2 | The Committee on Procedures recommends the following: |
3 |
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4 | Committee Substitute |
5 | Remove the entire bill and insert: |
6 | House Resolution |
7 | A resolution recognizing March 31, 2004, as "Local Water |
8 | Sources First Day," supporting the continued inclusion of |
9 | a "local sources first" policy in chapter 373, Florida |
10 | Statutes, and opposing any amendments to the state's water |
11 | resource policy that are inconsistent with the public |
12 | interest. |
13 |
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14 | WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural resource |
15 | and not a commodity to be sold or transferred to the highest |
16 | bidder, and |
17 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives supports the |
18 | local water sources first policy currently in state law, and |
19 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives recognizes |
20 | that the continued retention of the local water sources first |
21 | policy is integral to protecting the state's water resources, |
22 | advancing long-term sustainable water resource development and |
23 | supply systems, and preserving the rights and opportunities of |
24 | local residents to secure and sustain their future prosperity |
25 | and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of local water |
26 | resources, and |
27 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives supports the |
28 | fundamental principles of the Florida Water Resources Act of |
29 | 1972 which require that a proposed use of water be reasonable |
30 | and beneficial, not interfere with an existing legal use of |
31 | water, and be consistent with the public interest, and |
32 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives opposes |
33 | legislation that shifts water supply allocation from a publicly |
34 | regulated process to a market-driven process, and |
35 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives opposes |
36 | legislation that undermines a fundamental principle of water |
37 | resources law which establishes a right of use rather than a |
38 | right of ownership, and |
39 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives believes that |
40 | any discussion of regional water transfer, before using local |
41 | water sources or alternatives, is premature until minimum flows |
42 | and levels have been established for all of the state's water |
43 | resources, NOW, THEREFORE, |
44 |
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45 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
46 | Florida: |
47 |
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48 | That the Florida House of Representatives recognizes March |
49 | 31, 2004, as "Local Water Sources First Day," opposes any |
50 | modifications to the fundamental provisions of chapter 373, |
51 | Florida Statutes, as they relate to the current "local sources |
52 | first" policy, and encourages its legislative colleagues and the |
53 | Governor to join in this opposition. |