SB 658 — Water and Wastewater Systems

Florida Senate - 2020 CS for SB 658 By Senatorthe AlbrittonCommittee 26-00784-20on 2020658__Innovation, AIndustry, bill to be entitled An act relating to acquisition of water and wastewaterTechnology; systems;

and Senator Albritton 580-03760-20 2020658c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to water and wastewater systems;

amending s.

180.191, F.S.;

requiring a municipality to charge customers receiving its utility services outside the municipal boundaries the same rates, fees, and charges as it charges customers within the municipality under certain circumstances;

1823 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

2025 Section 1. Section1. Present 367.0712,subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 180.191, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (3), (4), and (5), respectively, a new subsection (2) is createdadded to that section, and subsection (1) of that section is amended, to read:

180.191 Limitation on rates charged consumer outside city limits.— (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), any municipality within the state operating a water or sewer utility outside of the boundaries of such municipality shall charge consumers outside the boundaries rates, fees, and charges determined in one of the following manners:

(a) It may charge the same rates, fees, and charges as consumers inside the municipal boundaries.

However, in addition thereto, the municipality may add a surcharge of not more than 25 percent of such rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside the boundaries.

Fixing of such rates, fees, and charges in this manner does shall not require a public hearing except as may be provided for service to consumers inside the municipality.

(b) It may charge rates, fees, and charges that are just and equitable and that which are based on the same factors used in fixing the rates, fees, and charges for consumers inside the municipal boundaries.

In addition thereto, the municipality may add a surcharge not to exceed 25 percent of such rates, fees, and charges for said services to consumers outside the boundaries.

However, the total of all such rates, fees, and charges for the services to consumers outside the boundaries may shall not be more than 50 percent in excess of the total amount the municipality charges consumers served within the municipality for corresponding service.

No Such rates, fees, and charges may not shall be fixed until after a public hearing at which all of the users of the water or sewer systems;

owners, tenants, or occupants of property served or to be served thereby;

and all others interested shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed rates, fees, and charges.

Any change or revision of such rates, fees, or charges may be made in the same manner as such rates, fees, or charges were originally established, but if such change or revision is to be made substantially pro rata as to all classes of service, both inside and outside the municipality, no hearing or notice shall be required.

(2) Any municipality within the state operating a water or sewer utility providing service to customers in another recipient municipality from infrastructure located in the recipient municipality shall charge the customers in the recipient municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it does the customers inside its own municipal boundaries.

Section 2. Section 367.0712, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

Section 2. This3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.