Senate Bill sb1202c1

    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SR 1202

    By the Committee on Natural Resources; and Senators Cowin,
    Lawson, Argenziano, Dockery, Constantine, Atwater, Siplin,
    Clary, Fasano, Wise, Smith, Webster, Alexander, Peaden,
    Campbell, Pruitt, Aronberg, Klein, Garcia, Dawson and Lee


    312-2276-04

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing March 31, 2004, as

  3         "Local Water Sources First Day," supporting the

  4         continued inclusion of a "local sources first"

  5         policy in chapter 373, Florida Statutes, and

  6         opposing any amendments to the state's water

  7         resource policy that are inconsistent with the

  8         public interest.

  9  

10         WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural

11  resource and not a commodity to be sold or transferred to the

12  highest bidder, and

13         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports a state "local

14  sources first" policy in state law, and

15         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate recognizes that the

16  continued retention of the local sources first policy is

17  integral to protecting the state's water resources, advancing

18  long-term sustainable water-resource development and supply

19  systems, and preserving the opportunities of local residents

20  to secure and sustain their future prosperity and quality of

21  life through the use and enjoyment of local water resources,

22  and

23         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the fundamental

24  principles of the state's water law which require that a

25  proposed use of water be reasonable and beneficial, not

26  interfere with an existing legal use of water, and be

27  consistent with the public interest, and

28         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that

29  would fundamentally alter the state's current water-supply

30  allocation practices, and

31  

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






    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SR 1202
    312-2276-04




 1         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate opposes legislation that

 2  undermines a fundamental principle of water law which

 3  establishes a right of use rather than a right of ownership,

 4  and

 5         WHEREAS, a recent report by the Florida Council of 100

 6  has recommended modifications to chapter 373, Florida

 7  Statutes, to significantly alter provisions that establish a

 8  policy for using local water sources first, and

 9         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to go on record that

10  such a proposal could put the state's surface waters and

11  aquifers at risk of irreparable harm, and

12         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate believes that any

13  discussion of regional water transfer is premature until

14  minimum flows and levels have been established for all of the

15  state's water resources, NOW, THEREFORE,

16  

17  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

18  

19         That the Florida Senate recognizes March 31, 2004, as

20  "Local Water Sources First Day," and opposes any modifications

21  to the fundamental provisions of chapter 373, Florida

22  Statutes, as they relate to the current "local sources first"

23  policy, and encourages its legislative colleagues and the

24  Governor to join in this opposition.

25  

26          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
27                              s1202

28                                 

29  The Committee Substitute makes no substantial change.

30  

31  

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