Florida Senate - 2008 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Bill No. CS for SB 1302

044570

CHAMBER ACTION

Senate

Comm: WD

3/26/2008

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House



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The Committee on General Government Appropriations (Aronberg)

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recommended the following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Between line(s) 351 and 352

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insert:

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     Section 8. The Legislature finds that encouragement and

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promotion of reuse of reclaimed water, as defined by the

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Department of Environmental Protection, are state objectives and

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considered to be in the public interest. The Legislature finds

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that the implementation of this policy has been hampered by a

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lack of clear understanding concerning the role of local

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governments that produce and distribute reclaimed water, and

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water management districts that regulate reclaimed water use. The

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Legislature finds that the Department of Environmental Protection

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and water management districts do not have a common policy as to

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consideration of reclaimed water in the water use permitting and

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water shortage processes. The Legislature finds that a clear and

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consistent policy regarding reclaimed water use is required in

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order to achieve the most efficient and beneficial use of this

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resource.

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     (1) The Reclaimed Water Coordination Task Force is created

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to recommend clear direction concerning the relative roles of

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local governments and water management districts with regard to

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the regulation of reclaimed water use and to propose a statewide

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uniform approach to consideration of reclaimed water use in the

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water use permitting and water shortage processes. The task force

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shall review the rules, programs, and policies of the five water

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management districts relating to consideration of reclaimed water

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use in water use permitting, water shortages, and related

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actions, activities, or programs in preparing its

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recommendations.

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     (2) The task force shall be composed of the following 17

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members:

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     (a) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the

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House of Representatives shall each appoint a member from their

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respective chambers, who shall co-chair the task force.

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     (b) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or designee.

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     (c) The Commissioner of Agriculture or designee.

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     (d) The executive director of the South Florida Water

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Management District or designee.

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     (e) The executive director of the Southwest Florida Water

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Management District or designee.

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     (f) The eExecutive director of the St. Johns River Water

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Management District or designee.

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     (g) The executive director of the Florida Nursery Growers

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and Landscape Association or designee.

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     (h) The executive director of the Florida Sugar Cane League

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or designee.

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     (i) Two members, one each appointed by the President of

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the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who

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shall be employees of a local government that produces reclaimed

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water for reuse by the public, as follows:

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     1. A representative of a not-for-profit environmental

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advocacy organization; and

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     2. A representative of a company that is a self-supplier of

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water.

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     (3) Task force members shall be appointed by August 1,

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2008.

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     (4) The clerical and professional staff of the Department

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of Environmental Protection shall provide administrative support

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to the task force. The task force may request the clerical and

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professional staffs of the standing committees of the Senate and

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the House of Representatives to provide such support, if the task

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force finds it appropriate to do so.

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     (5) The task force shall:

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     (a) Determine how reclaimed water use should be taken into

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account in the water use permitting and water shortage processes.

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     (b) Assess the proper roles of local governments and water

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management districts in regulating reclaimed water use.

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     (c) Consider how the reuse of reclaimed water could be

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promoted in areas where new or increased water withdrawals have

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been limited by law through the use of offsets or other similar

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incentives.

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     (d) Evaluate how to best supplement reclaimed water

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supplies during peak demands periods in order to improve

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reliability and promote widespread adoption of this resource.

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     (e) Consider how to best incorporate any recommended policy

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changes in a unified approach that is applicable statewide.

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     (6) While the task force deliberates, the Department of

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Environmental Protection and the water management districts shall

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encourage the use of pilot projects for the purpose of obtaining

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data and operating experience through the use of various types of

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reuse and irrigation systems.

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     (7) The task force shall submit a report to the Governor,

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the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives which summarizes its findings and recommendations

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by January 31, 2009.

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     (8) The Department of Environmental Protection and the

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water management districts are directed, and all other agencies

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and local governments are requested, to render assistance to and

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cooperate with the task force.

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     (9) Members shall serve without compensation. Members are

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entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as

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provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.

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     (10) The task force is disolved on January 31, 2009.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     On line(s) 42, after the semicolon,

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insert:

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creating the Reclaimed Water Coordination Task Force;

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providing legislative findings; providing for task force

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membership and duties; requiring a report to the Governor

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and Legislature; providing for assistance and cooperation

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from state agencies and local governments; providing for

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reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses; providing

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for expiration of the task force;

3/26/2008  7:50:00 AM     27-05731-08

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