HB 800 Summary

• Creates the Baldwin County Utility Technical Advisory Committee composed of county engineers, health department administrators, state environmental representatives, professional engineers, municipal and private utility representatives, and environmental board members to advise the county commission on wastewater system standards.

• Grants Baldwin County Commission authority to establish and enforce uniform minimum standards for design, placement, construction, operation, and maintenance of wastewater systems in unincorporated county areas to protect public health, welfare, and environment.

• Requires wastewater utilities to submit plans and specifications prior to construction or extension, provide as-built drawings, furnish capacity assurances, and submit operations and maintenance plans including emergency procedures.

• Allows property owners to choose between two or more available wastewater systems with adequate capacity, with the ability to change their choice over time, subject to existing contractual obligations.

• Establishes a two-tier appeal process allowing appeals of county decisions to the county commission within 30 days and subsequent appeals to Baldwin County Circuit Court, with the non-prevailing party responsible for appeal costs.