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Background: The State of Florida has expressed a desire to construct or support the construc- tion of a high-speed passenger rail system within the State to address some of its transportation concerns. Throughout the years, there have been numerous proposals for passenger trains to op- erate within the State, including high-speed passenger trains. The most recent proposal is the Bright line service by All Aboard Florida (AAF). AAF is a private company that proposes to op- erate a high-speed passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando with intermediate stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The current proposal has 32 trains operating at a max- imum speed of 110 MPH between West Palm Beach and Cocoa Beach, Florida. Legislation: SB 386 (Mayfield) and HB 269 (Magar) provided minimum safety standards for any high-speed passenger rail operating in the State of Florida. The legislation also required any high- speed passenger rail system operating within the State to be solely responsible for rail corridor improvements and upgrades relating to its operation and safety unless otherwise agreed to by the express consent of another entity in writing. Status: This bill received a lot of positive feedback with the members of the Florida Legislature. A workshop was held in the House to discuss the All Aboard Florida project. The legislation also passed unanimously in the Senate Transportation Committee. Unfortunately, there was a lot of misinformation circulated by various train companies on the impacts the legislation would have on its business and on the State of Florida. We will continue to work on this issue. .r. I 4.2 SEPT C T `� O,S WER E Background: Studies show that aging septic tanks servicing residential and commercial proper- ties are contributing to the pollution of the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Legislation: SB 874 (Young) and HB 551 (Stone) called for an appropriation of $20 million an- nually to offset property owner costs incurred by retrofitting septic systems that are determined by DEP to be contributing excess nutrient pollution to the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosa- hatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, or connecting properties to sewer systems, and for muck dredg- ing and stormwater improvements in the northern Indian Lagoon. Status: This bill only made it through one committee in the Senate. The reason for this may be because there was a one-time allocation in the original budget for $20-$25 million 50/50 cost share grant to assist the following counties along the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries: Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Volusia, and Lee. Unfortunately, this appropriation is not in the final budget for FY 17-18. P206