HB 7143

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to water management districts; reenacting
3	ss. 373.069, 373.0695, and 373.083, F.S., relating to the
4	creation of the water management districts pursuant to the
5	provisions of the Florida Government Accountability Act;
6	reenacting and amending s. 373.0693, F.S.; eliminating the
7	Oklawaha River Basin Advisory Council; reenacting and
8	amending s. 373.073, F.S., relating to governing boards;
9	revising provisions for the nomination and appointment of
10	members to the governing boards of the water management
11	districts; requiring the Florida Public Service Commission
12	Nominating Council to provide nominations to the Governor;
13	revising provisions relating to terms of office for board
14	members; providing requirements and procedures for the
15	nomination of board members; requiring the Department of
16	Law Enforcement to conduct background investigations;
17	providing that water management district governing board
18	appointees are subject to Senate confirmation; amending s.
19	373.079, F.S.; revising meeting requirements for water
20	management district governing boards; amending s. 373.323,
21	F.S.; revising requirements for water well contractor
22	licensure examinations; requiring applicants to provide
23	specified documentation; amending s. 373.503, F.S.;
24	providing that millage rates for water management
25	districts are subject to annual review and authorization
26	by the Legislature; requiring the Legislature to set the
27	maximum amount of revenue water management districts are
28	authorized to raise from ad valorem taxes; providing an
29	amount of authorized revenue under specified conditions;
30	amending s. 373.536, F.S.; revising fiscal year dates for
31	water management districts; revising the date by which
32	water management districts must submit tentative budgets
33	to the Governor and the Legislature; eliminating the
34	authorization for the Legislature to comment on such
35	budgets; eliminating requirements for water management
36	districts to respond to such comments; revising the date
37	by which the Executive Office of the Governor must file a
38	specified report with the Legislature; directing districts
39	to implement conforming budget and planning measures;
40	providing an effective date.
41
42	WHEREAS, sections 11.901-11.920, Florida Statutes, the
43	Florida Government Accountability Act, subject the water
44	management districts and each district's respective advisory
45	committees to a sunset review process in order to determine
46	whether the districts should be retained, modified, or
47	abolished, and
48	WHEREAS, the water management districts produced reports
49	providing specific information, as enumerated in s. 11.906,
50	Florida Statutes, and
51	WHEREAS, upon receipt of the reports, the Joint
52	Legislative Sunset Committee and committees of the Senate and
53	the House of Representatives assigned to act as sunset review
54	committees reviewed the reports and requested studies by the
55	Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
56	Accountability, and
57	WHEREAS, based on the reports of the water management
58	districts, studies of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
59	Government Accountability, and public input, the Joint
60	Legislative Sunset Committee and legislative sunset review
61	committees made recommendations on the abolition, continuation,
62	or reorganization of the water management districts and each
63	district's advisory committees; on the need for the functions
64	performed by the districts and the advisory committees; and on
65	the consolidation, transfer, or reorganization of programs
66	within the water management districts, NOW, THEREFORE,
67
68	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
69
70	Section 1.  Section 373.069, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
71	to read:
72	373.069  Creation of water management districts.--
73	(1)  At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, the state shall be
74	divided into the following water management districts:
75	(a)  Northwest Florida Water Management District.
76	(b)  Suwannee River Water Management District.
77	(c)  St. Johns River Water Management District.
78	(d)  Southwest Florida Water Management District.
79	(e)  South Florida Water Management District.
80	(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other special or
81	general act to the contrary, the boundaries of the respective
82	districts named in subsection (1) shall include the areas within
83	the following boundaries:
84	(a)  Northwest Florida Water Management District.--Begin at
85	the point where the section line between Sections 26 and 27,
86	Township 4 South, Range 3 East intersects the Gulf of Mexico;
87	thence north along the section line to the northwest corner of
88	Section 2, Township 1 South, Range 3 East; thence east along the
89	Tallahassee Base Line to the southeast corner of Section 36,
90	Township 1 North, Range 4 East; thence north along the range
91	line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 1 North,
92	Range 5 East; thence east along the township line to the
93	southeast corner of Section 36, Township 2 North, Range 5 East;
94	thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of
95	Section 24, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence west along
96	the section line to the southwest corner of the east 1/2 of
97	Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence north to the
98	northwest corner of the east 1/2 of Section 13, Township 2
99	North, Range 5 East; thence east along the section line to the
100	southeast corner of Section 12, Township 2 North, Range 5 East;
101	thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of
102	Section 24, Township 3 North, Range 5 East; thence west along
103	the Watson Line to the southwest corner of Lot Number 168;
104	thence north along the line between Lot Numbers 168 and 169, 154
105	and 155 to the Georgia line; thence westward along the Georgia-
106	Florida line to the intersection of the south boundary of the
107	State of Alabama; thence west along the Alabama-Florida line to
108	the intersection of the northwest corner Alabama-Florida
109	Boundary; thence south along the Alabama-Florida line to the
110	Gulf of Mexico; thence east along the Gulf of Mexico, including
111	the waters of said Gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of
112	Florida, to the Point of Beginning.
113	(b)  Suwannee River Water Management District.--Begin in
114	the Gulf of Mexico on the section line between Sections 29 and
115	32, Township 15 South, Range 15 East; thence east along the
116	section lines to the southwest corner of Section 27, Township 15
117	South, Range 17 East; thence north along the section line to the
118	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 15 South, Range 17 East;
119	thence east along the section line to the easterly right-of-way
120	line of State Road No. 337; thence northerly along said easterly
121	right-of-way line of State Road No. 337 to the southerly right-
122	of-way line of State Road No. 24; thence northeasterly along
123	said southerly right-of-way line of State Road No. 24 to the
124	Levy-Alachua county line; thence south along the Levy-Alachua
125	county line, also being the range line between Range 17 and 18
126	East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11 South,
127	Range 17 East; thence easterly along the Levy-Alachua county
128	line, also being the township line between Townships 11 and 12
129	South, to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11 South,
130	Range 18 East; thence north along the range line to the
131	northwest corner of Section 19, Township 9 South, Range 19 East;
132	thence east along the section line to the southeast corner of
133	Section 13, Township 9 South, Range 19 East; thence north along
134	the range line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 9
135	South, Range 20 East; thence eastward along the township line to
136	the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 20
137	East; thence north along the township line to the northwest
138	corner of Section 18, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence
139	east along the section line to the northeast corner of Section
140	15, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence south along the
141	section line to the southwest corner of Section 23, Township 8
142	South, Range 21 East; thence east along the section line to the
143	northeast corner of Section 26, Township 8 South, Range 21 East;
144	thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of
145	the north 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East;
146	thence east along a line to the northeast corner of the south
147	half of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence
148	south along the range line to the southwest corner of Section
149	30, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence east along the
150	section line to the northeast corner of Section 32, Township 8
151	South, Range 22 East; thence south along the section line to the
152	southwest corner of Section 16, Township 9 South, Range 22 East;
153	thence eastward along the section line to the southeast corner
154	of the west 1/8 of Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East;
155	thence northward to the northeast corner of the west 1/8 of
156	Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East; thence west to the
157	southwest corner of Section 7, Township 9 South, Range 23 East;
158	thence northward along the Bradford-Clay County line to the
159	northeast corner of Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 22 East;
160	thence west along the section line to the southwest corner of
161	the east 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 22 East;
162	thence north to the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section
163	24, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence west along the
164	section line to the southwest corner of Section 13, Township 8
165	South, Range 22 East; thence north along the section line to the
166	northwest corner of Section 25, Township 7 South, Range 22 East;
167	thence east along the section line to the southeast corner of
168	Section 24, Township 7 South, Range 22 East; thence north along
169	the Bradford-Clay County line to the intersection of the south
170	boundary of Baker County; thence west along the Baker-Bradford
171	County line to the intersection of the east boundary of Union
172	County; thence west along the Union-Baker County line to the
173	southwest corner of Section 18, Township 4 South, Range 20 East;
174	thence north along the range line to the northeast corner of
175	Section 1, Township 3 South, Range 19 East; thence west along
176	the township line to the intersection of the east boundary of
177	Columbia County; thence north along the Baker-Columbia County
178	line to the intersection of the north boundary line of the State
179	of Florida; thence westward along the Georgia-Florida line to
180	the northwest corner of Lot Number 155; thence south along the
181	line between Lot Number 154 and 155, 168 and 169 to the Watson
182	Line; thence east along the Watson Line to the northeast corner
183	of Section 24, Township 3 North, Range 5 East; thence south
184	along the range line between Ranges 5 and 6 East to the
185	southeast corner of Section 12, Township 2 North, Range 5 East;
186	thence west along the section line to the northwest corner of
187	the east 1/2 of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East;
188	thence south to the southwest corner of the east 1/2 of Section
189	13, Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence east along the
190	section line to the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 2
191	North, Range 5 East; thence south along the range line between
192	Ranges 5 and 6 East to the southeast corner of Section 36,
193	Township 2 North, Range 5 East; thence west along the township
194	line between Townships 1 and 2 North to the northwest corner of
195	Section 6, Township 1 North, Range 5 East; thence south along
196	the range line between Ranges 4 and 5 East to the southeast
197	corner of Section 36, Township 1 North, Range 4 East; thence
198	west along the Tallahassee Base Line to the northwest corner of
199	Section 2, Township 1 South, Range 3 East; thence south along
200	the section line to the Gulf of Mexico; thence along the shore
201	of the Gulf of Mexico, including the waters of said gulf within
202	the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the point of the
203	beginning.
204	(c)  St. Johns River Water Management District.--Begin at
205	the intersection of the south boundary of Indian River County
206	with the Atlantic Ocean; thence west along the Indian River-St.
207	Lucie County line to the intersection of the west boundary of
208	St. Lucie County; thence south along the Okeechobee-St. Lucie
209	County line to the southeast corner of Section 1, Township 34
210	South, Range 36 East; thence west along the section line to the
211	northwest corner of Section 10, Township 34 South, Range 36
212	East; thence south along the section line to the southeast
213	corner of Section 9, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence
214	west along the section line to the northwest corner of Section
215	18, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence south along the
216	range line between Ranges 35 and 36 East to the southeast corner
217	of Section 12, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence west
218	along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 13,
219	Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence south along the section
220	line to the southeast corner of Section 35, Township 34 South,
221	Range 35 East; thence west along the township line between
222	Townships 34 and 35 south to the southwest corner of Section 35,
223	Township 34 South, Range 34 East; thence north along the section
224	line to the Okeechobee-Osceola County line; thence west along
225	the Okeechobee-Osceola County line to the southwest corner of
226	Section 34, Township 32 South, Range 33 East; thence north along
227	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township
228	31 South, Range 33 East; thence east along the township line
229	between Townships 30 and 31 South to the southeast corner of
230	Section 36, Township 30 South, Range 33 East; thence north along
231	the range line between Ranges 33 and 34 East to the northeast
232	corner of Section 1, Township 30 South, Range 33 East; thence
233	west along the township line between Townships 29 and 30 south
234	to the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 29 South, Range
235	33 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 32 and
236	33 East to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 28 South,
237	Range 33 East; thence east along the township line between
238	Townships 27 and 28 south to the southeast corner of Section 36,
239	Township 27 South, Range 32 East; thence north along the range
240	line between Ranges 32 and 33 East to the northeast corner of
241	Section 1, Township 26 South, Range 32 East; thence west along
242	the township line between Townships 25 and 26 South to the
243	southwest corner of Section 33, Township 25 South, Range 32
244	East; thence north along the section line to the Orange-Osceola
245	County line; thence westerly along the Orange-Osceola County
246	line to the Southwest corner of Section 31, Township 24 South,
247	Range 32 East; thence north along the range line to the
248	intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State Road
249	528, also known as the Bee Line Expressway; thence westerly
250	along the northerly right-of-way line of State Road 528 to the
251	intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State Road
252	528A; thence westerly along the northerly right-of-way line of
253	State Road 528A to the westerly right-of-way line of U.S.
254	Highway 441; thence northerly along the right-of-way line to the
255	section line between sections 22 and 27 of Township 22 South,
256	Range 29 East; thence west along the section lines to the
257	Northeast corner of Section 25, Township 22 South, Range 28
258	East; thence south along the range line between Ranges 28 and 29
259	East to the Southeast corner of Section 36, Township 22 South,
260	Range 28 East; thence west along the township line between
261	Townships 22 and 23 South to the Northeast corner of Section 2,
262	Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence south to the Southeast
263	corner of Section 11, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence
264	west along the section lines to the Southwest corner of Section
265	7, Township 23 South, Range 27 East, also being the Lake-Orange
266	County line; thence south along the range line between Ranges 26
267	and 27 East to the Lake-Polk County line; thence west along the
268	county line to the southwest corner of Section 32, Township 24
269	South, Range 26 East; thence into Lake County, north along the
270	section lines to the northeast corner of Section 30, Township 24
271	South, Range 26 East; thence west along the section lines to the
272	northeast corner of Section 28, Township 24 South, Range 25
273	East; thence north along the section lines to the northeast
274	corner of Section 16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence
275	west along the section line to the northwest corner of Section
276	16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence north along the
277	section line to the northeast corner of Section 8, Township 24
278	South, Range 25 East; thence west along the section lines to the
279	range line between Ranges 24 and 25; thence north along the
280	range line to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 23
281	South, Range 24 East, also being on the township line between
282	Townships 22 and 23 South; thence west along the township line
283	to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 23 South, Range
284	24 East, also being on the Sumter-Lake County line; thence north
285	along the Sumter-Lake County line, also being the range line
286	between Ranges 23 and 24 East, to the northeast corner of
287	Section 1, Township 18 South, Range 23 East, and the Marion
288	County line; thence west along the Sumter-Marion County line,
289	also being the township line between Townships 17 and 18 South,
290	to the westerly right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75;
291	thence northerly along the westerly right-of-way line of
292	Interstate Highway 75 to the Alachua-Marion County line, said
293	line also being the township line between Townships 11 and 12
294	South; thence west along the Alachua-Marion County line to the
295	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12 South, Range 19 East,
296	and the Levy County line; thence westerly along the Levy-Alachua
297	County line, also being the township line between Townships 11
298	and 12 South, to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11
299	South, Range 18 East; thence north along the range line between
300	Ranges 18 and 19 East to the northwest corner of Section 19,
301	Township 9 South, Range 19 East; thence east along the section
302	line to the southeast corner of Section 13, Township 9 South,
303	Range 19 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges
304	19 and 20 East to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township 9
305	South, Range 20 East; thence easterly along the township line
306	between Townships 8 and 9 South to the southeast corner of
307	Section 36, Township 8 South, Range 20 East; thence north along
308	the range line between Ranges 20 and 21 East to the northwest
309	corner of Section 18, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence
310	east along the section line to the northeast corner of Section
311	15, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence south along the
312	section line to the southwest corner of Section 23, Township 8
313	South, Range 21 East; thence east along the section line to the
314	northeast corner of Section 26, Township 8 South, Range 21 East;
315	thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of
316	the north 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East;
317	thence east to the northeast corner of the south 1/2 of Section
318	25, Township 8 South, Range 21 East; thence south along the
319	range line between Ranges 21 and 22 East to the southwest corner
320	of Section 30, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence east
321	along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 32,
322	Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence south along the section
323	line to the southwest corner of Section 16, Township 9 South,
324	Range 22 East; thence eastward along the section line to the
325	southeast corner of the west 1/8 of Section 18, Township 9
326	South, Range 23 East; thence northward to the northeast corner
327	of the west 1/8 of Section 18, Township 9 South, Range 23 East;
328	thence west to the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 9
329	South, Range 23 East; thence northward along the Bradford-Clay
330	County line to the northeast corner of Section 36, Township 8
331	South, Range 22 East; thence west along the section line to the
332	southwest corner of the east 1/2 of Section 25, Township 8
333	South, Range 22 East; thence north to the northeast corner of
334	the west 1/2 of Section 24, Township 8 South, Range 22 East;
335	thence west along the section line to the southwest corner of
336	Section 13, Township 8 South, Range 22 East; thence north along
337	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 25, Township
338	7 South, Range 22 East; thence east along the section line to
339	the Bradford-Clay County line; thence north along the Bradford-
340	Clay County line to the intersection of the south boundary of
341	Baker County; thence west along the Baker-Bradford County line
342	to the intersection of the east boundary of Union County; thence
343	west along the Baker-Union County line to the southwest corner
344	of Section 18, Township 4 South, Range 20 East; thence north
345	along the range line between Ranges 19 and 20 East to the
346	northeast corner of Section 1, Township 3 South, Range 19 East;
347	thence west along the township line between Townships 2 and 3
348	South to the Baker-Columbia County line; thence north along the
349	Baker-Columbia County line to the north boundary line of the
350	State of Florida; thence easterly along the Florida-Georgia line
351	to the Atlantic Ocean; thence southerly along the Atlantic
352	Ocean, including the waters of said ocean within the
353	jurisdiction of the State of Florida to the point of beginning.
354	(d)  Southwest Florida Water Management District.--Begin at
355	the intersection of the north boundary of Lee County with the
356	Gulf of Mexico; thence eastward along the Lee-Charlotte County
357	line to the Southeast corner of Section 33, Township 42 South,
358	Range 24 East; thence North into Charlotte County, along the
359	section lines to the Northeast corner of Section 4, Township 42
360	South, Range 24 East; thence East along the township line
361	between Townships 41 and 42 South to the Southeast corner of
362	Section 36, Township 41 South, Range 25 East; thence north along
363	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 6, Township
364	41 South, Range 26 East; thence east along the section line to
365	the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 40 South, Range 26
366	East; thence North along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27
367	to the Northeast corner of Section 1, Township 40 South, Range
368	26 East, and the Charlotte-Desoto County line; thence east along
369	the Charlotte-Desoto County line to the southeast corner of
370	Section 36, Township 39 South, Range 27 East; thence north along
371	the DeSoto-Highlands County line to the intersection of the
372	South boundary of Hardee County; thence north along the Hardee-
373	Highlands County line to the southwest corner of Township 35
374	South, Range 28 East; thence east along the north boundary of
375	Township 36 South to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township
376	36 South, Range 28 East; thence south along the range line to
377	the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 37 South, Range 28
378	East; thence east along the section line to the northeast corner
379	of Section 15, Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence south
380	along the section line to the southeast corner of Section 34,
381	Township 37 South, Range 29 East; thence east along the township
382	line to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 38 South,
383	Range 29 East; thence south along the range line to the
384	southeast corner of Section 1, Township 39 South, Range 29 East;
385	thence east along the section line to the northwest corner of
386	Section 11, Township 39 South, Range 30 East; thence north along
387	the section line to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township
388	38 South, Range 30 East; thence east along the township line to
389	the southeast corner of the west 1/4 of Section 35, Township 38
390	South, Range 30 East; thence north along the 1/4-section line of
391	Sections 35, 26, and 23, Township 38 South, Range 30 East to the
392	northeast corner of the west 1/4 section of Section 23, Township
393	38 South, Range 30 East; thence west along the section line to
394	the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 38 South, Range 30
395	East; thence north along the section line to the northwest
396	corner of Section 2, Township 37 South, Range 30 East; thence
397	west along the township line to the southwest corner of Section
398	34, Township 36 South, Range 30 East; thence north along the
399	section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 36
400	South, Range 30 East; thence west along the township line to the
401	southwest corner of Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 30
402	East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 29 and 30
403	East, through Townships 35, 34, and 33 South, to the northeast
404	corner of Township 33 South, Range 29 East, being on the
405	Highlands-Polk County line; thence west along the Highlands-Polk
406	County line to the southeast corner of Township 32 South, Range
407	28 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 28 and
408	29 East, in Townships 32 and 31 South, to the northeast corner
409	of Section 12 in Township 31 South, Range 28 East; thence east
410	along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 7,
411	Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence north along the section
412	line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 30 South,
413	Range 29 East; thence east along the section line to the
414	northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 17, Township 30
415	South, Range 29 East; thence north along the 1/2-section line to
416	the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 5, Township 30
417	South, Range 29 East; thence west along the section line to the
418	southwest corner of Section 32, Township 29 South, Range 29
419	East; thence north along the section line to the northeast
420	corner of Section 19 in Township 29 South, Range 29 East; thence
421	west along the north boundaries of Section 19, Township 29
422	South, Range 29 East, and Sections 24, 23, 22, 21, and 20,
423	Township 29 South, Range 28 East, to the northwest corner of
424	said Section 20; thence north along the section line to the
425	intersection of said section line with the west shore line of
426	Lake Pierce in Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence
427	following the west shore of Lake Pierce to its intersection
428	again with the west section line of Section 5, Township 29
429	South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the
430	northwest corner of Section 5, Township 29 South, Range 28 East;
431	thence east along the township line to the southwest corner of
432	Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along
433	the section line to the northwest corner of the southwest 1/4 of
434	the southwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28
435	East; thence east along the 1/4-section line to the intersection
436	of said 1/4-section line with Lake Pierce; thence follow the
437	shore line northeasterly to its intersection with the 1/2-
438	section line of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East;
439	thence north on the 1/2-section line to the northwest corner of
440	the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28
441	East; thence east to the northeast corner of the southeast 1/4
442	of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence south
443	along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 3,
444	Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence east along the section
445	line to the northeast corner of Section 3, Township 29 South,
446	Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the
447	northwest corner of Section 23, Township 28 South, Range 28
448	East; thence west along the section line to the southwest corner
449	of Section 16, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north
450	along the section line to the northwest corner of Section 16,
451	Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along the section
452	line to the southwest corner of Section 8, Township 28 South,
453	Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the
454	northwest corner of Section 5, Township 28 South, Range 28 East;
455	thence west along the township line to the intersection of said
456	township line with Lake Marion; thence following the south shore
457	line of Lake Marion to its intersection again with said township
458	line; thence west along the township line to the southeast
459	corner of Section 36, Township 37 South, Range 27 East; thence
460	north along the range line between Ranges 27 and 28 East to the
461	intersection of said range line with Lake Marion; thence
462	following the west shore of Lake Marion to its intersection
463	again with the range line between Ranges 27 and 28 East; thence
464	north along said range line, in Townships 27 and 26 South, to
465	the northeast corner of Township 26 South, Range 27 East, being
466	on the Polk-Osceola County line; thence west along the Polk-
467	Osceola County line to the northwest corner of Township 26
468	South, Range 27 East; thence north along the section line to the
469	Lake-Polk County line; thence west along the county line to the
470	southwest corner of Section 32, Township 24 South, Range 26
471	East; thence into Lake County, north along the section lines to
472	the northeast corner of Section 30, Township 24 South, Range 26
473	East; thence west along the section lines to the northeast
474	corner of Section 28, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence
475	north along the section lines to the northeast corner of Section
476	16, Township 24 South, Range 25 East; thence west along the
477	section line to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 24
478	South, Range 25 East; thence north along the section line to the
479	northeast corner of Section 8, Township 24 South, Range 25 East;
480	thence west along the section lines to the range line between
481	Ranges 24 and 25; thence north along the range line to the
482	northeast corner of Section 1, Township 23 South, Range 24 East,
483	also being on the township line between Townships 22 and 23
484	South; thence west along the township line to the northwest
485	corner of Section 6, Township 23 South, Range 24 East also being
486	on the Sumter-Lake County line; thence north along the Sumter-
487	Lake County line, also being the range line between Ranges 23
488	and 24, to the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 18 South,
489	Range 23 East and the Marion County line; thence west, along the
490	Sumter-Marion County line, also being the township line between
491	Townships 17 and 18 South, to the westerly right-of-way line of
492	Interstate Highway 75; thence northerly along the westerly
493	right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 75 to the Alachua-Marion
494	County line, said line also being the township line between
495	Townships 11 and 12 South; thence west along the Alachua-Marion
496	County line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 12
497	South, Range 19 East and the Levy County line; thence westerly
498	along the Levy-Alachua County line, also being the township line
499	between Townships 11 and 12 South, to the southeast corner of
500	Section 36, Township 11 South, Range 17 East; thence north along
501	the Levy-Alachua County line, also being the range line between
502	Ranges 17 and 18 East, to the southerly right-of-way line of
503	State Road No. 24; thence southwesterly along said southerly
504	right-of-way line to the easterly right-of-way line of State
505	Road No. 337; thence southerly, along said easterly right-of-way
506	line of State Road No. 337, to the south line of Section 35,
507	Township 14 South, Range 17 East; thence west along the section
508	line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 15 South,
509	Range 17 East; thence south along the section lines to the
510	southwest corner of Section 27, Township 15 South, Range 17
511	East; thence west to the Gulf of Mexico; thence south along the
512	Gulf of Mexico, including the waters of said gulf within the
513	jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the point of beginning.
514	(e)  South Florida Water Management District.--Begin at the
515	intersection of the north boundary of Lee County with the Gulf
516	of Mexico; thence easterly along the Lee-Charlotte County line
517	to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township 42 South, Range
518	24 East; thence northerly along the section lines to the
519	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 42 South, Range 24 East;
520	thence easterly along the Township line between Townships 41 and
521	42 South to the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 41
522	South, Range 26 East; thence northerly along the Range line
523	between Ranges 25 and 26 East to the northwest corner of Section
524	6, Township 41 South, Range 26 East; thence easterly along the
525	Township line between Townships 40 and 41 South to the southwest
526	corner of Section 31, Township 40 South, Range 27 East; thence
527	northerly along the Range line between Ranges 26 and 27 East to
528	the Charlotte-DeSoto County line; thence easterly along the
529	Charlotte-Desoto County line to the west line of Highlands
530	County; thence northerly along the Highlands-Desoto County line
531	and along the Highlands-Hardee County line to the northwest
532	corner of Township 36 South, Range 28 East; thence east along
533	the north boundary of Township 36 South to the northeast corner
534	of Section 1, Township 36 South, Range 28 East; thence south
535	along the range line to the southeast corner of Section 12,
536	Township 37 South, Range 28 East; thence east along the section
537	line to the northeast corner of Section 15, Township 37 South,
538	Range 29 East; thence south along the section line to the
539	southeast corner of Section 34, Township 37 South, Range 29
540	East; thence east along the township line to the northeast
541	corner of Section 1, Township 38 South, Range 29 East; thence
542	south along the range line to the southeast corner of Section 1,
543	Township 39 South, Range 29 East; thence east along the section
544	line to the northwest corner of Section 11, Township 39 South,
545	Range 30 East; thence north along the section line to the
546	southwest corner of Section 35, Township 38 South, Range 30
547	East; thence east along the township line to the southeast
548	corner of the west 1/4 of Section 35, Township 38 South, Range
549	30 East; thence north along the 1/4-section line of Sections 35,
550	26, and 23, Township 38 South, Range 30 East to the northeast
551	corner of the west 1/4 section of Section 23, Township 38 South,
552	Range 30 East; thence west along the section line to the
553	northwest corner of Section 23, Township 38 South, Range 30
554	East; thence north along the section line to the northwest
555	corner of Section 2, Township 37 South, Range 30 East; thence
556	west along the township line to the southwest corner of Section
557	34, Township 36 South, Range 30 East; thence north along the
558	section line to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 36
559	South, Range 30 East; thence west along the township line to the
560	southwest corner of Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 30
561	East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 29 and 30
562	East, through Townships 35, 34, and 33 South, to the northwest
563	corner of Township 33 South, Range 30 East, being on the
564	Highlands-Polk County line; thence west along the Highlands-Polk
565	County line to the southwest corner of Township 32 South, Range
566	29 East; thence north along the range line between Ranges 28 and
567	29 East, in Townships 32 and 31 South, to the northwest corner
568	of Section 7 in Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence east
569	along the section line to the northeast corner of Section 7,
570	Township 31 South, Range 29 East; thence north along the section
571	line to the northwest corner of Section 17, Township 30 South,
572	Range 29 East; thence east along the section line to the
573	northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 17, Township 30
574	South, Range 29 East; thence north along the 1/2-section line to
575	the northeast corner of the west 1/2 of Section 5, Township 30
576	South, Range 29 East; thence west along the section line to the
577	southwest corner of Section 32, Township 29 South, Range 29
578	East; thence north along the section line to the northeast
579	corner of Section 19 in Township 29 South, Range 29 East; thence
580	west along the south boundaries of Section 18, Township 29
581	South, Range 29 East and Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 in
582	Township 29 South, Range 28 East, to the southwest corner of
583	said Section 17; thence north along the section line to the
584	intersection of said section line with the west shore line of
585	Lake Pierce in Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence
586	following the west shore of Lake Pierce to its intersection
587	again with the west section line of Section 5, Township 29
588	South, Range 28 East; thence north along the section line to the
589	northwest corner of Section 5, Township 29 South, Range 28 East;
590	thence east along the township line to the southwest corner of
591	Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along
592	the section line to the northwest corner of the southwest 1/4 of
593	the southwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28
594	East; thence east along the 1/4-section line to the intersection
595	of said 1/4-section line with Lake Pierce; thence follow the
596	shore line northeasterly to its intersection with the 1/2-
597	section line of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28 East;
598	thence north on the 1/2-section line to the northwest corner of
599	the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South, Range 28
600	East; thence east along the 1/2-section line to the northeast
601	corner of the southeast 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28 South,
602	Range 28 East; thence south along the section line to the
603	northwest corner of Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28 East;
604	thence east along the section line to the northeast corner of
605	Section 3, Township 29 South, Range 28 East; thence north along
606	the section line to the northwest corner of Section 23, Township
607	28 South, Range 28 East; thence west along the section line to
608	the southwest corner of Section 16, Township 28 South, Range 28
609	East; thence north along the section line to the northwest
610	corner of Section 16, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence
611	west along the section line to the southwest corner of Section
612	8, Township 28 South, Range 28 East; thence north along the
613	section line to the northwest corner of Section 5, Township 28
614	South, Range 28 East; thence west along the township line to the
615	intersection of said township line with Lake Marion; thence
616	following the south shore line of Lake Marion to its
617	intersection again with said township line; thence west along
618	the township line to the southeast corner of Section 36,
619	Township 27 South, Range 27 East; thence north along the range
620	line between Ranges 27 and 28 East to the intersection of said
621	range line with Lake Marion; thence following the west shore of
622	Lake Marion to its intersection again with the range line
623	between Ranges 27 and 28 East; thence north along said range
624	line, in Townships 27 and 26 South, to the northwest corner of
625	Township 26 South, Range 28 East, being on the Polk-Osceola
626	County line; thence west along the Polk-Osceola County line to
627	the southwest corner of Township 25 South, Range 27 East; thence
628	northerly along the range line between Ranges 26 and 27 East to
629	the northwest corner of Section 18, Township 23 South, Range 27
630	East; thence easterly along the section lines to the southwest
631	corner of Section 12, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence
632	northerly along the section lines to the northwest corner of
633	Section 1, Township 23 South, Range 27 East; thence easterly
634	along the Township line between Townships 22 and 23 South to the
635	southwest corner of Section 31, Township 22 South, Range 29
636	East; thence northerly along the Range line between Ranges 28
637	and 29 East to the northwest corner of Section 30, Township 22
638	South, Range 29 East; thence easterly along the section lines to
639	the westerly right-of-way line of U.S. Highway 441; thence
640	southerly along the westerly right-of-way line to the
641	intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State Road
642	528A; thence easterly along the northerly right-of-way line to
643	the intersection with the northerly right-of-way line of State
644	Road 528, also known as the Bee Line Expressway; thence easterly
645	along the northerly right-of-way line of State Road 528 to the
646	intersection with the range line between Township 23 South,
647	Range 31 East and Township 23 South, Range 32 East; thence
648	southerly along the Range line between Ranges 31 and 32 East to
649	the Orange-Osceola County line; thence easterly along said
650	county line between Townships 24 and 25 South to the northeast
651	corner of Section 5, Township 25 South, Range 32 East; thence
652	southerly along the section lines to the southeast corner of
653	Section 32, Township 25 South, Range 32 East; thence easterly
654	along the Township line between Townships 25 and 26 South to the
655	northeast corner of Section 1, Township 26 South, Range 32 East;
656	thence southerly along the Range line between Ranges 32 and 33
657	East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 27 South,
658	Range 32 East; thence westerly along the township line between
659	Townships 27 and 28 South, to the northeast corner of Section 1,
660	Township 28 South, Range 32 East; thence southerly along the
661	Range line between Ranges 32 and 33 East to the southeast corner
662	of Section 36, Township 29 South, Range 32 East; thence easterly
663	along the Township line between Townships 29 and 30 South to the
664	northeast corner of Section 1, Township 30 South, Range 33 East;
665	thence southerly along the Range line between Ranges 33 and 34
666	East to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 30 South,
667	Range 33 East; thence westerly along the Township line between
668	Townships 30 and 31 South to the northeast corner of Section 4,
669	Township 31 South, Range 33 East; thence southerly along the
670	section lines to the Osceola-Okeechobee County line; thence
671	easterly along said county line to the northeast corner of
672	Section 3, Township 33 South, Range 34 East; thence southerly
673	along the section lines to the southeast corner of Section 34,
674	Township 34 South, Range 34 East; thence easterly along the
675	Township line between Townships 34 and 35 South to the southwest
676	corner of Section 36, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence
677	northerly along the section lines to the northwest corner of
678	Section 13, Township 34 South, Range 35 East; thence easterly
679	along the section line to the Range line between Ranges 35 and
680	36 East; thence northerly along said Range line to the northwest
681	corner of Section 18, Township 34 South, Range 36 East; thence
682	easterly along the section lines to the southwest corner of
683	Section 10, Township 34 south, Range 36 East; thence northerly
684	along the section line to the northwest corner of said Section
685	10; thence easterly along the section lines to the Okeechobee-
686	St. Lucie County line; thence northerly along said county line
687	to the south line of Indian River County; thence easterly along
688	the St. Lucie-Indian River County line to the Atlantic Ocean;
689	thence southerly along the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico;
690	thence northerly along the Gulf of Mexico, including the waters
691	of said Ocean and of said Gulf and the islands therein within
692	the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to the point of
693	beginning.
694	Section 2.  Section 373.0693, Florida Statutes, is
695	reenacted, and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of that section
696	is amended, to read:
697	373.0693  Basins; basin boards.--
698	(1)(a)  Any areas within a district may be designated by
699	the district governing board as subdistricts or basins. The
700	designations of such basins shall be made by the district
701	governing board by resolutions thereof. The governing board of
702	the district may change the boundaries of such basins, or create
703	new basins, by resolution.
704	(b)  No subdistrict or basin in the St. Johns River Water
705	Management District other than established by this act shall
706	become effective until approved by the Legislature.
707	(2)  Each basin shall be under the control of a basin board
708	which shall be composed of not less than three members, but
709	shall include one representative from each of the counties
710	included in the basin.
711	(3)  Each member of the various basin boards shall serve
712	for a period of 3 years or until a successor is appointed,
713	except that the board membership of each new basin shall be
714	divided into three groups as equally as possible, with members
715	in such groups to be appointed for 1, 2, and 3 years,
716	respectively. Each basin board shall choose a vice chair and a
717	secretary to serve for a period of 1 year. The term of office of
718	a basin board member shall be construed to commence on March 2
719	preceding the date of appointment and to terminate March 1 of
720	the year of the end of a term.
721	(4)  Members of basin boards shall be appointed by the
722	Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate at the next
723	regular session of the Legislature; and the refusal or failure
724	of the Senate to confirm an appointment shall create a vacancy
725	in the office to which the appointment was made.
726	(5)  Basin board members shall receive no compensation for
727	services as such; but, while officially on work for the
728	district, they shall receive their actual travel expenses
729	between their respective places of residence and the place where
730	official district business is conducted, subsistence, lodging,
731	and other expenses in the amount actually incurred. These
732	expenses may not exceed the statutory amount allowed state
733	officers and employees. This subsection applies retroactively to
734	the effective date of the creation of each of the five separate
735	water management districts.
736	(6)(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general
737	or special law to the contrary, a member of the governing board
738	of the district residing in the basin or, if no member resides
739	in the basin, a member of the governing board designated by the
740	chair of the governing board shall be the ex officio chair of
741	the basin board. The ex officio chair shall preside at all
742	meetings of the basin board, except that the vice chair may
743	preside in his or her absence. The ex officio chair shall have
744	no official vote, except in case of a tie vote being cast by the
745	members, but shall be the liaison officer of the district in all
746	affairs in the basin and shall be kept informed of all such
747	affairs.
748	(b)  Basin boards within the Southwest Florida Water
749	Management District shall meet regularly as determined by a
750	majority vote of the basin board members. Subject to notice
751	requirements of chapter 120, special meetings, both emergency
752	and nonemergency, may be called either by the ex officio chair
753	or the elected vice chair of the basin board or upon request of
754	two basin board members. The district staff shall include on the
755	agenda of any basin board meeting any item for discussion or
756	action requested by a member of that basin board. The district
757	staff shall notify any basin board, as well as their respective
758	counties, of any vacancies occurring in the district governing
759	board or their respective basin boards.
760	(7)  At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, the Manasota
761	Watershed Basin of the Ridge and Lower Gulf Coast Water
762	Management District, which is annexed to the Southwest Florida
763	Water Management District by change of its boundaries pursuant
764	to chapter 76-243, Laws of Florida, shall be formed into a
765	subdistrict or basin of the Southwest Florida Water Management
766	District, subject to the same provisions as the other basins in
767	such district. Such subdistrict shall be designated initially as
768	the Manasota Basin. The members of the governing board of the
769	Manasota Watershed Basin of the Ridge and Lower Gulf Coast Water
770	Management District shall become members of the governing board
771	of the Manasota Basin of the Southwest Florida Water Management
772	District. Notwithstanding other provisions in this section,
773	beginning on July 1, 2001, the membership of the Manasota Basin
774	Board shall be comprised of three members from Manatee County
775	and three members from Sarasota County. Matters relating to tie
776	votes shall be resolved pursuant to subsection (6) by the ex
777	officio chair designated by the governing board to vote in case
778	of a tie vote.
779	(8)(a)  At 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 1988, the area
780	transferred from the Southwest Florida Water Management District
781	to the St. Johns River Water Management District by change of
782	boundaries pursuant to chapter 76-243, Laws of Florida, shall
783	cease to be a subdistrict or basin of the St. Johns River Water
784	Management District known as the Oklawaha River Basin and said
785	Oklawaha River Basin shall cease to exist. However, any
786	recognition of an Oklawaha River Basin or an Oklawaha River
787	Hydrologic Basin for regulatory purposes shall be unaffected.
788	The area formerly known as the Oklawaha River Basin shall
789	continue to be part of the St. Johns River Water Management
790	District. There shall be established by the governing board of
791	the St. Johns River Water Management District the Oklawaha River
792	Basin Advisory Council to receive public input and advise the
793	St. Johns River Water Management District's governing board on
794	water management issues affecting the Oklawaha River Basin. The
795	Oklawaha River Basin Advisory Council shall be appointed by
796	action of the St. Johns River Water Management District's
797	governing board and shall include one representative from each
798	county which is wholly or partly included in the Oklawaha River
799	Basin. The St. Johns River Water Management District's governing
800	board member currently serving pursuant to s. 373.073(2)(c)3.
801	shall serve as chair of the Oklawaha River Basin Advisory
802	Council. Members of the Oklawaha River Basin Advisory Council
803	shall receive no compensation for their services but are
804	entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses as
805	provided in s. 112.061.
806	(b)  Also, the entire area of the St. Johns River Water
807	Management District, less those areas formerly in the Oklawaha
808	Basin, shall cease to be a subdistrict or basin of the St. Johns
809	River Water Management District known as the Greater St. Johns
810	River Basin and said Greater St. Johns River Basin shall cease
811	to exist. The area formerly known as the Greater St. Johns River
812	Basin shall continue to be part of the St. Johns River Water
813	Management District.
814	(c)  As of 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 1988, assets and
815	liabilities of the former Oklawaha River and Greater St. Johns
816	River Basins shall be assets and liabilities of the St. Johns
817	River Water Management District. Any contracts, plans, orders,
818	or agreements of such basins shall continue to be in effect, but
819	may be modified or repealed by the St. Johns River Water
820	Management District in accordance with law. For all purposes for
821	assessing and levying the millage rate authorized under s.
822	373.503, subsequent to December 31, 1987, including the purposes
823	of certifying the millage rate for fiscal year 1988-1989,
824	pursuant to chapter 200, said millage rate shall be levied
825	retroactive to January 1, 1988.
826	(9)  At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, a portion of the
827	Big Cypress Basin of the Ridge and Lower Gulf Coast District
828	which is being annexed into the South Florida Water Management
829	District by change of boundaries pursuant to chapter 76-243,
830	Laws of Florida, shall be formed into a subdistrict or basin of
831	the South Florida Water Management District. Such portion shall
832	be designated as the Big Cypress Basin. On or before December
833	31, 1976, the Governor shall appoint not fewer than five persons
834	residing in the area to serve as members of the governing board
835	of the basin, effective at the time of transfer and subject to
836	confirmation by the Senate as provided in subsection (4).
837	(a)  The initial boundaries of the Big Cypress Basin shall
838	be established by resolution of the governing board of Central
839	and Southern Florida Flood Control District, after notice and
840	hearing, and generally shall encompass the Big Cypress Swamp and
841	southwestern coastal area hydrologic cataloging unit, as
842	indicated on River Basin and Hydrologic Unit Map of
843	Florida--1975, Florida Department of Natural Resources, Bureau
844	of Geology Map Series No. 72.
845	(b)  If the governing board shall fail to establish the
846	initial boundaries on or before December 31, 1976, the initial
847	boundaries shall be the same boundaries as described for the Big
848	Cypress Basin of the Ridge and Lower Gulf Coast District.
849	(c)  The governing board of the South Florida Water
850	Management District subsequently may change the boundaries of
851	the basin, but may not abolish the basin.
852	(10)  At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1976, the entire area
853	of the South Florida Water Management District, including all
854	areas being annexed into the district pursuant to chapter 76-
855	243, Laws of Florida, but less those areas in the Big Cypress
856	Basin, shall be formed into a subdistrict or basin of the South
857	Florida Water Management District. Such area shall be designated
858	as the Okeechobee Basin.
859	(a)  The governing board of the South Florida Water
860	Management District shall also serve as the governing board of
861	the Okeechobee Basin.
862	(b)  The governing board of the South Florida Water
863	Management District may change the boundaries of the Okeechobee
864	Basin or may subdivide the basin into smaller basins to be
865	governed by basin boards to be appointed by the Governor,
866	subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided in subsection
867	(4). However, the basin may not be enlarged to include the area
868	included within the initial boundaries of the Big Cypress Basin.
869	(c)  The local effort required in connection with
870	construction, operation, and maintenance of the cooperative
871	federal project referred to as the Central and Southern Florida
872	Flood Control Project, which remains after the upper St. Johns
873	portion is transferred to the St. Johns River Water Management
874	District, shall be funded by tax levies on all taxable property
875	within the Okeechobee Basin. In the event the Okeechobee Basin
876	is subdivided into smaller basins, as authorized in paragraph
877	(b), the governing board shall ascertain the equitable pro rata
878	share for each smaller basin and charge back such share so as to
879	ensure that the portion of the Central and Southern Florida
880	Flood Control Project remaining in the South Florida Water
881	Management District shall continue to be funded on an equal
882	basis throughout the entire Okeechobee Basin as initially
883	described on December 31, 1976.
884	Section 3.  Section 373.0695, Florida Statutes, is
885	reenacted to read:
886	373.0695  Duties of basin boards; authorized
887	expenditures.--
888	(1)  The various boards shall be responsible for
889	discharging the following described functions in their
890	respective basins:
891	(a)  The preparation of engineering plans for development
892	of the water resources of the basin and the conduct of public
893	hearings on such plans.
894	(b)  The development and preparation of overall basin plan
895	of secondary water control facilities for the guidance of
896	subdrainage districts and private land owners in the development
897	of their respective systems of water control which will be
898	connected to the primary works of the basin to complement the
899	engineering plan of primary works for the basin.
900	(c)  The preparation of the annual budget for the basin and
901	the submission of such budget to the governing board of the
902	district for inclusion in the district budget.
903	(d)  The consideration and prior approval of final
904	construction plans of the district for works to be constructed
905	in the basin.
906	(e)  The administration of the affairs of the basin.
907	(f)  Planning for and, upon request by a county,
908	municipality, private utility, or regional water supply
909	authority, providing water supply and transmission facilities
910	for the purpose of assisting such counties, municipalities,
911	private utilities, or regional water supply authorities within
912	or serving the basin.
913	(2)  Basin board moneys shall be utilized for:
914	(a)  Engineering studies of works of the basin.
915	(b)  Payment for the preparation of final plans and
916	specifications for construction of basin works executed by the
917	district.
918	(c)  Payment of costs of construction of works of the basin
919	executed by the district.
920	(d)  Payment for maintenance and operation of basin works
921	as carried out by the district.
922	(e)  Administrative and regulatory activities of the basin.
923	(f)  Payment for real property interests for works of the
924	basin.
925	(g)  Payment of costs of road, bridge, railroad, and
926	utilities modifications and changes resulting from basin works.
927	(3)  The works of the basin shall be those adopted by the
928	respective basin boards. Such works may be adopted jointly with
929	other basins and may be within or without the area of the basin.
930	(4)  In the exercise of the duties and powers granted
931	herein, the basin boards shall be subject to all the limitations
932	and restrictions imposed on the water management districts in s.
933	373.1961.
934	Section 4.  Section 373.073, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
935	and amended to read:
936	373.073  Governing board.--
937	(1)(a)  The governing board of each water management
938	district shall be composed of 9 members who shall reside within
939	the district, except that the Southwest Florida Water Management
940	District shall be composed of 13 members who shall reside within
941	the district. Members of the governing boards shall be nominated
942	by the Florida Public Service Nominating Council created in s.
943	350.031 and appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation
944	by the Senate pursuant to subsection (5) at the next regular
945	session of the Legislature, and the refusal or failure of the
946	Senate to confirm an appointment creates a vacancy in the office
947	to which the appointment was made. The term of office for a
948	governing board member is 4 years and commences on June March 2
949	of the year in which the appointment is confirmed made and
950	terminates on June March 1 of the fourth calendar year of the
951	term or may continue until a successor is appointed, but not
952	more than 180 days. Terms of office of governing board members
953	shall be staggered to help maintain consistency and continuity
954	in the exercise of governing board duties and to minimize
955	disruption in district operations.
956	(b)  Commencing January 1, 1999, the Governor shall appoint
957	the following number of governing board members in each year of
958	the Governor's 4-year term of office:
959	1.  In the first year of the Governor's term of office, the
960	Governor shall appoint three members to the governing board of
961	each district.
962	2.  In the second year of the Governor's term of office,
963	the Governor shall appoint three members to the governing board
964	of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and two
965	members to the governing board of each other district.
966	3.  In the third year of the Governor's term of office, the
967	Governor shall appoint three members to the governing board of
968	the Southwest Florida Water Management District and two members
969	to the governing board of each other district.
970	4.  In the fourth year of the Governor's term of office,
971	the Governor shall appoint two members to the governing board of
972	each district.
973
974	For any governing board vacancy that occurs before the date
975	scheduled for the office to be filled under this paragraph, the
976	nominating council shall nominate and the Governor shall appoint
977	a person meeting residency requirements of subsection (2) for a
978	term that will expire on the date scheduled for the term of that
979	office to terminate under this subsection. In addition to the
980	residency requirements for the governing boards as provided by
981	subsection (2), the Governor shall consider appointing governing
982	board members to represent an equitable cross-section of
983	regional interests and technical expertise.
984	(2)  A person may not be nominated to serve as a member of
985	a water management district governing board until the nominating
986	council has determined that the person has Membership on
987	governing boards shall be selected from candidates who have
988	significant experience in one or more of the following areas,
989	including, but not limited to: agriculture, the development
990	industry, local government, government-owned or privately owned
991	water utilities, law, civil engineering, environmental science,
992	hydrology, accounting, or financial businesses. The council
993	shall nominate appointees to represent an equitable cross-
994	section of regional interests and technical expertise.
995	Recommendations of the nominating council shall be nonpartisan.
996	Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general or special
997	law to the contrary, vacancies in the governing boards of the
998	water management districts shall be filled according to the
999	following residency requirements, representing areas designated
1000	by the United States Water Resources Council in United States
1001	Geological Survey, River Basin and Hydrological Unit Map of
1002	Florida--1975, Map Series No. 72:
1003	(a)  Northwest Florida Water Management District:
1004	1.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1005	designated as the "Perdido River Basin-Perdido Bay Coastal Area-
1006	Lower Conecuh River-Escambia River Basin" hydrologic units and
1007	that portion of the "Escambia Bay Coastal Area" hydrologic unit
1008	which lies west of Pensacola Bay and Escambia Bay.
1009	2.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1010	designated as the "Blackwater River Basin-Yellow River Basin-
1011	Choctawhatchee Bay Coastal Area" hydrologic units and that
1012	portion of the "Escambia Bay Coastal Area" hydrologic unit which
1013	lies east of Pensacola Bay and Escambia Bay.
1014	3.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1015	designated as the "Choctawhatchee River Basin-St. Andrews Bay
1016	Coastal Area" hydrologic units.
1017	4.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1018	designated as the "Lower Chattahoochee-Apalachicola River-
1019	Chipola River Basin-Coastal Area between Ochlockonee River
1020	Apalachicola Rivers-Apalachicola Bay coastal area and offshore
1021	islands" hydrologic units.
1022	5.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1023	designated as the "Ochlockonee River Basin-St. Marks and Wakulla
1024	Rivers and coastal area between Aucilla and Ochlockonee River
1025	Basin" hydrologic units.
1026	6.  Four members shall be appointed at large, except that
1027	no county shall have more than two members on the governing
1028	board.
1029	(b)  Suwannee River Water Management District:
1030	1.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1031	designated as the "Aucilla River Basin" hydrologic unit.
1032	2.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1033	designated as the "Coastal Area between Suwannee and Aucilla
1034	Rivers" hydrologic unit.
1035	3.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1036	designated as the "Withlacoochee River Basin-Alapaha River
1037	Basin-Suwannee River Basin above the Withlacoochee River"
1038	hydrologic units.
1039	4.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1040	designated as the "Suwannee River Basin below the Withlacoochee
1041	River excluding the Santa Fe River Basin" hydrologic unit.
1042	5.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1043	designated as the "Santa Fe Basin-Waccasassa River and coastal
1044	area between Withlacoochee and Suwannee River" hydrologic units.
1045	6.  Four members shall be appointed at large, except that
1046	no county shall have more than two members on the governing
1047	board.
1048	(c)  St. Johns River Water Management District:
1049	1.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1050	designated as the "St. Marys River Basin-Coastal area between
1051	St. Marys and St. Johns Rivers" hydrologic units.
1052	2.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1053	designated as the "St. Johns River Basin below Oklawaha River-
1054	Coastal area between the St. Johns River and Ponce de Leon
1055	Inlet" hydrologic units.
1056	3.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1057	designated as the "Oklawaha River Basin" hydrologic unit.
1058	4.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1059	designated as the "St. Johns River Basin above the Oklawaha
1060	River" hydrologic unit.
1061	5.  One member shall reside in the area generally
1062	designated as the "Coastal area between Ponce de Leon Inlet and
1063	Sebastian Inlet-Coastal area Sebastian Inlet to St. Lucie River"
1064	hydrologic units.
1065	6.  Four members shall be appointed at large, except that
1066	no county shall have more than two members on the governing
1067	board.
1068	(d)  South Florida Water Management District:
1069	1.  Two members shall reside in Dade County.
1070	2.  One member shall reside in Broward County.
1071	3.  One member shall reside in Palm Beach County.
1072	4.  One member shall reside in Collier County, Lee County,
1073	Hendry County, or Charlotte County.
1074	5.  One member shall reside in Glades County, Okeechobee
1075	County, Highlands County, Polk County, Orange County, or Osceola
1076	County.
1077	6.  Two members, appointed at large, shall reside in an
1078	area consisting of St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Dade,
1079	and Monroe Counties.
1080	7.  One member, appointed at large, shall reside in an area
1081	consisting of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, Osceola,
1082	Okeechobee, Polk, Highlands, and Orange Counties.
1083	8.  No county shall have more than three members on the
1084	governing board.
1085	(e)  Southwest Florida Water Management District:
1086	1.  Two members shall reside in Hillsborough County.
1087	2.  One member shall reside in the area consisting of
1088	Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
1089	3.  Two members shall reside in Pinellas County.
1090	4.  One member shall reside in Manatee County.
1091	5.  Two members shall reside in Polk County.
1092	6.  One member shall reside in Pasco County.
1093	7.  One member shall be appointed at large from Levy,
1094	Citrus, Sumter, and Lake Counties.
1095	8.  One member shall be appointed at large from Hardee,
1096	DeSoto, and Highlands Counties.
1097	9.  One member shall be appointed at large from Marion and
1098	Hernando Counties.
1099	10.  One member shall be appointed at large from Sarasota
1100	and Charlotte Counties.
1101	(3)  It is the responsibility of the nominating council to
1102	nominate to the Governor three persons for each vacancy on the
1103	governing boards of any of the five water management districts.
1104	The council shall submit the recommendations to the Governor by
1105	December 31 for the seats of those governing board members whose
1106	terms are to expire the following calendar year, or within 90
1107	days after a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the
1108	expiration of the term.
1109	(4)  The Governor shall select from the list of nominees
1110	provided by the nominating council. The Governor shall fill a
1111	vacancy occurring on the governing board of a water management
1112	district by appointment of one of the applicants nominated by
1113	the council only after a background investigation of such
1114	applicant has been conducted by the Department of Law
1115	Enforcement. If the Governor has not made an appointment within
1116	60 consecutive calendar days after the receipt of the
1117	recommendations, the council shall initiate, in accordance with
1118	this section, the nominating process within 30 days.
1119	(5)  Each appointment to the governing board of a water
1120	management district shall be subject to confirmation by the
1121	Senate during the next regular session after the vacancy occurs.
1122	If the Senate refuses to confirm or fails to consider the
1123	appointment of the Governor, the nominating council shall
1124	initiate, in accordance with this section, the nominating
1125	process within 30 days. Under no circumstances may an appointee
1126	serve on the governing board of a water management district
1127	until confirmed by the Senate.
1128	Section 5.  Subsection (7) of section 373.079, Florida
1129	Statutes, is amended to read:
1130	373.079  Members of governing board; oath of office;
1131	staff.--
1132	(7)  The governing board shall meet at least once a month
1133	and upon call of the chair. The governing board, a basin board,
1134	a committee, or an advisory board may conduct meetings by means
1135	of communications media technology as provided in the uniform
1136	rules of procedure adopted pursuant to s. 120.54.
1137	Section 6.  Section 373.083, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
1138	to read:
1139	373.083  General powers and duties of the governing
1140	board.--In addition to other powers and duties allowed it by
1141	law, the governing board is authorized to:
1142	(1)  Contract with public agencies, private corporations,
1143	or other persons; sue and be sued; and appoint and remove agents
1144	and employees, including specialists and consultants.
1145	(2)  Issue orders to implement or enforce any of the
1146	provisions of this chapter or regulations thereunder.
1147	(3)  Make surveys and investigations of the water supply
1148	and resources of the district and cooperate with other
1149	governmental agencies in similar activities.
1150	(4)  Solicit and accept donations or grants of funds or
1151	services from both public and private sources for the planning
1152	and implementation of district undertakings and delegations,
1153	including, but not limited to, projects, programs, works, and
1154	studies.
1155	(5)  Execute any of the powers, duties, and functions
1156	vested in the governing board through a member or members
1157	thereof, the executive director, or other district staff as
1158	designated by the governing board. The governing board may
1159	establish the scope and terms of any delegation. However, if the
1160	governing board delegates the authority to take final action on
1161	permit applications under part II or part IV, or petitions for
1162	variances or waivers of permitting requirements under part II or
1163	part IV, the governing board shall provide a process for
1164	referring any denial of such application or petition to the
1165	governing board to take final action. The authority in this
1166	subsection is supplemental to any other provision of this
1167	chapter granting authority to the governing board to delegate
1168	specific powers, duties, or functions.
1169	Section 7.  Subsection (3) of section 373.323, Florida
1170	Statutes, is amended to read:
1171	373.323  Licensure of water well contractors; application,
1172	qualifications, and examinations; equipment identification.--
1173	(3)  An applicant who meets the following requirements
1174	shall be entitled to take the water well contractor licensure
1175	examination to practice water well contracting:
1176	(a)  Is at least 18 years of age.
1177	(b)  Has at least 2 years of experience in constructing,
1178	repairing, or abandoning water wells. Satisfactory proof of such
1179	experience shall be demonstrated by providing:
1180	1.  Evidence of the length of time the applicant has been
1181	engaged in the business of the construction, abandonment, and
1182	repair of water wells as a major activity, as attested to by
1183	three letters from any of the following persons:
1184	a.  Water well contractors.
1185	b.  Water well drillers.
1186	c.  Water well parts and equipment vendors.
1187	d.  Water well inspectors employed by a governmental
1188	agency.
1189	2.  A list of at least 10 water wells that the applicant
1190	has constructed, repaired, or abandoned, which includes the
1191	following information:
1192	a.  The name and address of the owner or owners of each
1193	well.
1194	b.  The location, primary use, and approximate depth and
1195	diameter of each well that the applicant has constructed,
1196	repaired, or abandoned.
1197	c.  The approximate date the construction, repair, or
1198	abandonment of each well was completed.
1199	3.  All listed wells must have been constructed, repaired,
1200	or abandoned within 5 years immediately preceding the filing of
1201	the license application. At least 7 of the 10 water wells must
1202	have been constructed by the applicant, as defined in s.
1203	373.303(2).
1204	(c)  Has completed the application form and remitted a
1205	nonrefundable application fee.
1206	Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1207	373.503, Florida Statutes, is amended, subsection (5) is
1208	renumbered as subsection (6), and a new subsection (5) is added
1209	to that section, to read:
1210	373.503  Manner of taxation.--
1211	(3)(a)  Subject to annual authorization by the Legislature
1212	to levy ad valorem taxes under subsection (5), the districts may
1213	levy ad valorem taxes on property within the district solely for
1214	the purposes of this chapter and of chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of
1215	Florida, as amended, and chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, as
1216	amended. The authority to levy ad valorem taxes as provided in
1217	this act shall commence with the year 1977. However, the taxes
1218	levied for 1977 by the governing boards pursuant to this section
1219	shall be prorated to ensure that no such taxes will be levied
1220	for the first 4 days of the tax year, which days will fall prior
1221	to the effective date of the amendment to s. 9(b), Art. VII of
1222	the State Constitution, which was approved March 9, 1976. When
1223	appropriate, taxes levied by each governing board may be
1224	separated by the governing board into a millage necessary for
1225	the purposes of the district and a millage necessary for
1226	financing basin functions specified in s. 373.0695. Beginning
1227	with the taxing year 1977, and Notwithstanding the provisions of
1228	any other general or special law to the contrary and subject to
1229	annual authorization by the Legislature to levy ad valorem taxes
1230	under subsection (5), the maximum total millage rate for
1231	district and basin purposes shall be:
1232	1.  Northwest Florida Water Management District: 0.05 mill.
1233	2.  Suwannee River Water Management District: 0.75 mill.
1234	3.  St. Johns River Water Management District: 0.6 mill.
1235	4.  Southwest Florida Water Management District: 1.0 mill.
1236	5.  South Florida Water Management District: 0.80 mill.
1237	(5)  To ensure that the taxes authorized by this chapter
1238	continue to be in proportion to the benefits derived by the
1239	several parcels of real estate within the districts, the
1240	Legislature shall annually review the authorized millage rate
1241	for each district and annually set the maximum amount of revenue
1242	authorized to be raised by each district from the taxes
1243	authorized by this chapter. However, if the annual maximum
1244	amount of revenue authorized to be raised by each district is
1245	not set by the Legislature on or before July 1 of each year,
1246	each district is authorized to raise the amount of revenue
1247	authorized by the Legislature in the preceding fiscal year and
1248	adjusted by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index
1249	for the preceding fiscal year.
1250	Section 9.  Subsections (1) and (2) and paragraphs (c),
1251	(e), and (f) of subsection (5) of section 373.536, Florida
1252	Statutes, are amended, to read:
1253	373.536  District budget and hearing thereon.--
1254	(1)  FISCAL YEAR.--The fiscal year of districts created
1255	under the provisions of this chapter shall extend from July
1256	October 1 of one year through June September 30 of the following
1257	year.
1258	(2)  BUDGET SUBMITTAL.--The budget officer of the district
1259	shall, on or before July 15 of each year, submit for
1260	consideration by the governing board of the district a tentative
1261	budget for the district covering its proposed operations and
1262	funding requirements for the ensuing fiscal year.
1263	(5)  TENTATIVE BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION; REVIEW AND
1264	APPROVAL.--
1265	(c)  Each water management district shall, by February
1266	August 1 of each year, submit for review a tentative budget to
1267	the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
1268	House of Representatives, the chairs of all legislative
1269	committees and subcommittees with substantive or fiscal
1270	jurisdiction over water management districts, as determined by
1271	the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of
1272	Representatives as applicable, the secretary of the department,
1273	and the governing body of each county in which the district has
1274	jurisdiction or derives any funds for the operations of the
1275	district.
1276	(e)  By September 5 of the year in which the budget is
1277	submitted, the House and Senate appropriations chairs may
1278	transmit to each district comments and objections to the
1279	proposed budgets. Each district governing board shall include a
1280	response to such comments and objections in the record of the
1281	governing board meeting where final adoption of the budget takes
1282	place, and the record of this meeting shall be transmitted to
1283	the Executive Office of the Governor, the department, and the
1284	chairs of the House and Senate appropriations committees.
1285	(e)(f)  The Executive Office of the Governor shall
1286	annually, on or before September December 15, file with the
1287	Legislature a report that summarizes its review of the water
1288	management districts' tentative budgets and displays the adopted
1289	budget allocations by program area. The report must identify the
1290	districts that are not in compliance with the reporting
1291	requirements of this section. State funds shall be withheld from
1292	a water management district that fails to comply with these
1293	reporting requirements.
1294	Section 10.  For the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 fiscal years,
1295	notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the water management
1296	districts are directed to budget and plan for their fiscal
1297	management to conform to the provisions of this act.
1298	Section 11.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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