Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1408
       
       
        
       By Senator Evers
       
       
       
       
       
       2-01158B-15                                           20151408__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to water resources; amending s.
    3         373.227, F.S.; prohibiting permitted allocation
    4         amounts from being modified if actual water use is
    5         less than permitted water use due to documented
    6         implementation of water conservation measures;
    7         requiring the water management districts to adopt
    8         rules to promote water conservation incentives;
    9         amending s. 373.323, F.S.; clarifying that a letter
   10         from a water well contractor or a water well inspector
   11         employed by a governmental agency may serve as
   12         satisfactory proof of requisite experience for taking
   13         the water well contractor licensure examination;
   14         amending s. 373.705, F.S.; requiring water management
   15         districts to promote expanded cost share criteria for
   16         additional conservation practices; providing an
   17         effective date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Present subsection (5) of section 373.227,
   22  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (6), and a new
   23  subsection (5) is added to that section, to read:
   24         373.227 Water conservation; legislative findings and
   25  intent; objectives; comprehensive statewide water conservation
   26  program requirements.—
   27         (5) In order to incentivize conservation of water, if
   28  actual water use is less than permitted water use due to
   29  documented implementation of water conservation measures,
   30  including, but not limited to, those measures identified in best
   31  management practices pursuant to s. 570.93, the permitted
   32  allocation may not be modified due to these circumstances during
   33  the term of the permit. In order to promote implementation of
   34  conservation and other measures that produce significant water
   35  savings beyond that required in consumptive use permits, the
   36  water management districts shall adopt rules providing water
   37  conservation incentives, including permit extensions.
   38         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   39  373.323, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   40         373.323 Licensure of water well contractors; application,
   41  qualifications, and examinations; equipment identification.—
   42         (3) An applicant who meets the following requirements shall
   43  be entitled to take the water well contractor licensure
   44  examination:
   45         (b) Has at least 2 years of experience in constructing,
   46  repairing, or abandoning water wells. Satisfactory proof of such
   47  experience shall be demonstrated by providing:
   48         1. Evidence of the length of time the applicant has been
   49  engaged in the business of the construction, repair, or
   50  abandonment of water wells as a major activity, as attested to
   51  by a letter from a water well contractor or and a letter from a
   52  water well inspector employed by a governmental agency.
   53         2. A list of at least 10 water wells that the applicant has
   54  constructed, repaired, or abandoned within the preceding 5
   55  years. Of these wells, at least seven must have been
   56  constructed, as defined in s. 373.303(2), by the applicant. The
   57  list shall also include:
   58         a. The name and address of the owner or owners of each
   59  well.
   60         b. The location, primary use, and approximate depth and
   61  diameter of each well that the applicant has constructed,
   62  repaired, or abandoned.
   63         c. The approximate date the construction, repair, or
   64  abandonment of each well was completed.
   65         Section 3. Subsection (5) is added to section 373.705,
   66  Florida Statutes, to read:
   67         373.705 Water resource development; water supply
   68  development.—
   69         (5) The water management districts shall promote expanded
   70  cost share criteria for additional conservation practices, such
   71  as soil and moisture sensors, and other irrigation improvements,
   72  water-saving equipment, and water-saving household fixtures.
   73         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.