Senate Bill 0406er
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1
2 An act relating to economic development;
3 creating the Community and Faith-based
4 Organizations initiative within the Institute
5 on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida
6 Agricultural and Mechanical University;
7 providing for the initiative to promote
8 community development through partnerships with
9 community and faith-based organizations;
10 specifying the activities to be conducted by
11 the initiative; providing for financial
12 assistance to community and faith-based
13 organizations; requiring the development of
14 grant-selection criteria; requiring leveraging
15 of funds; creating the Community and Library
16 Technology Access Partnership; specifying the
17 activities to be conducted by the partnership;
18 requiring the Institute on Urban Policy and
19 Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
20 University to administer the initiative and the
21 Division of Library and Information Services of
22 the Department of State to administer the
23 Community and Library Technology Access
24 Partnership; authorizing certain activities and
25 uses of funds; prescribing eligibility of
26 organizations for funding or assistance;
27 requiring review and evaluation; providing
28 appropriations; creating a community
29 computer-access grant program, to be known as
30 the Community High-Technology Investment
31 Partnership, or "CHIP," program; providing
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1 purposes of the program; providing for program
2 administration pursuant to a performance-based
3 contract; providing for performance measures;
4 providing for grants to be awarded to eligible
5 neighborhood facilities; providing requirements
6 for grant applications; prescribing the maximum
7 amount of a grant; requiring a grant agreement
8 between the institute and the recipient
9 facility; providing for establishing minimum
10 specifications of computers purchased under the
11 program; providing for an evaluation and a
12 report; authorizing the institute to
13 subcontract for specified assistance services;
14 creating an inner city redevelopment assistance
15 grants program; providing duties of the Office
16 of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;
17 prescribing eligibility requirements for
18 grants; providing expected outcomes from
19 grants; creating the Inner City Redevelopment
20 Review Panel and providing its membership and
21 duties; providing legislative findings;
22 amending s. 331.368, F.S.; expanding the
23 purpose of the Florida Space Research
24 Institute; revising the membership of the
25 institute; prescribing additional duties of the
26 institute; creating the Space Industry
27 Workforce Initiative; requiring the Workforce
28 Development Board of Enterprise Florida, Inc.,
29 to develop initiatives to address the workforce
30 needs of the industry; prescribing criteria;
31 requiring the board to convene industry
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1 representatives; requiring a report; providing
2 for the establishment of the Florida-Caribbean
3 Basin Trade Initiative by the Seaport
4 Employment Training Grant Program contingent
5 upon a specific appropriation; providing
6 purpose of the initiative; providing
7 responsibilities of the Seaport Employment
8 Training Grant Program; providing for a
9 performance-based contract with the Office of
10 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;
11 amending s. 212.08, F.S.; providing an
12 exemption from the tax on sales, use, and other
13 transactions for building materials used in the
14 construction of certain single-family homes
15 located in an enterprise zone, empowerment
16 zone, or Front Porch Florida Community;
17 providing an exemption from the tax on sales,
18 use, and other transactions for building
19 materials used in the construction of specified
20 redevelopment projects; providing requirements
21 for refund applications; providing for rules;
22 directing the Department of Community Affairs
23 to propose modifications to the Brownfields
24 Redevelopment Act and other economic incentives
25 for consideration by the Legislature; providing
26 for creation and purpose of the Toolkit for
27 Economic Development; defining the term
28 "economically distressed"; requiring the
29 appointment of liaisons from agencies and
30 organizations; providing for requirements and
31 duties; creating coordinating partners to serve
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1 as the program's executive committee; providing
2 for duties and powers; providing for waivers of
3 state-required matching-funds requirements;
4 requiring an inventory of programs that help
5 economically distressed communities; requiring
6 that the inventory be categorized; creating the
7 Start-Up Initiative to promote the use of the
8 inventory; providing for identification of
9 communities; providing for solicitation of
10 proposals; providing for proposal content;
11 providing for review process and evaluation
12 criteria; providing for funding; providing for
13 the designation of communities of critical
14 economic opportunity; providing for use of
15 funds and certification; providing for
16 reporting; providing for expiration; providing
17 an effective date.
18
19 WHEREAS, many community and faith-based organizations
20 are providing a new focus on economic uplift in Florida's poor
21 and most vulnerable neighborhoods, and
22 WHEREAS, these nonprofit organizations have local
23 experts who serve in leadership roles by assisting individuals
24 to move from dependency to self-sufficiency and restoring the
25 lives of residents in Florida's most distressed communities,
26 and
27 WHEREAS, crime, drug addiction, teenage pregnancy,
28 homelessness, and juvenile delinquency, the most notable
29 indicators of a distressed community, are being addressed by
30 small, and sometimes unrecognized, community and faith-based
31 organizations, and
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1 WHEREAS, the leadership and expertise of these
2 organizations should not be ignored, and
3 WHEREAS, a recognized effort to empower community and
4 faith-based organizations, encourage community revitalization,
5 and implement educational reform will help those who reside in
6 inner cities and distressed rural communities to gain their
7 share of the state's resources, and
8 WHEREAS, residents of low income communities lack
9 access to technology, the internet, and computer literacy
10 needed to succeed in Florida's emerging information-based
11 economy, and
12 WHEREAS, Florida public libraries eligible for e-rate
13 discounts have the capacity to partner effectively with
14 community and faith-based organizations and agencies to
15 provide technology access and training to assist in closing
16 the digital divide, NOW, THEREFORE,
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Community and Faith-based Organizations
21 Initiative; Community and Library Technology Access
22 Partnership.--
23 (1) CREATION.--There is created the Community and
24 Faith-based Organizations Initiative which shall be
25 administered by the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at
26 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the
27 Community and Library Technology Access Partnership which
28 shall be administered by the Division of Library and
29 Information Services of the Department of State.
30 (2) INTENT.--The purpose of the initiative is to
31 promote community development in low-income communities
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1 through partnerships with not-for-profit community and
2 faith-based organizations. The purpose of the partnership is
3 to encourage public libraries eligible for e-rate discounted
4 telecommunications services to partner with community and
5 faith-based organizations to provide technology access and
6 training to assist other state efforts to close the digital
7 divide.
8 (3) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.--
9 (a) Authorized activities of the initiative.--The
10 Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural
11 and Mechanical University may conduct the following activities
12 as part of the Community and Faith-based Organizations
13 Initiative:
14 1. Create and operate training programs to enhance the
15 professional skills of individuals in community and
16 faith-based organizations.
17 2. Create and operate a program to select and place
18 students and recent graduates from business and related
19 professional schools as interns with community and faith-based
20 organizations for a period not to exceed 1 year, and provide
21 stipends for such interns.
22 3. Organize an annual conference for community and
23 faith-based organizations to discuss and share information on
24 best practices regarding issues relevant to the creation,
25 operation, and sustainability of these organizations.
26 4. Provide funding for the development of materials
27 for courses on topics in the area of community development,
28 and for research on economic, operational, and policy issues
29 relating to community development.
30 5. Provide financial assistance to community and
31 faith-based organizations through small grants for
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1 partnerships with universities and the operation of programs
2 to build strong communities and future community development
3 leaders. The Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida
4 Agricultural and Mechanical University shall develop selection
5 criteria for awarding such grants which are based on the goals
6 of the initiative.
7
8 The institute, to the maximum extent possible, shall leverage
9 state funding for the initiative with any federal funding that
10 the institute may receive to support similar community-based
11 activities.
12 (b) Authorized activities of the partnership.--The
13 Division of Library and Information Services of the Department
14 of State may conduct the following activities as part of the
15 Community and Library Technology Access Partnership:
16 1. Provide funding for e-rate eligible public
17 libraries to provide technology access and training to
18 community and faith-based organizations. Funding provided
19 under this subparagraph must be for eligible public libraries
20 in distressed communities in the state. The division shall
21 consult with the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce to
22 identify such communities and to develop criteria to be used
23 in evaluating funding proposals. The division shall coordinate
24 with the institute to ensure that, to the maximum extent
25 possible, the division and the institute leverage their
26 resources under the programs authorized by this section in
27 order to focus efforts on addressing the most distressed
28 communities in the state. The division shall include a
29 representative of the institute on a review team to evaluate
30 funding proposals under this subparagraph.
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1 2. Provide a method of assessment and outcome
2 measurement for e-rate eligible public libraries to assess
3 progress in closing the digital divide and in training for
4 individuals to succeed in the emerging information economy.
5 (4) ELIGIBILITY.--A community or faith-based
6 organization receiving funding or other assistance under the
7 Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative or the
8 Community Library Technology Access Partnership must be a
9 nonprofit organization holding a current exemption from
10 federal taxation under s. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal
11 Revenue Code. Funding under this section shall not be used for
12 religious or sectarian purposes.
13 (5) REVIEW AND EVALUATION.--
14 (a) By January 1, 2001, the Institute on Urban Policy
15 and Commerce and the Division of Library and Information
16 Services shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
17 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives brief
18 status reports on their respective implementation of the
19 activities authorized under this section. The institute and
20 the division may elect to collaborate on the submission of a
21 combined status report covering both programs. At a minimum,
22 the status reports or combined report shall address:
23 1. The activities and accomplishments to date;
24 2. Any impediments to the effective implementation or
25 utilization of each program; and
26 3. The initial progress toward achievement of
27 measurable program outcomes.
28 (b) By January 1, 2002, the Institute on Urban Policy
29 and Commerce and the Division of Library and Information
30 Services shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
31 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives final
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1 reports on the activities authorized under this section. The
2 institute and the division may elect to collaborate on the
3 submission of a combined final report covering both programs.
4 In addition to updating the elements addressed under paragraph
5 (a), the reports or combined report shall include
6 recommendations on whether it would be sound public policy to
7 continue the programs and recommendations on any changes
8 designed to enhance the effectiveness of the programs.
9 Section 2. Community computer access grant program.--
10 (1) The Legislature finds that there is a growing
11 digital divide in the state, manifested in the fact that many
12 youths from distressed urban communities do not possess the
13 degree and ease of access to computers and information
14 technologies which youths in other communities in the state
15 possess. This disparity in access to rapidly changing and
16 commercially significant technologies has a negative impact on
17 the educational, workforce development, and employment
18 competitiveness of these needy youths, and thereby impedes the
19 economic development of the distressed urban communities in
20 which these youths reside. Although many public libraries
21 offer users access to computers and are increasingly making
22 library materials available to the public through electronic
23 means, many youths from distressed urban communities do not
24 live near a library that has such technology and do not have
25 computers to access Internet-based virtual libraries.
26 Neighborhood organizations, such as churches, are more likely,
27 however, to be located in closer proximity to the homes of
28 these youths than are educational institutions or libraries,
29 and these youths are more likely to gain the desirable
30 computer access at church-related or other neighborhood
31 facilities than at other institutions. The Legislature
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1 therefore finds that a public purpose is served in enhancing
2 the ability of youths from these communities to have access to
3 computers and the Internet within the neighborhoods in which
4 they reside.
5 (2) Subject to legislative appropriation, there is
6 created the Community High-Technology Investment Partnership
7 (CHIP) program to assist distressed urban communities in
8 securing computers for access by youths between the ages of 5
9 years and 18 years who reside in these communities. The
10 program shall be administered by the Institute on Urban Policy
11 and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
12 pursuant to a performance-based contract with the Division of
13 Library and Information Services of the Department of State.
14 The division shall develop performance measures, standards,
15 and sanctions for the program. Performance measures must
16 include, but are not limited to: the number of youth obtaining
17 access to computers purchased under this program; the number
18 of hours computers are made available to youth; and the number
19 of hours spent by youth on computers purchased under this
20 program for educational purposes. The administrative costs for
21 administration of this program cannot exceed 10 percent of the
22 amount appropriated to the division for the program.
23 (3)(a) Under this program, neighborhood facilities,
24 through their governing bodies, may apply to the institute for
25 grants to purchase computers that will be available for use by
26 eligible youths who reside in the immediate vicinity of the
27 neighborhood facility. For purposes of this program, eligible
28 neighborhood facilities include, but are not limited to,
29 facilities operated by:
30 1. Units of local government, including school
31 districts;
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1 2. Nonprofit, faith-based organizations, including
2 neighborhood churches;
3 3. Nonprofit civic associations or homeowners'
4 associations; and
5 4. Nonprofit organizations, the missions of which
6 include improving conditions for residents of distressed urban
7 communities.
8
9 To be eligible for funding under this program, a nonprofit
10 organization or association must hold a current exemption from
11 federal taxation under s. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal
12 Revenue Code.
13 (b) Notwithstanding the eligibility of the
14 organizations identified in paragraph (a), the institute shall
15 give priority consideration for funding under this program to
16 applications submitted by neighborhood churches or by
17 neighborhood-based, nonprofit organizations that have as a
18 principal part of their missions the improvement of conditions
19 for residents of the same neighborhoods in which the
20 organizations are located. The institute also shall give
21 priority consideration to organizations that demonstrate that
22 they have not been awarded community enhancement or similar
23 community support grants from state or local government on a
24 regular basis in the past. The institute shall develop
25 weighted criteria to be used in evaluating applications from
26 such churches or organizations. Funding under this section
27 shall not be used for religious or sectarian purposes.
28 (4) The institute shall develop guidelines governing
29 the administration of this program and shall establish
30 criteria to be used in evaluating an application for funding.
31 At a minimum, the institute must find that:
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1 (a) The neighborhood that is to be served by the grant
2 suffers from general economic distress;
3 (b) Eligible youths who reside in the vicinity of the
4 neighborhood facility have difficulty obtaining access to a
5 library or schools that have sufficient computers; and
6 (c) The neighborhood facility has developed a detailed
7 plan, as required under subsection (5), for:
8 1. Providing youths who reside in the vicinity of the
9 facility with access to any computer purchased with grant
10 funds, including evening and weekend access when libraries and
11 schools are closed; and
12 2. Promoting the maximum participation of neighborhood
13 youths in use of any computers purchased with grant funds.
14 (5) As part of an application for funding, the
15 neighborhood facility must submit a plan that demonstrates:
16 (a) The manner in which eligible youths who reside in
17 the immediate vicinity of the facility will be provided with
18 access to any computer purchased with grant funds, including
19 access during hours when libraries and schools are closed;
20 (b) The existence of safeguards to ensure that any
21 computer purchased with grant funds is reserved for the
22 educational use of eligible youths who reside in the immediate
23 vicinity of the facility and is not used to support the
24 business operations of the neighborhood facility or its
25 governing body; and
26 (c) The existence, in the neighborhood facility, of
27 telecommunications infrastructure necessary to guarantee
28 access to the Internet through any computer purchased with
29 grant funds.
30 (6) To the maximum extent possible, funding shall be
31 awarded under this program in a manner designed to ensure the
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1 participation of distressed urban communities from regions
2 throughout the state.
3 (7) The maximum amount of a grant which may be awarded
4 to any single neighborhood facility under this program is
5 $25,000.
6 (8) Before the institute may allocate funds for a
7 grant under this program, the institute and the eligible
8 neighborhood facility must execute a grant agreement that
9 governs the terms and conditions of the grant.
10 (9) The institute, based upon guidance from the State
11 Technology Office and the state's Chief Information Officer,
12 shall establish minimum requirements governing the
13 specifications and capabilities of any computers purchased
14 with funds awarded under this grant program.
15 (10) Before the 2002 Regular Session of the
16 Legislature, the institute shall evaluate the outcomes of this
17 program and report the results of the evaluation to the
18 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
19 House of Representatives. At a minimum, the evaluation must
20 assess the extent to which the program has improved access to
21 computers for youths who reside in distressed urban
22 communities. As part of this report, the institute shall
23 identify any impediments to the effective implementation and
24 utilization of the program and shall make recommendations on
25 methods to eliminate any such impediments. In addition, the
26 institute shall make recommendations as to whether it would be
27 sound public policy to continue the program; whether the
28 program should be expanded to address additional target
29 populations, including, but not limited to, youths in
30 distressed rural communities and adults in distressed urban or
31 rural communities; and whether the list of neighborhood
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1 facilities eligible to participate in the program should be
2 revised or whether priority consideration for funding should
3 be revised to emphasize a particular type of neighborhood
4 facility. The report required under this subsection must be
5 submitted by January 1, 2002.
6 (11) The institute may subcontract with the
7 Information Service Technology Development Task Force for
8 assistance in carrying out the provisions of this section,
9 including, but not limited to, technical guidance, assistance
10 in developing and evaluating program outcomes, and preparation
11 or distribution of materials designed to educate the public
12 about community access centers and other relevant resources.
13 Section 3. There is created an Inner City
14 Redevelopment Assistance Grants Program to be administered by
15 the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. The
16 office shall develop criteria for awarding these grants which
17 give weighted consideration to urban high-crime areas as
18 identified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. These
19 criteria shall also be weighted to immediate creation of jobs
20 for residents in the targeted areas.
21 Section 4. Eligibility requirements for grant
22 proposals are as follows:
23 (1) An eligible grant recipient must serve within one
24 of the 13 urban high-crime job tax credit areas and be:
25 (a) A community-based organization;
26 (b) A community development corporation;
27 (c) A faith-based organization;
28 (d) A nonprofit community development organization;
29 (e) A nonprofit economic development organization; or
30 (f) Another nonprofit organization serving the
31 nominated area.
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1 (2) Each applicant must submit a letter of support
2 from the local government serving the targeted urban area.
3 (3) Each applicant must submit a proposal response
4 outlining the work plan proposed using the grant funding, as
5 well as proposed performance measures and expected, measurable
6 outcomes.
7 (4) Eligible uses of grant funding must result in the
8 creation of job opportunities for residents of targeted areas.
9 (5) Applicants are urged to leverage grant funds with
10 other existing resources.
11 Section 5. In order to enhance public participation
12 and involvement in the redevelopment of inner city areas,
13 there is created within the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
14 Economic Development the Inner City Redevelopment Review
15 Panel.
16 (1) The review panel shall consist of seven members
17 who represent different areas of the state, who are appointed
18 by the Director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
19 Development, and who are qualified, through the demonstration
20 of special interest, experience, or education, in the
21 redevelopment of the state's inner-city areas, as follows:
22 (a) One member must be affiliated with the Black
23 Business Investment Board;
24 (b) One member must be affiliated with the Institute
25 on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and
26 Mechanical University;
27 (c) One member must be affiliated with the Office of
28 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;
29 (d) One member must be the president of Enterprise
30 Florida, Inc., or the president's designee;
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1 (e) One member must be the Secretary of Community
2 Affairs or the secretary's designee;
3 (f) One member must be affiliated with Better
4 Jobs/Better Wages of Workforce Florida, Inc., if such body is
5 created. Otherwise, one member must be the president and chief
6 operating officer of the Florida Workforce Development Board;
7 and
8 (g) One member must be affiliated with the First
9 Job/First Wages Council of Workforce Florida, Inc., if such
10 body is created. Otherwise, one member must be the Secretary
11 of Labor and Employment Security or the secretary's designee.
12 (2) The importance of minority and gender
13 representation must be considered when making appointments to
14 the panel, and the geographic representation of panel members
15 must also be considered.
16 (3) Members of the review panel shall be appointed for
17 4-year terms. A person may not serve more than two consecutive
18 terms on the panel.
19 (4) Members shall elect a chairperson annually. A
20 member may not be elected to consecutive terms as chairperson.
21 (5) All action taken by the review panel shall be by
22 majority vote of those present. The Director of the Office of
23 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development or the director's
24 designee shall serve without voting rights as secretary to the
25 panel. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
26 shall provide necessary staff assistance to the panel.
27 (6) It is the responsibility of the panel to evaluate
28 proposals for awards of inner city redevelopment grants
29 administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
30 Development. The panel shall review and evaluate all proposals
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1 for grants and shall make recommendations, including a
2 priority ranking, reflecting such evaluation.
3 Section 6. Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative.--
4 (1) Contingent upon a specific appropriation, the
5 Seaport Employment Training Grant Program (STEP) shall
6 establish and administer the Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade
7 Initiative for the purpose of assisting small and medium-sized
8 businesses to become involved in international activities and
9 helping them to identify markets with product demand, identify
10 strategic alliances in those markets, and obtain the financing
11 to effectuate trade opportunities in the Caribbean Basin. The
12 initiative must focus assistance to businesses located in
13 urban communities. The initiative shall offer export
14 readiness, assistance and referral services, internships,
15 seminars, workshops, conferences, and e-commerce plus
16 mentoring and matchmaking services, but shall coordinate with
17 and not duplicate those services provided by Enterprise
18 Florida, Inc.
19 (2) To enhance initiative effectiveness and leverage
20 resources, STEP shall coordinate initiative activities with
21 Enterprise Florida, Inc., United States Export Assistance
22 Centers, Florida Export Finance Corporation, Florida Trade
23 Data Center, Small Business Development Centers, and any other
24 organizations STEP deems appropriate. The coordination may
25 encompass export assistance and referral services, export
26 financing, job-training programs, educational programs, market
27 research and development, market promotion, trade missions,
28 e-commerce, and mentoring and matchmaking services relative to
29 the expansion of trade between Florida and the Caribbean
30 Basin. The initiative shall also form alliances with
31 multilateral, international, and domestic funding programs
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1 from Florida, the United States, and the Caribbean Basin to
2 coordinate systems and programs for fundamental assistance in
3 facilitating trade and investment.
4 (3) STEP shall administer the Florida-Caribbean Basin
5 Trade Initiative pursuant to a performance-based contract with
6 the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. The
7 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall
8 develop performance measures, standards, and sanctions for the
9 initiative. Performance measures must include, but are not
10 limited to, the number of businesses assisted; the number of
11 urban businesses assisted; and the increase in value of
12 exports to the Caribbean which is attributable to the
13 initiative.
14 Section 7. Paragraphs (n) and (o) are added to
15 subsection (5) of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, to read:
16 212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,
17 and storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail,
18 the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and
19 the storage to be used or consumed in this state of the
20 following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed
21 by this chapter.
22 (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.--
23 (n) Materials for construction of single-family homes
24 in certain areas.--
25 1. As used in this paragraph, the term:
26 a. "Building materials" means tangible personal
27 property that becomes a component part of a qualified home.
28 b. "Qualified home" means a single-family home having
29 an appraised value of no more than $160,000 which is located
30 in an enterprise zone, empowerment zone, or Front Porch
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1 Florida Community and which is constructed and occupied by the
2 owner thereof for residential purposes.
3 c. "Substantially completed" has the same meaning as
4 provided in s. 192.042(1).
5 2. Building materials used in the construction of a
6 qualified home and the costs of labor associated with the
7 construction of a qualified home are exempt from the tax
8 imposed by this chapter upon an affirmative showing to the
9 satisfaction of the department that the requirements of this
10 paragraph have been met. This exemption inures to the owner
11 through a refund of previously paid taxes. To receive this
12 refund, the owner must file an application under oath with the
13 department which includes:
14 a. The name and address of the owner.
15 b. The address and assessment roll parcel number of
16 the home for which a refund is sought.
17 c. A copy of the building permit issued for the home.
18 d. A certification by the local building inspector
19 that the home is substantially completed.
20 e. A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from
21 the general contractor licensed in this state with whom the
22 owner contracted to construct the home, which statement lists
23 the building materials used in the construction of the home
24 and the actual cost thereof, the labor costs associated with
25 such construction, and the amount of sales tax paid on these
26 materials and labor costs. If a general contractor was not
27 used, the owner shall provide this information in a sworn
28 statement, under penalty of perjury. Copies of invoices
29 evidencing payment of sales tax must be attached to the sworn
30 statement.
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1 f. A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from
2 the owner affirming that he or she is occupying the home for
3 residential purposes.
4 3. An application for a refund under this paragraph
5 must be submitted to the department within 6 months after the
6 date the home is deemed to be substantially completed by the
7 local building inspector. Within 30 working days after receipt
8 of the application, the department shall determine if it meets
9 the requirements of this paragraph. A refund approved pursuant
10 to this paragraph shall be made within 30 days after formal
11 approval of the application by the department. The provisions
12 of s. 212.095 do not apply to any refund application made
13 under this paragraph.
14 4. The department shall establish by rule an
15 application form and criteria for establishing eligibility for
16 exemption under this paragraph.
17 5. The exemption shall apply to purchases of materials
18 on or after July 1, 2000.
19 (o) Building materials in redevelopment projects.--
20 1. As used in this paragraph, the term:
21 a. "Building materials" means tangible personal
22 property that becomes a component part of a housing project or
23 a mixed-use project.
24 b. "Housing project" means the conversion of an
25 existing manufacturing or industrial building to housing units
26 in an urban high-crime area, enterprise zone, empowerment
27 zone, Front Porch Community, designated brownfield area, or
28 urban infill area and in which the developer agrees to set
29 aside at least 20 percent of the housing units in the project
30 for low-income and moderate-income persons.
31
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1 c. "Mixed-use project" means the conversion of an
2 existing manufacturing or industrial building to mixed-use
3 units that include artists' studios, art and entertainment
4 services, or other compatible uses. A mixed-use project must
5 be located in an urban high-crime area, enterprise zone,
6 empowerment zone, Front Porch Community, designated brownfield
7 area, or urban infill area and the developer must agree to set
8 aside at least 20 percent of the square footage of the project
9 for low-income and moderate-income housing.
10 d. "Substantially completed" has the same meaning as
11 provided in s. 192.042(1).
12 2. Building materials used in the construction of a
13 housing project or mixed-use project are exempt from the tax
14 imposed by this chapter upon an affirmative showing to the
15 satisfaction of the department that the requirements of this
16 paragraph have been met. This exemption inures to the owner
17 through a refund of previously paid taxes. To receive this
18 refund, the owner must file an application under oath with the
19 department which includes:
20 a. The name and address of the owner.
21 b. The address and assessment roll parcel number of
22 the project for which a refund is sought.
23 c. A copy of the building permit issued for the
24 project.
25 d. A certification by the local building inspector
26 that the project is substantially completed.
27 e. A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from
28 the general contractor licensed in this state with whom the
29 owner contracted to construct the project, which statement
30 lists the building materials used in the construction of the
31 project and the actual cost thereof, and the amount of sales
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1 tax paid on these materials. If a general contractor was not
2 used, the owner shall provide this information in a sworn
3 statement, under penalty of perjury. Copies of invoices
4 evidencing payment of sales tax must be attached to the sworn
5 statement.
6 3. An application for a refund under this paragraph
7 must be submitted to the department within 6 months after the
8 date the project is deemed to be substantially completed by
9 the local building inspector. Within 30 working days after
10 receipt of the application, the department shall determine if
11 it meets the requirements of this paragraph. A refund approved
12 pursuant to this paragraph shall be made within 30 days after
13 formal approval of the application by the department. The
14 provisions of s. 212.095 do not apply to any refund
15 application made under this paragraph.
16 4. The department shall establish by rule an
17 application form and criteria for establishing eligibility for
18 exemption under this paragraph.
19 5. The exemption shall apply to purchases of materials
20 on or after July 1, 2000.
21 Section 8. The Department of Community Affairs, in
22 conjunction with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
23 Development, the Office of Urban Opportunities, and Enterprise
24 Florida, Inc., shall recommend new economic incentives or
25 revisions to existing economic incentives in order to promote
26 the reuse of vacant industrial and manufacturing facilities
27 for affordable housing and mixed-use development. The report
28 must also identify any state regulatory or programmatic
29 barriers to the reuse of such facilities. The department
30 shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and the
31 Speaker of the House of Representatives containing its
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1 recommendations by January 31, 2001. Based upon consultation
2 with the Department of Environmental Protection, the
3 department shall include, as a component of the report, any
4 recommended modifications to the Brownfields Redevelopment
5 Act, sections 376.77-376.85, Florida Statutes, for revising
6 liability protection or economic incentives under the act to
7 promote reuse of such facilities.
8 Section 9. Each provision of this act will be
9 implemented to the extent that funds are specifically
10 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year
11 2000-2001.
12 Section 10. Section 331.368, Florida Statutes, is
13 amended to read:
14 331.368 Florida Space Research Institute.--
15 (1) There is created the Florida Space Research
16 Institute, the purpose of which is to serve as an
17 industry-driven center for research, leveraging the state's
18 resources in a collaborative effort to support Florida's space
19 industry and its expansion, diversification, and transition to
20 commercialization.
21 (2) The institute shall operate as a public/private
22 partnership under the direction of a board composed comprised
23 of:
24 (a) A representative of the Spaceport Florida
25 Authority.
26 (b) A representative of Enterprise Florida, Inc.
27 (c) A representative of the Florida Aviation Aerospace
28 Alliance.
29 (d) A representative of the Florida Space Business
30 Roundtable.
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1 (e) Additional private-sector representatives from the
2 space industry selected collaboratively by the core members
3 specified in paragraphs (a)-(d). The additional space industry
4 representatives under this paragraph must comprise the
5 majority of members of the board and must be from geographic
6 regions throughout the state.
7 (f) Two representatives from the educational community
8 who are selected collaboratively by the core members specified
9 in paragraphs (a)-(d) and who are engaged in research or
10 instruction related to the space industry. One representative
11 must be from a community college and one representative must
12 be from a public or private university.
13
14 Annually, the members of the board shall select one of the
15 members to serve as chair, who shall be responsible for
16 convening and leading meetings of the board. representatives
17 of the Spaceport Florida Authority, Enterprise Florida, Inc.,
18 the Florida Aviation and Aerospace Alliance, and four
19 additional space industry representatives selected by the core
20 membership of the board.
21 (3) The board of the Florida Space Research Institute
22 shall:
23 (a) Set the strategic direction for the space-related
24 institute, including research priorities of the state and its
25 space-related businesses, the scope of research projects for
26 the institute, and the timeframes for completion.
27 (b) Invite the participation of public and private
28 universities, including, but not limited to, the University of
29 Central Florida, the University of Florida, the University of
30 South Florida, Florida State University, Florida Institute of
31 Technology, and the University of Miami.
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1 (c) Select a lead university to:
2 1. Serve as coordinator of research and as the
3 administrative entity of the institute;.
4 2. Support the institute's development of a statewide
5 space research agenda and programs; and
6 3. Develop, and update as necessary, a report
7 recommending ways that the state's public and private
8 universities can work in partnership to support the state's
9 space-industry requirements, which report must be completed by
10 December 15, 2000.
11 (d) Establish a partnership with the state Workforce
12 Development Board, or its successor entity, under which the
13 institute coordinates the workforce-training requirements
14 identified by the space industry and supports development of
15 workforce-training initiatives to meet such requirements,
16 using training providers approved by the board or its
17 successor entity.
18 (e) Co-manage, with the National Aeronautics and Space
19 Administration and subject to the terms of an agreement with
20 NASA, operation of a Space Experiment Research and Processing
21 Laboratory, if such a facility is constructed on land of the
22 John F. Kennedy Space Center. The institute shall carry out
23 such responsibility through a consortium of public and private
24 universities in the state led by the University of Florida.
25 (f) Develop initiatives to foster the participation of
26 the state's space industry in the International Space Station
27 and to help the state maintain and enhance its competitive
28 position in the commercial space-transportation industry.
29 (g) Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics
30 and Space Administration to coordinate and conduct research in
31 fields, including, but not limited to, environmental
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1 monitoring; agriculture; aquatics; resource reutilization
2 technologies for long-duration space missions; and spaceport
3 technologies which support current or next-generation launch
4 vehicles and range systems.
5 (h) Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics
6 and Space Administration for the conduct of space-related
7 research using computer technology to connect experts in a
8 given field of science who are in disparate locations and to
9 perform research experiments in a real-time, virtual
10 environment.
11 (4) By December 15 1 of each year, the institute shall
12 submit a report of its activities and accomplishments for the
13 prior fiscal year to the Governor, the President of the
14 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The
15 report shall also include recommendations regarding actions
16 the state should take to enhance the development of
17 space-related businesses, including:
18 (a) Future research activities.
19 (b) The development of capital and technology
20 assistance to new and expanding industries.
21 (c) The removal of regulatory impediments.
22 (d) The establishment of business development
23 incentives.
24 (e) The initiation of education and training programs
25 to ensure a skilled workforce.
26 Section 11. Space Industry Workforce Initiative.--
27 (1) The Legislature finds that the space industry is
28 critical to the economic future of the state and that the
29 competitiveness of the industry in the state depends upon the
30 development and maintenance of a qualified workforce. The
31 Legislature further finds that the space industry in this
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1 state has diverse and complex workforce needs, including, but
2 not limited to, the need for qualified entry-level workers,
3 the need to upgrade the skills of technician-level incumbent
4 workers, and the need to ensure continuing education
5 opportunities for workers with advanced educational degrees.
6 It is the intent of the Legislature to support programs
7 designed to address the workforce development needs of the
8 space industry in this state.
9 (2) The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise
10 Florida, Inc., or it successor entity, shall coordinate
11 development of a Space Industry Workforce Initiative in
12 partnership with the Florida Space Research Institute, the
13 institute's consortium of public and private universities,
14 community colleges, and other training providers approved by
15 the board. The purpose of the initiative is to use or revise
16 existing programs and to develop innovative new programs to
17 address the workforce needs of the space industry.
18 (3) The initiative shall emphasize:
19 (a) Curricula content and timeframes developed with
20 industry participation and endorsed by the industry;
21 (b) Programs that certify persons completing training
22 as meeting industry-approved standards or competencies;
23 (c) Use of distance-learning and computer-based
24 training modules as appropriate and feasible;
25 (d) Industry solicitation of public and private
26 universities to develop continuing education programs at the
27 master's and doctoral levels;
28 (e) Agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space
29 Administration to replicate on a national level successful
30 training programs developed through the initiative; and
31 (f) Leveraging of state and federal workforce funds.
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1 (4) The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise
2 Florida, Inc., or its successor entity, with the assistance of
3 the Florida Space Research Institute, shall convene
4 representatives from the space industry to identify the
5 priority training and education needs of the industry and to
6 appoint a team to design programs to meet such priority needs.
7 (5) The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise
8 Florida, Inc., or its successor entity, as part of its
9 statutorily prescribed annual report to the Legislature, shall
10 provide recommendations for policies, programs, and funding to
11 enhance the workforce needs of the space industry.
12 Section 12. Toolkit for Economic Development.--
13 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that
14 the state has numerous economically distressed communities
15 with a high proportion of needy families who are current or
16 former recipients of public assistance or who are at risk of
17 becoming dependent upon public assistance. The Legislature
18 also finds that the existence of safe and strong communities
19 with prosperous economies is crucial to reduce dependence on
20 public assistance and to promote employment retention and
21 self-sufficiency. It is the intent of the Legislature to
22 reduce reliance on public assistance, to promote employment
23 retention, and to increase self-sufficiency by providing
24 easily accessed and useable tools that support local
25 initiatives that create economically prosperous communities
26 for needy families.
27 (2) CREATION; PURPOSE.--There is created a program to
28 be known as the "Toolkit for Economic Development," the
29 purpose of which is to enable economically distressed
30 communities to access easily, and use effectively, federal and
31 state tools to improve conditions in the communities and
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1 thereby help needy families in the communities avoid public
2 assistance, retain employment, and become self-sufficient.
3 (3) DEFINITIONS.--For the purposes of this section, a
4 community is "economically distressed" if the community is
5 experiencing conditions affecting its economic viability and
6 hampering the self-sufficiency of its residents, including,
7 but not limited to, low per capita income, low property
8 values, high unemployment, high under-employment, low weekly
9 wages compared to the state average, low housing values
10 compared to the state or area average, high percentage of the
11 population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels
12 compared to the state average, and high percentage of needy
13 families.
14 (4) LIAISONS.--
15 (a) By August 1, 2000, the head of each of the
16 following agencies or organizations shall designate a
17 high-level staff person from within the agency or organization
18 to serve as a liaison to this program:
19 1. Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;
20 2. Office of Urban Opportunity;
21 3. Department of Community Affairs;
22 4. Department of Law Enforcement;
23 5. Department of Juvenile Justice;
24 6. Department of Transportation;
25 7. Department of Environmental Protection;
26 8. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
27 9. Department of State;
28 10. Department of Health;
29 11. Department of Children and Family Services;
30 12. Department of Corrections;
31 13. Department of Labor and Employment Security;
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1 14. Department of Education;
2 15. Department of Military Affairs;
3 16. Florida Housing Finance Corporation;
4 17. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences;
5 18. Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce;
6 19. Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;
7 20. Enterprise Florida, Inc.;
8 21. Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida,
9 Inc.;
10 22. Executive Office of the Governor; and
11 23. Any other agencies or organizations as determined
12 by the coordinating partners.
13 (b) An alternate for each designee shall also be
14 chosen, and the names of the designees and alternates shall be
15 sent to the coordinating partners, which shall convene the
16 liaisons as necessary.
17 (c) Each liaison must have a comprehensive knowledge
18 of the functions, whether regulatory or service-based, of his
19 or her agency or organization. The liaison shall be the
20 primary contact for the agency or organization for the Toolkit
21 for Economic Development, assisting in expediting proposal
22 review, resolving problems, promoting flexible assistance, and
23 identifying opportunities for support within the agency or
24 organization.
25 (d) As deemed necessary by the coordinating partners,
26 liaisons shall review proposals from economically distressed
27 communities to determine if they would be properly referred or
28 submitted to their agencies or organizations. If such referral
29 and submittal is appropriate, the liaison shall then assist
30 the community as an ombudsman.
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1 (e) The liaisons shall work at the request of the
2 coordinating partners to review statutes and rules for their
3 adverse effects on economically distressed communities and to
4 develop alternative proposals to mitigate these effects.
5 (f) Liaisons shall review their agencies' or
6 organizations' evaluation and scoring procedures for grant,
7 loan, and aid programs to ensure that economically distressed
8 communities are not unfairly disadvantaged, hampered, or
9 handicapped in competing for awards because of community
10 economic hardship. If they are, new evaluation criteria and
11 scoring procedures shall be considered that recognize
12 disproportionate requirements which an application process
13 makes of a community that lacks the resources of other more
14 prosperous communities. The evaluation criteria should weight
15 contribution in proportion to the amount of resources
16 available at the local level.
17 (g) Annually, the coordinating partners shall report
18 to the Governor and the head of each agency or organization on
19 the work and accomplishments of the liaisons.
20 (5) COORDINATING PARTNERS.--
21 (a) The liaisons from the WAGES State Board of
22 Directors, or its successor organization, the Office of Urban
23 Opportunity, the Department of Community Affairs, Enterprise
24 Florida, Inc., and the Workforce Development Board of
25 Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall serve as the coordinating
26 partners of the Toolkit for Economic Development and act as an
27 executive committee for the liaisons. The coordinating
28 partners shall review any request from a Front Porch Community
29 and shall provide whatever assistance that this section can
30 afford to them.
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1 (b) From time to time, the coordinating partners may
2 recommend to the head of an agency or organization, approval
3 of a project that in the unanimous judgment of the
4 coordinating partners will have an extraordinary positive
5 impact on an economically distressed community. Upon such
6 recommendation, the head of an agency or organization shall
7 give priority consideration for approval of such project.
8 (6) MATCHING-FUNDS OPTIONS.--Notwithstanding any other
9 provision of law, an agency or organization may waive any
10 state-required matching-funds requirements at the request of
11 the coordinating partners. This waiver is contingent upon the
12 determination by the coordinating partners that the community
13 is fully committed to the success of a project, but lacks the
14 community resources to meet match requirements. In-kind
15 matches shall be allowed and applied as matching-funds
16 utilizing the same determination criteria. The coordinating
17 partners must unanimously endorse each request to an agency or
18 organization. Any funds appropriated to the coordinating
19 partners may be used to meet matching-funds requirements or
20 fees for federal, state, or foundation application
21 requirements.
22 (7) INVENTORY.--The coordinating partners shall
23 develop, in consultation with the liaisons, an inventory of
24 recommended federal and state tax credits, incentives,
25 inducements, programs, opportunities, demonstrations or pilot
26 programs, grants, and other resources available through the
27 agencies and organizations which could assist Front Porch
28 Florida or economically distressed communities. Each entry in
29 the inventory must include a summary; a contact person; a
30 simple description of the application process and a timetable;
31 a profile of funding awards and funds availability; and a
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1 complexity ranking. The inventory shall be organized into
2 seven categories, including:
3 (a) Leadership.--Entries that promote the skills and
4 capacities of local leaders, volunteers, organizations, and
5 employees that work on other categories of the inventory.
6 These entries shall include, but are not limited to, grants;
7 scholarships; Individual Training Accounts; Retention
8 Incentive Training Account programs; and other programs that
9 build the resident capacity to create a better community.
10 These entries shall include educational-based institutes that
11 can assist with research, consulting, technical assistance,
12 capacity building, training, and program assistance to
13 communities.
14 (b) Safety.--Entries that increase safety and reduce
15 crime. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,
16 the training and employment of public safety employees and
17 volunteers; establishing safer businesses and neighborhoods;
18 training residents in safety practices; organizing safety
19 networks and cooperatives; improving lighting; improving the
20 safety of homes, buildings, and streets; and providing for
21 community police and safety projects, including those designed
22 to protect youth in the community. Other entries may be
23 included that reinforce community and local law enforcement.
24 (c) Clean Up.--Entries that support clean up and
25 enhancement projects that quickly create visible improvements
26 in neighborhoods, including the demolition of drug havens and
27 abandoned buildings. These entries shall include, but are not
28 limited to, projects that plan, design, or implement clean up
29 strategies; main street redevelopment; and renovation
30 projects. These entries may also include planning and
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1 implementation for larger neighborhood revitalization and
2 economic development projects.
3 (d) Business.--Entries that support small business
4 development, including, but not limited to, attraction of
5 national franchises; micro-loans; guaranteed commercial loans;
6 technical assistance; self-employment; linked deposit; loan
7 loss reserves; business incubators; and other activities that
8 support the market economy.
9 (e) Schools.--Entries that upgrade schools through
10 repair or renovation, as well as training and employment
11 entries to assist with school transportation, services, and
12 security. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,
13 programs that enable school-based childcare; before, after,
14 and summer school programs; programs that broaden the use of
15 school facilities as a hub and haven within the community;
16 scholarships; and grant programs that assist families and
17 individuals to complete and enhance their education.
18 (f) Partners.--Entries that provide tax credits,
19 incentives, and other inducements to businesses that
20 contribute to community projects, such as the community
21 contribution tax credit under sections 220.183 and 624.5105,
22 Florida Statutes. These entries shall include any programs
23 that help raise federal or foundation grant funds.
24 (g) Redevelopment.--Entries that support the planning,
25 preparation, construction, marketing, and financing of
26 residential, mixed-use, and commercial redevelopment, as well
27 as residential and business infrastructure projects. These
28 entries shall include, but are not limited to, the workforce
29 development programs that influence business decisions such as
30 the Quick-Response Training Program and Quick-Response
31
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1 Training Program for Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency
2 (WAGES) participants.
3 (8) START-UP INITIATIVE.--
4 (a) Subject to legislative appropriation and the
5 provisions of this act, the Start-Up Initiative is created to
6 promote the use of the inventory, to boost a community's
7 efforts, and to ensure that federal funds do not go unexpended
8 or unobligated, or are not returned to federal agencies.
9 (b) The coordinating partners, in consultation with
10 the liaisons, local economic development organizations, and
11 regional workforce development boards, shall identify 15
12 communities, seven of which must be from the state's seven
13 largest counties, three of which must be from rural counties,
14 and five of which must be from other counties in the state.
15 These communities must be compact, congruent, and contiguous
16 census tracts that have high concentrations of needy families
17 who are current, former, or likely recipients of public
18 assistance. To the maximum extent possible, these communities
19 should coincide with federal empowerment zones, enterprise
20 communities, or similar designations; HOPE VI communities;
21 Front Porch Florida communities; enterprise zones established
22 under chapter 290 or chapter 370, Florida Statutes;
23 Neighborhood Improvement Districts established under chapter
24 163, Florida Statutes; community redevelopment areas
25 established under chapter 163, Florida Statutes; and Urban
26 High Crime Areas or Rural Job Tax Credit Areas established
27 under chapter 212, Florida Statutes.
28 (c) The coordinating partners shall solicit proposals
29 from Front Porch Advisory Committees, community-based
30 organizations, local governments, and neighborhood
31 associations located in the communities identified in
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1 paragraph (b) and Front Porch communities. The coordinating
2 partners shall provide each applicant with the inventory and
3 recommendations on proposals that can be funded.
4 (d) Communities may prepare a proposal to access and
5 use various entries from the inventory which will launch or
6 boost their economic development efforts. Proposals must be no
7 more than 20 pages long and include:
8 1. A brief description of how the community would use
9 entries from the inventory in the community's economic
10 development strategy;
11 2. Specific evidence of community support for the
12 proposal from community-based organizations, local government,
13 regional workforce development boards, and local economic
14 development organizations;
15 3. Identification and commitment of local resources
16 for the proposal from community-based organizations, local
17 government, regional workforce development boards, and local
18 economic development organizations;
19 4. Identification of the specific entity or person
20 responsible for coordinating the community's proposal; and
21 5. Identification of a local fiscal entity for
22 contracting, administration, and accountability.
23 (e) The coordinating partners shall appoint a liaison
24 to assist each community with the proposal and its
25 implementation, if awarded.
26 (f) The coordinating partners shall design an
27 impartial and competitive proposal-review process and
28 evaluation criteria. Based on the evaluation criteria, up to
29 nine communities shall be designated to participate in the
30 Start Up Initiative. Once a community is designated, the
31 coordinating partners and the community's liaison will work to
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1 finalize the proposal, including the addition of funding
2 sources for each inventory entry. The finalized proposal shall
3 serve as the contract between the community and the Start-Up
4 Initiative. If sufficient funding does not exist for an entry
5 that is essential for the community's proposal or a community
6 is ineligible for a specific inventory entry, the coordinating
7 partners may allocate funding that is under their control to
8 fulfill the entry. The proposal must be operational within 3
9 months after approval.
10 (g) Proposals that would mainly result in
11 gentrification of the community, that would not employ a
12 preponderance of residents, and that predominately create
13 residences or businesses that are beyond the anticipated
14 income level of the working residents of the community are not
15 eligible.
16 (h) Proposal awards shall be obligated for federal
17 funding purposes, and shall be considered appropriated for
18 purposes of section 216.301, Florida Statutes. The
19 coordinating partners may allocate funding that is under their
20 control to fund this initiative. Any funding appropriated to
21 assist needy families, or to promote job placement and
22 employment retention, which is in excess of revenues necessary
23 to fulfill the appropriated purpose, and which may not be
24 obligated during the budget year, may be allocated to this
25 initiative to support an approved proposal.
26 (i) Any federal funds must be used for purposes
27 consistent with applicable federal law; however, the
28 coordinating partners, with the assistance of the Department
29 of Children and Family Services, shall aggressively pursue
30 innovative uses of federal funds to support projects that
31 train community leaders, upgrade individuals skills, promote
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1 safety, clean up communities, beautify neighborhoods,
2 encourage small business, stimulate employment, increase
3 educational opportunity, promote community partnering, advance
4 community redevelopment, and upgrade housing because it
5 assists needy families, promoting self-sufficiency and job
6 retention.
7 (j) The coordinating partners shall adopt procedures
8 for the Start-Up Initiative and may, if necessary, adopt,
9 through the Department of Community Affairs, emergency rules
10 to govern the submission of proposals, the evaluation of
11 proposals, the initiative awards, and the implementation
12 procedures for administration of awards.
13 (9) COMMUNITIES OF CRITICAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.--The
14 coordinating partners may recommend to the Governor up to
15 three communities of critical economic opportunity. A
16 community of critical economic opportunity must be a community
17 that is economically distressed, that presents a unique
18 economic development opportunity, and that will create more
19 than 1,000 jobs over a 5-year period. The Governor may, by
20 executive order, designate up to three communities of critical
21 economic opportunity which will establish these areas as
22 priority assignments for the liaisons and coordinating
23 partners. The provisions of the Qualified Target Industry Tax
24 Refund Program under section 288.106, Florida Statutes, the
25 Quick Response Training Program under section 288.047, Florida
26 Statutes, the WAGES Quick Response Training Program under
27 section 288.047(10), Florida Statutes, transportation projects
28 under section 288.063, Florida Statutes, the brownfield
29 redevelopment bonus refund under section 288.107, Florida
30 Statutes, the job and employment tax credit programs and any
31 other applicable economic development initiative or incentive
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1 may be utilized to the maximum extent allowable to address the
2 critical economic opportunity or threat identified by the
3 coordinating partners. Designation as a community of critical
4 economic opportunity under this subsection shall be contingent
5 upon the execution of a memorandum or agreement among the
6 coordinating partners; the governing body of the county; and
7 the governing bodies of any municipalities to be included
8 within an area of critical economic opportunity. Such
9 agreement shall specify the terms and conditions of the
10 designation, including, but not limited to, the duties and
11 responsibilities of the county and any participating
12 municipalities to take actions designed to facilitate the
13 retention and expansion of existing businesses in the area, as
14 well as the recruitment of new businesses to the area.
15 (10) FUNDING.--
16 (a) To implement the provisions of this act, there is
17 hereby appropriated the sum of $25 million from non-recurring
18 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to the
19 TANF administrative entity at the Department of Management
20 Services. The Department of Management Services shall contract
21 with entities recommended by the coordinating partners for
22 funding pursuant to this section.
23 (b) Any expenditure from the TANF funds shall be in
24 accordance with the requirements and limitations of Title IV
25 of the Social Security Act, as amended, or any other
26 applicable federal requirement or limitation in law. Prior to
27 any expenditure of such funds, the Workforce Development Board
28 of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the secretary of the
29 Department of Children and Family Services, or his or her
30 designee, shall certify that controls are in place to ensure
31 that such funds are expended and reported in accordance with
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2000 Legislature CS for CS for CS for SB 406
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1 the requirements and limitations of federal law. It shall be
2 the responsibility of any entity to which funds are awarded to
3 obtain the required certification prior to any expenditure of
4 funds.
5 (11) REPORTING.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis
6 and Government Accountability and the coordinating partners,
7 shall develop measures and criteria by October 1, 2001, for
8 evaluating the effectiveness of the Toolkit for Economic
9 Development including the liaisons, coordinating partners,
10 waivers and matching options, inventory, Start-Up Initiative,
11 and Communities of Critical Economic Opportunity. The Office
12 of Program Policy and Government Accountability shall submit
13 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker
14 of the House of Representatives, by January 1, 2002, a report
15 detailing the progress that the Toolkit for Economic
16 Development has made toward achievement of established
17 measures.
18 (12) EXPIRATION.--This section expires June 30, 2002.
19 Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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