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Evers to File New Septic Tank Mandate Repeal (LAW)
Northwest Florida Daily News
Only a week after the 2011 state legislative session ended without a repeal of the state’s septic tank inspection law, Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, announced Friday that he and Tallahassee Democrat Bill Montford will file a new repeal bill.
“I welcome Sen. Montford in this bipartisan effort,” Evers said in a news release. “It’s a signal to our residents that together, Republicans and Democrats will get this done in a way that protects both our environment and our taxpayers’ wallets.
“We cannot allow this outrageous and expensive one-size-fits-all program to ever be imposed upon our citizens.”
The mandate was temporarily halted by lawmakers late last year, and efforts to repeal the legislation were launched during the 2011 legislative session. While successful in the House, similar legislation sponsored by Evers stalled and eventually died in the Senate.
At issue is a bill passed in 2010 that required all of Florida’s estimated 3 million septic tank owners to undergo inspections every five years.
Critics contend the inspections are costly — with a price tag of up to $500 — and could lead to forced septic tank replacements at a cost of more than $10,000.
Evers and Montford said Friday they will jointly re-file a bill for the next legislative session to repeal the forced inspections. Until then, a moratorium on the inspections remains in effect.
Evers also addressed the issue in his e-mailed weekly update to constituents Friday:
“While I was, much to my regret, unable to get my Senate colleagues to join me in passing a complete repeal of the septic tank inspection program this session, I am still 100 percent committed to stopping this program,” he said.
“I will fight for the total repeal of this program with everything I have, and it will continue to be my Number 1 priority until I have succeeded.”
Copyright © 2011 Freedom Communications
