Senate Bill sb2668c1

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668

    By the Committee on Comprehensive Planning; and Senator
    Atwater




    316-2624-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to regulatory assessment fees;

  3         amending s. 163.01, F.S.; revising provisions

  4         for a separate legal entity to acquire, own,

  5         construct, improve, operate, and manage or

  6         finance certain public facilities; defining

  7         terms; requiring certain notice to host

  8         government by the separate legal entity that

  9         seeks to acquire any utility; providing

10         procedures for the host government to accept or

11         reject the proposal; requiring the separate

12         legal entity to accept the host government as a

13         member upon adoption of a membership resolution

14         by the host government; providing for the

15         separate legal entity to proceed with the

16         acquisition if the host government does not

17         act; requiring any transfer or payment by the

18         separate legal entity to a member or other

19         local government to be solely from user fees or

20         other charges or revenues generated from

21         customers that are physically located within

22         the jurisdictional or service delivery

23         boundaries of the member or local government

24         receiving the transfer or payment; creating s.

25         367.0813, F.S.; clarifying state policy that

26         specifies that gains or losses from a purchase

27         or condemnation of a utility's assets which

28         result in the loss of customers served by such

29         assets and the associated future revenue

30         streams shall be borne by the shareholders of

31         the utility; providing for severability;

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1         providing for application; amending s. 367.145,

 2         F.S.; requiring large water and wastewater

 3         utilities to pay regulatory assessment fees

 4         semiannually; requiring small utilities with

 5         revenues less than a certain amount to pay

 6         annually; providing an effective date.

 7  

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

 9  

10         Section 1.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (7) of section

11  163.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

12         163.01  Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969.--

13         (7)

14         (g)1.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this

15  section, any separate legal entity created under this section,

16  the membership of which is limited to municipalities and

17  counties of the state, and which may include a special

18  district in addition to a municipality or county or both, may

19  acquire, own, construct, improve, operate, and manage public

20  facilities, or finance facilities on behalf of any person,

21  relating to a governmental function or purpose, including, but

22  not limited to, wastewater facilities, water or alternative

23  water supply facilities, and water reuse facilities, which may

24  serve populations within or outside of the members of the

25  entity. Notwithstanding s. 367.171(7), any separate legal

26  entity created under this paragraph is not subject to Public

27  Service Commission jurisdiction. The separate legal entity and

28  may not provide utility services within the service area of an

29  existing utility system unless it has received the consent of

30  the utility.

31         2.  For purposes of this paragraph, the term:

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1         a.  "Host government" means the governing body of the

 2  county, if the largest number of equivalent residential

 3  connections currently served by a system of the utility is

 4  located in the unincorporated area, or the governing body of a

 5  municipality, if the largest number of equivalent residential

 6  connections currently served by a system of the utility is

 7  located within that municipality's boundaries.

 8         b.  "Separate legal entity" means any entity created by

 9  interlocal agreement the membership of which is limited to two

10  or more special districts, municipalities, or counties of the

11  state, but which entity is legally separate and apart from any

12  of its member governments.

13         c.  "System" means a water or wastewater facility or

14  group of such facilities owned by one entity or affiliate

15  entities.

16         d.  "Utility" means a water or wastewater utility and

17  includes every person, separate legal entity, lessee, trustee,

18  or receiver owning, operating, managing, or controlling a

19  system, or proposing construction of a system, who is

20  providing, or proposes to provide, water or wastewater service

21  to the public for compensation.

22         3.  A separate legal entity that seeks to acquire any

23  utility shall notify the host government in writing by

24  certified mail about the contemplated acquisition not less

25  than 30 days before any proposed transfer of ownership, use,

26  or possession of any utility assets by such separate legal

27  entity. The potential acquisition notice shall be provided to

28  the legislative head of the governing body of the host

29  government and to its chief administrative officer and shall

30  provide the name and address of a contact person for the

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1  separate legal entity and information identified in s.

 2  367.071(4)(a) concerning the contemplated acquisition.

 3         4.a.  Within 30 days following receipt of the notice,

 4  the host government may adopt a resolution to become a member

 5  of the separate legal entity, adopt a resolution to approve

 6  the utility acquisition, or adopt a resolution to prohibit the

 7  utility acquisition by the separate legal entity if the host

 8  government determines that the proposed acquisition is not in

 9  the public interest. A resolution adopted by the host

10  government which prohibits the acquisition may include

11  conditions that would make the proposal acceptable to the host

12  government.

13         b.  If a host government adopts a membership

14  resolution, the separate legal entity shall accept the host

15  government as a member on the same basis as its existing

16  members before any transfer of ownership, use, or possession

17  of the utility or the utility facilities. If a host government

18  adopts a resolution to approve the utility acquisition, the

19  separate legal entity may complete the acquisition. If a host

20  government adopts a prohibition resolution, the separate legal

21  entity may not acquire the utility within that host

22  government's territory without the specific consent of the

23  host government by future resolution. If a host government

24  does not adopt a prohibition resolution or an approval

25  resolution, the separate legal entity may proceed to acquire

26  the utility after the 30-day notice period without further

27  notice.

28         5.  After the acquisition or construction of any

29  utility systems by a separate legal entity created under this

30  paragraph revenues or any other income may not be transferred

31  or paid to a member of a separate legal entity, or to any

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1  other special district, county, or municipality, from user

 2  fees or other charges or revenues generated from customers

 3  that are not physically located within the jurisdictional or

 4  service delivery boundaries of the member, special district,

 5  county, or municipality receiving the transfer or payment. Any

 6  transfer or payment to a member, special district, or other

 7  local government must be solely from user fees or other

 8  charges or revenues generated from customers that are

 9  physically located within the jurisdictional or service

10  delivery boundaries of the member, special district, or local

11  government receiving the transfer of payment.

12         6.  This section is an alternative provision otherwise

13  provided by law as authorized in s. 4, Art. VIII of the State

14  Constitution for any transfer of power as a result of an

15  acquisition of a utility by a separate legal entity from a

16  municipality, county, or special district.

17         7.  The entity may finance or refinance the

18  acquisition, construction, expansion, and improvement of such

19  facilities relating to a governmental function or purpose

20  through the issuance of its bonds, notes, or other obligations

21  under this section or as otherwise authorized by law. The

22  entity has all the powers provided by the interlocal agreement

23  under which it is created or which are necessary to finance,

24  own, operate, or manage the public facility, including,

25  without limitation, the power to establish rates, charges, and

26  fees for products or services provided by it, the power to

27  levy special assessments, the power to sell or finance all or

28  a portion of such facility, and the power to contract with a

29  public or private entity to manage and operate such facilities

30  or to provide or receive facilities, services, or products.

31  Except as may be limited by the interlocal agreement under

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
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 1  which the entity is created, all of the privileges, benefits,

 2  powers, and terms of s. 125.01, relating to counties, and s.

 3  166.021, relating to municipalities, are fully applicable to

 4  the entity. However, neither the entity nor any of its members

 5  on behalf of the entity may exercise the power of eminent

 6  domain over the facilities or property of any existing water

 7  or wastewater plant utility system, nor may the entity acquire

 8  title to any water or wastewater plant utility facilities,

 9  other facilities, or property which was acquired by the use of

10  eminent domain after the effective date of this act. Bonds,

11  notes, and other obligations issued by the entity are issued

12  on behalf of the public agencies that are members of the

13  entity.

14         8.2.  Any entity created under this section may also

15  issue bond anticipation notes in connection with the

16  authorization, issuance, and sale of bonds. The bonds may be

17  issued as serial bonds or as term bonds or both. Any entity

18  may issue capital appreciation bonds or variable rate bonds.

19  Any bonds, notes, or other obligations must be authorized by

20  resolution of the governing body of the entity and bear the

21  date or dates; mature at the time or times, not exceeding 40

22  years from their respective dates; bear interest at the rate

23  or rates; be payable at the time or times; be in the

24  denomination; be in the form; carry the registration

25  privileges; be executed in the manner; be payable from the

26  sources and in the medium or payment and at the place; and be

27  subject to the terms of redemption, including redemption prior

28  to maturity, as the resolution may provide. If any officer

29  whose signature, or a facsimile of whose signature, appears on

30  any bonds, notes, or other obligations ceases to be an officer

31  before the delivery of the bonds, notes, or other obligations,

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1  the signature or facsimile is valid and sufficient for all

 2  purposes as if he or she had remained in office until the

 3  delivery. The bonds, notes, or other obligations may be sold

 4  at public or private sale for such price as the governing body

 5  of the entity shall determine. Pending preparation of the

 6  definitive bonds, the entity may issue interim certificates,

 7  which shall be exchanged for the definitive bonds. The bonds

 8  may be secured by a form of credit enhancement, if any, as the

 9  entity deems appropriate. The bonds may be secured by an

10  indenture of trust or trust agreement. In addition, the

11  governing body of the legal entity may delegate, to an

12  officer, official, or agent of the legal entity as the

13  governing body of the legal entity may select, the power to

14  determine the time; manner of sale, public or private;

15  maturities; rate of interest, which may be fixed or may vary

16  at the time and in accordance with a specified formula or

17  method of determination; and other terms and conditions as may

18  be deemed appropriate by the officer, official, or agent so

19  designated by the governing body of the legal entity. However,

20  the amount and maturity of the bonds, notes, or other

21  obligations and the interest rate of the bonds, notes, or

22  other obligations must be within the limits prescribed by the

23  governing body of the legal entity and its resolution

24  delegating to an officer, official, or agent the power to

25  authorize the issuance and sale of the bonds, notes, or other

26  obligations.

27         9.3.  Bonds, notes, or other obligations issued under

28  this paragraph subparagraph 1. may be validated as provided in

29  chapter 75. The complaint in any action to validate the bonds,

30  notes, or other obligations must be filed only in the Circuit

31  Court for Leon County. The notice required to be published by

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1  s. 75.06 must be published in Leon County and in each county

 2  that is a member of the entity issuing the bonds, notes, or

 3  other obligations, or in which a member of the entity is

 4  located, and the complaint and order of the circuit court must

 5  be served only on the State Attorney of the Second Judicial

 6  Circuit and on the state attorney of each circuit in each

 7  county that is a member of the entity issuing the bonds,

 8  notes, or other obligations or in which a member of the entity

 9  is located. Section 75.04(2) does not apply to a complaint for

10  validation brought by the legal entity.

11         10.4.  The accomplishment of the authorized purposes of

12  a legal entity created under this paragraph is in all respects

13  for the benefit of the people of the state, for the increase

14  of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of

15  their health and living conditions. Since the legal entity

16  will perform essential governmental functions in accomplishing

17  its purposes, the legal entity is not required to pay any

18  taxes or assessments of any kind whatsoever upon any property

19  acquired or used by it for such purposes or upon any revenues

20  at any time received by it. The bonds, notes, and other

21  obligations of an entity, their transfer and the income

22  therefrom, including any profits made on the sale thereof, are

23  at all times free from taxation of any kind by the state or by

24  any political subdivision or other agency or instrumentality

25  thereof. The exemption granted in this subparagraph is not

26  applicable to any tax imposed by chapter 220 on interest,

27  income, or profits on debt obligations owned by corporations.

28         Section 2.  Section 367.0813, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         367.0813  Gain or loss on purchase or condemnation by

31  governmental authority.--In order to provide appropriate

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1  incentives to encourage the private sector to participate in

 2  the investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, to

 3  protect private sector property rights of a utility's

 4  shareholders, and to avoid an additional burden of costs

 5  placed on ratepayers by relitigating this issue, the

 6  Legislature affirms and clarifies the clear policy of this

 7  state that gains or losses from a purchase or condemnation of

 8  a utility's assets which results in the loss of customers

 9  served by such assets and the associated future revenue

10  streams shall be borne by the shareholders of the utility.

11  This section applies to all transactions prior to and after

12  the effective date of this section.

13         Section 3.  If any provision of this act or its

14  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the

15  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of

16  this act which can be given effect without the invalid

17  provision or application, and to this end the provisions of

18  this act are declared severable.

19         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 367.145, Florida

20  Statutes, is amended to read:

21         367.145  Regulatory assessment and application fees.--

22         (1)  The commission shall set by rule a regulatory

23  assessment fee that each utility must pay in accordance with

24  s. 350.113(3); however, each small utility with annual

25  revenues of less than $200,000 shall pay once a year in

26  conjunction with filing its annual financial report required

27  by commission rule.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to

28  the contrary, the amount of the regulatory assessment fee

29  shall not exceed 4.5 percent of the gross revenues of the

30  utility derived from intrastate business, excluding sales for

31  resale made to a regulated company.

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
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 1         (a)  A governmental authority to which ownership or

 2  control of a utility is transferred is not liable for any fees

 3  owed the commission by the utility as of the date of transfer.

 4  However, whenever a purchase at wholesale is made of any water

 5  or wastewater service and a fee is paid or payable thereon by

 6  the selling utility and the utility purchasing such water or

 7  wastewater service resells the same directly to customers, the

 8  purchasing utility is entitled to, and must receive, credit on

 9  such fees as may be due by it under this section to the extent

10  of the fee paid or payable upon such water or wastewater

11  service by the utility from which such purchase was made.  All

12  such fee payments and penalties must be deposited in

13  accordance with s. 350.113.

14         (b)  In addition to the penalties and interest

15  otherwise provided, the commission may impose a penalty upon a

16  utility for failure to pay regulatory assessment fees in a

17  timely manner in accordance with s. 367.161.

18         Section 5.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

19  law and shall apply to all contracts pending on or after that

20  date.

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    Florida Senate - 2004                           CS for SB 2668
    316-2624-04




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                         Senate Bill 2668

 3                                 

 4  The committee substitute (CS) requires water and wastewater
    utilities with annual revenues above $200,000 that are
 5  regulated by the Public Service Commission to pay regulatory
    assessment fees every six months rather than every 12 months.
 6  It adds to the possible membership of any separate legal
    entity created under the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act, a
 7  special district in addition to a municipality or county or
    both. The CS deletes language subjecting such a separate legal
 8  entity to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission
    (PSC) under certain circumstances.
 9  
    In addition, the CS deletes a provision allowing a host
10  government to seek binding arbitration with the PSC. This CS
    deletes a provision allowing the host government to review
11  subsequent changes to the rates, charges, customer
    classifications, and terms of service proposed by the separate
12  legal entity after the acquisition of the utility. It
    eliminates language specifically authorizing a host government
13  to acquire a utility within its jurisdiction from the separate
    legal entity through the use of eminent domain. The CS deletes
14  language providing that the powers exercised by the separate
    legal entity under the terms of the interlocal agreement and
15  the entity's issuance of bond anticipation notes may be
    limited by the terms and conditions of the utility acquisition
16  agreement as approved by the host government.

17  Finally, the CS deletes language excluding a separate legal
    entity's purchase of a privately-owned utility by a
18  governmental authority to PSC approval as a matter of right.
    This CS deletes language that would have subjected a separate
19  legal entity created under s. 163.01(7)(g)1., F.S., to the
    Administrative Procedure Act under ch. 120, F.S., by including
20  such entity in the definition of "agency."

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