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

  1                      A bill to be entitled
  2         An act relating to water resources; creating
  3         the 2020 Water Study Commission; providing for
  4         appointment and qualification of members,
  5         providing duties of the commission; providing
  6         for public hearings; providing for an executive
  7         director and technical advisory committees;
  8         requiring reports; providing duties of the
  9         Department of Environmental Protection;
10         providing an appropriation; providing an
11         effective date.
12  
13         WHEREAS, the management of the water resources of the
14  state is critical to the preservation of Florida's unique
15  natural systems and to the protection of the health and
16  welfare of the people of the state, and
17         WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has enacted into law a
18  series of water resource planning and regulatory programs
19  aimed at the protection, preservation, restoration, and
20  enhancement of the state's water resources, and
21         WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has also enacted laws
22  to encourage conservation, the efficient use of water, and the
23  development of cost-effective alternative water supply
24  technologies in order to minimize dependence upon historic
25  water supply sources, and
26         WHEREAS, despite these efforts, the future availability
27  of water necessary to maintain the state's natural systems,
28  and to meet the future demands of the state's agricultural and
29  urban areas, remains in question, and
30         WHEREAS, regular evaluation of the Florida Water Plan
31  and district or regional water supply plans, including the

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 1  alternative water supply development provisions, is necessary
 2  to determine whether state goals are being attained and
 3  necessary revisions should be prepared through coordinated
 4  action by state and regional agencies and local governments,
 5  and
 6         WHEREAS, local and regional governments throughout the
 7  state repeatedly request funding assistance from the state to
 8  address their water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure
 9  needs, and
10         WHEREAS, the Legislature finds there is a need to
11  comprehensively consider how the multi-billion dollar water
12  resources infrastructure needs are to be met, in order to
13  preserve and enhance the quality of the state's water
14  resources and protect the health and welfare of the people of
15  the state, NOW, THEREFORE,
16  
17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18 
19         Section 1.  (1)  The 2020 Water Study Commission is
20  created. The commission shall be composed of 17 voting
21  members, 7 of whom are appointed by the Governor, 5 of whom
22  are appointed by the President of the Senate, and 5 of whom
23  are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
24  In addition, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of
25  Community Affairs, and the secretary of the Department of
26  Environmental Protection or their designees shall serve as ex
27  officio nonvoting members of the commission. The Governor's
28  appointments must include at least one appointment from each
29  of the following interest groups:
30         (a)  Business interests, such as development or real
31  estate.

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 1         (b)  Agricultural interests, such as farming, forestry,
 2  aquaculture, or silvaculture.
 3         (c)  Environmental interests, such as resource-based
 4  conservation and environmental quality or conservation groups.
 5         (d)  Community representatives, such as citizen groups,
 6  not-for-profit community associations, citizen planners, 
 7  affordable housing groups.
 8         (e)  Local and regional governments, such as
 9  municipalities, counties, special districts, metropolitan
10  planning organizations, water management districts, or
11  regional planning councils.
12         (f)  Water resources management and planning
13  specialists, such as professional planners, attorneys,
14  engineers, or architects.
15  
16  The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
17  Representatives shall each select one appointee from five of
18  the six categories listed in paragraphs (a)-(f) and, in
19  addition, shall each appoint two members from their respective
20  chambers of the Legislature to serve on the commission as ex
21  officio nonvoting members. Appointments under this subsection
22  shall be made by July 1, 2004, and the first meeting of the
23  commission shall be held no later than September 1, 2004. The
24  chair of the commission shall be elected from the voting
25  members by the majority of the membership at its first
26  meeting. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the
27  commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
28  appointment.
29         (2)  Each voting member of the commission is entitled
30  to one vote, and action of the commission requires a
31  two-thirds vote of the members present. However, action of the

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 1  commission may be taken only at a meeting at which a majority
 2  of the voting commission members are present.
 3         (3)  The commission shall review the operation and
 4  implementation of Florida's water resource management and
 5  planning laws, including, but not limited to, chapters 163,
 6  373, and 403, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of formulating
 7  specific recommendations relating to the following:
 8         (a)  The funding for the cleanup of all the water
 9  bodies that have been determined by the Department of
10  Environmental Protection pursuant to section 403.067, Florida
11  Statutes, to be impaired;
12         (b)  Identification of regulatory and financial
13  incentives to local governments to increase the amount of
14  water utility collection fees dedicated to the implementation
15  of conservation and water-reclamation projects;
16         (c)  Simplification and streamlining of permitting
17  processes at both the state and federal levels for alternative
18  water supply technologies;
19         (d)  Increased use of water reuse, including resolution
20  of disputes relating to the determination of feasibility of
21  infrastructure financing and development and colocation of
22  power generating facilities;
23         (e)  Identification of the appropriate role of the
24  state in assisting local governments in the implementation of
25  alternative water supply projects, including, without
26  limitation, the provision of further financial and technical
27  assistance;
28         (f)  Promotion of cost-effective agricultural water
29  conservation practices, including providing long-term funding
30  support for the Urban Irrigation Laboratory Programs; and
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 1         (g)  Citizen participation in education about and the
 2  promotion of water resource protection and conservation
 3  programs.
 4         (4)  At least six public hearings must be held by the
 5  commission in different regions of the state to solicit input
 6  from the public on how they want the state, regional agencies,
 7  and their municipalities and counties to provide for the
 8  protection and enhancement of the state's water resources.
 9         (5)  The commission shall, by February 1, 2005, provide
10  to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
11  Representatives, and the Governor an interim written report of
12  the specific recommendations that may be formulated at that
13  time. A final written report shall be provided to the same
14  officers by February 1, 2006, with recommendations for all the
15  issues identified in paragraphs (3)(a)-(g), including
16  legislative recommendations
17         (6)  The commission may establish and appoint any
18  necessary technical advisory committees. Commission members,
19  and the members of any technical advisory committees that are
20  appointed, shall not receive remuneration for their services,
21  but members other than public officers and employees are
22  entitled to be reimbursed by the Department of Environmental
23  Protection for travel or per diem expenses in accordance with
24  chapter 112, Florida Statutes. Public officers and employees
25  shall be reimbursed by their respective agencies in accordance
26  with chapter 112, Florida Statutes.
27         (7)  The commission may select an executive director
28  who shall report to the commission and serve at its pleasure.
29  The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide other
30  staff and consultants after consultation with the commission.
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 1  Funding for these expenses shall be provided through the
 2  Department of Environmental Protection.
 3         (8)  Each commission member may receive per diem and
 4  expenses for travel, as provided in section 112.061, Florida
 5  Statutes, while carrying out official business of the
 6  commission.
 7         (9)  All agencies under the control of the Governor are
 8  directed, and all other agencies are requested, to render
 9  assistance and cooperation to the commission.
10         (10)  The commission shall continue in existence until
11  its objectives are achieved, but not later than September 1,
12  2006.
13         Section 2.  The sum of $250,000 is appropriated from
14  the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Environmental
15  Protection to implement this act.
16         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
17  law.
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20                          SENATE SUMMARY
21    Creates the 2020 Water Study Commission, composed of
        appointees of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
22    and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
         nonvoting ex officio members, to study state water
23    resource management and planning laws and make
         recommendations with respect to water resource protection
24    and use. Requires a final report, with recommendations, by February 1, 2006.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.