ENROLLED 2020 Legislature CS for CS for SB 178 2020178er 1 2 An act relating to public financing of construction 3 projects; creating s. 161.551, F.S.; defining terms; 4 prohibiting state-financed constructors from 5 commencing construction of certain structures in 6 coastal areas after a specified date without first 7 taking certain steps regarding a sea level impact 8 projection study; requiring the Department of 9 Environmental Protection to develop by rule a standard 10 for such studies; providing that such rule operates 11 prospectively on projects that have not yet commenced 12 as of the finalization of the rule; requiring the 13 department to publish such studies on its website, 14 subject to certain conditions; requiring the 15 department to adopt rules; providing for enforcement; 16 providing effective dates. 17 18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19 20 Section 1. Effective July 1, 2021, section 161.551, Florida 21 Statutes, is created to read: 22 161.551 Public financing of construction projects within 23 the coastal building zone.— 24 (1) As used in this section, the term: 25 (a) “Coastal structure” means a major structure or 26 nonhabitable major structure within the coastal building zone. 27 (b) “Public entity” means the state or any of its political 28 subdivisions, or any municipality, county, agency, special 29 district, authority, or other public body corporate of the state 30 which is demonstrated to perform a public function or to serve a 31 governmental purpose that could properly be performed or served 32 by an appropriate governmental unit. 33 (c) “SLIP study” means a sea level impact projection study 34 as established by the department pursuant to subsection (3). 35 (d) “State-financed constructor” means a public entity that 36 commissions or manages a construction project using funds 37 appropriated from the state. 38 (e) “Substantial flood damage” means flood, inundation, or 39 wave action damage resulting from a single event, such as a 40 flood or tropical weather system, where such damage exceeds 25 41 percent of the market value of the coastal structure at the time 42 of the event. 43 (2) Beginning 1 year after the date the rule developed by 44 the department pursuant to subsection (3) is finalized and is 45 otherwise in effect, a state-financed constructor may not 46 commence construction of a coastal structure without: 47 (a) Conducting a SLIP study that meets the requirements 48 established by the department; 49 (b) Submitting the study to the department; and 50 (c) Receiving notification from the department that the 51 study was received and that it has been published on the 52 department’s website pursuant to paragraph (6)(a) for at least 53 30 days. The state-financed constructor is solely responsible 54 for ensuring that the study submitted to the department for 55 publication meets the requirements under subsection (3). 56 (3) The department shall develop by rule a standard by 57 which a state-financed constructor must conduct a SLIP study and 58 may require that a professional engineer sign off on the study. 59 The rule must be effective 1 year after the date it is finalized 60 and applies only to projects not yet commenced as of the date 61 the rule is finalized. The rule may not apply retroactively to 62 projects that commenced before the date the rule is finalized. 63 At a minimum, the standard must require that a state-financed 64 constructor do all of the following: 65 (a) Use a systematic, interdisciplinary, and scientifically 66 accepted approach in the natural sciences and construction 67 design in conducting the study. 68 (b) Assess the flooding, inundation, and wave action damage 69 risks relating to the coastal structure over its expected life 70 or 50 years, whichever is less. 71 1. The assessment must take into account potential relative 72 local sea-level rise and increased storm risk during the 73 expected life of the coastal structure or 50 years, whichever is 74 less, and, to the extent possible, account for the contribution 75 of sea-level rise versus land subsidence to the relative local 76 sea-level rise. 77 2. The assessment must provide scientific and engineering 78 evidence of the risk to the coastal structure and methods used 79 to mitigate, adapt to, or reduce this risk. 80 3. The assessment must use and consider available 81 scientific research and generally accepted industry practices. 82 4. The assessment must provide the mean average annual 83 chance of substantial flood damage over the expected life of the 84 coastal structure or 50 years, whichever is less. 85 5. The assessment must analyze potential public safety and 86 environmental impacts resulting from damage to the coastal 87 structure, including, but not limited to, leakage of pollutants, 88 electrocution and explosion hazards, and hazards resulting from 89 floating or flying structural debris. 90 (c) Provide alternatives for the coastal structure’s design 91 and siting, and how such alternatives would impact the risks 92 specified in subparagraph (b)5. as well as the risk and cost 93 associated with maintaining, repairing, and constructing the 94 coastal structure. 95 96 If multiple coastal structures are to be built concurrently 97 within one project, a state-financed constructor may conduct and 98 submit one SLIP study for the entire project for publication by 99 the department. 100 (4) If a state-financed constructor commences construction 101 of a coastal structure but has not complied with the SLIP study 102 requirement under subsection (2), the department may institute a 103 civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to: 104 (a) Seek injunctive relief to cease further construction of 105 the coastal structure or enforce compliance with this section or 106 with rules adopted by the department pursuant to this section. 107 (b) If the coastal structure has been completed or has been 108 substantially completed, seek recovery of all or a portion of 109 state funds expended on the coastal structure. 110 (5) This section may not be construed to create a cause of 111 action for damages or otherwise authorize the imposition of 112 penalties by a public entity for failure to implement what is 113 contained in the SLIP study. 114 (6) The department: 115 (a) Shall publish and maintain a copy of all SLIP studies 116 submitted pursuant to this section on its website for at least 117 10 years after receipt. However, any portion of a study 118 containing information that is exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 119 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution must be redacted by the 120 department before publication. 121 (b) Shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this 122 section. 123 (7) The department may enforce the requirements of this 124 section. 125 Section 2. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 126 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2020.