House Bill 2099e1

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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to state moneys; amending s.

  3         216.167, F.S.; requiring the Governor's

  4         recommended budget and revenues to include

  5         estimates of the Budget Stabilization Fund;

  6         amending s. 215.32, F.S.; revising the funds

  7         into which all moneys received by the state

  8         must be deposited and within which they must be

  9         accounted for; specifying the manner of

10         dividing such moneys into such funds;

11         specifying the use and investment of moneys in

12         such funds; repealing s. 212.081(3), F.S.,

13         relating to legislative intent on certain

14         moneys available in excess of general revenue

15         needs that accrue to the Working Capital Fund,

16         and amending ss. 216.221 and 252.37, F.S.,

17         relating to the financing of deficits and

18         emergencies, to conform; amending ss. 265.51

19         and 265.55, F.S.; restricting authority of the

20         Department of State to make agreements to

21         indemnify for certain losses relating to items

22         of artistic or historical value, and of the

23         Comptroller to pay such claims, to specific

24         appropriations for that purpose, to conform;

25         providing an effective date.

26

27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

28

29         Section 1.  Section 216.167, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1         216.167  Governor's recommendations.--The Governor's

  2  recommendations shall include a financial schedule which shall

  3  provide:

  4         (1)  The Governor's estimate of the recommended

  5  recurring revenues available in the Budget Stabilization Fund,

  6  the Working Capital Fund, and the General Revenue Fund.

  7         (2)  The Governor's estimate of the recommended

  8  nonrecurring revenues available in the Budget Stabilization

  9  Fund, the Working Capital Fund, and the General Revenue Fund.

10         (3)  The Governor's recommended recurring and

11  nonrecurring appropriations from the Budget Stabilization

12  Fund, the Working Capital Fund, and the General Revenue Fund.

13         (4)  The Governor's estimates of any interfund loans or

14  temporary obligations of the Budget Stabilization Fund, the

15  Working Capital Fund, or trust funds, which loans or

16  obligations are needed to implement his or her recommended

17  budget.

18         (5)(a)  For any recommendation to be funded by a

19  proposed state debt or obligation as defined in s. 216.0442,

20  the documents set forth in s. 216.0442(2) and a 5-year

21  estimate of the program operational costs associated with any

22  proposed fixed capital outlay project to be funded by the

23  proposed state debt or obligation.

24         (b)  The Governor's estimates of the debt service and

25  reserve requirements for any recommended new bond issues or

26  reissues and his or her recommended debt service

27  appropriations for all outstanding fixed capital outlay bond

28  issues.

29         Section 2.  Section 215.32, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31         215.32  State funds; segregation.--


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1         (1)  All moneys received by the state shall be

  2  deposited in the State Treasury unless specifically provided

  3  otherwise by law and shall be deposited in and accounted for

  4  by the Treasurer and the Department of Banking and Finance

  5  within the following funds, which funds are hereby created and

  6  established:

  7         (a)  General Revenue Fund.

  8         (b)  Trust funds.

  9         (c)  Budget Stabilization Fund.

10         (d)(c)  Working Capital Fund.

11         (2)  The source and use of each of these funds shall be

12  as follows:

13         (a)  The General Revenue Fund shall consist of all

14  moneys received by the state from every source whatsoever,

15  except as provided in paragraphs (b), and (c), and (d). Such

16  moneys shall be expended pursuant to General Revenue Fund

17  appropriations acts or transferred as provided in paragraph

18  (c) or paragraph (d). Annually, at least 5 percent of the

19  estimated increase in General Revenue Fund receipts for the

20  upcoming fiscal year over the current year General Revenue

21  Fund effective appropriations shall be appropriated for

22  state-level capital outlay, including infrastructure

23  improvement and general renovation, maintenance, and repairs.

24         (b)1.  The trust funds shall consist of moneys received

25  by the state which under law or under trust agreement are

26  segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency

27  or branch of state government receiving or collecting such

28  moneys shall be responsible for their proper expenditure as

29  provided by law. Upon the request of the state agency or

30  branch of state government responsible for the administration

31  of the trust fund, the Comptroller may establish accounts


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  within the trust fund at a level considered deemed necessary

  2  for proper accountability. Once an account is established

  3  within a trust fund, the Comptroller may shall authorize

  4  payment from that account only upon determining that there is

  5  sufficient cash and releases at the level of the account.

  6         2.  In order to maintain a minimum number of trust

  7  funds in the State Treasury, each state agency or the judicial

  8  branch may consolidate, if permitted under the terms and

  9  conditions of their receipt, the trust funds administered by

10  it; provided, however, the agency or judicial branch

11  effectively employs effectively a uniform system of accounts

12  sufficient to preserve the integrity of such trust funds; and

13  provided, further, that consolidation of trust funds is

14  approved by the Administration Commission or the Chief

15  Justice.

16         3.  All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be

17  expended in accordance with the law or trust agreement under

18  which they were received, subject always to the provisions of

19  chapter 216 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the

20  applicable laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of

21  moneys in the State Treasury.

22         4.a.  Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting

23  the use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated

24  cash balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by

25  the Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization

26  Working Capital Fund in the General Appropriations Act.

27         b.  The provisions of This subparagraph does shall not

28  apply to trust funds required by federal programs or mandates;

29  trust funds established for bond covenants, indentures, or

30  resolutions whose revenues are legally pledged by the state or

31  public body to meet debt service or other financial


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  requirements of any debt obligations of the state or any

  2  public body; the State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust

  3  fund containing the net annual proceeds from the Florida

  4  Education Lotteries; the Florida Retirement Trust Fund; trust

  5  funds under the management of the Board of Regents, if where

  6  such trust funds are for auxiliary enterprises,

  7  self-insurance, and contracts, grants, and donations, as those

  8  terms are defined by general law; trust funds that serve as

  9  clearing funds or accounts for the Comptroller or state

10  agencies; trust funds that account for assets held by the

11  state in a trustee capacity as an agent or fiduciary for

12  individuals, private organizations, or other governmental

13  units; and other trust funds authorized by the State

14  Constitution.

15         (c)1.  The Budget Stabilization Fund, except as

16  otherwise provided in this paragraph, shall consist of amounts

17  equal to the following percentages of net revenue collections

18  for the General Revenue Fund during the last completed fiscal

19  year:  1 percent in 1994-1995, 2 percent in 1995-1996, 3

20  percent in 1996-1997, 4 percent in 1997-1998, and 5 percent in

21  1998-1999. Thereafter, the Budget Stabilization Fund shall

22  consist of amounts equal to 5 percent of net revenue

23  collections for the General Revenue Fund during the last

24  completed fiscal year. The term "last completed fiscal year"

25  means the most recently completed fiscal year prior to the

26  regular legislative session at which the Legislature considers

27  the General Appropriations Act for the year in which the

28  transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund must be made under

29  this paragraph.

30         2.  By September 1 of each year, the Governor shall

31  authorize the Comptroller to transfer, and the Comptroller


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  shall transfer, from the General Revenue Fund to the Budget

  2  Stabilization Fund the amount of money needed for the balance

  3  of that fund to equal the amount specified in subparagraph 1.,

  4  less any amounts expended and not restored. The moneys needed

  5  for this transfer may be appropriated by the Legislature from

  6  any funds.

  7         3.  Unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph, an

  8  expenditure from the Budget Stabilization Fund must be

  9  restored pursuant to a restoration schedule that provides for

10  making five equal annual transfers from the General Revenue

11  Fund, beginning in the fiscal year following that in which the

12  expenditure was made. For any particular Budget Stabilization

13  Fund expenditure, the Legislature by law may establish a

14  different restoration schedule; and such change may be made at

15  any time during the restoration period. Moneys are hereby

16  appropriated for transfers pursuant to this subparagraph.

17         4.  The Budget Stabilization Fund and the Working

18  Capital Fund may be used as revolving funds for transfers as

19  provided by s. 215.18. If the Comptroller determines that such

20  moneys are not needed for such transfers, the moneys may be

21  temporarily invested as provided in s. 18.125; however, any

22  interest earned must be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

23         (d)  The Working Capital Fund shall consist of moneys

24  in the General Revenue Fund which are in excess of the amount

25  needed to meet appropriations from the General Revenue Fund

26  and transfers to the Budget Stabilization Fund for the current

27  fiscal year. Each year, no later than the publishing date of

28  the annual financial statements for the State of Florida by

29  the Comptroller under s. 216.102, funds shall be transferred

30  between the Working Capital Fund and the General Revenue Fund

31  to establish the balance of the Working Capital Fund for that


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  fiscal year at the amount determined pursuant to this

  2  paragraph. The amount of moneys in the General Revenue Fund

  3  shall be determined at the beginning of the fiscal year based

  4  on the Revenue Estimating Conference's estimate of funds

  5  available.  This amount shall be adjusted upon determination

  6  of the previous year's appropriations which remain unspent

  7  after certifications are completed pursuant to s. 216.301.

  8         2.  The Working Capital Fund shall consist of an

  9  amount, not more than 10 percent of the amount of net revenue

10  of the General Revenue Fund for the preceding fiscal year,

11  which accrues from moneys in the General Revenue Fund which

12  are in excess of the amount needed to meet the General Revenue

13  Fund appropriations acts. The Legislature shall have as a goal

14  that the Working Capital Fund for fiscal year 1994-1995 have

15  not less than 2 percent of the amount of net revenue of the

16  General Revenue Fund for the preceding fiscal year, that the

17  Working Capital Fund for fiscal year 1995-1996 have not less

18  than 3 percent of the amount of net revenue of the General

19  Revenue Fund for the preceding fiscal year, that the Working

20  Capital Fund for fiscal year 1996-1997 have not less than 4

21  percent of the amount of net revenue of the General Revenue

22  Fund for the preceding fiscal year, and that the Working

23  Capital Fund for fiscal year 1997-1998 and each fiscal year

24  thereafter have not less than 5 percent of the amount of net

25  revenue of the General Revenue Fund for the preceding fiscal

26  year.  By September 15 of each year, the Executive Office of

27  the Governor shall transfer the excess funds that are in the

28  General Revenue Fund to the Working Capital Fund. Whenever the

29  Governor determines that revenue collections in the General

30  Revenue Fund will be insufficient to meet General Revenue Fund

31  appropriations, he or she shall certify the amount of the


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  deficit and transfer up to the amount specified in the General

  2  Appropriations Act from the Working Capital Fund to the

  3  General Revenue Fund pursuant to s. 216.221. When not required

  4  to meet General Revenue Fund appropriations, such moneys shall

  5  be used as a revolving fund for transfers as provided by s.

  6  215.18; and when the Comptroller determines that such moneys

  7  are not needed for either type of transfer, they may be

  8  temporarily invested as provided in s. 18.125.

  9         3.  The provisions of subparagraph 1. notwithstanding,

10  the Comptroller shall pay from the Working Capital Fund such

11  claims as are authorized pursuant to s. 265.55.

12         Section 3.  Subsection (3) of section 212.081, Florida

13  Statutes, is repealed.

14         Section 4.  Subsections (2), (5), and (7) of section

15  216.221, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

16         216.221  Appropriations as maximum appropriations;

17  adjustment of budgets to avoid or eliminate deficits.--

18         (2)  The Legislature shall annually provide direction

19  in the General Appropriations Act regarding use of the Budget

20  Stabilization Working Capital Fund to offset General Revenue

21  Fund deficits.

22         (5)(a)  If, in the opinion of the Governor, after

23  consultation with the Revenue Estimating Conference, a deficit

24  will occur in the General Revenue Fund, he or she shall so

25  certify to the commission and to the Chief Justice of the

26  Supreme Court. No more than 30 days after certifying that a

27  deficit will occur in the General Revenue Fund, the Governor

28  shall develop for the executive branch, and the Chief Justice

29  of the Supreme Court shall develop for the judicial branch,

30  and provide to the commission and to the Legislature plans of

31  action to eliminate the deficit.


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1         (b)  In developing a plan of action to prevent deficits

  2  in accordance with subsection (7), the Governor and Chief

  3  Justice shall, to the extent possible, preserve legislative

  4  policy and intent, and, absent any specific direction to the

  5  contrary in the General Appropriations Act, the Governor and

  6  Chief Justice shall comply with the following guidelines for

  7  reductions in the approved operating budgets of the executive

  8  branch and the judicial branch:

  9         1.  Entire statewide programs previously established by

10  the Legislature should not be eliminated.

11         2.  Education budgets should not be reduced more than

12  provided for in s. 215.16(2).

13         3.  The use of nonrecurring funds to solve recurring

14  deficits should be minimized.

15         4.  Newly created programs that are not fully

16  implemented and programs with critical audits should receive

17  first consideration for reductions.

18         5.  No agencies or branches of government receiving

19  appropriations should be exempt from reductions.

20         6.  When reductions in positions are required, the

21  focus should be initially on vacant positions.

22         7.  Any reductions applied to all agencies and branches

23  should be uniformly applied.

24         8.  Reductions that would cause substantial losses of

25  federal funds should be minimized.

26         9.  To the greatest extent possible, across-the-board,

27  prorated reductions should be considered.

28         10.  Reductions to statewide programs should occur only

29  after review of programs that provide only local benefits.

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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1         11.  Reductions in administrative and support functions

  2  should be considered before reductions in direct-support

  3  services.

  4         12.  Maximum reductions should be considered in budgets

  5  for expenses including travel and in budgets for equipment

  6  replacement, outside consultants, and contracts.

  7         13.  Reductions in salaries for elected state officials

  8  should be considered.

  9         14.  Reductions that adversely affect the public

10  health, safety, and welfare should be minimized.

11         15.  The Budget Stabilization Working Capital Fund

12  should not be reduced to a level that would impair the

13  financial stability of this state.

14         16.  Reductions in programs that are traditionally

15  funded by the private sector and that may be assumed by

16  private enterprise should be considered.

17         17.  Reductions in programs that are duplicated among

18  state agencies or branches of government should be considered.

19         (7)  Deficits in the General Revenue Fund that do not

20  meet the amounts specified by subsection (6) shall be resolved

21  by the commission for the executive branch and the Chief

22  Justice of the Supreme Court for the judicial branch. The

23  commission and Chief Justice shall implement any directions

24  provided in the General Appropriations Act related to

25  eliminating deficits and to reducing reduce agency and

26  judicial branch budgets, including the use of those

27  legislative appropriations voluntarily placed in reserve. In

28  addition, the commission shall implement any directions in the

29  General Appropriations Act relating to the resolution of use

30  of the Working Capital Fund in deficit situations. When

31  reducing state agency or judicial branch budgets, the


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  commission or the Chief Justice, respectively, shall use the

  2  guidelines prescribed in subsection (5). The Executive Office

  3  of the Governor for the commission, and the Chief Justice for

  4  the judicial branch, shall implement the deficit reduction

  5  plans through amendments to the approved operating budgets in

  6  accordance with s. 216.181.

  7         Section 5.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 252.37,

  8  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  9         252.37  Financing.--

10         (1)  It is the intent of The Legislature intends and

11  declares it declared to be the policy of the state that funds

12  to be prepared for and meet emergencies shall always be

13  available.

14         (2)  It is the legislative intent that the first

15  recourse shall be made to funds regularly appropriated to

16  state and local agencies. If the Governor finds that the

17  demands placed upon these funds in coping with a particular

18  disaster are unreasonably great, she or he may make funds

19  available by transferring and expending moneys appropriated

20  for other purposes or by transferring and expending moneys out

21  of any unappropriated surplus funds or from the Budget

22  Stabilization Fund.

23         Section 6.  Section 265.51, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         265.51  Authority of Department of State to

26  indemnify.--The Department of State may, within the limits of

27  specific appropriations made for the purpose, is authorized to

28  make agreements to indemnify against loss or damage such items

29  as may be eligible in accordance with the provisions of ss.

30  265.51-265.56, and on such terms and conditions as the

31  department may prescribe, by rule, in order to achieve the


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                                          HB 2099, First Engrossed



  1  purposes of ss. 265.51-265.56 and, consistent with such

  2  purposes, in order to protect the financial interest of this

  3  state.

  4         Section 7.  Section 265.55, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         265.55  Claims.--

  7         (1)  The Division of Risk Management of the Department

  8  of Insurance may prescribe rules providing for prompt

  9  adjustment of valid claims for losses which are covered by an

10  indemnity agreement made pursuant to the provisions of ss.

11  265.51-265.56, including rules providing for the employment of

12  consultants and for the arbitration of issues relating to the

13  dollar value of damages involving less than total loss or

14  destruction of such covered objects.

15         (2)  In the case of a claim of loss with respect to an

16  item which is covered by an agreement made pursuant to the

17  provisions of ss. 265.51-265.56, the division shall certify

18  the validity of the claim and authorize payment of the amount

19  of the loss, less any deductible portion, to the indemnitee.

20         (3)  The authorization for payment delineated in

21  subsection (2) shall be forwarded to the Comptroller. The

22  Comptroller shall take appropriate action to execute

23  authorized payment of the claim from a specific appropriation

24  for that purpose the Working Capital Fund, as defined in s.

25  215.32.

26         Section 8.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

27  law.

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