HB 741

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the Lake Worth Drainage District, Palm
3Beach County; amending chapter 2009-258, Laws of Florida;
4authorizing the district to develop and operate water
5supply sources and facilities and to enter into interlocal
6agreements with local governments and public and private
7utilities for such purpose; providing for issuance of
8notes and bonds; prohibiting the district from engaging in
9retail water sales; providing an effective date.
10
11Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13     Section 1.  Section 3 of section 3 of chapter 2009-258,
14Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
15     Section 3.  Powers of district.-
16     (1)  The district shall have the power to sue and be sued
17by its name in any court of law or in equity; to make contracts;
18to adopt and use a corporate seal and to alter the same at
19pleasure; to acquire by purchase, gift, or condemnation real and
20personal property, either or both, within or without the
21district, and to convey and dispose of such real and personal
22property, either or both, as may be necessary or convenient to
23carry out the purposes, or any of the purposes, of this act and
24chapter 298, Florida Statutes; to construct, operate, renovate,
25and maintain canals, ditches, drains, levees, and other works
26for drainage and irrigation purposes; to acquire, purchase,
27operate, and maintain pumps, plants, and pumping systems for
28drainage and irrigation purposes; to construct, operate, and
29maintain all types of irrigation works, machinery, and plants;
30to construct, improve, and maintain roadways and roads necessary
31and convenient for the exercise of the powers and duties, or any
32of the powers or duties, of the district or the supervisors
33thereof; to borrow money and issue negotiable or other bonds of
34the district as hereinafter provided; to borrow money from time
35to time and issue negotiable or other notes of the district
36therefor, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding the maximum
37rate allowed by general law for public bodies, agencies, and
38political subdivisions as provided in section 215.84, Florida
39Statutes, in anticipation of collection of taxes, levies, and
40assessments or revenues of the district, and to pledge or
41hypothecate such taxes, levies, assessments, and revenues to
42secure such bonds, notes, or obligations, and to sell, discount,
43negotiate, and dispose of the same; and to exercise all other
44powers necessary, convenient, or proper in connection with any
45of the powers or duties of the district stated in this act. The
46powers and duties of the district shall be exercised by and
47through a board of supervisors, which shall have the authority
48to employ engineers, attorneys, agents, employees, and
49representatives as the board may from time to time determine,
50and to fix their compensation and duties.
51     (2)  The district is further authorized and empowered to
52develop, acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and finance
53water supply sources and facilities, including, but not limited
54to, sources defined pursuant to section 373.019(1), Florida
55Statutes, subject to all applicable federal, state, and local
56laws and regulations. The district may also enter into any
57contract or interlocal agreement with a local government or a
58public or private utility related to the aforementioned power.
59     (3)  The district may borrow money and issue notes and
60bonds for the development, acquisition, construction, operation,
61finance, or maintenance of water supply sources or facilities.
62However, any notes or bonds shall be secured pursuant to the
63terms of any water supply or finance agreement with public or
64private entities. Such notes or bonds shall not be payable from
65any district revenue. All costs of the development, acquisition,
66construction, operation, finance, or maintenance of water supply
67sources or facilities shall be the obligation of the signatories
68to any water supply or finance agreements other than the
69district.
70     (4)  The district may not engage in retail sales of public
71water supplies or otherwise act as a water utility.
72     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


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