Senate Bill 2548c3

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    Florida Senate - 2000             CS for CS for CS for SB 2548

    By the Committees on Fiscal Policy; Comprehensive Planning,
    Local and Military Affairs; Commerce and Economic
    Opportunities; and Senators Kirkpatrick and Hargrett



    309-2206-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to economic development;

  3         amending s. 14.2015, F.S.; eliminating

  4         administrative responsibility of the Office of

  5         Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for

  6         the sports franchise facility program, the

  7         professional golf hall of fame facility

  8         program, the Regional Rural Development Grants

  9         Program, the Florida Enterprise Zone Act, and

10         the Florida State Rural Development Council;

11         eliminating authority for the Office of

12         Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to

13         enter into contracts in connection with duties

14         relating to the Florida First Business Bond

15         Pool, the Enterprise Zone Program, and foreign

16         offices; conforming terminology; requiring a

17         report on activities funded under the Economic

18         Development Incentives Account and the Economic

19         Development Transportation Trust Fund;

20         providing for Front Porch Florida requirements;

21         directing the Office of Urban Opportunity to

22         give priority to projects receiving certain

23         federal grants; amending s. 163.2523, F.S.;

24         providing allocation criteria for the Urban

25         Infill and Redevelopment Grant Program;

26         amending s. 420.5087, F.S.; providing

27         allocation criteria for the State Apartment

28         Incentive Loan Program; amending s. 420.5089,

29         F.S.; providing allocation criteria for the

30         HOME Investment Partnership Program; amending

31         s. 420.5093, F.S.; giving priority to certain

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  1         projects in the State Housing Tax Credit

  2         Program; amending s. 420.5099, F.S.; giving

  3         priority to certain projects in the allocation

  4         of low-income housing tax credits; amending s.

  5         159.705, F.S.; specifying that projects located

  6         in research and development parks may be

  7         operated by specified organizations; amending

  8         s. 159.8083, F.S.; providing for Enterprise

  9         Florida, Inc., to recommend Florida First

10         Business projects to the Office of Tourism,

11         Trade, and Economic Development; providing for

12         consultation; amending s. 163.3164, F.S.;

13         exempting certain activities from the term

14         "development" for the purposes of the Local

15         Government Comprehensive Planning and Land

16         Development Regulation Act; amending s. 212.08,

17         F.S.; revising an exemption from taxation for

18         machinery and equipment used in

19         silicon-technology production and research and

20         development; making the exemption applicable to

21         semiconductor-technology production and

22         research and development; providing an

23         exemption from taxation for building materials

24         purchased for use in manufacturing or expanding

25         clean rooms for semiconductor-manufacturing

26         facilities; revising definitions; revising

27         criteria and procedures; specifying that a

28         sales tax exemption for certain repair and

29         labor charges applies to industrial machinery

30         and equipment used in the production and

31         shipping of tangible personal property;

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  1         applying the exemption to SIC Industry Major

  2         Group Number 35; specifying that the sales tax

  3         exemption for industries in such group number

  4         is remedial in nature and applies

  5         retroactively; amending ss. 212.097, 212.098,

  6         F.S.; expanding the definition of the term

  7         "eligible business" under the Urban High-Crime

  8         Area Job Tax Credit Program and Rural Job Tax

  9         Credit Program to include certain businesses

10         involved in motion picture production and

11         allied services; amending s. 218.075, F.S.;

12         expanding conditions under which the Department

13         of Environmental Protection and water

14         management districts shall reduce or waive

15         certain fees for counties or municipalities;

16         conforming to the definition of the term "rural

17         community" used elsewhere in the Florida

18         Statutes; amending s. 288.012, F.S.; revising

19         the authority of the Office of Tourism, Trade,

20         and Economic Development to establish foreign

21         offices; providing for the office to approve

22         the establishment and operation of such offices

23         by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida

24         Commission on Tourism; providing for foreign

25         offices to submit updated operating plans and

26         activity reports; amending s. 288.018, F.S.;

27         providing for Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

28         administer the Regional Rural Development

29         Grants Program and make recommendations for

30         approval by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

31         Economic Development; creating s. 288.064,

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  1         F.S.; expressing the intent of the Legislature

  2         to provide for efficient and effective delivery

  3         of assistance to rural communities; amending s.

  4         288.0655, F.S.; revising deadlines relating to

  5         implementation of the Rural Infrastructure

  6         Fund; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; revising

  7         criteria for the Rural Economic Development

  8         Initiative; requiring certain communities to

  9         apply for rural designation; amending s.

10         288.1088, F.S.; revising criteria and

11         procedures related to the award of funds to

12         certain target industries from the Quick Action

13         Closing Fund; amending s. 288.1162, F.S.;

14         providing for a specified direct-support

15         organization to administer the professional

16         sports franchises and spring training

17         franchises facilities programs; providing for

18         final approval of decisions under such programs

19         by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

20         Development; amending s. 288.1168, F.S.;

21         deleting obsolete provisions relating to

22         certification of the professional golf hall of

23         fame; providing for a specified direct-support

24         organization to administer that program;

25         amending s. 288.1169, F.S.; providing for a

26         specified direct-support organization to

27         administer the certification program for the

28         International Game Fish Association World

29         Center facility; providing for annual

30         verification of attendance and sales tax

31         revenue projections; transferring, renumbering,

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  1         and amending s. 288.1185, F.S.; assigning

  2         administrative responsibility for the Recycling

  3         Markets Advisory Committee to the Department of

  4         Environmental Protection; amending s. 288.1223,

  5         F.S.; authorizing the Governor to designate a

  6         person to serve on the Florida Commission on

  7         Tourism and as the chair of the commission;

  8         amending s. 288.1226, F.S.; providing for the

  9         appointment of the president of the Florida

10         Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation and

11         specifying that the president serves at the

12         pleasure of the Governor; limiting certain

13         employee salaries unless such employees are

14         covered by a performance contract; amending s.

15         288.1229, F.S.; requiring an annual report on

16         the status of specified sports projects;

17         amending s. 288.1251, F.S.; renaming the Office

18         of the Film Commissioner the Governor's Office

19         of Film and Entertainment; renaming the Film

20         Commissioner as the Commissioner of Film and

21         Entertainment; authorizing receipt and

22         expenditure of certain grants and donations;

23         amending s. 288.1252, F.S.; renaming the

24         Florida Film Advisory Council the Florida Film

25         and Entertainment Advisory Council; amending s.

26         288.1253, F.S., relating to travel and

27         entertainment expenses; conforming terminology;

28         amending s. 288.7011, F.S.; revising conditions

29         under which certain assistance and support for

30         a statewide certified development corporation

31         shall cease; amending s. 288.901, F.S.;

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  1         correcting a cross-reference; providing that

  2         the Governor's designee may serve as

  3         chairperson of the board of directors of

  4         Enterprise Florida, Inc.; amending s. 288.9015,

  5         F.S.; requiring Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

  6         use specified programs to facilitate economic

  7         development; amending s. 288.980, F.S.;

  8         providing for Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

  9         administer defense grant programs and make

10         recommendations to the Office of Tourism,

11         Trade, and Economic Development on approval of

12         grant awards; providing that certain

13         defense-related grants may be awarded only from

14         specifically appropriated funds; amending s.

15         288.99, F.S.; assigning certain responsibility

16         for ongoing administration of the Certified

17         Capital Company Act to the Department of

18         Banking and Finance; authorizing additional

19         applications for certification as a certified

20         capital company; amending s. 290.004, F.S.;

21         repealing certain definitions under the

22         enterprise zone program; defining the term

23         "rural enterprise zone"; amending s. 290.0056,

24         F.S.; providing for a reporting requirement for

25         enterprise zone development agencies to

26         Enterprise Florida, Inc.; amending s. 290.0058,

27         F.S.; conforming to administration of the

28         enterprise zone program by Enterprise Florida,

29         Inc.; amending s. 290.0065, F.S.; providing for

30         Enterprise Florida, Inc., to administer the

31         enterprise zone program and make

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  1         recommendations to the Office of Tourism,

  2         Trade, and Economic Development; conforming

  3         references; amending s. 290.0066, F.S.;

  4         providing for Enterprise Florida, Inc., to make

  5         recommendations to the Office of Tourism,

  6         Trade, and Economic Development regarding

  7         revocations of enterprise zone designations;

  8         amending s. 290.00675, F.S.; providing for

  9         Enterprise Florida, Inc., to make

10         recommendations to the Office of Tourism,

11         Trade, and Economic Development regarding

12         amendment of enterprise zone boundaries;

13         creating s. 290.00676, F.S.; authorizing the

14         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

15         Development to amend the boundaries of a rural

16         enterprise zone and providing requirements with

17         respect thereto; creating s. 290.00677, F.S.;

18         modifying the employee residency requirements

19         for the enterprise zone job credit against the

20         sales tax and corporate income tax if the

21         business is located in a rural enterprise zone;

22         modifying the employee residency requirements

23         for maximum exemptions or credits with respect

24         to the sales tax credits for enterprise zone

25         job creation, for building materials used in

26         the rehabilitation of real property in an

27         enterprise zone, for business property used in

28         an enterprise zone, and for electrical energy

29         used in an enterprise zone, and the corporate

30         income tax enterprise zone job creation and

31         property tax credits if the business is located

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  1         in a rural enterprise zone; providing

  2         application time limitations; providing an

  3         extended application period for certain

  4         businesses to claim tax incentives; amending s.

  5         290.00689, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;

  6         revising the eligibility criteria for certain

  7         tax credits to include a review and

  8         recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

  9         creating s. 290.00694, F.S.; authorizing the

10         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

11         Development to designate rural champion

12         communities as enterprise zones; providing

13         requirements with respect thereto; amending s.

14         290.009, F.S.; specifying that Enterprise

15         Florida, Inc., shall serve as staff to the

16         Enterprise Zone Interagency Coordinating

17         Council; amending s. 290.014, F.S.; conforming

18         cross-references; amending s. 290.046, F.S.;

19         eliminating a limitation on the number of

20         economic development grants that an eligible

21         local government may receive under the Florida

22         Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

23         Program; specifying that cumulative grant

24         awards may not exceed certain ceilings;

25         amending s. 290.048, F.S.; authorizing the

26         Department of Community Affairs to establish

27         advisory committees relating to the Florida

28         Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

29         Program; repealing s. 290.049, F.S., relating

30         to the Community Development Block Grant

31         Advisory Council; amending s. 373.4149, F.S.;

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  1         removing the director of the Office of Tourism,

  2         Trade, and Economic Development from the

  3         membership of the Miami-Dade County Lake Belt

  4         Plan Implementation Committee; authorizing the

  5         Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to

  6         contract and receive money to support the

  7         Florida State Rural Development Council;

  8         requiring the Workforce Development Board of

  9         Enterprise Florida, Inc., to develop a policy

10         authorizing placement of certain

11         workforce-training clients in self-employment

12         as a means of job placement; directing the

13         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

14         Development and Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

15         establish a unit responsible for forecasting

16         and responding to certain economic development

17         events; creating an Economic Development

18         Leadership Council to provide leadership

19         related to such events; requiring a report and

20         recommendations; providing legislative intent;

21         providing for creation and purpose of the

22         Toolkit for Economic Development; defining the

23         term "economically distressed"; requiring the

24         appointment of liaisons from agencies and

25         organizations; providing for requirements and

26         duties; creating coordinating partners to serve

27         as the program's executive committee; providing

28         for duties and powers; providing for waivers of

29         state-required matching-funds requirements;

30         requiring an inventory of programs that help

31         economically distressed communities; requiring

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  1         that the inventory be categorized; creating the

  2         Start-Up Initiative to promote the use of the

  3         inventory; providing for identification of

  4         communities; providing for solicitation of

  5         proposals; providing for proposal content;

  6         providing for review process and evaluation

  7         criteria; providing for funding; providing for

  8         the designation of communities of critical

  9         economic opportunity; providing an

10         appropriation to the coordinating partners;

11         providing for use of funds and certification;

12         providing for reporting; providing for

13         expiration; creating s. 288.1260, F.S.;

14         creating the Front Porch Florida initiative;

15         providing legislative intent; providing for

16         purposes and principles of the program;

17         creating liaisons to Front Porch Florida

18         communities; providing for liaison requirements

19         and duties; providing for use of the inventory

20         of federal and state resources; providing for

21         application requirements; providing for the

22         formation of a Governor's Revitalization

23         Council; providing for duties; providing for

24         monitoring and reporting; creating s. 239.521,

25         F.S.; providing intent; providing for

26         development of a 2-year vocational and

27         technical distance-learning curriculum for

28         information-technology workers; providing for

29         internship opportunities for high school and

30         postsecondary information-technology vocational

31         faculty and students in information-technology

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  1         businesses; providing a means for increasing

  2         the capability and accessibility of

  3         information-technology-training providers

  4         through state-of-the-art facilities; amending

  5         s. 240.311, F.S.; requiring the State Board of

  6         Community Colleges to identify training

  7         programs for broadband digital media

  8         specialists; requiring that such programs be

  9         added to lists for demand occupations under

10         certain circumstances; amending s. 240.3341,

11         F.S.; encouraging community colleges to

12         establish incubator facilities for digital

13         media content and technology development;

14         creating s. 240.710, F.S.; requiring the Board

15         of Regents to create a Digital Media Education

16         Coordination Group; providing membership;

17         providing purposes; requiring development of a

18         plan; requiring submission of plans to the

19         Legislature; requiring the Workforce

20         Development Board to reserve funds for digital

21         media industry training; providing direction on

22         training; requiring the Workforce Development

23         Board to develop a plan for the use of certain

24         funds to enhance workforce of digital media

25         related industries; providing direction on plan

26         development; providing a contingent

27         appropriation to the Digital Media Education

28         Infrastructure Fund; providing requirements for

29         contracting and use of funds; requiring

30         Enterprise Florida, Inc., to convene a

31         broadband digital media industries group;

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  1         requiring identification, designation, and

  2         priority of digital media sector in sector

  3         strategy; requiring Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  4         to contract for establishment of digital media

  5         incubator; providing contract requirements;

  6         providing an appropriation; requiring industry

  7         participation in funding; providing direction

  8         for incubator location; requiring ITFlorida, in

  9         cooperation with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to

10         prepare a marketing plan promoting the state to

11         digital media industries; providing that

12         certain provisions relating to digital media

13         are subject to legislative appropriation;

14         amending s. 331.367, F.S.; revising provisions

15         with respect to the Spaceport Management

16         Council; directing the council to submit

17         recommendations; providing for the

18         participation of federal officials; amending s.

19         331.368, F.S.; expanding the purpose of the

20         Florida Space Research Institute; revising the

21         membership of the institute; prescribing

22         additional duties of the institute; creating

23         the Space Industry Workforce Initiative;

24         requiring the Workforce Development Board of

25         Enterprise Florida, Inc., to develop

26         initiatives to address the workforce needs of

27         the industry; prescribing criteria; requiring

28         the board to convene industry representatives;

29         requiring a report; creating s. 331.3685, F.S.;

30         creating the Florida Space-Industry

31         Research-Development Program to finance

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  1         space-related research projects and programs;

  2         providing for certain sales-tax collections to

  3         be retained by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor

  4         Complex and distributed to the Florida Space

  5         Research Institute; prescribing uses of such

  6         funds; requiring an annual accounting of such

  7         funds; providing for review of funding

  8         proposals by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  9         Economic Development; requiring a contract with

10         the office governing distribution of funds

11         under the program; amending s. 212.08, F.S.;

12         providing for sales-tax collections from the

13         Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to be

14         retained by the complex and distributed to the

15         Florida Space Research Institute; providing for

16         reporting of sales to the Department of Revenue

17         as prescribed by rules; amending s. 556.108,

18         F.S.; providing for performing the demolition

19         or excavation of single-family residential

20         property; creating the Commission on Basic

21         Research for the Future of Florida; prescribing

22         membership of the commission; providing a

23         purpose for the commission; requiring the use

24         of state resources; providing for staffing,

25         administration, and information sharing;

26         requiring a report; repealing s. 288.039, F.S.,

27         relating to the Employing and Training our

28         Youths (ENTRY) program; repealing s.

29         288.095(3)(c), F.S., relating to a required

30         report on activities under the Economic

31         Development Incentives Account of the Economic

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  1         Development Trust Fund; providing an effective

  2         date.

  3

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

  5

  6         Section 1.  Subsections (2) and (9) of section 14.2015,

  7  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  8         14.2015  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development; creation; powers and duties.--

10         (2)  The purpose of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11  Economic Development is to assist the Governor in working with

12  the Legislature, state agencies, business leaders, and

13  economic development professionals to formulate and implement

14  coherent and consistent policies and strategies designed to

15  provide economic opportunities for all Floridians.  To

16  accomplish such purposes, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

17  Economic Development shall:

18         (a)  Contract, notwithstanding the provisions of part I

19  of chapter 287, with the direct-support organization created

20  under s. 288.1229 to guide, stimulate, and promote the sports

21  industry in the state, to promote the participation of

22  Florida's citizens in amateur athletic competition, and to

23  promote Florida as a host for national and international

24  amateur athletic competitions.

25         (b)  Monitor the activities of public-private

26  partnerships and state agencies in order to avoid duplication

27  and promote coordinated and consistent implementation of

28  programs in areas including, but not limited to, tourism;

29  international trade and investment; business recruitment,

30  creation, retention, and expansion; minority and small

31  business development; and rural community development.

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  1         (c)  Facilitate the direct involvement of the Governor

  2  and the Lieutenant Governor in economic development projects

  3  designed to create, expand, and retain Florida businesses and

  4  to recruit worldwide business, as well as in other

  5  job-creating efforts.

  6         (d)  Assist the Governor, in cooperation with

  7  Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida Commission on

  8  Tourism, in preparing an annual report to the Legislature on

  9  the state of the business climate in Florida and on the state

10  of economic development in Florida which will include the

11  identification of problems and the recommendation of

12  solutions.  This report shall be submitted to the President of

13  the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the

14  Senate Minority Leader, and the House Minority Leader by

15  January 1 of each year, and it shall be in addition to the

16  Governor's message to the Legislature under the State

17  Constitution and any other economic reports required by law.

18         (e)  Plan and conduct at least one meeting per calendar

19  year of leaders in business, government, and economic

20  development called by the Governor to address the business

21  climate in the state, develop a common vision for the economic

22  future of the state, and identify economic development efforts

23  to fulfill that vision.

24         (f)1.  Administer the Florida Enterprise Zone Act under

25  ss. 290.001-290.016, the community contribution tax credit

26  program under ss. 220.183 and 624.5105, the tax refund program

27  for qualified target industry businesses under s. 288.106, the

28  tax-refund program for qualified defense contractors under s.

29  288.1045, contracts for transportation projects under s.

30  288.063, the sports franchise facility program under s.

31  288.1162, the professional golf hall of fame facility program

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  1  under s. 288.1168, the expedited permitting process under s.

  2  403.973, the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund

  3  under s. 288.065, the Regional Rural Development Grants

  4  Program under s. 288.018, the Certified Capital Company Act

  5  under s. 288.99, the Florida State Rural Development Council,

  6  the Rural Economic Development Initiative, and other programs

  7  that are specifically assigned to the office by law, by the

  8  appropriations process, or by the Governor. Notwithstanding

  9  any other provisions of law, the office may expend interest

10  earned from the investment of program funds deposited in the

11  Economic Development Trust Fund, the Grants and Donations

12  Trust Fund, the Brownfield Property Ownership Clearance

13  Assistance Revolving Loan Trust Fund, and the Economic

14  Development Transportation Trust Fund to contract for the

15  administration of the programs, or portions of the programs,

16  enumerated in this paragraph or assigned to the office by law,

17  by the appropriations process, or by the Governor. Such

18  expenditures shall be subject to review under chapter 216.

19         2.  The office may enter into contracts in connection

20  with the fulfillment of its duties concerning the Florida

21  First Business Bond Pool under chapter 159, tax incentives

22  under chapters 212 and 220, tax incentives under the Certified

23  Capital Company Act in chapter 288, foreign offices under

24  chapter 288, the Enterprise Zone program under chapter 290,

25  the Seaport Employment Training program under chapter 311, the

26  Florida Professional Sports Team License Plates under chapter

27  320, Spaceport Florida under chapter 331, Expedited Permitting

28  under chapter 403, and in carrying out other functions that

29  are specifically assigned to the office by law, by the

30  appropriations process, or by the Governor.

31

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  1         (g)  Serve as contract administrator for the state with

  2  respect to contracts with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the

  3  Florida Commission on Tourism, and all direct-support

  4  organizations under this act, excluding those relating to

  5  tourism.  To accomplish the provisions of this act and

  6  applicable provisions of chapter 288, and notwithstanding the

  7  provisions of part I of chapter 287, the office shall enter

  8  into specific contracts with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the

  9  Florida Commission on Tourism, and other appropriate

10  direct-support organizations. Such contracts may be multiyear

11  and shall include specific performance measures for each year.

12         (h)  Provide administrative oversight for the

13  Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner,

14  created under s. 288.1251, to develop, promote, and provide

15  services to the state's entertainment industry and to

16  administratively house the Florida Film and Entertainment

17  Advisory Council created under s. 288.1252.

18         (i)  Prepare and submit as a separate budget entity a

19  unified budget request for tourism, trade, and economic

20  development in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in

21  conjunction with, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and its boards,

22  the Florida Commission on Tourism and its direct-support

23  organization, the Florida Black Business Investment Board, the

24  Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner,

25  and the direct-support organization created to promote the

26  sports industry.

27         (j)  Adopt rules, as necessary, to carry out its

28  functions in connection with the administration of the

29  Qualified Target Industry program, the Qualified Defense

30  Contractor program, the Certified Capital Company Act, the

31

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  1  Enterprise Zone program, and the Florida First Business Bond

  2  pool.

  3         (k)  By January 15 of each year, the Office of Tourism,

  4  Trade, and Economic Development shall submit to the Governor,

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

  6  Representatives a complete and detailed report of all

  7  applications received and recommendations made or actions

  8  taken during the previous fiscal year under all programs

  9  funded out of the Economic Development Incentives Account or

10  the Economic Development Transportation Trust Fund. The Office

11  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, with the

12  cooperation of Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall also include in

13  the report a detailed analysis of all final decisions issued;

14  agreements or other contracts executed; and tax refunds paid

15  or other payments made under all programs funded from the

16  above named sources, including analysis of benefits and costs,

17  types of projects supported, and employment and investment

18  created. The report shall also include a separate analysis of

19  the impact of such tax refunds and other payments approved for

20  rural cities or communities as defined in s. 288.106(2)(s) and

21  state enterprise zones designated pursuant to s. 290.0065.

22         (9)(a)  The Office of Urban Opportunity is created

23  within the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

24  The director of the Office of Urban Opportunity shall be

25  appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

26         (b)  The purpose of the Office of Urban Opportunity

27  shall be to administer the Front Porch Florida initiative, a

28  comprehensive, community-based urban core redevelopment

29  program that will empower urban core residents to craft

30  solutions to the unique challenges of each designated

31  community. Front Porch Florida shall serve as a "civic

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  1  switchboard," connecting each Front Porch Florida community

  2  with federal, state, and private-sector resources necessary to

  3  implement the program.

  4         (c)  The Office of Urban Opportunity may be assisted in

  5  carrying out its duties by the Department of Community

  6  Affairs.

  7         (d)  The selection criteria for designating Front Porch

  8  Communities must give priority consideration to communities

  9  where there is an active grant award from the U.S. Department

10  of Housing and Urban Development under the HOPE VI program and

11  there is:

12         1.  Documented support by the unit of local government

13  to redevelop the neighborhoods surrounding the HOPE VI

14  project.

15         2.  A joint agreement between the local government and

16  the public housing authority receiving the HOPE VI grant

17  regarding the redevelopment of neighborhoods surrounding the

18  HOPE VI project.

19         3.  A plan to promote the redevelopment of the HOPE VI

20  neighborhoods; to disperse the location of publicly assisted

21  housing within the neighborhood and to promote mixed-income

22  neighborhoods; to promote home ownership; and to involve the

23  residents of the neighborhood in redevelopment.

24         Section 2.  Section 163.2523, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         163.2523  Grant program.--An Urban Infill and

27  Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program is created for local

28  governments. A local government may allocate grant money to

29  special districts, including community redevelopment agencies,

30  and nonprofit community development organizations to implement

31  projects consistent with an adopted urban infill and

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  1  redevelopment plan or plan employed in lieu thereof. Thirty

  2  percent of the general revenue appropriated for this program

  3  shall be available for planning grants to be used by local

  4  governments for the development of an urban infill and

  5  redevelopment plan, including community participation

  6  processes for the plan. Sixty percent of the general revenue

  7  appropriated for this program shall be available for

  8  fifty/fifty matching grants for implementing urban infill and

  9  redevelopment projects that further the objectives set forth

10  in the local government's adopted urban infill and

11  redevelopment plan or plan employed in lieu thereof. The

12  remaining 10 percent of the revenue must be used for outright

13  grants for implementing projects requiring an expenditure of

14  under $50,000. Projects that provide employment opportunities

15  to clients of the WAGES program and projects within urban

16  infill and redevelopment areas that include a community

17  redevelopment area, Florida Main Street program, Front Porch

18  Florida Community, sustainable community, enterprise zone,

19  federal enterprise zone, enterprise community, or neighborhood

20  improvement district, and projects that include the recipient

21  of a HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and

22  Urban Development, must be given an elevated priority in the

23  scoring of competing grant applications. The Division of

24  Housing and Community Development of the Department of

25  Community Affairs shall administer the grant program. The

26  Department of Community Affairs shall adopt rules establishing

27  grant review criteria consistent with this section.

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

29  420.5087, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         420.5087  State Apartment Incentive Loan

31  Program.--There is hereby created the State Apartment

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  1  Incentive Loan Program for the purpose of providing first,

  2  second, or other subordinated mortgage loans or loan

  3  guarantees to sponsors, including for-profit, nonprofit, and

  4  public entities, to provide housing affordable to

  5  very-low-income persons.

  6         (6)  On all state apartment incentive loans, except

  7  loans made to housing communities for the elderly to provide

  8  for lifesafety, building preservation, health, sanitation, or

  9  security-related repairs or improvements, the following

10  provisions shall apply:

11         (c)  The corporation shall provide by rule for the

12  establishment of a review committee composed of the department

13  and corporation staff and shall establish by rule a scoring

14  system for evaluation and competitive ranking of applications

15  submitted in this program, including, but not limited to, the

16  following criteria:

17         1.  Tenant income and demographic targeting objectives

18  of the corporation.

19         2.  Targeting objectives of the corporation which will

20  ensure an equitable distribution of loans between rural and

21  urban areas.

22         3.  Sponsor's agreement to reserve the units for

23  persons or families who have incomes below 50 percent of the

24  state or local median income, whichever is higher, for a time

25  period to exceed the minimum required by federal law or the

26  provisions of this part.

27         4.  Sponsor's agreement to reserve more than:

28         a.  Twenty percent of the units in the project for

29  persons or families who have incomes that do not exceed 50

30  percent of the state or local median income, whichever is

31  higher; or

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  1         b.  Forty percent of the units in the project for

  2  persons or families who have incomes that do not exceed 60

  3  percent of the state or local median income, whichever is

  4  higher, without requiring a greater amount of the loans as

  5  provided in this section.

  6         5.  Provision for tenant counseling.

  7         6.  Sponsor's agreement to accept rental assistance

  8  certificates or vouchers as payment for rent; however, when

  9  certificates or vouchers are accepted as payment for rent on

10  units set aside pursuant to subsection (2), the benefit must

11  be divided between the corporation and the sponsor, as

12  provided by corporation rule.

13         7.  Projects requiring the least amount of a state

14  apartment incentive loan compared to overall project cost.

15         8.  Local government contributions and local government

16  comprehensive planning and activities that promote affordable

17  housing.

18         9.  Project feasibility.

19         10.  Economic viability of the project.

20         11.  Commitment of first mortgage financing.

21         12.  Sponsor's prior experience.

22         13.  Sponsor's ability to proceed with construction.

23         14.  Projects that directly implement or assist

24  welfare-to-work transitioning.

25         15.  Projects receiving HOPE VI grants from the U.S.

26  Department of Housing and Urban Development.

27         Section 4.  Subsection (6) of section 420.5089, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         420.5089  HOME Investment Partnership Program; HOME

30  fund.--

31

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  1         (6)  Applications for loans under any competitive

  2  scoring process established by program rule must be approved

  3  by a review committee established by corporation rule which

  4  shall analyze factors, including, but not limited to, the

  5  following:

  6         (a)  Demographic targeting objectives of the

  7  corporation.

  8         (b)  Corporation portfolio diversification.

  9         (c)  Developer's agreement to make units for the

10  targeted group available for more than the minimum period

11  required by rule.

12         (d)  Leveraging of HOME funds.

13         (e)  Local matching funds.

14         (f)  The project's feasibility and long-term economic

15  viability.

16         (g)  Demonstrated capacity of the proposed project's

17  development team.

18         (h)  Conformance with the consolidated plan for the

19  state and area in which the proposed project will be located.

20         (i)  Projects receiving HOPE VI grants from the U.S.

21  Department of Housing and Urban Development.

22         (j)(i)  Other factors determined and approved by the

23  corporation's board of directors.

24         Section 5.  Subsection (3) of section 420.5093, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         420.5093  State Housing Tax Credit Program.--

27         (3)  The corporation shall adopt allocation procedures

28  that will ensure the maximum use of available tax credits in

29  order to encourage development of low-income housing and

30  associated mixed-use projects in urban areas, taking into

31  consideration the timeliness of the application, the location

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  1  of the proposed project, the relative need in the area of

  2  revitalization and low-income housing and the availability of

  3  such housing, the economic feasibility of the project, and the

  4  ability of the applicant to proceed to completion of the

  5  project in the calendar year for which the credit is sought.

  6  The allocation procedure must give priority to projects

  7  receiving HOPE VI grants from the U.S. Department of Housing

  8  and Urban Development.

  9         Section 6.  Subsection (2) of section 420.5099, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         420.5099  Allocation of the low-income housing tax

12  credit.--

13         (2)  The corporation shall adopt allocation procedures

14  that will ensure the maximum use of available tax credits in

15  order to encourage development of low-income housing in the

16  state, taking into consideration the timeliness of the

17  application, the location of the proposed housing project, the

18  relative need in the area for low-income housing and the

19  availability of such housing, the economic feasibility of the

20  project, and the ability of the applicant to proceed to

21  completion of the project in the calendar year for which the

22  credit is sought. The allocation procedure must give priority

23  to projects receiving HOPE VI grants from the U.S. Department

24  of Housing and Urban Development.

25         Section 7.  Subsection (10) of section 159.705, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         159.705  Powers of the authority.--The authority is

28  authorized and empowered:

29         (10)  Other provisions of law to the contrary

30  notwithstanding, to acquire by lease, without consideration,

31  purchase, or option any lands owned, administered, managed,

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  1  controlled, supervised, or otherwise protected by the state or

  2  any of its agencies, departments, boards, or commissions for

  3  the purpose of establishing a research and development park,

  4  subject to being first designated a research and development

  5  authority under the provisions of ss. 159.701-159.7095.  The

  6  authority may cooperate with state and local political

  7  subdivisions and with private profit and nonprofit entities to

  8  implement the public purposes set out in s. 159.701.  Such

  9  cooperation may include agreements for the use of the

10  resources of state and local political subdivisions, agencies,

11  or entities on a fee-for-service basis or on a cost-recovery

12  basis. A project that is located in a research and development

13  park and is financed pursuant to the provisions of the Florida

14  Industrial Development Financing Act may be operated by a

15  research and development authority, a state university, a

16  Florida community college, or a governmental agency, provided

17  that the purpose and operation of such project is consistent

18  with the purposes and policies enumerated in ss.

19  159.701-159.7095.

20         Section 8.  Section 159.8083, Florida Statutes, is

21  amended to read:

22         159.8083  Florida First Business allocation pool.--The

23  Florida First Business allocation pool is hereby established.

24  The Florida First Business allocation pool shall be available

25  solely to provide written confirmation for private activity

26  bonds to finance Florida First Business projects recommended

27  by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and certified by the Office of

28  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development as eligible to

29  receive a written confirmation. Allocations from such pool

30  shall be awarded statewide pursuant to procedures specified in

31  s. 159.805, except that the provisions of s. 159.805(2), (3),

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  1  and (6) do not apply. Florida First Business projects that are

  2  eligible for a carryforward shall not lose their allocation on

  3  November 16 if they have applied and have been granted a

  4  carryforward.  In issuing written confirmations of allocations

  5  for Florida First Business projects, the division shall use

  6  the Florida First Business allocation pool. If allocation is

  7  not available from the Florida First Business allocation pool,

  8  the division shall issue written confirmations of allocations

  9  for Florida First Business projects pursuant to s. 159.806 or

10  s. 159.807, in such order.  For the purpose of determining

11  priority within a regional allocation pool or the state

12  allocation pool, notices of intent to issue bonds for Florida

13  First Business projects to be issued from a regional

14  allocation pool or the state allocation pool shall be

15  considered to have been received by the division at the time

16  it is determined by the division that the Florida First

17  Business allocation pool is unavailable to issue confirmation

18  for such Florida First Business project.  If the total amount

19  requested in notices of intent to issue private activity bonds

20  for Florida First Business projects exceeds the total amount

21  of the Florida First Business allocation pool, the director

22  shall forward all timely notices of intent to issue, which are

23  received by the division for such projects, to the Office of

24  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development which shall render a

25  decision as to which notices of intent to issue are to receive

26  written confirmations. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

27  Economic Development, in consultation with the division and

28  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall develop rules to ensure that

29  the allocation provided in such pool is available solely to

30  provide written confirmations for private activity bonds to

31

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  1  finance Florida First Business projects and that such projects

  2  are feasible and financially solvent.

  3         Section 9.  Subsection (6) of section 163.3164, Florida

  4  Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         163.3164  Definitions.--As used in this act:

  6         (6)  "Development" has the meaning given it in s.

  7  380.04 and the exemption given it in s. 380.04(3).

  8         Section 10.  Paragraph (j) of subsection (5) and

  9  paragraph (eee) of subsection (7) of section 212.08, Florida

10  Statutes, are amended to read:

11         212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,

12  and storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail,

13  the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and

14  the storage to be used or consumed in this state of the

15  following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed

16  by this chapter.

17         (5)  EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.--

18         (j)  Machinery and equipment used in semiconductor

19  silicon technology production and research and development.--

20         1.  Industrial machinery and equipment purchased for

21  use in semiconductor silicon technology facilities certified

22  under subparagraph 6. 5. to manufacture, process, compound, or

23  produce semiconductor silicon technology products for sale or

24  for use by these facilities are exempt from the tax imposed by

25  this chapter.

26         2.  Machinery and equipment are exempt from the tax

27  imposed by this chapter if purchased for use predominately in

28  semiconductor silicon wafer research and development

29  activities in a semiconductor silicon technology research and

30  development facility certified under subparagraph 6. 5.

31

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  1         3.  Building materials purchased for use in

  2  manufacturing or expanding clean rooms in

  3  semiconductor-manufacturing facilities are exempt from the tax

  4  imposed by this chapter.

  5         4.3.  In addition to meeting the criteria mandated by

  6  subparagraph 1., or subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3., a

  7  business must be certified by the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  8  and Economic Development as authorized in this paragraph in

  9  order to qualify for exemption under this paragraph.

10         5.4.  For items purchased tax exempt pursuant to this

11  paragraph, possession of a written certification from the

12  purchaser, certifying the purchaser's entitlement to exemption

13  pursuant to this paragraph, relieves the seller of the

14  responsibility of collecting the tax on the sale of such

15  items, and the department shall look solely to the purchaser

16  for recovery of tax if it determines that the purchaser was

17  not entitled to the exemption.

18         6.5.a.  To be eligible to receive the exemption

19  provided by subparagraph 1., or subparagraph 2., or

20  subparagraph 3., a qualifying business entity shall apply to

21  Enterprise Florida, Inc. The application shall be developed by

22  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in

23  consultation with Enterprise Florida, Inc.

24         b.  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall review each

25  submitted application and information and determine whether or

26  not the application is complete within 5 working days. Once an

27  application is complete, Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall,

28  within 10 working days, evaluate the application and recommend

29  approval or disapproval of the application to the Office of

30  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

31

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  1         c.  Upon receipt of the application and recommendation

  2  from Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  3  and Economic Development shall certify within 5 working days

  4  those applicants who are found to meet the requirements of

  5  this section and notify the applicant, Enterprise Florida,

  6  Inc., and the department of the certification. If the Office

  7  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development finds that the

  8  applicant does not meet the requirements of this section, it

  9  shall notify the applicant and Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

10  within 10 working days that the application for certification

11  has been denied and the reasons for denial. The Office of

12  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development has final approval

13  authority for certification under this section.

14         7.6.a.  A business certified to receive this exemption

15  may apply once each year for the exemption.

16         b.  The first claim submitted by a business may include

17  all eligible expenditures made after the date the business was

18  certified.

19         b.c.  To apply for the annual exemption, the business

20  shall submit a claim to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

21  Economic Development, which claim indicates and documents the

22  sales and use taxes otherwise payable on eligible machinery

23  and equipment. The application claim must also indicate, for

24  program evaluation purposes only, the average number of

25  full-time equivalent employees at the facility over the

26  preceding calendar year, the average wage and benefits paid to

27  those employees over the preceding calendar year, and the

28  total investment made in real and tangible personal property

29  over the preceding calendar year, and the total value of

30  tax-exempt purchases and taxes exempted during the previous

31  year or, for the first claim submitted, since the date of

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  1  certification. The department shall assist the Office of

  2  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in evaluating and

  3  verifying information provided in the application for

  4  exemption.

  5         c.d.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  6  Development may use the information reported on the

  7  application claims for evaluation purposes only and shall

  8  prepare an annual report on the exemption program and its cost

  9  and impact. The annual report for the preceding fiscal year

10  shall be submitted to the Governor, the President of the

11  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by

12  September 30 of each fiscal year. This report may be submitted

13  in conjunction with the annual report required in s.

14  288.095(3)(c).

15         8.7.  A business certified to receive this exemption

16  may elect to designate one or more state universities or

17  community colleges as recipients of up to 100 percent of the

18  amount of the exemption for which they may qualify. To receive

19  these funds, the institution must agree to match the funds so

20  earned with equivalent cash, programs, services, or other

21  in-kind support on a one-to-one basis in the pursuit of

22  research and development projects as requested by the

23  certified business. The rights to any patents, royalties, or

24  real or intellectual property must be vested in the business

25  unless otherwise agreed to by the business and the university

26  or community college.

27         9.8.  As used in this paragraph, the term:

28         a.  "Predominately" means at least 50 percent of the

29  time in qualifying research and development.

30         b.  "Research and development" means basic and applied

31  research in the science or engineering, as well as the design,

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  1  development, and testing of prototypes or processes of new or

  2  improved products. Research and development does not include

  3  market research, routine consumer product testing, sales

  4  research, research in the social sciences or psychology,

  5  nontechnological activities, or technical services.

  6         c.  "Semiconductor Silicon technology products" means

  7  raw semiconductor silicon wafers or semiconductor thin films

  8  that are transformed into semiconductor memory or logic

  9  wafers, including wafers containing mixed memory and logic

10  circuits; related assembly and test operations; active-matrix

11  flat panel displays; semiconductor chips; semiconductor

12  lasers; optoelectronic elements; and related semiconductor

13  silicon technology products as determined by the Office of

14  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

15         d.  "Clean rooms" means manufacturing facilities

16  enclosed in a manner that meets the clean manufacturing

17  requirements necessary for high-technology

18  semiconductor-manufacturing environments.

19         (7)  MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.--

20         (eee)  Certain repair and labor charges.--

21         1.  Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs 2. and

22  3., there is exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter all

23  labor charges for the repair of, and parts and materials used

24  in the repair of and incorporated into, industrial machinery

25  and equipment that which is used for the manufacture,

26  processing, compounding, or production, or production and

27  shipping of items of tangible personal property at a fixed

28  location within this state.

29         2.  This exemption applies only to industries

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

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

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  1  35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 and Industry Group Number 212. As used

  2  in this subparagraph, "SIC" means those classifications

  3  contained in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual,

  4  1987, as published by the Office of Management and Budget,

  5  Executive Office of the President.

  6         3.  This exemption shall be applied as follows:

  7         a.  Beginning July 1, 1999, 25 percent of such charges

  8  for repair parts and labor shall be exempt.

  9         b.  Beginning July 1, 2000, 50 percent of such charges

10  for repair parts and labor shall be exempt.

11         c.  Beginning July 1, 2001, 75 percent of such charges

12  for repair parts and labor shall be exempt.

13         d.  Beginning July 1, 2002, 100 percent of such charges

14  for repair parts and labor shall be exempt.

15

16  Exemptions provided to any entity by this subsection shall not

17  inure to any transaction otherwise taxable under this chapter

18  when payment is made by a representative or employee of such

19  entity by any means, including, but not limited to, cash,

20  check, or credit card even when that representative or

21  employee is subsequently reimbursed by such entity.

22         Section 11.  The amendment to section 212.08(7)(eee)2.,

23  Florida Statutes, made by this act is remedial in nature and

24  shall have the force and effect as if SIC Code 35 had been

25  included from July 1, 1999.

26         Section 12.  Subsection (2) of section 212.097, Florida

27  Statutes, is amended to read:

28         212.097  Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit

29  Program.--

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

31

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

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

  3  qualified county and is predominantly engaged in, or is

  4  headquarters for a business predominantly engaged in,

  5  activities usually provided for consideration by firms

  6  classified within the following standard industrial

  7  classifications:  SIC 01 through SIC 09 (agriculture,

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

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

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

11  places); SIC 7391 (research and development); SIC 781 (motion

12  picture production and allied services); SIC 7992 (public golf

13  courses); and SIC 7996 (amusement parks). A call center or

14  similar customer service operation that services a multistate

15  market or international market is also an eligible business.

16  In addition, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

17  Development may, as part of its final budget request submitted

18  pursuant to s. 216.023, recommend additions to or deletions

19  from the list of standard industrial classifications used to

20  determine an eligible business, and the Legislature may

21  implement such recommendations. Excluded from eligible

22  receipts are receipts from retail sales, except such receipts

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

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

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

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

27  50 percent of the business's gross receipts from all sources

28  is generated by those activities usually provided for

29  consideration by firms in the specified standard industrial

30  classification. The determination of whether the business is

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

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

  2  credit under this section. Commonly owned and controlled

  3  entities are to be considered a single business entity.

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

  5  eligible business who performs duties in connection with the

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

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

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

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

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

11  an employee leased from an employee leasing company licensed

12  under chapter 468, if such employee has been continuously

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

14  week for more than 6 months.

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

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

17  and clearly separate from any other commercial or business

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

19  area. A business entity that operated an eligible business

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

21  the period provided for application by subsection (3) is not

22  considered a new business.

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

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

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

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

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

28  and tier those areas nominated under subsection (8), according

29  to the following prioritized criteria:

30

31

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  1         1.  Highest arrest rates within the geographic area for

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

  3  possession, prostitution, vandalism, and civil disturbances;

  4         2.  Highest reported crime volume and rate of specific

  5  property crimes such as business and residential burglary,

  6  motor vehicle theft, and vandalism;

  7         3.  Highest percentage of reported index crimes that

  8  are violent in nature;

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

10  and

11         5.  Highest overall index crime rate for the geographic

12  area.

13

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

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

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

17  areas are ranked 11 through 15. Notwithstanding this

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

19  that has been designated as a federal Empowerment Zone

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

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

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

23         Section 13.  Subsection (2) of section 212.098, Florida

24  Statutes, is amended to read:

25         212.098  Rural Job Tax Credit Program.--

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

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

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

29  qualified county and is predominantly engaged in, or is

30  headquarters for a business predominantly engaged in,

31  activities usually provided for consideration by firms

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  1  classified within the following standard industrial

  2  classifications:  SIC 01 through SIC 09 (agriculture,

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

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

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

  6  SIC 781 (motion picture production and allied services); SIC

  7  7992 (public golf courses); and SIC 7996 (amusement parks). A

  8  call center or similar customer service operation that

  9  services a multistate market or an international market is

10  also an eligible business. In addition, the Office of Tourism,

11  Trade, and Economic Development may, as part of its final

12  budget request submitted pursuant to s. 216.023, recommend

13  additions to or deletions from the list of standard industrial

14  classifications used to determine an eligible business, and

15  the Legislature may implement such recommendations. Excluded

16  from eligible receipts are receipts from retail sales, except

17  such receipts for hotels and other lodging places classified

18  in SIC 70, public golf courses in SIC 7992, and amusement

19  parks in SIC 7996.  For purposes of this paragraph, the term

20  "predominantly" means that more than 50 percent of the

21  business's gross receipts from all sources is generated by

22  those activities usually provided for consideration by firms

23  in the specified standard industrial classification. The

24  determination of whether the business is located in a

25  qualified county and the tier ranking of that county must be

26  based on the date of application for the credit under this

27  section. Commonly owned and controlled entities are to be

28  considered a single business entity.

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

30  eligible business who performs duties in connection with the

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

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

  2  within the qualified county in which the eligible business is

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

  4  qualified employee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12         1.  Highest unemployment rate for the most recent

13  36-month period.

14         2.  Lowest per capita income for the most recent

15  36-month period.

16         3.  Highest percentage of residents whose incomes are

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

18  available.

19         4.  Average weekly manufacturing wage, based upon the

20  most recent data available.

21

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

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

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

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

26  through 17. Notwithstanding this definition, "qualified

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

28  been designated as a federal Enterprise Community pursuant to

29  the 1999 Agricultural Appropriations Act. Such a designated

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

31

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

  2  Development.

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

  4  beginning operation on a site in a qualified county and

  5  clearly separate from any other commercial or business

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

  7  business entity that operated an eligible business within a

  8  qualified county within the 48 months before the period

  9  provided for application by subsection (3) is not considered a

10  new business.

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

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

13         Section 14.  Section 218.075, Florida Statutes, is

14  amended to read:

15         218.075  Reduction or waiver of permit processing

16  fees.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the

17  Department of Environmental Protection and the water

18  management districts shall reduce or waive permit processing

19  fees for a county counties with a population of 75,000 50,000

20  or less, or a county with a population of 100,000 or less

21  which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or

22  less, based upon the most current census data, on April 1,

23  1994, until such counties exceed a population of 75,000 and a

24  municipality municipalities with a population of 25,000 or

25  less, or any county or municipality not included within a

26  metropolitan statistical area. Fee reductions or waivers shall

27  be approved on the basis of fiscal hardship or environmental

28  need for a particular project or activity. The governing body

29  must certify that the cost of the permit processing fee is a

30  fiscal hardship due to one of the following factors:

31

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  1         (1)  Per capita taxable value is less than the

  2  statewide average for the current fiscal year;

  3         (2)  Percentage of assessed property value that is

  4  exempt from ad valorem taxation is higher than the statewide

  5  average for the current fiscal year;

  6         (3)  Any condition specified in s. 218.503, that

  7  determines a state of financial emergency;

  8         (4)  Ad valorem operating millage rate for the current

  9  fiscal year is greater than 8 mills; or

10         (5)  A financial condition that is documented in annual

11  financial statements at the end of the current fiscal year and

12  indicates an inability to pay the permit processing fee during

13  that fiscal year.

14

15  The permit applicant must be the governing body of a county or

16  municipality or a third party under contract with a county or

17  municipality and the project for which the fee reduction or

18  waiver is sought must serve a public purpose. If a permit

19  processing fee is reduced, the total fee shall not exceed

20  $100.

21         Section 15.  Section 288.012, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         288.012  State of Florida foreign offices.--The

24  Legislature finds that the expansion of international trade

25  and tourism is vital to the overall health and growth of the

26  economy of this state. This expansion is hampered by the lack

27  of technical and business assistance, financial assistance,

28  and information services for businesses in this state. The

29  Legislature finds that these businesses could be assisted by

30  providing these services at State of Florida foreign offices.

31  The Legislature further finds that the accessibility and

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  1  provision of services at these offices can be enhanced through

  2  cooperative agreements or strategic alliances between state

  3  entities, local entities, foreign entities, and private

  4  businesses.

  5         (1)(a)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  6  Development is authorized to:

  7         (a)  approve the establishment and operation by

  8  Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida Commission on

  9  Tourism of Establish and operate offices in foreign countries

10  for the purpose of promoting the trade and economic

11  development of the state, and promoting the gathering of trade

12  data information and research on trade opportunities in

13  specific countries.

14         (b)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida

15  Commission on Tourism, as agents for the Office of Tourism,

16  Trade, and Economic Development, may enter into agreements

17  with governmental and private sector entities to establish and

18  operate offices in foreign countries containing provisions

19  which may be in conflict with general laws of the state

20  pertaining to the purchase of office space, employment of

21  personnel, and contracts for services. When agreements

22  pursuant to this section are made which set compensation in

23  foreign currency, such agreements shall be subject to the

24  requirements of s. 215.425, but the purchase of foreign

25  currency by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

26  Development to meet such obligations shall be subject only to

27  s. 216.311.

28         (c)  By September 1, 1997, the Office of Tourism,

29  Trade, and Economic Development shall develop a plan for the

30  disposition of the current foreign offices and the development

31  and location of additional foreign offices.  The plan shall

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  1  include, but is not limited to, a determination of the level

  2  of funding needed to operate the current offices and any

  3  additional offices and whether any of the current offices need

  4  to be closed or relocated. Enterprise Florida, Inc., the

  5  Florida Tourism Commission, the Florida Ports Council, the

  6  Department of State, the Department of Citrus, and the

  7  Department of Agriculture shall assist the Office of Tourism,

  8  Trade, and Economic Development in the preparation of the

  9  plan.  All parties shall cooperate on the disposition or

10  establishment of the offices and ensure that needed space,

11  technical assistance, and support services are provided to

12  such entities at such foreign offices.

13         (2)  By June 30, 1998, each foreign office shall have

14  in place an operational plan approved by the participating

15  boards or other governing authority, a copy of which shall be

16  provided to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

17  Development.  These operating plans shall be reviewed and

18  updated each fiscal year and submitted annually thereafter to

19  Enterprise Florida, Inc., or the Florida Commission on Tourism

20  for review and approval. The plans shall include, at a

21  minimum, the following:

22         (a)  Specific policies and procedures encompassing the

23  entire scope of the operation and management of each office.

24         (b)  A comprehensive, commercial strategic plan

25  identifying marketing opportunities and industry sector

26  priorities for the foreign country or area in which a foreign

27  office is located.

28         (c)  Provisions for access to information for Florida

29  businesses through the Florida Trade Data Center.  Each

30  foreign office shall obtain and forward trade leads and

31

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  1  inquiries to the center on a regular basis as called for in

  2  the plan pursuant to paragraph (1)(c).

  3         (d)  Identification of new and emerging market

  4  opportunities for Florida businesses.  Each foreign office

  5  shall provide the Florida Trade Data Center with a compilation

  6  of foreign buyers and importers in industry sector priority

  7  areas annually on an annual basis. In return, the Florida

  8  Trade Data Center shall make available to each foreign office,

  9  and to the entities identified in paragraph (1)(c), trade

10  industry, commodity, and opportunity information as specified

11  in the plan required in that paragraph.  This information

12  shall be provided to the offices and the entities identified

13  in paragraph (1)(c) either free of charge or on a fee basis

14  with fees set only to recover the costs of providing the

15  information.

16         (e)  Provision of access for Florida businesses to the

17  services of the Florida Trade Data Center, international trade

18  assistance services provided by state and local entities,

19  seaport and airport information, and other services identified

20  in the plan pursuant to paragraph (1)(c).

21         (f)  Qualitative and quantitative performance measures

22  for each office including, but not limited to, the number of

23  businesses assisted, the number of trade leads and inquiries

24  generated, the number of foreign buyers and importers

25  contacted, and the amount and type of marketing conducted.

26         (3)  By October 1 of each year, each foreign office

27  shall submit to Enterprise Florida, Inc., or the Florida

28  Commission on Tourism the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

29  Economic Development a complete and detailed report on its

30  activities and accomplishments during the preceding fiscal

31

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  1  year. In a format provided by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the

  2  report must set forth information on:

  3         (a)  The number of Florida companies assisted.

  4         (b)  The number of inquiries received about investment

  5  opportunities in this state.

  6         (c)  The number of trade leads generated.

  7         (d)  The number of investment projects announced.

  8         (e)  The estimated U.S. dollar value of sales

  9  confirmations.

10         (f)  The number of representation agreements.

11         (g)  The number of company consultations.

12         (h)  Barriers or other issues affecting the effective

13  operation of the office.

14         (i)  Changes in office operations which are planned for

15  the current fiscal year.

16         (j)  Marketing activities conducted.

17         (k)  Strategic alliances formed with organizations in

18  the country in which the office is located.

19         (l)  Activities conducted with other Florida foreign

20  offices.

21         (m)  Any other information that the office believes

22  would contribute to an understanding of its activities.

23         (4)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

24  Development, in connection with the establishment, operation,

25  and management of any of the its offices located in a foreign

26  country, is exempt from the provisions of ss. 255.21, 255.25,

27  and 255.254 relating to leasing of buildings; ss. 283.33 and

28  283.35 relating to bids for printing; ss. 287.001-287.20

29  relating to purchasing and motor vehicles; and ss.

30  282.003-282.111 relating to communications, and from all

31  statutory provisions relating to state employment.

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  1         (a)  Such exemptions The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  2  Economic Development may be exercised exercise such exemptions

  3  only upon prior approval of the Governor.

  4         (b)  If approval for an exemption under this section is

  5  granted as an integral part of a plan of operation for a

  6  specified foreign office, such action shall constitute

  7  continuing authority for the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  8  Economic Development to exercise of the exemption, but only in

  9  the context and upon the terms originally granted. Any

10  modification of the approved plan of operation with respect to

11  an exemption contained therein must be resubmitted to the

12  Governor for his or her approval. An approval granted to

13  exercise an exemption in any other context shall be restricted

14  to the specific instance for which the exemption is to be

15  exercised.

16         (c)  As used in this subsection, the term "plan of

17  operation" means the plan developed pursuant to subsection

18  (2).

19         (d)  Upon final action by the Governor with respect to

20  a request to exercise the exemption authorized in this

21  subsection, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

22  Development shall report such action, along with the original

23  request and any modifications thereto, to the President of the

24  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within

25  30 days.

26         (5)  Where feasible and appropriate, and subject to s.

27  288.1224(10), foreign offices established and operated under

28  this section may provide one-stop access to the economic

29  development, trade, and tourism information, services, and

30  programs of the state.  Where feasible and appropriate, and

31

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  1  subject to s. 288.1224(10), such offices may also be

  2  collocated with other foreign offices of the state.

  3         (6)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  4  Development is authorized to make and to enter into contracts

  5  with Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida Commission on

  6  Tourism to carry out the provisions of this section.  The

  7  authority, duties, and exemptions provided in this section

  8  apply to Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Florida Commission

  9  on Tourism to the same degree and subject to the same

10  conditions as applied to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11  Economic Development. To the greatest extent possible, such

12  contracts shall include provisions for cooperative agreements

13  or strategic alliances between state entities, foreign

14  entities, local entities, and private businesses to operate

15  foreign offices.

16         Section 16.  Section 288.018, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         288.018  Regional Rural Development Grants Program.--

19         (1)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall administer The

20  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall

21  establish a matching grant program to provide funding to

22  regionally based economic development organizations

23  representing rural counties and communities for the purpose of

24  building the professional capacity of their organizations.

25  Upon recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of

26  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development is authorized to

27  approve, on an annual basis, grants to such regionally based

28  economic development organizations. The maximum amount an

29  organization may receive in any year will be $35,000, or

30  $100,000 in a rural area of critical economic concern

31  recommended by the Rural Economic Development Initiative and

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  1  designated by the Governor, and must be matched each year by

  2  an equivalent amount of nonstate resources.

  3         (2)  In recommending the awards for funding, Enterprise

  4  Florida, Inc., approving the participants, the Office of

  5  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall consider the

  6  demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance and require

  7  the following:

  8         (a)  Documentation of official commitments of support

  9  from each of the units of local government represented by the

10  regional organization.

11         (b)  Demonstration that each unit of local government

12  has made a financial or in-kind commitment to the regional

13  organization.

14         (c)  Demonstration that the private sector has made

15  financial or in-kind commitments to the regional organization.

16         (d)  Demonstration that the organization is in

17  existence and actively involved in economic development

18  activities serving the region.

19         (e)  Demonstration of the manner in which the

20  organization is or will coordinate its efforts with those of

21  other local and state organizations.

22         (3)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

23  Development may approve awards expend up to a total of

24  $600,000 each fiscal year from funds appropriated to the Rural

25  Community Development Revolving Loan Fund for the purposes

26  outlined in this section.

27         Section 17.  Section 288.064, Florida Statutes, is

28  created to read:

29         288.064  Legislative intent on rural economic

30  development.--

31

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  1         (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that, because

  2  of climate, tourism, industrialization, technological

  3  advances, federal and state government policies,

  4  transportation, and migration, Florida's urban communities

  5  have grown rapidly over the past 40 years. This growth and

  6  prosperity, however, have not been shared by Florida's rural

  7  communities, although these communities are the stewards of

  8  the vast majority of the land and natural resources. Without

  9  this land and these resources, the state's growth and

10  prosperity cannot continue. In short, successful rural

11  communities are essential to the overall success of the

12  state's economy.

13         (2)  The Legislature further finds and declares that

14  many rural areas of the state are experiencing not only a lack

15  of growth but severe and sustained economic distress. Median

16  household incomes are significantly less than the state's

17  median household income level. Job creation rates trail those

18  in more urbanized areas. In many cases, rural counties have

19  lost jobs, which handicaps local economies and drains wealth

20  from these communities. These and other factors, including

21  government policies, amplify and compound social, health, and

22  community problems, making job creation and economic

23  development even more difficult. Moreover, the Legislature

24  finds that traditional program and service delivery is often

25  hampered by the necessarily rigid structure of the programs

26  themselves and the lack of local resources.

27         (3)  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for

28  the most efficient and effective delivery of programs of

29  assistance and support to rural communities, including the

30  use, where appropriate, of regulatory flexibility through

31  multiagency coordination and adequate funding. The Legislature

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  1  determines and declares that the provision of such assistance

  2  and support in this manner fulfills an important state

  3  interest.

  4         Section 18.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and

  5  subsection (4) of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, are

  6  amended to read:

  7         288.0655  Rural Infrastructure Fund.--

  8         (2)

  9         (d)  By September 1, 2000 1999, the office shall pursue

10  execution of a memorandum of agreement with the United States

11  Department of Agriculture under which state funds available

12  through the Rural Infrastructure Fund may be advanced, in

13  excess of the prescribed state share, for a project that has

14  received from the department a preliminary determination of

15  eligibility for federal financial support. State funds in

16  excess of the prescribed state share which are advanced

17  pursuant to this paragraph and the memorandum of agreement

18  shall be reimbursed when funds are awarded under an

19  application for federal funding.

20         (4)  By September 1, 2000 1999, the office shall, in

21  consultation with the organizations listed in subsection (3),

22  and other organizations, develop guidelines and criteria

23  governing submission of applications for funding, review and

24  evaluation of such applications, and approval of funding under

25  this section. The office shall consider factors including, but

26  not limited to, the project's potential for enhanced job

27  creation or increased capital investment, the demonstration of

28  local public and private commitment, the location of the

29  project in an enterprise zone, the location of the project in

30  a community development corporation service area as defined in

31  s. 290.035(2), the location of the project in a county

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  1  designated under s. 212.097, the unemployment rate of the

  2  surrounding area, and the poverty rate of the community.

  3         Section 19.  Subsection (2) of section 288.0656,

  4  Florida Statutes, is amended and subsection (9) is added to

  5  that section to read:

  6         288.0656  Rural Economic Development Initiative.--

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

  8         (a)  "Economic distress" means conditions affecting the

  9  fiscal and economic viability of a rural community, including

10  such factors as low per capita income, low per capita taxable

11  values, high unemployment, high underemployment, low weekly

12  earned wages compared to the state average, low housing values

13  compared to the state average, high percentages of the

14  population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels

15  compared to the state average, and a lack of year-round stable

16  employment opportunities.

17         (b)  "Rural community" means:

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

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

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

21         3.  A municipality within a county described in

22  subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2.

23         4.  An unincorporated federal enterprise community or

24  an incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or less

25  and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural or

26  resource-based industries, located in a county not described

27  in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. which meets the criteria

28  established in subsection (9). defined as rural, which has at

29  least three or more of the economic distress factors

30  identified in paragraph (a) and verified by the Office of

31  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

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  1

  2  For purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined

  3  in accordance with the most recent official estimate pursuant

  4  to s. 186.901.

  5         (9)(a)  An unincorporated federal enterprise community

  6  or an incorporated rural city as described in subparagraph

  7  (2)(b)4. must apply to REDI for designation as rural by

  8  resolution of the municipal governing body and demonstrate

  9  that three or more of the factors of economic distress as

10  provided in paragraph (2)(a) exist within the community.  REDI

11  shall verify such factors prior to approving the designation.

12         (b)  Upon receiving such designation, an unincorporated

13  federal enterprise community or an incorporated rural city in

14  a nonrural county shall be eligible to apply for any program

15  specifically identified in statute as a rural program,

16  provided that it demonstrates that the county of jurisdiction

17  for such unincorporated federal enterprise community or rural

18  city is also providing support for each program application.

19  REDI may recommend criteria for the evaluation of such county

20  support to the administrative agency of each program.  Such

21  communities shall also be eligible for any preferential

22  criteria or waivers of any program requirements specifically

23  identified in statute as available for rural counties, cities,

24  or communities when necessary to encourage and facilitate

25  long-term private capital investment and job creation.

26         Section 20.  Section 288.1088, Florida Statutes, is

27  amended to read:

28         288.1088  Quick Action Closing Fund.--

29         (1)(a)  The Legislature finds that attracting,

30  retaining, and providing favorable conditions for the growth

31  of certain target industries provides high-quality employment

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  1  opportunities for residents of this state and enhances the

  2  economic foundations of the state high-impact business

  3  facilities provides widespread economic benefits to the public

  4  through high-quality employment opportunities in such

  5  facilities and in related facilities attracted to the state,

  6  through the increased tax base provided by the high-impact

  7  facility and businesses in related sectors, through an

  8  enhanced entrepreneurial climate in the state and the

  9  resulting business and employment opportunities, and through

10  the stimulation and enhancement of the state's universities

11  and community colleges. In the global economy, there exists

12  serious and fierce international competition for these

13  facilities, and in most instances, when all available

14  resources for economic development have been used, the state

15  continues to encounter severe competitive disadvantages in

16  vying for these high-impact business facilities.

17         (b)  The Legislature therefore declares that sufficient

18  resources shall be available to respond to extraordinary

19  economic opportunities, and to compete effectively for these

20  high-value-added employment opportunities, and to enhance the

21  state's economic base by providing incentives to qualifying

22  businesses that require inducement beyond that available

23  through other sources to invest, grow, and create new

24  high-wage employment opportunities in this state and its

25  communities high-impact business facilities.

26         (2)  There is created within the Office of Tourism,

27  Trade, and Economic Development the Quick Action Closing Fund,

28  also known as the 21st Century Fund.

29         (3)(a)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall evaluate

30  individual proposals for target-industry businesses

31  high-impact business facilities and forward recommendations

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  1  regarding the use of moneys in the fund for such projects

  2  facilities to the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  3  and Economic Development. Such evaluation and recommendation

  4  must include, but need not be limited to:

  5         1.  A description of the type of facility, its business

  6  operation, and the product or service associated with the

  7  project facility.

  8         2.  The number of full-time-equivalent jobs that will

  9  be created by the project facility and the total estimated

10  average annual wages of those jobs.

11         3.  The cumulative amount of investment to be dedicated

12  to the project facility within a specified period.

13         4.  A statement of any special impacts the project

14  facility is expected to stimulate in a particular business

15  sector in the state or regional economy, or in the state's

16  universities and community colleges, or in a distressed

17  Florida community.

18         5.  A statement of the role the incentive is expected

19  to play in the decision of the applicant business to locate or

20  expand in this state, an analysis of all other state and local

21  incentives that have been offered in this state, and an

22  analysis of the conditions and incentives offered by other

23  states and their communities.

24         (b)  Upon receipt of the evaluation and recommendation

25  from Enterprise Florida, Inc., the director shall recommend

26  approval or disapproval of a project for receipt of funds from

27  the Quick Action Closing Fund to the Governor. In recommending

28  a target-industry business for this incentive high-impact

29  business facility, the director shall include proposed

30  performance conditions that the business facility must meet to

31  obtain incentive funds. The Governor shall consult with the

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

  2  Representatives before giving final approval for a project.

  3  The Executive Office of the Governor shall recommend approval

  4  of a project and release of funds pursuant to the legislative

  5  consultation and review requirements set forth in s. 216.177.

  6  The recommendation must include proposed performance

  7  conditions the project must meet to obtain funds.

  8         (c)  If a project is approved for the receipt of funds

  9  Upon the approval of the Governor, the director of the Office

10  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and the

11  high-impact business shall enter into a contract that sets

12  forth the conditions for payment of moneys from the fund. The

13  contract must include the total amount of funds awarded; the

14  performance conditions that must be met to obtain the award,

15  including, but not limited to, net new employment in the

16  state, average salary, and total capital investment; the

17  methodology for validating performance; the schedule of

18  payments from the fund; and sanctions for failure to meet

19  performance conditions.

20         (d)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall validate

21  contractor performance. Such validation shall be reported

22  within 6 months after completion of the contract to the

23  Governor, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

24  House of Representatives.

25         Section 21.  Subsections (1), (2), (4), (6), (8), and

26  (10) of section 288.1162, Florida Statutes, are amended to

27  read:

28         288.1162  Professional sports franchises; spring

29  training franchises; duties.--

30         (1)  The direct-support organization authorized under

31  s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

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  1  shall serve as the state agency for screening applicants and

  2  shall make recommendations to the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  3  and Economic Development for state funding pursuant to s.

  4  212.20 and for certifying an applicant as a "facility for a

  5  new professional sports franchise," a "facility for a retained

  6  professional sports franchise," or a "new spring training

  7  franchise facility." The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  8  Economic Development shall have the final approval for any

  9  decision under this section.

10         (2)  The direct-support organization authorized under

11  s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

12  shall develop guidelines rules for the receipt and processing

13  of applications for funding pursuant to s. 212.20.

14         (4)  Prior to certifying an applicant as a "facility

15  for a new professional sports franchise" or a "facility for a

16  retained professional sports franchise," the direct-support

17  organization authorized under s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism,

18  Trade, and Economic Development must determine that:

19         (a)  A "unit of local government" as defined in s.

20  218.369 is responsible for the construction, management, or

21  operation of the professional sports franchise facility or

22  holds title to the property on which the professional sports

23  franchise facility is located.

24         (b)  The applicant has a verified copy of a signed

25  agreement with a new professional sports franchise for the use

26  of the facility for a term of at least 10 years, or in the

27  case of a retained professional sports franchise, an agreement

28  for use of the facility for a term of at least 20 years.

29         (c)  The applicant has a verified copy of the approval

30  from the governing authority of the league in which the new

31  professional sports franchise exists authorizing the location

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  1  of the professional sports franchise in this state after April

  2  1, 1987, or in the case of a retained professional sports

  3  franchise, verified evidence that it has had a

  4  league-authorized location in this state on or before December

  5  31, 1976. The term "league" means the National League or the

  6  American League of Major League Baseball, the National

  7  Basketball Association, the National Football League, or the

  8  National Hockey League.

  9         (d)  The applicant has projections, verified by the

10  direct-support organization Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11  Economic Development, which demonstrate that the new or

12  retained professional sports franchise will attract a paid

13  attendance of more than 300,000 annually.

14         (e)  The applicant has an independent analysis or

15  study, verified by the direct-support organization Office of

16  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, which demonstrates

17  that the amount of the revenues generated by the taxes imposed

18  under chapter 212 with respect to the use and operation of the

19  professional sports franchise facility will equal or exceed $2

20  million annually.

21         (f)  The municipality in which the facility for a new

22  or retained professional sports franchise is located, or the

23  county if the facility for a new or retained professional

24  sports franchise is located in an unincorporated area, has

25  certified by resolution after a public hearing that the

26  application serves a public purpose.

27         (g)  The applicant has demonstrated that it has

28  provided, is capable of providing, or has financial or other

29  commitments to provide more than one-half of the costs

30  incurred or related to the improvement and development of the

31  facility.

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  1         (h)  No applicant previously certified under any

  2  provision of this section who has received funding under such

  3  certification shall be eligible for an additional

  4  certification.

  5         (6)  Prior to certifying an applicant as a "new spring

  6  training franchise facility," the direct-support organization

  7  authorized under s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  8  Economic Development must determine that:

  9         (a)  A "unit of local government" as defined in s.

10  218.369 is responsible for the construction, management, or

11  operation of the new spring training franchise facility or

12  holds title to the property on which the new spring training

13  franchise facility is located.

14         (b)  The applicant has a verified copy of a signed

15  agreement with a new spring training franchise for the use of

16  the facility for a term of at least 15 years.

17         (c)  The applicant has a financial commitment to

18  provide 50 percent or more of the funds required by an

19  agreement for the use of the facility by the new spring

20  training franchise.

21         (d)  The proposed facility for the new spring training

22  franchise is located within 20 miles of an interstate or other

23  limited-access highway system.

24         (e)  The applicant has projections, verified by the

25  direct-support organization Office of Tourism, Trade, and

26  Economic Development, which demonstrate that the new spring

27  training franchise facility will attract a paid attendance of

28  at least 50,000 annually.

29         (f)  The new spring training franchise facility is

30  located in a county that is levying a tourist development tax

31  pursuant to s. 125.0104(3)(b), (c), (d), and (l), at the rate

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  1  of 4 percent by March 1, 1992, and, 87.5 percent of the

  2  proceeds from such tax are dedicated for the construction of a

  3  spring training complex.

  4         (8)  The direct-support organization authorized under

  5  s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

  6  shall notify the Department of Revenue of any facility

  7  certified as a facility for a new professional sports

  8  franchise or a facility for a retained professional sports

  9  franchise or as a new spring training franchise facility.  The

10  direct-support organization Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11  Economic Development may certify no more than eight facilities

12  as facilities for a new professional sports franchise, as

13  facilities for a retained professional sports franchise, or as

14  new spring training franchise facilities, including in such

15  total any facilities certified by the Department of Commerce

16  before July 1, 1996, and by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

17  Economic Development before July 1, 2000. The office may make

18  No more than one certification may be made for any facility.

19         (10)  An applicant shall not be qualified for

20  certification under this section if the franchise formed the

21  basis for a previous certification, unless the previous

22  certification was withdrawn by the facility or invalidated by

23  the direct-support organization authorized under s. 288.1229,

24  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, or the

25  Department of Commerce before any funds were distributed

26  pursuant to s. 212.20. This subsection does not disqualify an

27  applicant if the previous certification occurred between May

28  23, 1993, and May 25, 1993; however, any funds to be

29  distributed pursuant to s. 212.20 for the second certification

30  shall be offset by the amount distributed to the previous

31  certified facility. Distribution of funds for the second

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  1  certification shall not be made until all amounts payable for

  2  the first certification have been distributed.

  3         Section 22.  Section 288.1168, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         288.1168  Professional golf hall of fame facility;

  6  duties.--

  7         (1)  The Department of Commerce shall serve as the

  8  state agency for screening applicants for state funding

  9  pursuant to s. 212.20 and for certifying one applicant as the

10  professional golf hall of fame facility in the state.

11         (2)  Prior to certifying the professional golf hall of

12  fame facility, the Department of Commerce must determine that:

13         (a)  The professional golf hall of fame facility is the

14  only professional golf hall of fame in the United States

15  recognized by the PGA Tour, Inc.

16         (b)  The applicant is a unit of local government as

17  defined in s. 218.369 or a private sector group that has

18  contracted to construct or operate the professional golf hall

19  of fame facility on land owned by a unit of local government.

20         (c)  The municipality in which the professional golf

21  hall of fame facility is located, or the county if the

22  facility is located in an unincorporated area, has certified

23  by resolution after a public hearing that the application

24  serves a public purpose.

25         (d)  There are existing projections that the

26  professional golf hall of fame facility will attract a paid

27  attendance of more than 300,000 annually.

28         (e)  There is an independent analysis or study, using

29  methodology approved by the department, which demonstrates

30  that the amount of the revenues generated by the taxes imposed

31  under chapter 212 with respect to the use and operation of the

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  1  professional golf hall of fame facility will equal or exceed

  2  $2 million annually.

  3         (1)(f)  Prior to certification, the applicant for the

  4  certified professional golf hall of fame facility must submit

  5  The applicant has submitted an agreement to provide $2 million

  6  annually in national and international media promotion of the

  7  professional golf hall of fame facility, Florida, and Florida

  8  tourism, through the PGA Tour, Inc., or its affiliates, at the

  9  then-current commercial rate, during the period of time that

10  the facility receives funds pursuant to s. 212.20. The

11  direct-support organization authorized under s. 288.1229

12  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and the PGA

13  Tour, Inc., or its affiliates, must agree annually on a

14  reasonable percentage of advertising specifically allocated

15  for generic Florida advertising. The direct-support

16  organization authorized under s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism,

17  Trade, and Economic Development shall have final approval of

18  all generic advertising. Failure on the part of the PGA Tour,

19  Inc., or its affiliates to annually provide the advertising as

20  provided in this subsection paragraph or subsection (4) (6)

21  shall result in the termination of funding as provided in s.

22  212.20.

23         (g)  Documentation exists that demonstrates that the

24  applicant has provided, is capable of providing, or has

25  financial or other commitments to provide more than one-half

26  of the costs incurred or related to the improvement and

27  development of the facility.

28         (h)  The application is signed by an official senior

29  executive of the applicant and is notarized according to

30  Florida law providing for penalties for falsification.

31

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  1         (2)(3)  The certified professional golf hall of fame

  2  facility applicant may use funds provided pursuant to s.

  3  212.20 for the public purpose of paying for the construction,

  4  reconstruction, renovation, or operation of the professional

  5  golf hall of fame facility, or to pay or pledge for payment of

  6  debt service on, or to fund debt service reserve funds,

  7  arbitrage rebate obligations, or other amounts payable with

  8  respect to, bonds issued for the construction, reconstruction,

  9  or renovation of the facility or for the reimbursement of such

10  costs or the refinancing of bonds issued for such purpose.

11         (4)  Upon determining that an applicant is or is not

12  certifiable, the Secretary of Commerce shall notify the

13  applicant of his or her status by means of an official letter.

14  If certifiable, the secretary shall notify the executive

15  director of the Department of Revenue and the applicant of

16  such certification by means of an official letter granting

17  certification.  From the date of such certification, the

18  applicant shall have 5 years to open the professional golf

19  hall of fame facility to the public and notify the Office of

20  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development of such opening.  The

21  Department of Revenue shall not begin distributing funds until

22  30 days following notice by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

23  Economic Development that the professional golf hall of fame

24  facility is open to the public.

25         (3)(5)  The Department of Revenue may audit as provided

26  in s. 213.34 to verify that the distributions under this

27  section have been expended as required by this section.

28         (4)(6)  The direct-support organization authorized

29  under s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

30  Development must recertify every 10 years that the facility is

31  open, continues to be the only professional golf hall of fame

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  1  in the United States recognized by the PGA Tour, Inc., and is

  2  meeting the minimum projections for attendance or sales tax

  3  revenue as required at the time of original certification.  If

  4  the facility is not certified as meeting the minimum

  5  projections, the PGA Tour, Inc., shall increase its required

  6  advertising contribution of $2 million annually to $2.5

  7  million annually in lieu of reduction of any funds as provided

  8  by s. 212.20. The additional $500,000 must be allocated in its

  9  entirety for the use and promotion of generic Florida

10  advertising as determined by the direct-support organization

11  authorized under s. 288.1229 Office of Tourism, Trade, and

12  Economic Development. If the facility is not open to the

13  public or is no longer in use as the only professional golf

14  hall of fame in the United States recognized by the PGA Tour,

15  Inc., the entire $2.5 million for advertising must be used for

16  generic Florida advertising as determined by the

17  direct-support organization authorized under s. 288.1229

18  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

19         Section 23.  Section 288.1169, Florida Statutes, is

20  amended to read:

21         288.1169  International Game Fish Association World

22  Center facility; department duties.--

23         (1)  The direct-support organization authorized under

24  s. 288.1229 Department of Commerce shall serve as the state

25  agency approving applicants for funding pursuant to s. 212.20

26  and for certifying the applicant as the International Game

27  Fish Association World Center facility. For purposes of this

28  section, "facility" means the International Game Fish

29  Association World Center, and "project" means the

30  International Game Fish Association World Center and new

31  colocated improvements by private sector concerns who have

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  1  made cash or in-kind contributions to the facility of $1

  2  million or more.

  3         (2)  Prior to certifying this facility, the

  4  direct-support organization authorized under s. 288.1229

  5  department must determine that:

  6         (a)  The International Game Fish Association World

  7  Center is the only fishing museum, Hall of Fame, and

  8  international administrative headquarters in the United States

  9  recognized by the International Game Fish Association, and

10  that one or more private sector concerns have committed to

11  donate to the International Game Fish Association land upon

12  which the International Game Fish Association World Center

13  will operate.

14         (b)  International Game Fish Association is a

15  not-for-profit Florida corporation that has contracted to

16  construct and operate the facility.

17         (c)  The municipality in which the facility is located,

18  or the county if the facility is located in an unincorporated

19  area, has certified by resolution after a public hearing that

20  the facility serves a public purpose.

21         (d)  There are existing projections that the

22  International Game Fish Association World Center facility and

23  the colocated facilities of private sector concerns will

24  attract an attendance of more than 1.8 million annually.

25         (e)  There is an independent analysis or study, using

26  methodology approved by the direct-support organization

27  department, which demonstrates that the amount of the revenues

28  generated by the taxes imposed under chapter 212 with respect

29  to the use and operation of the project will exceed $1 million

30  annually.

31

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  1         (f)  There are existing projections that the project

  2  will attract more than 300,000 persons annually who are not

  3  residents of the state.

  4         (g)  The applicant has submitted an agreement to

  5  provide $500,000 annually in national and international media

  6  promotion of the facility, at the then-current commercial

  7  rates, during the period of time that the facility receives

  8  funds pursuant to s. 212.20. Failure on the part of the

  9  applicant to annually provide the advertising as provided in

10  this paragraph shall result in the termination of the funding

11  as provided in s. 212.20. The applicant can discharge its

12  obligation under this paragraph by contracting with other

13  persons, including private sector concerns who participate in

14  the project.

15         (h)  Documentation exists that demonstrates that the

16  applicant has provided, and is capable of providing, or has

17  financial or other commitments to provide, more than one-half

18  of the cost incurred or related to the improvements and the

19  development of the facility.

20         (i)  The application is signed by senior officials of

21  the International Game Fish Association and is notarized

22  according to Florida law providing for penalties for

23  falsification.

24         (3)  The applicant may use funds provided pursuant to

25  s. 212.20 for the purpose of paying for the construction,

26  reconstruction, renovation, promotion, or operation of the

27  facility, or to pay or pledge for payment of debt service on,

28  or to fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate

29  obligations, or other amounts payable with respect to, bonds

30  issued for the construction, reconstruction, or renovation of

31

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  1  the facility or for the reimbursement of such costs or by

  2  refinancing of bonds issued for such purposes.

  3         (4)  Upon determining that an applicant is or is not

  4  certifiable, the direct-support organization authorized under

  5  s. 288.1229 Department of Commerce shall notify the applicant

  6  of its status by means of an official letter.  If certifiable,

  7  the direct-support organization Department of Commerce shall

  8  notify the executive director of the Department of Revenue and

  9  the applicant of such certification by means of an official

10  letter granting certification.  From the date of such

11  certification, the applicant shall have 5 years to open the

12  facility to the public and notify the direct-support

13  organization Department of Commerce of such opening. The

14  Department of Revenue shall not begin distributing funds until

15  30 days following notice by the direct-support organization

16  Department of Commerce that the facility is open to the

17  public.

18         (5)  The Department of Revenue may audit as provided in

19  s. 213.34 to verify that the contributions pursuant to this

20  section have been expended as required by this section.

21         (6)  The direct-support organization authorized under

22  s. 288.1229 Department of Commerce must recertify every 10

23  years that the facility is open, that the International Game

24  Fish Association World Center continues to be the only

25  international administrative headquarters, fishing museum, and

26  Hall of Fame in the United States recognized by the

27  International Game Fish Association, and must verify annually

28  that the project is meeting the minimum projections for

29  attendance or sales tax revenues as required at the time of

30  original certification.  If the facility is not recertified

31  during this 10-year review as meeting the minimum projections,

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  1  then funding will be abated until certification criteria are

  2  met.  If the project fails to generate $1 million of annual

  3  revenues pursuant to paragraph (2)(e), the distribution of

  4  revenues pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(f)5.c. shall be reduced to

  5  an amount equal to $83,333 multiplied by a fraction, the

  6  numerator of which is the actual revenues generated and the

  7  denominator of which is $1 million.  Such reduction shall

  8  remain in effect until revenues generated by the project in a

  9  12-month period equal or exceed $1 million.

10         Section 24.  Section 288.1185, Florida Statutes, is

11  transferred, renumbered as section 403.7155, Florida Statutes,

12  and amended to read:

13         403.7155 288.1185  Recycling Markets Advisory

14  Committee.--

15         (1)  There is created the Recycling Markets Advisory

16  Committee, hereinafter referred to as the "committee," to be

17  administratively housed in the Department of Environmental

18  Protection Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

19  The purpose of the committee shall be to serve as the

20  mechanism for coordination among state agencies and the

21  private sector to coordinate policy and overall strategic

22  planning for developing new markets and expanding and

23  enhancing existing markets for recovered materials. The

24  committee may not duplicate or replace agency programs, but

25  shall enhance, coordinate, and recommend priorities for those

26  programs.

27         (2)(a)  The committee shall consist of 12 members, 10

28  of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, each of whom is or

29  has been actively engaged in the recycling industry or a

30  related business area, including the use of product packaging

31  materials, or is a local government official with a

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  1  demonstrated knowledge of recycling; a member of the House of

  2  Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of

  3  Representatives, who shall serve without voting rights as an

  4  ex officio member of the committee; and a member of the Senate

  5  to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall

  6  serve without voting rights as an ex officio member of the

  7  committee.

  8         (b)  Members of the committee shall be appointed within

  9  60 days after this section takes effect.

10         (c)  A chairperson shall be appointed by the Governor

11  from among the members of the committee.

12         (d)  The committee shall meet at the call of its

13  chairperson or at the request of a majority of its membership,

14  but at least biannually. A majority of the members shall

15  constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a majority of

16  a quorum is necessary to take official action.

17         (e)  Members of the committee shall serve without

18  compensation but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per

19  diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

20         (f)  The committee may appoint ad hoc committees, which

21  may include persons who are not members of the committee, to

22  study recycled materials market development problems and

23  issues and advise the committee on these subjects.  Ad hoc

24  committee members may be reimbursed for per diem and travel

25  expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

26         (g)  The Department of Environmental Protection Office

27  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall coordinate

28  with agencies listed in paragraph (3)(a) to provide support as

29  necessary to enable the committee to adequately carry out its

30  functions.

31

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  1         (3)(a)  The heads of the Department of Transportation,

  2  the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of

  3  Management Services, the Department of Agriculture and

  4  Consumer Services, the Florida Energy Office, and the Governor

  5  shall each designate a staff member from within the agency to

  6  serve as the recycling market development liaison for the

  7  agency. This person shall have knowledge of recycling and the

  8  issues and problems related to recycling and recycled

  9  materials market development. This person shall be the primary

10  point of contact for the agency on issues related to recycled

11  materials market development. These liaisons shall be

12  available for committee meetings and shall work closely with

13  the committee and other recycling market development liaisons

14  to further the goals of the committee, as appropriate.

15         (b)  Whenever it is necessary to change the designee,

16  the head of each agency shall notify the Governor in writing

17  of the person designated as the recycling market development

18  liaison for such agency.

19         (4)(a)  By October 1, 1993, the committee shall develop

20  a plan to set goals and provide direction for developing new

21  markets and expanding and enhancing existing markets for

22  recovered materials.

23         (b)  In developing the plan and any needed legislation,

24  the committee shall consider:

25         1.  Developing new markets and expanding and enhancing

26  existing markets for recovered materials.

27         2.  Pursuing expanded end uses for recycled materials.

28         3.  Targeting materials for concentrated market

29  development efforts.

30         4.  Developing proposals for new incentives for market

31  development, particularly focusing on targeted materials.

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  1         5.  Providing guidance on issues such as permitting,

  2  finance options for recycling market development, site

  3  location, research and development, grant program criteria for

  4  recycled materials markets, recycling markets education and

  5  information, and minimum content.

  6         6.  Coordinating the efforts of various government

  7  entities with market development responsibilities.

  8         7.  Evaluating the need for competitively solicited,

  9  cooperative ventures in rural areas for collecting,

10  processing, marketing, and procuring collected materials.

11         8.  Evaluating source-reduced products as they relate

12  to state procurement policy.  The evaluation shall include,

13  but is not limited to, the environmental and economic impact

14  of source-reduced product purchases on the state.  For the

15  purposes of this section, "source-reduced" means any method,

16  process, product, or technology which significantly or

17  substantially reduces the volume or weight of a product while

18  providing, at a minimum, equivalent or generally similar

19  performance and service to and for the users of such

20  materials.

21         (5)  By November 1 of each year, beginning in 1994, the

22  committee shall submit to the Governor, the President of the

23  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a

24  complete and detailed report setting forth in appropriate

25  detail the operations and accomplishments of the committee and

26  the activities of existing agencies and programs in support of

27  the goals established by the committee, including any

28  recommendations for statutory changes.

29         (6)  In order to support the functions of the

30  committee, the Department of Environmental Protection Office

31  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may hire staff or

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  1  contract with other agencies for staff support and enter into

  2  contracts for support, research, planning, evaluation, and

  3  communication and promotion services.

  4         Section 25.  Paragraphs (a) and (g) of subsection (2)

  5  of section 288.1223, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  6         288.1223  Florida Commission on Tourism; creation;

  7  purpose; membership.--

  8         (2)(a)  The commission shall consist of the Governor or

  9  the Governor's designee, who must be from the public sector,

10  and 17 general tourism-industry-related members appointed by

11  the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and 11

12  additional tourism-industry-related members, appointed by the

13  Governor no later than July 31, 1996, including 3

14  representatives from the statewide rental car industry, 3

15  representatives from tourist-related statewide associations,

16  including those that represent hotels, campgrounds, and

17  attractions, 3 representatives from county destination

18  marketing organizations, 1 representative from the cruise

19  industry, and 1 representative from the airline industry, who

20  will each serve for a term of 2 years, the Governor, and 2

21  additional ex officio members, who will serve for a term of 2

22  years, appointed no later than July 31, 1996, including a

23  member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate

24  and a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the

25  Speaker of the House of Representatives.

26         (g)  The Governor or the Governor's designee, who must

27  be from the public sector, shall serve as chair of the

28  commission. The commission shall annually elect one of its

29  tourism-industry-related members as vice chair, who shall

30  preside in the absence of the chair.

31

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  1         Section 26.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (5) of section

  2  288.1226, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         288.1226  Florida Tourism Industry Marketing

  4  Corporation; use of property; board of directors; duties;

  5  audit.--

  6         (5)  POWERS AND DUTIES.--The corporation, in the

  7  performance of its duties:

  8         (f)  Shall appoint the president of the Florida Tourism

  9  Industry Marketing Corporation, who shall serve at the

10  pleasure of the Governor. The president is the chief executive

11  officer of the board of directors and of the corporation and

12  shall direct and supervise the affairs of the corporation. The

13  corporation shall elect or appoint such other officers and

14  agents as its affairs shall require and allow them reasonable

15  compensation. No employee of the Florida Tourism Industry

16  Marketing Corporation may receive compensation for employment

17  which exceeds the salary paid to the Governor, unless the

18  board of directors and the employee have executed a contract

19  that prescribes specific, measurable performance outcomes for

20  the employee, the satisfaction of which provides the basis for

21  the award of incentive payments that increase the employee's

22  total compensation to a level above the salary paid to the

23  Governor.

24         Section 27.  Subsection (10) is added to section

25  288.1229, Florida Statutes, to read:

26         288.1229  Promotion and development of sports-related

27  industries and amateur athletics; direct-support organization;

28  powers and duties.--

29         (10)  The direct-support organization authorized under

30  this section shall provide an annual report to the Office of

31  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development on the status of the

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  1  professional golf hall of fame facility certified under s.

  2  288.1168 and the level of attendance and sales tax revenue

  3  associated with the facility as compared to the minimum

  4  projections established at the time the facility was

  5  certified. This report is due within 30 days after the annual

  6  agreement required under s. 288.1168(1). The direct-support

  7  organization also shall provide by October 1 of each year a

  8  report to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development on the status of the International Game Fish

10  Association World Center facility certified under s. 288.1169.

11         Section 28.  Section 288.1251, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         288.1251  Promotion and development of entertainment

14  industry; Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment

15  Commissioner; creation; purpose; powers and duties.--

16         (1)  CREATION.--

17         (a)  There is hereby created within the Office of

18  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development the Governor's Office

19  of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner for the purpose of

20  developing, marketing, promoting, and providing services to

21  the state's entertainment industry.

22         (b)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

23  Development shall conduct a national search for a qualified

24  person to fill the position of Film Commissioner of Film and

25  Entertainment, and the Executive Director of the Office of

26  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall hire the Film

27  commissioner. Guidelines for selection of the Film

28  commissioner shall include, but not be limited to, the Film

29  commissioner having the following:

30

31

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  1         1.  A working knowledge of the equipment, personnel,

  2  financial, and day-to-day production operations of the

  3  industries to be served by the office;

  4         2.  Marketing and promotion experience related to the

  5  industries to be served by the office;

  6         3.  Experience working with a variety of individuals

  7  representing large and small entertainment-related businesses,

  8  industry associations, local community entertainment industry

  9  liaisons, and labor organizations; and

10         4.  Experience working with a variety of state and

11  local governmental agencies.

12         (2)  POWERS AND DUTIES.--

13         (a)  The Governor's Office of the Film and

14  Entertainment Commissioner, in performance of its duties,

15  shall:

16         1.  In consultation with the Florida Film and

17  Entertainment Advisory Council, develop and implement a 5-year

18  strategic plan to guide the activities of the Governor's

19  Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner in the areas

20  of entertainment industry development, marketing, promotion,

21  liaison services, field office administration, and

22  information.  The plan, to be developed by no later than June

23  30, 2000, shall:

24         a.  Be annual in construction and ongoing in nature.

25         b.  Include recommendations relating to the

26  organizational structure of the office.

27         c.  Include an annual budget projection for the office

28  for each year of the plan.

29         d.  Include an operational model for the office to use

30  in implementing programs for rural and urban areas designed

31  to:

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  1         (I)  Develop and promote the state's entertainment

  2  industry.

  3         (II)  Have the office serve as a liaison between the

  4  entertainment industry and other state and local governmental

  5  agencies, local film commissions, and labor organizations.

  6         (III)  Gather statistical information related to the

  7  state's entertainment industry.

  8         (IV)  Provide information and service to businesses,

  9  communities, organizations, and individuals engaged in

10  entertainment industry activities.

11         (V)  Administer field offices outside the state and

12  coordinate with regional offices maintained by counties and

13  regions of the state, as described in sub-sub-subparagraph

14  (II), as necessary.

15         e.  Include performance standards and measurable

16  outcomes for the programs to be implemented by the office.

17         f.  Include an assessment of, and make recommendations

18  on, the feasibility of creating an alternative public-private

19  partnership for the purpose of contracting with such a

20  partnership for the administration of the state's

21  entertainment industry promotion, development, marketing, and

22  service programs.

23         2.  Develop, market, and facilitate a smooth working

24  relationship between state agencies and local governments in

25  cooperation with local film commission offices for

26  out-of-state and indigenous entertainment industry production

27  entities.

28         3.  Implement a structured methodology prescribed for

29  coordinating activities of local offices with each other and

30  the commissioner's office.

31

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  1         4.  Represent the state's indigenous entertainment

  2  industry to key decisionmakers within the national and

  3  international entertainment industry, and to state and local

  4  officials.

  5         5.  Prepare an inventory and analysis of the state's

  6  entertainment industry, including, but not limited to,

  7  information on crew, related businesses, support services, job

  8  creation, talent, and economic impact and coordinate with

  9  local offices to develop an information tool for common use.

10         6.  Represent key decisionmakers within the national

11  and international entertainment industry to the indigenous

12  entertainment industry and to state and local officials.

13         7.  Serve as liaison between entertainment industry

14  producers and labor organizations.

15         8.  Identify, solicit, and recruit entertainment

16  production opportunities for the state.

17         9.  Assist rural communities and other small

18  communities in the state in developing the expertise and

19  capacity necessary for such communities to develop, market,

20  promote, and provide services to the state's entertainment

21  industry.

22         (b)  The Governor's Office of the Film and

23  Entertainment Commissioner, in the performance of its duties,

24  may:

25         1.  Conduct or contract for specific promotion and

26  marketing functions, including, but not limited to, production

27  of a statewide directory, production and maintenance of an

28  Internet web site, establishment and maintenance of a

29  toll-free number, organization of trade show participation,

30  and appropriate cooperative marketing opportunities.

31

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  1         2.  Conduct its affairs, carry on its operations,

  2  establish offices, and exercise the powers granted by this act

  3  in any state, territory, district, or possession of the United

  4  States.

  5         3.  Carry out any program of information, special

  6  events, or publicity designed to attract entertainment

  7  industry to Florida.

  8         4.  Develop relationships and leverage resources with

  9  other public and private organizations or groups in their

10  efforts to publicize to the entertainment industry in this

11  state, other states, and other countries the depth of

12  Florida's entertainment industry talent, crew, production

13  companies, production equipment resources, related businesses,

14  and support services, including the establishment of and

15  expenditure for a program of cooperative advertising with

16  these public and private organizations and groups in

17  accordance with the provisions of chapter 120.

18         5.  Provide and arrange for reasonable and necessary

19  promotional items and services for such persons as the office

20  deems proper in connection with the performance of the

21  promotional and other duties of the office.

22         6.  Prepare an annual economic impact analysis on

23  entertainment industry-related activities in the state.

24         7.  Request or accept any grant or gift of funds or

25  property made by this state or by the United States, or any

26  department or agency thereof, or by any individual, firm,

27  corporation, municipality, county, or organization for any or

28  all of the purposes of the Governor's Office of Film and

29  Entertainment which are consistent with this or any other

30  provision of law. The office may expend such funds in

31  accordance with the terms and conditions of any such grant or

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  1  gift, in the pursuit of its administration, or in support of

  2  the programs it administers.

  3         Section 29.  Section 288.1252, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         288.1252  Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory

  6  Council; creation; purpose; membership; powers and duties.--

  7         (1)  CREATION.--There is hereby created within the

  8  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development of the

  9  Executive Office of the Governor, for administrative purposes

10  only, the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council.

11         (2)  PURPOSE.--The purpose of the council shall be to

12  serve as an advisory body to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

13  Economic Development and to the Governor's Office of the Film

14  and Entertainment Commissioner to provide these offices with

15  industry insight and expertise related to developing,

16  marketing, promoting, and providing service to the state's

17  entertainment industry.

18         (3)  MEMBERSHIP.--

19         (a)  The council shall consist of 17 members, seven to

20  be appointed by the Governor, five to be appointed by the

21  President of the Senate, and five to be appointed by the

22  Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the initial

23  appointments being made no later than August 1, 1999.

24         (b)  When making appointments to the council, the

25  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

26  House of Representatives shall appoint persons who are

27  residents of the state and who are highly knowledgeable of,

28  active in, and recognized leaders in Florida's motion picture,

29  television, video, sound recording, or other entertainment

30  industries. These persons shall include, but not be limited

31  to, representatives of local film commissions, representatives

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  1  of entertainment associations, a representative of the

  2  broadcast industry, representatives of labor organizations in

  3  the entertainment industry, and board chairs, presidents,

  4  chief executive officers, chief operating officers, or persons

  5  of comparable executive position or stature of leading or

  6  otherwise important entertainment industry businesses and

  7  offices.  Council members shall be appointed in such a manner

  8  as to equitably represent the broadest spectrum of the

  9  entertainment industry and geographic areas of the state.

10         (c)  Council members shall serve for 4-year terms,

11  except that the initial terms shall be staggered:

12         1.  The Governor shall appoint one member for a 1-year

13  term, two members for 2-year terms, two members for 3-year

14  terms, and two members for 4-year terms.

15         2.  The President of the Senate shall appoint one

16  member for a 1-year term, one member for a 2-year term, two

17  members for 3-year terms, and one member for a 4-year term.

18         3.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

19  appoint one member for a 1-year term, one member for a 2-year

20  term, two members for 3-year terms, and one member for a

21  4-year term.

22         (d)  Subsequent appointments shall be made by the

23  official who appointed the council member whose expired term

24  is to be filled.

25         (e)  The Film Commissioner of Film and Entertainment, a

26  representative of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and a

27  representative of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing

28  Corporation shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of

29  the council, and shall be in addition to the 17 appointed

30  members of the council.

31

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  1         (f)  Absence from three consecutive meetings shall

  2  result in automatic removal from the council.

  3         (g)  A vacancy on the council shall be filled for the

  4  remainder of the unexpired term by the official who appointed

  5  the vacating member.

  6         (h)  No more than one member of the council may be an

  7  employee of any one company, organization, or association.

  8         (i)  Any member shall be eligible for reappointment but

  9  may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

10         (4)  MEETINGS; ORGANIZATION.--

11         (a)  The council shall meet no less frequently than

12  once each quarter of the calendar year, but may meet more

13  often as set by the council.

14         (b)  The council shall annually elect one member to

15  serve as chair of the council and one member to serve as vice

16  chair.  The Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment

17  Commissioner shall provide staff assistance to the council,

18  which shall include, but not be limited to, keeping records of

19  the proceedings of the council, and serving as custodian of

20  all books, documents, and papers filed with the council.

21         (c)  A majority of the members of the council shall

22  constitute a quorum.

23         (d)  Members of the council shall serve without

24  compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for per

25  diem and travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061 while

26  in performance of their duties.

27         (5)  POWERS AND DUTIES.--The Florida Film and

28  Entertainment Advisory Council shall have all the powers

29  necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the

30  purposes and provisions of this act, including, but not

31  limited to, the power to:

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  1         (a)  Adopt bylaws for the governance of its affairs and

  2  the conduct of its business.

  3         (b)  Advise and consult with the Governor's Office of

  4  the Film and Entertainment Commissioner on the content,

  5  development, and implementation of the 5-year strategic plan

  6  to guide the activities of the office.

  7         (c)  Review the Film Commissioner's administration by

  8  the Commissioner of Film and Entertainment of the programs

  9  related to the strategic plan, and advise the commissioner on

10  the programs and any changes that might be made to better meet

11  the strategic plan.

12         (d)  Consider and study the needs of the entertainment

13  industry for the purpose of advising the commissioner and the

14  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

15         (e)  Identify and make recommendations on state agency

16  and local government actions that may have an impact on the

17  entertainment industry or that may appear to industry

18  representatives as an official state or local action affecting

19  production in the state.

20         (f)  Consider all matters submitted to it by the

21  commissioner and the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

22  Development.

23         (g)  Advise and consult with the commissioner and the

24  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, at their

25  request or upon its own initiative, regarding the

26  promulgation, administration, and enforcement of all laws and

27  rules relating to the entertainment industry.

28         (h)  Suggest policies and practices for the conduct of

29  business by the Governor's Office of the Film and

30  Entertainment Commissioner or by the Office of Tourism, Trade,

31  and Economic Development that will improve internal operations

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  1  affecting the entertainment industry and will enhance the

  2  economic development initiatives of the state for the

  3  industry.

  4         (i)  Appear on its own behalf before boards,

  5  commissions, departments, or other agencies of municipal,

  6  county, or state government, or the Federal Government.

  7         Section 30.  Section 288.1253, Florida Statutes, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         288.1253  Travel and entertainment expenses.--

10         (1)  As used in this section:

11         (a)  "Business client" means any person, other than a

12  state official or state employee, who receives the services of

13  representatives of the Governor's Office of the Film and

14  Entertainment Commissioner in connection with the performance

15  of its statutory duties, including persons or representatives

16  of entertainment industry companies considering location,

17  relocation, or expansion of an entertainment industry business

18  within the state.

19         (b)  "Entertainment expenses" means the actual,

20  necessary, and reasonable costs of providing hospitality for

21  business clients or guests, which costs are defined and

22  prescribed by rules adopted by the Office of Tourism, Trade,

23  and Economic Development, subject to approval by the

24  Comptroller.

25         (c)  "Guest" means a person, other than a state

26  official or state employee, authorized by the Office of

27  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to receive the

28  hospitality of the Governor's Office of the Film and

29  Entertainment Commissioner in connection with the performance

30  of its statutory duties.

31

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  1         (d)  "Travel expenses" means the actual, necessary, and

  2  reasonable costs of transportation, meals, lodging, and

  3  incidental expenses normally incurred by a traveler, which

  4  costs are defined and prescribed by rules adopted by the

  5  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, subject to

  6  approval by the Comptroller.

  7         (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 112.061, the

  8  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall adopt

  9  rules by which it may make expenditures by advancement or

10  reimbursement, or a combination thereof, to:

11         (a)  The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, security

12  staff of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the Film

13  Commissioner of Film and Entertainment, or staff of the

14  Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner

15  for travel expenses or entertainment expenses incurred by such

16  individuals solely and exclusively in connection with the

17  performance of the statutory duties of the Governor's Office

18  of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner.

19         (b)  The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, security

20  staff of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the Film

21  Commissioner of Film and Entertainment, or staff of the

22  Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner

23  for travel expenses or entertainment expenses incurred by such

24  individuals on behalf of guests, business clients, or

25  authorized persons as defined in s. 112.061(2)(e) solely and

26  exclusively in connection with the performance of the

27  statutory duties of the Governor's Office of the Film and

28  Entertainment Commissioner.

29         (c)  Third-party vendors for the travel or

30  entertainment expenses of guests, business clients, or

31  authorized persons as defined in s. 112.061(2)(e) incurred

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  1  solely and exclusively while such persons are participating in

  2  activities or events carried out by the Governor's Office of

  3  the Film and Entertainment Commissioner in connection with

  4  that office's statutory duties.

  5

  6  The rules shall be subject to approval by the Comptroller

  7  prior to promulgation.  The rules shall require the submission

  8  of paid receipts, or other proof of expenditure prescribed by

  9  the Comptroller, with any claim for reimbursement and shall

10  require, as a condition for any advancement of funds, an

11  agreement to submit paid receipts or other proof of

12  expenditure and to refund any unused portion of the

13  advancement within 15 days after the expense is incurred or,

14  if the advancement is made in connection with travel, within

15  10 working days after the traveler's return to headquarters.

16  However, with respect to an advancement of funds made solely

17  for travel expenses, the rules may allow paid receipts or

18  other proof of expenditure to be submitted, and any unused

19  portion of the advancement to be refunded, within 10 working

20  days after the traveler's return to headquarters. Operational

21  or promotional advancements, as defined in s. 288.35(4),

22  obtained pursuant to this section shall not be commingled with

23  any other state funds.

24         (3)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

25  Development shall prepare an annual report of the expenditures

26  of the Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment

27  Commissioner and provide such report to the Legislature no

28  later than December 30 of each year for the expenditures of

29  the previous fiscal year. The report shall consist of a

30  summary of all travel, entertainment, and incidental expenses

31  incurred within the United States and all travel,

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  1  entertainment, and incidental expenses incurred outside the

  2  United States, as well as a summary of all successful projects

  3  that developed from such travel.

  4         (4)  The Governor's Office of the Film and

  5  Entertainment Commissioner and its employees and

  6  representatives, when authorized, may accept and use

  7  complimentary travel, accommodations, meeting space, meals,

  8  equipment, transportation, and any other goods or services

  9  necessary for or beneficial to the performance of the office's

10  duties and purposes, so long as such acceptance or use is not

11  in conflict with part III of chapter 112.  The Office of

12  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall, by rule,

13  develop internal controls to ensure that such goods or

14  services accepted or used pursuant to this subsection are

15  limited to those that will assist solely and exclusively in

16  the furtherance of the office's goals and are in compliance

17  with part III of chapter 112.

18         (5)  Any claim submitted under this section shall not

19  be required to be sworn to before a notary public or other

20  officer authorized to administer oaths, but any claim

21  authorized or required to be made under any provision of this

22  section shall contain a statement that the expenses were

23  actually incurred as necessary travel or entertainment

24  expenses in the performance of official duties of the

25  Governor's Office of the Film and Entertainment Commissioner

26  and shall be verified by written declaration that it is true

27  and correct as to every material matter.  Any person who

28  willfully makes and subscribes to any claim which he or she

29  does not believe to be true and correct as to every material

30  matter or who willfully aids or assists in, procures, or

31  counsels or advises with respect to, the preparation or

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  1  presentation of a claim pursuant to this section that is

  2  fraudulent or false as to any material matter, whether or not

  3  such falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the

  4  person authorized or required to present the claim, commits a

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

  6  775.082 or s. 775.083. Whoever receives an advancement or

  7  reimbursement by means of a false claim is civilly liable, in

  8  the amount of the overpayment, for the reimbursement of the

  9  public fund from which the claim was paid.

10         Section 31.  Section 288.7011, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         288.7011  Assistance to certified development

13  corporation.--The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

14  Development is authorized to enter into contracts with a

15  nonprofit, statewide development corporation certified

16  pursuant to s. 503 of the Small Business Investment Act of

17  1958, as amended, to permit such corporation to locate and

18  contract for administrative and technical staff assistance and

19  support, including, without limitation, assistance to the

20  development corporation in the packaging and servicing of

21  loans for the purpose of stimulating and expanding the

22  availability of private equity capital and long-term loans to

23  small businesses.  Such assistance and support will cease when

24  the corporation has received state support in an amount the

25  equivalent of $250,000 per year over a 4-year 5-year period

26  beginning July 1, 1997. Any contract between the office and

27  such corporation shall specify that the records of the

28  corporation must be available for audit by the office and by

29  the Auditor General.

30         Section 32.  Subsections (2) and (7) of section

31  288.901, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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  1         288.901  Enterprise Florida, Inc.; creation;

  2  membership; organization; meetings; disclosure.--

  3         (2)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall establish one or

  4  more corporate offices, at least one of which shall be located

  5  in Leon County. The Department of Management Services may

  6  establish a lease agreement program under which Enterprise

  7  Florida, Inc., may hire any individual who, as of June 30,

  8  1996, is employed by the Department of Commerce or who, as of

  9  January 1, 1997, is employed by the Executive Office of the

10  Governor and has responsibilities specifically in support of

11  the Workforce Development Board established under s. 288.9952

12  s. 288.9620. Under such agreement, the employee shall retain

13  his or her status as a state employee but shall work under the

14  direct supervision of Enterprise Florida, Inc. Retention of

15  state employee status shall include the right to participate

16  in the Florida Retirement System. The Department of Management

17  Services shall establish the terms and conditions of such

18  lease agreements.

19         (7)  The Governor or the Governor's designee, who must

20  be from the public sector, shall serve as chairperson of the

21  board of directors.  The board of directors shall biennially

22  elect one of its appointive members as vice chairperson. The

23  president shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board

24  of directors and is the custodian of all books, documents, and

25  papers filed with the board of directors, the minutes of the

26  board of directors, and the official seal of Enterprise

27  Florida, Inc.

28         Section 33.  Subsection (2) of section 288.9015,

29  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         288.9015  Enterprise Florida, Inc.; purpose; duties.--

31

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  1         (2)  It shall be the responsibility of Enterprise

  2  Florida, Inc., to aggressively market Florida's rural

  3  communities and distressed urban communities as locations for

  4  potential new investment, to aggressively assist in the

  5  retention and expansion of existing businesses in these

  6  communities, and to aggressively assist these communities in

  7  the identification and development of new economic development

  8  opportunities for job creation. Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  9  shall use and promote existing state programs to facilitate

10  the location of new investment, the retention and expansion of

11  existing businesses, and the identification and development of

12  new economic development opportunities for job creation. Such

13  programs include, but are not limited to: the Community

14  Contribution Tax Credit Program, as provided in ss. 220.183

15  and 624.5105; the Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit Program

16  as provided in ss. 212.097 and 220.1895; the Rural Job Tax

17  Credit Program as provided in ss. 212.098 and 220.1895; and

18  the state incentives available in enterprise zones as provided

19  in s. 290.007.

20         Section 34.  Section 288.980, Florida Statutes, is

21  amended to read:

22         288.980  Military base retention; legislative intent;

23  grants program.--

24         (1)(a)  It is the intent of this state to provide the

25  necessary means to assist communities with military

26  installations that would be adversely affected by federal base

27  realignment or closure actions. It is further the intent to

28  encourage communities to initiate a coordinated program of

29  response and plan of action in advance of future actions of

30  the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission. It is

31  critical that closure-vulnerable communities develop such a

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  1  program to preserve affected military installations. The

  2  Legislature hereby recognizes that the state needs to

  3  coordinate all efforts that can facilitate the retention of

  4  all remaining military installations in the state. The

  5  Legislature, therefore, declares that providing such

  6  assistance to support the defense-related initiatives within

  7  this section is a public purpose for which public money may be

  8  used.

  9         (b)  The Florida Defense Alliance, an organization

10  within Enterprise Florida, is designated as the organization

11  to ensure that Florida, its resident military bases and

12  missions, and its military host communities are in competitive

13  positions as the United States continues its defense

14  realignment and downsizing. The defense alliance shall serve

15  as an overall advisory body for Enterprise Florida

16  defense-related activity. The Florida Defense Alliance may

17  receive funding from appropriations made for that purpose to

18  administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

19  Development and administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc.

20         (2)(a)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

21  Development is authorized to award grants based upon the

22  recommendation of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and for

23  administration by Enterprise Florida, Inc., from funds

24  specifically appropriated any funds available to it to support

25  activities related to the retention of military installations

26  potentially affected by federal base closure or realignment.

27         (b)  The term "activities" as used in this section

28  means studies, presentations, analyses, plans, and modeling.

29  Staff salaries are not considered an "activity" for which

30  grant funds may be awarded. Travel costs and costs incidental

31

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  1  thereto incurred by a grant recipient shall be considered an

  2  "activity" for which grant funds may be awarded.

  3         (c)  Except for grants issued pursuant to the Florida

  4  Military Installation Reuse Planning and Marketing Grant

  5  Program as described in paragraph (3)(c), the amount of any

  6  grant provided to an applicant may not exceed $250,000. In

  7  making recommendations to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  8  Economic Development, Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall require

  9  that an applicant:

10         1.  Represent a local government with a military

11  installation or military installations that could be adversely

12  affected by federal base realignment or closure.

13         2.  Agree to match at least 30 percent of any grant

14  awarded.

15         3.  Prepare a coordinated program or plan of action

16  delineating how the eligible project will be administered and

17  accomplished.

18         4.  Provide documentation describing the potential for

19  realignment or closure of a military installation located in

20  the applicant's community and the adverse impacts such

21  realignment or closure will have on the applicant's community.

22         (d)  In making recommendations for grant awards,

23  Enterprise Florida, Inc., the office shall consider, at a

24  minimum, the following factors:

25         1.  The relative value of the particular military

26  installation in terms of its importance to the local and state

27  economy relative to other military installations vulnerable to

28  closure.

29         2.  The potential job displacement within the local

30  community should the military installation be closed.

31

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  1         3.  The potential adverse impact on industries and

  2  technologies which service the military installation.

  3         (3)  The Florida Economic Reinvestment Initiative is

  4  established to respond to the need for this state and

  5  defense-dependent communities in this state to develop

  6  alternative economic diversification strategies to lessen

  7  reliance on national defense dollars in the wake of base

  8  closures and reduced federal defense expenditures and the need

  9  to formulate specific base reuse plans and identify any

10  specific infrastructure needed to facilitate reuse. The

11  initiative shall consist of the following three distinct grant

12  programs to be administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc. the

13  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development:

14         (a)  The Florida Defense Planning Grant Program,

15  through which funds shall be used to analyze the extent to

16  which the state is dependent on defense dollars and defense

17  infrastructure and prepare alternative economic development

18  strategies.  The state shall work in conjunction with

19  defense-dependent communities in developing strategies and

20  approaches that will help communities make the transition from

21  a defense economy to a nondefense economy. Grant awards may

22  not exceed $250,000 per applicant and shall be available on a

23  competitive basis.

24         (b)  The Florida Defense Implementation Grant Program,

25  through which funds shall be made available to

26  defense-dependent communities to implement the diversification

27  strategies developed pursuant to paragraph (a). Eligible

28  applicants include defense-dependent counties and cities, and

29  local economic development councils located within such

30  communities.  Grant awards may not exceed $100,000 per

31

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  1  applicant and shall be available on a competitive basis.

  2  Awards shall be matched on a one-to-one basis.

  3         (c)  The Florida Military Installation Reuse Planning

  4  and Marketing Grant Program, through which funds shall be used

  5  to help counties, cities, and local economic development

  6  councils develop and implement plans for the reuse of closed

  7  or realigned military installations, including any necessary

  8  infrastructure improvements needed to facilitate reuse and

  9  related marketing activities.

10

11  Applications for grants under this subsection must include a

12  coordinated program of work or plan of action delineating how

13  the eligible project will be administered and accomplished,

14  which must include a plan for ensuring close cooperation

15  between civilian and military authorities in the conduct of

16  the funded activities and a plan for public involvement. The

17  director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

18  Development shall make the final decision on all grant awards.

19         (4)(a)  The Defense-Related Business Adjustment Program

20  is hereby created.  Enterprise Florida, Inc., The Director of

21  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall

22  coordinate the development of the Defense-Related Business

23  Adjustment Program.  Funds shall be available to assist

24  defense-related companies in the creation of increased

25  commercial technology development through investments in

26  technology.  Such technology must have a direct impact on

27  critical state needs for the purpose of generating

28  investment-grade technologies and encouraging the partnership

29  of the private sector and government defense-related business

30  adjustment.  The following areas shall receive precedence in

31  consideration for funding commercial technology development:

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  1  law enforcement or corrections, environmental protection,

  2  transportation, education, and health care.  Travel and costs

  3  incidental thereto, and staff salaries, are not considered an

  4  "activity" for which grant funds may be awarded.

  5         (b)  In making recommendations to the Office of

  6  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for grant awards,

  7  Enterprise Florida, Inc., The office shall require that an

  8  applicant:

  9         1.  Be a defense-related business that could be

10  adversely affected by federal base realignment or closure or

11  reduced defense expenditures.

12         2.  Agree to match at least 50 percent of any funds

13  awarded by the department in cash or in-kind services.  Such

14  match shall be directly related to activities for which the

15  funds are being sought.

16         3.  Prepare a coordinated program or plan delineating

17  how the funds will be administered.

18         4.  Provide documentation describing how

19  defense-related realignment or closure will adversely impact

20  defense-related companies.

21         (5)  The Retention of Military Installations Program is

22  created. The Director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

23  Economic Development shall coordinate and implement this

24  program. The sum of $1.2 million is appropriated from the

25  General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 1999-2000 to the Office

26  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to implement this

27  program for military installations located in counties with a

28  population greater than 824,000. The funds shall be used to

29  assist military installations potentially affected by federal

30  base closure or realignment in covering current operating

31  costs in an effort to retain the installation in this state.

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  1  An eligible military installation for this program shall

  2  include a provider of simulation solutions for war-fighting

  3  experimentation, testing, and training which employs at least

  4  500 civilian and military employees and has been operating in

  5  the state for a period of more than 10 years.

  6         (6)  The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  7  Economic Development may award nonfederal matching funds

  8  specifically appropriated for construction, maintenance, and

  9  analysis of a Florida defense workforce database. Such funds

10  will be used to create a registry of worker skills that can be

11  used to match the worker needs of companies that are

12  relocating to this state or to assist workers in relocating to

13  other areas within this state where similar or related

14  employment is available.

15         (7)  Payment of administrative expenses shall be

16  limited to no more than 10 percent of any grants issued

17  pursuant to this section.

18         (8)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., The Office of Tourism,

19  Trade, and Economic Development shall develop establish

20  guidelines to implement and carry out the purpose and intent

21  of this section. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

22  Development must approve the guidelines before their

23  implementation.

24         Section 35.  Subsections (8) and (12), paragraph (h) of

25  subsection (10), and paragraph (b) of subsection (14) of

26  section 288.99, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection

27  (15) is added to that section, to read:

28         288.99  Certified Capital Company Act.--

29         (8)  ANNUAL TAX CREDIT; CLAIM PROCESS.--

30         (a)  On an annual basis, on or before December 31, each

31  certified capital company shall file with the department and

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  1  the office, in consultation with the office department, on a

  2  form prescribed by the office, for each calendar year:

  3         1.  The total dollar amount the certified capital

  4  company received from certified investors, the identity of the

  5  certified investors, and the amount received from each

  6  certified investor during the calendar year.

  7         2.  The total dollar amount the certified capital

  8  company invested and the amount invested in qualified

  9  businesses, together with the identity and location of those

10  businesses and the amount invested in each qualified business.

11         3.  For informational purposes only, the total number

12  of permanent, full-time jobs either created or retained by the

13  qualified business during the calendar year, the average wage

14  of the jobs created or retained, the industry sectors in which

15  the qualified businesses operate, and any additional capital

16  invested in qualified businesses from sources other than

17  certified capital companies.

18         (b)  The form shall be verified by one or more

19  principals of the certified capital company submitting the

20  form.  Verification shall be accomplished as provided in s.

21  92.525(1)(b) and subject to the provisions of s. 92.525(3).

22         (c)  The department office shall review the form, and

23  any supplemental documentation, submitted by each certified

24  capital company for the purpose of verifying:

25         1.  That the businesses in which certified capital has

26  been invested by the certified capital company are in fact

27  qualified businesses, and that the amount of certified capital

28  invested by the certified capital company is as represented in

29  the form.

30         2.  The amount of certified capital invested in the

31  certified capital company by the certified investors.

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  1         3.  The amount of premium tax credit available to

  2  certified investors.

  3         (d)  The Department of Revenue is authorized to audit

  4  and examine the accounts, books, or records of certified

  5  capital companies and certified investors for the purpose of

  6  ascertaining the correctness of any report and financial

  7  return which has been filed, and to ascertain a certified

  8  capital company's compliance with the tax-related provisions

  9  of this act.

10         (e)  This subsection shall take effect January 1, 1999.

11         (10)  DECERTIFICATION.--

12         (h)  The department office shall send written notice to

13  the address of each certified investor whose premium tax

14  credit has been subject to recapture or forfeiture, using the

15  address last shown on the last premium tax filing.

16         (12)  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.--The office shall report

17  annually on an annual basis to the Governor, the President of

18  the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on

19  or before April 1:

20         (a)  The total dollar amount each certified capital

21  company received from all certified investors and any other

22  investor, the identity of the certified investors, and the

23  total amount of premium tax credit used by each certified

24  investor for the previous calendar year.

25         (b)  The total dollar amount invested by each certified

26  capital company and that portion invested in qualified

27  businesses, the identity and location of those businesses, the

28  amount invested in each qualified business, and the total

29  number of permanent, full-time jobs created or retained by

30  each qualified business.

31

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  1         (c)  The return for the state as a result of the

  2  certified capital company investments, including the extent to

  3  which:

  4         1.  Certified capital company investments have

  5  contributed to employment growth.

  6         2.  The wage level of businesses in which certified

  7  capital companies have invested exceed the average wage for

  8  the county in which the jobs are located.

  9         3.  The investments of the certified capital companies

10  in qualified businesses have contributed to expanding or

11  diversifying the economic base of the state.

12         (14)  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.--

13         (b)  The department and the office may adopt any rules

14  necessary to carry out its duties, obligations, and powers

15  related to the administration, review, and reporting

16  provisions of this section and may perform any other acts

17  necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of

18  such duties, obligations, and powers.

19         (15)  ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.--Notwithstanding the

20  dates established in paragraphs (4)(b), (c), and (e), an

21  applicant for certification as a certified capital company may

22  file an application of the type specified in paragraph (4)(b)

23  to become a "certified capital company" under this section

24  between July 1, 2000, and September 1, 2000, in the manner

25  prescribed in subsection (4).

26         Section 36.  Section 290.004, Florida Statutes, is

27  amended to read:

28         290.004  Definitions.--As used in ss. 290.001-290.016:

29         (1)  "Community investment corporation" means a black

30  business investment corporation, a certified development

31  corporation, a small business investment corporation, or other

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  1  similar entity incorporated under Florida law that has limited

  2  its investment policy to making investments solely in minority

  3  business enterprises.

  4         (2)  "Department" means the Department of Commerce.

  5         (2)(3)  "Director" means the director of the Office of

  6  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

  7         (3)(4)  "Governing body" means the council or other

  8  legislative body charged with governing the county or

  9  municipality.

10         (4)(5)  "Interagency coordinating council" means the

11  Enterprise Zone Interagency Coordinating Council created

12  pursuant to s. 290.009.

13         (5)(6)  "Minority business enterprise" has the same

14  meaning as in s. 288.703.

15         (6)(7)  "Office" means the Office of Tourism, Trade,

16  and Economic Development.

17         (7)  "Rural enterprise zone" means an enterprise zone

18  that is nominated by a county having a population of 75,000 or

19  fewer, or a county having a population of 100,000 or fewer

20  which is contiguous to a county having a population of 75,000

21  or fewer, or by a municipality in such a county, or by such a

22  county and one or more municipalities. An enterprise zone

23  designated in accordance with s. 370.28 shall be considered a

24  rural enterprise zone.

25         (8)  "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.

26         (8)(9)  "Small business" has the same meaning as in s.

27  288.703.

28         Section 37.  Subsections (11) and (12) of section

29  290.0056, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         290.0056  Enterprise zone development agency.--

31

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  1         (11)  Prior to December 1 of each year, the agency

  2  shall submit to Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of

  3  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development a complete and

  4  detailed written report setting forth:

  5         (a)  Its operations and accomplishments during the

  6  fiscal year.

  7         (b)  The accomplishments and progress concerning the

  8  implementation of the strategic plan.

  9         (c)  The number and type of businesses assisted by the

10  agency during the fiscal year.

11         (d)  The number of jobs created within the enterprise

12  zone during the fiscal year.

13         (e)  The usage and revenue impact of state and local

14  incentives granted during the calendar year.

15         (f)  Any other information required by Enterprise

16  Florida, Inc. the office.

17         (12)  In the event that the nominated area selected by

18  the governing body is not designated a state enterprise zone,

19  the governing body may dissolve the agency after receiving

20  notification from the department or the office that the area

21  was not designated as an enterprise zone.

22         Section 38.  Subsection (5) of section 290.0058,

23  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

24         290.0058  Tests of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and

25  general distress.--

26         (5)  In making the calculations required by this

27  section, the local government and Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

28  the department shall round all fractional percentages of

29  one-half percent or more up to the next highest whole

30  percentage figure.

31

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  1         Section 39.  Subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), (7), and

  2  (9) of section 290.0065, Florida Statutes, are amended to

  3  read:

  4         290.0065  State designation of enterprise zones.--

  5         (1)  Upon application to Enterprise Florida, Inc., of

  6  the governing body of a county or municipality or of a county

  7  and one or more municipalities jointly pursuant to s.

  8  290.0055, Enterprise Florida, Inc. the department, in

  9  consultation with the interagency coordinating council, shall

10  determine which areas nominated by such governing bodies meet

11  the criteria outlined in s. 290.0055 and are the most

12  appropriate for recommendation to the director of the Office

13  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for designation as

14  state enterprise zones. The office department is authorized to

15  designate up to 5 areas within each of the categories

16  established in subparagraphs (3)(a)1., 2., 3., 4., and 5.,

17  except that the office department may only designate a total

18  of 20 areas as enterprise zones. The office department shall

19  not designate more than three enterprise zones in any one

20  county. All designations, including any provision for

21  redesignations, of state enterprise zones pursuant to this

22  section shall be effective July 1, 1995.

23         (4)(a)  Notwithstanding s. 290.0055, any area existing

24  as a state enterprise zone as of the effective date of this

25  section and originally approved through a joint application

26  from a county and municipality, or through an application from

27  a county as defined in s. 125.011(1), shall be redesignated as

28  a state enterprise zone upon the creation of an enterprise

29  zone development agency pursuant to s. 290.0056 and the

30  completion of a strategic plan pursuant to s. 290.0057.  Any

31  area redesignated pursuant to this subsection, other than an

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  1  area located in a county defined in s. 125.011(1), may be

  2  relocated or modified by the appropriate governmental bodies.

  3  Such relocation or modification shall be identified in the

  4  strategic plan and shall meet the requirements for designation

  5  as established by s. 290.005. Any relocation or modification

  6  shall be submitted on or before June 1, 1996.

  7         (b)  The office department shall place any area

  8  designated as a state enterprise zone pursuant to this

  9  subsection in the appropriate category established in

10  subsection (3), and include such designations within the

11  limitations on state enterprise zone designations set out in

12  subsection (1).

13         (c)  Any county or municipality having jurisdiction

14  over an area designated as a state enterprise zone pursuant to

15  this subsection, other than a county defined by s. 125.011(1),

16  may not apply for designation of another area.

17         (5)  Notwithstanding s. 290.0055, an area designated as

18  a federal empowerment zone or enterprise community pursuant to

19  Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993,

20  the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, or the 1999 Agricultural

21  Appropriations Act shall be designated a state enterprise zone

22  as follows:

23         (a)  An area designated as an urban empowerment zone or

24  urban enterprise community pursuant to Title XIII of the

25  Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 or the Taxpayer

26  Relief Act of 1997 shall be designated a state enterprise zone

27  by the office department upon completion of the requirements

28  set out in paragraph (d), except in the case of a county as

29  defined in s. 125.011(1) which, notwithstanding s. 290.0055,

30  may incorporate and include such designated urban empowerment

31  zone or urban enterprise community areas within the boundaries

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  1  of its state enterprise zones without any limitation as to

  2  size.

  3         (b)  An area designated as a rural empowerment zone or

  4  rural enterprise community pursuant to Title XIII of the

  5  Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 or the 1999

  6  Agricultural Appropriations Act shall be designated a state

  7  enterprise zone by the office department upon completion of

  8  the requirements set out in paragraph (d).

  9         (c)  Any county or municipality having jurisdiction

10  over an area designated as a state enterprise zone pursuant to

11  this subsection, other than a county defined in s. 125.011(1),

12  may not apply for designation of another area.

13         (d)  Prior to recommending that the office designate

14  designating such areas as state enterprise zones, Enterprise

15  Florida, Inc., the department shall ensure that the governing

16  body having jurisdiction over the zone submits the strategic

17  plan required pursuant to 7 C.F.R. part 25 or 24 C.F.R. part

18  597 to Enterprise Florida, Inc. the department, and creates an

19  enterprise zone development agency pursuant to s. 290.0056.

20         (e)  The office department shall place any area

21  designated as a state enterprise zone pursuant to this

22  subsection in the appropriate category established in

23  subsection (3), and include such designations within the

24  limitations on state enterprise zone designations set out in

25  subsection (1).

26         (6)(a)  The office department, in consultation with

27  Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the interagency coordinating

28  council, may develop guidelines shall promulgate any rules

29  necessary for the approval of areas under this section by the

30  director secretary.

31

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  1         (b)  Such guidelines may rules shall provide for the

  2  measurement of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general

  3  distress using the criteria outlined by s. 290.0058.

  4         (c)  Such guidelines may rules shall provide for the

  5  evaluation of the strategic plan and local fiscal and

  6  regulatory incentives for effectiveness, including how the

  7  following key principles will be implemented by the governing

  8  body or bodies:

  9         1.  Economic opportunity, including job creation within

10  the community and throughout the region, as well as

11  entrepreneurial initiatives, small business expansion, and

12  training for jobs that offer upward mobility.

13         2.  Sustainable community development that advances the

14  creation of livable and vibrant communities through

15  comprehensive approaches that coordinate economic, physical,

16  community, and human development.

17         3.  Community-based partnerships involving the

18  participation of all segments of the community.

19         4.  Strategic vision for change that identifies how the

20  community will be revitalized. This vision should include

21  methods for building on community assets and coordinate a

22  response to community needs in a comprehensive fashion. This

23  vision should provide goals and performance benchmarks for

24  measuring progress and establish a framework for evaluating

25  and adjusting the strategic plan.

26         5.  Local fiscal and regulatory incentives enacted

27  pursuant to s. 290.0057(1)(e). These incentives should induce

28  economic revitalization, including job creation and small

29  business expansion.

30         (d)  Such guidelines may rules shall provide methods

31  for evaluating the prospects for new investment and economic

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  1  development in the area, including a review and evaluation of

  2  any previous state enterprise zones located in the area.

  3         (7)  Upon approval by the director secretary of a

  4  resolution authorizing an area to be an enterprise zone

  5  pursuant to this section, the office department shall assign a

  6  unique identifying number to that resolution. The office

  7  department shall provide the Department of Revenue and

  8  Enterprise Florida, Inc., with a copy of each resolution

  9  approved, together with its identifying number.

10         (9)  Upon recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

11  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may

12  amend the boundaries of any enterprise zone designated by the

13  state pursuant to this section, consistent with the

14  categories, criteria, and limitations imposed in this section

15  upon the establishment of such enterprise zone and only if

16  consistent with the determinations made in s. 290.0058(2).

17         Section 40.  Subsection (1) of section 290.0066,

18  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         290.0066  Revocation of enterprise zone designation.--

20         (1)  Upon recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

21  the director may revoke the designation of an enterprise zone

22  if Enterprise Florida, Inc., the director determines that the

23  governing body or bodies:

24         (a)  Have failed to make progress in achieving the

25  benchmarks set forth in the strategic plan; or

26         (b)  Have not complied substantially with the strategic

27  plan.

28         Section 41.  Section 290.00675, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         290.00675  Amendment of certain enterprise zone

31  boundaries.--Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, upon

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  1  recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of

  2  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may amend the

  3  boundaries of an area designated as an enterprise zone in a

  4  community having a population of 235,000 persons but less than

  5  245,000, so long as the area does not increase the overall

  6  size of the zone by greater than 25 acres and the increased

  7  area is contiguous to the existing enterprise zone. The

  8  amendment must also be consistent with the limitations imposed

  9  by s. 290.0055 upon establishment of the enterprise zone.

10         Section 42.  Section 290.00676, Florida Statutes, is

11  created to read:

12         290.00676  Amendment of rural enterprise zone

13  boundaries.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon

14  recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of

15  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may amend the

16  boundaries of a rural enterprise zone. For purposes of

17  boundary amendments, an enterprise zone designated under s.

18  370.28 shall be considered a rural enterprise zone and is

19  eligible for amendment of its boundaries. Boundary amendments

20  authorized by this section are subject to the following

21  requirements:

22         (1)  The amendment may increase the size of the rural

23  enterprise zone to 15 square miles.

24         (2)  The amendment may increase the number of

25  noncontiguous areas by one, if that noncontiguous area has

26  zero population. For purposes of this subsection, the

27  pervasive poverty criteria may be set aside for the addition

28  of a noncontiguous parcel.

29         (3)  The local enterprise zone development agency must

30  request the amendment from Enterprise Florida, Inc., prior to

31  December 30, 2000. The request must contain maps and

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  1  sufficient information to allow the office to determine the

  2  number of noncontiguous areas and the total size of the rural

  3  enterprise zone.

  4         Section 43.  Section 290.00677, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         290.00677  Rural enterprise zones; special

  7  qualifications.--

  8         (1)  Notwithstanding the enterprise zone residency

  9  requirements set out in ss. 212.096(1)(c) and 220.03(1)(q),

10  businesses located in rural enterprise zones may receive the

11  credit provided under s. 212.096 or s. 220.181 for hiring any

12  person within the jurisdiction of a rural county, as defined

13  by s. 288.106(2)(r). All other provisions of ss. 212.096,

14  220.03(1)(q), and 220.181 apply to such businesses.

15         (2)  Notwithstanding the requirement specified in ss.

16  212.08(5)(g)5., (5)(h)5., and (15)(a), 212.096(2)(b)1.,

17  220.181(1)(a)1., and 220.182(1)(b) that no less than 20

18  percent of a business's employees, excluding temporary and

19  part-time employees, must be residents of an enterprise zone

20  for the business to qualify for the maximum exemption or

21  credit provided in ss. 212.08(5)(g) and (h) and (15),

22  212.096(2)(b)1., 220.181(1)(a)1., and 220.182, a business that

23  is located in a rural enterprise zone shall be qualified for

24  those maximum exemptions or credits if no less than 20 percent

25  of such employees of the business are residents of a rural

26  county, as defined by s. 288.106(2)(r). All other provisions

27  of ss. 212.08(5)(g) and (h) and (15), 212.096, 220.181, and

28  220.182 apply to such business.

29         (3)  Notwithstanding the time limitations contained in

30  chapters 212 and 220, a business eligible to receive tax

31  credits under this section from January 1, 2000, to June 1,

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  1  2000, must submit an application for the tax credits by

  2  December 1, 2000. All other requirements of the enterprise

  3  zone program apply to such a business.

  4         Section 44.  Section 290.00689, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         290.00689  Designation of enterprise zone pilot project

  7  area.--

  8         (1)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development shall designate one pilot project area within one

10  state enterprise zone. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11  Economic Development shall select a pilot project area by July

12  1, 1999, which meets the following qualifications:

13         (a)  The area is contained within an enterprise zone

14  that is composed of one contiguous area and is placed in the

15  category delineated in s. 290.0065(3)(a)1.

16         (b)  The local government having jurisdiction over the

17  enterprise zone grants economic development ad valorem tax

18  exemptions in the enterprise zone pursuant to s. 196.1995, and

19  electrical energy public service tax exemptions pursuant to s.

20  166.231(8).

21         (c)  The local government having jurisdiction over the

22  enterprise zone has developed a plan for revitalizing the

23  pilot project area or for revitalizing an area within the

24  enterprise zone that contains the pilot project area, and has

25  committed at least $5 million to redevelop an area including

26  the pilot project area.

27         (d)  The pilot project area is contiguous and is

28  limited to no more than 70 acres, or equivalent square miles,

29  to avoid a dilution of additional state assistance and

30  effectively concentrate these additional resources on

31  revitalizing the acute area of economic distress.

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  1         (e)  The pilot project area contains a diverse cluster

  2  or grouping of facilities or space for a mix of retail,

  3  restaurant, or service related businesses necessary to an

  4  overall revitalization of surrounding neighborhoods through

  5  community involvement, investment, and enhancement of

  6  employment markets.

  7         (2)(a)  Beginning December 1, 1999, no more than four

  8  businesses located within the pilot project area are eligible

  9  for a credit against any tax due for a taxable year under

10  chapters 212 and 220.

11         (b)  The credit shall be computed as $5,000 times the

12  number of full-time employees of the business and $2,500 times

13  the number of part-time employees of the business. For

14  purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed to be

15  employed by such a business on a full-time basis if the person

16  performs duties in connection with the operations of the

17  business for an average of at least 36 hours per week each

18  month, or on a part-time basis if the person is performing

19  such duties for an average of at least 20 hours per week each

20  month throughout the year. The person must be performing such

21  duties at a business site located in the pilot project area.

22         (c)  The total amount of tax credits that may be

23  granted under this section is $1 million annually. In the

24  event Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade,

25  and Economic Development receives applications that total more

26  than $1 million in any year, the director shall prorate the

27  amount of tax credit each applicant is eligible to receive to

28  ensure that all eligible applicants receive a tax credit.

29         (d)  In order to be eligible to apply to Enterprise

30  Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

31

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  1  Development for tax credits under this section a business

  2  must:

  3         1.  Have entered into a contract with the developer of

  4  the diverse cluster or grouping of facilities or space located

  5  in the pilot project area, governing lease of commercial space

  6  in a facility.

  7         2.  Have commenced operations in the facility after

  8  July 1, 1999, and before July 1, 2000.

  9         3.  Be a business predominantly engaged in activities

10  usually provided for consideration by firms classified under

11  the Standard Industrial Classification Manual Industry Number

12  5311, Industry Number 5399, or Industry Number 7832.

13         (e)  All applications for the granting of the tax

14  credits allowed under this section shall require the prior

15  review and recommendation of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and

16  approval of the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

17  Economic Development. At the recommendation of Enterprise

18  Florida, Inc., the director shall establish one submittal date

19  each year for the receipt of applications for such tax

20  credits.

21         (f)  Any business wishing to receive tax credits

22  pursuant to this section must submit an application to

23  Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

24  Economic Development which sets forth the business name and

25  address and the number of employees of the business.

26         (g)  Upon the recommendation of Enterprise Florida,

27  Inc., the decision of the director shall be in writing, and,

28  if approved, the application shall state the maximum credits

29  allowable to the business. A copy of the decision shall be

30  transmitted to Enterprise Florida, Inc., and to the executive

31

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  1  director of the Department of Revenue, who shall apply such

  2  credits to the tax liabilities of the business firm.

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

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

  5  liability on the part of the business, the unused amount may

  6  be carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years.

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

  8  Development is authorized to adopt all rules necessary to

  9  administer this section, including rules for the approval or

10  disapproval of applications for tax incentives by businesses.

11         (3)(4)  The Department of Revenue shall adopt any rules

12  necessary to ensure the orderly implementation and

13  administration of this section.

14         (4)(5)  For purposes of this section, "business" and

15  "taxable year" shall have the same meaning as in s. 220.03.

16         (5)(6)  Prior to the 2004 Regular Session of the

17  Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and

18  Government Accountability shall review and evaluate the

19  effectiveness and viability of the pilot project area created

20  under this section, using the research design prescribed

21  pursuant to s. 290.015. The office shall specifically evaluate

22  whether relief from certain taxes induced new investment and

23  development in the area; increased the number of jobs created

24  or retained in the area; induced the renovation,

25  rehabilitation, restoration, improvement, or new construction

26  of businesses or housing within the area; and contributed to

27  the economic viability and profitability of business and

28  commerce located within the area. The office shall submit a

29  report of its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of

30  the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

31  no later than January 15, 2004.

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  1         (6)(7)  This section shall stand repealed on June 30,

  2  2010, and any designation made pursuant to this section shall

  3  be revoked on that date.

  4         Section 45.  Section 290.00694, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         290.00694  Enterprise zone designation for rural

  7  champion communities.--An area designated as a rural champion

  8  community pursuant to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 may

  9  apply to Enterprise Florida, Inc., for designation as an

10  enterprise zone. The application must be submitted by December

11  31, 2000, and must comply with the requirements of s.

12  290.0055. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 290.0065

13  limiting the total number of enterprise zones designated and

14  the number of enterprise zones within a population category,

15  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development upon

16  recommendation of Enterprise  Florida, Inc., may designate

17  enterprise zones under this section. The Office of Tourism,

18  Trade, and Economic Development shall establish the initial

19  effective date of the enterprise zones designated pursuant to

20  this section.

21         Section 46.  Section 290.009, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         290.009  Enterprise Zone Interagency Coordinating

24  Council.--

25         (1)  There is created within the Office of Tourism,

26  Trade, and Economic Development the Enterprise Zone

27  Interagency Coordinating Council. The council shall be

28  composed of the secretaries or executive directors, or their

29  designees, of the Department of Community Affairs, the Office

30  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the Department of

31  Children and Family Services, the Department of Health, the

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  1  Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Labor and

  2  Employment Security, the Department of State, the Department

  3  of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Protection,

  4  the Department of Law Enforcement, and the Department of

  5  Revenue; the Attorney General or his or her designee; and the

  6  executive directors or their designees of the Florida

  7  Community College System, the Florida Black Business

  8  Investment Board, and the Florida State Rural Development

  9  Council. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall serve as staff to the

10  council.

11         (2)  The purpose of the council is to:

12         (a)  Advise Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the office in

13  planning, developing, implementing, and performing evaluation

14  and reporting activities related to the Florida Enterprise

15  Zone Act of 1994.

16         (b)  Assist in the evaluation and review of enterprise

17  zone designation applications pursuant to s. 290.0065.

18         (c)  Assist in the selection of designated enterprise

19  zones for participation in the enterprise zone linked deposit

20  program pursuant to s. 290.0075.

21         (d)  Encourage state agencies to administer programs in

22  a manner that supports the purposes of this act and the goals

23  and objectives of strategic enterprise zone development plans

24  prepared by local governments.

25         (3)  The director of the office or his or her designee

26  shall serve as the chair of the council.

27         Section 47.  Section 290.014, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         290.014  Annual reports on enterprise zones.--

30         (1)  By February 1 of each year, the Department of

31  Revenue shall submit an annual report to Enterprise Florida,

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  1  Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

  2  detailing the usage and revenue impact by county of the state

  3  incentives listed in s. 290.007.

  4         (2)  By March 1 of each year, Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  5  the office shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the

  6  Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of

  7  the Senate, and the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  8  and Economic Development. The report shall include the

  9  information provided by the Department of Revenue pursuant to

10  subsection (1) and the information provided by enterprise zone

11  development agencies pursuant to s. 290.0056. In addition, the

12  report shall include an analysis of the activities and

13  accomplishments of each enterprise zone, and any additional

14  information prescribed pursuant to s. 290.015.

15         Section 48.  Subsection (2) of section 290.046, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         290.046  Applications for grants; procedures;

18  requirements.--

19         (2)(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (c), each

20  eligible local government may submit an application for a

21  grant under either the housing program category or the

22  neighborhood revitalization program category during each

23  annual funding cycle.  An applicant may not receive more than

24  one grant in any state fiscal year from any of the following

25  categories:  housing, neighborhood revitalization, or

26  commercial revitalization.

27         (b)  Except as provided in paragraph (c), each eligible

28  local government may apply during each up to three times in

29  any one annual funding cycle for grants a grant under the

30  economic development program category but shall receive

31  cumulative awards no more than the applicable grant ceiling

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  1  established by the department one such grant per annual

  2  funding cycle under s. 290.047(2).  Applications for grants

  3  under the economic development program category may be

  4  submitted at any time during the annual funding cycle, and

  5  such grants shall be awarded no less frequently than three

  6  times per funding cycle. The department shall establish

  7  minimum criteria pertaining to the number of jobs created for

  8  persons of low or moderate income, the degree of private

  9  sector financial commitment, and the economic feasibility of

10  the proposed project and shall establish any other criteria

11  the department deems appropriate.  Assistance to a private,

12  for-profit business may not be provided from a grant award

13  unless sufficient evidence exists to demonstrate that without

14  such public assistance the creation or retention of such jobs

15  would not occur.

16         (c)1.  Local governments with an open housing,

17  neighborhood revitalization, or commercial revitalization

18  contract shall not be eligible to apply for another housing,

19  neighborhood revitalization, or commercial revitalization

20  grant until administrative closeout of their existing

21  contract. The department shall notify a local government of

22  administrative closeout or of any outstanding closeout issues

23  within 45 days of receipt of a closeout package from the local

24  government.  Local governments with an open housing,

25  neighborhood revitalization, or commercial revitalization

26  community development block grant contract whose activities

27  are on schedule in accordance with the expenditure rates and

28  accomplishments described in the contract may apply for an

29  economic development grant.

30         2.  Local governments with an open economic development

31  community development block grant contract or contracts whose

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  1  activities are on schedule in accordance with the expenditure

  2  rates and accomplishments described in the contract or

  3  contracts may apply for a housing or neighborhood

  4  revitalization and a commercial revitalization community

  5  development block grant.  Local governments with an open

  6  economic development contract or contracts whose activities

  7  are on schedule in accordance with the expenditure rates and

  8  accomplishments described in the contract or contracts may

  9  receive no more than one additional economic development

10  grants grant in each fiscal year subject to the grant ceilings

11  established by the department under s. 290.047.

12         (d)  Beginning October 1, 1988, the department shall

13  award no grant until the department has determined, based upon

14  a site visit, that the proposed area matches and adheres to

15  the written description contained within the applicant's

16  request.  If, based upon review of the application or a site

17  visit, the department determines that any information provided

18  in the application which affects eligibility or scoring has

19  been misrepresented, the applicant's request shall be rejected

20  by the department pursuant to s. 290.0475(7).  Mathematical

21  errors in applications which may be discovered and corrected

22  by readily computing available numbers or formulas provided in

23  the application shall not be a basis for such rejection.

24         Section 49.  Subsection (7) is added to section

25  290.048, Florida Statutes, to read:

26         290.048  General powers of Department of Community

27  Affairs under ss. 290.0401-290.049.--The department has all

28  the powers necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes

29  and provisions of the program, including the power to:

30         (7)  Establish advisory committees and solicit

31  participation in the design, implementation, and evaluation of

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  1  the program and its linkages with other housing, community

  2  development, and economic development resources.

  3         Section 50.  Section 290.049, Florida Statutes, is

  4  repealed.

  5         Section 51.  Subsection (6) of section 373.4149,

  6  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         373.4149  Miami-Dade County Lake Belt Plan.--

  8         (6)  The Miami-Dade County Lake Belt Plan

  9  Implementation Committee shall be appointed by the governing

10  board of the South Florida Water Management District to

11  develop a strategy for the design and implementation of the

12  Miami-Dade County Lake Belt Plan. The committee shall consist

13  of the chair of the governing board of the South Florida Water

14  Management District, who shall serve as chair of the

15  committee, the policy director of Environmental and Growth

16  Management in the office of the Governor, the secretary of the

17  Department of Environmental Protection, the director of the

18  Division of Water Facilities or its successor division within

19  the Department of Environmental Protection, the director of

20  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development within

21  the office of the Governor, the secretary of the Department of

22  Community Affairs, the executive director of the Game and

23  Freshwater Fish Commission, the director of the Department of

24  Environmental Resource Management of Miami-Dade County, the

25  director of the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department,

26  the Director of Planning in Miami-Dade County, a

27  representative of the Friends of the Everglades, a

28  representative of the Florida Audubon Society, a

29  representative of the Florida chapter of the Sierra Club, four

30  representatives of the nonmining private landowners within the

31  Miami-Dade County Lake Belt Area, and four representatives

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  1  from the limestone mining industry to be appointed by the

  2  governing board of the South Florida Water Management

  3  District. Two ex officio seats on the committee will be filled

  4  by one member of the Florida House of Representatives to be

  5  selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from

  6  among representatives whose districts, or some portion of

  7  whose districts, are included within the geographical scope of

  8  the committee as described in subsection (3), and one member

  9  of the Florida Senate to be selected by the President of the

10  Senate from among senators whose districts, or some portion of

11  whose districts, are included within the geographical scope of

12  the committee as described in subsection (3).  The committee

13  may appoint other ex officio members, as needed, by a majority

14  vote of all committee members.  A committee member may

15  designate in writing an alternate member who, in the member's

16  absence, may participate and vote in committee meetings.

17         Section 52.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural

18  Sciences at the University of Florida is authorized to enter

19  into contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and may

20  receive grants of money to support the Florida State Rural

21  Development Council.

22         Section 53.  The Workforce Development Board of

23  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall develop, in consultation with

24  the State Board of Community Colleges and the Division of

25  Workforce Development of the Department of Education, a policy

26  authorizing the placement of Workforce Investment Act clients

27  and other training program clients in self-employment as a

28  means job placement. Notwithstanding any other provision of

29  law, such policy shall define the conditions necessary,

30  including documentation of income, for self-employment to

31

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  1  qualify as job placement for Workforce Investment Act programs

  2  and Workforce Development Education Fund programs.

  3         Section 54.  Extraordinary economic development

  4  opportunities and threats; responsibilities of the Office of

  5  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and Enterprise

  6  Florida, Inc.; creation of Economic Development Leadership

  7  Council.--

  8         (1)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development, in conjunction with Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

10  shall establish a unit within the office responsible for

11  forecasting extraordinary economic development opportunities

12  and extraordinary economic development threats with the

13  potential to affect significantly the economy of the state.

14  The unit also shall be responsible for coordinating

15  development and implementation of an action plan to address,

16  in a proactive manner, such opportunities or threats. The unit

17  shall be composed of staff members from the office and from

18  Enterprise Florida, Inc., who are designated by the director

19  of the office and the president of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

20         (2)  For the purposes of this section, the term

21  "extraordinary economic development opportunity" includes an

22  economic development project, whether associated with the

23  expansion of an existing business in the state or the location

24  of a new business to the state, which has the potential to

25  result in the creation of at least 500 jobs in the state or a

26  cumulative investment in the state of at least $100 million.

27  The term "extraordinary economic development threat" includes

28  the potential loss of at least 500 jobs in the state because

29  of the reorganization, closure, or relocation out of the state

30  by an existing business in the state.

31

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  1         (3)  Duties of the forecast unit in the Office of

  2  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall include, but is

  3  not limited to:

  4         (a)  Analyzing market conditions for business sectors

  5  that are strategically important to the state economy;

  6         (b)  Monitoring economic development activities in

  7  other states which have the potential to affect this state;

  8         (c)  Reviewing and understanding trade publications for

  9  business sectors that are strategically important to the state

10  economy;

11         (d)  Identifying private-sector points of contact

12  inside and outside the state which can provide the unit with

13  expertise and insights on matters affecting business sectors

14  that are strategically important to the state economy;

15         (e)  Preparing contingency plans to enable the state to

16  respond rapidly and effectively to extraordinary economic

17  development opportunities or threats;

18         (f)  Documenting lessons learned from extraordinary

19  economic development opportunities and threats once they have

20  occurred; and

21         (g)  Working with local and regional economic

22  development organizations to forecast extraordinary economic

23  development opportunities and threats.

24         (4)  There is created the Economic Development

25  Leadership Council, which shall be responsible for providing

26  state leadership in response to an extraordinary economic

27  development opportunity or an extraordinary economic

28  development threat.

29         (a)  The council shall be composed of the following

30  members;

31         1.  The Governor;

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  1         2.  The President of the Senate;

  2         3.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives;

  3         4.  The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  4  Economic Development; and

  5         5.  The president of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

  6         (b)  The council shall convene at the recommendation of

  7  the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  8  Development. Staff of the forecast unit within the office

  9  shall serve as staff to the council. The forecast unit within

10  the office shall inform the council about the extraordinary

11  economic development opportunity or threat and shall seek the

12  advice of the council members on development and

13  implementation of a plan of action to address the opportunity

14  or threat. Staff of the forecast unit shall maintain the

15  confidentiality provided under section 288.075, Florida

16  Statutes.

17         (5)  By January 31, 2001, the Office of Tourism, Trade,

18  and Economic Development, in conjunction with Enterprise

19  Florida, Inc., shall submit a report to the Governor, the

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

21  Representatives which includes specific recommendations for

22  vesting the Economic Development Leadership Council with

23  powers to respond to an extraordinary economic development

24  opportunity or an extraordinary economic development threat.

25         Section 55.  Toolkit for Economic Development.--

26         (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that

27  the state has numerous economically distressed communities

28  with a high proportion of needy families who are current or

29  former recipients of public assistance or who are at risk of

30  becoming dependent upon public assistance. The Legislature

31  also finds that the existence of safe and strong communities

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  1  with prosperous economies is crucial to reduce dependence on

  2  public assistance and to promote employment retention and

  3  self-sufficiency. It is the intent of the Legislature to

  4  reduce reliance on public assistance, to promote employment

  5  retention, and to increase self-sufficiency by providing

  6  easily accessed and useable tools that support local

  7  initiatives that create economically prosperous communities

  8  for needy families.

  9         (2)  CREATION; PURPOSE.--There is created a program to

10  be known as the "Toolkit for Economic Development," the

11  purpose of which is to enable economically distressed

12  communities to access easily, and use effectively, federal and

13  state tools to improve conditions in the communities and

14  thereby help needy families in the communities avoid public

15  assistance, retain employment, and become self-sufficient.

16         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--For the purposes of this section, a

17  community is "economically distressed" if the community is

18  experiencing conditions affecting its economic viability and

19  hampering the self-sufficiency of its residents, including,

20  but not limited to, low per capita income, low property

21  values, high unemployment, high under-employment, low weekly

22  wages compared to the state average, low housing values

23  compared to the state or area average, high percentage of the

24  population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels

25  compared to the state average, and high percentage of needy

26  families.

27         (4)  LIAISONS.--

28         (a)  By August 1, 2000, the head of each of the

29  following agencies or organizations shall designate a

30  high-level staff person from within the agency or organization

31  to serve as a liaison to this program:

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  1         1.  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;

  2         2.  Office of Urban Opportunity;

  3         3.  Department of Community Affairs;

  4         4.  Department of Law Enforcement;

  5         5.  Department of Juvenile Justice;

  6         6.  Department of Transportation;

  7         7.  Department of Environmental Protection;

  8         8.  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

  9         9.  Department of State;

10         10.  Department of Health;

11         11.  Department of Children and Family Services;

12         12.  Department of Corrections;

13         13.  Department of Labor and Employment Security;

14         14.  Department of Education;

15         15.  Department of Military Affairs;

16         16.  Florida Housing Finance Corporation;

17         17.  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences;

18         18.  Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce;

19         19.  Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;

20         20.  Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

21         21.  Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida,

22  Inc.;

23         22.  Executive Office of the Governor; and

24         23.  Any other agencies or organizations as determined

25  by the coordinating partners.

26         (b)  An alternate for each designee shall also be

27  chosen, and the names of the designees and alternates shall be

28  sent to the coordinating partners, which shall convene the

29  liaisons as necessary.

30         (c)  Each liaison must have a comprehensive knowledge

31  of the functions, whether regulatory or service-based, of his

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  1  or her agency or organization. The liaison shall be the

  2  primary contact for the agency or organization for the Toolkit

  3  for Economic Development, assisting in expediting proposal

  4  review, resolving problems, promoting flexible assistance, and

  5  identifying opportunities for support within the agency or

  6  organization.

  7         (d)  As deemed necessary by the coordinating partners,

  8  liaisons shall review proposals from economically distressed

  9  communities to determine if they would be properly referred or

10  submitted to their agencies or organizations. If such referral

11  and submittal is appropriate, the liaison shall then assist

12  the community as an ombudsman.

13         (e)  The liaisons shall work at the request of the

14  coordinating partners to review statutes and rules for their

15  adverse effects on economically distressed communities and to

16  develop alternative proposals to mitigate these effects.

17         (f)  Liaisons shall review their agencies' or

18  organizations' evaluation and scoring procedures for grant,

19  loan, and aid programs to ensure that economically distressed

20  communities are not unfairly disadvantaged, hampered, or

21  handicapped in competing for awards because of community

22  economic hardship. If they are, new evaluation criteria and

23  scoring procedures shall be considered that recognize

24  disproportionate requirements which an application process

25  makes of a community that lacks the resources of other more

26  prosperous communities. The evaluation criteria should weight

27  contribution in proportion to the amount of resources

28  available at the local level.

29         (g)  Annually, the coordinating partners shall report

30  to the Governor and the head of each agency or organization on

31  the work and accomplishments of the liaisons.

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  1         (5)  COORDINATING PARTNERS.--

  2         (a)  The liaisons from the WAGES State Board of

  3  Directors, or its successor organization, the Office of Urban

  4  Opportunity, the Department of Community Affairs, Enterprise

  5  Florida, Inc., and the Workforce Development Board of

  6  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall serve as the coordinating

  7  partners of the Toolkit for Economic Development and act as an

  8  executive committee for the liaisons. The coordinating

  9  partners shall review any request from a Front Porch Community

10  and shall provide whatever assistance that this section can

11  afford to them.

12         (b)  From time to time, the coordinating partners may

13  recommend to the head of an agency or organization, approval

14  of a project that in the unanimous judgment of the

15  coordinating partners will have an extraordinary positive

16  impact on an economically distressed community. Upon such

17  recommendation, the head of an agency or organization shall

18  give priority consideration for approval of such project.

19         (6)  MATCHING-FUNDS OPTIONS.--Notwithstanding any other

20  provision of law, an agency or organization may waive any

21  state-required matching-funds requirements at the request of

22  the coordinating partners. This waiver is contingent upon the

23  determination by the coordinating partners that the community

24  is fully committed to the success of a project, but lacks the

25  community resources to meet match requirements. In-kind

26  matches shall be allowed and applied as matching-funds

27  utilizing the same determination criteria. The coordinating

28  partners must unanimously endorse each request to an agency or

29  organization. Any funds appropriated to the coordinating

30  partners may be used to meet matching-funds requirements or

31

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  1  fees for federal, state, or foundation application

  2  requirements.

  3         (7)  INVENTORY.--The coordinating partners shall

  4  develop, in consultation with the liaisons, an inventory of

  5  recommended federal and state tax credits, incentives,

  6  inducements, programs, opportunities, demonstrations or pilot

  7  programs, grants, and other resources available through the

  8  agencies and organizations which could assist Front Porch

  9  Florida or economically distressed communities. Each entry in

10  the inventory must include a summary; a contact person; a

11  simple description of the application process and a timetable;

12  a profile of funding awards and funds availability; and a

13  complexity ranking. The inventory shall be organized into

14  seven categories, including:

15         (a)  Leadership.--Entries that promote the skills and

16  capacities of local leaders, volunteers, organizations, and

17  employees that work on other categories of the inventory.

18  These entries shall include, but are not limited to, grants;

19  scholarships; Individual Training Accounts; Retention

20  Incentive Training Account programs; and other programs that

21  build the resident capacity to create a better community.

22  These entries shall include educational-based institutes that

23  can assist with research, consulting, technical assistance,

24  capacity building, training, and program assistance to

25  communities.

26         (b)  Safety.--Entries that increase safety and reduce

27  crime. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,

28  the training and employment of public safety employees and

29  volunteers; establishing safer businesses and neighborhoods;

30  training residents in safety practices; organizing safety

31  networks and cooperatives; improving lighting; improving the

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  1  safety of homes, buildings, and streets; and providing for

  2  community police and safety projects, including those designed

  3  to protect youth in the community. Other entries may be

  4  included that reinforce community and local law enforcement.

  5         (c)  Clean Up.--Entries that support clean up and

  6  enhancement projects that quickly create visible improvements

  7  in neighborhoods, including the demolition of drug havens and

  8  abandoned buildings. These entries shall include, but are not

  9  limited to, projects that plan, design, or implement clean up

10  strategies; main street redevelopment; and renovation

11  projects. These entries may also include planning and

12  implementation for larger neighborhood revitalization and

13  economic development projects.

14         (d)  Business.--Entries that support small business

15  development, including, but not limited to, attraction of

16  national franchises; micro-loans; guaranteed commercial loans;

17  technical assistance; self-employment; linked deposit; loan

18  loss reserves; business incubators; and other activities that

19  support the market economy.

20         (e)  Schools.--Entries that upgrade schools through

21  repair or renovation, as well as training and employment

22  entries to assist with school transportation, services, and

23  security. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,

24  programs that enable school-based childcare; before, after,

25  and summer school programs; programs that broaden the use of

26  school facilities as a hub and haven within the community;

27  scholarships; and grant programs that assist families and

28  individuals to complete and enhance their education.

29         (f)  Partners.--Entries that provide tax credits,

30  incentives, and other inducements to businesses that

31  contribute to community projects, such as the community

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  1  contribution tax credit under sections 220.183 and 624.5105,

  2  Florida Statutes. These entries shall include any programs

  3  that help raise federal or foundation grant funds.

  4         (g)  Redevelopment.--Entries that support the planning,

  5  preparation, construction, marketing, and financing of

  6  residential, mixed-use, and commercial redevelopment, as well

  7  as residential and business infrastructure projects. These

  8  entries shall include, but are not limited to, the workforce

  9  development programs that influence business decisions such as

10  the Quick-Response Training Program and Quick-Response

11  Training Program for Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency

12  (WAGES) participants.

13         (8)  START-UP INITIATIVE.--

14         (a)  Subject to legislative appropriation and the

15  provisions of this act, the Start-Up Initiative is created to

16  promote the use of the inventory, to boost a community's

17  efforts, and to ensure that federal funds do not go unexpended

18  or unobligated, or are not returned to federal agencies.

19         (b)  The coordinating partners, in consultation with

20  the liaisons, local economic development organizations, and

21  regional workforce development boards, shall identify 15

22  communities, seven of which must be from the state's seven

23  largest counties, three of which must be from rural counties,

24  and five of which must be from other counties in the state.

25  These communities must be compact, congruent, and contiguous

26  census tracts that have high concentrations of needy families

27  who are current, former, or likely recipients of public

28  assistance. To the maximum extent possible, these communities

29  should coincide with federal empowerment zones, enterprise

30  communities, or similar designations; HOPE VI communities;

31  Front Porch Florida communities; enterprise zones established

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  1  under chapter 290 or chapter 370, Florida Statutes;

  2  Neighborhood Improvement Districts established under chapter

  3  163, Florida Statutes; community redevelopment areas

  4  established under chapter 163, Florida Statutes; and Urban

  5  High Crime Areas or Rural Job Tax Credit Areas established

  6  under chapter 212, Florida Statutes.

  7         (c)  The coordinating partners shall solicit proposals

  8  from Front Porch Advisory Committees, community-based

  9  organizations, local governments, and neighborhood

10  associations located in the communities identified in

11  paragraph (b) and Front Porch communities. The coordinating

12  partners shall provide each applicant with the inventory and

13  recommendations on proposals that can be funded.

14         (d)  Communities may prepare a proposal to access and

15  use various entries from the inventory which will launch or

16  boost their economic development efforts. Proposals must be no

17  more than 20 pages long and include:

18         1.  A brief description of how the community would use

19  entries from the inventory in the community's economic

20  development strategy;

21         2.  Specific evidence of community support for the

22  proposal from community-based organizations, local government,

23  regional workforce development boards, and local economic

24  development organizations;

25         3.  Identification and commitment of local resources

26  for the proposal from community-based organizations, local

27  government, regional workforce development boards, and local

28  economic development organizations;

29         4.  Identification of the specific entity or person

30  responsible for coordinating the community's proposal; and

31

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  1         5.  Identification of a local fiscal entity for

  2  contracting, administration, and accountability.

  3         (e)  The coordinating partners shall appoint a liaison

  4  to assist each community with the proposal and its

  5  implementation, if awarded.

  6         (f)  The coordinating partners shall design an

  7  impartial and competitive proposal-review process and

  8  evaluation criteria. Based on the evaluation criteria, up to

  9  nine communities shall be designated to participate in the

10  Start Up Initiative. Once a community is designated, the

11  coordinating partners and the community's liaison will work to

12  finalize the proposal, including the addition of funding

13  sources for each inventory entry. The finalized proposal shall

14  serve as the contract between the community and the Start-Up

15  Initiative. If sufficient funding does not exist for an entry

16  that is essential for the community's proposal or a community

17  is ineligible for a specific inventory entry, the coordinating

18  partners may allocate funding that is under their control to

19  fulfill the entry. The proposal must be operational within 3

20  months after approval.

21         (g)  Proposals that would mainly result in

22  gentrification of the community, that would not employ a

23  preponderance of residents, and that predominately create

24  residences or businesses that are beyond the anticipated

25  income level of the working residents of the community are not

26  eligible.

27         (h)  Proposal awards shall be obligated for federal

28  funding purposes, and shall be considered appropriated for

29  purposes of section 216.301, Florida Statutes. The

30  coordinating partners may allocate funding that is under their

31  control to fund this initiative. Any funding appropriated to

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  1  assist needy families, or to promote job placement and

  2  employment retention, which is in excess of revenues necessary

  3  to fulfill the appropriated purpose, and which may not be

  4  obligated during the budget year, may be allocated to this

  5  initiative to support an approved proposal.

  6         (i)  Any federal funds must be used for purposes

  7  consistent with applicable federal law; however, the

  8  coordinating partners, with the assistance of the Department

  9  of Children and Family Services, shall aggressively pursue

10  innovative uses of federal funds to support projects that

11  train community leaders, upgrade individuals skills, promote

12  safety, clean up communities, beautify neighborhoods,

13  encourage small business, stimulate employment, increase

14  educational opportunity, promote community partnering, advance

15  community redevelopment, and upgrade housing because it

16  assists needy families, promoting self-sufficiency and job

17  retention.

18         (j)  The coordinating partners shall adopt procedures

19  for the Start-Up Initiative and may, if necessary, adopt,

20  through the Department of Community Affairs, emergency rules

21  to govern the submission of proposals, the evaluation of

22  proposals, the initiative awards, and the implementation

23  procedures for administration of awards.

24         (9)  COMMUNITIES OF CRITICAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.--The

25  coordinating partners may recommend to the Governor up to

26  three communities of critical economic opportunity. A

27  community of critical economic opportunity must be a community

28  that is economically distressed, that presents a unique

29  economic development opportunity, and that will create more

30  than 1,000 jobs over a 5-year period. The Governor may, by

31  executive order, designate up to three communities of critical

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  1  economic opportunity which will establish these areas as

  2  priority assignments for the liaisons and coordinating

  3  partners as well as to allow the Governor, acting through

  4  them, to waive criteria, requirements, or similar provisions

  5  of any economic development incentive. Such incentives shall

  6  include, but not be limited to: the Qualified Target Industry

  7  Tax Refund Program under section 288.106, Florida Statutes,

  8  the Quick Response Training Program under section 288.047,

  9  Florida Statutes, the WAGES Quick Response Training Program

10  under section 288.047(10), Florida Statutes, transportation

11  projects under section 288.063, Florida Statutes, the

12  brownfield redevelopment bonus refund under section 288.107,

13  Florida Statutes, and the job and employment tax credit

14  programs. Designation as a community of critical economic

15  opportunity under this subsection shall be contingent upon the

16  execution of a memorandum or agreement among the coordinating

17  partners; the governing body of the county; and the governing

18  bodies of any municipalities to be included within an area of

19  critical economic opportunity. Such agreement shall specify

20  the terms and conditions of the designation, including, but

21  not limited to, the duties and responsibilities of the county

22  and any participating municipalities to take actions designed

23  to facilitate the retention and expansion of existing

24  businesses in the area, as well as the recruitment of new

25  businesses to the area.

26         (10)  FUNDING.--

27         (a)  To implement the provisions of this act, the

28  coordinating partners are authorized to spend, contingent on a

29  specific appropriation, up to $25 million from the Temporary

30  Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant through the

31

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  1  TANF administrative entity at the Department of Management

  2  Services.

  3         (b)  Any expenditure from the TANF Block Grant shall be

  4  in accordance with the requirements and limitations of Title

  5  IV of the Social Security Act, as amended, or any other

  6  applicable federal requirement or limitation in law. Prior to

  7  any expenditure of such funds, the Workforce Development Board

  8  of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the secretary of the

  9  Department of Children and Family Services, or his or her

10  designee, shall certify that controls are in place to ensure

11  that such funds are expended and reported in accordance with

12  the requirements and limitations of federal law. It shall be

13  the responsibility of any entity to which funds are awarded to

14  obtain the required certification prior to any expenditure of

15  funds.

16         (11)  REPORTING.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis

17  and Government Accountability and the coordinating partners,

18  shall develop measures and criteria by October 1, 2001, for

19  evaluating the effectiveness of the Toolkit for Economic

20  Development including the liaisons, coordinating partners,

21  waivers and matching options, inventory, Start-Up Initiative,

22  and Communities of Critical Economic Opportunity. The Office

23  of Program Policy and Government Accountability shall submit

24  to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker

25  of the House of Representatives, by January 1, 2002, a report

26  detailing the progress that the Toolkit for Economic

27  Development has made toward achievement of established

28  measures.

29         (12)  EXPIRATION.--This section expires June 30, 2002.

30         Section 56.  Section 288.1260, Florida Statutes, is

31  created to read:

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  1         288.1260  Front Porch Florida Initiative.--

  2         (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that

  3  the State of Florida has many communities that, in times of

  4  general fiscal prosperity, have not experienced the same

  5  levels of economic fulfillment as other areas of our state.

  6  These neighborhoods and communities are often found in the

  7  urban core areas of our cities, and have been the recipients

  8  of top down imposed state and federal programs that have

  9  lacked a comprehensive approach to revitalization. The

10  Legislature further finds that these distressed urban cores

11  have often had a narrow set of solutions imposed on them

12  without regard to the unique nature of the problems that face

13  each neighborhood.

14         (2)  CREATION.--The Front Porch Florida initiative will

15  be a community-based effort, giving residents the power to

16  define the causes of their problems and harnessing the

17  collective power of individual neighborhoods to craft unique

18  solutions to these problems. The Front Porch Florida

19  initiative is created to provide a comprehensive,

20  community-based approach to neighborhood revitalization in

21  Florida, engaging the resources of the state as a facilitator

22  for community solutions and a civic switchboard to match

23  communities with resources.

24         (3)  PRINCIPLES.--The Front Porch Florida initiative is

25  built upon the following principles:

26         (a)  Urban revitalization begins in Florida's

27  neighborhoods and not in state government. The resources for

28  solving some of their problems may reside in part in state and

29  local government, but the solutions to the unique challenges

30  of each neighborhood must come from citizens who live in these

31  neighborhoods.

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  1         (b)  Expanded business opportunities and access to

  2  capital are critical to sustaining any urban renewal efforts.

  3  There must be a multi-faceted commitment of fiscal resources

  4  and increased business opportunities that stimulates

  5  entrepreneurship in urban core neighborhoods.

  6         (c)  Government cannot raise expectations beyond its

  7  capacity to deliver. State and local governments have roles in

  8  our urban cores, but government is not the panacea.

  9         (d)  An effective state urban policy must support

10  existing efforts and work with the on-going activities of

11  local communities, mayors, and municipalities. The state must

12  also leverage faith-based and community-based groups into the

13  equation in a way that has never been tried before. Churches,

14  ministers, pastors, rabbis, and other community leaders are

15  often the greatest agents of improvement in our urban cores.

16  They must be empowered to be involved in Front Porch Florida

17  to the greatest extent possible.

18         (4)  LIAISONS TO FRONT PORCH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES.--No

19  later than August 1, 2000, the head of each of the following

20  agencies or organizations shall designate a high-level staff

21  person from within the agency or organization to serve as the

22  Front Porch Florida liaison to the Front Porch Florida "A"

23  Team:

24         1.  Department of Community Affairs;

25         2.  Department of Law Enforcement;

26         3.  Department of Juvenile Justice;

27         4.  Department of Corrections;

28         5.  Department of Transportation;

29         6.  Department of Environmental Protection;

30         7.  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

31         8.  Department of State;

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  1         9.  Department of Health;

  2         10.  Department of Children and Family Services;

  3         11.  Department of Labor and Employment Security;

  4         12.  Department of Education;

  5         13.  Department of Military Affairs;

  6         14.  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences;

  7         15.  Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

  8         16.  Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida,

  9  Inc.; and

10         17.  Executive Office of the Governor.

11

12  Each Front Porch Florida liaison must have comprehensive

13  knowledge of his or her agency's functions. This person shall

14  be the primary point of contact for his or her agency on

15  issues and projects relating to economically distressed

16  communities, shall ensure a prompt effective response to

17  problems arising with regard to community issues, and shall

18  assist in the identification of opportunities for preferential

19  awards of program funds to facilitate the civic switchboard

20  function of Front Porch Florida.

21         (5)  INVENTORY.--Front Porch Florida communities shall

22  use the inventory of federal and state resources developed as

23  part of the Toolkit for Economic Development to facilitate

24  solutions to their unique challenges.

25         (6)  SELECTION OF FRONT PORCH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES.--

26         (a)  The Office of Urban Opportunity, created in

27  section 14.2015(9)(a), Florida Statutes, will solicit

28  applications from Florida communities that wish to be

29  designated as Front Porch Florida communities. The application

30  should specify the boundaries of the nominated area, quantify

31  the need for revitalization, demonstrate a history of

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  1  grass-roots activities in the neighborhood, and identify the

  2  resources within each community that will contribute to their

  3  success as Front Porch Florida communities.

  4         (b)  Successful applications for designation may

  5  include strategies for expanding business opportunities and

  6  access to capital, closing the gap in education, building upon

  7  the activities of faith-based and community-based groups,

  8  providing affordable, quality housing, strengthening public

  9  safety, and creating a healthy environment.

10         (c)  Upon designation as a Front Porch Florida

11  community, the neighborhood will form a Governor's

12  Revitalization Council, comprised of partners and stakeholders

13  in each community. Each council should be representative of

14  the broad diversity and interests in the community and should

15  include residents, neighborhood associations, faith-based

16  organizations, and community-based organizations. Each council

17  should also develop partnerships with local government, law

18  enforcement agencies, lenders, schools, and health care

19  providers. Each council will prepare a specialized

20  Neighborhood Action Plan that will assist the Office of Urban

21  Opportunity in identifying and garnering the resources that

22  are needed to help successfully implement community

23  revitalization.

24         (7)  MONITORING AND REPORTING.--The Office of Urban

25  Opportunity shall require each designated Front Porch Florida

26  community to submit a monthly report which details the

27  activities and accomplishments of the neighborhood. On a

28  quarterly basis, each designated community must submit a

29  report that specifically addresses the elements of each

30  Neighborhood Action Plan to determine progress toward

31  achieving stated goals. The community's Governor's

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  1  Revitalization Council will submit an annual progress report

  2  as part of their recertification process in order to maintain

  3  designation as a Front Porch Florida community.

  4         Section 57.  Section 239.521, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         239.521  Information-technology workforce-development

  7  projects.--The Legislature recognizes that

  8  information-technology industries are adding substantial

  9  numbers of high-paying, high-technology jobs in the state. The

10  Legislature also recognizes the important contribution of this

11  industry as one of the targeted industries vital to the

12  state's current and future economic growth. The Legislature

13  further recognizes that information-technology industries are

14  in need of a highly skilled workforce to meet the growing

15  demands of the industry as well as to address the needs of

16  additional information-technology companies relocating to the

17  state. The Information Technology Development Task Force,

18  appointed by the 1999 Florida Legislature for the study of key

19  issues in the development of the state's economy, recommended

20  several means for further supporting this valued industry.

21  Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the

22  following initiatives be funded to support the workforce needs

23  of this growing industry consistent with recognized needs of

24  the state.

25         (1)  COMPREHENSIVE DISTANCE-LEARNING CURRICULUM

26  INITIATIVES.--

27         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that there are multiple

28  levels of employee competencies embedded within the various

29  information-technology-industry jobs. Using these competencies

30  as the basis of a curriculum for training incumbent workers to

31  develop additional skills and potential workers to develop

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  1  entry-level skills, the Legislature intends that a

  2  comprehensive vocational-certificate or 2-year

  3  distance-learning curriculum be developed.

  4         (b)  The comprehensive distance-learning initiative

  5  involves the State Technology Office and the State Board of

  6  Community Colleges acting through the Florida Community

  7  College Distance Learning Consortium to ensure that the

  8  curriculum is up-to-date, responsive to industry's changing

  9  needs, and delivered in the most cost-effective manner

10  possible. The development of the distance-learning curriculum

11  for statewide dissemination is to be co-built by industry

12  content experts and educational providers. The process should

13  coordinate the existing efforts of individual institutions and

14  consortiums into a combined, comprehensive, and cohesive

15  methodology for providing training through the use of

16  technology and should involve:

17         1.  A statewide review of existing distance-learning

18  courses;

19         2.  Evaluation and purchase of appropriate

20  off-the-shelf products to be licensed for use on a statewide

21  basis; and

22         3.  Development of missing competency training using

23  multi-media methodologies.

24         (c)  The comprehensive distance-learning curriculum

25  developed under this subsection will be by one or more

26  institutions or consortiums. Participation in this project

27  will be competitively based and approved by the State Board of

28  Community Colleges based upon recommendations of the Florida

29  Community College Distance Learning Consortium. Participants

30  must meet the following criteria:

31

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  1         1.  Experience in providing training for

  2  information-technology companies.

  3         2.  Availability of technical infrastructure to support

  4  this project.

  5         3.  Endorsement from information-technology

  6  economic-development agencies and local information-technology

  7  business commitments to be actively involved.

  8         4.  Demonstrated multi-media course and program

  9  development capabilities.

10         5.  Existing consortium efforts.

11         6.  Availability of local support.

12         (d)  Contingent on a specific appropriation, these

13  funds must be used to support, among others, salaries,

14  licensing commercial courseware, purchasing existing

15  courseware and equipment, and related course-development

16  expenses.

17         (2)  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

18  FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS.--

19         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that the preparedness

20  of both high school and postsecondary education students

21  emerging from an educational experience ready to enter the

22  information-technology workplace is dependent upon the quality

23  of instruction provided by faculty and information-technology

24  business interaction with their program of study. The

25  Legislature further recognizes that faculty at high school and

26  postsecondary school levels are better able to integrate

27  technology and current business standards into the curriculum

28  if they can verify from personal experience and knowledge the

29  importance of these for students' future success. Faculty also

30  require the ability to continuously update their knowledge and

31  skills as technology changes, and faculty will be able to

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  1  increase their skills and knowledge from structured internship

  2  opportunities within information-technology businesses.

  3  Further, students gain increased knowledge and skills from

  4  on-the-job training and direct work experience in a structured

  5  internship opportunity. The Legislature, therefore, creates

  6  the Information Technology Internship Program to encourage and

  7  support information-technology-program faculty and student

  8  internships with direct exposure to information-technology

  9  industries. The Legislature further intends that the program

10  will provide a minimum of 200 faculty and 200 student

11  internships at various locations across the state.

12         (b)  Local faculty and student internship initiatives

13  will be selected to be part of this project by the State

14  Technology Office, based on the following criteria:

15         1.  Information-technology businesses providing faculty

16  and student internships will pay 50 percent of the salary for

17  each intern as well as provide workers' compensation benefits.

18         2.  Economic-development agencies such as chambers of

19  commerce, economic-development commissions, or regional

20  consortia will be eligible to apply and serve as a local

21  fiscal agent for the program.

22         3.  Establishment of qualifying criteria and process

23  for matching faculty and students with business-internship

24  opportunities.

25         4.  Priority will be given to existing local efforts

26  that have proven successful and can be duplicated statewide.

27         5.  Projects may be combined with federal tax-relief

28  efforts encouraging educational internship programs.

29         (c)  Salaries and other conditions of work shall be set

30  by the Commissioner of Education, the Executive Director of

31

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  1  the Florida Community College System, and the Chancellor of

  2  the State University System.

  3         (d)  The Division of Workforce Development of the

  4  Department of Education shall assume administrative

  5  responsibility and act as fiscal agent for the

  6  information-technology internships.

  7         (e)  Contingent on a specific appropriation, these

  8  funds must be used to support programs established under this

  9  subsection on a statewide basis.

10         (3)  INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY-TRAINING

11  FACILITY-IMPROVEMENT-STRATEGY INITIATIVES.--

12         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that

13  information-technology businesses need increased numbers of

14  highly skilled workers. The shortage of a qualified labor

15  force has become a barrier to this dynamic industry's

16  continued growth in the state. The limited numbers of highly

17  skilled incumbent workers constantly need to update skills in

18  response to the evolving technologies and in order to move to

19  higher-paid positions within the industry. These incumbent

20  workers require a continuous work-and-learn cycle to maintain

21  their knowledge of new technologies and tools. Businesses

22  demand cutting-edge training opportunities for their employees

23  in order to meet the constantly changing globally competitive

24  marketplace. The Legislature recognizes that increased

25  accessibility and quality facilities are required to address

26  the increasing efforts of educational institutions to respond

27  to information-technology businesses and that

28  information-technology-training providers are expected to have

29  appropriate facilities to address the needs of this dynamic

30  industry. The Legislature further recognizes that additional

31  high-tech labs are required to provide the training for

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  1  computer-systems engineers, software developers, and related

  2  cutting-edge job types. These labs are more expensive than

  3  regular facilities because of the additional infrastructure

  4  and continuous turnover of equipment in response to changes in

  5  global technology. Therefore, it is the intent of the

  6  Legislature to provide a process and funding for appropriate

  7  and needed information-technology-training-facility upgrades.

  8         (b)  The State Board of Community Colleges will

  9  administer funds appropriated under paragraph (c) for

10  distribution on a competitive basis by October 1 of each year

11  to support approved projects. Projects may address upgrading

12  current facilities, planning new facilities, and combining the

13  efforts of institutions to serve the information-technology

14  business sector through state-of-the-art training facilities

15  designated to address the multi-media needs of this industry.

16  The projects would be competitively selected based on the

17  following criteria:

18         1.  A concentration of information-technology

19  industries and workers in the service area.

20         2.  Other local funding initiatives or federal funding

21  of an equal value to the state funds requested. These funds

22  must demonstrate a synergistic effort to support

23  information-technology industries.

24         3.  Priority may be given to projects, including

25  partnership effort between two or more educational

26  institutions, so that a broader range of educational services

27  may be provided for information-technology industries.

28         4.  Priorities may be given to projects that include

29  partnerships with a local municipality, county, or

30  economic-development agency as a way of demonstrating a

31  synergy of efforts to support this industry.

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  1         (c)  Contingent on a specific appropriation, these

  2  funds must be used to support two or more projects approved

  3  under this subsection.

  4         Section 58.  Present subsections (4) through (8) of

  5  section 240.311, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as

  6  subsections (5) through (9), respectively, and a new

  7  subsection (4) is added to that section to read:

  8         240.311  State Board of Community Colleges; powers and

  9  duties.--

10         (4)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall

11  identify, using the Critical Jobs Initiative, the occupational

12  forecasting process, or any other compatible mechanism, a

13  collection of programs designed to train broadband digital

14  media specialists. Programs identified by the board shall be

15  added to the statewide lists for demand occupations, if they

16  meet the high-skill/high-wage criteria as established by the

17  Workforce Estimating Conference created under s. 216.136(10).

18         Section 59.  Subsection (5) is added to section

19  240.3341, Florida Statutes, to read:

20         240.3341  Incubator facilities for small business

21  concerns.--

22         (5)  Community colleges are encouraged to establish

23  incubator facilities through which emerging small businesses

24  supportive of the development of content and technology for

25  digital broadband media and digital broadcasting may be

26  served.

27         Section 60.  Section 240.710, Florida Statutes, is

28  created to read:

29         240.710  Digital Media Education Coordination Group.--

30         (1)  The Board of Regents shall create a Digital Media

31  Education Coordination Group composed of representatives of

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  1  the universities within the State University System which

  2  shall work in conjunction with the State Board of Community

  3  Colleges and the Articulation Coordinating Committee on the

  4  development of a plan to enhance Florida's ability to meet the

  5  current and future workforce needs of the digital media

  6  industry. The following purposes of the group shall be

  7  included in its plan-development process:

  8         (a)  Coordination of the use of existing academic

  9  programs, research, and faculty resources to promote the

10  development of a digital media industry in Florida;

11         (b)  Addressing strategies to improve opportunities for

12  interdisciplinary study and research within the emerging field

13  of digital media through the development of tracts in existing

14  degree programs, new interdisciplinary degree programs, and

15  interdisciplinary research centers; and

16         (c)  Addressing the sharing of resources among

17  universities in such a way as to allow a student to take

18  courses from multiple departments or multiple educational

19  institutions in pursuit of competency, certification, and

20  degrees in digital information and media technology.

21         (2)  Where practical, private accredited institutions

22  of higher learning in Florida should be encouraged to

23  participate.

24         (3)  In addition to the elements of the plan governed

25  by the purposes described in subsection (1), the plan shall

26  include, to the maximum extent practicable, the coordination

27  of educational resources to be provided by distance learning

28  and shall facilitate, to the maximum extent, possible

29  articulation and transfer of credits between community

30  colleges and the state universities. The plan must address

31

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  1  student enrollment in affected programs with emphasis on

  2  enrollment beginning as early as the Fall Term in 2001.

  3         (4)  The Digital Media Education Coordination Group

  4  shall submit its plan to the President of the Senate and the

  5  Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2001.

  6         Section 61.  The Workforce Development Board of

  7  Enterprise Florida, Inc., should reserve up to $1 million of

  8  funds dedicated in Fiscal Year 2000-2001 for Incumbent Worker

  9  Training for the digital media industry. Training may be

10  provided by public or private training providers for broadband

11  digital media jobs listed on the Occupational Forecast List

12  developed by the Workforce Estimating Conference or the

13  Targeted Occupations List of the Workforce Development Board.

14  Programs that operate outside the normal semester time periods

15  and coordinate the use of industry and public resources should

16  be given priority status for such reserved funds.

17         Section 62.  The Workforce Development Board of

18  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall by August 31, 2000, develop a

19  plan for the use of Targeted Assistance to Needy Families

20  funds, Workforce Investment Act funds, Quick Response funds,

21  Incumbent Worker Training funds, and other training-related

22  resources to enhance the workforce of digital-media-related

23  industries.  The plan must provide the industries with a

24  program to train and assess the status of industry workforce

25  readiness for the digital era and should be done in

26  conjunction with the broadcast and cable industries.

27         Section 63.  The sum of $1 million is appropriated from

28  the General Revenue Fund to the Digital Media Education

29  Infrastructure Fund for the 2000-2001 fiscal year, provided

30  such infrastructure fund is enacted into law as a result of

31  action taken during the 2000 Regular Session of the

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  1  Legislature. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  2  Development shall be responsible for contracting with eligible

  3  entities for receipt of such funds. The funds must be spent

  4  according to the priorities established by the industry sector

  5  group on broadband digital media established by Enterprise

  6  Florida, Inc., and must be matched by industry contributions.

  7         Section 64.  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall convene an

  8  organizational meeting for industries involved in broadband

  9  digital media to organize and facilitate future activities of

10  associated industry groups or facilitate the ongoing

11  activities of a similar group. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall

12  make all necessary preparations to identify and designate a

13  digital-media sector as part of its sector strategy and

14  identify the sector as a priority recruitment/retention set of

15  industries.

16         Section 65.  (1)  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall award

17  a contract for the establishment of a digital media incubator

18  to encourage companies developing content and technology for

19  digital broadband media and digital broadcasting to locate and

20  develop their businesses in Florida.  Qualifications of an

21  applicant for a contract as a digital media incubator shall at

22  a minimum include the following:

23         (a)  Demonstrated expertise in developing content and

24  technology for digital broadband media and digital

25  broadcasting;

26         (b)  Demonstrated ability in venture capital

27  fund-raising;

28         (c)  Demonstrated expertise in the development of

29  digital media businesses; and

30         (d)  Demonstrated ability in coordinating public and

31  private educational institutions and business entities in

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  1  digital technology joint business ventures. The awarding of

  2  the contract must follow the procedures outlined in chapter

  3  287, Florida Statutes.

  4         (2)  There is appropriated the sum of $2 million from

  5  the General Revenue Fund to Enterprise Florida, Inc., for the

  6  purpose of providing operational and investment seed funding

  7  to encourage the financial and strategic participation of

  8  venture capital firms, corporate and institutional sponsors,

  9  and targeted start-up companies in the establishment of the

10  digital incubator.  Initial state investment in the incubator

11  must be matched with contributions from the industry with

12  participating industry partners, including, but not limited

13  to, venture capitalists, digital media manufacturers, and

14  digital media content providers.

15         (3)  Maximized leveraging of funds must be a priority

16  consideration in the location of the digital media incubator.

17  Consideration must be given to collocation of the incubator

18  with an existing state of the art media lab or an upgraded or

19  newly created media lab funded through the Digital Media

20  Education Infrastructure Fund in the Office of Tourism. Trade,

21  and Economic Development.

22         Section 66.  ITFlorida, in consultation with Enterprise

23  Florida, Inc., shall develop a marketing plan to promote the

24  state as digital-media-friendly, as a digital-media-ready

25  environment, and as a national leader in the development and

26  distribution of broadband digital media content, technology,

27  and education. The marketing plan must identify critical roles

28  for various public and private partners and establish a

29  marketing timeline and goals. The plan must be completed by

30  December 31, 2000.

31

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  1         Section 67.  The provisions of this act relating to

  2  workforce or economic development for digital media are

  3  subject to legislative appropriation.

  4         Section 68.  Section 331.367, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         331.367  Spaceport Management Council.--

  7         (1)  The Spaceport Management Council is created within

  8  the Spaceport Florida Authority to provide intergovernmental

  9  coordination and to develop recommendations on projects and

10  activities to that will increase the operability and

11  capabilities of Florida's space launch facilities, increase

12  statewide space-related industry and opportunities, and

13  promote space education, and research, and technology

14  development within the state. The council shall work to create

15  develop integrated facility and programmatic development plans

16  to address commercial, state, and federal requirements and to

17  identify appropriate private, state, and federal resources to

18  implement these plans.

19         (2)  The council shall make recommendations regarding:

20         (a)  The development of a spaceport master plan.

21         (b)  The projects and levels of commercial financing

22  required from the Florida Commercial Space Financing

23  Corporation created by s. 331.407.

24         (c)  In consultation with the Florida Space Research

25  Institute, development and expansion of space-related

26  education and research facilities and programs within Florida,

27  including recommendations to be provided to the State

28  University System, the Division of Community Colleges, and the

29  Department of Education.

30         (d)  The regulation of spaceports and federal and state

31  policy.

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  1         (e)  Appropriate levels of governmental and private

  2  funding for sustainable Florida's approach to the Federal

  3  Government regarding requests for funding of space

  4  development.

  5         (f)  The council shall submit its recommendations to

  6  the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and provide copies to

  7  the Secretary of Transportation, the director of the Office of

  8  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the associate

  9  administrator for Space Transportation in the United States

10  Department of Transportation, the administrator of the

11  National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Deputy

12  Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Plans and

13  Policy.

14         (3)(a)  The council shall consist of an executive

15  board, which shall consist of representatives of governmental

16  organizations with responsibilities for developing or

17  operating space transportation facilities, and a Space

18  Industry Committee, which shall consist of representatives of

19  Florida's space industry.

20         (b)  The following individuals or their designees shall

21  serve on the executive board:

22         1.  The executive director of the Spaceport Florida

23  Authority or his or her designee.

24         2.  The director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center or

25  his or her designee.

26         3.  The Commander of the United States Air Force 45th

27  Space Wing or his or her designee.

28         4.  The Commander of the Naval Ordnance Test Unit or

29  his or her designee.

30         2.5.  The Secretary of Transportation or his or her

31  designee.

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  1         3.6.  The president of Enterprise Florida, Inc., or his

  2  or her designee, as an ex officio nonvoting member.

  3         4.7.  The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  4  Economic Development or his or her designee, as an ex officio

  5  nonvoting member.

  6         (c)1.  Participation by the federal agencies having

  7  space-related missions in Florida will contribute to council

  8  effectiveness, and the following installation heads or their

  9  designees may serve as official liaisons to the council: the

10  director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the Commander of

11  the 45th Space Wing, and the Commander of the Naval Ordnance

12  Test Unit.

13         2.  Federal liaison officials will be invited to attend

14  all council meetings, provide federal agency views on issues

15  before the council, and present issues of concern and make

16  recommendations to the council.

17         3.  The council will recognize that the role of federal

18  liaison officials is limited by federal statutes and other

19  constraints, and that determination of such limitation is a

20  federal function.

21         4.  The fiduciary responsibility of the official

22  liaisons shall remain at all times with their respective

23  agencies.

24         5.  To the extent the advice or recommendations of the

25  official liaisons are not adopted or incorporated into the

26  final recommendations of the council, the official liaisons

27  may append to such final recommendations their advice,

28  recommendations, or opinions.

29         (4)  Each member shall be appointed to serve for a

30  3-year term, beginning July 1. Initial appointments shall be

31

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  1  made no later than 60 days after the effective date of this

  2  act.

  3         (5)  The executive board shall hold its initial meeting

  4  no later than 30 days after the members have been appointed.

  5  The Space Industry Committee shall hold its initial meeting no

  6  later than 60 days after the members have been appointed.

  7         (6)  All council members must be residents of the

  8  state.

  9         (4)(7)  The executive board council shall adopt bylaws

10  governing the manner in which the business of the council

11  shall be conducted. The bylaws shall specify the procedure by

12  which the chairperson of the council is elected.

13         (5)(8)  The council shall provide infrastructure and

14  program requirements and develop other information to be

15  utilized in a 5-year spaceport master plan. The council shall

16  define goals and objectives concerning the development of

17  spaceport facilities and an intermodal transportation system

18  consistent with the goals of the Florida Transportation Plan

19  developed pursuant to s. 339.155.

20         (6)(9)  The council shall provide requirements and

21  other information to be utilized in the development of a

22  5-year Spaceport Economic Development Plan, defining the goals

23  and objectives of the council concerning the development of

24  facilities for space manufacturing, research and technology

25  development, and education educational facilities.

26         (7)(10)  The council shall meet at the call of its

27  chairperson, at the request of a majority of its membership,

28  or at such times as may be prescribed in its bylaws. However,

29  the council must meet at least semiannually. A majority of

30  voting members of the council constitutes a quorum for the

31  purpose of transacting the business of the council. A majority

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  1  vote of the majority of the voting members present and voting

  2  is sufficient for any action of the council, unless the bylaws

  3  of the council require a greater vote for a particular action.

  4         Section 69.  Section 331.368, Florida Statutes, is

  5  amended to read:

  6         331.368  Florida Space Research Institute.--

  7         (1)  There is created the Florida Space Research

  8  Institute, the purpose of which is to serve as an

  9  industry-driven center for research, leveraging the state's

10  resources in a collaborative effort to support Florida's space

11  industry and its expansion, diversification, and transition to

12  commercialization.

13         (2)  The institute shall operate as a public/private

14  partnership under the direction of a board composed comprised

15  of:

16         (a)  A representative of the Spaceport Florida

17  Authority.

18         (b)  A representative of Enterprise Florida, Inc.

19         (c)  A representative of the Florida Aviation Aerospace

20  Alliance.

21         (d)  A representative of the Florida Space Business

22  Roundtable.

23         (e)  Additional private-sector representatives from the

24  space industry selected collaboratively by the core members

25  specified in paragraphs (a)-(d). The additional space industry

26  representatives under this paragraph must comprise the

27  majority of members of the board and must be from geographic

28  regions throughout the state.

29         (f)  Two representatives from the educational community

30  who are selected collaboratively by the core members specified

31  in paragraphs (a)-(d) and who are engaged in research or

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  1  instruction related to the space industry. One representative

  2  must be from a community college and one representative must

  3  be from a public or private university.

  4

  5  Annually, the members of the board shall select one of the

  6  members to serve as chair, who shall be responsible for

  7  convening and leading meetings of the board. representatives

  8  of the Spaceport Florida Authority, Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

  9  the Florida Aviation and Aerospace Alliance, and four

10  additional space industry representatives selected by the core

11  membership of the board.

12         (3)  The board of the Florida Space Research Institute

13  shall:

14         (a)  Set the strategic direction for the space-related

15  institute, including research priorities of the state and its

16  space-related businesses, the scope of research projects for

17  the institute, and the timeframes for completion.

18         (b)  Invite the participation of public and private

19  universities, including, but not limited to, the University of

20  Central Florida, the University of Florida, the University of

21  South Florida, Florida State University, Florida Institute of

22  Technology, and the University of Miami.

23         (c)  Select a lead university to:

24         1.  Serve as coordinator of research and as the

25  administrative entity of the institute;.

26         2.  Support the institute's development of a statewide

27  space research agenda and programs; and

28         3.  Develop, and update as necessary, a report

29  recommending ways that the state's public and private

30  universities can work in partnership to support the state's

31

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  1  space-industry requirements, which report must be completed by

  2  December 15, 2000.

  3         (d)  Establish a partnership with the state Workforce

  4  Development Board, or its successor entity, under which the

  5  institute coordinates the workforce-training requirements

  6  identified by the space industry and supports development of

  7  workforce-training initiatives to meet such requirements,

  8  using training providers approved by the board or its

  9  successor entity.

10         (e)  Co-manage, with the National Aeronautics and Space

11  Administration, operation of a Space Experiment Research and

12  Processing Laboratory, if such a facility is constructed on

13  land of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Subject to the terms

14  of an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space

15  Administration (NASA), the institute may coordinate access for

16  public and private universities in the state to the laboratory

17  and may coordinate access for NASA to the off-site resources

18  of such universities.

19         (f)  Develop initiatives to foster the participation of

20  the state's space industry in the International Space Station

21  and to help the state maintain and enhance its competitive

22  position in the commercial space-transportation industry.

23         (g)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics

24  and Space Administration to coordinate and conduct research in

25  fields, including, but not limited to, environmental

26  monitoring; agriculture; aquatics; resource reutilization

27  technologies for long-duration space missions; and spaceport

28  technologies which support current or next-generation launch

29  vehicles and range systems.

30         (h)  Pursue partnerships with the National Aeronautics

31  and Space Administration for the conduct of space-related

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  1  research using computer technology to connect experts in a

  2  given field of science who are in disparate locations and to

  3  perform research experiments in a real-time, virtual

  4  environment.

  5         (4)  By December 15 1 of each year, the institute shall

  6  submit a report of its activities and accomplishments for the

  7  prior fiscal year to the Governor, the President of the

  8  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The

  9  report shall also include recommendations regarding actions

10  the state should take to enhance the development of

11  space-related businesses, including:

12         (a)  Future research activities.

13         (b)  The development of capital and technology

14  assistance to new and expanding industries.

15         (c)  The removal of regulatory impediments.

16         (d)  The establishment of business development

17  incentives.

18         (e)  The initiation of education and training programs

19  to ensure a skilled workforce.

20         Section 70.  Space Industry Workforce Initiative.--

21         (1)  The Legislature finds that the space industry is

22  critical to the economic future of the state and that the

23  competitiveness of the industry in the state depends upon the

24  development and maintenance of a qualified workforce. The

25  Legislature further finds that the space industry in this

26  state has diverse and complex workforce needs, including, but

27  not limited to, the need for qualified entry-level workers,

28  the need to upgrade the skills of technician-level incumbent

29  workers, and the need to ensure continuing education

30  opportunities for workers with advanced educational degrees.

31  It is the intent of the Legislature to support programs

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  1  designed to address the workforce development needs of the

  2  space industry in this state.

  3         (2)  The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise

  4  Florida, Inc., or it successor entity, shall coordinate

  5  development of a Space Industry Workforce Initiative in

  6  partnership with the Florida Space Research Institute, the

  7  institute's consortium of public and private universities,

  8  community colleges, and other training providers approved by

  9  the board. The purpose of the initiative is to use or revise

10  existing programs and to develop innovative new programs to

11  address the workforce needs of the space industry.

12         (3)  The initiative shall emphasize:

13         (a)  Curricula content and timeframes developed with

14  industry participation and endorsed by the industry;

15         (b)  Programs that certify persons completing training

16  as meeting industry-approved standards or competencies;

17         (c)  Use of distance-learning and computer-based

18  training modules as appropriate and feasible;

19         (d)  Industry solicitation of public and private

20  universities to develop continuing education programs at the

21  master's and doctoral levels;

22         (e)  Agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space

23  Administration to replicate on a national level successful

24  training programs developed through the initiative; and

25         (f)  Leveraging of state and federal workforce funds.

26         (4)  The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise

27  Florida, Inc., or its successor entity, with the assistance of

28  the Florida Space Research Institute, shall convene

29  representatives from the space industry to identify the

30  priority training and education needs of the industry and to

31  appoint a team to design programs to meet such priority needs.

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  1         (5)  The Workforce Development Board of Enterprise

  2  Florida, Inc., or its successor entity, as part of its

  3  statutorily prescribed annual report to the Legislature, shall

  4  provide recommendations for policies, programs, and funding to

  5  enhance the workforce needs of the space industry.

  6         Section 71.  Section 331.3685, Florida Statutes, is

  7  created to read:

  8         331.3685  Florida Space-Industry Research-Development

  9  Program.--

10         (1)  There is created the Florida Space-Industry

11  Research-Development Program within the Florida Space Research

12  Institute to finance space-industry research and other support

13  projects and programs that will improve the statewide

14  development of space-related economic and academic

15  opportunities.

16         (2)  State taxes imposed pursuant to chapter 212 which

17  are collected at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

18  shall be retained by the complex and distributed to the

19  Florida Space Research Institute as provided by s. 212.08(18)

20  and shall be used to fund the Florida Space-Industry

21  Research-Development Program. As part of the annual report

22  under s. 331.368(4), the institute shall submit a complete

23  accounting each year of funds distributed and expended under

24  this program. Any funds distributed in a given fiscal year

25  that are not obligated by the end of that fiscal year shall

26  revert to the General Revenue Fund.

27         (3)  Program funds shall be used to support activities

28  authorized under s. 331.368 and this section. The Office of

29  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall review and

30  certify funding proposals for consistency with s. 331.368 and

31  this section.

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  1         (4)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  2  Development shall execute a contract with the Florida Space

  3  Research Institute prescribing guidelines and procedures

  4  governing the use of, and accountability for, funds

  5  distributed under s. 212.08(18).

  6         Section 72.  Subsection (18) is added to section

  7  212.08, Florida Statutes, to read:

  8         212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,

  9  and storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail,

10  the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and

11  the storage to be used or consumed in this state of the

12  following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed

13  by this chapter.

14         (18)  SALES GENERATED BY KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR

15  COMPLEX.--The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex shall

16  retain proceeds of sales taxes generated by the complex and

17  distribute such proceeds to the Florida Space Research

18  Institute for use as prescribed in s. 331.3685. The complex

19  shall report sales to the Department of Revenue but shall

20  remit the tax revenues directly to the Florida Space Research

21  Institute in a manner prescribed by rules adopted by the

22  department.

23         Section 73.  Subsection (1) of section 556.108, Florida

24  Statutes, is amended to read:

25         556.108  Exemptions.--The notification requirements

26  provided in s. 556.105(1) do not apply to:

27         (1)  Any excavation or demolition performed by the

28  owner of single-family residential property, or for such owner

29  by a member operator or an agent of a member operator, when

30  such excavation or demolition is made entirely on such land

31  and only up to a depth of 10 inches, provided that due care is

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  1  used and that there is no encroachment on any member

  2  operator's right-of-way, easement, or permitted use.

  3         Section 74.  (1)  Effective upon this act becoming a

  4  law, the Commission on Basic Research for the Future of

  5  Florida is hereby established. All members of the commission

  6  shall be appointed prior to August 1, 2000, and the commission

  7  shall hold its first meeting no later than September 1, 2000.

  8  The commission shall be composed of 13 members who represent a

  9  broad range of experience in basic scientific research and

10  possess an appreciation of the importance of basic scientific

11  research to the future of Florida. Members shall include

12  performers and users of research from public and private

13  universities, the armed forces, defense and high technology

14  businesses, and other interested nongovernmental

15  organizations. Five members shall be appointed to the

16  commission by the Governor, four members shall be appointed by

17  the President of the Senate, and four members shall be

18  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The

19  Governor shall name one of the appointees as chair of the

20  commission. Members of the commission shall serve 4-year

21  terms, except that two of the initial appointees by the

22  Governor, by the President of the Senate, and by the Speaker

23  of the House of Representatives shall be appointed for 2-year

24  terms. Members of the commission are eligible for

25  reappointment.

26         (2)  The purpose of the commission is to serve as an

27  economic development tool to increase the scientific research

28  dollars allocated to the state by the Federal Government. The

29  commission shall:

30         (a)  Focus attention on the importance of improving the

31  state's basic science research infrastructure;

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  1         (b)  Provide advice to scientific research driven

  2  stakeholders;

  3         (c)  Assist in the development of long-range strategies

  4  for increasing the state's share of scientific research

  5  dollars from all sources; and

  6         (d)  Raise public awareness of the importance of basic

  7  scientific research to the future of the state.

  8         (3)  The commission shall use the resources of the

  9  state in implementing the work of the commission, including,

10  but not limited to, the Institute for Science and Health

11  Policy at the University of Florida and similar public and

12  private research groups. The commission shall coordinate with,

13  and not duplicate the efforts of, other scientific

14  research-related organizations.

15         (4)  The commission shall consult with Enterprise

16  Florida, Inc., to ensure that economic development

17  considerations are factored into the work of the commission.

18         (5)  The commission shall be located in the Executive

19  Office of the Governor and staff of the office shall serve as

20  staff for the commission.

21         (6)  Members of the commission shall serve without

22  compensation but will be entitled to per diem and travel

23  expenses pursuant to section 112.061, Florida Statutes, while

24  in the performance of their duties.

25         (7)  The commission may procure information and

26  assistance from any officer or agency of the state or any

27  subdivision thereof. All such officials and agencies shall

28  give the commission all relevant information and assistance on

29  any matter within their knowledge or control.

30         (8)  By February 1 of each year, the commission shall

31  submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

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  1  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report

  2  shall outline activities of the commission and provide

  3  specific recommendations for consideration by the Governor and

  4  Legislature which are designed to increase the state's share

  5  of scientific research dollars.

  6         Section 75.  Section 288.039 and paragraph (c) of

  7  subsection (3) of section 288.095, Florida Statutes, are

  8  repealed.

  9         Section 76.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                          CS/CS/SB 2548

  3

  4  Withdraws a provision amending the Capital Investment Tax
    Credit Program.
  5
    Extends implementation deadlines for the Rural Infrastructure
  6  Fund.

  7  Reduces the number of years for which the Legislature commits
    to support the Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.
  8
    Removes from the bill a provision stating that at-large
  9  members of the board of Enterprise Florida, Inc., have no
    voting rights.
10
    Specifies that defense-grants must be made from funds
11  specifically appropriated by the Legislature.

12  Clarifies the roles of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
    Economic Development and the Department of Banking over who
13  will administer the Certified Capital Company Act.

14  Allows for additional applicants to be certified under the
    Certified Capital Company Act.
15
    Provides that the $25 million in the bill for the Toolkit for
16  Economic Development program is contingent upon specific
    appropriation.
17
    Removes a provision that may have had the affect of creating a
18  trust fund for the Digital Media Education Infrastructure
    Fund.
19
    Expands an exemption for owners of single family residences to
20  include member operators of the Sunshine State One-Call
    corporation to excavate on the owners property without calling
21  the One-Call Center for facility location.

22  Revises the application of the sales tax exemption provided
    for machinery and equipment used in silicon technology
23  production and research and development by replacing the term
    "silicon" with the term "semiconductor," including a sales tax
24  exemption for building materials purchased for use in
    manufacturing or expanding "clean rooms."
25
    Provides for the development of a comprehensive vocational
26  certificate or 2-year distance learning curriculum; creating
    an information technology internship program for faculty and
27  students of information technology programs; creating a
    process whereby educational institutions can compete for funds
28  to upgrade or build information technology training
    facilities.
29
    Clarifies the role of the Spaceport Management Council in the
30  council's working relationship with federal and state
    agencies;
31
    Revises the membership of the Florida Space Research Institute
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  1  to add a representative from the Florida Space Business
    Roundtable, and to add two representatives from the academic
  2  community; directing the Workforce Development Board to
    partner with the institute for the establishment of a Space
  3  Industry Workforce Initiative to develop innovative programs
    to address the diverse workforce needs of the space industry;
  4  redirecting sales taxes from the Kennedy Space Center to the
    institute for the Florida Space  Industry Research Development
  5  Program to finance space industry research, and other support
    projects and programs; and
  6
    Expands responsibilities of the institute to include:
  7  partnering with the state workforce board; co-managing the
    Space Experiment Research and Processing Laboratory; fostering
  8  the participation of the space industry in the International
    SpaceStation; and partnering with the National Aeronautics and
  9  Space Administration (NASA) on cutting-edge research, emerging
    research fields, collaborative-distributive learning
10  environments, and virtual experiments.

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