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Septic Tank Inspections Remain Law, Senate Repeal Fails
May 9, 2011
The law requiring mandatory septic tank inspects remains on the books in Florida after the Senate failed to take up a bill repealing the measure prior to the end of the 2011 session.
“The Senate however, was reluctant to take up my bills and amendments to see this effort through, and I regret that the importance and the need to pass this good piece of legislation was not acknowledged,” said Sen. Greg Evers, who represents the North Escambia area.
“In the end, the last measure to repeal the program mandating these inspections was not taken up in the Senate before Friday’s midnight deadline. Although my colleagues were unwilling to support the septic tank repeal at this time, I will keep fighting to reverse this law and I encourage you to keep fighting with me. This will remain my number one priority until we get it accomplished,” Evers said.
The Florida House passed a measure in mid-April to repeal the mandatory inspection law that was passed in 2010 as part of a broader springs protection bill. But the bill died in the Senate with the end of the session.
The House bill’s sponsor, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marrianna, expressed her disappointment in a written statement early Saturday.
“I am very disappointed that the Senate chose not to repeal the septic tank inspection,” Coley said. “However, because of budgetary concerns, we added language in the implementing bill that requires the Department of Health to submit a plan which includes an estimate of agency workload and funding needs for approval by the Legislative Budget Commission.”
She said the health department will not be able to spend money to implement in the plan without the budget commission’s approval — potentially stymying the program until new measures to repeal the bill are considered in 2012.
The law that requires for property owners to pay for inspections on the state’s 2.6 million septic tanks every five years went into effect January 1, but last fall the legislature delayed implementation until July 1 hoping for the repeal that did no happen this session.
The septic tank inspection requirement, which opponents say could cost property owners $500 per inspection, was part of a larger environmental bill to improve water quality in Florida’s freshwater springs.
Comments
27 Responses to “Septic Tank Inspections Remain Law, Senate Repeal Fails”
Our state just recently rised about 100% all the fees and dues like the vehicle reg., marred lic.,divorce,evictions,permits and hundreds of other fees attached to our every day activities like ins. policys,traveling tickets,hotels and on and on and on.I am wondering how many small property rentals busineses will afford to have theirs perfectly good working septic tanks inspected and redoned with present economy ,when most tenants are loosing jobs and can not find another?? .Rents are paid late or not paid at all and eviction of avridge family cost $500.When this state politicians will stop squizing rest of the swet and blood from us -do not mess with our septic tanks it my bring lots of stink !!!!!!!
So, I’m still confused. Is the implementation on hold, i.e. you do not have to have the inspection, until July 1, or are counties going ahead with implementation currently? Please advise.
To whom do you report that there is no septic tank on property you are renting?
You know why Greg Evers squints in his photo? He’s trying to see how much money is left in your pocket to determine if you are worth listening to.
Your comment about Gov. Sink is totally inappropriate. She was not elected by the people.
I am so disgusted with the politicians in Tallahassee. If you remember correctly, this bill was introduced by a politician who was retiring and going into the septic tank business. His buddies decided they needed to do him a favor and go along with this unconstitutional law. I am sure Mr. Evers gave it a shot but without the Senate, nothing will be done. They are the one’s who should be catching all the flack about this legislation.
Remember YOU have more power than the special interests in the long run.
Take everyone of them out on election day. A WHOLE new replacement team
will be on the NEXT BALLOT…..
Replace them ALL….till they understand they work for YOU !
Let’s see how THEY like it without a JOB.
This is just another attempted way to provide jobs for the private sector at our cost. I don’t have 500.00 dollars to pay for this. I dare anyone on my property without being invited. To mandate us to spend money should be against the Law. Mr. Evers, why don’t you come and inspect my septic tank , the only thing is that you would be sucked up into the hose you stinker.
More “criminal money grabbing by the government.” They want to line their pockets with our money, while we do not get a COLA for the past 3 years. I wish someone would adress this. Because at this rate, we will owe them money. Legal robbery !!!!!!!
Maybe the Septic Tank Inspection Law is put into place to cover all the tax breaks the people who own two homes will now be getting. Unless, of course, you vote AGAINST this in the next election!!! I beleive there will be new petiitions put out there very soon regarding this inspection law, and I urge everyone to sign them! Maybe if we keep fighting this they will see that we are serious!
Wonder what they’d say if we just started a push to create our own state? Wouldn’t really have to do it, just threaten to do it. Maybe we could get the north end of Santa Rosa and Escambia to join in.
Why stop there, heck, we could just start our own country while we’re at it.
Again, tongue-in-cheek.
All we can do is to raise all heck with the legislators until they listen. Kinda like a child who keeps saying ‘pleeeease’ over and over until we tire of hearing it and give in?
yep hes a good boy mama over look something.so did he opps.vote him in vote him out !! wheres the petition ? Iwill sign it.
People, you must keep your septic tanks in proper working order so they will be able to continue to provide a place for the crap that comes out of Tallahassee.
If only we had Gov Sink.
If you allow this to be done, & don’t pay for the inspection (which is going to be an automatic fail for many folks) or the cost of replacement, my guess is the Florida “Mechanic’s Lien Law” will come into effect, whereby they will end up owning your property.
$500? Think again! If you are required to install one of the aerobic systems, with the electric pump (with a nice 220 electric motor to “pad” your power bill), extra plumbing, etc, or you are required to replace your drain fields, you will be in the thousands. They have thought out this racket very carefully for the benefit of themselves & their buddies in the septic tank biz, believe it! This is the same group that is trying to chip away at SS & Medicare, this septic tank stuff is small potatoes to them.
Here is another scenario:
You can’t pay for the inspection or the legally mandated windfall to the septic scumbags, your house is condemned, you cannot live there anymore, & a fine that is on a “per day” basis adds up until you pay up or give up. My oh my, how they plan on the money rolling in!
Evers sold us out again and will promise the world come next election. Money is the name of the game in Tallahassee. I too wish I lived in Alabama. Property taxes are half if not lower than just across the line in Florida; insurance cheaper, inspections very reasonable so what do we have to offer anyone moving to Florida?
We do not have any industry to give people jobs; the rivers were polluted years ago from the few plants we have and no one did anything so now they’re going to say it’s the home owners septic tanks that are polluting. We have friends that are selling out because of the taxes and insurance and moving to Alabama. That is a WISE move.
It goes to show it does not make any difference whom you put ithe office. After they are elected the vote goes toward the pay backs of the big interest whom came up with the money. Keep the people in the dark lie to them and feed them manure and a mushroom will grow. I would quess the money came from the people whom own the companys that will be doing the jobs. The people that its going to hurt are the poor and the elderly that do not have the six to ten thousand to replace the septic tank and bring up to our dear old county codes. Just like ECUA build their selfs new offices and put in high dollar showers and bath rooms, the tax payer is to dump to figure it out. Raise the trash pick up rates and vote your self a pay raise. Mr Evers how did this just die, are is a way to let it die.
Well I guess the government needs more money. How are some people going to be able to afford the fee when so many people are out of work.
Ok, we sent in several petitions…let’s do it again! And if that doesn’t work…remember elections are coming up and we CAN VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE!!!
They never look out for the little guy. Its always big business. I voted republican this time to get this kind of abuse stopped and still nothing is done for us common people. Why?
I’m with Sandra on this one….this is going to be the last straw for some people. Get pushed too much, will start pushing back!
I’m sorry, but seems as tho’ we might have been better off years ago when they wanted NW Florida to become part of Alabama…I never wanted that, but Alabama don’t have near the problems w/ permits and inspections~ all for the purpose of making the rich, richer and the poor, poorer! God help us!
I refuse to comply with this disgusting piece of legislation. I promise you that anyone that appears on my property for the purposes of inspecting my sytem will be told to leave and I will accept the consequences.
@Northend Alumnus
Not so quick, replacing those baggy britches can be expensive, too. (tongue-in-cheek)
They can take up the issue of saggy pants (a fashion trend) but not septic tank regulations-which can cost some a few hundred dollars if not more.
I see the Legislature just couldn’t spare the time to repeal this law which will have a serious financial impact on thousands of lower income and rural Floridians, but they made sure to take the time to remove many restrictions on business that would adversely impact the environment, and make it almost impossible to prevent polluters from coming into an area. They managed to find time to gut the DEP of powers to use scientific evidence to prevent polluters and put the responsibility on the neighbors to present scientific proof of pollution. This will remove most of the restraints on industry related to their ability to pollute water, air, and soil. (Pensacola News Journal; Local Section, Thursday, May 6, 2011).
They also managed to remove regulations from insurance companies, so prepare for your homeowners and auto insurance to go through the roof, and don’t even hazard a guess as to your health insurance.
They also found time to let billboard companies cut ALL trees down withing 500 feet of billboards (located on State Rights of Way) and not have to pay the state for the trees and not replant somewhere else. This means they can harvest state trees, sell them and not give the money back to the state, plus, they can also put more billboards up so the views of the interstate may be one billboard after another.
How disgusting! Keep fighting, Mr. Evers!