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





                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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10                                                                

11  Senator Hargrett moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 23, line 1, through page 24, line 4, delete

15  those lines

16

17  insert:

18         Section 12.  Subsection (9) of section 14.2015, Florida

19  Statutes, is amended to read:

20         14.2015  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

21  Development; creation; powers and duties.--

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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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 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         Section 13.  Toolkit for Economic Development.--

 8         (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that

 9  the state has numerous economically distressed communities

10  with a high proportion of needy families who are current or

11  former recipients of public assistance or who are at risk of

12  becoming dependent upon public assistance. The Legislature

13  also finds that the existence of safe and strong communities

14  with prosperous economies is crucial to reduce dependence on

15  public assistance and to promote employment retention and

16  self-sufficiency. It is the intent of the Legislature to

17  reduce reliance on public assistance, to promote employment

18  retention, and to increase self-sufficiency by providing

19  easily accessed and useable tools that support local

20  initiatives that create economically prosperous communities

21  for needy families.

22         (2)  CREATION; PURPOSE.--There is created a program to

23  be known as the "Toolkit for Economic Development," the

24  purpose of which is to enable economically distressed

25  communities to access easily, and use effectively, federal and

26  state tools to improve conditions in the communities and

27  thereby help needy families in the communities avoid public

28  assistance, retain employment, and become self-sufficient.

29         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--For the purposes of this section, a

30  community is "economically distressed" if the community is

31  experiencing conditions affecting its economic viability and

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  hampering the self-sufficiency of its residents, including,

 2  but not limited to, low per capita income, low property

 3  values, high unemployment, high under-employment, low weekly

 4  wages compared to the state average, low housing values

 5  compared to the state or area average, high percentage of the

 6  population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels

 7  compared to the state average, and high percentage of needy

 8  families.

 9         (4)  LIAISONS.--

10         (a)  By August 1, 2000, the head of each of the

11  following agencies or organizations shall designate a

12  high-level staff person from within the agency or organization

13  to serve as a liaison to this program:

14         1.  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;

15         2.  Office of Urban Opportunity;

16         3.  Department of Community Affairs;

17         4.  Department of Law Enforcement;

18         5.  Department of Juvenile Justice;

19         6.  Department of Transportation;

20         7.  Department of Environmental Protection;

21         8.  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

22         9.  Department of State;

23         10.  Department of Health;

24         11.  Department of Children and Family Services;

25         12.  Department of Corrections;

26         13.  Department of Labor and Employment Security;

27         14.  Department of Education;

28         15.  Department of Military Affairs;

29         16.  Florida Housing Finance Corporation;

30         17.  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences;

31         18.  Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce;

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         19.  Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;

 2         20.  Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

 3         21.  Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida,

 4  Inc.;

 5         22.  Executive Office of the Governor; and

 6         23.  Any other agencies or organizations as determined

 7  by the coordinating partners.

 8         (b)  An alternate for each designee shall also be

 9  chosen, and the names of the designees and alternates shall be

10  sent to the coordinating partners, which shall convene the

11  liaisons as necessary.

12         (c)  Each liaison must have a comprehensive knowledge

13  of the functions, whether regulatory or service-based, of his

14  or her agency or organization. The liaison shall be the

15  primary contact for the agency or organization for the Toolkit

16  for Economic Development, assisting in expediting proposal

17  review, resolving problems, promoting flexible assistance, and

18  identifying opportunities for support within the agency or

19  organization.

20         (d)  As deemed necessary by the coordinating partners,

21  liaisons shall review proposals from economically distressed

22  communities to determine if they would be properly referred or

23  submitted to their agencies or organizations. If such referral

24  and submittal is appropriate, the liaison shall then assist

25  the community as an ombudsman.

26         (e)  The liaisons shall work at the request of the

27  coordinating partners to review statutes and rules for their

28  adverse effects on economically distressed communities and to

29  develop alternative proposals to mitigate these effects.

30         (f)  Liaisons shall review their agencies' or

31  organizations' evaluation and scoring procedures for grant,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  loan, and aid programs to ensure that economically distressed

 2  communities are not unfairly disadvantaged, hampered, or

 3  handicapped in competing for awards because of community

 4  economic hardship. If they are, new evaluation criteria and

 5  scoring procedures shall be considered that recognize

 6  disproportionate requirements which an application process

 7  makes of a community that lacks the resources of other more

 8  prosperous communities. The evaluation criteria should weight

 9  contribution in proportion to the amount of resources

10  available at the local level.

11         (g)  Annually, the coordinating partners shall report

12  to the Governor and the head of each agency or organization on

13  the work and accomplishments of the liaisons.

14         (5)  COORDINATING PARTNERS.--

15         (a)  The liaisons from the WAGES State Board of

16  Directors, or its successor organization, the Office of Urban

17  Opportunity, the Department of Community Affairs, Enterprise

18  Florida, Inc., and the Workforce Development Board of

19  Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall serve as the coordinating

20  partners of the Toolkit for Economic Development and act as an

21  executive committee for the liaisons. The coordinating

22  partners shall review any request from a Front Porch Community

23  and shall provide whatever assistance that this section can

24  afford to them.

25         (b)  From time to time, the coordinating partners may

26  recommend to the head of an agency or organization, approval

27  of a project that in the unanimous judgment of the

28  coordinating partners will have an extraordinary positive

29  impact on an economically distressed community. Upon such

30  recommendation, the head of an agency or organization shall

31  give priority consideration for approval of such project.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (6)  MATCHING-FUNDS OPTIONS.--Notwithstanding any other

 2  provision of law, an agency or organization may waive any

 3  state-required matching-funds requirements at the request of

 4  the coordinating partners. This waiver is contingent upon the

 5  determination by the coordinating partners that the community

 6  is fully committed to the success of a project, but lacks the

 7  community resources to meet match requirements. In-kind

 8  matches shall be allowed and applied as matching-funds

 9  utilizing the same determination criteria. The coordinating

10  partners must unanimously endorse each request to an agency or

11  organization. Any funds appropriated to the coordinating

12  partners may be used to meet matching-funds requirements or

13  fees for federal, state, or foundation application

14  requirements.

15         (7)  INVENTORY.--The coordinating partners shall

16  develop, in consultation with the liaisons, an inventory of

17  recommended federal and state tax credits, incentives,

18  inducements, programs, opportunities, demonstrations or pilot

19  programs, grants, and other resources available through the

20  agencies and organizations which could assist Front Porch

21  Florida or economically distressed communities. Each entry in

22  the inventory must include a summary; a contact person; a

23  simple description of the application process and a timetable;

24  a profile of funding awards and funds availability; and a

25  complexity ranking. The inventory shall be organized into

26  seven categories, including:

27         (a)  Leadership.--Entries that promote the skills and

28  capacities of local leaders, volunteers, organizations, and

29  employees that work on other categories of the inventory.

30  These entries shall include, but are not limited to, grants;

31  scholarships; Individual Training Accounts; Retention

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Incentive Training Account programs; and other programs that

 2  build the resident capacity to create a better community.

 3  These entries shall include educational-based institutes that

 4  can assist with research, consulting, technical assistance,

 5  capacity building, training, and program assistance to

 6  communities.

 7         (b)  Safety.--Entries that increase safety and reduce

 8  crime. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,

 9  the training and employment of public safety employees and

10  volunteers; establishing safer businesses and neighborhoods;

11  training residents in safety practices; organizing safety

12  networks and cooperatives; improving lighting; improving the

13  safety of homes, buildings, and streets; and providing for

14  community police and safety projects, including those designed

15  to protect youth in the community. Other entries may be

16  included that reinforce community and local law enforcement.

17         (c)  Clean Up.--Entries that support clean up and

18  enhancement projects that quickly create visible improvements

19  in neighborhoods, including the demolition of drug havens and

20  abandoned buildings. These entries shall include, but are not

21  limited to, projects that plan, design, or implement clean up

22  strategies; main street redevelopment; and renovation

23  projects. These entries may also include planning and

24  implementation for larger neighborhood revitalization and

25  economic development projects.

26         (d)  Business.--Entries that support small business

27  development, including, but not limited to, attraction of

28  national franchises; micro-loans; guaranteed commercial loans;

29  technical assistance; self-employment; linked deposit; loan

30  loss reserves; business incubators; and other activities that

31  support the market economy.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (e)  Schools.--Entries that upgrade schools through

 2  repair or renovation, as well as training and employment

 3  entries to assist with school transportation, services, and

 4  security. These entries shall include, but are not limited to,

 5  programs that enable school-based childcare; before, after,

 6  and summer school programs; programs that broaden the use of

 7  school facilities as a hub and haven within the community;

 8  scholarships; and grant programs that assist families and

 9  individuals to complete and enhance their education.

10         (f)  Partners.--Entries that provide tax credits,

11  incentives, and other inducements to businesses that

12  contribute to community projects, such as the community

13  contribution tax credit under sections 220.183 and 624.5105,

14  Florida Statutes. These entries shall include any programs

15  that help raise federal or foundation grant funds.

16         (g)  Redevelopment.--Entries that support the planning,

17  preparation, construction, marketing, and financing of

18  residential, mixed-use, and commercial redevelopment, as well

19  as residential and business infrastructure projects. These

20  entries shall include, but are not limited to, the workforce

21  development programs that influence business decisions such as

22  the Quick-Response Training Program and Quick-Response

23  Training Program for Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency

24  (WAGES) participants.

25         (8)  START-UP INITIATIVE.--

26         (a)  Subject to legislative appropriation and the

27  provisions of this act, the Start-Up Initiative is created to

28  promote the use of the inventory, to boost a community's

29  efforts, and to ensure that federal funds do not go unexpended

30  or unobligated, or are not returned to federal agencies.

31         (b)  The coordinating partners, in consultation with

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  the liaisons, local economic development organizations, and

 2  regional workforce development boards, shall identify 15

 3  communities, seven of which must be from the state's seven

 4  largest counties, three of which must be from rural counties,

 5  and five of which must be from other counties in the state.

 6  These communities must be compact, congruent, and contiguous

 7  census tracts that have high concentrations of needy families

 8  who are current, former, or likely recipients of public

 9  assistance. To the maximum extent possible, these communities

10  should coincide with federal empowerment zones, enterprise

11  communities, or similar designations; HOPE VI communities;

12  Front Porch Florida communities; enterprise zones established

13  under chapter 290 or chapter 370, Florida Statutes;

14  Neighborhood Improvement Districts established under chapter

15  163, Florida Statutes; community redevelopment areas

16  established under chapter 163, Florida Statutes; and Urban

17  High Crime Areas or Rural Job Tax Credit Areas established

18  under chapter 212, Florida Statutes.

19         (c)  The coordinating partners shall solicit proposals

20  from Front Porch Advisory Committees, community-based

21  organizations, local governments, and neighborhood

22  associations located in the communities identified in

23  paragraph (b) and Front Porch communities. The coordinating

24  partners shall provide each applicant with the inventory and

25  recommendations on proposals that can be funded.

26         (d)  Communities may prepare a proposal to access and

27  use various entries from the inventory which will launch or

28  boost their economic development efforts. Proposals must be no

29  more than 20 pages long and include:

30         1.  A brief description of how the community would use

31  entries from the inventory in the community's economic

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  development strategy;

 2         2.  Specific evidence of community support for the

 3  proposal from community-based organizations, local government,

 4  regional workforce development boards, and local economic

 5  development organizations;

 6         3.  Identification and commitment of local resources

 7  for the proposal from community-based organizations, local

 8  government, regional workforce development boards, and local

 9  economic development organizations;

10         4.  Identification of the specific entity or person

11  responsible for coordinating the community's proposal; and

12         5.  Identification of a local fiscal entity for

13  contracting, administration, and accountability.

14         (e)  The coordinating partners shall appoint a liaison

15  to assist each community with the proposal and its

16  implementation, if awarded.

17         (f)  The coordinating partners shall design an

18  impartial and competitive proposal-review process and

19  evaluation criteria. Based on the evaluation criteria, up to

20  nine communities shall be designated to participate in the

21  Start Up Initiative. Once a community is designated, the

22  coordinating partners and the community's liaison will work to

23  finalize the proposal, including the addition of funding

24  sources for each inventory entry. The finalized proposal shall

25  serve as the contract between the community and the Start-Up

26  Initiative. If sufficient funding does not exist for an entry

27  that is essential for the community's proposal or a community

28  is ineligible for a specific inventory entry, the coordinating

29  partners may allocate funding that is under their control to

30  fulfill the entry. The proposal must be operational within 3

31  months after approval.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         (g)  Proposals that would mainly result in

 2  gentrification of the community, that would not employ a

 3  preponderance of residents, and that predominately create

 4  residences or businesses that are beyond the anticipated

 5  income level of the working residents of the community are not

 6  eligible.

 7         (h)  Proposal awards shall be obligated for federal

 8  funding purposes, and shall be considered appropriated for

 9  purposes of section 216.301, Florida Statutes. The

10  coordinating partners may allocate funding that is under their

11  control to fund this initiative. Any funding appropriated to

12  assist needy families, or to promote job placement and

13  employment retention, which is in excess of revenues necessary

14  to fulfill the appropriated purpose, and which may not be

15  obligated during the budget year, may be allocated to this

16  initiative to support an approved proposal.

17         (i)  Any federal funds must be used for purposes

18  consistent with applicable federal law; however, the

19  coordinating partners, with the assistance of the Department

20  of Children and Family Services, shall aggressively pursue

21  innovative uses of federal funds to support projects that

22  train community leaders, upgrade individuals skills, promote

23  safety, clean up communities, beautify neighborhoods,

24  encourage small business, stimulate employment, increase

25  educational opportunity, promote community partnering, advance

26  community redevelopment, and upgrade housing because it

27  assists needy families, promoting self-sufficiency and job

28  retention.

29         (j)  The coordinating partners shall adopt procedures

30  for the Start-Up Initiative and may, if necessary, adopt,

31  through the Department of Community Affairs, emergency rules

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  to govern the submission of proposals, the evaluation of

 2  proposals, the initiative awards, and the implementation

 3  procedures for administration of awards.

 4         (9)  COMMUNITIES OF CRITICAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.--The

 5  coordinating partners may recommend to the Governor up to

 6  three communities of critical economic opportunity. A

 7  community of critical economic opportunity must be a community

 8  that is economically distressed, that presents a unique

 9  economic development opportunity, and that will create more

10  than 1,000 jobs over a 5-year period. The Governor may, by

11  executive order, designate up to three communities of critical

12  economic opportunity which will establish these areas as

13  priority assignments for the liaisons and coordinating

14  partners as well as to allow the Governor, acting through

15  them, to waive criteria, requirements, or similar provisions

16  of any economic development incentive. Such incentives shall

17  include, but not be limited to: the Qualified Target Industry

18  Tax Refund Program under section 288.106, Florida Statutes,

19  the Quick Response Training Program under section 288.047,

20  Florida Statutes, the WAGES Quick Response Training Program

21  under section 288.047(10), Florida Statutes, transportation

22  projects under section 288.063, Florida Statutes, the

23  brownfield redevelopment bonus refund under section 288.107,

24  Florida Statutes, and the job and employment tax credit

25  programs. Designation as a community of critical economic

26  opportunity under this subsection shall be contingent upon the

27  execution of a memorandum or agreement among the coordinating

28  partners; the governing body of the county; and the governing

29  bodies of any municipalities to be included within an area of

30  critical economic opportunity. Such agreement shall specify

31  the terms and conditions of the designation, including, but

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  not limited to, the duties and responsibilities of the county

 2  and any participating municipalities to take actions designed

 3  to facilitate the retention and expansion of existing

 4  businesses in the area, as well as the recruitment of new

 5  businesses to the area.

 6         (10)  FUNDING.--

 7         (a)  To implement the provisions of this act, the

 8  coordinating partners are authorized to spend, contingent on a

 9  specific appropriation, up to $25 million from the Temporary

10  Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant through the

11  TANF administrative entity at the Department of Management

12  Services.

13         (b)  Any expenditure from the TANF Block Grant shall be

14  in accordance with the requirements and limitations of Title

15  IV of the Social Security Act, as amended, or any other

16  applicable federal requirement or limitation in law. Prior to

17  any expenditure of such funds, the Workforce Development Board

18  of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the secretary of the

19  Department of Children and Family Services, or his or her

20  designee, shall certify that controls are in place to ensure

21  that such funds are expended and reported in accordance with

22  the requirements and limitations of federal law. It shall be

23  the responsibility of any entity to which funds are awarded to

24  obtain the required certification prior to any expenditure of

25  funds.

26         (11)  REPORTING.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis

27  and Government Accountability and the coordinating partners,

28  shall develop measures and criteria by October 1, 2001, for

29  evaluating the effectiveness of the Toolkit for Economic

30  Development including the liaisons, coordinating partners,

31  waivers and matching options, inventory, Start-Up Initiative,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  and Communities of Critical Economic Opportunity. The Office

 2  of Program Policy and Government Accountability shall submit

 3  to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker

 4  of the House of Representatives, by January 1, 2002, a report

 5  detailing the progress that the Toolkit for Economic

 6  Development has made toward achievement of established

 7  measures.

 8         (12)  EXPIRATION.--This section expires June 30, 2002.

 9         Section 14.  Section 288.1260, Florida Statutes, is

10  created to read:

11         288.1260  Front Porch Florida Initiative.--

12         (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that

13  the State of Florida has many communities that, in times of

14  general fiscal prosperity, have not experienced the same

15  levels of economic fulfillment as other areas of our state.

16  These neighborhoods and communities are often found in the

17  urban core areas of our cities, and have been the recipients

18  of top down imposed state and federal programs that have

19  lacked a comprehensive approach to revitalization. The

20  Legislature further finds that these distressed urban cores

21  have often had a narrow set of solutions imposed on them

22  without regard to the unique nature of the problems that face

23  each neighborhood.

24         (2)  CREATION.--The Front Porch Florida initiative will

25  be a community-based effort, giving residents the power to

26  define the causes of their problems and harnessing the

27  collective power of individual neighborhoods to craft unique

28  solutions to these problems. The Front Porch Florida

29  initiative is created to provide a comprehensive,

30  community-based approach to neighborhood revitalization in

31  Florida, engaging the resources of the state as a facilitator

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  for community solutions and a civic switchboard to match

 2  communities with resources.

 3         (3)  PRINCIPLES.--The Front Porch Florida initiative is

 4  built upon the following principles:

 5         (a)  Urban revitalization begins in Florida's

 6  neighborhoods and not in state government. The resources for

 7  solving some of their problems may reside in part in state and

 8  local government, but the solutions to the unique challenges

 9  of each neighborhood must come from citizens who live in these

10  neighborhoods.

11         (b)  Expanded business opportunities and access to

12  capital are critical to sustaining any urban renewal efforts.

13  There must be a multi-faceted commitment of fiscal resources

14  and increased business opportunities that stimulates

15  entrepreneurship in urban core neighborhoods.

16         (c)  Government cannot raise expectations beyond its

17  capacity to deliver. State and local governments have roles in

18  our urban cores, but government is not the panacea.

19         (d)  An effective state urban policy must support

20  existing efforts and work with the on-going activities of

21  local communities, mayors, and municipalities. The state must

22  also leverage faith-based and community-based groups into the

23  equation in a way that has never been tried before. Churches,

24  ministers, pastors, rabbis, and other community leaders are

25  often the greatest agents of improvement in our urban cores.

26  They must be empowered to be involved in Front Porch Florida

27  to the greatest extent possible.

28         (4)  LIAISONS TO FRONT PORCH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES.--No

29  later than August 1, 2000, the head of each of the following

30  agencies or organizations shall designate a high-level staff

31  person from within the agency or organization to serve as the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  Front Porch Florida liaison to the Front Porch Florida "A"

 2  Team:

 3         1.  Department of Community Affairs;

 4         2.  Department of Law Enforcement;

 5         3.  Department of Juvenile Justice;

 6         4.  Department of Corrections;

 7         5.  Department of Transportation;

 8         6.  Department of Environmental Protection;

 9         7.  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

10         8.  Department of State;

11         9.  Department of Health;

12         10.  Department of Children and Family Services;

13         11.  Department of Labor and Employment Security;

14         12.  Department of Education;

15         13.  Department of Military Affairs;

16         14.  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences;

17         15.  Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

18         16.  Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida,

19  Inc.; and

20         17.  Executive Office of the Governor.

21

22  Each Front Porch Florida liaison must have comprehensive

23  knowledge of his or her agency's functions. This person shall

24  be the primary point of contact for his or her agency on

25  issues and projects relating to economically distressed

26  communities, shall ensure a prompt effective response to

27  problems arising with regard to community issues, and shall

28  assist in the identification of opportunities for preferential

29  awards of program funds to facilitate the civic switchboard

30  function of Front Porch Florida.

31         (5)  INVENTORY.--Front Porch Florida communities shall

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  use the inventory of federal and state resources developed as

 2  part of the Toolkit for Economic Development to facilitate

 3  solutions to their unique challenges.

 4         (6)  SELECTION OF FRONT PORCH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES.--

 5         (a)  The Office of Urban Opportunity, created in

 6  section 14.2015(9)(a), Florida Statutes, will solicit

 7  applications from Florida communities that wish to be

 8  designated as Front Porch Florida communities. The application

 9  should specify the boundaries of the nominated area, quantify

10  the need for revitalization, demonstrate a history of

11  grass-roots activities in the neighborhood, and identify the

12  resources within each community that will contribute to their

13  success as Front Porch Florida communities.

14         (b)  Successful applications for designation may

15  include strategies for expanding business opportunities and

16  access to capital, closing the gap in education, building upon

17  the activities of faith-based and community-based groups,

18  providing affordable, quality housing, strengthening public

19  safety, and creating a healthy environment.

20         (c)  Upon designation as a Front Porch Florida

21  community, the neighborhood will form a Governor's

22  Revitalization Council, comprised of partners and stakeholders

23  in each community. Each council should be representative of

24  the broad diversity and interests in the community and should

25  include residents, neighborhood associations, faith-based

26  organizations, and community-based organizations. Each council

27  should also develop partnerships with local government, law

28  enforcement agencies, lenders, schools, and health care

29  providers. Each council will prepare a specialized

30  Neighborhood Action Plan that will assist the Office of Urban

31  Opportunity in identifying and garnering the resources that

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  are needed to help successfully implement community

 2  revitalization.

 3         (7)  MONITORING AND REPORTING.--The Office of Urban

 4  Opportunity shall require each designated Front Porch Florida

 5  community to submit a monthly report which details the

 6  activities and accomplishments of the neighborhood. On a

 7  quarterly basis, each designated community must submit a

 8  report that specifically addresses the elements of each

 9  Neighborhood Action Plan to determine progress toward

10  achieving stated goals. The community's Governor's

11  Revitalization Council will submit an annual progress report

12  as part of their recertification process in order to maintain

13  designation as a Front Porch Florida community.

14         Section 15.  Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade

15  Initiative.--

16         (1)  Contingent upon a specific appropriation, the

17  Seaport Employment Training Grant Program (STEP) shall

18  establish and administer the Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade

19  Initiative for the purpose of assisting small and medium-sized

20  businesses to become involved in international activities and

21  helping them to identify markets with product demand, identify

22  strategic alliances in those markets, and obtain the financing

23  to effectuate trade opportunities in the Caribbean Basin. The

24  initiative must focus assistance to businesses located in

25  urban communities. The initiative shall offer export

26  readiness, assistance and referral services, internships,

27  seminars, workshops, conferences, and e-commerce plus

28  mentoring and matchmaking services, but shall coordinate with

29  and not duplicate those services provided by Enterprise

30  Florida, Inc.

31         (2)  To enhance initiative effectiveness and leverage

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  resources, STEP shall coordinate initiative activities with

 2  Enterprise Florida, Inc., United States Export Assistance

 3  Centers, Florida Export Finance Corporation, Florida Trade

 4  Data Center, Small Business Development Centers, and any other

 5  organizations STEP deems appropriate. The coordination may

 6  encompass export assistance and referral services, export

 7  financing, job-training programs, educational programs, market

 8  research and development, market promotion, trade missions,

 9  e-commerce, and mentoring and matchmaking services relative to

10  the expansion of trade between Florida and the Caribbean

11  Basin. The initiative shall also form alliances with

12  multilateral, international, and domestic funding programs

13  from Florida, the United States, and the Caribbean Basin to

14  coordinate systems and programs for fundamental assistance in

15  facilitating trade and investment.

16         (3)  STEP shall administer the Florida-Caribbean Basin

17  Trade Initiative pursuant to a performance-based contract with

18  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. The

19  Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall

20  develop performance measures, standards, and sanctions for the

21  initiative. Performance measures must include, but are not

22  limited to, the number of businesses assisted; the number of

23  urban businesses assisted; and the increase in value of

24  exports to the Caribbean which is attributable to the

25  initiative.

26         Section 16.  Paragraphs (n) and (o) are added to

27  subsection (5) of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, to read:

28         212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,

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

30  the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and

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

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed

 2  by this chapter.

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

 4         (n)  Materials for construction of single-family homes

 5  in certain areas.--

 6         1.  As used in this paragraph, the term:

 7         a.  "Building materials" means tangible personal

 8  property that becomes a component part of a qualified home.

 9         b.  "Qualified home" means a single-family home having

10  an appraised value of no more than $160,000 which is located

11  in an enterprise zone, empowerment zone, or Front Porch

12  Florida Community and which is constructed and occupied by the

13  owner thereof for residential purposes.

14         c.  "Substantially completed" has the same meaning as

15  provided in s. 192.042(1).

16         2.  Building materials used in the construction of a

17  qualified home and the costs of labor associated with the

18  construction of a qualified home are exempt from the tax

19  imposed by this chapter upon an affirmative showing to the

20  satisfaction of the department that the requirements of this

21  paragraph have been met. This exemption inures to the owner

22  through a refund of previously paid taxes. To receive this

23  refund, the owner must file an application under oath with the

24  department which includes:

25         a.  The name and address of the owner.

26         b.  The address and assessment roll parcel number of

27  the home for which a refund is sought.

28         c.  A copy of the building permit issued for the home.

29         d.  A certification by the local building inspector

30  that the home is substantially completed.

31         e.  A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  the general contractor licensed in this state with whom the

 2  owner contracted to construct the home, which statement lists

 3  the building materials used in the construction of the home

 4  and the actual cost thereof, the labor costs associated with

 5  such construction, and the amount of sales tax paid on these

 6  materials and labor costs. If a general contractor was not

 7  used, the owner shall provide this information in a sworn

 8  statement, under penalty of perjury. Copies of invoices

 9  evidencing payment of sales tax must be attached to the sworn

10  statement.

11         f.  A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from

12  the owner affirming that he or she is occupying the home for

13  residential purposes.

14         3.  An application for a refund under this paragraph

15  must be submitted to the department within 6 months after the

16  date the home is deemed to be substantially completed by the

17  local building inspector. Within 30 working days after receipt

18  of the application, the department shall determine if it meets

19  the requirements of this paragraph. A refund approved pursuant

20  to this paragraph shall be made within 30 days after formal

21  approval of the application by the department. The provisions

22  of s. 212.095 do not apply to any refund application made

23  under this paragraph.

24         4.  The department shall establish by rule an

25  application form and criteria for establishing eligibility for

26  exemption under this paragraph.

27         5.  The exemption shall apply to purchases of materials

28  on or after July 1, 2000.

29         (o)  Building materials in redevelopment projects.--

30         1.  As used in this paragraph, the term:

31         a.  "Building materials" means tangible personal

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  property that becomes a component part of a housing project or

 2  a mixed-use project.

 3         b.  "Housing project" means the conversion of an

 4  existing manufacturing or industrial building to housing units

 5  in an urban high-crime area, enterprise zone, empowerment

 6  zone, Front Porch Community, designated brownfield area, or

 7  urban infill area and in which the developer agrees to set

 8  aside at least 20 percent of the housing units in the project

 9  for low-income and moderate-income persons.

10         c.  "Mixed-use project" means the conversion of an

11  existing manufacturing or industrial building to mixed-use

12  units that include artists' studios, art and entertainment

13  services, or other compatible uses. A mixed-use project must

14  be located in an urban high-crime area, enterprise zone,

15  empowerment zone, Front Porch Community, designated brownfield

16  area, or urban infill area and the developer must agree to set

17  aside at least 20 percent of the square footage of the project

18  for low-income and moderate-income housing.

19         d.  "Substantially completed" has the same meaning as

20  provided in s. 192.042(1).

21         2.  Building materials used in the construction of a

22  housing project or mixed-use project are exempt from the tax

23  imposed by this chapter upon an affirmative showing to the

24  satisfaction of the department that the requirements of this

25  paragraph have been met. This exemption inures to the owner

26  through a refund of previously paid taxes. To receive this

27  refund, the owner must file an application under oath with the

28  department which includes:

29         a.  The name and address of the owner.

30         b.  The address and assessment roll parcel number of

31  the project for which a refund is sought.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         c.  A copy of the building permit issued for the

 2  project.

 3         d.  A certification by the local building inspector

 4  that the project is substantially completed.

 5         e.  A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, from

 6  the general contractor licensed in this state with whom the

 7  owner contracted to construct the project, which statement

 8  lists the building materials used in the construction of the

 9  project and the actual cost thereof, and the amount of sales

10  tax paid on these materials. If a general contractor was not

11  used, the owner shall provide this information in a sworn

12  statement, under penalty of perjury. Copies of invoices

13  evidencing payment of sales tax must be attached to the sworn

14  statement.

15         3.  An application for a refund under this paragraph

16  must be submitted to the department within 6 months after the

17  date the project is deemed to be substantially completed by

18  the local building inspector. Within 30 working days after

19  receipt of the application, the department shall determine if

20  it meets the requirements of this paragraph. A refund approved

21  pursuant to this paragraph shall be made within 30 days after

22  formal approval of the application by the department. The

23  provisions of s. 212.095 do not apply to any refund

24  application made under this paragraph.

25         4.  The department shall establish by rule an

26  application form and criteria for establishing eligibility for

27  exemption under this paragraph.

28         5.  The exemption shall apply to purchases of materials

29  on or after July 1, 2000.

30         Section 17.  The agencies involved with the Urban

31  Infill Implementation Project Grants Program under section

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  163.2523, Florida Statutes, the State Apartment Incentive Loan

 2  Program under section 420.5087, Florida Statutes, the HOME

 3  Investment Partnership Program under section 420.5089, Florida

 4  Statutes, and the State Housing Tax Credit Program under

 5  section 420.5093, Florida Statutes, shall give priority

 6  consideration to projects that would convert vacant industrial

 7  and manufacturing facilities to affordable housing units

 8  within urban high-crime areas, enterprise zones, empowerment

 9  zones, Front Porch Communities, designated brownfield areas,

10  or urban infill areas.

11         Section 18.  The Department of Community Affairs, in

12  conjunction with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

13  Development, the Office of Urban Opportunities, and Enterprise

14  Florida, Inc., shall recommend new economic incentives or

15  revisions to existing economic incentives in order to promote

16  the reuse of vacant industrial and manufacturing facilities

17  for affordable housing and mixed-use development. The report

18  must also identify any state regulatory or programmatic

19  barriers to the reuse  of such facilities. The department

20  shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and the

21  Speaker of the House of Representatives containing its

22  recommendations by January 31, 2001. Based upon consultation

23  with the Department of Environmental Protection, the

24  department shall include, as a component of the report, any

25  recommended modifications to the Brownfields Redevelopment

26  Act, sections 376.77-376.85, Florida Statutes, for revising

27  liability protection or economic incentives under the act to

28  promote reuse of such facilities.

29

30  (Redesignate subsequent sections.)

31

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

 2  And the title is amended as follows:

 3         On page 2, line 21, delete that line

 4

 5  and insert:

 6         duties; amending s. 14.2015, F.S.; describing

 7         the role of the Front Porch Florida initiative;

 8         providing for assistance from the Department of

 9         Community Affairs; providing for creation and

10         purpose of the Toolkit for Economic

11         Development; defining the term "economically

12         distressed"; requiring the appointment of

13         liaisons from agencies and organizations;

14         providing for requirements and duties; creating

15         coordinating partners to serve as the program's

16         executive committee; providing for duties and

17         powers; providing for waivers of state-required

18         matching-funds requirements; requiring an

19         inventory of programs that help economically

20         distressed communities; requiring that the

21         inventory be categorized; creating the Start-Up

22         Initiative to promote the use of the inventory;

23         providing for identification of communities;

24         providing for solicitation of proposals;

25         providing for proposal content; providing for

26         review process and evaluation criteria;

27         providing for funding; providing for the

28         designation of communities of critical economic

29         opportunity; providing an appropriation to the

30         coordinating partners; providing for use of

31         funds and certification; providing for

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         reporting; providing for expiration; creating

 2         s. 288.1260, F.S.; creating the Front Porch

 3         Florida initiative; providing legislative

 4         intent; providing for purposes and principles

 5         of the program; creating liaisons to Front

 6         Porch Florida communities; providing for

 7         liaison requirements and duties; providing for

 8         use of the inventory of federal and state

 9         resources; providing for application

10         requirements; providing for the formation of a

11         Governor's Revitalization Council; providing

12         for duties; providing for monitoring and

13         reporting; providing for the establishment of

14         the Florida-Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative by

15         the Seaport Employment Training Grant Program

16         contingent upon a specific appropriation;

17         providing purpose of the initiative; providing

18         responsibilities of the Seaport Employment

19         Training Grant Program; providing for a

20         performance-based contract with the Office of

21         Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development;

22         amending s. 212.08, F.S.; providing an

23         exemption from the tax on sales, use, and other

24         transactions for building materials used in the

25         construction of certain single-family homes

26         located in an enterprise zone, empowerment

27         zone, or Front Porch Florida Community;

28         providing an exemption from the tax on sales,

29         use, and other transactions for building

30         materials used in the construction of specified

31         redevelopment projects; providing requirements

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 406, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1         for refund applications; providing for rules;

 2         directing the agencies involved with specified

 3         housing programs to give priority consideration

 4         to specified projects in urban-core

 5         neighborhoods; directing the Department of

 6         Community Affairs to propose modifications to

 7         the Brownfields Redevelopment Act and other

 8         economic incentives for consideration by the

 9         Legislature; providing an effective date.

10

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14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

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