Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1772 By Senator Collins 14-01050-24 20241772__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to soil and water conservation 3 districts; dissolving specified soil and water 4 conservation districts and transferring district 5 assets and liabilities to the Department of 6 Agriculture and Consumer Services; dissolving 7 specified soil and water conservation districts and 8 transferring district assets and liabilities to 9 specified counties; amending s. 582.01, F.S.; 10 providing and revising definitions; amending s. 11 582.055, F.S.; requiring the department to provide for 12 reimbursement of travel expenses for soil and water 13 conservation district board members; amending s. 14 582.06, F.S.; revising provisions for the 15 establishment, composition, membership, organization, 16 and responsibilities of the Soil and Water 17 Conservation Council; amending s. 582.10, F.S.; 18 establishing regional soil and water conservation 19 districts beginning on a specified date; amending s. 20 582.16, F.S.; providing for the transfer of certain 21 contractual obligations for real property interests, 22 equipment, vehicles, other personal property, and 23 records; providing an exception; amending s. 582.18, 24 F.S.; providing for the appointment of district 25 supervisors; creating s. 582.181, F.S.; providing for 26 soil and water conservation district governing boards; 27 amending s. 582.19, F.S.; revising provisions for the 28 qualifications and tenure of soil and water 29 conservation district supervisors; amending s. 30 582.195, F.S.; revising provisions for mandatory 31 meeting of soil and water conservation district 32 supervisors; creating s. 582.196, F.S.; authorizing 33 certain compensation for soil and water conservation 34 district board supervisors; amending s. 582.20, F.S.; 35 revising the powers of soil and water conservation 36 district supervisors; amending s. 582.295, F.S.; 37 providing for the reassignment of assets of certain 38 dissolved soil and water conservation districts; 39 amending s. 582.30, F.S.; conforming provisions to 40 changes made by the act; repealing s. 582.11, F.S., 41 relating to hearings regarding the creation of soil 42 and water conservation districts; repealing ss. 43 582.12, 582.13, and 582.14, F.S., relating to 44 referendums for the creation of soil and water 45 conservation districts; repealing s. 582.15, F.S., 46 relating to the organization of soil and water 47 conservation districts; providing an effective date. 48 49 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 50 51 Section 1.The following soil and water conservation 52 districts are dissolved and all assets and liabilities of each 53 district are transferred to the Department of Agriculture and 54 Consumer Services: 55 (1)Alachua Soil and Water Conservation District. 56 (2)Bradford Soil and Water Conservation District. 57 (3)Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District. 58 (4)Broward Soil and Water Conservation District. 59 (5)Charlotte Soil and Water Conservation District. 60 (6)Chipola River Soil and Water Conservation District. 61 (7)Clay Soil and Water Conservation District. 62 (8)Choctawhatchee River Soil and Water Conservation 63 District. 64 (9)Collier Soil and Water Conservation District. 65 (10)Dixie Soil and Water Conservation District. 66 (11)Duval Soil and Water Conservation District. 67 (12)Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District. 68 (13)Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District. 69 (14)Gadsden Soil and Water Conservation District. 70 (15)Gilchrist Soil and Water Conservation District. 71 (16)Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District. 72 (17)Hardee Soil and Water Conservation District. 73 (18)Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District. 74 (19)Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District. 75 (20)Holmes Creek Soil and Water Conservation District. 76 (21)Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District. 77 (22)Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District. 78 (23)Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District. 79 (24)Lafayette Soil and Water Conservation District. 80 (25)Lake Soil and Water Conservation District. 81 (26)Leon Soil and Water Conservation District. 82 (27)Levy Soil and Water Conservation District. 83 (28)Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District. 84 (29)Marion Soil and Water Conservation District. 85 (30)Nassau Soil and Water Conservation District. 86 (31)Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District. 87 (32)Orange Hill Soil and Water Conservation District. 88 (33)Orange Soil and Water Conservation District. 89 (34)Osceola Soil and Water Conservation District. 90 (35)Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District. 91 (36)Peace River Soil and Water Conservation District. 92 (37)Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District. 93 (38)Santa Fe Soil and Water Conservation District. 94 (39)Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District. 95 (40)Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District. 96 (41)South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District. 97 (42)St. Johns Soil and Water Conservation District. 98 (43)St. Lucie Soil and Water Conservation District. 99 (44)Sumter Soil and Water Conservation District. 100 (45)Suwannee County Conservation District. 101 (46)Tupelo Soil and Water Conservation District. 102 (47)Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District. 103 (48)Wakulla Soil and Water Conservation District. 104 (49)Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District. 105 Section 2.(1)The Baker Soil and Water Conservation 106 District is dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the 107 district are transferred to Baker County. 108 (2)The Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation 109 District is dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the 110 district are transferred to Santa Rosa County. 111 (3)The Glades Soil and Water Conservation District is 112 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 113 transferred to Glades County. 114 (4)The Hendry Soil and Water Conservation District is 115 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 116 transferred to Hendry County. 117 (5)The Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is 118 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 119 transferred to Madison County. 120 (6)The Martin Soil and Water Conservation District is 121 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 122 transferred to Martin County. 123 (7)The Polk Soil and Water Conservation District is 124 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 125 transferred to Polk County. 126 (8)The Taylor Soil and Water Conservation District is 127 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 128 transferred to Taylor County. 129 (9)The Union Soil and Water Conservation District is 130 dissolved and the assets and liabilities of the district are 131 transferred to Union County. 132 Section 3.Section 582.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to 133 read: 134 582.01Definitions.As used in this chapter, the term: 135 (1)Agriculture means the science and art of production 136 of plants and animals useful to humans, including to a variable 137 extent the preparation of these products for human use and their 138 disposal by marketing or otherwise, and includes aquaculture, 139 horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, forestry, dairy, 140 livestock, poultry, bees, and any and all forms of farm products 141 and farm production. For the purposes of marketing and 142 promotional activities, the term includes seafood. 143 (2)Agricultural operations or agricultural purposes 144 means the following activities: 145 (a)Raising, growing, harvesting, or storing of crops, 146 including, but not limited to, soil preparation and crop 147 production services such as plowing, fertilizing, seed bed 148 preparation, planting, cultivating, and crop protecting 149 services. 150 (b)Feeding, breeding, or managing livestock, equine, or 151 poultry. 152 (c)Producing or storing feed for use in the production of 153 livestock, including, but not limited to, cattle, calves, swine, 154 hogs, goats, sheep, equine, and rabbits, or for use in the 155 production of poultry, including, but not limited to, chickens, 156 hens, ratites, and turkeys. 157 (d)Producing plants, trees, fowl, equine, or other 158 animals. 159 (e)Producing aquacultural, horticultural, viticultural, 160 silvicultural, grass sod, dairy, livestock, poultry, egg, and 161 apiarian products. 162 (f)Processing poultry. 163 (g)Post-harvest services on crops with the intent of 164 preparing them for market or further processing, including, but 165 not limited to, crop cleaning, drying, shelling, fumigating, 166 curing, sorting, grading, packing, ginning, canning, pickling, 167 and cooling. 168 (h)Slaughtering poultry and other animals. 169 (i)Manufacturing dairy products. 170 171 The term does not include constructing, installing, altering, 172 repairing, dismantling, or demolishing real property structures 173 or fixtures, including, but not limited to, grain bins, 174 irrigation equipment, and fencing. 175 (3)(1)Commissioner means the Commissioner of 176 Agriculture. 177 (4)(2)Council means the Soil and Water Conservation 178 Council. 179 (5)(3)Department means the Department of Agriculture and 180 Consumer Services. 181 (6)(4)District or soil and water conservation district 182 means a governmental subdivision of this state and a body 183 corporate and politic, organized in accordance with the 184 provisions of this chapter for the purpose, with the powers, and 185 subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter. The term 186 district when used in this chapter means and includes a soil 187 and water conservation district. All districts organized under 188 this chapter shall be known as soil and water conservation 189 districts and shall have all the powers set out herein. 190 (7)(5)Due notice, in addition to notice required 191 pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120, means notice 192 published at least twice, with an interval of at least 7 days 193 between the two publication dates, in a newspaper or other 194 publication of general circulation within the appropriate area. 195 (8)(6)Land occupier or occupier of land means a 196 person, other than the owner, who possesses any lands lying 197 within a district organized under the provisions of this 198 chapter, whether as lessee, renter, tenant, or otherwise. 199 (9)(7)Landowner or owner of land means a person who 200 holds legal or equitable title to any lands lying within a 201 district organized under the provisions of this chapter. 202 (8)Qualified elector means a person qualified to vote in 203 general elections under the constitution and laws of this state. 204 (10)(9)Supervisor means a member of the governing body 205 of a district who is elected in accordance with the provisions 206 of this chapter. 207 Section 4.Present subsections (4) through (9) of section 208 582.055, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5) 209 through (10), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to 210 that section, to read: 211 582.055Powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture 212 and Consumer Services; rules. 213 (4)The department shall provide for travel expenses to 214 members appointed to the soil and water conservation district 215 board. 216 Section 5.Section 582.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to 217 read: 218 582.06Soil and Water Conservation Council; establishment, 219 composition, membership, organization, and responsibilities 220 powers and duties. 221 (1)ESTABLISHMENT.-It is declared to be in the best 222 interest of the state that public agencies responsible for and 223 involved in the development and implementation of best 224 management practices, agricultural water quality, and water 225 supply policy and planning work together to reduce duplication 226 of effort, foster maximum efficient use of existing resources, 227 and advise and assist the agencies involved. 228 (2)(1)COMPOSITION. 229 (a)The Soil and Water Conservation Council is created 230 adjunct to in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 231 Services to perform the functions conferred upon in this section 232 and shall be composed of 7 members who have been involved in the 233 practice of soil or water conservation, or in the development or 234 implementation of interim measures or best management practices 235 related thereto, and who have been engaged in agriculture or an 236 occupation related to the agricultural industry for at least 5 237 years at the time of their appointment. 238 (b)Beginning with appointments in the 2024-2025 fiscal 239 year, the commissioner shall appoint one member at-large from 240 each of the 7 soil and water conservation district regions to 241 serve on the council. The initial appointments shall sunset on 242 the second Wednesday of January All members shall be appointed 243 by the commissioner. 244 (c)Thereafter, members shall serve 4-year terms or until 245 their successors are duly qualified and appointed. If a vacancy 246 occurs, it shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the 247 manner of an initial appointment. 248 (3)MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 249 (a)The following representatives or their authorized 250 designees shall serve ex officio in an advisory capacity to the 251 Soil and Water Conservation Council: 252 1.The Secretary of Environmental Protection. 253 2.The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife 254 Conservation Commission. 255 3.The associate dean of research of the Florida Medical 256 Entomological Research Laboratory at the University of Florida 257 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 258 4.The state conservationist for the United States 259 Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 260 Service. 261 5.The president of the Florida Farm Bureau. 262 6.Two supervisors nominated by the Association of Florida 263 Conservation Districts, two representatives of Florida 264 environmental groups, and two private citizens who are 265 landowners or producers enrolled in best management practices. 266 7.Such other representatives of state or federal agencies 267 as the council deems desirable. 268 (b)The council shall be chaired by the commissioner or the 269 commissioners authorized designee. A majority of the membership 270 of the council shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of 271 business. The chair shall be responsible for recording and 272 distributing to the members a summary of the proceedings of all 273 council meetings. The council shall meet at least three times 274 each year, or as needed. The council may designate subcommittees 275 from time to time to assist in carrying out its 276 responsibilities, provided that the Subcommittee on Managed 277 Marshes shall be the first subcommittee appointed by the 278 council. The subcommittee shall continue to provide technical 279 assistance and guidance on basin management action plans and 280 research proposals, taking into account the total maximum daily 281 load reduction implications and natural resource interests. 282 (c)The council shall: 283 1.Develop and implement guidelines and strategies to 284 assist the department to develop agricultural best management 285 practices to improve water quality and water use efficiency 286 while promoting the sustainability of agriculture. 287 2.Develop and update commodity specific best management 288 practices manuals that are adopted by rule. 289 3.Develop and recommend to the department a request for 290 proposal process for research. 291 4.Collaborates with partners in the development, 292 implementation, and evaluation of statewide water policy as it 293 relates to water supply and water quality. 294 5.Identify potential funding sources for research or 295 implementation projects and evaluate and prioritize proposals 296 upon request by the funding source. 297 6.Prepare and present reports, as needed, on activities in 298 the state to other governmental organizations, as appropriate. 299 7.Accept and review requests for creating or dissolving 300 soil and water conservation districts and shall, by a majority 301 vote, recommend, by resolution, to the commissioner that a 302 district be created or dissolved pursuant to the request, or 303 that the request be denied. 304 8.When requested by the Governor, Department of Commerce 305 or a district, the council shall provide a recommendation to the 306 Commissioner whether to remove a supervisor for neglect of duty 307 or malfeasance in office only after notice, hearing, and 308 thorough review. 309 (2)POWERS AND DUTIES; MEETINGS; PROCEDURES; RECORDS. 310 (a)The meetings, powers and duties, procedures, and 311 recordkeeping of the Soil and Water Conservation Council shall 312 be conducted pursuant to s. 570.232. 313 (b)The council shall accept and review requests for 314 creating or dissolving soil and water conservation districts and 315 shall, by a majority vote, recommend, by resolution, to the 316 commissioner that a district be created or dissolved pursuant to 317 the request, or that the request be denied. 318 (c)When requested by the Governor or a district, the 319 council shall provide a recommendation to the Governor whether 320 to remove a supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in 321 office only after notice, hearing, and thorough review. 322 Section 6.Section 582.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to 323 read: 324 582.10Creation of soil and water conservation districts. 325 (1)At 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2024, the state shall be 326 divided into the following 7 regional soil and water 327 conservation districts Any 10 percent of owners of land lying 328 within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into 329 a district may file a petition with the Department of 330 Agriculture and Consumer Services, asking that a soil and water 331 conservation district be organized to function in the territory 332 described in the petition. Such petition shall set forth: 333 (a)West Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation District 334 The proposed name of said district. 335 (b)East Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation District 336 That there is need, in the interest of the public health, 337 safety, and welfare, for a soil and water conservation district 338 to function in the territory described in the petition. 339 (c)North Central Soil and Water Conservation District A 340 description of the territory proposed to be organized as a 341 district, which description shall not be required to be given by 342 metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but shall be deemed 343 sufficient if generally accurate. 344 (d)Northeast Soil and Water Conservation District A 345 request that the department duly define the boundaries for such 346 district; that a referendum be held within the territory so 347 defined on the question of the creation of a soil and water 348 conservation district in such territory; and that the department 349 determine that such a district be created. 350 (e)West Central Soil and Water Conservation District. 351 (f)East Central Soil and Water Conservation District. 352 (g)Southwest Florida Soil and Water Conservation District. 353 (2)Notwithstanding the provisions of any other special or 354 general act to the contrary, the boundaries of the respective 355 districts named in subsection (1) shall include the areas within 356 the following boundaries: 357 (a)The counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, 358 Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington shall 359 constitute the West Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation 360 District. 361 (b)The counties of Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, 362 Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla shall constitute the 363 East Emerald Coast Soil and Water Conservation District. 364 (c)The counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, 365 Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Union shall 366 constitute the North Central Soil and Water Conservation 367 District. 368 (d)The counties of Citrus, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Levy, 369 Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia shall constitute 370 the Northeast Soil and Water Conservation District. 371 (e)The counties of Desoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, 372 Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota shall 373 constitute the West Central Soil and Water Conservation 374 District. 375 (f)The counties of Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, 376 Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Sumter 377 shall constitute the East Central Soil and Water Conservation 378 District. 379 (g)The counties of Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, 380 Glades, Hendry, Lee, Monroe, and Palm Beach and shall constitute 381 the Southwest Florida Soil and Water Conservation District Where 382 more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same 383 territory the department may consolidate all or any petitions. 384 Section 7.Section 582.16, Florida Statutes, is amended to 385 read: 386 582.16Change of district boundaries.Upon the change of 387 boundaries of the respective districts under s. 582.10(2)(a) 388 (g), all contractual obligations with respect to an area being 389 transferred to another district shall be assumed by the district 390 receiving such area; all real property interests owned by a 391 district within an area to be transferred shall be conveyed to 392 the district receiving such area; and all equipment, vehicles, 393 other personal property, and records owned, located, and used by 394 a district solely within an area being transferred shall be 395 delivered to the district receiving such area. However, if an 396 area is transferred from a district with a contractual 397 obligation to the United States for the operation and 398 maintenance of works within such area, then the deliveries and 399 conveyances required in this section shall be deferred until the 400 United States has approved the assumption of the contractual 401 obligations by the receiving district Requests for increasing or 402 reducing the boundaries of an existing district may be filed 403 with the department, and the department shall follow the 404 proceedings provided in this chapter to create a district. 405 Section 8.Section 582.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to 406 read: 407 582.18Appointment Election of supervisors of each 408 district. 409 (1)The governing board of each soil and water conservation 410 district shall be composed of at least one member from a minimum 411 of 7 counties within a district who resides within the district. 412 Members of the governing boards shall be appointed by the 413 commissioner, subject to confirmation by the council at the next 414 regular quarterly meeting following the appointment. Refusal or 415 failure of the council to confirm an appointment creates a 416 vacancy in the district to which the appointment was made. The 417 term of office for a governing board member is 4 years and 418 begins on March 2 of the year in which the appointment is made 419 and terminates on March 1 of the fourth calendar year of the 420 term or may continue until a successor is appointed, but not 421 longer than 180 days. Terms of office of governing board members 422 shall be staggered to help maintain consistency and continuity 423 in the exercise of governing board duties and to minimize 424 disruption in district operations The election of supervisors 425 for each soil and water conservation district shall be held 426 every 2 years, with one supervisor elected from each of the five 427 numbered subdivisions created by the department pursuant to s. 428 582.15(4). The elections shall be held at the time of the 429 general election provided for by s. 100.041. The office of the 430 supervisor of a soil and water conservation district is a 431 nonpartisan office, and candidates for such office are 432 prohibited from campaigning or qualifying for election based on 433 party affiliation. 434 (a)Each candidate for supervisor for such district must 435 qualify as directed by chapter 99. 436 (b)Each nominee who collects or expends campaign 437 contributions shall conduct her or his campaign for supervisor 438 of a soil and water conservation district in accordance with the 439 provisions of chapter 106. Candidates who neither receive 440 contributions nor make expenditures, other than expenditures for 441 verification of signatures on petitions, are exempt from the 442 provisions of chapter 106 requiring establishment of bank 443 accounts and appointment of a campaign treasurer, but shall file 444 periodic reports as required by s. 106.07. 445 (c)The names of all nominees on behalf of whom such 446 nominating petitions have been filed shall appear upon ballots 447 in accordance with the general election laws. All qualified 448 electors residing within the district shall be eligible to vote 449 in such election. The candidates who receive the largest number 450 of the votes cast from each group of candidates in such election 451 shall be the elected supervisors from such group for such 452 district. In the case of a newly created district participating 453 in a regular election for the first time, candidates shall be 454 elected from district subdivisions 1, 3, and 5 for terms of 4 455 years, and candidates shall be elected from district 456 subdivisions 2 and 4 for initial terms of 2 years. Each 457 candidate elected shall assume office on the first Tuesday after 458 the first Monday in January following the election. 459 (2)Beginning on July 1, 2024, the commissioner shall 460 appoint a supervisor from a minimum of 7 counties within the 461 soil and water conservation district regions to serve on the 462 governing board for each year the commissioner is in office. 463 Such initial appointments shall sunset on the second Wednesday 464 of January. Thereafter, members shall serve 4-year terms or 465 until their successors are duly qualified and appointed. A 466 vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the 467 manner of an initial appointment After the issuance of a 468 certificate of organization of a soil and water conservation 469 district by the Department of State, or in the event of a 470 vacancy resulting from death, resignation, removal, or 471 otherwise, each vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the 472 remaining supervisors of the district until the next regular 473 election. 474 Section 9.Section 582.181, Florida Statutes, is created to 475 read: 476 582.181District governing boards. 477 (1)The governing board of each soil and water conservation 478 district shall be composed of seven members who reside within 479 the district with not more than one supervisor from each county 480 within a district. 481 (2)Members of the governing boards shall be appointed by 482 the commissioner, subject to confirmation by the council at the 483 next regular quarterly meeting following the appointment. 484 Refusal or failure of the council to confirm an appointment 485 creates a vacancy in the district to which the appointment was 486 made. 487 (3)Beginning on July 1, 2024, the commissioner shall 488 appoint a supervisor from each county within the soil and water 489 conservation district regions to serve on the governing board 490 for each year the commissioner is in office. Such initial 491 appointments shall sunset on the second Wednesday of January. 492 Thereafter, members shall serve 4-year terms or until their 493 successors are duly qualified and appointed. A vacancy shall be 494 filled for the remainder of the term in the manner of an initial 495 appointment. 496 (4)The term of office for a governing board member is 4 497 years and begins on March 2 of the year in which the appointment 498 is made and terminates on March 1 of the fourth calendar year of 499 the term or may continue until a successor is appointed, but not 500 longer than 180 days. Terms of office of governing board members 501 shall be staggered to help maintain consistency and continuity 502 in the exercise of governing board duties and to minimize 503 disruption in district operations. 504 Section 10.Subsections (1) and (2) of section 582.19, 505 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 506 582.19Qualifications and tenure of supervisors. 507 (1)The governing body of the district shall consist of 508 seven five supervisors, appointed elected as provided in s. 509 582.18. 510 (a)To qualify to serve on the governing body of a 511 district, a supervisor must be an eligible voter who resides in 512 the district and who: 513 1.Is actively engaged in, or retired after 10 years of 514 being engaged in, agricultural operations agriculture as defined 515 in s. 570.02; or 516 2.Is employed for a minimum of 5 years by an agricultural 517 producer who; or 518 3.owns, leases, or is actively employed on land classified 519 as agricultural under s. 193.461. 520 (b)At the time of qualifying, a nominee candidate for 521 supervisor shall submit an affirmation in substantially the 522 following form: 523 524 State of Florida 525 County of .... 526 Statement of Nominee Candidate for Supervisor of 527 Soil and Water Conservation District 528 I, ...(name of nominee candidate)..., a nominee candidate 529 for Supervisor of Soil and Water Conservation District, meet the 530 qualifications pursuant to s. 582.19(1), Florida Statutes, to 531 serve on the governing body of the Soil and Water Conservation 532 District. 533 ...(Signature of candidate)... 534 ...(Address)... 535 Sworn to and subscribed before me this .... day of 536 ........, ...(year)..., at .... County, Florida. 537 538 (2)The supervisors shall designate a chair and may, from 539 time to time, change such designation by majority vote. The term 540 of office of each supervisor shall be 4 years, except that two 541 supervisors shall be elected to serve for initial terms of 2 542 years, respectively, from the date of their election as provided 543 in this chapter. A supervisor shall hold office until her or his 544 successor has been appointed elected and qualified. The 545 selection of successors to fill an unexpired term shall be in 546 accordance with s. 582.18(1) s. 582.18(2). Selection for a full 547 term in a newly created district shall be by election of the 548 qualified electors of the district. A majority of the 549 supervisors shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of a 550 majority of the supervisors in any matter within their duties 551 shall be required for its determination. A supervisor shall 552 receive no compensation for her or his services, but she or he 553 shall, with approval of the supervisors of the district, be 554 reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. 555 Section 11.Section 582.195, Florida Statutes, is amended 556 to read: 557 582.195Mandatory meeting of supervisors.All seven five 558 supervisors of the governing body of each district shall meet at 559 least quarterly once per calendar year in a public meeting 560 pursuant to s. 286.011. 561 Section 12.Section 582.196, Florida Statutes, is created 562 to read: 563 582.196Supervisor compensation.Supervisors of a soil and 564 water conservation district board may receive compensation for 565 per diem and travel expenses authorized pursuant to s. 112.061, 566 not to exceed $1,000 for each supervisor during any one year, 567 for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties 568 under this chapter as provided in s. 112.061. 569 Section 13.Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection 570 (11) of section 582.20, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 571 582.20Powers of districts and supervisors.A soil and 572 water conservation district organized under the provisions of 573 this chapter shall constitute a governmental subdivision of this 574 state, and a public body corporate and politic, exercising 575 public powers, and such district and the supervisors thereof 576 shall have the following powers, in addition to others granted 577 in other sections of this chapter: 578 (2)To conduct agricultural best management practices 579 demonstration projects and projects for the conservation, 580 protection, and restoration of soil and water resources: 581 (b)Within another districts boundaries, subject to the 582 approval of the commissioner, the council, and the approval of 583 other districts districts approval; 584 (11)To request that the commissioner Governor remove a 585 supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office by 586 adoption of a resolution at a public meeting. If the district 587 believes there is a need for a review of the request, the 588 district may request that the council, by resolution, review its 589 request to the commissioner Governor and provide the 590 commissioner Governor with a recommendation. 591 592 Any provision with respect to the acquisition, operation, or 593 disposition of property by public bodies of this state does not 594 apply to a district organized under this chapter unless 595 specifically so stated by the Legislature. The property and 596 property rights of every kind and nature acquired by any 597 district organized under the provisions of this chapter are 598 exempt from state, county, and other taxation. 599 Section 14.Subsection (1) of section 582.295, Florida 600 Statutes, is amended to read: 601 582.295Automatic dissolution of districts. 602 (1)If the governing body of a district fails to meet as 603 required under s. 582.195, the district shall be automatically 604 dissolved as of January 1 of the year immediately following the 605 year in which the governing body failed to meet. All assets and 606 liabilities of the district shall be transferred to the 607 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The department 608 will reassign assets to another Soil and Water Conservation 609 District for similar work. 610 Section 15.Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection 611 (5) of section 582.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 612 582.30Discontinuance of districts; referendum; 613 commissioners authority. 614 (1)Any time after 5 years from the organization of a 615 district under the provisions of this chapter, any 10 percent of 616 owners of land lying within the boundaries of such district may 617 file a petition with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 618 Services requesting praying that the operations of the district 619 be terminated and the existence of the district discontinued. 620 The department may conduct such public meetings and public 621 hearings upon petition as may be necessary to assist it in the 622 consideration thereof. Within 60 days after such a petition has 623 been received by the department it shall give due notice of the 624 holding of a referendum, and shall supervise such referendum, 625 and issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct thereof, 626 the question to be submitted by ballots upon which the words 627 For terminating the existence of the ...(Name of the soil and 628 water conservation district to be here inserted)... and 629 Against terminating the existence of the ...(Name of the soil 630 and water conservation district to be here inserted)... shall 631 appear with a square before each proposition and a direction to 632 insert an X mark in the square before one or the other of said 633 propositions as the voter may favor or oppose discontinuance of 634 such district. All owners of lands lying within the boundaries 635 of the district shall be eligible to vote in such referendum. 636 Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote. No informalities 637 in the conduct of such referendum or in any matters relating 638 thereto shall invalidate said referendum or the result thereof 639 if notice thereof shall have been given substantially as herein 640 provided and said referendum shall have been fairly conducted. 641 (5) 642 (b)If the commissioner issues a certificate determining 643 that the continued operation of a district is not 644 administratively practicable and feasible under the provisions 645 of this chapter, the department shall file the original 646 certificate with the Department of State and shall provide a 647 copy of the certificate to the supervisors of the district at 648 the districts principal office designated under s. 649 582.15(1)(c). 650 Section 16.Section 582.11, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 651 Section 17.Section 582.12, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 652 Section 18.Section 582.13, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 653 Section 19.Section 582.14, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 654 Section 20.Section 582.15, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 655 Section 21.This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.