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House Bill 0841

Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 By Representative Laurent 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to game and fresh water fish; 3 amending s. 212.04, F.S.; providing an 4 admissions tax exemption for freshwater fishing 5 tournaments; amending s. 372.0222, F.S.; 6 authorizing the Game and Fresh Water Fish 7 Commission to advertise and promote wildlife 8 diversity and recreational opportunities and to 9 collect certain fees for services and 10 information; authorizing the commission to 11 adopt rules for purchasing advertising and 12 promotional contractual services; providing an 13 effective date. 14 15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16 17 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 18 212.04, Florida Statutes, 1996 Supplement, is amended to read: 19 212.04 Admissions tax; rate, procedure, enforcement.-- 20 (2)(a)1. No tax shall be levied on admissions to 21 athletic or other events sponsored by elementary schools, 22 junior high schools, middle schools, high schools, community 23 colleges, public or private colleges and universities, deaf 24 and blind schools, facilities of the youth services programs 25 of the Department of Children and Family Health and 26 Rehabilitative Services, and state correctional institutions 27 when only student, faculty, or inmate talent is used. However, 28 this exemption shall not apply to admission to athletic events 29 sponsored by an institution within the State University 30 System, and the proceeds of the tax collected on such 31 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 admissions shall be retained and used by each institution to 2 support women's athletics as provided in s. 240.533(3)(c). 3 2.a. No tax shall be levied on dues, membership fees, 4 and admission charges imposed by not-for-profit sponsoring 5 organizations. To receive this exemption, the sponsoring 6 organization must qualify as a not-for-profit entity under the 7 provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal 8 Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. 9 b. No tax imposed by this section and not actually 10 collected before August 1, 1992, shall be due from any museum 11 or historic building owned by any political subdivision of the 12 state. 13 3. No tax shall be levied on an admission paid by a 14 student, or on the student's behalf, to any required place of 15 sport or recreation if the student's participation in the 16 sport or recreational activity is required as a part of a 17 program or activity sponsored by, and under the jurisdiction 18 of, the student's educational institution, provided his or her 19 attendance is as a participant and not as a spectator. 20 4. No tax shall be levied on admissions to the 21 National Football League championship game. 22 5. A participation fee or sponsorship fee imposed by a 23 governmental entity as described in s. 212.08(6) for an 24 athletic or recreational program is exempt when the 25 governmental entity by itself, or in conjunction with an 26 organization exempt under s. 501(c)(3) of the United States 27 Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, sponsors, 28 administers, plans, supervises, directs, and controls the 29 athletic or recreational program. 30 6. Also exempt from the tax imposed by this section to 31 the extent provided in this subparagraph are admissions to 2 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 live theater, live opera, or live ballet productions in this 2 state which are sponsored by an organization that has received 3 a determination from the Internal Revenue Service that the 4 organization is exempt from federal income tax under s. 5 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 6 as amended, if the organization actively participates in 7 planning and conducting the event, is responsible for the 8 safety and success of the event, is organized for the purpose 9 of sponsoring live theater, live opera, or live ballet 10 productions in this state, has more than 10,000 subscribing 11 members and has among the stated purposes in its charter the 12 promotion of arts education in the communities which it 13 serves, and will receive at least 20 percent of the net 14 profits, if any, of the events which the organization sponsors 15 and will bear the risk of at least 20 percent of the losses, 16 if any, from the events which it sponsors if the organization 17 employs other persons as agents to provide services in 18 connection with a sponsored event. Prior to March 1 of each 19 year, such organization may apply to the department for a 20 certificate of exemption for admissions to such events 21 sponsored in this state by the organization during the 22 immediately following state fiscal year. The application shall 23 state the total dollar amount of admissions receipts collected 24 by the organization or its agents from such events in this 25 state sponsored by the organization or its agents in the year 26 immediately preceding the year in which the organization 27 applies for the exemption. Such organization shall receive the 28 exemption only to the extent of $1.5 million multiplied by the 29 ratio that such receipts bear to the total of such receipts of 30 all organizations applying for the exemption in such year; 31 however, in no event shall such exemption granted to any 3 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 organization exceed 6 percent of such admissions receipts 2 collected by the organization or its agents in the year 3 immediately preceding the year in which the organization 4 applies for the exemption. Each organization receiving the 5 exemption shall report each month to the department the total 6 admissions receipts collected from such events sponsored by 7 the organization during the preceding month and shall remit to 8 the department an amount equal to 6 percent of such receipts 9 reduced by any amount remaining under the exemption. Tickets 10 for such events sold by such organizations shall not reflect 11 the tax otherwise imposed under this section. 12 7. Also exempt from the tax imposed by this section 13 are entry fees for participation in freshwater fishing 14 tournaments. 15 Section 2. Section 372.0222, Florida Statutes, 1996 16 Supplement, is amended to read: 17 372.0222 Private publication agreements; advertising; 18 costs of production.-- 19 (1) The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission may enter 20 into agreements to secure the private publication of public 21 information brochures, pamphlets, audiotapes, videotapes, and 22 related materials for distribution without charge to the 23 public and, in furtherance thereof, is authorized to: 24 (a) Enter into agreements with private vendors for the 25 publication or production of such public information 26 materials, whereby the costs of publication or production will 27 be borne in whole or in part by the vendor or the vendor shall 28 provide additional compensation in return for the right of the 29 vendor to select, sell, and place advertising which publicizes 30 products or services related to and harmonious with the 31 subject matter of the publication. 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 (b) Retain the right, by agreement, to approve all 2 elements of any advertising placed in such public information 3 materials, including the form and content thereof. 4 (2) The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission may sell 5 advertising in the Florida Wildlife Magazine to offset the 6 cost of publication and distribution of the magazine. 7 (3)(2) Any public information materials produced 8 pursuant to this section and containing advertising of any 9 kind shall include a statement providing that the inclusion of 10 advertising in such material does not constitute an 11 endorsement by the state or commission of the products or 12 services so advertised. 13 (4)(3) The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission may 14 enter into agreements with private vendors for vendor 15 advertisement for the purpose of offsetting expenses relating 16 to license issuance, and, in furtherance thereof, is 17 authorized to: 18 (a) Retain the right, by agreement, to approve all 19 elements of such advertising, including the form or content. 20 (b) Require that any advertising of any kind 21 contracted pursuant to this section shall include a statement 22 providing that the advertising does not constitute an 23 endorsement by the state or commission of the products or 24 services to be so advertised. 25 (5)(4) The commission shall collect, edit, publish, 26 and print pamphlets, papers, manuscripts, documents, books, 27 monographs, and other materials relating to fish and wildlife 28 conservation and may establish and impose a reasonable charge 29 for such materials to cover costs of production and 30 distribution in whole or part and may contract for the 31 marketing, sale, and distribution of such publications and 5 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 materials; except that no charge shall be imposed for 2 materials designed to provide the public with essential 3 information concerning fish and wildlife regulations and 4 matters of public safety. 5 (6) The commission shall provide services and 6 information designed to inform Floridians and visitors about 7 Florida's unique and diverse fish, game, and wildlife, and 8 make it available by means of commonly used media. For the 9 accomplishment of those purposes, the commission may make 10 expenditures to: 11 (a) Encourage and cooperate with public and private 12 organizations or groups to publicize to residents and visitors 13 the diversity of fish, game, and wildlife, and related 14 recreation opportunities of the state, including the 15 establishment of and expenditure for a program of cooperative 16 advertising or sponsorships, or partnerships with the public 17 and private organizations and groups in accordance with rules 18 adopted by the commission under chapter 120. 19 (b) Charge and collect a reasonable fee for 20 researching or compiling information or other services which, 21 in its judgment, should not be free to those requesting the 22 information, research, handling, material, publication, or 23 other services. Any amounts of money received by the 24 commission from such sources shall be restored to the 25 appropriations of the commission and any unexpended funds 26 shall be deposited into the State Game Trust Fund and made 27 available to the commission for use in performing its duties, 28 powers, and purposes. 29 (c) Charge and collect registration fees at 30 conferences, seminars, and other meetings conducted in 31 furtherance of the duties, powers, and purposes of the 6 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 841 103-158-97 1 commission. Any funds collected under this paragraph which 2 remain unexpended after the expenses of the conference, 3 seminar, or meeting have been paid shall be deposited into the 4 State Game Trust Fund and made available to the commission for 5 use in performing its duties, powers, and purposes. 6 (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of part I of 7 chapter 287, the commission may adopt rules for the purpose of 8 entering into contracts that are primarily for promotional and 9 advertising services and promotional events which may include 10 the authority to negotiate costs with offerors of such 11 services and commodities who have been determined to be 12 qualified on the basis of technical merit, creative ability, 13 and professional competency. 14 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997. 15 16 ***************************************** 17 SENATE SUMMARY 18 Exempts participants in freshwater fishing tournaments from the admissions tax. Authorizes the Game and Fresh 19 Water Fish Commission to advertise and promote wildlife diversity and recreational opportunities and collect fees 20 for workshops and services. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 7