This bill amends section 553.80 of the Florida Statutes to require local governments to utilize excess funds collected from fees for code enforcement to perform necessary services or repairs on their stormwater management systems. It prohibits local governments from receiving state funds for stormwater management improvements if they have excess funds available. Additionally, local governments must expend all available funds before requesting state funds through local funding initiatives. The bill also establishes that local governments are ineligible for additional state funds if they have been audited by legislative committees within a specified timeframe or fail to submit necessary affirmations to the legislative delegation.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that any excess funds that cannot be carried forward must be used for specific purposes, including stormwater management repairs, fee rebates, technology upgrades, or training programs for building officials. It also stipulates that local governments must adhere to recognized management and accounting practices to ensure that fees and fines are allocated appropriately. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1548 Filed: 553.80