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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to desalination technology; providing

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legislative intent; directing the Secretary of

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Environmental Protection to coordinate with the water

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management districts to conduct a study of certain

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desalination technologies; providing study requirements;

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requiring the secretary to report to the Governor and the

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Legislature by a specified date; providing an effective

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date.

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

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     Section 1. (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds

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that desalination of seawater is a proven technology for

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providing water supply solutions for countries around the world

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and an increasingly cost-competitive alternative for coastal

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cities within the United States. The potential success of

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desalination projects would benefit the communities they directly

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serve and the state as a whole by preserving existing natural

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water resources and providing a practical means of ensuring

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adequate supplies of water for future generations of Floridians.

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Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to aggressively

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pursue desalination technologies for use in the state.

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     (2) DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY STUDY; REPORT.--The Secretary

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of Environmental Protection is directed to coordinate with the

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water management districts to conduct a study examining all

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current and available desalination technologies. The study shall

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include an analysis of the existing desalination projects in the

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state and recommendations for a plan to effectively utilize and

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implement desalination technologies that are environmentally and

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fiscally sound and that will provide sustainability of the

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current water supply demands of the state as well as long-term

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potable water supply demands based on projected population

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growth. The secretary shall submit a report of the findings of

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the study and plan recommendations to the Governor, the President

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

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June 30, 2009.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.