| 2 | The Committee on Procedures recommends the following: |
| 3 |
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| 4 | Committee Substitute |
| 5 | Remove the entire bill and insert: |
| 6 | House Resolution |
| 7 | A resolution recognizing March 31, 2004, as "Local Water |
| 8 | Sources First Day," supporting the continued inclusion of |
| 9 | a "local sources first" policy in chapter 373, Florida |
| 10 | Statutes, and opposing any amendments to the state's water |
| 11 | resource policy that are inconsistent with the public |
| 12 | interest. |
| 13 |
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| 14 | WHEREAS, Florida's water resources are a natural resource |
| 15 | and not a commodity to be sold or transferred to the highest |
| 16 | bidder, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives supports the |
| 18 | local water sources first policy currently in state law, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives recognizes |
| 20 | that the continued retention of the local water sources first |
| 21 | policy is integral to protecting the state's water resources, |
| 22 | advancing long-term sustainable water resource development and |
| 23 | supply systems, and preserving the rights and opportunities of |
| 24 | local residents to secure and sustain their future prosperity |
| 25 | and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of local water |
| 26 | resources, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives supports the |
| 28 | fundamental principles of the Florida Water Resources Act of |
| 29 | 1972 which require that a proposed use of water be reasonable |
| 30 | and beneficial, not interfere with an existing legal use of |
| 31 | water, and be consistent with the public interest, and |
| 32 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives opposes |
| 33 | legislation that shifts water supply allocation from a publicly |
| 34 | regulated process to a market-driven process, and |
| 35 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives opposes |
| 36 | legislation that undermines a fundamental principle of water |
| 37 | resources law which establishes a right of use rather than a |
| 38 | right of ownership, and |
| 39 | WHEREAS, the Florida House of Representatives believes that |
| 40 | any discussion of regional water transfer, before using local |
| 41 | water sources or alternatives, is premature until minimum flows |
| 42 | and levels have been established for all of the state's water |
| 43 | resources, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 44 |
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| 45 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 46 | Florida: |
| 47 |
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| 48 | That the Florida House of Representatives recognizes March |
| 49 | 31, 2004, as "Local Water Sources First Day," opposes any |
| 50 | modifications to the fundamental provisions of chapter 373, |
| 51 | Florida Statutes, as they relate to the current "local sources |
| 52 | first" policy, and encourages its legislative colleagues and the |
| 53 | Governor to join in this opposition. |