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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 soil and water conservation 2
districts; dissolving specified soil and water 3
conservation districts and transferring district 4
assets and liabilities to specified regional 5
districts; dissolving specified soil and water 6
conservation district s and transferring district 7
assets and liabilities to specified counties; amending 8
s. 582.01, F.S.; providing and revising definitions; 9
amending s. 582.055, F.S.; requiring the department 10
provide travel expenses for soil and water 11
conservation district boa rd members; amending s. 12
582.06, F.S.; revising provisions for the 13
establishment, composition, membership, organization, 14
and responsibilities of the Soil and Water 15
Conservation Council; amending s. 582.10, F.S.; 16
establishing regional soil and water conserva tion 17
districts beginning on a specified date; amending s. 18
582.16, F.S.; providing for the transfer of certain 19
contractual obligations for real property interests 20
equipment, vehicles, other personal property, and 21
records; providing an exception; amending s. 582.18, 22
F.S.; providing for the appointment of district 23
supervisors; creating s. 582.181, F.S.; providing for 24
soil and water conservation district governing boards; 25
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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
amending s. 582.19, F.S.; revising provisions for the 26
qualifications and tenure of soil an d water 27
conservation district supervisors; amending s. 28
582.195, F.S.; revising provisions to changes made the 29
act; creating s. 582.196, F.S.; authorizing certain 30
compensation for soil and water conservation district 31
board supervisors; amending s. 582.20, F .S.; revising 32
the powers of soil and water conservation district 33
supervisors; amending s. 582.295, F.S.; providing for 34
the reassignment of assets of certain dissolved soil 35
and water conservation districts; amending s. 582.30, 36
F.S.; revising provisions to c hanges made by the act; 37
repealing s. 582.11, F.S., relating to hearings 38
regarding the creation of soil and water conservation 39
districts; repealing ss. 582.12, 582.13, and 582.14, 40
F.S., relating to referendums for the creation of soil 41
and water conservation districts; repealing s. 582.15, 42
F.S., relating to the organization of soil and water 43
conservation districts; providing an effective date. 44
45
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 46
47
Section 1. The following soil and water conservat ion 48
districts are dissolved and all assets and liabilities of each 49
district are transferred to their respective regional districts 50
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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
as provided in s. 582.10: 51
(1) Alachua Soil and Water Conservation District. 52
(2) Bradford Soil and Water Conservation Dist rict. 53
(3) Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District. 54
(4) Broward Soil and Water Conservation District. 55
(5) Charlotte Soil and Water Conservation District. 56
(6) Chipola River Soil and Water Conservation District. 57
(7) Clay Soil and Water Conserva tion District. 58
(8) Choctawhatchee River Soil and Water Conservation 59
District. 60
(9) Collier Soil and Water Conservation District. 61
(10) Dixie Soil and Water Conservation District. 62
(11) Duval Soil and Water Conservation District. 63
(12) Escambia Soil a nd Water Conservation District. 64
(13) Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District. 65
(14) Gadsden Soil and Water Conservation District. 66
(15) Gilchrist Soil and Water Conservation District. 67
(16) Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District. 68
(17) Hardee Soil and Water Conservation District. 69
(18) Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District. 70
(19) Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District. 71
(20) Holmes Creek Soil and Water Conservation District. 72
(21) Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District. 73
(22) Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District. 74
(23) Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District. 75
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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
(24) Lafayette Soil and Water Conservation District. 76
(25) Lake Soil and Water Conservation District. 77
(26) Leon Soil and Water Conservation District. 78
(27) Levy Soil and Water Conservation District. 79
(28) Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District. 80
(29) Marion Soil and Water Conservation District. 81
(30) Nassau Soil and Water Conservation District. 82
(31) Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District. 83
(32) Orange Hill Soil and Water Conservation District. 84
(33) Orange Soil and Water Conservation District. 85
(34) Osceola Soil and Water Conservation District. 86
(35) Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation Dis trict. 87
(36) Peace River Soil and Water Conservation District. 88
(37) Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District. 89
(38) Santa Fe Soil and Water Conservation District. 90
(39) Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District. 91
(40) Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District. 92
(41) South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District. 93
(42) St. Johns Soil and Water Conservation District. 94
(43) St. Lucie Soil and Water Conservation District. 95
(44) Sumter Soil and Water Conservation District. 96
(45) Suwannee County Conservation District. 97
(46) Tupelo Soil and Water Conservation District. 98
(47) Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District. 99
(48) Wakulla Soil and Water Conservation District. 100
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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
(49) Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District. 101
Section 2. (1) The Baker Soil and Water Conservation 102
District is dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the 103
district are transferred to Baker County. 104
(2) The Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation 105
District is dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the 106
district are transferred to Santa Rosa County. 107
(3) The Glades Soil and Water Conservation District is 108
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 109
transferred to Glades County. 110
(4) The Hendry Soil and Water Conservation District is 111
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 112
transferred to Hendry County. 113
(5) The Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is 114
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 115
transferred to Madison County. 116
(6) The Martin Soil and Water Conservation District is 117
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 118
transferred to Martin County. 119
(7) The Polk Soil and Water Conservation District is 120
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 121
transferred to Polk County. 122
(8) The Taylor Soil and Water Conservation District is 123
dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 124
transferred to Taylor County. 125
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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
(9) The Union Soil and Water Conservation District is 126
dissolved and the assets and li abilities of the district are 127
transferred to Union County. 128
Section 3. Section 582.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to 129
read: 130
582.01 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 131
(1) "Agriculture" means the science and art of production 132
of plants and animals useful to humans, including to a variable 133
extent the preparation of these products for human use and their 134
disposal by marketing or otherwise, and includes aquaculture, 135
horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, forestry, dairy, 136
livestock, poultry, bees, and any and all forms of farm products 137
and farm production. For the purposes of marketing and 138
promotional activities, the term includes seafood. 139
(2) "Agricultural operations" or "agricultural purposes" 140
means the following activities: 141
(a) Raising, growing, harvesting, or storing of crops, 142
including, but not limited to, soil preparation and crop 143
production services such as plowing, fertilizing, seed bed 144
preparation, planting, cultivating, and crop protecting 145
services. 146
(b) Feeding, breeding, or m anaging livestock, equine, or 147
poultry. 148
(c) Producing or storing feed for use in the production of 149
livestock, including, but not limited to, cattle, calves, swine, 150
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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
hogs, goats, sheep, equine, and rabbits, or for use in the 151
production of poultry, including , but not limited to, chickens, 152
hens, ratites, and turkeys. 153
(d) Producing plants, trees, fowl, equine, or other 154
animals. 155
(e) Producing aquacultural, horticultural, viticultural, 156
silvicultural, grass sod, dairy, livestock, poultry, egg, and 157
apiarian products. 158
(f) Processing poultry. 159
(g) Post-harvest services on crops with the intent of 160
preparing them for market or further processing, including, but 161
not limited to, crop cleaning, drying, shelling, fumigating, 162
curing, sorting, grading, packing, ginning , canning, pickling, 163
and cooling. 164
(h) Slaughtering poultry and other animals. 165
(i) Manufacturing dairy products. 166
167
The term does not include constructing, installing, altering, 168
repairing, dismantling, or demolishing real property structures 169
or fixtures, including, but not limited to, grain bins, 170
irrigation equipment, and fencing. 171
(3)(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of 172
Agriculture. 173
(4)(2) "Council" means the Soil and Water Conservation 174
Council. 175
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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
(5)(3) "Department" means the Department of Agr iculture 176
and Consumer Services. 177
(6)(4) "District" or "soil and water conservation 178
district" means a governmental subdivision of this state and a 179
body corporate and politic, organized in accordance with the 180
provisions of this chapter for the purpose, with the powers, and 181
subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter. The term 182
"district" when used in this chapter means and includes a "soil 183
and water conservation district." All districts organized under 184
this chapter shall be known as soil and water con servation 185
districts and shall have all the powers set out herein. 186
(7)(5) "Due notice," in addition to notice required 187
pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120, means notice 188
published at least twice, with an interval of at least 7 days 189
between the two publication dates, in a newspaper or other 190
publication of general circulation within the appropriate area. 191
(8)(6) "Land occupier" or "occupier of land" means a 192
person, other than the owner, who possesses any lands lying 193
within a district organized under th e provisions of this 194
chapter, whether as lessee, renter, tenant, or otherwise. 195
(9)(7) "Landowner" or "owner of land" means a person who 196
holds legal or equitable title to any lands lying within a 197
district organized under the provisions of this chapter. 198
(8) "Qualified elector" means a person qualified to vote 199
in general elections under the constitution and laws of this 200
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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
state. 201
(10)(9) "Supervisor" means a member of the governing body 202
of a district who is appointed elected in accordance with the 203
provisions of this chapter. 204
Section 4. Subsections (4) through (9) of section 582.055, 205
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through 206
(10), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that 207
section to read: 208
582.055 Powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture 209
and Consumer Services; rules. — 210
(4) The department shall provide for travel expenses to 211
members appointed to the soil and water conservation district 212
board. 213
Section 5. Section 582.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to 214
read: 215
582.06 Soil and Water Conservation Council; establishment, 216
composition, membership, organization, and responsibilities 217
powers and duties.— 218
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.-It is declared to be in the best 219
interest of the state that publ ic agencies responsible for and 220
involved in the development and implementation of best 221
management practices, agricultural water quality, and water 222
supply policy and planning work together to reduce duplication 223
of effort, foster maximum efficient use of exi sting resources, 224
and advise and assist the agencies involved. 225
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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
(2)(1) COMPOSITION.— 226
(a) The Soil and Water Conservation Council is created 227
adjunct to in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 228
Services to perform the functions conferred upon in this section 229
and shall be composed of 7 members who have been involved in the 230
practice of soil or water conservation, or in the development or 231
implementation of interim measures or best management practices 232
related thereto, and who have been engaged in agricult ure or an 233
occupation related to the agricultural industry for at least 5 234
years at the time of their appointment. 235
(b) Beginning with appointments in the 2024 -2025 fiscal 236
year, the commissioner shall appoint one member at -large from 237
each of the 7 soil and water conservation district regions to 238
serve on the council. The initial appointments shall sunset on 239
the second Wednesday of January All members shall be appointed 240
by the commissioner. 241
(c) Thereafter, members shall serve 4 -year terms or until 242
their successors are duly qualified and appointed. If a vacancy 243
occurs, it shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the 244
manner of an initial appointment. 245
(3) MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, AND RESPONSIBILITIES. — 246
(a) The following representatives or their auth orized 247
designees shall serve ex officio in an advisory capacity to the 248
Soil and Water Conservation Council: 249
1. The Secretary of Environmental Protection. 250
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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
2. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife 251
Conservation Commission. 252
3. The associate dea n of research of the Florida Medical 253
Entomological Research Laboratory at the University of Florida 254
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 255
4. The state conservationist for the United States 256
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 257
Service. 258
5. The president of the Florida Farm Bureau. 259
6. Two supervisors nominated by the Association of Florida 260
Conservation Districts, two representatives of Florida 261
environmental groups, and two private citizens who are 262
landowners or producers enrolled in best management practices. 263
7. Such other representatives of state or federal agencies 264
as the council deems desirable. 265
(b) The council shall be chaired by the commissioner or 266
the commissioner's authorized designee. A majority of the 267
membership of the council shall constitute a quorum for the 268
conduct of business. The chair shall be responsible for 269
recording and distributing to the members a summary of the 270
proceedings of all council meetings. The council shall meet at 271
least three times each yea r, or as needed. The council may 272
designate subcommittees from time to time to assist in carrying 273
out its responsibilities, provided that the Subcommittee on 274
Managed Marshes shall be the first subcommittee appointed by the 275
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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
council. The subcommittee shall co ntinue to provide technical 276
assistance and guidance on basin management action plans and 277
research proposals, taking into account the total maximum daily 278
load reduction implications and natural resource interests. 279
(c) The council shall: 280
1. Develop and implement guidelines and strategies to 281
assist the department to develop agricultural best management 282
practices to improve water quality and water use efficiency 283
while promoting the sustainability of agriculture. 284
2. Develop and update commodity specific be st management 285
practices manuals that are adopted by rule. 286
3. Develop and recommend to the department a request for 287
proposal process for research. 288
4. Collaborates with partners in the development, 289
implementation, and evaluation of statewide water policy as it 290
relates to water supply and water quality. 291
5. Identify potential funding sources for research or 292
implementation projects and evaluate and prioritize proposals 293
upon request by the funding source. 294
6. Prepare and present reports, as needed, on acti vities 295
in the state to other governmental organizations, as 296
appropriate. 297
7. Accept and review requests for creating or dissolving 298
soil and water conservation districts and shall, by a majority 299
vote, recommend, by resolution, to the commissioner that a 300
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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
district be created or dissolved pursuant to the request, or 301
that the request be denied. 302
8. When requested by the Governor, Department of Commerce 303
or a district, the council shall provide a recommendation to the 304
Commissioner whether to remove a supervisor for neglect of duty 305
or malfeasance in office only after notice, hearing, and 306
thorough review. 307
(2) POWERS AND DUTIES; MEETINGS; PROCEDURES; RECORDS. — 308
(a) The meetings, powers and duties, procedures, and 309
recordkeeping of the Soil and Water Conservation C ouncil shall 310
be conducted pursuant to s. 570.232. 311
(b) The council shall accept and review requests for 312
creating or dissolving soil and water conservation districts and 313
shall, by a majority vote, recommend, by resolution, to the 314
commissioner that a distri ct be created or dissolved pursuant to 315
the request, or that the request be denied. 316
(c) When requested by the Governor or a district, the 317
council shall provide a recommendation to the Governor whether 318
to remove a supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasa nce in 319
office only after notice, hearing, and thorough review. 320
Section 6. Section 582.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to 321
read: 322
582.10 Creation of soil and water conservation districts. — 323
(1) At 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2024, the state shall be 324
divided into the following 7 regional soil and water 325
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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
conservation districts Any 10 percent of owners of land lying 326
within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into 327
a district may file a petition with the Department of 328
Agriculture and Consumer Services, asking that a soil and water 329
conservation district be organized to function in the territory 330
described in the petition. Such petition shall set forth : 331
(a) West Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation 332
District The proposed name of said distric t. 333
(b) East Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation 334
District That there is need, in the interest of the public 335
health, safety, and welfare, for a soil and water conservation 336
district to function in the territory described in the petition . 337
(c) North Central Soil and Water Conservation District A 338
description of the territory proposed to be organized as a 339
district, which description shall not be required to be given by 340
metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but shall be deemed 341
sufficient if generally accurate. 342
(d) Northeast Soil and Water Conservation District A 343
request that the department duly define the boundaries for such 344
district; that a referendum be held within the territory so 345
defined on the question of the creation of a soil and water 346
conservation district in such territory; and that the department 347
determine that such a district be created . 348
(e) West Central Soil and Water Conservation District. 349
(f) East Central Soil and Water Conservation District. 350
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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
(g) South Florida Soil and Water Conse rvation District. 351
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other special or 352
general act to the contrary, the boundaries of the respective 353
districts named in subsection (1) shall include the areas within 354
the following boundaries: 355
(a) The counties of Ba y, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, 356
Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington shall 357
constitute the West Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation 358
District. 359
(b) The counties of Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, 360
Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla shall 361
constitute the East Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation 362
District. 363
(c) The counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, 364
Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Union shall 365
constitute the North Central Soil and Water C onservation 366
District. 367
(d) The counties of Citrus, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Levy, 368
Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia shall constitute 369
the Northeast Soil and Water Conservation District. 370
(e) The counties of Desoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, 371
Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota shall 372
constitute the West Central Soil and Water Conservation 373
District. 374
(f) The counties of Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, 375
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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
Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Sumter 376
shall constitute the East Central Soil and Water Conservation 377
District. 378
(g) The counties of Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, 379
Glades, Hendry, Lee, Monroe, and Palm Beach and shall constitute 380
the South Florida Soil and Water Conservation District Where 381
more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same 382
territory the department may consolidate all or any petitions . 383
Section 7. Section 582.16, Florida Statutes, is amended to 384
read: 385
582.16 Change of district boundaries. —Upon the change of 386
boundaries of the respective districts under s. 582.10(2)(a) -387
(g), all contractual obligations with respect to an area being 388
transferred to another district shall be assumed by the district 389
receiving such area; all real property interests owned by a 390
district within an a rea to be transferred shall be conveyed to 391
the district receiving such area; and all equipment, vehicles, 392
other personal property, and records owned, located, and used by 393
a district solely within an area being transferred shall be 394
delivered to the district receiving such area. However, if an 395
area is transferred from a district with a contractual 396
obligation to the United States for the operation and 397
maintenance of works within such area, then the deliveries and 398
conveyances required in this section shall be d eferred until the 399
United States has approved the assumption of the contractual 400
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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
obligations by the receiving district Requests for increasing or 401
reducing the boundaries of an existing district may be filed 402
with the department, and the department shall follo w the 403
proceedings provided in this chapter to create a district . 404
Section 8. Section 582.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to 405
read: 406
582.18 Appointment Election of supervisors of each 407
district.— 408
(1) The governing board of each soil and water 409
conservation district shall be composed of at least one member 410
from a minimum of 7 counties within a district who resides 411
within the district. Members of the governing boards shall be 412
appointed by the commissioner, subject to confirmation by the 413
council at the next regular quarterly meeting following the 414
appointment. Refusal or failure of the council to confirm an 415
appointment creates a vacancy in the district to which the 416
appointment was made. The term of office for a governing board 417
member is 4 years and begins on March 2 of the year in which the 418
appointment is made and terminates on March 1 of the fourth 419
calendar year of the term or may continue until a successor is 420
appointed, but not longer than 180 days. Terms of office of 421
governing board members shall be stagger ed to help maintain 422
consistency and continuity in the exercise of governing board 423
duties and to minimize disruption in district operations The 424
election of supervisors for each soil and water conservation 425
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district shall be held every 2 years, with one super visor 426
elected from each of the five numbered subdivisions created by 427
the department pursuant to s. 582.15(4). The elections shall be 428
held at the time of the general election provided for by s. 429
100.041. The office of the supervisor of a soil and water 430
conservation district is a nonpartisan office, and candidates 431
for such office are prohibited from campaigning or qualifying 432
for election based on party affiliation . 433
(a) Each candidate for supervisor for such district must 434
qualify as directed by chapter 99. 435
(b) Each nominee who collects or expends campaign 436
contributions shall conduct her or his campaign for supervisor 437
of a soil and water conservation district in accordance with the 438
provisions of chapter 106. Candidates who neither receive 439
contributions nor ma ke expenditures, other than expenditures for 440
verification of signatures on petitions, are exempt from the 441
provisions of chapter 106 requiring establishment of bank 442
accounts and appointment of a campaign treasurer, but shall file 443
periodic reports as require d by s. 106.07. 444
(c) The names of all nominees on behalf of whom such 445
nominating petitions have been filed shall appear upon ballots 446
in accordance with the general election laws. All qualified 447
electors residing within the district shall be eligible to vot e 448
in such election. The candidates who receive the largest number 449
of the votes cast from each group of candidates in such election 450
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shall be the elected supervisors from such group for such 451
district. In the case of a newly created district participating 452
in a regular election for the first time, candidates shall be 453
elected from district subdivisions 1, 3, and 5 for terms of 4 454
years, and candidates shall be elected from district 455
subdivisions 2 and 4 for initial terms of 2 years. Each 456
candidate elected shall as sume office on the first Tuesday after 457
the first Monday in January following the election. 458
(2) Beginning on July 1, 2024, the commissioner shall 459
appoint a supervisor from a minimum of 7 counties within the 460
soil and water conservation district regions to serve on the 461
governing board for each year the commissioner is in office. 462
Such initial appointments shall sunset on the second Wednesday 463
of January. Thereafter, members shall serve 4 -year terms or 464
until their successors are duly qualified and appointed. A 465
vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the 466
manner of an initial appointment After the issuance of a 467
certificate of organization of a soil and water conservation 468
district by the Department of State, or in the event of a 469
vacancy resulting from death, resignation, removal, or 470
otherwise, each vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the 471
remaining supervisors of the district until the next regular 472
election. 473
Section 9. Section 582.181, Florida Statutes, is created 474
to read: 475
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582.181 District governing boards.— 476
(1) The governing board of each soil and water 477
conservation district shall be composed of seven members who 478
reside within the district with not more than one supervisor 479
from each county within a district. 480
(2) Members of the governi ng boards shall be appointed by 481
the commissioner, subject to confirmation by the council at the 482
next regular quarterly meeting following the appointment. 483
Refusal or failure of the council to confirm an appointment 484
creates a vacancy in the district to which the appointment was 485
made. 486
(3) Beginning on July 1, 2024, the commissioner shall 487
appoint a supervisor from each county within the soil and water 488
conservation district regions to serve on the governing board 489
for each year the commissioner is in office. Su ch initial 490
appointments shall sunset on the second Wednesday of January. 491
Thereafter, members shall serve 4 -year terms or until their 492
successors are duly qualified and appointed. A vacancy shall be 493
filled for the remainder of the term in the manner of an in itial 494
appointment. 495
(4) The term of office for a governing board member is 4 496
years and begins on March 2 of the year in which the appointment 497
is made and terminates on March 1 of the fourth calendar year of 498
the term or may continue until a successor is ap pointed, but not 499
longer than 180 days. Terms of office of governing board members 500
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shall be staggered to help maintain consistency and continuity 501
in the exercise of governing board duties and to minimize 502
disruption in district operations. 503
Section 10. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 582.19, 504
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 505
582.19 Qualifications and tenure of supervisors. — 506
(1) The governing body of the district shall consist of 507
seven five supervisors, appointed elected as provided in s. 508
582.18. 509
(a) To qualify to serve on the governing body of a 510
district, a supervisor must be an eligible voter who resides in 511
the district and who: 512
1. Is actively engaged in, or retired after 10 years of 513
being engaged in, agricultural operations agriculture as defined 514
in s. 570.02; 515
2. Is employed for a minimum of 5 years by an agricultural 516
producer who; or 517
3. owns, leases, or is actively employed on land 518
classified as agricultural under s. 193.461. 519
(b) At the time of qualifying, a nominee candidate for 520
supervisor shall submit an affirmation in substantially the 521
following form: 522
State of Florida 523
County of .... 524
Statement of Nominee Candidate for Supervisor of 525
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Soil and Water Conservation District 526
I, ...(name of nominee candidate)..., a nominee candidate 527
for Supervisor of Soil and Water Conservation District, meet the 528
qualifications pursuant to s. 582.19(1), Florida Statutes, to 529
serve on the governing body of the Soil and Water Conservation 530
District. 531
...(Signature of candidate)... 532
...(Address)... 533
Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of 534
........, ...(year)..., at .... County, Florida. 535
(2) The supervisors shall designate a chair and may, from 536
time to time, change such designation by majority vote. The term 537
of office of each supervisor shall be 4 years , except that two 538
supervisors shall be elected to serve for initial terms of 2 539
years, respectively, from the date of their election as provided 540
in this chapter. A supervisor shall hold office until her or his 541
successor has been appointed elected and qualified. The 542
selection of successors to fill an unexpired term shall be in 543
accordance with s. 582.18(1) s. 582.18(2). Selection for a full 544
term in a newly created district shall be by election of the 545
qualified electors of the di strict. A majority of the 546
supervisors shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of a 547
majority of the supervisors in any matter within their duties 548
shall be required for its determination. A supervisor shall 549
receive no compensation for her or his servic es, but she or he 550
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shall, with approval of the supervisors of the district, be 551
reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. 552
Section 11. Section 582.195, Florida Statutes, is amended 553
to read: 554
582.195 Mandatory meeting of supervisors. —All seven five 555
supervisors of the governing body of each district shall meet at 556
least once per calendar year in a public meeting pursuant to s. 557
286.011. 558
Section 12. Section 582.196, Florida Statutes, is created 559
to read: 560
582.196 Supervisor compensation. —Supervisors of a soil and 561
water conservation district board may receive compensation for 562
per diem and travel expenses authorized pursuant to s. 112.061, 563
not to exceed $1,000 for each supervisor during any one year, 564
for travel expenses incurred in the perform ance of their duties 565
under this chapter as provided in s. 112.061 566
Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection 567
(11) of section 582.20, Florida Statutes, are amended, and 568
subsection (12) is added to that section, to read: 569
582.20 Powers of districts and supervisors. —A soil and 570
water conservation district organized under the provisions of 571
this chapter shall constitute a governmental subdivision of this 572
state, and a public body corporate and politic, exercising 573
public powers, and such distri ct and the supervisors thereof 574
shall have the following powers, in addition to others granted 575
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in other sections of this chapter: 576
(2) To conduct agricultural best management practices 577
demonstration projects and projects for the conservation, 578
protection, and restoration of soil and water resources: 579
(b) Within another district's boundaries, subject to the 580
approval of the commissioner, the council, and the approval of 581
other districts district's approval; 582
(11) To request that the commissioner Governor remove a 583
supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office by 584
adoption of a resolution at a public meeting. If the district 585
believes there is a need for a review of the request, the 586
district may request that the council, by resolution, review its 587
request to the commissioner Governor and provide the 588
commissioner Governor with a recommendation. 589
(12) Districts shall provide services to the respective 590
regions in proportion to the contributions made upon dissolution 591
and transfer to the regional district thro ugh June 30, 2026. 592
593
Any provision with respect to the acquisition, operation, or 594
disposition of property by public bodies of this state does not 595
apply to a district organized under this chapter unless 596
specifically so stated by the Legislature. The property and 597
property rights of every kind and nature acquired by any 598
district organized under the provisions of this chapter are 599
exempt from state, county, and other taxation. 600
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Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 582.295, Florida 601
Statutes, is amended to read : 602
582.295 Automatic dissolution of districts. — 603
(1) If the governing body of a district fails to meet as 604
required under s. 582.195, the district shall be automatically 605
dissolved as of January 1 of the year immediately following the 606
year in which the gov erning body failed to meet. All assets and 607
liabilities of the district shall be transferred to the 608
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The department 609
will reassign assets to another Soil and Water Conservation 610
District for similar work. 611
Section 15. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection 612
(5) of section 582.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 613
582.30 Discontinuance of districts; referendum; 614
commissioner's authority. — 615
(1) Any time after 5 years from the organization of a 616
district under the provisions of this chapter, any 10 percent of 617
owners of land lying within the boundaries of such district may 618
file a petition with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 619
Services requesting praying that the operations of the district 620
be terminated and the existence of the district discontinued. 621
The department may conduct such public meetings and public 622
hearings upon petition as may be necessary to assist it in the 623
consideration thereof. Within 60 days after such a petition has 624
been received by the department it shall give due notice of the 625
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holding of a referendum, and shall supervise such referendum, 626
and issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct thereof, 627
the question to be submitted by ballots upon which the words 628
"For terminating the existence of the ...(Name of the soil and 629
water conservation district to be here inserted)..." and 630
"Against terminating the existence of the ...(Name of the soil 631
and water conservation district to be here inserted)..." shall 632
appear with a square befo re each proposition and a direction to 633
insert an X mark in the square before one or the other of said 634
propositions as the voter may favor or oppose discontinuance of 635
such district. All owners of lands lying within the boundaries 636
of the district shall be el igible to vote in such referendum. 637
Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote. No informalities 638
in the conduct of such referendum or in any matters relating 639
thereto shall invalidate said referendum or the result thereof 640
if notice thereof shall have bee n given substantially as herein 641
provided and said referendum shall have been fairly conducted. 642
(5) 643
(b) If the commissioner issues a certificate determining 644
that the continued operation of a district is not 645
administratively practicable and feasible under the provisions 646
of this chapter, the department shall file the original 647
certificate with the Departme nt of State and shall provide a 648
copy of the certificate to the supervisors of the district at 649
the district's principal office designated under s. 650
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582.15(1)(c). 651
Section 16. Section 582.11, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 652
Section 17. Section 582.12, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 653
Section 18. Section 582.13, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 654
Section 19. Section 582.14, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 655
Section 20. Section 582.15, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 656
Section 21. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 657