The Florida Senate

370.28  Enterprise zone designation; communities adversely impacted by net limitations.--

(1)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development is directed to identify communities suffering adverse impacts from the adoption of the constitutional amendment limiting the use of nets to harvest marine species.

(2)(a)  Such communities having a population of less than 7,500 persons and such communities in rural and coastal counties with a county population of less than 25,000 may apply to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development by August 15, 1996, for the designation of an area as an enterprise zone. The community must comply with the requirements of s. 290.0055, except that, for a community having a total population of 7,500 persons or more but less than 20,000 persons, the selected area shall not exceed 5 square miles. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 290.0065, limiting the total number of enterprise zones designated and the number of enterprise zones within a population category, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may designate an enterprise zone in eight of the identified communities. The governing body having jurisdiction over such area shall create an enterprise zone development agency pursuant to s. 290.0056 and submit a strategic plan pursuant to s. 290.0057. Enterprise zones designated pursuant to this section shall be effective January 1, 1997, and shall terminate December 31, 2005.

(b)  Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, communities in coastal counties with a county population greater than 20,000, which can demonstrate that the community has historically been a fishing community and has therefore had a direct adverse impact from the adoption of the constitutional amendment limiting the use of nets, shall also be eligible to apply for designation of an area as an enterprise zone. The community must comply with the requirements of s. 290.0055, except s. 290.0055(3). Such communities shall apply to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development by August 15, 1996. The office may designate one enterprise zone under this paragraph, which shall be effective January 1, 1997, and which shall be in addition to the eight zones authorized under paragraph (a). Such enterprise zone shall terminate December 31, 2005. The governing body having jurisdiction over such area shall create an enterprise zone development agency pursuant to s. 290.0056 and submit a strategic plan pursuant to s. 290.0057.

(3)  For the purpose of nominating and designating areas pursuant to subsection (2), the requirements set out in s. 290.0058(2) shall not apply.

(4)  Notwithstanding the enterprise zone residency requirements set out in ss. 212.096(1)(c) and 220.03(1)(q), businesses located in enterprise zones designated pursuant to this section may receive the credit provided under s. 212.096 or s. 220.181 for hiring any person within the jurisdiction of the county within which such enterprise zone is located. All other provisions of ss. 212.096, 220.03(1)(q), and 220.181 apply to such businesses. Notwithstanding the requirement specified in ss. 212.08(5)(g)5., (h)5., and (15)(a) and 220.182(1)(b) that no less than 20 percent of a business's employees, excluding temporary and part-time employees, must be residents of an enterprise zone for the business to qualify for the maximum exemption or credit provided in ss. 212.08(5)(g), (h), and (15) and 220.182, a business that is located in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to this section shall be qualified for those maximum exemptions or credits if no less than 20 percent of such employees of the business are residents of the jurisdiction of the county within which the enterprise zone is located. All other provisions of ss. 212.08(5)(g), (h), and (15) and 220.182 apply to such business.

(5)  Notwithstanding the time limitations contained in chapters 212 and 220, a business eligible to receive tax credits under this section from January 1, 1997, to June 1, 1998, must submit an application for the tax credits by December 1, 1998. All other requirements of the enterprise zone program apply to such a business.

History.--s. 6, ch. 95-414; s. 140, ch. 96-320; s. 3, ch. 98-220.