Transfer of areas.

(1) At the time of change of boundaries of the respective districts under s. 373.069(3), 1976 Supplement to Florida Statutes 1975, all contractual obligations with respect to an area being transferred to another district shall be assumed by the district receiving such area; all real property interests owned by a district within an area to be transferred shall be conveyed to the district receiving such area; and all equipment, vehicles, other personal property, and records owned, located, and used by a district solely within an area being transferred shall be delivered to the district receiving such area. However, if an area is transferred from a district with a contractual obligation to the United States of America for the operation and maintenance of works within such area, then the deliveries and conveyances required in this section shall be deferred until the United States has approved the assumption of the contractual obligations by the receiving district.

(2) Effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2003, that portion of Polk County formerly within the St. Johns River Water Management District as set forth in s. 373.069 is transferred to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. With respect to the area transferred and at the time of change of boundaries, all contractual obligations of the St. Johns River Water Management District, all real property interests owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District, all regulatory responsibilities of the St. Johns River Water Management District, all equipment and other personal property used solely by the St. Johns River Water Management District in that area, and all records of the St. Johns River Water Management District shall be transferred and delivered to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

(3) The change of boundaries shall not affect the continuing authority, obligations, and commitments of the water management districts, except as set forth in this section.