Senate Bill 1772e1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.







    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Florida Statutes;

  3         repealing various statutory provisions that

  4         have become obsolete, have had their effect,

  5         have served their purpose, or have been

  6         impliedly repealed or superseded; repealing s.

  7         193.621(3), F.S., relating to assessment of

  8         certain manufacturing or industrial plants or

  9         facilities demolished and reconstructed for

10         pollution control purposes; repealing s.

11         197.448, F.S., relating to cancellation of tax

12         certificates on riparian rights separate from

13         land; repealing s. 199.052(11), F.S., relating

14         to intangible tax return requirements for

15         banking organizations with respect to

16         intangible personal property resulting from

17         international banking transactions; repealing

18         s. 206.435, F.S., relating to remittance of

19         unpaid tax by wholesalers, terminal suppliers,

20         retail dealers, and former special fuel dealers

21         having motor or taxable diesel fuel inventory;

22         amending s. 206.97, F.S.; removing a

23         cross-reference, to conform; repealing s.

24         206.9935(3)(c), F.S., relating to scheduled

25         legislative review of the tax for inland

26         protection; amending s. 211.025, F.S.; deleting

27         an obsolete gas tax rate; amending s. 211.026,

28         F.S.; deleting an obsolete sulfur tax rate;

29         repealing s. 212.0305(3)(g), F.S., relating to

30         authority to employee persons and incur other

31         expenses from funds appropriated therefor for


                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         administration of the Convention Development

  2         Tax Act; amending s. 213.015, F.S.; conforming

  3         a cross-reference; amending s. 212.04, F.S.;

  4         deleting an exemption from admissions tax

  5         imposed but not collected prior to a specified

  6         date for any museum or historic building owned

  7         by a political subdivision of the state;

  8         repealing s. 212.0599, F.S., relating to rules

  9         which implement ch. 87-548, Laws of Florida;

10         amending s. 212.08, F.S., and repealing

11         paragraph (hh) of subsection (7), relating to a

12         tax exemption on sales of electric vehicles;

13         deleting an obsolete reporting requirement in a

14         tax exemption provision relating to charges for

15         certain electricity or steam uses; amending s.

16         414.029, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;

17         amending s. 212.097, F.S.; deleting intent and

18         application implementation provisions of the

19         Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit Program;

20         amending s. 212.098, F.S.; deleting intent and

21         application implementation provisions of the

22         Rural Job Tax Credit Program; repealing s.

23         212.20(7), F.S., relating to the use of funds

24         allocated to the Solid Waste Management Trust

25         Fund for the 1999-2000 fiscal year; repealing

26         s. 212.215, F.S., the Fairness in Retail Sales

27         Taxation Act; repealing s. 213.01, F.S.,

28         relating to intent with respect to state

29         revenue laws; repealing s. 213.065, F.S.,

30         relating to intent with respect to rule

31         adoption to implement ch. 89-171, Laws of


                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         Florida; repealing s. 213.066, F.S., relating

  2         to rule adoption to implement ch. 92-319, Laws

  3         of Florida; amending s. 215.3208, F.S.;

  4         deleting obsolete scheduling provisions

  5         relating to review of trust funds scheduled for

  6         termination; repealing s. 220.18, F.S.,

  7         relating to the gasohol development tax

  8         incentive credit; repealing ss. 193.076,

  9         193.085(5), and 195.073(4), F.S., relating to

10         notice of expansion, assessment of

11         expansion-related or rebuilt property, and

12         classification of property as prior existing or

13         expanded or rebuilt, respectively, to conform;

14         amending s. 193.077, F.S.; conforming a

15         cross-reference; amending s. 220.183, F.S.;

16         deleting findings and policy and purpose

17         provisions in provisions governing the

18         community contribution tax credit; conforming

19         cross-references; repealing s. 220.185(1) and

20         (2), F.S., relating to findings and policy and

21         purpose provisions in provisions governing the

22         state housing tax credit; repealing s. 220.188,

23         F.S., relating to the export finance

24         corporation investment credit; amending s.

25         220.02, F.S., and repealing subsections (6) and

26         (9), relating to intent with respect to the

27         gasohol development tax incentive credit and

28         the export finance corporation investment

29         credit; removing cross-references, to conform;

30         amending ss. 220.181, 220.182, 220.184,

31         220.1845, 220.1895, and 220.19, F.S.;


                                  3

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         conforming cross-references; amending s.

  2         220.03, F.S., and repealing paragraphs

  3         (1)(dd)-(ff), relating to definitions

  4         applicable to provisions governing the export

  5         finance corporation investment credit; deleting

  6         definitions relating to the gasohol development

  7         tax incentive credit; conforming a

  8         cross-reference; amending s. 288.106, F.S.;

  9         deleting findings and intent with respect to

10         the tax refund program for qualified target

11         industry businesses; amending ss. 159.803 and

12         288.107, F.S.; conforming cross-references;

13         amending s. 624.5105, F.S.; deleting intent and

14         policy and purpose provisions from provisions

15         governing the community contribution tax

16         credit; providing an effective date.

17

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

19

20         Section 1.  Subsection (3) of section 193.621, Florida

21  Statutes, is repealed.

22         Section 2.  Section 197.448, Florida Statutes, is

23  repealed.

24         Section 3.  Subsection (11) of section 199.052, Florida

25  Statutes, is repealed.

26         Section 4.  Section 206.435, Florida Statutes, is

27  repealed.

28         Section 5.  Section 206.97, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         206.97  Applicability of specified sections of part

31  I.--The provisions of ss. 206.01, 206.02, 206.026, 206.027,


                                  4

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  206.028, 206.04, 206.051, 206.052, 206.054, 206.055, 206.07,

  2  206.075, 206.08, 206.09, 206.095, 206.10, 206.11, 206.12,

  3  206.13, 206.14, 206.15, 206.16, 206.17, 206.175, 206.18,

  4  206.199, 206.20, 206.204, 206.205, 206.21, 206.215, 206.22,

  5  206.23, 206.24, 206.25, 206.27, 206.28, 206.41, 206.416,

  6  206.43, 206.435, 206.44, 206.48, 206.49, 206.56, 206.59,

  7  206.606, 206.608, 206.61, and 206.62 of part I of this chapter

  8  shall, as far as lawful or practicable, be applicable to the

  9  tax herein levied and imposed and to the collection thereof as

10  if fully set out in this part. However, no provision of any

11  such section shall apply if it conflicts with any provision of

12  this part.

13         Section 6.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

14  206.9935, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

15         Section 7.  Subsection (1) of section 211.025, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         211.025  Gas production tax; basis and rate of tax.--An

18  excise tax is hereby levied upon every person who severs gas

19  in the state for sale, transport, profit, or commercial use.

20  Except as otherwise provided in this part, the tax shall be

21  levied on the basis of the entire production of gas in this

22  state, including any royalty interest.  Such tax shall accrue

23  at the time the gas is severed and shall be a lien on

24  production regardless of the place of sale, to whom sold, or

25  by whom used and regardless of the fact that delivery of the

26  gas may be made outside the state.

27         (1)  The amount of tax shall be determined by the

28  volume, in mcf, of gas produced and sold or used by a producer

29  during the month, measured at the point where the gas is

30  identifiable as to kind and quality and is capable of being

31


                                  5

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  transported for further use or processing, subject to the gas

  2  tax rate established in this section. following rates:

  3         (a)  For the period July 1, 1986, through June 30,

  4  1987, the gas tax rate shall be $0.162 per mcf; and,

  5         (b)  For each the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987,

  6  and subsequent fiscal years, the gas tax rate shall be the gas

  7  base rate times the gas base rate adjustment for the fiscal

  8  year, as calculated by the department under subsection (3).

  9         Section 8.  Subsection (1) of section 211.026, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         211.026  Sulfur production tax; basis and rate of

12  tax.--An excise tax is hereby levied upon every person who

13  severs sulfur in this state for sale, transport, storage,

14  profit, or commercial use.  Except as otherwise provided in

15  this part, such tax shall be levied on the basis of the entire

16  production of sulfur in this state, including any royalty

17  interest.  Such tax shall accrue at the time of severance of

18  the gas from which the sulfur is produced and shall be a lien

19  on production regardless of the place of sale, to whom sold,

20  or by whom used and regardless of the fact that delivery may

21  be made outside the state.

22         (1)  The amount of tax shall be determined by the long

23  tons of sulfur produced or recovered by a producer during the

24  month from the hydrogen sulfide gas contained in oil or gas

25  production from a well, measured at the point where the sulfur

26  is in its molten, elemental state, and is capable of being

27  sold, delivered, transported, or stored, subject to the sulfur

28  tax rate established in this section. following rates:

29         (a)  For the period July 1, 1986, through June 30,

30  1987, the sulfur tax rate shall be $2.81 per long ton; and

31


                                  6

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (b)  For each the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987,

  2  and subsequent fiscal years, the sulfur tax rate shall be the

  3  sulfur base rate times the sulfur base rate adjustment for the

  4  fiscal year, as calculated by the department under subsection

  5  (3).

  6         Section 9.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section

  7  212.0305, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

  8         Section 10.  Subsection (6) of section 213.015, Florida

  9  Statutes, is amended to read:

10         213.015  Taxpayer rights.--There is created a Florida

11  Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to guarantee that the rights,

12  privacy, and property of Florida taxpayers are adequately

13  safeguarded and protected during tax assessment, collection,

14  and enforcement processes administered under the revenue laws

15  of this state.  The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights compiles, in one

16  document, brief but comprehensive statements which explain, in

17  simple, nontechnical terms, the rights and obligations of the

18  Department of Revenue and taxpayers.  The rights afforded

19  taxpayers to assure that their privacy and property are

20  safeguarded and protected during tax assessment and collection

21  are available only insofar as they are implemented in other

22  parts of the Florida Statutes or rules of the Department of

23  Revenue. The rights so guaranteed Florida taxpayers in the

24  Florida Statutes and the departmental rules are:

25         (6)  The right to be informed of impending collection

26  actions which require sale or seizure of property or freezing

27  of assets, except jeopardy assessments, and the right to at

28  least 30 days' notice in which to pay the liability or seek

29  further review (see ss. 198.20, 199.262, 201.16, 206.075,

30  206.24, 211.125(5), 212.03(5), 212.0305(3)(j)(k), 212.04(7),

31  212.14(1), 213.73(3), 213.731, and 220.739).


                                  7

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         Section 11.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

  2  212.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         212.04  Admissions tax; rate, procedure, enforcement.--

  4         (2)(a)1.  No tax shall be levied on admissions to

  5  athletic or other events sponsored by elementary schools,

  6  junior high schools, middle schools, high schools, community

  7  colleges, public or private colleges and universities, deaf

  8  and blind schools, facilities of the youth services programs

  9  of the Department of Children and Family Services, and state

10  correctional institutions when only student, faculty, or

11  inmate talent is used. However, this exemption shall not apply

12  to admission to athletic events sponsored by an institution

13  within the State University System, and the proceeds of the

14  tax collected on such admissions shall be retained and used by

15  each institution to support women's athletics as provided in

16  s. 240.533(3)(c).

17         2.a.  No tax shall be levied on dues, membership fees,

18  and admission charges imposed by not-for-profit sponsoring

19  organizations. To receive this exemption, the sponsoring

20  organization must qualify as a not-for-profit entity under the

21  provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of

22  1954, as amended.

23         b.  No tax imposed by this section and not actually

24  collected before August 1, 1992, shall be due from any museum

25  or historic building owned by any political subdivision of the

26  state.

27         3.  No tax shall be levied on an admission paid by a

28  student, or on the student's behalf, to any required place of

29  sport or recreation if the student's participation in the

30  sport or recreational activity is required as a part of a

31  program or activity sponsored by, and under the jurisdiction


                                  8

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  of, the student's educational institution, provided his or her

  2  attendance is as a participant and not as a spectator.

  3         4.  No tax shall be levied on admissions to the

  4  National Football League championship game, on admissions to

  5  any semifinal game or championship game of a national

  6  collegiate tournament, or on admissions to a Major League

  7  Baseball all-star game.

  8         5.  A participation fee or sponsorship fee imposed by a

  9  governmental entity as described in s. 212.08(6) for an

10  athletic or recreational program is exempt when the

11  governmental entity by itself, or in conjunction with an

12  organization exempt under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue

13  Code of 1954, as amended, sponsors, administers, plans,

14  supervises, directs, and controls the athletic or recreational

15  program.

16         6.  Also exempt from the tax imposed by this section to

17  the extent provided in this subparagraph are admissions to

18  live theater, live opera, or live ballet productions in this

19  state which are sponsored by an organization that has received

20  a determination from the Internal Revenue Service that the

21  organization is exempt from federal income tax under s.

22  501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, if

23  the organization actively participates in planning and

24  conducting the event, is responsible for the safety and

25  success of the event, is organized for the purpose of

26  sponsoring live theater, live opera, or live ballet

27  productions in this state, has more than 10,000 subscribing

28  members and has among the stated purposes in its charter the

29  promotion of arts education in the communities which it

30  serves, and will receive at least 20 percent of the net

31  profits, if any, of the events which the organization sponsors


                                  9

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  and will bear the risk of at least 20 percent of the losses,

  2  if any, from the events which it sponsors if the organization

  3  employs other persons as agents to provide services in

  4  connection with a sponsored event. Prior to March 1 of each

  5  year, such organization may apply to the department for a

  6  certificate of exemption for admissions to such events

  7  sponsored in this state by the organization during the

  8  immediately following state fiscal year. The application shall

  9  state the total dollar amount of admissions receipts collected

10  by the organization or its agents from such events in this

11  state sponsored by the organization or its agents in the year

12  immediately preceding the year in which the organization

13  applies for the exemption. Such organization shall receive the

14  exemption only to the extent of $1.5 million multiplied by the

15  ratio that such receipts bear to the total of such receipts of

16  all organizations applying for the exemption in such year;

17  however, in no event shall such exemption granted to any

18  organization exceed 6 percent of such admissions receipts

19  collected by the organization or its agents in the year

20  immediately preceding the year in which the organization

21  applies for the exemption. Each organization receiving the

22  exemption shall report each month to the department the total

23  admissions receipts collected from such events sponsored by

24  the organization during the preceding month and shall remit to

25  the department an amount equal to 6 percent of such receipts

26  reduced by any amount remaining under the exemption. Tickets

27  for such events sold by such organizations shall not reflect

28  the tax otherwise imposed under this section.

29         7.  Also exempt from the tax imposed by this section

30  are entry fees for participation in freshwater fishing

31  tournaments.


                                  10

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         8.  Also exempt from the tax imposed by this section

  2  are participation or entry fees charged to participants in a

  3  game, race, or other sport or recreational event if spectators

  4  are charged a taxable admission to such event.

  5         9.  No tax shall be levied on admissions to any

  6  postseason collegiate football game sanctioned by the National

  7  Collegiate Athletic Association.

  8         Section 12.  Section 212.0599, Florida Statutes, is

  9  repealed.

10         Section 13.  Paragraph (hh) of subsection (7) of

11  section 212.08, Florida Statutes, is repealed, present

12  paragraph (ii) of that subsection is redesignated as paragraph

13  (hh) and amended, and present paragraphs (jj) through (fff) of

14  that subsection are redesignated as paragraphs (ii) through

15  (eee), respectively, 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         (7)  MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.--

23         (hh)(ii)  Certain electricity or steam uses.--

24         1.  Subject to the provisions of subparagraph 4.,

25  charges for electricity or steam used to operate machinery and

26  equipment at a fixed location in this state when such

27  machinery and equipment is used to manufacture, process,

28  compound, produce, or prepare for shipment items of tangible

29  personal property for sale, or to operate pollution control

30  equipment, recycling equipment, maintenance equipment, or

31  monitoring or control equipment used in such operations are


                                  11

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  exempt to the extent provided in this paragraph. If 75 percent

  2  or more of the electricity or steam used at the fixed location

  3  is used to operate qualifying machinery or equipment, 100

  4  percent of the charges for electricity or steam used at the

  5  fixed location are exempt. If less than 75 percent but 50

  6  percent or more of the electricity or steam used at the fixed

  7  location is used to operate qualifying machinery or equipment,

  8  50 percent of the charges for electricity or steam used at the

  9  fixed location are exempt. If less than 50 percent of the

10  electricity or steam used at the fixed location is used to

11  operate qualifying machinery or equipment, none of the charges

12  for electricity or steam used at the fixed location are

13  exempt.

14         2.  This exemption applies only to industries

15  classified under SIC Industry Major Group Numbers 10, 12, 13,

16  14, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,

17  35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 and Industry Group Number 212. As used

18  in this paragraph, "SIC" means those classifications contained

19  in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, as

20  published by the Office of Management and Budget, Executive

21  Office of the President.

22         3.  Possession by a seller of a written certification

23  by the purchaser, certifying the purchaser's entitlement to an

24  exemption permitted by this subsection, relieves the seller

25  from the responsibility of collecting the tax on the

26  nontaxable amounts, and the department shall look solely to

27  the purchaser for recovery of such tax if it determines that

28  the purchaser was not entitled to the exemption.

29         4.  Such exemption shall be applied as follows:

30         a.  Beginning July 1, 1996, 20 percent of the charges

31  for such electricity shall be exempt.


                                  12

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         b.  Beginning July 1, 1997, 40 percent of the charges

  2  for such electricity shall be exempt.

  3         c.  Beginning July 1, 1998, 60 percent of the charges

  4  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

  5         d.  Beginning July 1, 1999, 80 percent of the charges

  6  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

  7         e.  Beginning July 1, 2000, 100 percent of the charges

  8  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

  9         5.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this

10  paragraph to the contrary, in order to receive the exemption

11  provided in this paragraph a taxpayer must first register with

12  the WAGES Program Business Registry established by the local

13  WAGES coalition for the area in which the taxpayer is located.

14  Such registration establishes a commitment on the part of the

15  taxpayer to hire WAGES program participants to the maximum

16  extent possible consistent with the nature of their business.

17         6.a.  In order to determine whether the exemption

18  provided in this paragraph from the tax on charges for

19  electricity or steam has an effect on retaining or attracting

20  companies to this state, the Office of Program Policy Analysis

21  and Government Accountability shall periodically monitor and

22  report on the industries receiving the exemption.

23         b.  The first report shall be submitted no later than

24  January 1, 1997, and must be conducted in such a manner as to

25  specifically determine the number of companies within each SIC

26  Industry Major Group receiving the exemption as of September

27  1, 1996, and the number of individuals employed by companies

28  within each SIC Industry Major Group receiving the exemption

29  as of September 1, 1996.

30         b.c.  The second report shall be submitted no later

31  than January 1, 2001, and must be comprehensive in scope, but,


                                  13

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  at a minimum, must be conducted in such a manner as to

  2  specifically determine the number of companies within each SIC

  3  Industry Major Group receiving the exemption as of September

  4  1, 2000, the number of individuals employed by companies

  5  within each SIC Industry Major Group receiving the exemption

  6  as of September 1, 2000, whether the change, if any, in such

  7  number of companies or employees is attributable to the

  8  exemption provided in this paragraph, whether it would be

  9  sound public policy to continue or discontinue the exemption,

10  and the consequences of doing so.

11         c.d.  The report Both reports shall be submitted to the

12  President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

13  Representatives, the Senate Minority Leader, and the House

14  Minority Leader.

15         Section 14.  Section 414.029, Florida Statutes, is

16  amended to read:

17         414.029  WAGES Program Business Registry.--Each local

18  WAGES coalition created pursuant to s. 414.028 must establish

19  a business registry for business firms committed to assist in

20  the effort of finding jobs for WAGES Program participants.

21  Registered businesses agree to work with the coalition and to

22  hire WAGES Program participants to the maximum extent possible

23  consistent with the nature of their business.  Each quarter,

24  the coalition must publish a list of businesses registered as

25  a prerequisite for receiving a tax exemption provided under s.

26  212.08(5)(b) or (7)(hh)(ii) and the number of jobs each has

27  provided for program participants.

28         Section 15.  Section 212.097, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         212.097  Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit

31  Program.--


                                  14

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

  2  the provision of meaningful employment opportunities that will

  3  improve the quality of life of those employed, and to

  4  encourage economic expansion of new and existing businesses in

  5  urban high-crime areas of this state.  Upon an affirmative

  6  showing by a business to the satisfaction of the Department of

  7  Revenue that the requirements of this section have been met,

  8  the business shall be allowed a credit against the tax

  9  remitted under this chapter.

10         (1)(2)  As used in this section, the term:

11         (a)  "Eligible business" means any sole proprietorship,

12  firm, partnership, or corporation that is located in a

13  qualified county and is predominantly engaged in, or is

14  headquarters for a business predominantly engaged in,

15  activities usually provided for consideration by firms

16  classified within the following standard industrial

17  classifications:  SIC 01 through SIC 09 (agriculture,

18  forestry, and fishing); SIC 20 through SIC 39 (manufacturing);

19  SIC 52 through SIC 57 and SIC 59 (retail); SIC 422 (public

20  warehousing and storage); SIC 70 (hotels and other lodging

21  places); SIC 7391 (research and development); SIC 7992 (public

22  golf courses); and SIC 7996 (amusement parks). A call center

23  or similar customer service operation that services a

24  multistate market or international market is also an eligible

25  business. In addition, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

26  Economic Development may, as part of its final budget request

27  submitted pursuant to s. 216.023, recommend additions to or

28  deletions from the list of standard industrial classifications

29  used to determine an eligible business, and the Legislature

30  may implement such recommendations. Excluded from eligible

31  receipts are receipts from retail sales, except such receipts


                                  15

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  for SIC 52 through SIC 57 and SIC 59 (retail) hotels and other

  2  lodging places classified in SIC 70, public golf courses in

  3  SIC 7992, and amusement parks in SIC 7996.  For purposes of

  4  this paragraph, the term "predominantly" means that more than

  5  50 percent of the business's gross receipts from all sources

  6  is generated by those activities usually provided for

  7  consideration by firms in the specified standard industrial

  8  classification. The determination of whether the business is

  9  located in a qualified high-crime area and the tier ranking of

10  that area must be based on the date of application for the

11  credit under this section. Commonly owned and controlled

12  entities are to be considered a single business entity.

13         (b)  "Qualified employee" means any employee of an

14  eligible business who performs duties in connection with the

15  operations of the business on a regular, full-time basis for

16  an average of at least 36 hours per week for at least 3 months

17  within the qualified high-crime area in which the eligible

18  business is located. An owner or partner of the eligible

19  business is not a qualified employee. The term also includes

20  an employee leased from an employee leasing company licensed

21  under chapter 468, if such employee has been continuously

22  leased to the employer for an average of at least 36 hours per

23  week for more than 6 months.

24         (c)  "New business" means any eligible business first

25  beginning operation on a site in a qualified high-crime area

26  and clearly separate from any other commercial or business

27  operation of the business entity within a qualified high-crime

28  area. A business entity that operated an eligible business

29  within a qualified high-crime area within the 48 months before

30  the period provided for application by subsection (2) (3) is

31  not considered a new business.


                                  16

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (d)  "Existing business" means any eligible business

  2  that does not meet the criteria for a new business.

  3         (e)  "Qualified high-crime area" means an area selected

  4  by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in

  5  the following manner: every third year, the office shall rank

  6  and tier those areas nominated under subsection (7) (8),

  7  according to the following prioritized criteria:

  8         1.  Highest arrest rates within the geographic area for

  9  violent crime and for such other crimes as drug sale, drug

10  possession, prostitution, vandalism, and civil disturbances;

11         2.  Highest reported crime volume and rate of specific

12  property crimes such as business and residential burglary,

13  motor vehicle theft, and vandalism;

14         3.  Highest percentage of reported index crimes that

15  are violent in nature;

16         4.  Highest overall index crime volume for the area;

17  and

18         5.  Highest overall index crime rate for the geographic

19  area.

20

21  Tier-one areas are ranked 1 through 5 and represent the

22  highest crime areas according to this ranking.  Tier-two areas

23  are ranked 6 through 10 according to this ranking.  Tier-three

24  areas are ranked 11 through 15. Notwithstanding this

25  definition, "qualified high-crime area" also means an area

26  that has been designated as a federal Empowerment Zone

27  pursuant to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Such a designated

28  area is ranked in tier three until the areas are reevaluated

29  by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

30         (2)(3)  A new eligible business may apply for a tax

31  credit under this subsection once at any time during its first


                                  17

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  year of operation. A new eligible business in a tier-one

  2  qualified high-crime area which has at least 10 qualified

  3  employees on the date of application shall receive a $1,500

  4  tax credit for each such employee. A new eligible business in

  5  a tier-two qualified high-crime area which has at least 20

  6  qualified employees on the date of application shall receive a

  7  $1,000 tax credit for each such employee. A new eligible

  8  business in a tier-three qualified high-crime area which has

  9  at least 30 qualified employees on the date of application

10  shall receive a $500 tax credit for each such employee.

11         (3)(4)  An existing eligible business may apply for a

12  tax credit under this subsection at any time it is entitled to

13  such credit, except as restricted by this subsection. An

14  existing eligible business in a tier-one qualified high-crime

15  area which on the date of application has at least 5 more

16  qualified employees than it had 1 year prior to its date of

17  application shall receive a $1,500 tax credit for each such

18  additional employee. An existing eligible business in a

19  tier-two qualified high-crime area which on the date of

20  application has at least 10 more qualified employees than it

21  had 1 year prior to its date of application shall receive a

22  $1,000 credit for each such additional employee. An existing

23  business in a tier-three qualified high-crime area which on

24  the date of application has at least 15 more qualified

25  employees than it had 1 year prior to its date of application

26  shall receive a $500 tax credit for each such additional

27  employee. An existing eligible business may apply for the

28  credit under this subsection no more than once in any 12-month

29  period. Any existing eligible business that received a credit

30  under subsection (2) (3) may not apply for the credit under

31


                                  18

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  this subsection sooner than 12 months after the application

  2  date for the credit under subsection (2) (3).

  3         (4)(5)  For any new eligible business receiving a

  4  credit pursuant to subsection (2) (3), an additional $500

  5  credit shall be provided for any qualified employee who is a

  6  WAGES Program participant pursuant to chapter 414. For any

  7  existing eligible business receiving a credit pursuant to

  8  subsection (3) (4), an additional $500 credit shall be

  9  provided for any qualified employee who is a WAGES Program

10  participant pursuant to chapter 414. Such employee must be

11  employed on the application date and have been employed less

12  than 1 year. This credit shall be in addition to other credits

13  pursuant to this section regardless of the tier-level of the

14  high-crime area. Appropriate documentation concerning the

15  eligibility of an employee for this credit must be submitted

16  as determined by the department.

17         (5)(6)  To be eligible for a tax credit under

18  subsection (3) (4), the number of qualified employees employed

19  1 year prior to the application date must be no lower than the

20  number of qualified employees on the application date on which

21  a credit under this section was based for any previous

22  application, including an application under subsection (2)

23  (3).

24         (6)(7)  Any county or municipality, or a county and one

25  or more municipalities together, may apply to the Office of

26  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the designation

27  of an area as a high-crime area after the adoption by the

28  governing body or bodies of a resolution that:

29         (a)  Finds that a high-crime area exists in such county

30  or municipality, or in both the county and one or more

31  municipalities, which chronically exhibits extreme and


                                  19

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment, physical

  2  deterioration, and economic disinvestment;

  3         (b)  Determines that the rehabilitation, conservation,

  4  or redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of such a

  5  high-crime area is necessary in the interest of the health,

  6  safety, and welfare of the residents of such county or

  7  municipality, or such county and one or more municipalities;

  8  and

  9         (c)  Determines that the revitalization of such a

10  high-crime area can occur if the public sector or private

11  sector can be induced to invest its own resources in

12  productive enterprises that build or rebuild the economic

13  viability of the area.

14         (7)(8)  The governing body of the entity nominating the

15  area shall provide to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

16  Economic Development the following:

17         (a)  The overall index crime rate for the geographic

18  area;

19         (b)  The overall index crime volume for the area;

20         (c)  The percentage of reported index crimes that are

21  violent in nature;

22         (d)  The reported crime volume and rate of specific

23  property crimes such as business and residential burglary,

24  motor vehicle theft, and vandalism; and

25         (e)  The arrest rates within the geographic area for

26  violent crime and for such other crimes as drug sale, drug

27  possession, prostitution, disorderly conduct, vandalism, and

28  other public-order offenses.

29         (8)(9)  A municipality, or a county and one or more

30  municipalities together, may not nominate more than one

31


                                  20

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  high-crime area.  However, any county as defined by s.

  2  125.011(1) may nominate no more than three high-crime areas.

  3         (9)(10)  An area nominated by a county or municipality,

  4  or a county and one or more municipalities together, for

  5  designation as a high-crime area shall be eligible only if it

  6  meets the following criteria:

  7         (a)  The selected area does not exceed 20 square miles

  8  and either has a continuous boundary or consists of not more

  9  than three noncontiguous parcels;

10         (b)  The selected area does not exceed the following

11  mileage limitation:

12         1.  For communities having a total population of

13  150,000 persons or more, the selected area does not exceed 20

14  square miles.

15         2.  For communities having a total population of 50,000

16  persons or more, but fewer than 150,000 persons, the selected

17  area does not exceed 10 square miles.

18         3.  For communities having a total population of 20,000

19  persons or more, but fewer than 50,000 persons, the selected

20  area does not exceed 5 square miles.

21         4.  For communities having a total population of fewer

22  than 20,000 persons, the selected area does not exceed 3

23  square miles.

24         (10)(11)(a)  In order to claim this credit, an eligible

25  business must file under oath with the Office of Tourism,

26  Trade, and Economic Development a statement that includes the

27  name and address of the eligible business and any other

28  information that is required to process the application.

29         (b)  Within 30 working days after receipt of an

30  application for credit, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

31  Economic Development shall review the application to determine


                                  21

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  whether it contains all the information required by this

  2  subsection and meets the criteria set out in this section.

  3  Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), the Office of

  4  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall approve all

  5  applications that contain the information required by this

  6  subsection and meet the criteria set out in this section as

  7  eligible to receive a credit.

  8         (c)  The maximum credit amount that may be approved

  9  during any calendar year is $5 million, of which $1 million

10  shall be exclusively reserved for tier-one areas. The

11  Department of Revenue, in conjunction with the Office of

12  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, shall notify the

13  governing bodies in areas designated as urban high-crime areas

14  when the $5 million maximum amount has been reached.

15  Applications must be considered for approval in the order in

16  which they are received without regard to whether the credit

17  is for a new or existing business.  This limitation applies to

18  the value of the credit as contained in approved applications.

19  Approved credits may be taken in the time and manner allowed

20  pursuant to this section.

21         (11)(12)  If the application is insufficient to support

22  the credit authorized in this section, the Office of Tourism,

23  Trade, and Economic Development shall deny the credit and

24  notify the business of that fact.  The business may reapply

25  for this credit within 3 months after such notification.

26         (12)(13)  If the credit under this section is greater

27  than can be taken on a single tax return, excess amounts may

28  be taken as credits on any tax return submitted within 12

29  months after the approval of the application by the

30  department.

31


                                  22

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (13)(14)  It is the responsibility of each business to

  2  affirmatively demonstrate to the satisfaction of the

  3  Department of Revenue that it meets the requirements of this

  4  section.

  5         (14)(15)  Any person who fraudulently claims this

  6  credit is liable for repayment of the credit plus a mandatory

  7  penalty of 100 percent of the credit and is guilty of a

  8  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

  9  775.082 or s. 775.083.

10         (15)(16)  A corporation may take the credit under this

11  section against its corporate income tax liability, as

12  provided in s. 220.1895. However, a corporation that applies

13  its job tax credit against the tax imposed by chapter 220 may

14  not receive the credit provided for in this section. A credit

15  may be taken against only one tax.

16         (16)(17)  The department shall adopt rules governing

17  the manner and form of applications for credit and may

18  establish guidelines concerning the requisites for an

19  affirmative showing of qualification for the credit under this

20  section.

21         (18)  Applications for credit under this section may be

22  submitted on or after January 1, 1999.

23         Section 16.  Section 212.098, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         212.098  Rural Job Tax Credit Program.--

26         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

27  the provision of meaningful employment opportunities that will

28  improve the quality of life of those employed and to encourage

29  economic expansion of new and existing businesses in rural

30  areas of this state. Upon an affirmative showing by a business

31  to the satisfaction of the Department of Revenue that the


                                  23

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  requirements of this section have been met, the business shall

  2  be allowed a credit against the tax remitted under this

  3  chapter.

  4         (1)(2)  As used in this section, the term:

  5         (a)  "Eligible business" means any sole proprietorship,

  6  firm, partnership, or corporation that is located in a

  7  qualified county and is predominantly engaged in, or is

  8  headquarters for a business predominantly engaged in,

  9  activities usually provided for consideration by firms

10  classified within the following standard industrial

11  classifications:  SIC 01 through SIC 09 (agriculture,

12  forestry, and fishing); SIC 20 through SIC 39 (manufacturing);

13  SIC 422 (public warehousing and storage); SIC 70 (hotels and

14  other lodging places); SIC 7391 (research and development);

15  SIC 7992 (public golf courses); and SIC 7996 (amusement

16  parks). A call center or similar customer service operation

17  that services a multistate market or an international market

18  is also an eligible business. In addition, the Office of

19  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may, as part of its

20  final budget request submitted pursuant to s. 216.023,

21  recommend additions to or deletions from the list of standard

22  industrial classifications used to determine an eligible

23  business, and the Legislature may implement such

24  recommendations. Excluded from eligible receipts are receipts

25  from retail sales, except such receipts for hotels and other

26  lodging places classified in SIC 70, public golf courses in

27  SIC 7992, and amusement parks in SIC 7996.  For purposes of

28  this paragraph, the term "predominantly" means that more than

29  50 percent of the business's gross receipts from all sources

30  is generated by those activities usually provided for

31  consideration by firms in the specified standard industrial


                                  24

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  classification. The determination of whether the business is

  2  located in a qualified county and the tier ranking of that

  3  county must be based on the date of application for the credit

  4  under this section. Commonly owned and controlled entities are

  5  to be considered a single business entity.

  6         (b)  "Qualified employee" means any employee of an

  7  eligible business who performs duties in connection with the

  8  operations of the business on a regular, full-time basis for

  9  an average of at least 36 hours per week for at least 3 months

10  within the qualified county in which the eligible business is

11  located. An owner or partner of the eligible business is not a

12  qualified employee.

13         (c)  "Qualified county" means a county that has a

14  population of fewer than 75,000 persons, or any county that

15  has a population of 100,000 or less and is contiguous to a

16  county that has a population of less than 75,000, selected in

17  the following manner:  every third year, the Office of

18  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall rank and tier

19  the state's counties according to the following four factors:

20         1.  Highest unemployment rate for the most recent

21  36-month period.

22         2.  Lowest per capita income for the most recent

23  36-month period.

24         3.  Highest percentage of residents whose incomes are

25  below the poverty level, based upon the most recent data

26  available.

27         4.  Average weekly manufacturing wage, based upon the

28  most recent data available.

29

30  Tier-one qualified counties are those ranked 1 through 5 and

31  represent the state's least-developed counties according to


                                  25

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  this ranking. Tier-two qualified counties are those ranked 6

  2  through 10, and tier-three counties are those ranked 11

  3  through 17. Notwithstanding this definition, "qualified

  4  county" also means a county that contains an area that has

  5  been designated as a federal Enterprise Community pursuant to

  6  the 1999 Agricultural Appropriations Act. Such a designated

  7  area shall be ranked in tier three until the areas are

  8  reevaluated by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development.

10         (d)  "New business" means any eligible business first

11  beginning operation on a site in a qualified county and

12  clearly separate from any other commercial or business

13  operation of the business entity within a qualified county. A

14  business entity that operated an eligible business within a

15  qualified county within the 48 months before the period

16  provided for application by subsection (2) (3) is not

17  considered a new business.

18         (e)  "Existing business" means any eligible business

19  that does not meet the criteria for a new business.

20         (2)(3)  A new eligible business may apply for a tax

21  credit under this subsection once at any time during its first

22  year of operation. A new eligible business in a tier-one

23  qualified county which has at least 10 qualified employees on

24  the date of application shall receive a $1,500 tax credit for

25  each such employee. A new eligible business in a tier-two

26  qualified county which has at least 20 qualified employees on

27  the date of application shall receive a $1,000 tax credit for

28  each such employee. A new eligible business in a tier-three

29  qualified county which has at least 30 qualified employees on

30  the date of application shall receive a $500 tax credit for

31  each such employee.


                                  26

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (3)(4)  An existing eligible business may apply for a

  2  tax credit under this subsection at any time it is entitled to

  3  such credit, except as restricted by this subsection. An

  4  existing eligible business in a tier-one qualified county

  5  which on the date of application has at least 5 more qualified

  6  employees than it had 1 year prior to its date of application

  7  shall receive a $1,500 tax credit for each such additional

  8  employee. An existing eligible business in a tier-two

  9  qualified county which on the date of application has at least

10  10 more qualified employees than it had 1 year prior to its

11  date of application shall receive a $1,000 credit for each

12  such additional employee. An existing business in a tier-three

13  qualified county which on the date of application has at least

14  15 more qualified employees than it had 1 year prior to its

15  date of application shall receive a $500 tax credit for each

16  such additional employee. An existing eligible business may

17  apply for the credit under this subsection no more than once

18  in any 12-month period. Any existing eligible business that

19  received a credit under subsection (2) (3) may not apply for

20  the credit under this subsection sooner than 12 months after

21  the application date for the credit under subsection (2) (3).

22         (4)(5)  For any new eligible business receiving a

23  credit pursuant to subsection (2) (3), an additional $500

24  credit shall be provided for any qualified employee who is a

25  WAGES Program participant pursuant to chapter 414. For any

26  existing eligible business receiving a credit pursuant to

27  subsection (3) (4), an additional $500 credit shall be

28  provided for any qualified employee who is a WAGES Program

29  participant pursuant to chapter 414. Such employee must be

30  employed on the application date and have been employed less

31  than 1 year. This credit shall be in addition to other credits


                                  27

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  pursuant to this section regardless of the tier-level of the

  2  county. Appropriate documentation concerning the eligibility

  3  of an employee for this credit must be submitted as determined

  4  by the department.

  5         (5)(6)  To be eligible for a tax credit under

  6  subsection (3) (4), the number of qualified employees employed

  7  1 year prior to the application date must be no lower than the

  8  number of qualified employees on the application date on which

  9  a credit under this section was based for any previous

10  application, including an application under subsection (2)

11  (3).

12         (6)(7)(a)  In order to claim this credit, an eligible

13  business must file under oath with the Office of Tourism,

14  Trade, and Economic Development a statement that includes the

15  name and address of the eligible business, the starting salary

16  or hourly wages paid to the new employee, and any other

17  information that the Department of Revenue requires.

18         (b)  Within 30 working days after receipt of an

19  application for credit, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

20  Economic Development shall review the application to determine

21  whether it contains all the information required by this

22  subsection and meets the criteria set out in this section.

23  Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), the Office of

24  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall approve all

25  applications that contain the information required by this

26  subsection and meet the criteria set out in this section as

27  eligible to receive a credit.

28         (c)  The maximum credit amount that may be approved

29  during any calendar year is $5 million. The Department of

30  Revenue, in conjunction with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

31  Economic Development, shall notify the governing bodies in


                                  28

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  areas designated as qualified counties when the $5 million

  2  maximum amount has been reached. Applications must be

  3  considered for approval in the order in which they are

  4  received without regard to whether the credit is for a new or

  5  existing business.  This limitation applies to the value of

  6  the credit as contained in approved applications. Approved

  7  credits may be taken in the time and manner allowed pursuant

  8  to this section.

  9         (7)(8)  If the application is insufficient to support

10  the credit authorized in this section, the Office of Tourism,

11  Trade, and Economic Development shall deny the credit and

12  notify the business of that fact.  The business may reapply

13  for this credit within 3 months after such notification.

14         (8)(9)  If the credit under this section is greater

15  than can be taken on a single tax return, excess amounts may

16  be taken as credits on any tax return submitted within 12

17  months after the approval of the application by the

18  department.

19         (9)(10)  It is the responsibility of each business to

20  affirmatively demonstrate to the satisfaction of the

21  Department of Revenue that it meets the requirements of this

22  section.

23         (10)(11)  Any person who fraudulently claims this

24  credit is liable for repayment of the credit plus a mandatory

25  penalty of 100 percent of the credit and is guilty of a

26  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

27  775.082 or s. 775.083.

28         (11)(12)  A corporation may take the credit under this

29  section against its corporate income tax liability, as

30  provided in s. 220.1895. However, a corporation that uses its

31  job tax credit against the tax imposed by chapter 220 may not


                                  29

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  receive the credit provided for in this section. A credit may

  2  be taken against only one tax.

  3         (12)(13)  The department shall adopt rules governing

  4  the manner and form of applications for credit and may

  5  establish guidelines as to the requisites for an affirmative

  6  showing of qualification for the credit under this section.

  7         (14)  Applications for a credit under this section may

  8  be submitted on or after January 1, 1999.

  9         Section 17.  Subsection (7) of section 212.20, Florida

10  Statutes, is repealed.

11         Section 18.  Section 212.215, Florida Statutes, is

12  repealed.

13         Section 19.  Section 213.01, Florida Statutes, is

14  repealed.

15         Section 20.  Section 213.065, Florida Statutes, is

16  repealed.

17         Section 21.  Section 213.066, Florida Statutes, is

18  repealed.

19         Section 22.  Section 215.3208, Florida Statutes, is

20  amended to read:

21         215.3208  Trust funds; schedule for termination;

22  legislative review.--

23         (1)  Except for those trust funds exempt from automatic

24  termination pursuant to the provisions of s. 19(f)(3), Art.

25  III of the State Constitution, trust funds administered by the

26  following entities shall be reviewed and may be terminated or

27  re-created by the Legislature, as appropriate, during the

28  regular session of the Legislature in the year indicated:

29         (a)  In 1994:

30         1.  Department of Corrections.

31         2.  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.


                                  30

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         3.  Department of Law Enforcement.

  2         4.  Department of Legal Affairs.

  3         5.  Department of the Lottery.

  4         6.  Department of Management Services.

  5         7.  Department of Military Affairs.

  6         8.  Department of Transportation.

  7         9.  Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

  8         10.  Judicial branch.

  9         11.  Justice Administrative Commission.

10         12.  Parole Commission.

11         (b)  In 1995:

12         1.  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

13         2.  Department of Banking and Finance.

14         3.  Department of Citrus.

15         4.  Department of Education.

16         5.  Department of Environmental Protection.

17         6.  Department of Revenue.

18         7.  Executive Office of the Governor.

19         8.  Florida Public Service Commission.

20         (c)  In 1996:

21         1.  Agency for Health Care Administration.

22         2.  Commission on Ethics.

23         3.  Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

24         4.  Department of Children and Family Services.

25         5.  Department of Commerce.

26         6.  Department of Community Affairs.

27         7.  Department of Elderly Affairs.

28         8.  Department of Health.

29         9.  Department of Insurance.

30         10.  Department of Juvenile Justice.

31         11.  Department of Labor and Employment Security.


                                  31

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         12.  Department of State.

  2         13.  Department of Veterans' Affairs.

  3         14.  Legislative branch.

  4         (2)  All other trust funds not administered by the

  5  entities listed in subsection (1) and not exempt from

  6  automatic termination pursuant to the provisions of s.

  7  19(f)(3), Art. III of the State Constitution shall be reviewed

  8  and may be terminated or re-created by the Legislature, as

  9  appropriate, during the 1996 Regular Session of the

10  Legislature.

11         (1)(3)  For the purpose of reviewing trust funds prior

12  to their automatic termination pursuant to the provisions of

13  s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution purposes of

14  this section, the Legislature shall review the trust funds as

15  they are identified by a unique 6-digit code in the Florida

16  Accounting Information Resource Subsystem at a level composed

17  of the 2-digit organization level 1, the 1-digit state fund

18  type 2, and the first three digits of the fund identifier.

19  When a statutorily created trust fund that was in existence on

20  November 4, 1992, has more than one 6-digit code, the

21  Legislature may treat it as a single trust fund for the

22  purposes of this section. The Legislature may also conduct its

23  review concerning accounts within such trust funds.

24         (2)(4)(a)  When the Legislature terminates a trust

25  fund, the agency or branch of state government that

26  administers the trust fund shall pay any outstanding debts or

27  obligations of the trust fund as soon as practicable, and the

28  Comptroller shall close out and remove the trust fund from the

29  various state accounting systems, using generally accepted

30  accounting principles concerning assets, liabilities, and

31  warrants outstanding.


                                  32

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (b)  If the Legislature determines to terminate a trust

  2  fund, it may provide for the distribution of moneys in that

  3  trust fund. If such a distribution is not provided, the moneys

  4  remaining after all outstanding obligations of the trust fund

  5  are met shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

  6         Section 23.  Section 220.18, Florida Statutes, is

  7  repealed.

  8         Section 24.  Section 193.076, subsection (5) of section

  9  193.085, and subsection (4) of section 195.073, Florida

10  Statutes, are repealed.

11         Section 25.  Subsection (3) of section 193.077, Florida

12  Statutes, is amended to read:

13         193.077  Notice of new, rebuilt, or expanded

14  property.--

15         (3)  Within 10 days of extension or recertification of

16  the assessment rolls pursuant to s. 193.122, whichever is

17  later, the property appraiser shall forward to the department

18  a list of all property of new businesses and property

19  separately assessed as expansion-related or rebuilt property

20  pursuant to s. 193.085(5)(6)(a). The list shall include the

21  name and address of the business to which the property is

22  assessed, the assessed value of the property, the total taxes

23  levied against the property, the identifying number for the

24  property as shown on the assessment roll, and a description of

25  the property.

26         Section 26.  Section 220.183, Florida Statutes, is

27  amended to read:

28         220.183  Community contribution tax credit.--

29         (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that:

30         (a)  There exist in the counties and municipalities

31  conditions of blight evidenced by extensive deterioration of


                                  33

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  public and private facilities, abandonment of sound

  2  structures, and high unemployment which conditions impede the

  3  conservation and development of healthy, safe, and

  4  economically viable communities.

  5         (b)  Deterioration of housing and industrial,

  6  commercial, and public facilities contributes to the decline

  7  of neighborhoods and communities and leads to the loss of

  8  their historic character and the sense of community which this

  9  inspires; reduces the value of property comprising the tax

10  base of local communities; discourages private investment; and

11  requires a disproportionate expenditure of public funds for

12  the social services, unemployment benefits, and police

13  protection required to combat the social and economic problems

14  found in slum communities.

15         (c)  In order to ultimately restore social and economic

16  viability to enterprise zones, it is necessary to renovate or

17  construct new housing, water and sewer infrastructure, and

18  transportation facilities and to specifically provide

19  mechanisms to attract and encourage private economic activity.

20         (d)  The various local governments and other

21  redevelopment organizations now undertaking physical

22  revitalization projects are limited by tightly constrained

23  budgets and inadequate resources.

24         (e)  In order to significantly improve revitalization

25  efforts by local governments and community development

26  organizations and to retain as much of the historic character

27  of our communities as possible, it is necessary to provide

28  additional resources, and the participation of private

29  enterprise in revitalization efforts is an effective means for

30  accomplishing that goal.

31


                                  34

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (2)  POLICY AND PURPOSE.--It is the policy of this

  2  state to encourage the participation of private corporations

  3  in revitalization projects undertaken by public redevelopment

  4  organizations. The purpose of this section is to provide an

  5  incentive for such participation by granting partial state

  6  income tax credits to corporations that contribute resources

  7  to public redevelopment organizations for the revitalization

  8  of enterprise zones for the benefit of low-income and

  9  moderate-income persons or to preserve existing historically

10  significant properties within enterprise zones to the greatest

11  extent possible. The Legislature thus declares this a public

12  purpose for which public money may be borrowed, expended,

13  loaned, and granted.

14         (1)(3)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

15  TAX CREDITS; LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL CREDITS AND PROGRAM

16  SPENDING.--

17         (a)  Beginning July 1, 1995, There shall be allowed a

18  credit of 50 percent of a community contribution against any

19  tax due for a taxable year under this chapter.

20         (b)  No business firm shall receive more than $200,000

21  in annual tax credits for all approved community contributions

22  made in any one year.

23         (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be

24  granted for all programs approved under this section and s.

25  624.5105 is $10 million annually.

26         (d)  All proposals for the granting of the tax credit

27  shall require the prior approval of the Office of Tourism,

28  Trade, and Economic Development.

29         (e)  If the credit granted pursuant to this section is

30  not fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax

31  liability on the part of the business firm, the unused amount


                                  35

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  may be carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. The

  2  carryover credit may be used in a subsequent year when the tax

  3  imposed by this chapter for such year exceeds the credit for

  4  such year under this section after applying the other credits

  5  and unused credit carryovers in the order provided in s.

  6  220.02(8)(10).

  7         (f)  A taxpayer who files a Florida consolidated return

  8  as a member of an affiliated group pursuant to s. 220.131(1)

  9  may be allowed the credit on a consolidated return basis.

10         (g)  A taxpayer who is eligible to receive the credit

11  provided for in s. 624.5105 is not eligible to receive the

12  credit provided by this section.

13         (2)(4)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--

14         (a)  All community contributions by a business firm

15  shall be in the form specified in s. 220.03(1)(d).

16         (b)  All community contributions must be reserved

17  exclusively for use in projects as defined in s. 220.03(1)(t).

18         (c)  The project must be undertaken by an "eligible

19  sponsor," defined here as:

20         1.  A community action program;

21         2.  A community development corporation;

22         3.  A neighborhood housing services corporation;

23         4.  A local housing authority, created pursuant to

24  chapter 421;

25         5.  A community redevelopment agency, created pursuant

26  to s. 163.356;

27         6.  The Florida Industrial Development Corporation;

28         7.  An historic preservation district agency or

29  organization;

30         8.  A private industry council;

31


                                  36

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         9.  A direct-support organization as provided in s.

  2  240.551;

  3         10.  An enterprise zone development agency created

  4  pursuant to s. 290.0057; or

  5         11.  Such other agency as the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  6  and Economic Development may, from time to time, designate by

  7  rule.

  8

  9  In no event shall a contributing business firm have a

10  financial interest in the eligible sponsor.

11         (d)  The project shall be located in an area designated

12  as an enterprise zone pursuant to s. 290.0065.  Any project

13  designed to construct or rehabilitate low-income housing is

14  exempt from the area requirement of this paragraph.

15         (3)(5)  APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.--

16         (a)  Any eligible sponsor wishing to participate in

17  this program must submit a proposal to the Office of Tourism,

18  Trade, and Economic Development which sets forth the sponsor,

19  the project, the area in which the project is located, and

20  such supporting information as may be prescribed by rule. The

21  proposal shall also contain a resolution from the local

22  governmental unit in which it is located certifying that the

23  project is consistent with local plans and regulations.

24         (b)  Any business wishing to participate in this

25  program must submit an application for tax credit to the

26  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, which

27  application sets forth the sponsor; the project; and the type,

28  value, and purpose of the contribution. The sponsor shall

29  verify the terms of the application and indicate its

30  willingness to receive the contribution, which verification

31  indicate its willingness to receive the contribution, which


                                  37

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  verification shall be in writing and shall accompany the

  2  application for tax credit.

  3         (c)  The business firm must submit a separate

  4  application for tax credit for each individual contribution

  5  which it proposes to contribute to each individual project.

  6         (4)(6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

  7         (a)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  8  Development has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss.

  9  120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this

10  section, including rules for the approval or disapproval of

11  proposals by business firms.

12         (b)  The decision of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

13  Economic Development shall be in writing, and, if approved,

14  the proposal shall state the maximum credit allowable to the

15  business firm. A copy of the decision shall be transmitted to

16  the executive director of the Department of Revenue, who shall

17  apply such credit to the tax liability of the business firm.

18         (c)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

19  Development shall periodically monitor all projects in a

20  manner consistent with available resources to ensure that

21  resources are utilized in accordance with this section;

22  however, each project shall be reviewed no less often than

23  once every 2 years.

24         (d)  The Department of Revenue has authority to adopt

25  rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the

26  provisions of this section.

27         (5)(7)  EXPIRATION.--The provisions of this section,

28  except paragraph (1)(3)(e), shall expire and be void on June

29  30, 2005.

30         Section 27.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

31  220.185, Florida Statutes, are repealed.


                                  38

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         Section 28.  Section 220.188, Florida Statutes, is

  2  repealed.

  3         Section 29.  Subsections (6) and (9) of section 220.02,

  4  Florida Statutes, are repealed, and present subsection (10) of

  5  that section is renumbered and amended to read:

  6         220.02  Legislative intent.--

  7         (8)(10)  It is the intent of the Legislature that

  8  credits against either the corporate income tax or the

  9  franchise tax be applied in the following order: those

10  enumerated in s. 220.68, those enumerated in s. 220.18, those

11  enumerated in s. 631.828, those enumerated in s. 220.191,

12  those enumerated in s. 220.181, those enumerated in s.

13  220.183, those enumerated in s. 220.182, those enumerated in

14  s. 220.1895, those enumerated in s. 221.02, those enumerated

15  in s. 220.184, those enumerated in s. 220.186, those

16  enumerated in s. 220.188, those enumerated in s. 220.1845,

17  those enumerated in s. 220.19, and those enumerated in s.

18  220.185.

19         Section 30.  Subsection (8) of section 220.02, Florida

20  Statutes, as renumbered by this act and amended by chapter

21  99-378, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

22         220.02  Legislative intent.--

23         (8)  It is the intent of the Legislature that credits

24  against either the corporate income tax or the franchise tax

25  be applied in the following order: those enumerated in s.

26  220.18, those enumerated in s. 631.828, those enumerated in s.

27  220.191, those enumerated in s. 220.181, those enumerated in

28  s. 220.183, those enumerated in s. 220.182, those enumerated

29  in s. 220.1895, those enumerated in s. 221.02, those

30  enumerated in s. 220.184, those enumerated in s. 220.186,

31  those enumerated in s. 220.188, those enumerated in s.


                                  39

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  220.1845, those enumerated in s. 220.19, and those enumerated

  2  in s. 220.185.

  3         Section 31.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

  4  220.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         220.181  Enterprise zone jobs credit.--

  6         (1)

  7         (c)  If this credit is not fully used in any one year,

  8  the unused amount may be carried forward for a period not to

  9  exceed 5 years. The carryover credit may be used in a

10  subsequent year when the tax imposed by this chapter for such

11  year exceeds the credit for such year after applying the other

12  credits and unused credit carryovers in the order provided in

13  s. 220.02(8)(10).

14         Section 32.  Subsection (1) of section 220.182, Florida

15  Statutes, is amended to read:

16         220.182  Enterprise zone property tax credit.--

17         (1)(a)  Beginning July 1, 1995, there shall be allowed

18  a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter to any

19  business which establishes a new business as defined in s.

20  220.03(1)(p)2., expands an existing business as defined in s.

21  220.03(1)(k)2., or rebuilds an existing business as defined in

22  s. 220.03(1)(u) in this state. The credit shall be computed

23  annually as ad valorem taxes paid in this state, in the case

24  of a new business; the additional ad valorem tax paid in this

25  state resulting from assessments on additional real or

26  tangible personal property acquired to facilitate the

27  expansion of an existing business; or the ad valorem taxes

28  paid in this state resulting from assessments on property

29  replaced or restored, in the case of a rebuilt business,

30  including pollution and waste control facilities, or any part

31


                                  40

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  thereof, and including one or more buildings or other

  2  structures, machinery, fixtures, and equipment.

  3         (b)  If the credit granted pursuant to this section is

  4  not fully used in any one year, the unused amount may be

  5  carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. The

  6  carryover credit may be used in a subsequent year when the tax

  7  imposed by this chapter for such year exceeds the credit for

  8  such year under this section after applying the other credits

  9  and unused credit carryovers in the order provided in s.

10  220.02(8)(10). The amount of credit taken under this section

11  in any one year, however, shall not exceed $25,000, or, if no

12  less than 20 percent of the employees of the business are

13  residents of an enterprise zone, excluding temporary

14  employees, the amount shall not exceed $50,000.

15         Section 33.  Subsection (3) of section 220.184, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         220.184  Hazardous waste facility tax credit.--

18         (3)  If any credit granted pursuant to this section is

19  not fully used in the first year for which it becomes

20  available, the unused amount may be carried forward for a

21  period not to exceed 5 years.  The carryover may be used in a

22  subsequent year when the tax imposed by this chapter for such

23  year exceeds the credit for such year under this section after

24  applying the other credits and unused credit carryovers in the

25  order provided in s. 220.02(8)(10).

26         Section 34.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

27  220.1845, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

28         220.1845  Contaminated site rehabilitation tax

29  credit.--

30         (1)  AUTHORIZATION FOR TAX CREDIT; LIMITATIONS.--

31


                                  41

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (c)  If the credit granted under this section is not

  2  fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax

  3  liability on the part of the corporation, the unused amount

  4  may be carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. The

  5  carryover credit may be used in a subsequent year when the tax

  6  imposed by this chapter for that year exceeds the credit for

  7  which the corporation is eligible in that year under this

  8  section after applying the other credits and unused carryovers

  9  in the order provided by s. 220.02(8)(10).

10         Section 35.  Section 220.1895, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         220.1895  Rural Job Tax Credit and Urban High-Crime

13  Area Job Tax Credit.--There shall be allowed a credit against

14  the tax imposed by this chapter amounts approved by the Office

15  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development pursuant to the

16  Rural Job Tax Credit Program in s. 212.098 and the Urban

17  High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit Program in s. 212.097. A

18  corporation that uses its credit against the tax imposed by

19  this chapter may not take the credit against the tax imposed

20  by chapter 212. If any credit granted under this section is

21  not fully used in the first year for which it becomes

22  available, the unused amount may be carried forward for a

23  period not to exceed 5 years. The carryover may be used in a

24  subsequent year when the tax imposed by this chapter for such

25  year exceeds the credit for such year under this section after

26  applying the other credits and unused credit carryovers in the

27  order provided in s. 220.02(8)(10). The Office of Tourism,

28  Trade, and Economic Development shall conduct a review of the

29  Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit and the Rural Job Tax

30  Credit Program and submit its report to the Governor, the

31


                                  42

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

  2  Representatives by February 1, 2000.

  3         Section 36.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section

  4  220.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         220.19  Child care tax credits.--

  6         (1)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT TAX CREDITS; LIMITATIONS.--

  7         (e)  If the credit granted under this section is not

  8  fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax

  9  liability on the part of the corporation, the unused amount

10  may be carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. The

11  carryover credit may be used in a subsequent year when the tax

12  imposed by this chapter for that year exceeds the credit for

13  which the corporation is eligible in that year under this

14  section after applying the other credits and unused carryovers

15  in the order provided by s. 220.02(8)(10).

16         Section 37.  Paragraphs (dd), (ee), and (ff) of

17  subsection (1) of section 220.03, Florida Statutes, are

18  repealed, and paragraphs (k), (p), and (t) of that subsection

19  are amended to read:

20         220.03  Definitions.--

21         (1)  SPECIFIC TERMS.--When used in this code, and when

22  not otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible

23  with the intent thereof, the following terms shall have the

24  following meanings:

25         (k)1.  "Expansion of an existing business," for the

26  purposes of the gasohol development tax incentive credit,

27  refers to capital investment in a productive business

28  operation, not defined as a new business, which results in a

29  net increase in the amount of real or tangible personal

30  property owned by it or, in the case of government-owned real

31  property, leased by it, for the purpose of engaging in the


                                  43

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  distillation of ethyl alcohol for use in motor fuels or in the

  2  manufacture of equipment for the processing and distillation

  3  of ethyl alcohol for use in motor fuels.

  4         2.  "Expansion of an existing business," for the

  5  purposes of the enterprise zone property tax credit, means any

  6  business entity authorized to do business in this state as

  7  defined in paragraph (e), and any bank or savings and loan

  8  association as defined in s. 220.62, subject to the tax

  9  imposed by the provisions of this chapter, located in an

10  enterprise zone, which expands by or through additions to real

11  and personal property and which establishes five or more new

12  jobs to employ five or more additional full-time employees at

13  such location. The provisions of this paragraph subparagraph

14  shall expire and be void on June 30, 2005.

15         (p)1.  "New business," for the purposes of the gasohol

16  development tax incentive credit, means a productive business

17  operation, which heretofore did not exist in this state,

18  engaged in the distillation of ethyl alcohol for use in motor

19  fuels or in the manufacture of equipment for the processing

20  and distillation of ethyl alcohol for use in motor fuels.

21         2.  "New business," for the purposes of the enterprise

22  zone property tax credit, means any business entity authorized

23  to do business in this state as defined in paragraph (e), or

24  any bank or savings and loan association as defined in s.

25  220.62, subject to the tax imposed by the provisions of this

26  chapter, first beginning operations on a site located in an

27  enterprise zone and clearly separate from any other commercial

28  or industrial operations owned by the same entity, bank, or

29  savings and loan association and which establishes five or

30  more new jobs to employ five or more additional full-time

31


                                  44

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  employees at such location. The provisions of this paragraph

  2  subparagraph shall expire and be void on June 30, 2005.

  3         (t)  "Project" means any activity undertaken by an

  4  eligible sponsor, as defined in s. 220.183(2)(4)(c), which is

  5  designed to construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate

  6  housing or commercial, industrial, or public resources and

  7  facilities or to improve entrepreneurial and job-development

  8  opportunities for low-income persons. The provisions of this

  9  paragraph shall expire and be void on June 30, 2005.

10         Section 38.  Section 288.106, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         288.106  Tax refund program for qualified target

13  industry businesses.--

14         (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.--The

15  Legislature finds that attracting, retaining, and providing

16  favorable conditions for the growth of target industries

17  provides high-quality employment opportunities for citizens of

18  this state and enhances the economic foundations of this

19  state. It is the policy of this state to encourage the growth

20  of a high-value-added employment and economic base by

21  providing tax refunds to qualified target industry businesses

22  that create new high-wage employment opportunities in this

23  state by expanding existing businesses within this state or by

24  bringing new businesses to this state.

25         (1)(2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:

26         (a)  "Account" means the Economic Development

27  Incentives Account within the Economic Development Trust Fund

28  established under s. 288.095.

29         (b)  "Average private sector wage in the area" means

30  the statewide private sector average wage or the average of

31


                                  45

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  all private sector wages and salaries in the county or in the

  2  standard metropolitan area in which the business is located.

  3         (c)  "Business" means an employing unit, as defined in

  4  s. 443.036, which is registered with the Department of Labor

  5  and Employment Security for unemployment compensation purposes

  6  or a subcategory or division of an employing unit which is

  7  accepted by the Department of Labor and Employment Security as

  8  a reporting unit.

  9         (d)  "Corporate headquarters business" means an

10  international, national, or regional headquarters office of a

11  multinational or multistate business enterprise or national

12  trade association, whether separate from or connected with

13  other facilities used by such business.

14         (e)  "Office" means the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

15  Economic Development.

16         (f)  "Enterprise zone" means an area designated as an

17  enterprise zone pursuant to s. 290.0065.

18         (g)  "Expansion of an existing business" means the

19  expansion of an existing Florida business by or through

20  additions to real and personal property, resulting in a net

21  increase in employment of not less than 10 percent at such

22  business.

23         (h)  "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the state.

24         (i)  "Jobs" means full-time equivalent positions, as

25  such terms are consistent with terms used by the Department of

26  Labor and Employment Security and the United States Department

27  of Labor for purposes of unemployment compensation tax

28  administration and employment estimation, resulting directly

29  from a project in this state. This number shall not include

30  temporary construction jobs involved with the construction of

31  facilities for the project or any jobs which have previously


                                  46

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  been included in any application for tax refunds under s.

  2  288.104 or this section.

  3         (j)  "Local financial support" means funding from local

  4  sources, public or private, which is paid to the Economic

  5  Development Trust Fund and which is equal to 20 percent of the

  6  annual tax refund for a qualified target industry business. A

  7  qualified target industry business may not provide, directly

  8  or indirectly, more than 5 percent of such funding in any

  9  fiscal year. The sources of such funding may not include,

10  directly or indirectly, state funds appropriated from the

11  General Revenue Fund or any state trust fund, excluding tax

12  revenues shared with local governments pursuant to law.

13         (k)  "Local financial support exemption option" means

14  the option to exercise an exemption from the local financial

15  support requirement available to any applicant whose project

16  is located in a county with a population of 75,000 or fewer or

17  a county with a population of 100,000 or fewer which is

18  contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or fewer.

19  Any applicant that exercises this option shall not be eligible

20  for more than 80 percent of the total tax refunds allowed such

21  applicant under this section.

22         (l)  "New business" means a business which heretofore

23  did not exist in this state, first beginning operations on a

24  site located in this state and clearly separate from any other

25  commercial or industrial operations owned by the same

26  business.

27         (m)  "Project" means the creation of a new business or

28  expansion of an existing business.

29         (n)  "Director" means the Director of the Office of

30  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

31


                                  47

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (o)  "Target industry business" means a corporate

  2  headquarters business or any business that is engaged in one

  3  of the target industries identified pursuant to the following

  4  criteria developed by the office in consultation with

  5  Enterprise Florida, Inc.:

  6         1.  Future growth.--Industry forecasts should indicate

  7  strong expectation for future growth in both employment and

  8  output, according to the most recent available data.  Special

  9  consideration should be given to Florida's growing access to

10  international markets or to replacing imports.

11         2.  Stability.--The industry should not be subject to

12  periodic layoffs, whether due to seasonality or sensitivity to

13  volatile economic variables such as weather.  The industry

14  should also be relatively resistant to recession, so that the

15  demand for products of this industry is not necessarily

16  subject to decline during an economic downturn.

17         3.  High wage.--The industry should pay relatively high

18  wages compared to statewide or area averages.

19         4.  Market and resource independent.--The location of

20  industry businesses should not be dependent on Florida markets

21  or resources as indicated by industry analysis.

22         5.  Industrial base diversification and

23  strengthening.--The industry should contribute toward

24  expanding or diversifying the state's or area's economic base,

25  as indicated by analysis of employment and output shares

26  compared to national and regional trends.  Special

27  consideration should be given to industries that strengthen

28  regional economies by adding value to basic products or

29  building regional industrial clusters as indicated by industry

30  analysis.

31


                                  48

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         6.  Economic benefits.--The industry should have strong

  2  positive impacts on or benefits to the state and regional

  3  economies.

  4

  5  The office, in consultation with Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  6  shall develop a list of such target industries annually and

  7  submit such list as part of the final agency legislative

  8  budget request submitted pursuant to s. 216.023(1). A target

  9  industry business may not include any industry engaged in

10  retail activities; any electrical utility company; any

11  phosphate or other solid minerals severance, mining, or

12  processing operation; any oil or gas exploration or production

13  operation; or any firm subject to regulation by the Division

14  of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and

15  Professional Regulation.

16         (p)  "Taxable year" means taxable year as defined in s.

17  220.03(1)(z).

18         (q)  "Qualified target industry business" means a

19  target industry business that has been approved by the

20  director to be eligible for tax refunds pursuant to this

21  section.

22         (r)  "Rural county" means a county with a population of

23  75,000 or fewer or a county with a population of 100,000 or

24  fewer which is contiguous to a county with a population of

25  75,000 or fewer.

26         (s)  "Rural city" means a city with a population of

27  10,000 or less, or a city with a population of greater than

28  10,000 but less than 20,000 which has been determined by the

29  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to have

30  economic characteristics such as, but not limited to, a

31  significant percentage of residents on public assistance, a


                                  49

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  significant percentage of residents with income below the

  2  poverty level, or a significant percentage of the city's

  3  employment base in agriculture-related industries.

  4         (t)  "Rural community" means:

  5         1.  A county with a population of 75,000 or less.

  6         2.  A county with a population of 100,000 or less that

  7  is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or less.

  8         3.  A municipality within a county described in

  9  subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2.

10

11  For purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined

12  in accordance with the most recent official estimate pursuant

13  to s. 186.901.

14         (u)  "Authorized local economic development agency"

15  means any public or private entity, including those defined in

16  s. 288.075, authorized by a county or municipality to promote

17  the general business or industrial interests of that county or

18  municipality.

19         (2)(3)  TAX REFUND; ELIGIBLE AMOUNTS.--

20         (a)  There shall be allowed, from the account, a refund

21  to a qualified target industry business for the amount of

22  eligible taxes certified by the director which were paid by

23  such business. The total amount of refunds for all fiscal

24  years for each qualified target industry business must be

25  determined pursuant to subsection (3) (4). The annual amount

26  of a refund to a qualified target industry business must be

27  determined pursuant to subsection (5) (6).

28         (b)  Upon approval by the director, a qualified target

29  industry business shall be allowed tax refund payments equal

30  to $3,000 times the number of jobs specified in the tax refund

31  agreement under subparagraph (4)(5)(a)1., or equal to $6,000


                                  50

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  times the number of jobs if the project is located in a rural

  2  county or an enterprise zone. Further, a qualified target

  3  industry business shall be allowed additional tax refund

  4  payments equal to $1,000 times the number of jobs specified in

  5  the tax refund agreement under subparagraph (4)(5)(a)1., if

  6  such jobs pay an annual average wage of at least 150 percent

  7  of the average private-sector wage in the area, or equal to

  8  $2,000 times the number of jobs if such jobs pay an annual

  9  average wage of at least 200 percent of the average

10  private-sector wage in the area. A qualified target industry

11  business may not receive refund payments of more than 25

12  percent of the total tax refunds specified in the tax refund

13  agreement under subparagraph (4)(5)(a)1. in any fiscal year.

14  Further, a qualified target industry business may not receive

15  more than $1.5 million in refunds under this section in any

16  single fiscal year, or more than $2.5 million in any single

17  fiscal year if the project is located in an enterprise zone. A

18  qualified target industry may not receive more than $5 million

19  in refund payments under this section in all fiscal years, or

20  more than $7.5 million if the project is located in an

21  enterprise zone. Funds made available pursuant to this section

22  may not be expended in connection with the relocation of a

23  business from one community to another community in this state

24  unless the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

25  determines that without such relocation the business will move

26  outside this state or determines that the business has a

27  compelling economic rationale for the relocation and that the

28  relocation will create additional jobs.

29         (c)  After entering into a tax refund agreement under

30  subsection (4) (5), a qualified target industry business may:

31


                                  51

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         1.  Receive refunds from the account for the following

  2  taxes due and paid by that business beginning with the first

  3  taxable year of the business which begins after entering into

  4  the agreement:

  5         a.  Corporate income taxes under chapter 220.

  6         b.  Insurance premium tax under s. 624.509.

  7         2.  Receive refunds from the account for the following

  8  taxes due and paid by that business after entering into the

  9  agreement:

10         a.  Taxes on sales, use, and other transactions under

11  chapter 212.

12         b.  Intangible personal property taxes under chapter

13  199.

14         c.  Emergency excise taxes under chapter 221.

15         d.  Excise taxes on documents under chapter 201.

16         e.  Ad valorem taxes paid, as defined in s. 220.03(1).

17         (d)  However, a qualified target industry business may

18  not receive a refund under this section for any amount of

19  credit, refund, or exemption granted to that business for any

20  of such taxes. If a refund for such taxes is provided by the

21  office, which taxes are subsequently adjusted by the

22  application of any credit, refund, or exemption granted to the

23  qualified target industry business other than as provided in

24  this section, the business shall reimburse the account for the

25  amount of that credit, refund, or exemption. A qualified

26  target industry business shall notify and tender payment to

27  the office within 20 days after receiving any credit, refund,

28  or exemption other than one provided in this section.

29         (e)  A qualified target industry business that

30  fraudulently claims a refund under this section:

31


                                  52

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         1.  Is liable for repayment of the amount of the refund

  2  to the account, plus a mandatory penalty in the amount of 200

  3  percent of the tax refund which shall be deposited into the

  4  General Revenue Fund.

  5         2.  Is guilty of a felony of the third degree,

  6  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

  7  775.084.

  8         (3)(4)  APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.--

  9         (a)  To apply for certification as a qualified target

10  industry business under this section, the business must file

11  an application with the office before the business has made

12  the decision to locate a new business in this state or before

13  the business had made the decision to expand an existing

14  business in this state. The application shall include, but is

15  not limited to, the following information:

16         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

17  number and the applicant's state sales tax registration

18  number.

19         2.  The permanent location of the applicant's facility

20  in this state at which the project is or is to be located.

21         3.  A description of the type of business activity or

22  product covered by the project, including four-digit SIC codes

23  for all activities included in the project.

24         4.  The number of full-time equivalent jobs in this

25  state that are or will be dedicated to the project and the

26  average wage of those jobs. If more than one type of business

27  activity or product is included in the project, the number of

28  jobs and average wage for those jobs must be separately stated

29  for each type of business activity or product.

30         5.  The total number of full-time equivalent employees

31  employed by the applicant in this state.


                                  53

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         6.  The anticipated commencement date of the project.

  2         7.  A brief statement concerning the role that the tax

  3  refunds requested will play in the decision of the applicant

  4  to locate or expand in this state.

  5         8.  An estimate of the proportion of the sales

  6  resulting from the project that will be made outside this

  7  state.

  8         9.  A resolution adopted by the governing board of the

  9  county or municipality in which the project will be located,

10  which resolution recommends that certain types of businesses

11  be approved as a qualified target industry business and states

12  that the commitments of local financial support necessary for

13  the target industry business exist. In advance of the passage

14  of such resolution, the office may also accept an official

15  letter from an authorized local economic development agency

16  that endorses the proposed target industry project and pledges

17  that sources of local financial support for such project

18  exist. For the purposes of making pledges of local financial

19  support under this subsection, the authorized local economic

20  development agency shall be officially designated by the

21  passage of a one-time resolution by the local governing

22  authority.

23         10.  Any additional information requested by the

24  office.

25         (b)  To qualify for review by the office, the

26  application of a target industry business must, at a minimum,

27  establish the following to the satisfaction of the office:

28         1.  The jobs proposed to be provided under the

29  application, pursuant to subparagraph (a)4., must pay an

30  estimated annual average wage equaling at least 115 percent of

31  the average private sector wage in the area where the business


                                  54

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  is to be located or the statewide private sector average wage.

  2  The office may waive this average wage requirement at the

  3  request of the local governing body recommending the project

  4  and Enterprise Florida, Inc.  The wage requirement may only be

  5  waived for a project located in a brownfield area designated

  6  under s. 376.80 or in a rural city or county or in an

  7  enterprise zone and only when the merits of the individual

  8  project or the specific circumstances in the community in

  9  relationship to the project warrant such action.  If the local

10  governing body and Enterprise Florida, Inc., make such a

11  recommendation, it must be transmitted in writing and the

12  specific justification for the waiver recommendation must be

13  explained.  If the director elects to waive the wage

14  requirement, the waiver must be stated in writing and the

15  reasons for granting the waiver must be explained.

16         2.  The target industry business's project must result

17  in the creation of at least 10 jobs at such project and, if an

18  expansion of an existing business, must result in a net

19  increase in employment of not less than 10 percent at such

20  business. Notwithstanding the definition of the term

21  "expansion of an existing business" in paragraph (1)(2)(g), at

22  the request of the local governing body recommending the

23  project and Enterprise Florida, Inc., the office may define an

24  "expansion of an existing business" in a rural community or an

25  enterprise zone as the expansion of a business resulting in a

26  net increase in employment of less than 10 percent at such

27  business if the merits of the individual project or the

28  specific circumstances in the community in relationship to the

29  project warrant such action. If the local governing body and

30  Enterprise Florida, Inc., make such a request, it must be

31  transmitted in writing and the specific justification for the


                                  55

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  request must be explained. If the director elects to grant

  2  such request, such election must be stated in writing and the

  3  reason for granting the request must be explained.

  4         3.  The business activity or product for the

  5  applicant's project is within an industry or industries that

  6  have been identified by the office to be high-value-added

  7  industries that contribute to the area and to the economic

  8  growth of the state and that produce a higher standard of

  9  living for citizens of this state in the new global economy or

10  that can be shown to make an equivalent contribution to the

11  area and state's economic progress.  The director must approve

12  requests to waive the wage requirement for brownfield areas

13  designated under s. 376.80 unless it is demonstrated that such

14  action is not in the public interest.

15         (c)  Each application meeting the requirements of

16  paragraph (b) must be submitted to the office for

17  determination of eligibility. The office shall review and

18  evaluate each application based on, but not limited to, the

19  following criteria:

20         1.  Expected contributions to the state strategic

21  economic development plan adopted by Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

22  taking into account the long-term effects of the project and

23  of the applicant on the state economy.

24         2.  The economic benefit of the jobs created by the

25  project in this state, taking into account the cost and

26  average wage of each job created.

27         3.  The amount of capital investment to be made by the

28  applicant in this state.

29         4.  The local commitment and support for the project.

30

31


                                  56

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         5.  The effect of the project on the local community,

  2  taking into account the unemployment rate for the county where

  3  the project will be located.

  4         6.  The effect of any tax refunds granted pursuant to

  5  this section on the viability of the project and the

  6  probability that the project will be undertaken in this state

  7  if such tax refunds are granted to the applicant, taking into

  8  account the expected long-term commitment of the applicant to

  9  economic growth and employment in this state.

10         7.  The expected long-term commitment to this state

11  resulting from the project.

12         8.  A review of the business's past activities in this

13  state or other states, including whether such business has

14  been subjected to criminal or civil fines and penalties.

15  Nothing in this subparagraph shall require the disclosure of

16  confidential information.

17         (d)  The office shall forward its written findings and

18  evaluation concerning each application meeting the

19  requirements of paragraph (b) to the director within 45

20  calendar days after receipt of a complete application. The

21  office shall notify each target industry business when its

22  application is complete, and of the time when the 45-day

23  period begins. In its written report to the director, the

24  office shall specifically address each of the factors

25  specified in paragraph (c) and shall make a specific

26  assessment with respect to the minimum requirements

27  established in paragraph (b). The office shall include in its

28  report projections of the tax refund claim that will be sought

29  by the target industry business in each fiscal year based on

30  the information submitted in the application.

31


                                  57

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (e)1.  Within 30 days after receipt of the office's

  2  findings and evaluation, the director shall issue a letter of

  3  certification that either approves or disapproves the

  4  application of the target industry business. The decision must

  5  be in writing and must provide the justifications for approval

  6  or disapproval.

  7         2.  If appropriate, the director shall enter into a

  8  written agreement with the qualified target industry business

  9  pursuant to subsection (4) (5).

10         (f)  The director may not certify any target industry

11  business as a qualified target industry business if the value

12  of tax refunds to be included in that letter of certification

13  exceeds the available amount of authority to certify new

14  businesses as determined in s. 288.095(3). However, if the

15  commitments of local financial support represent less than 20

16  percent of the eligible tax refund payments, or to otherwise

17  preserve the viability and fiscal integrity of the program,

18  the director may certify a qualified target industry business

19  to receive tax refund payments of less than the allowable

20  amounts specified in paragraph (2)(3)(b). A letter of

21  certification that approves an application must specify the

22  maximum amount of tax refund that will be available to the

23  qualified industry business in each fiscal year and the total

24  amount of tax refunds that will be available to the business

25  for all fiscal years.

26         (g)  Nothing in this section shall create a presumption

27  that an applicant will receive any tax refunds under this

28  section. However, the office may issue nonbinding opinion

29  letters, upon the request of prospective applicants, as to the

30  applicants' eligibility and the potential amount of refunds.

31         (4)(5)  TAX REFUND AGREEMENT.--


                                  58

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (a)  Each qualified target industry business must enter

  2  into a written agreement with the office which specifies, at a

  3  minimum:

  4         1.  The total number of full-time equivalent jobs in

  5  this state that will be dedicated to the project, the average

  6  wage of those jobs, the definitions that will apply for

  7  measuring the achievement of these terms during the pendency

  8  of the agreement, and a time schedule or plan for when such

  9  jobs will be in place and active in this state. This

10  information must be the same as the information contained in

11  the application submitted by the business under subsection (3)

12  (4).

13         2.  The maximum amount of tax refunds which the

14  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive on

15  the project and the maximum amount of a tax refund that the

16  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive in

17  each fiscal year.

18         3.  That the office may review and verify the financial

19  and personnel records of the qualified target industry

20  business to ascertain whether that business is in compliance

21  with this section.

22         4.  The date after which, in each fiscal year, the

23  qualified target industry business may file an annual claim

24  under subsection (5) (6).

25         5.  That local financial support will be annually

26  available and will be paid to the account. The director may

27  not enter into a written agreement with a qualified target

28  industry business if the local financial support resolution is

29  not passed by the local governing authority within 90 days

30  after he or she has issued the letter of certification under

31  subsection (3) (4).


                                  59

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (b)  Compliance with the terms and conditions of the

  2  agreement is a condition precedent for the receipt of a tax

  3  refund each year. The failure to comply with the terms and

  4  conditions of the tax refund agreement results in the loss of

  5  eligibility for receipt of all tax refunds previously

  6  authorized under this section and the revocation by the

  7  director of the certification of the business entity as a

  8  qualified target industry business.

  9         (c)  The agreement must be signed by the director and

10  by an authorized officer of the qualified target industry

11  business within 120 days after the issuance of the letter of

12  certification under subsection (3) (4), but not before passage

13  and receipt of the resolution of local financial support.

14         (d)  The agreement must contain the following legend,

15  clearly printed on its face in bold type of not less than 10

16  points in size: "This agreement is neither a general

17  obligation of the State of Florida, nor is it backed by the

18  full faith and credit of the State of Florida. Payment of tax

19  refunds are conditioned on and subject to specific annual

20  appropriations by the Florida Legislature of moneys sufficient

21  to pay amounts authorized in section 288.106, Florida

22  Statutes."

23         (5)(6)  ANNUAL CLAIM FOR REFUND.--

24         (a)  A qualified target industry business that has

25  entered into a tax refund agreement with the office under

26  subsection (4) (5) may apply once each fiscal year to the

27  office for a tax refund. The application must be made on or

28  after the date specified in that agreement.

29         (b)  The claim for refund by the qualified target

30  industry business must include a copy of all receipts

31  pertaining to the payment of taxes for which the refund is


                                  60

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  sought and data related to achievement of each performance

  2  item specified in the tax refund agreement. The amount

  3  requested as a tax refund may not exceed the amount specified

  4  for that fiscal year in that agreement.

  5         (c)  A tax refund may not be approved for a qualified

  6  target industry business unless the required local financial

  7  support has been paid into the account in that fiscal year. If

  8  the local financial support provided is less than 20 percent

  9  of the approved tax refund, the tax refund must be reduced. In

10  no event may the tax refund exceed an amount that is equal to

11  5 times the amount of the local financial support received.

12  Further, funding from local sources includes any tax abatement

13  granted to that business under s. 196.1995 or the appraised

14  market value of municipal or county land conveyed or provided

15  at a discount to that business. The amount of any tax refund

16  for such business approved under this section must be reduced

17  by the amount of any such tax abatement granted or the value

18  of the land granted; and the limitations in subsection (2) (3)

19  and paragraph (3)(4)(f) must be reduced by the amount of any

20  such tax abatement or the value of the land granted. A report

21  listing all sources of the local financial support shall be

22  provided to the office when such support is paid to the

23  account.

24         (d)  A prorated tax refund, less a 5-percent penalty,

25  shall be approved for a qualified target industry business

26  provided all other applicable requirements have been satisfied

27  and the business proves to the satisfaction of the director

28  that it has achieved at least 80 percent of its projected

29  employment.

30         (e)  The director, with such assistance as may be

31  required from the office, the Department of Revenue, or the


                                  61

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  Department of Labor and Employment Security, shall specify by

  2  written final order the amount of the tax refund that is

  3  authorized for the qualified target industry business for the

  4  fiscal year within 30 days after the date that the claim for

  5  the annual tax refund is received by the office.

  6         (f)  The total amount of tax refund claims approved by

  7  the director under this section in any fiscal year must not

  8  exceed the amount authorized under s. 288.095(3).

  9         (g)  Upon approval of the tax refund under paragraphs

10  (c), (d), and (e), the Comptroller shall issue a warrant for

11  the amount specified in the final order. If the final order is

12  appealed, the Comptroller may not issue a warrant for a refund

13  to the qualified target industry business until the conclusion

14  of all appeals of that order.

15         (6)(7)  ADMINISTRATION.--

16         (a)  The office is authorized to verify information

17  provided in any claim submitted for tax credits under this

18  section with regard to employment and wage levels or the

19  payment of the taxes to the appropriate agency or authority,

20  including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor

21  and Employment Security, or any local government or authority.

22         (b)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

23  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

24  provide a list of qualified target industry businesses to the

25  Department of Revenue, to the Department of Labor and

26  Employment Security, or to any local government or authority.

27  The office may request the assistance of those entities with

28  respect to monitoring the payment of the taxes listed in

29  subsection (2) (3).

30         (7)(8)  EXPIRATION.--This section expires June 30,

31  2004.


                                  62

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         Section 39.  Subsection (11) of section 159.803,

  2  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         159.803  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:

  4         (11)  "Florida First Business project" means any

  5  project which is certified by the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  6  and Economic Development as eligible to receive an allocation

  7  from the Florida First Business allocation pool established

  8  pursuant to s. 159.8083.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  9  Economic Development may certify those projects meeting the

10  criteria set forth in s. 288.106(3)(4)(b) or any project

11  providing a substantial economic benefit to this state.

12         Section 40.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1),

13  subsection (2), paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (4), and

14  paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 288.107, Florida

15  Statutes, are amended to read:

16         288.107  Brownfield redevelopment bonus refunds.--

17         (1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:

18         (e)  "Eligible business" means a qualified target

19  industry business as defined in s. 288.106(1)(2)(o).

20         (2)  BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT BONUS REFUND.--There

21  shall be allowed from the account a bonus refund of $2,500 to

22  any qualified target industry business for each new Florida

23  job created in a brownfield which is claimed on the qualified

24  target industry business's annual refund claim authorized in

25  s. 288.106(5)(6) and approved by the office as specified in

26  the final order issued by the director.

27         (4)  PAYMENT OF BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT BONUS

28  REFUNDS.--

29         (a)  To be eligible to receive a bonus refund for new

30  Florida jobs created in a brownfield, a business must have

31  been certified as a qualified target industry business under


                                  63

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  s. 288.106 and must have indicated on the qualified target

  2  industry tax refund application form submitted in accordance

  3  with s. 288.106(3)(4) that the project for which the

  4  application is submitted is or will be located in a brownfield

  5  and that the business is applying for certification as a

  6  qualified brownfield business under this section, and must

  7  have signed a qualified target industry tax refund agreement

  8  with the office which indicates that the business has been

  9  certified as a qualified target industry business located in a

10  brownfield and specifies the schedule of brownfield

11  redevelopment bonus refunds that the business may be eligible

12  to receive in each fiscal year.

13         (d)  After entering into a tax refund agreement as

14  provided in s. 288.106, an eligible business may receive

15  brownfield redevelopment bonus refunds from the account

16  pursuant to s. 288.106(2)(3)(c).

17         (5)  ADMINISTRATION.--

18         (b)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

19  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

20  provide a list of qualified target industry businesses to the

21  Department of Revenue, to the Department of Labor and

22  Employment Security, to the Department of Environmental

23  Protection, or to any local government authority.  The office

24  may request the assistance of those entities with respect to

25  monitoring the payment of the taxes listed in s.

26  288.106(2)(3).

27         Section 41.  Section 624.5105, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         624.5105  Community contribution tax credit;

30  legislative findings; policy and purpose; authorization;

31


                                  64

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  limitations; eligibility and application requirements;

  2  administration; definitions; expiration.--

  3         (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that:

  4         (a)  Conditions of blight, evidenced by extensive

  5  deterioration of public and private facilities, abandonment of

  6  sound structures, and high unemployment, exist in the counties

  7  and municipalities, which conditions impede the conservation

  8  and development of healthy, safe, and economically viable

  9  communities.

10         (b)  The deterioration of housing and industrial,

11  commercial, and public facilities contributes to the decline

12  of neighborhoods and communities and leads to the loss of

13  their historic character and the sense of community which this

14  inspires; reduces the value of property comprising the tax

15  base of local communities; discourages private investment; and

16  requires a disproportionate expenditure of public funds for

17  the social services, unemployment benefits, and police

18  protection required to combat the social and economic problems

19  found in slum communities.

20         (c)  In order to ultimately restore social and economic

21  viability to enterprise zones, it is necessary to renovate or

22  construct new housing, water and sewer infrastructure, and

23  transportation facilities and to specifically provide

24  mechanisms to attract and encourage private economic activity.

25         (d)  The various local governments and other

26  redevelopment organizations now undertaking physical

27  revitalization projects are limited by tightly constrained

28  budgets and inadequate resources.

29         (e)  In order to significantly improve revitalization

30  efforts by local governments and community development

31  organizations and to retain as much of the historic character


                                  65

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  of our communities as possible, it is necessary to provide

  2  additional resources, and the participation of private

  3  enterprise in revitalization efforts is an effective means for

  4  accomplishing that goal.

  5         (2)  POLICY AND PURPOSE.--It is the policy of this

  6  state to encourage the participation of insurers in

  7  revitalization projects undertaken by public redevelopment

  8  organizations. The purpose of this section is to provide an

  9  incentive for such participation by granting partial state

10  insurance premium tax credits to insurers that contribute

11  resources to public redevelopment organizations for the

12  revitalization of enterprise zones for the benefit of

13  low-income and moderate-income persons or to preserve existing

14  historically significant properties within enterprise zones to

15  the greatest extent possible. The Legislature thus declares

16  such purpose a public purpose for which public money may be

17  borrowed, expended, loaned, and granted.

18         (1)(3)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT TAX CREDITS;

19  LIMITATIONS.--

20         (a)  Beginning July 1, 1995, There shall be allowed a

21  credit of 50 percent of a community contribution against any

22  tax due for a calendar year under s. 624.509 or s. 624.510.

23         (b)  No insurer shall receive more than $200,000 in

24  annual tax credits for all approved community contributions

25  made in any one year.

26         (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be

27  granted for all programs approved under this section and s.

28  220.183 is $10 million annually.

29         (d)  Each proposal for the granting of such tax credit

30  requires the prior approval of the director.

31


                                  66

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         (e)  If the credit granted pursuant to this section is

  2  not fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax

  3  liability on the part of the insurer, the unused amount may be

  4  carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. The

  5  carryover credit may be used in a subsequent year when the tax

  6  imposed by s. 624.509 or s. 624.510 for such year exceeds the

  7  credit under this section for such year.

  8         (2)(4)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--

  9         (a)  Each community contribution by an insurer must be

10  in a form specified in subsection (5) (7).

11         (b)  Each community contribution must be reserved

12  exclusively for use in a project.

13         (c)  The project must be undertaken by an "eligible

14  sponsor," which term is defined as:

15         1.  A community action program;

16         2.  A community development corporation;

17         3.  A neighborhood housing services corporation;

18         4.  A local housing authority created pursuant to

19  chapter 421;

20         5.  A community redevelopment agency created pursuant

21  to s. 163.356;

22         6.  The Florida Industrial Development Corporation;

23         7.  A historic preservation district agency or

24  organization;

25         8.  A private industry council;

26         9.  An enterprise zone development agency created

27  pursuant to s. 290.0057; or

28         10.  Such other agency as the director may, from time

29  to time, designate by rule.

30

31


                                  67

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  In no event shall a contributing insurer have a financial

  2  interest in the eligible sponsor.

  3         (d)  The project shall be located in an area designated

  4  as an enterprise zone pursuant to s. 290.0065.  Any project

  5  designed to construct or rehabilitate low-income housing is

  6  exempt from the area requirement of this paragraph.

  7         (3)(5)  APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.--

  8         (a)  Any eligible sponsor wishing to participate in

  9  this program must submit a proposal to the Office of Tourism,

10  Trade, and Economic Development which sets forth the sponsor,

11  the project, the area in which the project is located, and

12  such supporting information as may be prescribed by rule. The

13  proposal shall also contain a resolution from the local

14  governmental unit in which the proposed project is located

15  certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and

16  regulations.

17         (b)1.  Any insurer wishing to participate in this

18  program must submit an application for tax credit to the

19  office which sets forth the sponsor; the project; and the

20  type, value, and purpose of the contribution. The sponsor must

21  verify, in writing, the terms of the application and indicate

22  its willingness to receive the contribution, which

23  verification must accompany the application for tax credit.

24         2.  The insurer must submit a separate application for

25  tax credit for each individual contribution which it proposes

26  to contribute to each individual project.

27         (4)(6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

28         (a)1.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

29  Development is authorized to adopt all rules necessary to

30  administer this section, including rules for the approval or

31  disapproval of proposals by insurers.


                                  68

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1         2.  The decision of the director shall be in writing,

  2  and, if approved, the proposal shall state the maximum credit

  3  allowable to the insurer. A copy of the decision shall be

  4  transmitted to the executive director of the Department of

  5  Revenue, who shall apply such credit to the tax liability of

  6  the insurer.

  7         3.  The office shall monitor all projects periodically,

  8  in a manner consistent with available resources to ensure that

  9  resources are utilized in accordance with this section;

10  however, each project shall be reviewed no less frequently

11  than once every 2 years.

12         (b)  The Department of Revenue shall adopt any rules

13  necessary to ensure the orderly implementation and

14  administration of this section.

15         (5)(7)  DEFINITIONS.--For the purpose of this section:

16         (a)  "Community contribution" means the grant by an

17  insurer of any of the following items:

18         1.  Cash or other liquid assets.

19         2.  Real property.

20         3.  Goods or inventory.

21         4.  Other physical resources which are identified by

22  the department.

23         (b)  "Director" means the director of the Office of

24  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

25         (c)  "Local government" means any county or

26  incorporated municipality in the state.

27         (d)  "Office" means the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

28  Economic Development.

29         (e)  "Project" means any activity undertaken by an

30  eligible sponsor, as defined in subsection (2) (4), which is

31  designed to construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate


                                  69

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    CS for SB 1772                                 First Engrossed



  1  housing or commercial, industrial, or public resources and

  2  facilities or to improve entrepreneurial and job-development

  3  opportunities for low-income persons.

  4         (6)(8)  EXPIRATION.--The provisions of this section,

  5  except paragraph (1)(3)(e), shall expire and be void on June

  6  30, 2005.

  7         Section 42.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

  8

  9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31


                                  70