House Bill 1801
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 1801
By Representative Johnson
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to cultural organizations;
3 amending s. 196.012, F.S.; amending the
4 definition of the term "new business," as used
5 in ch. 196, F.S.; amending s. 196.1995, F.S.;
6 providing an ad valorem tax exemption for new
7 businesses comprising artistic and cultural
8 improvements to real estate which are used for
9 specified purposes; providing legislative
10 recognition of the Central Florida Theatre
11 Alliance; providing an effective date.
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13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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15 Section 1. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (15)
16 of section 196.012, Florida Statutes, to read:
17 196.012 Definitions.--For the purpose of this chapter,
18 the following terms are defined as follows, except where the
19 context clearly indicates otherwise:
20 (15) "New business" means:
21 (c)1. An arts or cultural organization that is tax
22 exempt under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
23 1986, as amended; or
24 2. Any person or entity that is building or renovating
25 improvements to real property which will include theater
26 space, an art gallery open to the public, or some other
27 improvement that is dedicated to the development and
28 exhibition of the performing or visual arts.
29 Section 2. Present subsections (6), (7), (8), and (9)
30 of section 196.1995, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 1801
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1 subsections (7), (8), (9), and (10), respectively, and a new
2 subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
3 196.1995 Economic development ad valorem tax
4 exemption.--
5 (6) With respect to a new business as defined in s.
6 196.012(15)(c), the taxing authority having jurisdiction to
7 levy ad valorem taxes may exempt from taxation under
8 subsection (5) only that portion of an improvement to real
9 property which constitutes theater space, an art gallery open
10 to the public, or some other improvement that is dedicated to
11 the development and exhibition of the performing or visual
12 arts. The amount of such a tax exemption must be calculated by
13 multiplying the total amount of the ad valorem taxes that
14 would otherwise be imposed times the percentage obtained by
15 dividing the total square footage of the improvement into the
16 square footage that is dedicated to the purposes specified in
17 this subsection and s. 196.012(15)(c).
18 Section 3. The Legislature recognizes that the Central
19 Florida Theatre Alliance has been formed to promote the
20 theatrical arts within a 30-mile radius of Downtown Orlando
21 and that it is dedicated to making Orlando a world-class
22 theater community. In recognition of the value of this
23 endeavor to the community and the state, the Legislature
24 declares the Central Florida Theatre Alliance to be the
25 premier umbrella organization for the promotion of theater in
26 the Orlando area. Its goals of increasing the number of
27 productions, improving the size and education of theater
28 audiences, and promoting the awareness of theatrical
29 opportunities in the Orlando area, and the number of theater
30 spaces, including a Downtown Orlando Theater District, are
31 worthy of recognition and support by the state.
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 1801
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1 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
2 law.
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5 SENATE SUMMARY
6 Provides for an ad valorem tax exemption for certain new
businesses that are dedicated to the arts or cultural
7 purposes. Provides legislative recognition of the Central
Florida Theatre Alliance.
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