Senate Bill sb0956

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                   SB 956

    By Senator Jones





    13-199A-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to liability under the

  3         drycleaning solvent cleanup program; amending

  4         s. 376.301, F.S.; defining the term "nearby

  5         real property owner" with respect to protection

  6         and restoration of lands and surface and ground

  7         waters; amending s. 376.3078, F.S.; providing

  8         additional legislative findings with respect to

  9         drycleaning facility restoration; exempting

10         certain real property owners and nearby real

11         property owners from liability for damages

12         arising from contamination by drycleaning

13         solvents in certain circumstances; providing

14         for retroactive application; amending s.

15         376.30781, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;

16         amending s. 376.3079, F.S.; redefining the term

17         "third-party liability" with respect to

18         third-party liability insurance; amending s.

19         376.308, F.S.; revising applicability of

20         provisions that set out liabilities and

21         defenses of facilities; amending s. 376.313,

22         F.S.; revising provisions that provide

23         nonexclusiveness of remedies and individual

24         causes of action; providing an effective date.

25  

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

27  

28         Section 1.  Subsection (47) is added to section

29  376.301, Florida Statutes, to read:

30         376.301  Definitions of terms used in ss.

31  376.30-376.319, 376.70, and 376.75.--When used in ss.

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 1  376.30-376.319, 376.70, and 376.75, unless the context clearly

 2  requires otherwise, the term:

 3         (47)  "Nearby real property owner" means the individual

 4  or entity that is vested with ownership, dominion, or legal or

 5  rightful title to real property, or that has a ground lease in

 6  real property, onto which drycleaning solvent has migrated

 7  through soil or groundwater from a drycleaning facility or

 8  wholesale supply facility eligible for site rehabilitation

 9  under s. 376.3078(3) or from a drycleaning facility or

10  wholesale supply facility that is approved by the department

11  for voluntary cleanup under s. 376.3078(11).

12         Section 2.  Subsections (1), (3), and (11) of section

13  376.3078, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

14         376.3078  Drycleaning facility restoration; funds;

15  uses; liability; recovery of expenditures.--

16         (1)  FINDINGS.--In addition to the legislative findings

17  set forth in s. 376.30, the Legislature finds and declares

18  that:

19         (a)  Significant quantities of drycleaning solvents

20  have been discharged in the past at drycleaning facilities as

21  part of the normal operation of these facilities.

22         (b)  Discharges of drycleaning solvents at such

23  drycleaning facilities have occurred and are occurring, and

24  pose a significant threat to the quality of the groundwaters

25  and inland surface waters of this state.

26         (c)  Where contamination of the groundwater or surface

27  water has occurred, remedial measures have often been delayed

28  for long periods while determinations as to liability and the

29  extent of liability are made, and such delays result in the

30  continuation and intensification of the threat to the public

31  health, safety, and welfare; in greater damage to the

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 1  environment; and in significantly higher costs to contain and

 2  remove the contamination.

 3         (d)  Adequate financial resources must be readily

 4  available to provide for the expeditious supply of safe and

 5  reliable alternative sources of potable water to affected

 6  persons and to provide a means for investigation and

 7  rehabilitation of contaminated sites without delay.

 8         (e)  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

 9  real property owners to undertake the voluntary cleanup of

10  property contaminated with drycleaning solvents and that the

11  immunity provisions of this section and all other available

12  defenses be construed in favor of real property owners.

13         (f)  Strong public interests are served by subsections

14  (3) and (11). These include improving the marketability and

15  use of, and the ability to borrow funds as to, property

16  contaminated by drycleaning solvents and encouraging the

17  voluntary remediation of contaminated sites. The extent to

18  which claims or rights are affected by subsections (3) and

19  (11) is offset by the remedies created in this section. The

20  limitations imposed by these subsections on such claims or

21  rights are reasonable when balanced against the public

22  interests served. The claims or rights affected by subsections

23  (3) and (11) are speculative, and these subsections are

24  intended to prevent judicial interpretations allowing windfall

25  awards that thwart the public-interest provisions of this

26  section.

27         (3)  REHABILITATION LIABILITY.--

28         (a)  In accordance with the eligibility provisions of

29  this section, a no real property owner, nearby real property

30  owner, or no person who owns or operates, or who otherwise

31  could be liable as a result of the operation of, a drycleaning

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 1  facility or a wholesale supply facility is not liable for or

 2  shall be subject to:

 3         1.  Claims of any person, except for any governmental

 4  entity, for property damage of any kind, including, but not

 5  limited to, diminished value of real property or improvements;

 6  lost or delayed rent, sale, or use of real property or

 7  improvements; or stigma to real property or improvements

 8  caused by drycleaning-solvent contamination; or

 9         2.  Administrative or judicial action brought by or on

10  behalf of any state or local government or agency thereof or

11  by or on behalf of any person to compel rehabilitation or pay

12  for the costs of rehabilitation of environmental contamination

13  resulting from the discharge of drycleaning solvents.

14  

15  Subject to the delays that may occur as a result of the

16  prioritization of sites under this section for any qualified

17  site, costs for activities described in paragraph (2)(b) shall

18  be absorbed at the expense of the drycleaning facility

19  restoration funds, without recourse to reimbursement or

20  recovery from the real property owner, nearby real property

21  owner, or the owner or operator of the drycleaning facility or

22  the wholesale supply facility. Notwithstanding any other

23  provision of this chapter, this subsection applies to causes

24  of action accruing on or after the effective date of this act

25  and applies retroactively to causes of action accruing before

26  the effective date of this act for which a lawsuit has not

27  been filed before the effective date of this act.

28         (b)(a)  With regard to drycleaning facilities or

29  wholesale supply facilities that have operated as drycleaning

30  facilities or wholesale supply facilities on or after October

31  1, 1994, any such drycleaning facility or wholesale supply

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 1  facility at which there exists contamination by drycleaning

 2  solvents shall be eligible under this subsection regardless of

 3  when the drycleaning contamination was discovered, provided

 4  that the drycleaning facility or the wholesale supply

 5  facility:

 6         1.  Has been registered with the department;

 7         2.  Is determined by the department to be in compliance

 8  with the department's rules regulating drycleaning solvents,

 9  drycleaning facilities, or wholesale supply facilities on or

10  after November 19, 1980;

11         3.  Has not been operated in a grossly negligent manner

12  at any time on or after November 19, 1980;

13         4.  Has not been identified to qualify for listing, nor

14  is listed, on the National Priority List pursuant to the

15  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

16  Liability Act of 1980 as amended by the Superfund Amendments

17  and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and as subsequently amended;

18         5.  Is not under an order from the United States

19  Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to s. 3008(h) of the

20  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act as amended (42 U.S.C.A.

21  s. 6928(h)), or has not obtained and is not required to obtain

22  a permit for the operation of a hazardous waste treatment,

23  storage, or disposal facility, a postclosure permit, or a

24  permit pursuant to the federal Hazardous and Solid Waste

25  Amendments of 1984;

26  

27  and provided that the real property owner or the owner or

28  operator of the drycleaning facility or the wholesale supply

29  facility has not willfully concealed the discharge of

30  drycleaning solvents and has remitted all taxes due pursuant

31  to ss. 376.70 and 376.75, has provided documented evidence of

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 1  contamination by drycleaning solvents as required by the rules

 2  developed pursuant to this section, has reported the

 3  contamination prior to December 31, 1998, and has not denied

 4  the department access to the site.

 5         (c)(b)  With regard to drycleaning facilities or

 6  wholesale supply facilities that cease to be operated as

 7  drycleaning facilities or wholesale supply facilities prior to

 8  October 1, 1994, such facilities, at which there exists

 9  contamination by drycleaning solvents, shall be eligible under

10  this subsection regardless of when the contamination was

11  discovered, provided that the drycleaning facility or

12  wholesale supply facility:

13         1.  Was not determined by the department, within a

14  reasonable time after the department's discovery, to have been

15  out of compliance with the department rules regulating

16  drycleaning solvents, drycleaning facilities, or wholesale

17  supply facilities implemented at any time on or after November

18  19, 1980;

19         2.  Was not operated in a grossly negligent manner at

20  any time on or after November 19, 1980;

21         3.  Has not been identified to qualify for listing, nor

22  is listed, on the National Priority List pursuant to the

23  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

24  Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments

25  and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and as subsequently amended;

26  and

27         4.  Is not under an order from the United States

28  Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to s. 3008(h) of the

29  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, or has not

30  obtained and is not required to obtain a permit for the

31  operation of a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal

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 1  facility, a postclosure permit, or a permit pursuant to the

 2  federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984;

 3  

 4  and provided that the real property owner or the owner or

 5  operator of the drycleaning facility or the wholesale supply

 6  facility has not willfully concealed the discharge of

 7  drycleaning solvents, has provided documented evidence of

 8  contamination by drycleaning solvents as required by the rules

 9  developed pursuant to this section, has reported the

10  contamination prior to December 31, 1998, and has not denied

11  the department access to the site.

12         (d)(c)  For purposes of determining eligibility, a

13  drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility was operated

14  in a grossly negligent manner if the department determines

15  that the owner or operator of the drycleaning facility or the

16  wholesale supply facility:

17         1.  Willfully discharged drycleaning solvents onto the

18  soils or into the waters of the state after November 19, 1980,

19  with the knowledge, intent, and purpose that the discharge

20  would result in harm to the environment or to public health or

21  result in a violation of the law;

22         2.  Willfully concealed a discharge of drycleaning

23  solvents with the knowledge, intent, and purpose that the

24  concealment would result in harm to the environment or to

25  public health or result in a violation of the law; or

26         3.  Willfully violated a local, state, or federal law

27  or rule regulating the operation of drycleaning facilities or

28  wholesale supply facilities with the knowledge, intent, and

29  purpose that the act would result in harm to the environment

30  or to public health or result in a violation of the law.

31  

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 1         (e)(d)1.  With respect to eligible drycleaning solvent

 2  contamination reported to the department as part of a

 3  completed application as required by the rules developed

 4  pursuant to this section by June 30, 1997, the costs of

 5  activities described in paragraph (2)(b) shall be absorbed at

 6  the expense of the drycleaning facility restoration funds,

 7  less a $1,000 deductible per incident, which shall be paid by

 8  the applicant or current property owner. The deductible shall

 9  be paid within 60 days after receipt of billing by the

10  department.

11         2.  For contamination reported to the department as

12  part of a completed application as required by the rules

13  developed under this section, from July 1, 1997, through

14  September 30, 1998, the costs shall be absorbed at the expense

15  of the drycleaning facility restoration funds, less a $5,000

16  deductible per incident. The deductible shall be paid within

17  60 days after receipt of billing by the department.

18         3.  For contamination reported to the department as

19  part of a completed application as required by the rules

20  developed pursuant to this section from October 1, 1998,

21  through December 31, 1998, the costs shall be absorbed at the

22  expense of the drycleaning facility restoration funds, less a

23  $10,000 deductible per incident. The deductible shall be paid

24  within 60 days after receipt of billing by the department.

25         4.  For contamination reported after December 31, 1998,

26  no costs will be absorbed at the expense of the drycleaning

27  facility restoration funds.

28         (f)(e)  The provisions of this subsection shall not

29  apply to any site where the department has been denied site

30  access to implement the provisions of this section.

31  

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 1         (g)(f)  In order to identify those drycleaning

 2  facilities and wholesale supply facilities that have

 3  experienced contamination resulting from the discharge of

 4  drycleaning solvents and to ensure the most expedient

 5  rehabilitation of such sites, the owners and operators of

 6  drycleaning facilities and wholesale supply facilities are

 7  encouraged to detect and report contamination from drycleaning

 8  solvents related to the operation of drycleaning facilities

 9  and wholesale supply facilities.  The department shall

10  establish reasonable guidelines for the written reporting of

11  drycleaning contamination and shall distribute forms to

12  registrants under s. 376.303(1)(d), and to other interested

13  parties upon request, to be used for such purpose.

14         (h)(g)  A report of drycleaning solvent contamination

15  at a drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility made to

16  the department by any person in accordance with this

17  subsection, or any rules promulgated pursuant hereto, may not

18  be used directly as evidence of liability for such discharge

19  in any civil or criminal trial arising out of the discharge.

20         (i)(h)  The provisions of this subsection shall not

21  apply to drycleaning facilities owned or operated by the state

22  or Federal Government.

23         (j)(i)  Due to the value of Florida's potable water, it

24  is the intent of the Legislature that the department initiate

25  and facilitate as many cleanups as possible utilizing the

26  resources of the state, local governments, and the private

27  sector. The department is authorized to adopt necessary rules

28  and enter into contracts to carry out the intent of this

29  subsection and to limit or prevent future contamination from

30  the operation of drycleaning facilities and wholesale supply

31  facilities.

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 1         (k)(j)  It is not the intent of the Legislature that

 2  the state become the owner or operator of a drycleaning

 3  facility or wholesale supply facility by engaging in

 4  state-conducted cleanup.

 5         (l)(k)  The owner, operator, and either the real

 6  property owner or agent of the real property owner may apply

 7  for the Drycleaning Contamination Cleanup Program by jointly

 8  submitting a completed application package to the department

 9  pursuant to the rules that shall be adopted by the department.

10  If the application cannot be jointly submitted, then the

11  applicant shall provide notice of the application to other

12  interested parties. After reviewing the completed application

13  package, the department shall notify the applicant in writing

14  as to whether the drycleaning facility or wholesale supply

15  facility is eligible for the program. If the department denies

16  eligibility for a completed application package, the notice of

17  denial shall specify the reasons for the denial, including

18  specific and substantive findings of fact, and shall

19  constitute agency action subject to the provisions of chapter

20  120.  For the purposes of ss. 120.569 and 120.57, the real

21  property owner and the owner and operator of a drycleaning

22  facility or wholesale supply facility which is the subject of

23  a decision by the department with regard to eligibility shall

24  be deemed to be parties whose substantial interests are

25  determined by the department's decision to approve or deny

26  eligibility.

27         (m)(l)  Eligibility under this subsection applies to

28  the drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility, and

29  attendant site rehabilitation applies to such facilities and

30  to any place where drycleaning-solvent contamination migrating

31  from the eligible facility is found.  A determination of

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 1  eligibility or ineligibility shall not be affected by any

 2  conveyance of the ownership of the drycleaning facility,

 3  wholesale supply facility, or the real property on which such

 4  facility is located.  Nothing contained in this chapter shall

 5  be construed to allow a drycleaning facility or wholesale

 6  supply facility which would not be eligible under this

 7  subsection to become eligible as a result of the conveyance of

 8  the ownership of the ineligible drycleaning facility or

 9  wholesale supply facility to another owner.

10         (n)(m)  If funding for the drycleaning contamination

11  rehabilitation program is eliminated, the provisions of this

12  subsection shall not apply.

13         (o)(n)1.  The department shall have the authority to

14  cancel the eligibility of any drycleaning facility or

15  wholesale supply facility that submits fraudulent information

16  in the application package or that fails to continuously

17  comply with the conditions of eligibility set forth in this

18  subsection, or has not remitted all fees pursuant to s.

19  376.303(1)(d), or has not remitted the deductible payments

20  pursuant to paragraph (e) (d).

21         2.  If the program eligibility of a drycleaning

22  facility or wholesale supply facility is subject to

23  cancellation pursuant to this section, then the department

24  shall notify the applicant in writing of its intent to cancel

25  program eligibility and shall state the reason or reasons for

26  cancellation. The applicant shall have 45 days to resolve the

27  reason or reasons for cancellation to the satisfaction of the

28  department.  If, after 45 days, the applicant has not resolved

29  the reason or reasons for cancellation to the satisfaction of

30  the department, the order of cancellation shall become final

31  and shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 120.

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 1         (p)(o)  A real property owner shall not be subject to

 2  administrative or judicial action brought by or on behalf of

 3  any person or local or state government, or agency thereof,

 4  for gross negligence or violations of department rules prior

 5  to January 1, 1990, which resulted from the operation of a

 6  drycleaning facility, provided that the real property owner

 7  demonstrates that:

 8         1.  The real property owner had ownership in the

 9  property at the time of the gross negligence or violation of

10  department rules and did not cause or contribute to

11  contamination on the property;

12         2.  The real property owner was a distinct and separate

13  entity from the owner and operator of the drycleaning

14  facility, and did not have an ownership interest in or share

15  in the profits of the drycleaning facility;

16         3.  The real property owner did not participate in the

17  operation or management of the drycleaning facility;

18         4.  The real property owner complied with all discharge

19  reporting requirements, and did not conceal any contamination;

20  and

21         5.  The department has not been denied access.

22  

23  The defense provided by this paragraph does not apply to any

24  liability under a federally delegated program.

25         (q)(p)  A person whose property becomes contaminated

26  due to geophysical or hydrologic reasons from the operation of

27  a nearby drycleaning or wholesale supply facility and whose

28  property has never been occupied by a business that utilized

29  or stored drycleaning solvents or similar constituents is not

30  subject to administrative or judicial action brought by or on

31  behalf of another to compel the rehabilitation of or the

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 1  payment of the costs for the rehabilitation of sites

 2  contaminated by drycleaning solvents, provided that the

 3  person:

 4         1.  Does not own and has never held an ownership

 5  interest in, or shared in the profits of, the drycleaning

 6  facility operated at the source location;

 7         2.  Did not participate in the operation or management

 8  of the drycleaning facility at the source location; and

 9         3.  Did not cause, contribute to, or exacerbate the

10  release or threat of release of any hazardous substance

11  through any act or omission.

12  

13  The defense provided by this paragraph does not apply to any

14  liability under a federally delegated program.

15         (r)(q)  Nothing in this subsection precludes the

16  department from considering information and documentation

17  provided by private consultants, local government programs,

18  federal agencies, or any individual which is relevant to an

19  eligibility determination if the department provides the

20  applicant with reasonable access to the information and its

21  origin.

22         (11)  VOLUNTARY CLEANUP.--A real property owner is

23  authorized to conduct site rehabilitation activities at any

24  time pursuant to department rules, either through agents of

25  the real property owner or through responsible response action

26  contractors or subcontractors, whether or not the facility has

27  been determined by the department to be eligible for the

28  drycleaning solvent cleanup program.  A real property owner or

29  any other person who that conducts site rehabilitation may not

30  seek cost recovery from the department or the Water Quality

31  Assurance Trust Fund for any such rehabilitation activities. A

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 1  real property owner who that voluntarily conducts such site

 2  rehabilitation, whether commenced before or on or after

 3  October 1, 1995, shall be immune from and have no liability

 4  for claims of any person, except for any governmental entity,

 5  for property damages of any kind, including, but not limited

 6  to, diminished value of real property or improvements; lost or

 7  delayed rent, sale, or use of real property or improvements;

 8  or stigma to real property or improvements caused by

 9  drycleaning-solvent contamination or be subject to any

10  administrative or judicial action brought by or on behalf of

11  to any person, state or local government, or agency thereof to

12  compel or enjoin site rehabilitation or pay for the cost of

13  rehabilitation of environmental contamination, and or to pay

14  any fines or penalties regarding rehabilitation, as soon as

15  the real property owner:

16         (a)  Conducts contamination assessment and site

17  rehabilitation consistent with state and federal laws and

18  rules;

19         (b)  Conducts such site rehabilitation in a timely

20  manner according to a rehabilitation schedule approved by the

21  department; and

22         (c)  Does not deny the department access to the site.

23  Upon completion of such site rehabilitation activities in

24  accordance with the requirements of this subsection, the

25  department shall render a site rehabilitation completion

26  order.

27  

28  The immunity set forth in this subsection also applies to any

29  nearby real property owner. This immunity shall continue to

30  apply to any real property owner who transfers, conveys,

31  leases, or sells property on which a drycleaning facility is

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 1  located so long as the voluntary cleanup activities continue.

 2  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, this

 3  subsection applies to causes of action accruing on or after

 4  the effective date of this act and applies retroactively to

 5  causes of action accruing before the effective date of this

 6  act for which a lawsuit has not been filed before the

 7  effective date of this act.

 8         Section 3.  Subsection (4) of section 376.30781,

 9  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

10         376.30781  Partial tax credits for rehabilitation of

11  drycleaning-solvent-contaminated sites and brownfield sites in

12  designated brownfield areas; application process; rulemaking

13  authority; revocation authority.--

14         (4)  To claim the credit, each applicant must apply to

15  the Department of Environmental Protection for an allocation

16  of the $2 million annual credit by December 31 on a form

17  developed by the Department of Environmental Protection in

18  cooperation with the Department of Revenue. The form shall

19  include an affidavit from each applicant certifying that all

20  information contained in the application, including all

21  records of costs incurred and claimed in the tax credit

22  application, are true and correct. If the application is

23  submitted pursuant to subparagraph (2)(a)2., the form must

24  include an affidavit signed by the real property owner stating

25  that it is not, and has never been, the owner or operator of

26  the drycleaning facility where the contamination exists.

27  Approval of partial tax credits must be accomplished on a

28  first-come, first-served basis based upon the date complete

29  applications are received by the Division of Waste Management.

30  An applicant shall submit only one application per site per

31  year. To be eligible for a tax credit the applicant must:

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 1         (a)  Have entered into a voluntary cleanup agreement

 2  with the Department of Environmental Protection for a

 3  drycleaning-solvent-contaminated site or a Brownfield Site

 4  Rehabilitation Agreement, as applicable; and

 5         (b)  Have paid all deductibles pursuant to s.

 6  376.3078(3)(e) s. 376.3078(3)(d) for eligible

 7  drycleaning-solvent-cleanup program sites.

 8         Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 376.3079, Florida

 9  Statutes, is amended to read:

10         376.3079  Third-party liability insurance.--

11         (3)  For purposes of this section and s. 376.3078, the

12  term:

13         (a)  "Third-party liability" means the insured's

14  liability, other than for site rehabilitation costs and

15  property damage, for bodily injury or property damage caused

16  by an incident of contamination related to the operation of a

17  drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility.

18         (b)  "Incident" means any sudden or gradual discharge

19  of drycleaning solvents arising from the operation of a

20  drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility that results

21  in a need for site rehabilitation or results in bodily injury

22  or property damage neither expected nor intended by the

23  drycleaning facility owner or operator or wholesale supply

24  facility.

25         Section 5.  Subsection (6) of section 376.308, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         376.308  Liabilities and defenses of facilities.--

28         (6)  This section may not Nothing herein shall be

29  construed to affect cleanup program eligibility under ss.

30  376.305(6), 376.3071, 376.3072, 376.3078, and 376.3079. Except

31  as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, nothing in

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 1  this chapter shall affect, void, or defeat any immunity of any

 2  real property owner or nearby real property owner under s.

 3  376.3078.

 4         Section 6.  Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of

 5  subsection (5) of section 376.313, Florida Statutes, are

 6  amended to read:

 7         376.313  Nonexclusiveness of remedies and individual

 8  cause of action for damages under ss. 376.30-376.319.--

 9         (3)  Except as provided in s. 376.3078(3) and (11)

10  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing contained

11  in ss. 376.30-376.319 prohibits any person from bringing a

12  cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction for all

13  damages resulting from a discharge or other condition of

14  pollution covered by ss. 376.30-376.319. Nothing in this

15  chapter shall prohibit or diminish a party's right to

16  contribution from other parties jointly or severally liable

17  for a prohibited discharge of pollutants or hazardous

18  substances or other pollution conditions. Except as otherwise

19  provided in subsection (4) or subsection (5), in any such

20  suit, it is not necessary for such person to plead or prove

21  negligence in any form or manner. Such person need only plead

22  and prove the fact of the prohibited discharge or other

23  pollutive condition and that it has occurred. The only

24  defenses to such cause of action shall be those specified in

25  s. 376.308.

26         (5)(a)  In any civil action against the owner or

27  operator of a drycleaning facility or a wholesale supply

28  facility, or the owner of the real property on which such

29  facility is located, if such facility is not eligible under s.

30  376.3078(3) and is not involved in voluntary cleanup under s.

31  376.3078(11), for damages arising from the discharge of

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                   SB 956
    13-199A-03




 1  drycleaning solvents from a drycleaning facility or wholesale

 2  supply facility, the provisions of subsection (3) shall not

 3  apply if it can be proven that, at the time of the discharge

 4  the alleged damages resulted solely from a discharge from a

 5  drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility that was in

 6  compliance with department rules regulating drycleaning

 7  facilities or wholesale supply facilities.

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

 9  law.

10  

11            *****************************************

12                          SENATE SUMMARY

13    Limits the liability of property owners for cleaning up
      property contaminated as a result of operation of a
14    drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility and
      liability to other persons resulting from such
15    contamination and provides such limits on the liability
      of nearby real property owners, as defined.
16  

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