HB 13

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to onsite sewage treatment and disposal
3systems; amending s. 381.0065, F.S.; revising legislative
4intent; eliminating provisions directing the Department of
5Health to create and administer a statewide septic tank
6evaluation program; eliminating procedures and criteria
7for the evaluation program; repealing s. 381.00656, F.S.,
8to terminate the grant program for repair of onsite sewage
9treatment disposal systems identified pursuant to the
10evaluation program, to conform; amending s. 381.0066,
11F.S.; eliminating provisions authorizing the department to
12collect an evaluation report fee; eliminating provisions
13relating to disposition of fee proceeds and a revenue-
14neutral fee schedule; providing an effective date.
15
16Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18     Section 1.  Subsections (1), (5), (6), and (7) of section
19381.0065, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
20     381.0065  Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems;
21regulation.-
22     (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-
23     (a)  It is the intent of the Legislature that proper
24management of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems is
25paramount to the health, safety, and welfare of the public. It
26is further the intent of the Legislature that the department
27shall administer an evaluation program to ensure the operational
28condition of the system and identify any failure with the
29system.
30     (b)  It is the intent of the Legislature that where a
31publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system is not
32available, the department shall issue permits for the
33construction, installation, modification, abandonment, or repair
34of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems under conditions
35as described in this section and rules adopted under this
36section. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the
37installation and use of onsite sewage treatment and disposal
38systems not adversely affect the public health or significantly
39degrade the groundwater or surface water.
40     (5)  EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT.-
41     (a)  Beginning January 1, 2011, the department shall
42administer an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system
43evaluation program for the purpose of assessing the fundamental
44operational condition of systems and identifying any failures
45within the systems. The department shall adopt rules
46implementing the program standards, procedures, and
47requirements, including, but not limited to, a schedule for a 5-
48year evaluation cycle, requirements for the pump-out of a system
49or repair of a failing system, enforcement procedures for
50failure of a system owner to obtain an evaluation of the system,
51and failure of a contractor to timely submit evaluation results
52to the department and the system owner. The department shall
53ensure statewide implementation of the evaluation and assessment
54program by January 1, 2016.
55     (b)  Owners of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal
56system, excluding a system that is required to obtain an
57operating permit, shall have the system evaluated at least once
58every 5 years to assess the fundamental operational condition of
59the system, and identify any failure within the system.
60     (c)  All evaluation procedures must be documented and
61nothing in this subsection limits the amount of detail an
62evaluator may provide at his or her professional discretion. The
63evaluation must include a tank and drainfield evaluation, a
64written assessment of the condition of the system, and, if
65necessary, a disclosure statement pursuant to the department's
66procedure.
67     (d)1.  Systems being evaluated that were installed prior to
68January 1, 1983, shall meet a minimum 6-inch separation from the
69bottom of the drainfield to the wettest season water table
70elevation as defined by department rule. All drainfield repairs,
71replacements or modifications to systems installed prior to
72January 1, 1983, shall meet a minimum 12-inch separation from
73the bottom of the drainfield to the wettest season water table
74elevation as defined by department rule.
75     2.  Systems being evaluated that were installed on or after
76January 1, 1983, shall meet a minimum 12-inch separation from
77the bottom of the drainfield to the wettest season water table
78elevation as defined by department rule. All drainfield repairs,
79replacements or modification to systems developed on or after
80January 1, 1983, shall meet a minimum 24-inch separation from
81the bottom of the drainfield to the wettest season water table
82elevation.
83     (e)  If documentation of a tank pump-out or a permitted new
84installation, repair, or modification of the system within the
85previous 5 years is provided, and states the capacity of the
86tank and indicates that the condition of the tank is not a
87sanitary or public health nuisance pursuant to department rule,
88a pump-out of the system is not required.
89     (f)  Owners are responsible for paying the cost of any
90required pump-out, repair, or replacement pursuant to department
91rule, and may not request partial evaluation or the omission of
92portions of the evaluation.
93     (g)  Each evaluation or pump-out required under this
94subsection must be performed by a septic tank contractor or
95master septic tank contractor registered under part III of
96chapter 489, a professional engineer with wastewater treatment
97system experience licensed pursuant to chapter 471, or an
98environmental health professional certified under chapter 381 in
99the area of onsite sewage treatment and disposal system
100evaluation.
101     (h)  The evaluation report fee collected pursuant to s.
102381.0066(2)(b) shall be remitted to the department by the
103evaluator at the time the report is submitted.
104     (i)  Prior to any evaluation deadline, the department must
105provide a minimum of 60 days' notice to owners that their
106systems must be evaluated by that deadline. The department may
107include a copy of any homeowner educational materials developed
108pursuant to this section which provides information on the
109proper maintenance of onsite sewage treatment and disposal
110systems.
111     (5)(6)  ENFORCEMENT; RIGHT OF ENTRY; CITATIONS.-
112     (a)  Department personnel who have reason to believe
113noncompliance exists, may at any reasonable time, enter the
114premises permitted under ss. 381.0065-381.0066, or the business
115premises of any septic tank contractor or master septic tank
116contractor registered under part III of chapter 489, or any
117premises that the department has reason to believe is being
118operated or maintained not in compliance, to determine
119compliance with the provisions of this section, part I of
120chapter 386, or part III of chapter 489 or rules or standards
121adopted under ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part I of chapter 386, or
122part III of chapter 489. As used in this paragraph, the term
123"premises" does not include a residence or private building. To
124gain entry to a residence or private building, the department
125must obtain permission from the owner or occupant or secure an
126inspection warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction.
127     (b)1.  The department may issue citations that may contain
128an order of correction or an order to pay a fine, or both, for
129violations of ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part I of chapter 386, or
130part III of chapter 489 or the rules adopted by the department,
131when a violation of these sections or rules is enforceable by an
132administrative or civil remedy, or when a violation of these
133sections or rules is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A
134citation issued under ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part I of chapter
135386, or part III of chapter 489 constitutes a notice of proposed
136agency action.
137     2.  A citation must be in writing and must describe the
138particular nature of the violation, including specific reference
139to the provisions of law or rule allegedly violated.
140     3.  The fines imposed by a citation issued by the
141department may not exceed $500 for each violation. Each day the
142violation exists constitutes a separate violation for which a
143citation may be issued.
144     4.  The department shall inform the recipient, by written
145notice pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57, of the right to an
146administrative hearing to contest the citation within 21 days
147after the date the citation is received. The citation must
148contain a conspicuous statement that if the recipient fails to
149pay the fine within the time allowed, or fails to appear to
150contest the citation after having requested a hearing, the
151recipient has waived the recipient's right to contest the
152citation and must pay an amount up to the maximum fine.
153     5.  The department may reduce or waive the fine imposed by
154the citation. In determining whether to reduce or waive the
155fine, the department must consider the gravity of the violation,
156the person's attempts at correcting the violation, and the
157person's history of previous violations including violations for
158which enforcement actions were taken under ss. 381.0065-
159381.0067, part I of chapter 386, part III of chapter 489, or
160other provisions of law or rule.
161     6.  Any person who willfully refuses to sign and accept a
162citation issued by the department commits a misdemeanor of the
163second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
164775.083.
165     7.  The department, pursuant to ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part
166I of chapter 386, or part III of chapter 489, shall deposit any
167fines it collects in the county health department trust fund for
168use in providing services specified in those sections.
169     8.  This section provides an alternative means of enforcing
170ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part I of chapter 386, and part III of
171chapter 489. This section does not prohibit the department from
172enforcing ss. 381.0065-381.0067, part I of chapter 386, or part
173III of chapter 489, or its rules, by any other means. However,
174the department must elect to use only a single method of
175enforcement for each violation.
176     (6)(7)  LAND APPLICATION OF SEPTAGE PROHIBITED.-Effective
177January 1, 2016, the land application of septage from onsite
178sewage treatment and disposal systems is prohibited. By February
1791, 2011, the department, in consultation with the Department of
180Environmental Protection, shall provide a report to the
181Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
182House of Representatives, recommending alternative methods to
183establish enhanced treatment levels for the land application of
184septage from onsite sewage and disposal systems. The report
185shall include, but is not limited to, a schedule for the
186reduction in land application, appropriate treatment levels,
187alternative methods for treatment and disposal, enhanced
188application site permitting requirements including any
189requirements for nutrient management plans, and the range of
190costs to local governments, affected businesses, and individuals
191for alternative treatment and disposal methods. The report shall
192also include any recommendations for legislation or rule
193authority needed to reduce land application of septage.
194     Section 2.  Section 381.00656, Florida Statutes, is
195repealed:
196     381.00656  Grant program for repair of onsite sewage
197treatment disposal systems.-Effective January 1, 2012, the
198department shall administer a grant program to assist owners of
199onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems identified pursuant
200to s. 381.0065 or the rules adopted thereunder. A grant under
201the program may be awarded to an owner only for the purpose of
202inspecting, pumping, repairing, or replacing a system serving a
203single-family residence occupied by an owner with a family
204income of less than or equal to 133 percent of the federal
205poverty level at the time of application. The department may
206prioritize applications for an award of grant funds based upon
207the severity of a system's failure, its relative environmental
208impact, the income of the family, or any combination thereof.
209The department shall adopt rules establishing the grant
210application and award process, including an application form.
211The department shall seek to make grants in each fiscal year
212equal to the total amount of grant funds available, with any
213excess funds used for grant awards in subsequent fiscal years.
214     Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 381.0066, Florida
215Statutes, is amended to read:
216     381.0066  Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems;
217fees.-
218     (2)  The minimum fees in the following fee schedule apply
219until changed by rule by the department within the following
220limits:
221     (a)  Application review, permit issuance, or system
222inspection, including repair of a subsurface, mound, filled, or
223other alternative system or permitting of an abandoned system: a
224fee of not less than $25, or more than $125.
225     (b)  A 5-year evaluation report submitted pursuant to s.
226381.0065(5): a fee not less than $15, or more than $30. At least
227$1 and no more than $5 collected pursuant to this paragraph
228shall be used to fund a grant program established under s.
229381.00656.
230     (b)(c)  Site evaluation, site reevaluation, evaluation of a
231system previously in use, or a per annum septage disposal site
232evaluation: a fee of not less than $40, or more than $115.
233     (c)(d)  Biennial Operating permit for aerobic treatment
234units or performance-based treatment systems: a fee of not more
235than $100.
236     (d)(e)  Annual operating permit for systems located in
237areas zoned for industrial manufacturing or equivalent uses or
238where the system is expected to receive wastewater which is not
239domestic in nature: a fee of not less than $150, or more than
240$300.
241     (e)(f)  Innovative technology: a fee not to exceed $25,000.
242     (f)(g)  Septage disposal service, septage stabilization
243facility, portable or temporary toilet service, tank
244manufacturer inspection: a fee of not less than $25, or more
245than $200, per year.
246     (g)(h)  Application for variance: a fee of not less than
247$150, or more than $300.
248     (h)(i)  Annual operating permit for waterless,
249incinerating, or organic waste composting toilets: a fee of not
250less than $50, or more than $150.
251     (i)(j)  Aerobic treatment unit or performance-based
252treatment system maintenance entity permit: a fee of not less
253than $25, or more than $150, per year.
254     (j)(k)  Reinspection fee per visit for site inspection
255after system construction approval or for noncompliant system
256installation per site visit: a fee of not less than $25, or more
257than $100.
258     (k)(l)  Research: An additional $5 fee shall be added to
259each new system construction permit issued to be used to fund
260onsite sewage treatment and disposal system research,
261demonstration, and training projects. Five dollars from any
262repair permit fee collected under this section shall be used for
263funding the hands-on training centers described in s.
264381.0065(3)(j).
265     (l)(m)  Annual operating permit, including annual
266inspection and any required sampling and laboratory analysis of
267effluent, for an engineer-designed performance-based system: a
268fee of not less than $150, or more than $300.
269
270On or before January 1, 2011, the Surgeon General, after
271consultation with the Revenue Estimating Conference, shall
272determine a revenue neutral fee schedule for services provided
273pursuant to s. 381.0065(5) within the parameters set in
274paragraph (b). Such determination is not subject to the
275provisions of chapter 120. The funds collected pursuant to this
276subsection must be deposited in a trust fund administered by the
277department, to be used for the purposes stated in this section
278and ss. 381.0065 and 381.00655.
279     Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


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