Title: Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems

Summary: Directing the Department of Health, by a specified date, to identify all onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, update the current database of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system disclosure summary for certain properties before or at the execution of a contract for sale, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; amending s. 381.0065, F.S.; directing the Department of Health, by a specified date, to identify all onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, update the current database of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature; creating s. 689.30, F.S.; requiring an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system disclosure summary for certain properties before or at the execution of a contract for sale; requiring that prospective purchasers acknowledge in writing receipt of such summary disclosures; defining the term  onsite sewage treatment and disposal system ; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (o) is added to subsection (3) of section 381.0065, Florida Statutes, to read: 381.0065 Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; regulation.  (3) DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. The department shall: (o)   By January 1, 2019: 1.   Identify all onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in the state, including, at a minimum, the location of the systems and any other available information the department deems appropriate. 2.   Incorporate the information identified under subparagraph 1. into and update the current database of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems. 3.   Generate a report from the database which includes, at a minimum, the total number of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in the state, the number of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in each county, and a statewide map of the systems, and submit the report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Section 2. Section 689.30, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 689.30   Sale of property; disclosure of onsite sewage and treatment disposal system.  (1)   A seller of property must provide a prospective purchaser with a disclosure summary before or at the execution of the contract for sale if the property contains or will contain an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system. The prospective purchaser must acknowledge in writing the receipt of the disclosure summary required by this section. The disclosure summary must be conspicuous, in boldface type, and in a form substantially similar to the following: ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM DISCLOSURE SUMMARY THIS PROPERTY CONTAINS AN ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM. WHEN NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED,AND MAINTAINED, SUCH SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN SOURCES OF SIGNIFICANT NUTRIENT AND OTHER TYPES OF POLLUTION IN SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER. SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REGULARLY INSPECTED AND MAINTAINED TO MINIMIZE SYSTEM FAILURE AND THE DISCHARGE OF POLLUTION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.... (Purchaser s Initials)... (2)   As used in this section, the term  onsite sewage treatment and disposal system  has the same meaning as in s. 381.0065. Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2017.