| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to water management districts; creating s. |
| 3 | 373.1138, F.S.; defining the term "direct-support |
| 4 | organization"; authorizing water management districts to |
| 5 | allow direct-support organizations to use certain |
| 6 | properties and facilities; authorizing water management |
| 7 | districts to establish rules for such use; providing |
| 8 | eligibility requirements for such use; requiring direct- |
| 9 | support organizations to provide for an annual financial |
| 10 | audit; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. Section 373.1138, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 15 | to read: |
| 16 | 373.1138 Water management district direct-support |
| 17 | organization; definition; use of property; audit.-- |
| 18 | (1) DEFINITION.--For the purpose of this section, the term |
| 19 | "direct-support organization" means an organization that is all |
| 20 | of the following: |
| 21 | (a) A not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the |
| 22 | provisions of chapter 617 that is exempted from filing fees and |
| 23 | approved by the Department of State. |
| 24 | (b) Organized and operated to conduct programs and |
| 25 | activities; initiate developmental projects; raise funds; |
| 26 | request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of moneys; |
| 27 | acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, |
| 28 | securities, funds, objects of value, or other property, real or |
| 29 | personal; and make expenditures to or for the direct or indirect |
| 30 | benefit of a water management district. |
| 31 | (c) Determined by a water management district to be |
| 32 | consistent with the priority issues and objectives of the water |
| 33 | management district and in the best interest of the state. |
| 34 | (d) Approved in writing by the governing board of a water |
| 35 | management district to operate for the direct or indirect |
| 36 | benefit of the water management district. Such approval shall be |
| 37 | in a letter of agreement from the water management district. |
| 38 | (2) USE OF PROPERTY.-- |
| 39 | (a) The water management district may permit, without |
| 40 | charge, appropriate use of fixed property and facilities of the |
| 41 | water management district by a direct-support organization |
| 42 | subject to the provisions of this section. Such use must be |
| 43 | directly in keeping with the approved purpose of the direct- |
| 44 | support organization and may not be made at times or places that |
| 45 | would unreasonably interfere with opportunities for staff to use |
| 46 | the areas for established purposes. |
| 47 | (b) The water management district may prescribe by rule |
| 48 | any condition with which a direct-support organization shall |
| 49 | comply in order to use fixed property or facilities of the water |
| 50 | management district. |
| 51 | (c) The water management district shall not permit the use |
| 52 | of any fixed property or facilities of the water management |
| 53 | district by a direct-support organization that does not provide |
| 54 | equal membership and employment opportunities to all persons |
| 55 | regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national |
| 56 | origin. |
| 57 | (3) ANNUAL AUDIT.--The direct-support organization shall |
| 58 | provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s. |
| 59 | 215.981. |
| 60 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |