Lawmakers Confident Gov. Rick Scott Will Delay Septic Tank Inspections

January 7, 2011

The sponsor of a Florida House bill that would provide for a six month delay of the new requirements that septic tanks be inspected every five years said Thursday that she likes the bill’s chances now that there is a new governor. The law went into effect January 1.

Rep. Marti Coley said the bill would likely be signed by Gov. Rick Scott, whose office confirmed Thursday evening that he has received the measure.

Coley, R-Marianna, said she was not sure why the bill was not sent to the governor’s office until after Scott took over for Crist, who signed the wide-ranging springs protection bill the requirement was included in last year.

But Scott “fully supports” the six month delay, which was the only piece of new legislation approved by lawmakers in a special session last month to override several Crist vetoes, she said.

Scott will also likely support a push by her and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, to fully repeal the requirement this spring, she added. That measure has not been filed yet in the House, where Coley said “support is growing,” but three bills (SB 82, 130 and 168) have emerged in the Senate.

“Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations,” Coley said.

A spokeswoman for Scott could not confirm Thursday night whether or not he intends to sign the bill containing the six month delay.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me, and I want it repealed. What is the state government involved in that? It makes no sense,” Scott told NorthEscambia.com during an exclusive campaign trail interview last November.

Meanwhile, North Escambia’s legislative members are standing behind bills that seek to repeal the septic tank inspection program.

“These are very difficult times for Floridians and we should be looking for ways to reduce the burden of government, not require people to pay more into a bureaucratic, one-size-fits-all program, said Evers, who filed one of the bills in the Senate. “This bill is the first step in the right direction to reverse this concerning law. SB 168 will repeal all the septic tank inspection provisions that were passed into law during the 2010 regular session and return to a sensible approach of fixing only failing systems – an approach that was already codified in law.”

“This is an issue that the counties need to resolve locally, the state doesn’t need to dictate a solution,” Doug Broxson, Florida House District 1 member, said. “The local governments can investigate this matter and determine if there are any pollution problems in their county.”

The News Service Florida contributed to this report.

Comments

13 Responses to “Lawmakers Confident Gov. Rick Scott Will Delay Septic Tank Inspections”

  1. Cheryl Reynolds on February 20th, 2011 5:51 pm

    There will be another election in good time ,then we will turn these people that passed sb 550 out of o ffice. We meaning all 6.5 million septic tank owners please dont fail to vote.

  2. Don Brinkley on January 22nd, 2011 5:12 pm

    So this is the way it is………..You pay the Septic Tank installer for the installation of a “passd by the state inspection” for a NEW system, but now the state says you MAY have a BAD system so we,”The State” will make you pay to fix the system they BLESSED in the beginning to be operational. ” We the people.” where have I heard that before.

    DB

  3. bubba on January 8th, 2011 8:34 pm

    If they checked my tank, would I have to pay for them to do that?
    If they messed my tank up, would they fix the problem?

  4. interested reader on January 8th, 2011 10:04 am

    Please, Gov. Scott forget delay and KILL this septic tank bill.

  5. ABC on January 8th, 2011 7:23 am

    Amen Oversight, Escambia County has deprived their people of jobs, refusing to work with companys that wanted to come in and pump a lot of cash into the local economy many many times for years and years, .At the same time the powers that bet have found ways to squeeze the citizens belts another notch with each election, while the politicians let another notch out of their belts.

    Over and Over again they invest the taxpayers money in foolish endeavors, that never bear the fruit to repay the investment………

  6. harley1 on January 7th, 2011 4:08 pm

    I echo Janes comments. Keep calling your reps. Keep reminding them YOU are a voter. Let them know in a nice way Florida voters can just as easily clean out the state house in Tallahassee, like the house in Washington was, next time around. Remind them they represent YOU..

  7. Just listening and good at it.! on January 7th, 2011 3:45 pm

    Oversight”
    You got it. Escambia is one of the worse counties in Florida to rip its people off,
    Tell it like it is………….

  8. David Huie Green on January 7th, 2011 2:01 pm

    principles

  9. xpeecee on January 7th, 2011 10:20 am

    I agree, Jane…

  10. Jane on January 7th, 2011 9:59 am

    Everyone needs to contact their representatives and Governor Scott to make SURE this gets repealed…don’t just let this issue be forgotten! If the government passes laws we don’t like and we just sit quietly by whose fault is it? Ours!

  11. Fairlane63 on January 7th, 2011 8:19 am

    It’s interesting that Don Gaetz voted for this bill when it originally passed. Funny how he only turned against it once the public outcry started. But he says he’s a “small government conservative”– okay……

  12. xpeecee on January 7th, 2011 7:12 am

    Good for those who are trying to stop this crazy new tax. The message was clear in our last election:
    * We don’t want socialism
    * We dont want more government
    * We don’t want more taxes (as in septic tank inspections)
    * We don’t want illegal aliens getting a free ride
    * We don’t want more gun control
    * We don’t want to depart from the Christian principals that our country was founded upon.

  13. Oversight on January 7th, 2011 5:42 am

    “This is an issue that the counties need to resolve locally,…” If Escambia County thinks it can make a buck off of this then home and business owners better look out because the BOCC will jump at the chance.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News