Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1088 By Senator Martin 33-01534-24 20241088__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to municipal water or sewer utility 3 rates, fees, and charges; amending s. 180.191, F.S.; 4 removing a provision that authorizes certain 5 municipalities serving consumers outside their 6 boundaries to add specific surcharges to the rates, 7 fees, and charges; removing a provision that does not 8 require a public hearing for adding specific 9 surcharges; requiring certain municipalities to 10 conduct rate studies at certain times; making 11 technical changes; providing an effective date. 12 13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14 15 Section 1.Subsection (1) of section 180.191, Florida 16 Statutes, is amended, and a new subsection (5) is added to that 17 section, to read: 18 180.191Limitation on rates charged consumer outside city 19 limits. 20 (1)Any municipality within the state operating a water or 21 sewer utility outside of the boundaries of such municipality 22 shall charge consumers outside the boundaries rates, fees, and 23 charges determined in one of the following manners: 24 (a)It may charge the same rates, fees, and charges as 25 consumers inside the municipal boundaries. However, in addition 26 thereto, the municipality may add a surcharge of not more than 27 25 percent of such rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside 28 the boundaries. Fixing of such rates, fees, and charges in this 29 manner shall not require a public hearing except as may be 30 provided for service to consumers inside the municipality. 31 (b)It may charge rates, fees, and charges that are just 32 and equitable and which are based on the same factors used in 33 fixing the rates, fees, and charges for consumers inside the 34 municipal boundaries. In addition thereto, the municipality may 35 add a surcharge not to exceed 25 percent of such rates, fees, 36 and charges for said services to consumers outside the 37 boundaries. However, the total of all such rates, fees, and 38 charges for the services to consumers outside the boundaries 39 shall not be more than 50 percent in excess of the total amount 40 the municipality charges consumers served within the 41 municipality for corresponding service. No such rates, fees, and 42 charges shall be fixed until after a public hearing at which all 43 of the users of the water or sewer systems; owners, tenants, or 44 occupants of property served or to be served thereby; and all 45 others interested shall have an opportunity to be heard 46 concerning the proposed rates, fees, and charges. Any change or 47 revision of such rates, fees, or charges may be made in the same 48 manner as such rates, fees, or charges were originally 49 established, but if such change or revision is to be made 50 substantially pro rata as to all classes of service, both inside 51 and outside the municipality, no hearing or notice shall be 52 required. 53 (5)Each municipality subject to subsection (1) must 54 conduct a rate study every 7 years, beginning October 1, 2031. 55 Section 2.This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.