| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to Key Largo Wastewater Treatment |
| 3 | District, Monroe County; amending chapter 2002-337, Laws |
| 4 | of Florida; providing for liens against real property |
| 5 | under certain circumstances involving delinquent fees, |
| 6 | rentals, or other charges; providing an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section 4 of |
| 11 | section 1 of chapter 2002-337, Laws of Florida, is amended to |
| 12 | read: |
| 13 | Section 4. District powers, functions, and duties.-- |
| 14 | (2) The district is hereby authorized and empowered: |
| 15 | (j) To fix and collect rates, rentals, fees, and charges |
| 16 | for the use of any wastewater management system facilities. The |
| 17 | district may provide for reasonable penalties against any user |
| 18 | for any such rates, fees, rentals, or other charges that are |
| 19 | delinquent. In the event that such delinquency occurs and such |
| 20 | fees, rentals, or other charges are not paid and remain |
| 21 | delinquent for 30 days or more, the district may discontinue and |
| 22 | shut off services until such fees, rentals, or other charges, |
| 23 | including interest, penalties, and charges for shutting off, |
| 24 | discontinuing, and restoring such services, are fully paid. The |
| 25 | district may enter on lands, waters, and premises of any person, |
| 26 | firm, corporation, or other body for the purpose of |
| 27 | discontinuing and shutting off services under such |
| 28 | circumstances. Further, such delinquent fees, rentals, or other |
| 29 | charges, together with interest, penalties, and charges for |
| 30 | shutting off, discontinuing, and restoring such services, and |
| 31 | reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses shall constitute a |
| 32 | lien, subject to the limitations in s. 4, Art. X of the State |
| 33 | Constitution, on the real property against which such fees, |
| 34 | rentals, or other charges were assessed, coequal with any lien |
| 35 | of state, county, or municipal taxes and superior and paramount |
| 36 | to all other liens, titles, and claims against such property, |
| 37 | and may be recovered by the district by suit in any court of |
| 38 | competent jurisdiction. The district may also enforce payment by |
| 39 | any other lawful method of enforcement. |
| 40 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |