alafia Basin is
72	hereby annexed into the Peace River Basin.
73	(b) Assets or liabilities of the basin located in those
74	areas transferred from the Hillsborough and Alafia Basins into
75	the Peace River Basin pursuant to this section, including funds
76	held in trust, shall be transferred to the Peace River Basin.
77	Section 2. Subsections (5), (7), and (8) of section
78	373.451, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
79	373.451 Short title; legislative findings and intent.--
80	(5) The Legislature finds that manysurface water problems
81	can be and have beencorrected and prevented through plans and
82	programs for surface water improvement and management that are
83	developedplanned, designed,and implemented by the water
84	management districts, the department,and local governments.
85	(7) It is also the intent of the Legislature that the
86	department, the water management districts, and othersshall
87	conduct or coordinate statewide research by the water management
88	districts or othersto provide a better scientific understanding
89	of the causes and effects of surface water pollution and of the
90	destruction of natural systems in order to improve and manage
91	surface waters and associated natural systems.
92	(8) The state, through the department, shall provide funds
93	to assist with the implementation of the district plans and
94	programs under this act. However, to achieve the goals of this
95	act, cooperation and funding is necessary from the state, the
96	water management districts, and local governments.
97	Section 3. Section 373.453, Florida Statutes, is amended
98	to read:
99	373.453 Surface water improvement and management plans and
100	programs.--
101	(1)(a) Each water management district, in cooperation with
102	the department, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
103	Services, the Department of Community Affairs, the Fish and
104	Wildlife Conservation Commission, and local governments, and
105	others, shall prepare and maintain a list that prioritizeswhich
106	shall prioritizewater bodies of regional or statewide
107	significance within theeachwater management district. The list
108	shall be reviewed and updated every 53 years. The list shall be
109	based on criteria adopted by rule of the department and shall
110	assign priorities to the water bodies based on their need for
111	protection and restoration.
112	(b) Criteria to be used in developing the listsdeveloped
113	by the department shall include, but neednot be limited to,
114	consideration of violations of water quality standards occurring
115	in the water body, the amounts of nutrients entering the water
116	body and the water body's trophic state, water bodies on the
117	department’s list of impaired waters, water bodies with
118	established total maximum daily loads,the existence of or need
119	for a continuous aquatic weed control program in the water body,
120	the biological condition of the water body, reduced fish and
121	wildlife values, andthreats to agricultural and urban water
122	supplies, threats toand public recreational opportunities, the
123	management of the water body through federal, state, or local
124	water quality programs or plans, and public input.
125	(c) In maintainingdeveloping their respective priority
126	water bodylists, water management districts shall give
127	consideration to the following priority areas:
128	1. The South Florida Water Management District shall give
129	priority to the restoration needs of Lake Okeechobee, Biscayne
130	Bay, the Lake Worth Lagoon,and the Indian River Lagoon system
131	and their tributaries.
132	2. The Southwest Florida Water Management District shall
133	give priority to the restoration needs of Tampa Bay and its
134	tributaries.
135	3. The St. Johns River Water Management District shall
136	give priority to the restoration needs of Lake Apopka, the Lower
137	St. Johns River, and the Indian River Lagoon system and their
138	tributaries.
139	(2) Unless otherwise provided by lawOnce the priority
140	lists are approved by the department, the water management
141	districts, in cooperation with state agencies,the department,
142	the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of
143	Community Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
144	Services, and local governments, and others, mayshalldevelop
145	surface water improvement and management plans and programsfor
146	the water bodies identifiedbased on the priority lists. The
147	department shall establish a uniform format for such plans and a
148	schedule for reviewing and updating the plans. These Plans
149	developed pursuant to this subsectionshall include, but not be
150	limited to:
151	(a) A description of the water body system, its historical
152	and current uses, its hydrology, and a history ofthe conditions
153	which have led to the need for restoration or protection;
154	(b) An identification of all governmental units that have
155	jurisdiction over the water body and its drainage basin within
156	the approved surface water improvement and management plan area,
157	including local, regional, state, and federal units;
158	(c) A description of land uses within the drainage basin
159	of the priority water bodywithin the approved surface water
160	improvement and management plan areaand those of important
161	tributaries, point and nonpoint sources of pollution, and
162	permitted discharge activities;
163	(d) IdentificationA list of the ownersof point and
164	nonpoint sources of water pollution that are discharged into the
165	each water body and its important tributariestributary thereto
166	and that adversely affect the public interest, including
167	separate lists of those sources that are:
168	1. Operating without a permit;
169	2. Operating with a temporary operating permit; and
170	3. Presently violating effluent limits or water quality
171	standards.
172
173	The plan shall also include recommendations and schedules for
174	bringing all sources into compliance with state standards when
175	not contrary to the public interest. This paragraph does not
176	authorize any existing or future violation of any applicable
177	statute, regulation, or permit requirement, and does not
178	diminish the authority of the department or the water management
179	district;
180	(e) A description of strategies and a schedule for related
181	management actionspotential strategiesfor restoring or
182	protecting the water body to Class III or better, including
183	those needed to help achieve state-adopted total maximum daily
184	loads for the water body;
185	(f) A listing of studies that are being or have been
186	prepared for the water body;
187	(g) A description of the research and feasibility studies
188	which will be performed to determine the particular strategy or
189	strategies to restore or protect the water body;
190	(f)(h) A description of the management actionsmeasures
191	needed to manage andmaintain the water body once it has been
192	restored and to prevent future degradation; and
193	(i) A schedule for restoration and protection of the water
194	body; and
195	(g)(j)An estimate of the funding needed to carry out the
196	restoration or protection strategies and a listing of available
197	and potential funding sources and amounts.
198	(3) Each water management district shall be responsible
199	for planning and coordinating restoration or protection
200	strategies for the priority water bodies within the district
201	which have been approved by the department as water bodies of
202	regional and statewide significance in need of protection or
203	restoration.The governing board of the appropriate water
204	management district shall hold at least one public hearing and
205	public workshopworkshops in the vicinity of a prioritythe
206	water body for which a plan is being developed to obtainunder
207	consideration as may be necessary for obtainingpublic input
208	prior to finalizing the surface water improvement and management
209	planplans for the water bodybodies on the priority list. The
210	water management district shall then forward a copy of the plan
211	plans to the department, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
212	Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
213	and to appropriate local governmental units for their review and
214	comment within 45 calendar days after the date the plan is
215	forwarded to them. The department shall specifically comment on
216	the likelihood that implementing the plan will significantly
217	improve or protect water quality and associated natural systems.
218	At the end of the 45-day review period, the water management
219	district may proceed to approve the plan, whether or not
220	comments have been submitted.
221	(4) Plans shall be updated as necessary to ensure that
222	they effectively address the restoration and protection needs of
223	the priority water bodies and that they reflect current
224	scientific understandings and budgetary adjustments. If a
225	district determines that modifications of or additions to a plan
226	are necessary, such modifications or additions shall be subject
227	to the review process established in this section.Each
228	September 1, the water management districts shall submit a
229	funding proposal for the next state fiscal year to the
230	department for its review and approval. The proposal shall
231	specify the activities that need state funding and the amounts
232	of funding, and shall describe the specific restoration or
233	protection activities proposed. The department shall review
234	water management district funding proposals and shall consider
235	them in making its annual budget request.
236	(5) The governing board of each water management district
237	is encouraged to appoint advisory committees as necessary to
238	assist in formulating and evaluating strategies for water body
239	protection and restoration activities and to increase public
240	awareness and intergovernmental cooperation. Such committees
241	should include representatives of the Fish and Wildlife
242	Conservation Commission, the Department of Agriculture and
243	Consumer Services, appropriate local governments, state and
244	federal agencies, existing advisory councils for the priority
245	subjectwater body, and representatives of the public who use
246	the water body.
247	(6) The water management districts may contract with
248	appropriate state, local, and regional agencies and others to
249	perform various tasks associated with the development and
250	implementation of thesurface water improvement and management
251	plans and programs.
252	Section 4. Section 373.459, Florida Statutes, is amended
253	to read:
254	373.459 Funds for surface water improvement and
255	management.--
256	(1) Legislative appropriations provided to the water
257	management districts for surface water improvement and
258	management activities shall be available for detailed planning
259	and plan and program implementation.
260	(2)(1)The Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund
261	shall be used for the deposit of funds appropriated by the
262	Legislature for the purposes of ss. 373.451-373.4595. The
263	department shall administer all funds appropriated to or
264	received for surface water improvement and management
265	activities. Expenditure of the moneys shall be limited to the
266	costs of detailed planning for and plan and program
267	implementation of programs prepared for priority surface water
268	bodieswaters. Moneys from the fund shall not be expended for
269	planning for, or construction or expansion of, treatment
270	facilities for domestic or industrial waste disposal.
271	(3)(2) The secretary of thedepartment shall authorize the
272	release of money from the fund in accordance with the provisions
273	of s. 373.501(2) and procedures in s. 373.59(4) and (5)within
274	30 days after receipt of a request adopted by the governing
275	board of a water management district or by the executive
276	director when authority has been delegated by the governing
277	board, certifying that the money is needed for detailed planning
278	for or implementation of plans approved pursuant to ss. 373.453,
279	373.455, and 373.456. A water management district may not
280	receive more than 50 percent of the moneys appropriated to the
281	fund for the purposes of ss. 373.451-373.4595 in any fiscal year
282	unless otherwise provided for by law. Each year after funds are
283	appropriated, each water management district shall receive the
284	amount requested pursuant to s. 373.453(4) or 10 percent of the
285	money appropriated for the purposes of ss. 373.451-373.4595,
286	whichever is less. The department shall allocate the remaining
287	money in the appropriation for such purposes annually, based
288	upon the specific needs of the districts. The department, at its
289	discretion, may include any funds allocated to a district for
290	such purposes in previous years which remain unencumbered by the
291	district on July 1, to the amount of money to be distributed
292	based upon specific needs of the districts.
293	(3) The amount of money that may be released to a water
294	management district from the fund for approved plans, or
295	continuations of approved plans, to improve and manage the
296	surface waters described in ss. 373.451-373.4595 is limited to
297	not more than 60 percent of the amount of money necessary for
298	the approved plans of the South Florida Water Management
299	District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and
300	the St. Johns River Water Management District, and not more than
301	80 percent of the amount of money necessary for the approved
302	plans of the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the
303	Suwannee River Water Management District. The remaining funds
304	necessary for the approved plans shall be provided by the
305	district.
306	(4) Moneys in the fund thatwhichare not needed to meet
307	current obligations incurred under this section shall be
308	transferred to the State Board of Administration, to the credit
309	of the trust fund, to be invested in the manner provided by law.
310	Interest received on such investments shall be credited to the
311	trust fund.
312	Section 5. Sections 373.455, 373.456, and 373.457, Florida
313	Statutes, are repealed.
314	Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 373.079, Florida
315	Statutes, is amended to read:
316	373.079 Members of governing board; oath of office;
317	staff.--
318	(5) The executive directorgoverning boardmay employ a
319	legal staff for the purposes of:
320	(a) Providing legal counsel to the governing board on
321	matters relating to the exercise of its powers and duties and to
322	the executive director and district staff on matters relating to
323	the day-to-day operations of the district;
324	(b) Representing the districtitin all proceedings of an
325	administrative or judicial nature; and
326	(c) Otherwise assisting in the administration of the
327	provisions of this chapter.
328
329	Attorneys employed by the governing boarddistrictmust
330	represent the legal interest or position of the governing board.
331	Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
332	259.101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
333	259.101 Florida Preservation 2000 Act.--
334	(3) LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENTED.--Less the
335	costs of issuance, the costs of funding reserve accounts, and
336	other costs with respect to the bonds, the proceeds of bonds
337	issued pursuant to this act shall be deposited into the Florida
338	Preservation 2000 Trust Fund created by s. 375.045. In fiscal
339	year 2000-2001, for each Florida Preservation 2000 program
340	described in paragraphs (a)-(g), that portion of each program's
341	total remaining cash balance which, as of June 30, 2000, is in
342	excess of that program's total remaining appropriation balances
343	shall be redistributed by the department and deposited into the
344	Save Our Everglades Trust Fund for land acquisition. For
345	purposes of calculating the total remaining cash balances for
346	this redistribution, the Florida Preservation 2000 Series 2000
347	bond proceeds, including interest thereon, and the fiscal year
348	1999-2000 General Appropriations Act amounts shall be deducted
349	from the remaining cash and appropriation balances,
350	respectively. The remaining proceeds shall be distributed by the
351	Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
352	(b) Thirty percent to the Department of Environmental
353	Protection for the purchase of water management lands pursuant
354	to s. 373.59, to be distributed among the water management
355	districts as provided in that section. Funds received by each
356	district may also be used for acquisition of lands necessary to
357	implement surface water improvement and management plans
358	approved in accordance with s. 373.456or for acquisition of
359	lands necessary to implement the Everglades Construction Project
360	authorized by s. 373.4592.
361
362	Local governments may use federal grants or loans, private
363	donations, or environmental mitigation funds, including
364	environmental mitigation funds required pursuant to s. 338.250,
365	for any part or all of any local match required for the purposes
366	described in this subsection. Bond proceeds allocated pursuant
367	to paragraph (c) may be used to purchase lands on the priority
368	lists developed pursuant to s. 259.035. Title to lands purchased
369	pursuant to paragraphs (a), (d), (e), (f), and (g) shall be
370	vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement
371	Trust Fund. Title to lands purchased pursuant to paragraph (c)
372	may be vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal
373	Improvement Trust Fund. The board of trustees shall hold title
374	to land protection agreements and conservation easements that
375	were or will be acquired pursuant to s. 380.0677, and the
376	Southwest Florida Water Management District and the St. Johns
377	River Water Management District shall monitor such agreements
378	and easements within their respective districts until the state
379	assumes this responsibility.
380	Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
381	373.4136, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
382	373.4136 Establishment and operation of mitigation
383	banks.--
384	(6) MITIGATION SERVICE AREA.--The department or water
385	management district shall establish a mitigation service area
386	for each mitigation bank permit. The department or water
387	management district shall notify and consider comments received
388	on the proposed mitigation service area from each local
389	government within the proposed mitigation service area. Except
390	as provided herein, mitigation credits may be withdrawn and used
391	only to offset adverse impacts in the mitigation service area.
392	The boundaries of the mitigation service area shall depend upon
393	the geographic area where the mitigation bank could reasonably
394	be expected to offset adverse impacts. Mitigation service areas
395	may overlap, and mitigation service areas for two or more
396	mitigation banks may be approved for a regional watershed.
397	(a) In determining the boundaries of the mitigation
398	service area, the department or the water management district
399	shall consider the characteristics, size, and location of the
400	mitigation bank and, at a minimum, the extent to which the
401	mitigation bank:
402	1. Contributes to a regional integrated ecological
403	network;
404	2. Will significantly enhance the water quality or
405	restoration of an offsite receiving water body that is
406	designated as an Outstanding Florida Water, a Wild and Scenic
407	River, an aquatic preserve, a water body designated in a plan
408	approvedadopted pursuant to s. 373.456 ofthe Surface Water
409	Improvement and Management Act, or a nationally designated
410	estuarine preserve;
411	3. Will provide for the long-term viability of endangered
412	or threatened species or species of special concern;
413	4. Is consistent with the objectives of a regional
414	management plan adopted or endorsed by the department or water
415	management districts; and
416	5. Can reasonably be expected to offset specific types of
417	wetland impacts within a specific geographic area. A mitigation
418	bank need not be able to offset all expected impacts within its
419	service area.
420	Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph
421	(a) of subsection (7) of section 403.067, Florida Statutes, are
422	amended to read:
423	403.067 Establishment and implementation of total maximum
424	daily loads.--
425	(3) ASSESSMENT.--
426	(b) The department shall adopt by rule a methodology for
427	determining those waters which are impaired. The rule shall
428	provide for consideration as to whether water quality standards
429	codified in chapter 62-302, Florida Administrative Code, are
430	being exceeded, based on objective and credible data, studies
431	and reports, including surface water improvement and management
432	plans approved by water management districts under s. 373.456
433	and pollutant load reduction goals developed according to
434	department rule. Such rule also shall set forth:
435	1. Water quality sample collection and analysis
436	requirements, accounting for ambient background conditions,
437	seasonal and other natural variations;
438	2. Approved methodologies;
439	3. Quality assurance and quality control protocols;
440	4. Data modeling; and
441	5. Other appropriate water quality assessment measures.
442	(7) IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS.--
443	(a) The department shall be the lead agency in
444	coordinating the implementation of the total maximum daily loads
445	through water quality protection programs. Application of a
446	total maximum daily load by a water management district shall be
447	consistent with this section and shall not require the issuance
448	of an order or a separate action pursuant to s. 120.536(1) or s.
449	120.54 for adoption of the calculation and allocation previously
450	established by the department. Such programs may include, but
451	are not limited to:
452	1. Permitting and other existing regulatory programs;
453	2. Nonregulatory and incentive-based programs, including
454	best management practices, cost sharing, waste minimization,
455	pollution prevention, and public education;
456	3. Other water quality management and restoration
457	activities, for example surface water improvement and management
458	plans approved by water management districts under s. 373.456or
459	watershed or basin management plans developed pursuant to this
460	subsection;
461	4. Pollutant trading or other equitable economically based
462	agreements;
463	5. Public works including capital facilities; or
464	6. Land acquisition.
465	Section 10. Paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
466	403.1835, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
467	403.1835 Water pollution control financial assistance.--
468	(7) Eligible projects must be given priority according to
469	the extent each project is intended to remove, mitigate, or
470	prevent adverse effects on surface or ground water quality and
471	public health. The relative costs of achieving environmental and
472	public health benefits must be taken into consideration during
473	the department's assignment of project priorities. The
474	department shall adopt a priority system by rule. In developing
475	the priority system, the department shall give priority to
476	projects that:
477	(e) Assist in the implementation of surface water
478	improvement and management plans approved under s. 373.456and
479	pollutant load reduction goals developed under state water
480	policy;
481	Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 373.2295, Florida
482	Statutes, is amended and subsection (14) is added to said
483	section to read:
484	373.2295 Interdistrict transfers of groundwater.--
485	(1) As used in this section, the term"interdistrict
486	transfer and use" means a consumptive water use thatwhich
487	involves the withdrawal of groundwater from a point within one
488	water management district for use outside the boundaries of that
489	district, but does not include a withdrawal and use within the
490	same county.
491	(14) In case of withdrawal of groundwater from a point
492	within one water management district for use outside the
493	boundaries of that district but within the same county, the
494	provisions of subsections (4), (11), and (13) shall apply, and
495	the district considering a permit application for such a
496	consumptive use shall apply the applicable provisions of this
497	chapter, and its rules to the withdrawal and use.
498	Section 12. Any agreements between water management
499	districts entered into before the effective date of this act
500	pursuant to s. 373.046, Florida Statutes, authorizing the
501	issuance of permits for the interdistrict withdrawal and use of
502	water within a county are validated and shall continue in effect
503	until otherwise rescinded.
504	Section 13. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (2) of
505	section 373.069, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
506	373.069 Creation of water management districts.--
507	(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other special or
508	general act to the contrary, the boundaries of the respective
509	districts named in subsection (1) shall include the areas within
510	the following boundaries:
511	(c) St. Johns River Water Management District.--Begin at
512	the intersection of the south boundary of Indian River County
513	with the Atlantic Ocean; thence west along the Indian River-St.
514	Lucie County line to the intersection of the west boundary of
515	St. Lucie County; thence south along the Okeechobee-St. Lucie
516	County line to the southeast corner of Section 1, Township 34
517	South, Range 36 East; thence west along the section line to the
518	northwest corner of Section 10, Township 34 South, Range 36
519	East; thence south along the section line to the southeast
520	corner of Section 9, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence
521	west along the section line to the northwest corner of Section
522	18, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence south along the
523	range line between Ranges 35 and 36 East to the southeast corner
524	of Section 12, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence west
525	along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 13,
526	Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence south along the section
527	line to the southeast corner of Section 35, Township 34 South,
528	Range 35 East; thence west along the township line between
529	Townships 34 and 35 south to the southwest corner of Section 35,
530	Township 34 South, Range 34 East; thence north along the section
531	line to the Okeechobee-Osceola County line; thence west along
532	the Okeechobee-Osceola County line to the southwest corner of
533	Section 34, Township 32 South, Range 33 East; thence north along
534	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township
535	31 South, Range 33 East; thence east along the township line
536	between Townships 30 and 31 South to the southeast corner of
537	Section 36, Township 30 South, Range 33 East; thence north along
538	the range line between Ranges 33 and 34 East to the northeast
539	corner of Section 1, Township 30 South, Range 33 East; thence
540	west along the township line between Townships 29 and 30 south
541	to the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 29 South, Range
542	33 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 32 and
543	33 East to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 28 South,
544	Range 33 East; thence east along the township line between
545	Townships 27 and 28 south to the southeast corner of Section 36,
546	Township 27 South, Range 32 East; thence north along the range
547	line between Ranges 32 and 33 East to the northeast corner of
548	Section 1, Township 26 South, Range 32 East; thence west along
549	the township line between Townships 25 and 26 South to the
550	southwest corner of Section 33, Township 25 South, Range 32
551	East; thence north along the section line to the Orange-Osceola
552	County line; thence westerly along the Orange-Osceola County
553	line to the Southwest corner of Section 31, Township 24 South,
554	Range 32 East; thence north along the range line to the
555	intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State Road
556	528, also known as the Bee Line Expressway; thence westerly
557	along the northerly right-of-way line of State Road 528 to the
558	intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State Road
559	528A; thence westerly along the northerly right-of-way line of
560	State Road 528A to the westerly right-of-way line of U.S.
561	Highway 441; thence northerly along the right-of-way line to the
562	section line between sections 22 and 27 of Township 22 South,
563	Range 29 East; thence west along the section lines to the
564	Northeast corner of Section 25, Township 22 South, Range 28
565	East; thence south along the range line between Ranges 28 and 29
566	East to the Southeast corner of Section 36, Township 22 South,
567	Range 28 East; thence west along the township line between
568	Townships 22 and 23 South to the Northeast corner of Section 2,
569	Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence south to the Southeast
570	corner of Section 11, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence
571	west along the section lines to the Southwest corner of Section
572	7, Township 23 South, Range 27 East, also being the Lake-Orange
573	County line; thence south along the range line between Ranges 26
574	and 27 East to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 26
575	South, Range 27 East; thence east along the section line to the
576	northeast corner of Section 19, township 26 South, Range 27
577	East; thence south along the section line to the southwest
578	corner of Section 32, Township 26 South, Range 27 East; thence
579	east along the township line between Townships 26 and 27 South
580	to the northeast corner of Section 5, Township 27 South, Range
581	27 East; thence south along the section lines to the southerly
582	right-of-way line of State Road 600; thence westerly along the
583	southerly right-of-way line of said State Road No. 600 to the
584	west boundary of Section 27, Township 27 South, Range 26 East;
585	thence north along the section lines to the northeast corner of
586	Section 16, Township 25 South, Range 26 East; thence west along
587	the section line to the southwest corner of Section 9, Township
588	25 South, Range 26 East; thence north along the section linesto
589	the Lake-Polk County line; thence west along the county line to
590	the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 24 South, Range 26
591	East; thence into Lake County, north along the section lines to
592	the northeast corner of Section 30, Township 24 South, Range 26
593	East; thence west along the section lines to the northeast
594	corner of Section 28, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence
595	north along the section lines to the northeast corner of Section
596	16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence west along the
597	section line to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 24
598	South, Range 25 East; thence north along the section line to the
599	northeast corner of Section 8, Township 24 South, Range 25 East;
600	thence west along the section lines to the range line between
601	Ranges 24 and 25; thence north along the range line to the
602	northeast corner of Section 1, Township 23 South, Range 24 East,
603	also being on the township line between Townships 22 and 23
604	South; thence west along the township line to the northwest
605	corner of Section 6, Township 23 South, Range 24 East, also
606	being on the Sumter-Lake County line; thence north along the
607	Sumter-Lake County line, also being the range line between
608	Ranges 23 and 24 East, to the northeast corner of Section 1,
609	Township 18 South, Range 23 East, and the Marion County line;
610	thence west along the Sumter-Marion County line, also being the
611	township line between Townships 17 and 18 South, to the westerly
612	right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75; thence northerly
613	along the westerly right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75 to
614	the Alachua-Marion County line, said line also being the
615	township line between Townships 11 and 12 South; thence west
616	along the Alachua-Marion County line to the northwest corner of
617	Section 3, Township 12 South, Range 19 East, and the Levy County
618	line; thence westerly along the Levy-Alachua County line, also
619	being the township line between Townships 11 and 12 South, to
620	the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11 South, Range 18
621	East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 18 and 19
622	East to the northwest corner of Section 19, Township 9 South,
623	Range 19 East; thence east along the section line to the
624	southeast corner of Section 13, Township 9 South, Range 19 East;
625	thence north along the range line between Ranges 19 and 20 East
626	to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 9 South, Range 20
627	East; thence easterly along the township line between Townships
628	8 and 9 South to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 8
629	South, Range 20 East; thence north along the range line between
630	Ranges 20 and 21 East to the northwest corner of Section 18,
631	Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence east along the section
632	line to the northeast corner of Section 15, Township 8 South,
633	Range 21 East; thence south along the section line to the
634	southwest corner of Section 23, Township 8 South, Range 21 East;
635	thence east along the section line to the northeast corner of
636	Section 26, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence south along
637	the section line to the southwest corner of the north 1/2 of
638	Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence east to the
639	northeast corner of the south 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8
640	South, Range 21 East; thence south along the range line between
641	Ranges 21 and 22 East to the southwest corner of Section 30,
642	Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence east along the section
643	line to the northeast corner of Section 32, Township 8 South,
644	Range 22 East; thence south along the section line to the
645	southwest corner of Section 16, Township 9 South, Range 22 East;
646	thence eastward along the section line to the southeast corner
647	of the west 1/8 of Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East;
648	thence northward to the northeast corner of the west 1/8 of
649	Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East; thence west to the
650	southwest corner of Section 7, Township 9 South, Range 23 East;
651	thence northward along the Bradford-Clay County line to the
652	northeast corner of Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 22 East;
653	thence west along the section line to the southwest corner of
654	the east 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 22 East;
655	thence north to the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section
656	24, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence west along the
657	section line to the southwest corner of Section 13, Township 8
658	South, Range 22 East; thence north along the section line to the
659	northwest corner of Section 25, Township 7 South, Range 22 East;
660	thence east along the section line to the Bradford-Clay County
661	line; thence north along the Bradford-Clay County line to the
662	intersection of the south boundary of Baker County; thence west
663	along the Baker-Bradford County line to the intersection of the
664	east boundary of Union County; thence west along the Baker-Union
665	County line to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 4
666	South, Range 20 East; thence north along the range line between
667	Ranges 19 and 20 East to the northeast corner of Section 1,
668	Township 3 South, Range 19 East; thence west along the township
669	line between Townships 2 and 3 South to the Baker-Columbia
670	County line; thence north along the Baker-Columbia County line
671	to the north boundary line of the State of Florida; thence
672	easterly along the Florida-Georgia line to the Atlantic Ocean;
673	thence southerly along the Atlantic Ocean, including the waters
674	of said ocean within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida to
675	the point of beginning.
676	(d) Southwest Florida Water Management District.--Begin at
677	the intersection of the north boundary of Lee County with the
678	Gulf of Mexico; thence eastward along the Lee-Charlotte County
679	line to the Southeast corner of Section 33, Township 42 South,
680	Range 24 East; thence North into Charlotte County, along the
681	section lines to the Northeast corner of Section 4, Township 42
682	South, Range 24 East; thence East along the township line
683	between Townships 41 and 42 South to the Southeast corner of
684	Section 36, Township 41 South, Range 25 East; thence north along
685	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township
686	41 South, Range 26 East; thence east along the section line to
687	the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 40 South, Range 26
688	East; thence North along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27
689	to the Northeast corner of Section 1, Township 40 South, Range
690	26 East, and the Charlotte-Desoto County line; thence east along
691	the Charlotte-Desoto County line to the southeast corner of
692	Section 36, Township 39 South, Range 27 East; thence north along
693	the DeSoto-Highlands County line to the intersection of the
694	South boundary of Hardee County; thence north along the Hardee-
695	Highlands County line to the southwest corner of Township 35
696	South, Range 28 East; thence east along the north boundary of
697	Township 36 South to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township
698	36 South, Range 28 East; thence south along the range line to
699	the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 37 South, Range 28
700	East; thence east along the section line to the northeast corner
701	of Section 15, Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence south
702	along the section line to the southeast corner of Section 34,
703	Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence east along the township
704	line to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 38 South,
705	Range 29 East; thence south along the range line to the
706	southeast corner of Section 1, Township 39 South, Range 29 East;
707	thence east along the section line to the northwest corner of
708	Section 11, Township 39 South, Range 30 East; thence north along
709	the section line to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township
710	38 South, Range 30 East; thence east along the township line to
711	the southeast corner of the west 1/4 of Section 35, Township 38
712	South, Range 30 East; thence north along the 1/4-section line of
713	Sections 35, 26, and 23, Township 38 South, Range 30 East to the
714	northeast corner of the west 1/4 section of Section 23, Township
715	38 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the section line to
716	the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 38 South, Range 30
717	East; thence north along the section line to the northwest
718	corner of Section 2, Township 37 South, Range 30 East; thence
719	west along the township line to the southwest corner of Section
720	34, Township 36 South, Range 30 East; thence north along the
721	section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 36
722	South, Range 30 East; thence west along the township line to the
723	southwest corner of Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 30
724	East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 29 and 30
725	East, through Townships 35, 34, and 33 South, to the northeast
726	corner of Township 33 South, Range 29 East, being on the
727	Highlands-Polk County line; thence west along the Highlands-Polk
728	County line to the southeast corner of Township 32 South, Range
729	28 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 28 and
730	29 East, in Townships 32 and 31 South, to the northeast corner
731	of Section 12 in Township 31 South, Range 28 East; thence east
732	along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 7,
733	Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence north along the section
734	line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 30 South,
735	Range 29 East; thence east along the section line to the
736	northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 17, Township 30
737	South, Range 29 East; thence north along the 1/2-section line to
738	the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 5, Township 30
739	South, Range 29 East; thence west along the section line to the
740	southwest corner of Section 32, Township 29 South, Range 29
741	East; thence north along the section line to the northeast
742	corner of Section 19 in Township 29 South, Range 29 East; thence
743	west along the north boundaries of Section 19, Township 29
744	South, Range 29 East, and Sections 24, 23, 22, 21, and 20,
745	Township 29 South, Range 28 East, to the northwest corner of
746	said Section 20; thence north along the section line to the
747	intersection of said section line with the west shore line of
748	Lake Pierce in Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence
749	following the west shore of Lake Pierce to its intersection
750	again with the west section line of Section 5, Township 29
751	South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the
752	northwest corner of Section 5, Township 29 South, Range 28 East;
753	thence east along the township line to the southwest corner of
754	Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along
755	the section line to the northwest corner of the southwest 1/4 of
756	the southwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28
757	East; thence east along the 1/4-section line to the intersection
758	of said 1/4-section line with Lake Pierce; thence follow the
759	shore line northeasterly to its intersection with the 1/2-section
760	line of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence
761	north on the 1/2-section line to the northwest corner of the
762	southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East;
763	thence east to the northeast corner of the southeast 1/4 of
764	Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence south along
765	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township
766	29 South, Range 28 East; thence east along the section line to
767	the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28
768	East; thence north along the section line to the northwest
769	corner of Section 23, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence
770	west along the section line to the southwest corner of Section
771	16, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along the
772	section line to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 28
773	South, Range 28 East; thence west along the section line to the
774	southwest corner of Section 8, Township 28 South, Range 28 East;
775	thence north along the section line to the northwest corner of
776	Section 5, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along
777	the township line to the intersection of said township line with
778	Lake Marion; thence following the south shore line of Lake
779	Marion to its intersection again with said township line; thence
780	west along the township line to the southeast corner of Section
781	36, Township 37 South, Range 27 East; thence north along the
782	range line between Ranges 27 and 28 East to the intersection of
783	said range line with Lake Marion; thence following the west
784	shore of Lake Marion to its intersection again with the range
785	line between Ranges 27 and 28 East; thence north along said
786	range line, in Townships 27 and 26 South, to the northeast
787	corner of Township 26 South, Range 27 East, being on the Polk-
788	Osceola County line; thence west along the Polk-Osceola County
789	line to the northwest corner of Township 26 South, Range 27
790	East; thence south along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27
791	East to the southwest corner of Section 18 in Township 26 South,
792	Range 27 East; thence east along the section line to the
793	southeast corner of said Section 18; thence south along the
794	section lines to the southwest corner of Section 32 in Township
795	26 South, Range 27 East; thence east along the section line to
796	the southeast corner of said Section 32; thence south along the
797	section lines to the southerly right-of-way line of State Road
798	600 (U.S. Route 17 and 92) in Township 27 South, Range 27 East;
799	thence westerly along the southerly right-of-way line of said
800	State Road No. 600 to the West boundary of Section 27, Township
801	27 South, Range 26 East; thence north along the section line to
802	the northeast corner of Section 16, Township 25 South, Range 26
803	East; thence west along the section line to the southwest corner
804	of Section 9, Township 25 South, Range 26 East;thence north
805	along the section line to the Lake-Polk County line; thence west
806	along the county line to the southwest corner of Section 32,
807	Township 24 South, Range 26 East; thence into Lake County, north
808	along the section lines to the northeast corner of Section 30,
809	Township 24 South, Range 26 East; thence west along the section
810	lines to the northeast corner of Section 28, Township 24 South,
811	Range 25 East; thence north along the section lines to the
812	northeast corner of Section 16, Township 24 South, Range 25
813	East; thence west along the section line to the northwest corner
814	of Section 16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence north
815	along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 8,
816	Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence west along the section
817	lines to the range line between Ranges 24 and 25; thence north
818	along the range line to the northeast corner of Section 1,
819	Township 23 South, Range 24 East, also being on the township
820	line between Townships 22 and 23 South; thence west along the
821	township line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 23
822	South, Range 24 East also being on the Sumter-Lake County line;
823	thence north along the Sumter-Lake County line, also being the
824	range line between Ranges 23 and 24, to the northeast corner of
825	Section 1, Township 18 South, Range 23 East and the Marion
826	County line; thence west, along the Sumter-Marion County line,
827	also being the township line between Townships 17 and 18 South,
828	to the westerly right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75;
829	thence northerly along the westerly right-of-way line of
830	Interstate Highway 75 to the Alachua-Marion County line, said
831	line also being the township line between Townships 11 and 12
832	South; thence west along the Alachua-Marion County line to the
833	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12 South, Range 19 East
834	and the Levy County line; thence westerly along the Levy-Alachua
835	County line, also being the township line between Townships 11
836	and 12 South, to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11
837	South, Range 17 East; thence north along the Levy-Alachua County
838	line, also being the range line between Ranges 17 and 18 East,
839	to the southerly right-of-way line of State Road No. 24; thence
840	southwesterly along said southerly right-of-way line to the
841	easterly right-of-way line of State Road No. 337; thence
842	southerly, along said easterly right-of-way line of State Road
843	No. 337, to the south line of Section 35, Township 14 South,
844	Range 17 East; thence west along the section line to the
845	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 15 South, Range 17 East;
846	thence south along the section lines to the southwest corner of
847	Section 27, Township 15 South, Range 17 East; thence west to the
848	Gulf of Mexico; thence south along the Gulf of Mexico, including
849	the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of
850	Florida, to the point of beginning.
851	Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 373.0691, Florida
852	Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (3), and a new subsection
853	(2) is added to said section, to read:
854	373.0691 Transfer of areas.--
855	(2) Effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2003, that portion
856	of Polk County formerly within the St. Johns River Water
857	Management District as set forth in s. 373.069 is transferred to
858	the Southwest Florida Water Management District. With respect to
859	the area transferred and at the time of change of boundaries,
860	all contractual obligations of the St. Johns River Water
861	Management District, all real property interests owned by the
862	St. Johns River Water Management District, all regulatory
863	responsibilities of the St. Johns River Water Management
864	District, all equipment and other personal property used solely
865	by the St. Johns River Water Management District in that area,
866	and all records of the St. Johns River Water Management District
867	shall be transferred and delivered to the Southwest Florida
868	Water Management District.
869	Section 15. Subsection (6) of section 403.1837, Florida
870	Statutes, is amended to read:
871	403.1837 Florida Water Pollution Control Financing
872	Corporation.--
873	(6) The corporation may issue and incur notes, bonds,
874	certificates of indebtedness, or other obligations or evidences
875	of indebtedness payable from and secured by amounts received
876	from payment of loans and other moneys received by the
877	corporation, including, but not limited to, amounts payable to
878	the corporation by the department under a service contract
879	entered into under subsection (5). The corporation may not issue
880	bonds in excess of an amount authorized by general law or an
881	appropriations act except to refund previously issued bonds. The
882	corporation may issue bonds in amounts not exceeding $50 million
883	in fiscal year 2000-2001, $75 million in fiscal year 2001-2002,
884	and $100 million in fiscal year 2002-2003.The proceeds of the
885	bonds may be used for the purpose of providing funds for
886	projects and activities provided for in subsection (1) or for
887	refunding bonds previously issued by the corporation. The
888	corporation may select a financing team and issue obligations
889	through competitive bidding or negotiated contracts, whichever
890	is most cost-effective. Any such indebtedness of the corporation
891	does not constitute a debt or obligation of the state or a
892	pledge of the faith and credit or taxing power of the state.
893	Section 16. Except as otherwise provided herein, this act
894	shall take effect upon becoming a law.
895