HB 23 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0023-00
Page 1 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to water and wastewater facility 2
operators; amending s. 403.865, F.S.; revising 3
legislative findings and intent; amending s. 403.867, 4
F.S.; conforming a provision; creating s. 403.8721, 5
F.S.; requiring the Department of Environmental 6
Protection to issue water treatment plant operator 7
licenses, water distribution system operator licenses, 8
and domestic wastewater treatment plant operator 9
licenses by reciprocity to certain applicants; 10
providing licensure requirements; authorizing the 11
department to issue temporary operator licenses during 12
a declared state of emergency; requiring the 13
department to the waive application fee for temporary 14
operator licenses; providing an effective date. 15
16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
18
Section 1. Section 403.865, Florida Statutes, is amended 19
to read: 20
403.865 Water and wastewater facility personnel; 21
legislative purpose. — 22
(1) The Legislature finds that: 23
(a) Water and wastewater services are essential to the 24
health and well-being of all citizens. 25
HB 23 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0023-00
Page 2 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(b) Water and wastewater facility personnel are essential 26
first responders. 27
(c) The threat to the public health and the environment 28
from the operation of water and wastewater treatment plants and 29
water distribution systems mandates that qualified personnel 30
operate these facilities. 31
(2) It is the legislative intent of the Legislature that 32
any person who performs the duties of an operator and who falls 33
below minimum competency or who otherwise presents a danger to 34
the public be prohibited from operating a plant or system in 35
this state. 36
Section 2. Section 403.867, Florida Statutes, is amended 37
to read: 38
403.867 License required. —A person may not perform the 39
duties of an operator of a water treatment plant, water 40
distribution system, or a domestic wastewater treatment plant 41
unless he or she holds an active and valid operator a current 42
operator's license issued by the department under s. 403.872 or 43
s. 403.8721. 44
Section 3. Section 403.8721, Florida Statutes, is created 45
to read: 46
403.8721 Requirements for licensure by reciprocity. — 47
(1) The department shall issue a license by reciprocity to 48
any applicant who: 49
(a) Is a water treatment plant operator, water 50
HB 23 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0023-00
Page 3 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
distribution system operator, or domestic wastewater treatment 51
plant operator and holds an active and valid license from 52
another state, the federal government, a territory or tribal 53
government that has been designated as the primary a gency by the 54
United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any unit 55
thereof for which the licensure requirements, including 56
education and operational experience, are comparable to or 57
exceed the licensure requirements of s. 403.872. 58
(b) Has passed a licensure examination comparable to the 59
licensure examination of the department, subject to approval by 60
the department. 61
(c) Is not the subject of a disciplinary or enforcement 62
action outside this state at the time of application for 63
reciprocal licensure. 64
(d) Submits a completed application for reciprocal 65
licensure and any required supporting documentation. 66
(e) Remits the application fee. 67
(2)(a) The department shall issue a license by reciprocity 68
to any applicant who: 69
1. Has performed duties compar able to a water treatment 70
plant operator, water distribution system operator, or domestic 71
wastewater treatment plant operator while serving in the United 72
States Armed Forces for which the requirements for performing 73
the duties, including education and oper ational experience, are 74
comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of s. 75
HB 23 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0023-00
Page 4 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
403.872. 76
2. Has passed a skill assessment or competency examination 77
comparable to the licensure examination of the department, 78
subject to approval by the department. 79
3. Is not the subject of a disciplinary or enforcement 80
action at the time of application for reciprocal licensure. 81
4. Submits a completed application for reciprocal 82
licensure and any required supporting documentation. 83
5. Remits the application fee. 84
(b) If an applicant does not meet the requirements for 85
licensure under this subsection, the department shall award 86
education and operational experience credits for licensure under 87
s. 403.872. 88
(3) During a declared state of emergency, the department: 89
(a) May issue a temporary water treatment plant operator 90
license, water distribution system operator license, or domestic 91
wastewater treatment plant operator license by reciprocity to 92
any applicant who meets the requirements of subsection (1) or 93
subsection (2). 94
(b) Shall waive the application fee for a temporary 95
operator license under this subsection. 96
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 97