Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 702
       
       
        
       By Senator Simon
       
       
       
       
       
       3-01152-23                                             2023702__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Apalachicola Bay Area of
    3         Critical State Concern; amending s. 380.0555, F.S.;
    4         authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection
    5         to expend certain funds for the purpose of entering
    6         into financial assistance agreements with the City of
    7         Apalachicola for specified surface water and
    8         groundwater quality improvement projects within the
    9         Apalachicola Bay Area of Critical State Concern;
   10         providing for expiration of the authorization;
   11         providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (11) is added to section 380.0555,
   16  Florida Statutes, to read:
   17         380.0555 Apalachicola Bay Area; protection and designation
   18  as area of critical state concern.—
   19         (11) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS.—Beginning in the
   20  2023-2024 fiscal year and continuing through the 2027-2028
   21  fiscal year, the Department of Environmental Protection may
   22  expend up to $5 million each fiscal year for the purpose of
   23  entering into financial assistance agreements with the City of
   24  Apalachicola to implement projects that improve surface water
   25  and groundwater quality within the Apalachicola Bay Area of
   26  Critical State Concern, including the construction of stormwater
   27  management facilities and central sewage collection facilities,
   28  installation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems,
   29  direct and indirect potable reuse, and other water quality and
   30  water supply projects. This subsection expires on June 30, 2028.
   31         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.